Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

There are two unrelated facts about me that I should mention before I continue . The first fact: I have been writing Regency romance for a few years now. Second fact: I am endlessly amused by the sheep I pass on various farms as I drive to work each day. In spite of the amusement and joy I find in watching young lambs leap while their older, steadier parents mow away at the grass, I have yet to work sheep into a novel. Most of my books take place in London, though my characters always seem to find their way to the country eventually. Once each novel reaches the bucolic splendor of England's countryside, I still don't work sheep into the story line. I think I need to remedy that. I am reminded of the movie version of Jane Austen's novel PERSUASION from 1995 when the opening scene shows the beautiful grounds of the Elliott estate, with live sheep eating in the foreground. I mention PERSUASION often on this blog and elsewhere because it is one of Jane Austen's ...

Please give a warm Casa Welcome to fellow Sourcebooks Casablanca Author Tawna Fenske—who is here to celebrate her latest romantic comedy release! It’s launch day for Believe it or Not , my sophomore romantic comedy from Sourcebooks. That means it’s time for a launch party, so let’s break out the martinis and summon an army of male strippers. Don’t worry, I’ve got the strippers covered. They’re part of the package in Believe it or Not . See, Drew owns a bar in Portland, Oregon, and several nights a week, the bar features male entertainers. Drew enjoys his job – the music, the crowds, the fun – though he could do without the kooky woman next door who runs Miss Moonbeam’s psychic studio. Moonbeam’s daughter, Violet, shares Drew’s aversion to mom’s business, though for different reasons. All she wants is a normal, quiet life as an accountant on the east coast. But when Moonbeam has an accident, Violet agrees to fill in for mom at the psychic studio. It’s a daunting task, ...

By Robin Kaye How Would You Like A Copy of Wild Thing Under Your Tree? I walked into Humpin’ Hannah’s—my favorite bar in Boise and scanned the room. My eyes landed on Hunter Kincaid, tall, dark, handsome, and quiet—he might as well have had a do-not-disturb sign tattooed on his forehead. It was a good thing I rarely follow directions. I strode over to him and took the stool beside his. “Hi, Hunter.” He turned toward me, “Hi. Do I know you?” “No, but I know you. How’s it going?” He gave me that patented confused look most of my characters wear the first time I meet them in person. He had no clue as to who I was, and from the looks flying across his face, I could tell he considered yet decided against being rude and ignoring me. “Good. How ‘bout you?” He waved over the bartender who was also his sister. “Karma, get my friend here a drink, will you?” Karma’s eyebrow rose. “Friend?” She pushed her blonde, curly hair off her shoulders and gave me a once-over. “Robin Kaye,” I said as I set ...

My "Call" story starts long before the book was even finished. Deb and I met at the 2007 National Conference when she had been a Golden Heart judge and LOVED Robin Kaye’s finalling (winning) manuscript, Romeo, Romeo . She offered Robin a contract AT National. Robin and I, not knowing a whole heck of a lot about Sourcebooks, went to their Spotlight and were blown away by Dominique and Deb’s enthusiasm and publishing history. Robin was thrilled to accept the contract and I was thrilled for her! What does Robin’s sale have to do with mine? Well, Deb hung out with us a lot during National. I got to know her; she got to know me. I had already submitted a time travel to her so that was sitting in her queue. She got to it a few weeks after National, sadly, rejecting it. But that was okay. Flash forward to October 2007 at the New Jersey Conference . Deb was there. We chatted. She sat at my table for lunch and I proceeded to drag pitches from everyone at our table b/c I kne...

It was my day to blog and I forgot (until just now when I peeked at my other calendar.) Have I mentioned I have a new book out? I have no excuse...except for gobs of promo to announce my first mass market paperback release, whirlwind blog/book signing tour and keeping dates in two different places. I apologize profusly. Okay, so summer is the theme. Is it summer? I've put everything on hold until after June. Which is a bummer since June is probably my favorite month. I like September too, except it heralds the end of summer and I get bummed out. No, really. I think I have a touch of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder.) I'm such a summer girl that I convinced my husband to take me someplace warm every winter. He knows I need something to look forward to to get me through the lengthening darkness. He can see for himself how much happier and more mobile I am in the sun. This year I signed myself up for the 'Cruise with your Muse' conference in January and I'll be goin...

By Robin Kaye It’s a virtual party, but in my humble opinion, those are the best kind. You can come in your jammies if you want and no one will snicker at you. There’s no need to dress up or do your hair, and there’s no need to diet for a week before hand. No one will count how many drinks you have, or how many times you visit the dessert bar. We’re all just happy you’re here. We’re so happy in fact that we’re giving away a copy of Breakfast in Bed to a lucky commenter. So come on in, make yourself comfortable, and be sure to make some small-talk to be entered. Here’s an excerpt of Breakfast in Bed : Rich followed her to the kitchen and leaned against the breakfast bar, staring at her as if he could see beneath her clothes. It was unnerving, and she reminded herself of all the reasons she didn't like him. "I know you don't like me much." Becca took a cup from the cabinet. Ah, and he was a mind reader too. "I don't know why, but it doesn't matter." ...

By Robin Kaye My youngest daughter was born with a very rare genetic disorder (she’s one in a million in more ways than just one.) It took us over a month for her to be diagnosed. My husband and I spent the first three years of Isabelle’s life trying desperately to keep her alive. During that time, it seemed as if there wasn’t a week that went by when we weren’t rushing her to the hospital with pneumonia, 106 degree fever, or seizures. She had five operations between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. Between Isabelle and my other two children (a 4-year-old and 18 month-old), I don’t think I slept a full night in all that time. Before Isabelle was born, I read everything I could get my hands on and I admit to being somewhat of a literary snob. I had eclectic tastes, but I always made it a point to read all of the Oprah books. After I had Izzy, I realized that the Oprah books were, more often than not, depressing. My life was depressing enough. I didn’t need to read about the nasty reali...

By Robin Kaye Last April, I was at the Washington Romance Writers Retreat and I heard P.C. Cast talking about her writers’ journey. She’s had one heck of a trip and has since become one of my heroes. But that’s a story for another blog. One of the many things that made a huge impression on me was when P.C. spoke about her dream board. P.C. Cast put all her dreams on a poster board and looked at it often. The day she hit the USA Today Best Sellers List, she thought to herself that when she hit the NY Times list, she’d have to make a new dream board because she would have accomplished all the dreams she put on it. P.C. took another look at her dream board and realized that she’d put the USA Today List, not that NY Times List! It was time for P.C. Cast to make a new dream board. I went right home and started on my very own dream board because, like P.C. Cast, I want to achieve my dreams. I want to see my book on the NY Times List, to vacation at the beach, take my kids to Europe, move ba...

By Robin Kaye In my next book, Breakfast in Bed , Rich Ronaldi really can’t cook. He’s never been allowed in his mother’s kitchen. He doesn’t know what a pyrex pan is. He’s never been taught how to do dishes. He never set a table. The man is spoiled, sure, but he was also deprived an education in life 101. His mother thinks nothing of it. Rich is the prince, after all. If food isn’t microwavable, Rich is afraid to touch it. When he realizes the only way to be an equal partner in a relationship is to be able to put something more on the table than microwaved coffee, he finds a Domestic God Coach to teach him to cook and clean. I had such fun writing about Rich’s adventures in the kitchen and every other room in the apartment. And believe me, they were adventures! When I was coming up with the story for Breakfast in Bed, I thought long and hard about people who say they can’t cook. I’ve always been amazed by seemingly intelligent people who say they can’t cook. I mean, really, how hard i...

What are you working on now--what author hasn't heard that question? When I first started writing fiction, one of my challenges was forcing myself to focus on finishing one story before beginning another in earnest. It's so easy, when you hit the Dreaded Middle of writing a novel, to want to move on to something different. And, to tell the truth, sometimes it does help to take a break and spend an afternoon playing with a different set of characters and their lives. I'm currently working on another romantic comedy, hoping to build on Fire Me 's following. Another rom com sits with our wonderful editor, Deb, waiting for her insights. Its title right now is (drumroll, please) My Own Personal Soap Opera: Looking for Reality in All the Wrong Places. I love the fact that the title is "personal," the way Fire Me 's title is. And I love that it has a subtitle that parallels Fire Me 's (Scheming and Dreaming and Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places). Like...

By Robin Kaye Last weekend I spoke at my local library about writing, my path to publication, my books, and the general state of publishing. I’m told I had a great crowd, which amazed me because there were only about 10 people in attendance, all of whom I knew. Still, it was a lot of fun to have the opportunity to speak to crowd who was actually interested in what I had to say. The best part was when my favorite librarian got off from work early to join the group. She regaled everyone with the story of how I would come into the library a few days a week, check out a gazillion books and tell her about the book I was writing. I remembered how much fun I had writing my first book. I had three small children at home and had moved across the country to a place where I had no friends or family. I came to writing through a back door, or so I like to think. I felt as if I needed to write. I needed the creative outlet that writing gave me. It never occurred to me that anyone else would be inter...

It's been an exciting weekend as Fire Me officially launched and I did its first book signing at the Lancaster, PA Barnes & Noble! The Community Relations Manager (CRM) there is a terrific fellow who really goes the extra mile to make authors feel welcome. The signing table was adorned with fresh flowers (that he wraps for the author take home at the end of the visit), several pens, post-it paper to write out difficult names, a water pitcher and glass, and a gift of candy. It was a busy afternoon at the B&N, which was great to see in this bad-news economy. Also great to see--a really diverse crowd of shoppers with an equal mix of men and women, dressed up and casual, punk and designer-label, young and old. Yes, people are reading....and buying books, all kinds of people, in fact! Fire Me's story--of Anne Wyatt detouring from handing in her resignation to going for a lay-off and its severance package instead--was a great conversation starter with some browsers. When I t...

Do you hear that thumpa-thumpa? That's my heart beating fast as I anticipate the official release of Fire Me on May 1! Actually, the book's been shipping early, if amazon is any guide, and I was thrilled to receive my own copies from Sourcebooks a week ago. And let me say again -- they are gorgeous! The finished book is slightly different than the ARC, with a deeper blue on the cover that really pops and the lovely blurb from Melissa Senate. I know folks might be tired of me recapping Fire Me's story, but for those who don't know, it follows PR specialist Anne Wyatt through one crazy work day as she tries to "win" a lay-off and the severance package that goes with it (since she's leaving for another job anyway). She learns a lot about herself and love in the process. Fire Me is a comedy (uh, ya think? LOL!) which presented all sorts of challenges to this writer as I struggled to come up with funny situations, turns of phrase or ideas that worked as s...