You know how you meet people and immediately know that they are way too cool for you. Yeah, that's what I thought when I first met Hikari @foldedpagesdistillery. She's now one of my favorite people! Even though she had to move away from Utah, she still made this beautiful layout for me when Memory of Monet came out.
Like seriously, it is so beautiful! When she first sent it to me, I may have teared up. I had so much fun writing this series and now that it has come to a close, I'm so happy to have this momento with all the books. It's like a tribute to the main character, Alexandra, because she's like a real person to me. And, in another life, I would have been her.
If you haven't had a chance to read the series (think Covert Affairs for a slightly younger audience), I'd recommend starting with Remembrandt, then Van Gogh Gone, and finally Memory of Monet. You won't regret it!
Stolen "View of the Sea at Scheveningen" by Vincent Van Gogh.
Recovered September 2016
You know how I wrote this book a while back (November 2015) called Van Gogh Gone. It's the second book in the Remembrandt series, the story of a 17-year-old girl, Alexandra. Because of her eidetic memory, Alex can't forget anything. When her Russian professor gives her an impossible puzzle to solve, she is catapulted into a life of cryptic codes, covert missions, and unexpected love.
Well, the title of that book was Van Gogh Gone for a reason. Alex is sent across the globe in search of a stolen work of art. One of those paintings was "View of the Sea at Scheveningen" (sometimes called "Seascape at Scheveningen"). In the book, I describe how the painting was stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in 2002 (true story). I also described (I totally made up) how the painting was being used by a European crime syndicate as a means of trade. Guess what? I was right! It was the Italian mafia. But that's not the coolest part . . . "View of the Sea at Scheveningen" has been recovered!
Here is a little excerpt from my book, describing the stolen painting:
“I don’t want you dead, Alexandra. What I want is Van Gogh,” Elijah said. “Van Gogh?” “Better yet, what I want is the painting View of the Sea at Scheveningen by Vincent Van Gogh.” Elijah leaned forward in his chair. “It is a scene as viewed from the beach with a—” “I know the painting.” I saw it in my head, along with the description below it from an art book I’d leafed through nearly five years before. It depicted a scene from the beach resort where Van Gogh apparently painted it. The wind from the day not only influenced how the artist painted the blowing flag of the ship on the sea, but it also blew grains of sand into the thick, oil-based paint, leaving some permanently embedded in the layers. “He painted it outdoors, which was nearly unheard of at the time,” I went on. “Most impressionists sketched on-site and painted at home to avoid . . .” I stopped myself from nearly reading all the words below the painting in my head. Elijah cocked his head to one side. “I knew you were your mother’s daughter. Art is in your blood.” Or in my mind. Elijah didn’t know about my eidetic memory and how, at that moment, it was flashing to every book, article, or website I had ever seen on Van Gogh or his paintings. “Sea at Scheveningen was stolen in 2002 and hasn’t been recovered by any of the agencies searching for it,” I said. “Why would you think it still exists?” “I have my reasons.” “Even if it does exist and I actually wanted to help you, what makes you think I could find it?” “You are forgetting how well I know The Company.” I cringed at his tone when he said “The Company.” It was an insider’s right to refer to the organization that way, and Elijah no longer had the right. In fact, it turned out he never had it to begin with. “If you and that team of yours can stop a Russian terrorist organization from poisoning a water supply, you can find a minor painting.” “If it’s so minor, why do you want it? It’s not like you can hang it up in your jail cell.” A boisterous laugh rumbled from Elijah’s chest. A silver filling in one of his back molars caught the light. “‘There’s no art, to find a mind’s construction in the face.’” Then he winked. I knew what that quote meant, and it had nothing to do with art. Shakespeare was referring to the fact that you can’t tell what a person is thinking by looking at his or her face. My mind recalled the last time Elijah had quoted Shakespeare to me. It had been a clue to lead me to discover that Elijah was a double agent. If he really had something he wanted to tell me, he should just come straight out and say it. I’d had enough with his games. “You can quote MacBeth all you want” —my voice began to rise— “but it’s not going to convince me to do anything for you, let alone find a painting. You have no leverage here, Elijah. I can’t believe I’ve listened to you for this long.” I jumped up, nearly knocking over my chair, and headed for the door. “You’ll change your mind.” Elijah sounded so sure of himself that my grip on the door handle tightened until I felt my blood pulsing against the metal. I took a deep breath to keep myself from losing it completely, then gave up. I no longer cared about the camera in the interrogation room. I marched back to the table and bent over it until my face was just a foot from Elijah’s. The only way to keep the memories of him from haunting me was to prove to myself that I didn’t need to be afraid of him. “No, I won’t.” I glared at him. He returned with an icy stare that didn’t scare me this time. He leaned forward a few more inches and whispered in my ear. “Talk with your father first before you make a promise you can’t keep. Ask him what really happened after the accident.”
(Excerpt taken from Van Gogh Gone by Robin M. King, Chapter 4)
I'm so happy that these works of Van Gogh were recovered. I'd like to think my fictional character had a hand in it in some way . . .
Congrats to The Van Gogh Museum for getting back what was lost. I love the excitement showed by Axel Rueger, The Van Gogh Museum director. His smile is priceless.
Writing Van Gogh Gone has been such a great experience for me, which is kind of ironic because it is just a young adult spy novel. A few months back, I was contacted by a man in the Netherlands who is curating a library filled with books and DVD's all about Vincent Van Gogh. The curator lives near the Van Gogh Museum in Nuenen c.a. in the Netherlands. I told him my book was a work of fiction, but he still wanted it a part of the library. He even invited me to come to his town and he would show me all the special Van Gogh spots. Ha! If I ever make it that way, I will for sure stop by.
If you'd like to read Van Gogh Gone, I'd suggest reading Remembrandt first. You can get copies of either book on Deseret Book, Amazon or your local bookstore. Memory of Monet, the third book in the series, comes out November 2016 and is currently available for preorder!
I know. I'm totally late in posting these, but they are finally here! Yay! I love this YA series so much and loved being hosted by The King's English Bookshop. They are by far one of my favorite places in Utah. Thanks to them for the location. A shout out to my friends Suzie and Bethany for the fabulous cookies. Thanks to the Durtschi's at Crio Bru for providing the amazing brewed cocoa bean drinks (yum!). Last of all, thanks to all my supporters for coming out and listening to me gush about this labor of love, Van Gogh Gone. You can still pick up a copy at your local Utah bookstore, Deseret Book, or Amazon. Don't forget to read Remembrandt first if you want to get the full story :)
It's go time!
I absolutely LOVE my cover to Van Gogh Gone (Remembrandt #2). It may be that I helped create it, but it's probably more because I got the gorgeous Marli to model for me and Summer Nicole Photo to take the cover photo.
My cheesy smile before the launch begins.
Thanks to my 7-year-old, these custom cookies were nearly gone before the launch even started.
Though some of these gorgeous cookies (made to mimic the symbol of the spy organization in the book) were damaged in transit, they tasted as good as they looked. Thanks, Suzie!
A launch wouldn't be complete without my biggest supporter, my daughter . . . and that child that I will not claim behind us :)
Crio Bru? Yes, please! You can't have a book launch on a chilly day without a warm brewed drink.
Bethany saved the day with these custom cookies she created just hours before the launch. It's a good thing we had them in addition to the others because every one of them disappeared minutes after the reading and Q&A.
There are so many people I love in this picture!
My cute friends from book club! Jen, Kara, and Julie - you guys are the best.
This mother-daughter duo are such good friends and great supporters. Love you, Krista and Shaustia!
Just waiting around with The King's English staff before I began.
Just giving a little back story on how Remembrandt and Van Gogh Gone came to be.
I know I was saying something super interesting here.
I'll be honest with you, I don't even remember what part of my book I read for the reading! Does anyone remember?
Either I said something really funny here or someone in the audience did ;)
My handsome hubby and youngest daughter totally enthralled by my words.
Some of my favorite people came!
Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings came! She is amazingly cute blogger, crafter, and reader. Her etsy shop (cute and hip baby and toddler clothes) is TO DIE FOR!
See? Totally enthralled . . .
I'm so funny! (and I was so 16 weeks pregnant too and no one knew)
I told you I was funny. Love you, Amy!
Whitney and Alix came too.
They couldn't wait to get reading.
Angie is my soul sister and seriously should not stand next to me because she's so gorgeous.
Signing time! The King's English has this cute little nook upstairs where authors sign their books. I love it.
I like to personalize my books before I sign my name.
Finally, I got a chance to sit back and relax.
and drink some Crio Bru.
This was not posed. If it was, I wouldn't have a double chin :)
Kelly from Delicious Reads and LitJoy Crate is one of my favorite people and has supported me from the beginning.
Some of my Delicious Reads friends. I love you guys!
I love that you'll do crazy jumps in the air with me.
I vaguely remember someone making an inappropriate comment here about my the placement of my books. Thanks to all my supporters (no pun intended) .
Seriously, this was the best book launch I could have asked for!
XoXo,
P.S. The final book in the Remembrandt series will be coming out fall 2016! I'll be announcing the title at an event this coming Saturday,
Who's ready for a fast-paced read to get your heart pumping in more ways than one? My book, Remembrandt is a young adult romantic suspense with a Alias/Covert Affairs-like feel, perfect for fans of Ally Carter or just those who wish they could live as a spy.
I've partnered with @deliciousreads and @foldedpagesdistillery on Instagram to giveaway the first two books in the series (Remembrandt and Van Gogh Gone), along with a custom ring, only worn by members of the spy organization in the book,The Company. Head on over to Instagram (@AuthorRobinKing) or Facebook (Author Robin King) to enter!
Here's a synopsis of each book:
"I don't walk down memory lane. I live on it."
Summary:Alexandra Stewart doesn't just walk down memory lane, she lives on it. Her eidetic memory records her experiences and plays them back, DVD style. It's great when you want to ace a test, but not so great when you topple over a cute boy in the hallway and the humiliation plays back over and over and over . . . Brown University seems like the perfect place for the seventeen-year-old to forget her past. Hope for a normal life comes in the form of a handsome new running partner who makes her heart race and body perspire even before she laces up her shoes.
When her Russian professor gives her a puzzle that seems impossible to solve, Alex discovers that he has a secret – one that will catapult her into a world of secret codes and covert missions. As she tries to find a balance between the two different worlds vying for her attention, she wonders if she can have relationships with the ones she cares about while hiding a clandestine life, uncovering the truths of an underground enemy.
One thing is for certain, whatever happens will be forever etched into her memory. And some things are better left forgotten.
Remembrandt #2
Summary: Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Stewart finally has a life worth remembering - a Spanish tutor who gives perfecto a new name, a roommate that could double as her sister, and a special role in a secret spy organization that exists in the basement of Brown University.
But when her colleague, Daly, returns from a recent trip to Moscow accompanied by a man she never thought she'd see again, Alex is ripped away from her life in Providence and sent across the globe in search of a stolen piece of art. In desperate need to find the Van Gogh painting, she will do anything to find it. Anything.
From Barcelona to Paris with only Daly at her side, the bonds of friendship are stretched as the duo uncover a truth neither one of them saw coming. Finding the painting could mean discovering a part of Alex she is ashamed could even exist, but without it, she could lose everything. The world around Alex threatens to corrupt the memories she holds most dear and the person she loves the most is at stake.
It's here! Finally. If you haven't read Van Gogh Gone yet (or you want a copy to share with a friend), today is your lucky day. Actually Janurary is your lucky month. I'm giving away 5 copies of Van Gogh Gone (Remembrandt #2) on GoodReads. Good Luck! I can't wait for you to read it.
It's here, my friends! It took a little longer than I planned and we had a few last minutes changes, but I LOVE how it turned out.
Van Gogh Gone by Robin King (Remembrandt #2)
The model, Marli, looks amazing as Alexandra, Thanks to the amazing Summer Nicole Photo for taking the photo of the model. Also, a shout out to Classy Cosmetics for doing the model's makeup and to Bryn Allred for making the model's already beautiful hair perfect for the cover.
In celebration for the completion of Van Gogh Gone (Remembrandt #2), we are doing another giveaway through GoodReads! Even if you've already read Remembrandt, enter the giveaway as gifts for friends and family (all copies will be signed by the author). Van Gogh Gone will be released this fall so if you haven't read the first book, this gives you the perfect opportunity to find out all about Alexandra and what's really in the basement of Brown University. I can't wait for you to read it.
It's been almost 8 months since my first book, Remembrandt, came out and Remembrandt 2 is done! At 84,533 words, this book is quite a bit longer than Remembrandt. I also spent much more time editing, researching and writing this baby. I'm so happy with how it looks now, but I know it will be even better as I work with my editor to polish it more.
In celebration of completing the book, I figured it was time to announce the official title. Here goes:
“Espionage isn’t just her job, it’s a work of art.”
SO what do you think of the title? Do you like the little teaser for the book cover in the background? And the tagline . . . I love the tagline!
And here's the summary:
Seventeen-year-old Alexandra
Stewart finally has a life worth remembering - a Spanish tutor who
gives perfecto a new name, a roommate that could double as her
sister, and a special role in a secret spy organization that exists in the
basement of Brown University.
But when her colleague, Daly,
returns from a recent trip to Moscow accompanied by a man she never thought
she'd see again, Alex is ripped away from her life in Providence and sent
across the globe in search of a stolen piece of art. In desperate
need to find the Van Gogh painting, she will do anything to find it. Anything.
From Barcelona to Paris with
only Daly at her side, the bonds of friendship are stretched as the
duo uncover a truth neither one of them saw coming. Finding the
painting could mean discovering a part of Alex she is ashamed could
even exist, but without it, she could lose everything. The world around
Alex threatens to corrupt the memories she holds most dear and the
person she loves the most is at stake.
If you haven't read Remembrandt, you will want to get your hands on a copy before the sequel comes out. Van Gogh Gone will hit the shelves this fall.
