Just a little taste of what is to come . . .

I thought it was about time to give my friends some fun from my book. It is still a few weeks until Remembrandt hits stores, but I thought it would be fun to share some scenes and quotes over the next few weeks to give you a little taste of what the book is like.

This quote is taken from a scene near the beginning of the book where Alexandra has just opened an envelop given to her by her Russian professor. She is shocked by its contents and the possibility that Brown University isn't at all what it seems.

This next one has to be my one of my favorite scenes from the book. The main character, Alexandra (Alex) and Mr. Daly (a colleague that drives her insane, despite his good looks) are sitting on adjacent balconies staring out over the city of Moscow - similar to scene in the picture below. Alex asks Daly how he manages to keep the secret of their job while still having a normal life. This is his response to her.

I can't wait to share more!

I Have an Announcement

No, I'm not pregnant. We're not moving. I'm not going back to school (yet) and no one is graduating from anything.

But...

I have butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it. Are you sitting down? 

I just signed my first writing deal! A publisher wants to publish my 1st book, Remembrandt (a young adult romantic suspense novel). Whoo hoo!!

I sent Walnut Springs Press my manuscript over 18 months ago and a few months back they contacted me asking if it was still available. Three weeks later I signed the contract!

Now before you all think I'm going to be famous and have movie deals or clothing lines and a fan club, let me clear it up for you. It is a smaller publisher. The book will be available online in print or electronic form (Amazon and Deseret Book) and at local bookstores, mostly Deseret Book, Costco and any others that accept books from Brigham Distributing.

I am hoping this is a step in the right direction in my writing career (can I call it that yet?). I'm just super excited that a publisher actually liked my book and wants to get it out there for me. If things go well, they would also like to publish more books in this series.

The past few weeks have been a little crazy with meeting the publisher, going over contracts, and helping prepare sample covers and ideas (all while taking care of 5 kids, no biggie). I even did a photo shoot for the book cover.  The next few months will be filled with revisions and grueling edits.

My First EVER manuscript all printed out, crisp and clean.
From what I hear, it will soon be plastered with pen marks, pages ripped and torn out, and tears shed.

If all goes as planned, Remembrandt should come out this November. THIS NOVEMBER! It's all a little fast and I am really nervous, but it's my foot in the door and I'm hoping it will open up my writing opportunities for the future.

Wish me luck!

Robin

Ahhhh (sigh of relief) . . .

It's official!  I have completed the first draft of my book!  I feel like I deserve putting up my feet and lounging outside my imaginary beach house, eating a thick strawberry cheesecake shake (oooooo, or maybe Oreo??), and watching the waves as they crash to the shore. Ahh.....

But alas, no, this soon-to-be author, will immediately be getting to work brushing up this novel to get it ready for publishing.  This book has been in my mind for over five years, but I didn't start the writing process until about nine months ago.  That's funny.  I just realized it took me just as long to write this book as it takes to wait for a baby to come.  Well, I guess this book is my "baby" right now.

I know all you curious ones out there are wondering what I've written, so I've come up with what I'd call a book jacket for this Young Adult novel.  I still have some kinks to work out, but this is what I have so far:

Remembrandt

some things are better left forgotten

Forgetting the past is hard to do when you have an eidetic memory, but Alexandra Stewart decides to make her first year at Brown University one worth remembering. After she runs into William on campus, she begins to feel like she can have a normal life and ignore the flashbacks that haunt her at night. Solving puzzles becomes more than just a compelling game, when her Russian professor gives her a puzzle that seems impossible to complete, catapulting her into a world of secret codes and intrigue. 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. Will this new found life help her forget her past or is it all somehow connected?

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! Also, follow my blog so that you can hear more about the story and be the first to know where my book is at in the publishing process.  I'm excited to take this journey with my friends and family!