Remembrandt Series: A Spy Series for Young Adults with Art History Flair

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!

Remembrandt Book Launch Photo Journal

It's been four weeks since the launch of Remembrandt, my young adult suspense novel. I feel like this month has been whirlwind of successes and lessons learned. Overall, I feel very positive about all the feedback I have been given and I am loving my young adult and adult fan base that I hope continues to grow and grow! Since I know there were a lot of you who really wanted to be at the book launch, but couldn't, I am happy to share with you the events of the night and smattering of photos galore (taken by the budding photographer Kelly Dearth of Delicious Reads & my father-in-law).

Chatting with my own James Bond (aka, my hubby) beforehand! This awesome man was also my wingman/cameraman for my recent "spy experience" video at Deseret Book. 

My marketing director, Garry Mitchell from Walnut Springs Press, and I making plans!

I'm literally in love with my cover poster (printed from none other than good 'ol Costco).

My introduction of Remembrandt and the back story on why I wrote the book (more to come on that in future posts). Whitney from The King's English, the best little bookshop in all of UTAH, introduced me to the group before this, but somehow we didn't get a picture of it.

My first time ever reading the first printing of Remembrandt out loud. I got to share the part of the book where the main character, Alexandra, somehow finds herself at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is the first time she realizes that maybe her Russian professor has a secret and that Brown University isn't the place she thought it was.

I tried to make jokes as I answered questions at the Q&A portion of the launch. I never said I was a comedian.

Two members of my writing group, Riveting Writers, Brooke Hargett & Amy Beals. These gals are going to be BIG!

Singing the song I wrote for Remembrandt after the Q&A. I will post a link to it soon (and I still owe all those that attended a free download of the song as well.). The lyrics are at the back of the book :). A huge shout out go to Larry Banks (the music arranger and man-behind-the-guitar) and my brother, Aaron LuBean, who took my lyrics and melody and helped turn it into something special. It may never be heard on the radio (or by anyone who doesn't know me), but Alexandra's voice couldn't be quieted in my head.

Because I love giveaways I had to do one of my own!

These BEAUTIES on either side of me - Kelly & Kellie - have been some of my biggest supporters and continually let me indulge in all things book related! You'll often find us stalking other authors or stuck with our faces in the pages of a book.

I really love this FAMILY of mine. They put up with so much and it makes me so HAPPY knowing that no matter what, they will always be by my side. My oldest, Henry, knew I was a little stressed on the drive up to SLC to the book launch because we stuck in a traffic jam. I told them all to say a prayer. We did one together. About ten minutes later, the traffic started to ease up and I heard him make a huge sigh of relief. When I asked what was up, he said, "I've said eighteen prayers for you. I'm so glad He heard me." Yeah, my family is kinda awesome.

FYI, my boys hate dressing up with a passion, but they all sported their bow ties without complaint. We could never figure out how to tie Jeff's correctly, so he was going for the "relaxed" spy look.

Trevor was so excited to be one of the winners of the drawing. He told me I had to post this picture. And, no, it is not wine. Anyone who has read the book knows that Mr. Daly only drinks sparkling cider - so that's what I gave away, along with a copy of my book. 

Yeah, I know you all want your very own book cover pillow. My cute writing group got this gift for me to open at the book launch. It's still sitting on my night stand. I think it will have to go with me to all of my book signings!

The night ended with me signing lots of books and chatting with family, friends, and a few people I didn't know. I have a feeling, that most of my book signings in the future won't be quite as fun as this first one, but I really had a blast debuting my novel and can't wait for the book to get in more people's hands.

Thank you to everyone that came to the book launch or wanted to be there, but couldn't. I never realized how much love a girl could feel!

FYI, thanks to everyone who nominated me for the Whitney Award. I am an official "nominee." I won't find out until February 9th if I am a finalist, but I already feel like I've won because of the great support I've felt so far.

If you still haven't gotten a copy of Remembrandt for yourself, stop by The King's English (1511 S 1500 E, SLC). I know many of the Deseret Books in town were sold out earlier this week, but The King's English still has copies (even a few signed ones)! Or make it easier for yourself and order a copy online at Amazon.com or DeseretBook.com.

Happy Holidays everyone! Now sit back, put your feet up, and read!

XoXo,

Robin

P.S. If you've already read Remembrandt or are going to read it, please add your star rating or reviews to Amazon.com, DeseretBook.com, or GoodReads.com (just use these links). Let me know if you add a review (You can do it anonymously and you don't have to write a ton - just a sentence or two or even just a star rating would make me over-the-top happy. You can copy and paste the same review to each site). Those that post a review before I release my single of "Remembrandt Song," will get a free download of the song :).

My mini-me! For weeks before and after the book launch, the four year old of mine walked around singing my song. She still begs for me to play the demo in my car. It cracks me up because she requests it by saying, "Mom, I want to listen to that 'like a Rembrandt painting' song." Everyone that's heard the song will know how catchy the chorus is.
This girl warms my heart. 

Remembrandt by Robin King: A New Young Adult Suspense

Title: Remembrandt
Author: Robin King
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Date: October 2014
Pages: 240
Genre: Young Adult Suspense

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 she wants to ace a test, but not so great when she topples 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 cryptic 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.

__________________________________________________________

You can now preorder it on DeseretBook.com! 
It will be released the end of this month and ship soon after. 

Here's the summary Deseret Book put out (I wrote it, but they shortened it a bit):

Alexandra Stewart doesn’t just walk down memory lane, she lives on it. Her eidetic memory records and plays back her experiences, DVD style. It’s great when she aces a test, but not so great when she topples over a cute guy.

After her Russian professor at the university gives her an impossible puzzle, Alex discovers he has a secret—one that will catapult her into a life of cryptic codes and covert missions. Of course, running secret ops would be easier if she weren’t trying to impress her handsome new running partner. As if love weren’t hard enough already, now she’s trying to find it while dodging bullets and going undercover. One thing is for certain, whatever happens will be forever etched into her memory.