I made a book trailer for Worth the Risk! I know. Hard to believe since I’m so not computer savvy. But with my new Mac (and help from my most awesome hubby), here it is! It was really a lot of fun to make, and I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think. 
(And please feel free to share.)
hugs,
Robin
Today’s the day I answer the Hot Seat questions over at Robena Grant’s blog. Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to stop by her warm and wonderful home on the web and ask me a question. It means more to me than I can say! I hope you’ll pop over there to read my answers and leave me a comment. I’ll be checking in and commenting back. 
And just a reminder about my Blog Bonanza in case you’re a new visitor or haven’t been by in a little while…
I hope your spring is off to a good start! Mine is off the charts great! My very first book is coming out soon and I’m beyond excited. To celebrate, my blog is going to get busy. Thanks to something my writing pal Taryn Elliott mentioned about a Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I was inspired to do my own alphabet themed blog posts to take me to the release of my novella.
Rather than go from A – Z (kudos to all you doing so!), I’m going to do things this way:
W-O-R-T-H-T-H-E-R-I-S-K
That’s 12 posts until my novella releases from Entangled. I’ve got some fun things planned and hope you’ll check back frequently! Also, because I so appreciate each and every one of you that stops by, there will be some giveaways. AND, for every comment you make during this Blog Bonanza, you will be entered to win a Worth the Risk swag pack. (This is no ordinary pack, and I’ll be giving very few of them away because they’ll be filled with all kinds of awesomeness. I so love giving gifts.)
W-O-R-T-H is done! Now we’ve got T-H-E-R-I-S-K to go.
Thanks everyone for keeping me company during this exciting month. I appreciate every single comment and visit!
Tomorrow the letter “T” is something I’m super-duper excited about!!!!!
My main characters in WORTH THE RISK, Samantha and Dean, both love to travel. The story opens five years after they’ve spent a summer together visiting national parks and traveling from Yosemite to the Badlands. The great outdoors is a big turn-on for Dean and he’s taught Sam to appreciate it the same way. When they reunite, their passion for the environment helps fuel their passion for each other.
Travel is something I long to do more of. I’d love to see all the national parks (Yosemite is the only one I’ve been to). And I’d love to venture out of the country more ~ Paris, Italy, London, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean please (just to name a few). I’ve been to Toronto and Vancouver (loved!), Australia (really loved!), and Mazatlan (college spring break loved!). And my wanderlust is only growing as I get older.
How about you? Where do you want to go?
hugs,
Robin
I’m super excited to share the cover for WORTH THE RISK!! The amazing Adrien-Luc Sanders designed it. Thanks Adrien! And thanks to Entangled Publishing for making this such a fantastic experience! (Totally not sure if it’s cool to post the giant version of this, but I did.)
hugs,
Robin
(The winner of Anne Kemp’s All Fruits Ripe is Janie! Congrats, Janie. Please get in touch with me and let me know if you want the Nook or Kindle version. Thanks again to everyone who stopped by yesterday!)
Continuing with my Blog Bonanza, today I am honored to be a guest over at Robena Grant’s blog. Roben is one of my LARA pals AND a Golden Heart finalist!! Her novel, EXPOSURE, is a finalist in the romantic suspense category. Woot! She is one of the nicest people I know, and when she asked me to sit in her Hot Seat, I jumped at the chance. (I’ve never been in a Hot Seat before!) Her blog posts are always wonderfully written and thoughtful, and I feel very lucky to be included with the authors she’s hosted. It’s sort of a two week stint over there. Today, and for the next few days, visitors to her blog get to ask me questions (go ahead, ask anything!). Then Roben is going to forward me the questions over the weekend and she’ll post my answers next Tuesday, the 17th. I’m also giving away a digital copy of Worth the Risk.
I hope you’ll pop on over to Robena’s and ask a question. The more questions, the better. (I’ll be forever grateful to you! I’m sort of afraid no one is going to want to ask me anything.)
Thanks a bunch! MWAH!
hugs,
Robin
P.S. I’ll be back here on Friday (the 13th!) with the letter “T”
Today’s Blog Bonanza letter is O. (For those of you just joining me, I’m doing alphabet themed blog posts with the letters from my upcoming release, WORTH THE RISK.)
Check out the ocean on these two gorgeous covers! I so want to be on a beach right now!
I am thrilled to have my friend and author of these two books, Anne Kemp, on my blog today! Welcome, Anne! ALL FRUITS RIPE is the novella prequel (and her debut!) to RUM PUNCH REGRETS, the first novel in Anne’s Abby George series. The novella is a quick read designed to give readers insight into who Abby is. It’s available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble! The novel will be available on May 25th ~ just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Here’s the blurb for RUM PUNCH REGRETS:
In just a few short weeks, thirty something Abby George has endured the death of her mother, was dumped by her fiancé, and got laid off from her job. Stunned and seeking a shoulder to cry on, she turns to her perfect older sister, Leigh. But instead of comfort, Abby receives a surprise: Leigh needs her in the Caribbean to help with some mysterious personal business.
While assisting in the sale and repair of a bed-and-breakfast, Abby uncovers a few huge family secrets as she juggles an unexpected roommate, quirky locals, and nasty centipedes. Abby’s world is further complicated when two potential suitors enter her life. Can Abby get beyond her own psychodrama long enough to open her heart to someone new? Or will she neurotically make her romantic life worse?
Packing nothing but her suitcases and a sense of humor, Abby George travels down an unfamiliar road, but it’s all she can do to hang on for the ride…
Or will she wake up with “Rum Punch Regrets?”
This is your debut! Huge congrats, Anne! Will you tell us your “call” story? My call was an accident. I went to my now agent, Cynthia Manson, with my first three chapters for her to look over and to ask her advice. We spoke on the phone, it was a great call and we left it at “talk to you soon.” Imagine my surprise when she called me a few months later and asked where the manuscript was. She was waiting for it to read and somehow I had missed that part during our conversation! I was elated – and then panicked as I had to finish my book ASAP!
What inspired you to start writing? How did you come up with this series of books for your main character, Abby? I had the chance to live on St. Kitts in the Caribbean in 2009. It was a time when I was a little lost (after being laid-off) and needed an outlet. Luckily for me, the island provided for lots of inspiration as well as ideas for characters and stories!
You live in Los Angeles and have had some pretty cool jobs, please share a Hollywood story with us! There are so many, but one of my favorite moments was when I was asked to clap on Michael Jackson’s album, Invincible. It was soooo cool to get to be a part of that moment.
Write the autobiography of your life in a sentence using at least three of these words: guerilla, deja vu, fiction, truth, lightning, time, ending, dreams, coffee, chocolate. Although I love to write fiction, I’m a firm believer in truth and living our time here as though we’re always in the midst of a chocolate daydream while we skip towards a happy ending! (I think I did more than three!)
What do your books sound like? (Describe them as if they were a song.) I think the books have a fun sound – very eclectic! Moments when Abby is interacting with locals on the island would be highlighted with steel drums or fun Marley-esque island music. Other times, such as when she is with J.D. or Andrew, I hear Coldplay or Rocco DeLuca. And when Abby’s alone reflecting, I’d go with Florence + the Machine, Travis and Keane, oh and some Lilly Allen.There would be instrumental pieces that speak to the tone of her relationship with Leigh when they are together, how they are relating to one another at the moment!
If you could invent one writing related superpower, what would it be and why? I want to fully master the art of multi-tasking! One of the most important aspects of a new book is the marketing. Publishers want to see authors out there participating in social media, while we write our next book and make any edits on our present work all while still being people with lives, families and things to do!
Speed round:
One word you hate: cluster
Word you love: Yes!
What’s on your nightstand? my Kindle, Chapstick, lamp and a candle
Cocktails at five with any actor – who? Oh wow…either Gary Oldman or Johnny Depp. Both men I admire for their versatility in their careers and their dedication to their craft.
Favorite food: Cheese. Hands down, cheese.
Favorite weather: Spring mornings when it’s sunny and we’re about to tiptoe into summer. The smells and the flowers are the best!
Favorite movie: Wizard of Oz – I wanted those ruby slippers sooo much!
Stranded on a desert island with Hugh Jackman or stranded in a book store with Stephen King? My analytical brain goes for stranded in a bookstore with Stephen King – I think we’d have fun hanging out – I know I’d love to just pick his brain and bother him with a million questions!
Favorite travel destination: Anywhere, really – my passport is always at hand and ready to go! Fave spots over the years have been St. Kitts, Jamaica and South Africa. Cape Town is stunning.
Friend you can call to help you hide the body: I’m so lucky that I have great friends – I can think of a few that would help with that! However, I’d call JW, my bro-phew (he’s my nephew by blood, but he’s more like a little brother!) He’s always been there for me and has been my hero many times over. And since he’s family, I wouldn’t feel so guilty asking for help!
Thanks so much for being here, Anne! In honor of Anne’s debut, I’m giving away one digital copy of ALL FRUITS RIPE. Leave me a comment and you’re entered to win! I’ll post the winner tomorrow. Yes, I’ll be back tomorrow with the letter “R.”
Anne Kemp is the author of the Abby George Series, which includes her debut novella, All Fruits Ripe releasing April 6th and first novel, Rum Punch Regrets, releasing May 25th. She is also the columnist behind “Anne In Progress,” which appears monthly in the Frederick News-Post, a newspaper in the DC-Metro area. As a blogger, she is known for penning “Life My Way” and “The Ultimate Late Bloomer.” Her original and honest sense of humor used in her columns and blogs earned her a Bloggers Choice Nomination for Best Humor Blog in 2010. Anne is available for book club discussions of either her novella or book (or both!) via Skype, telephone or she’ll visit in person if she can. She welcomes any and all invitations to your events! A portion of Anne’s book revenue is donated to Lupus LA.
Anne can be found at www.annekemp.com, on twitter at @MissAnneKemp, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/anneinprogress
Happy April!
I hope your spring is off to a good start! Mine is off the charts great! My very first book is coming out soon, and I’m beyond excited. To celebrate, my blog is going to get busy. Thanks to something my Entangled peep Taryn Elliott mentioned about a Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I was inspired to do my own alphabet themed blog posts to take me to the release of my novella.
Rather than go from A – Z (kudos to all you doing so!), I’m going to do things this way:
W-O-R-T-H-T-H-E-R-I-S-K
That’s 12 posts until my novella releases from Entangled. I’ve got some fun things planned and hope you’ll check back frequently! Also, because I so appreciate each and every one of you that stops by, there will be some giveaways. AND, for every comment you make during this Blog Bonanza, you will be entered to win a Worth the Risk swag pack. (This is no ordinary pack, and I’ll be giving very few of them away because they’ll be filled with all kinds of awesomeness. I love giving gifts.)
So without further ado… W stands for Work.
I don’t often talk about my day job, but last week a patient brought something into the office that I just had to share. Working with a plastic surgeon is very rewarding. Yes, we do many elective cosmetic surgeries, but we also do surgeries that help women and men feel good about themselves again. Today, I wanted to mention reconstructive breast surgery. This type of surgery doesn’t just restore how a woman looks, it restores her self esteem, her confidence, her hope. Many women have been through radiation and/or chemo and being a part of their lives is something that humbles me every day. I’m in awe of the amazing women I’ve met.
Here’s last week’s thank-you…
It’s a cake! Isn’t it awesome? I especially liked the nip slip ~ very funny! It was delicious too! So, tell me, what’s one of the best thank-you’s you’ve ever received?
O stands for… stop by on Monday, the 9th, to find out! I’ve got a special guest!
hugs,
Robin
MacGyver (leaning over my shoulder and looking at my messy desk): What’s that say?
Me (looking at the note of scribbles next to my laptop): Uh, something about true love. I wrote it in the dark last night when I was half asleep thinking about my edits.
MacGyver: Is that why I sometimes wake up with ink marks on my face?
Isn’t he funny? (Maybe tonight I’ll try to sneakily draw a heart on his cheek while he’s sleeping. Yep, I think I will.)
I can’t believe that my novella, WORTH THE RISK, will be out soon! I’m super excited to share Sam and Dean’s story with everyone and even more honored to be in such incredible company with the other authors from Entangled Publishing. I’m so lucky to be working with amazing editors and cover artists and publicists. This has been the best experience! Much more to come soon…
In the meantime, tell me what you’re reading! My TBR pile isn’t big enough. Ha!
hugs,
Robin
I have this book. It’s titled 101 Things To Do Before You Die by Richard Horne. Some of the things on his list that I want to do are sky dive, complete a coast to coast road trip across America, go up in a hot air balloon, throw a dart into a map and travel to where it lands, shout ‘drinks are on me!’ in a pub or bar and (maybe) run a marathon. (I say that every year the weekend of the LA Marathon.)
There’s a few other things I’d like to check off the list too, but I can’t mention them here. ;D Two more that I want to bring special attention to, though?
Invent a Word That Makes it into the Dictionary. How cool would that be? After careful deliberation, I’ve come up with… nothing. But I’m thinking about it
Write a Bestseller. That’s number one on his list. I don’t know if my book(s) will ever be bestsellers, but a girl can dream, right? I’d actually like to change this to Write a Book, because as any writer will tell you, that’s all sorts of awesome all by itself. I’m still pinching myself that my first book will be coming out this spring. Updates soon.
What’s on your list?
hugs,
Robin
**The winner of a digital copy of DANGER ZONE by Dee J. Adams is Christina Lee! Congrats, Christina! Please contact me so I can get your book delivered to you!
Last weekend we did something I’ve been wanting to do forever. We hiked to the Hollywood sign. 
I know I said “to,” but I guess I should have said “near,” because that’s as close as we got. There was another route we could have taken that would have gotten us a little closer, but I wanted the full frontal view rather than a side shot.
Turn around, and this is what we saw:
Pretty, huh? I want to go back and do it again. There were other paths we could take. One that led to the “Bat Cave” ~ the cave that Bruce Wayne drove out of in the 1960′s TV show ~ and others that led to who knows where. The people on the trail were friendly, the smell of mustard plants filled the air (except for when we passed the huge clumps of horse manure), and even a reluctant Chick Magnet admitted he enjoyed it. (Score one for mom and dad!)
I made it!
There are a ton of other hiking trails we’d like to do too, so our hope is to make this a more regular thing. Time away from the uh, computer, is a good thing. Have you been on any great hikes?
hugs,
Robin