As I'm nearing the end of my virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book, the reviews are rolling in. So far the score is 3 for 3. The latest review came from Pump Up Your Book.
www.pumpupyourbook.com/2010/04/27/book-reveiw-black-smoke-by-robin-leigh-miller
This turned out to be a very in depth review and as I read through it a sense of accomplishment surged throughout my body. Now, I love when people like what I wrote and they were entertained and say they couldn't put the book down and they want more. Really, is there anything better? This reviewer, however, got it. Every nuance, every attempt I made to create real, everyday people in a not so everyday world. I actually sighed when I finished. It was like this person was in my head as I wrote the story. Let me tell you, after a fairly crappy morning, this made my day.
I wrote Black Smoke about 3 years ago having no idea what I was doing only wanting to create a tale that I thought would be entertaining. When Cerridwen Press accepted it, I was overjoyed beyond belief. At the same time, I was terrified of how it would be recieved. I'm a worrier by nature, constantly fretting about things I have no control over and it drives my husband nuts. After 21 years, I think he's gotten used to it, that or just ignores me, yeah, thats probably it. Who am I kidding.
When I found the first review for Black Smoke, I couldn't read it. All the what if's in the world crowded my head and made my hands shake. My husband looks at me with confusion and says, "Obviously its good or it wouldn't have been published."
Okay, so that makes me take a step back and think, for a moment. And then the worrying starts again. Well, I broke down and read the review and found out it had been chosen for a reviewers choice award. WOW!
Jump ahead 3 years later and I'm still recieving great reviews for the book. Now, I probably will never be a Nora Roberts, J R Ward or Lora Leigh but I'm completely happy with the fact that I wrote a story that people genuenily seem to love. Right out of the gate I hit a winner.
Worrying mode returns. Can I keep it up? That's what we'll all have to wait and see on. In the mean time, I thank everyone that's read Black Smoke and have let me know they love it. Those encouraging words are what push me to continue writing.
Have an awesome day everyone and as always......
Happy reading!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday nights exhausting fun?!
Wow, ya know in my last post I said I was trying not to let my nerves get to me Friday while I waited to haul my son to the race track and set him lose in his first race of the season, well, IT DIDN'T WORK!!!
I was fine all afternoon, made sure everything was packed in the truck and ready so when the kids got off the school bus, we were ready to go. Then we got in the truck and began the hour drive to the track. Within 15 min. my stomach started a break dance routine that had me doubled over. Eating was out of the question, not just for me but for hubby and the son as well. The other two were quit content to torment and tease and loudly complain that they were hungry. After several attempts to tell them I would feed them when we got there, they calmed a bit, not much but they at least stopped complaining about being hungry.
We get there, pull in, get out of the truck and wham, we're hit with the lovely fresh smell of the surrounding farm fields that have been freshly fertilized with manure. BLAH!!!! Now, I'm a farm girl, I know what manure smells like and it doesn't usually take me long to get used to it. Friday night, however, was different. My nerves were snapping and popping, my stomach was rolling and pinching and this wonderful fresh country air only served to make me nauseous.
I powered on. We unloaded the car, got every thing ready and then I fed my two forever starving children. Ugh, watching them eat was not fun.
After my son goes out and does his warm ups,(laps to just get the car heated and the driver in the zone) I settle a little. We were blessed by the arrival of some good friends which served to further calm my nerves.
Next up, the kid goes out for his heat race. (short race to determine where he starts in the main race) Well, I can now say I think I know what the dust bowl was like. The track sucked. By the second lap thick dust filled the air and obstructed our vision horribly. So now I'm freaking out worrying my kid isn't going to be able to see and he'll drive into someone or someone will drive into him. As the evening lugs on, it gets worse. By the time my kid goes out for his main race, I wanted to throw up, bad!
Two laps into the race we couldn't see where he was or what he was doing. The dust was so damn thick you saw nothing and when I say nothing, I mean absolutely nothing but thick red dust.
With only a few laps to go, son pulls off the track. Apparently we don't have the car dialed in yet and he was struggling to keep the car on the track. Now I can finally breathe, if the freaking dust would let up enough to let me.
Let me tell you, by the time we got home I felt like I'd run a marathon, been up for five days straight and had been worked over by a sumo wrestler and hadn't bathed in a year. My age is showing and that just pisses me off.
Anyway, we survived the night with the car intact, the kid frustrated and mother wondering if she'll live through this summer. My poor husband will be so gray by the end of this season I won't even recognize him.
Here's the stats. Son started 18th and finished 13th. Not a bad night with a car that didn't want to cooperate and a track that you should be planting potatoes in instead of driving on.
Did I have fun? Bet your ass I did. There's nothing like dirt trackin'.
Dirts for racin' asphalts for gettin' there.
So, now I can concentrate on the WIP until next Friday and hope all my other reviews for Black Smoke show up this week. Until then......
Happy reading......
I was fine all afternoon, made sure everything was packed in the truck and ready so when the kids got off the school bus, we were ready to go. Then we got in the truck and began the hour drive to the track. Within 15 min. my stomach started a break dance routine that had me doubled over. Eating was out of the question, not just for me but for hubby and the son as well. The other two were quit content to torment and tease and loudly complain that they were hungry. After several attempts to tell them I would feed them when we got there, they calmed a bit, not much but they at least stopped complaining about being hungry.
We get there, pull in, get out of the truck and wham, we're hit with the lovely fresh smell of the surrounding farm fields that have been freshly fertilized with manure. BLAH!!!! Now, I'm a farm girl, I know what manure smells like and it doesn't usually take me long to get used to it. Friday night, however, was different. My nerves were snapping and popping, my stomach was rolling and pinching and this wonderful fresh country air only served to make me nauseous.
I powered on. We unloaded the car, got every thing ready and then I fed my two forever starving children. Ugh, watching them eat was not fun.
After my son goes out and does his warm ups,(laps to just get the car heated and the driver in the zone) I settle a little. We were blessed by the arrival of some good friends which served to further calm my nerves.
Next up, the kid goes out for his heat race. (short race to determine where he starts in the main race) Well, I can now say I think I know what the dust bowl was like. The track sucked. By the second lap thick dust filled the air and obstructed our vision horribly. So now I'm freaking out worrying my kid isn't going to be able to see and he'll drive into someone or someone will drive into him. As the evening lugs on, it gets worse. By the time my kid goes out for his main race, I wanted to throw up, bad!
Two laps into the race we couldn't see where he was or what he was doing. The dust was so damn thick you saw nothing and when I say nothing, I mean absolutely nothing but thick red dust.
With only a few laps to go, son pulls off the track. Apparently we don't have the car dialed in yet and he was struggling to keep the car on the track. Now I can finally breathe, if the freaking dust would let up enough to let me.
Let me tell you, by the time we got home I felt like I'd run a marathon, been up for five days straight and had been worked over by a sumo wrestler and hadn't bathed in a year. My age is showing and that just pisses me off.
Anyway, we survived the night with the car intact, the kid frustrated and mother wondering if she'll live through this summer. My poor husband will be so gray by the end of this season I won't even recognize him.
Here's the stats. Son started 18th and finished 13th. Not a bad night with a car that didn't want to cooperate and a track that you should be planting potatoes in instead of driving on.
Did I have fun? Bet your ass I did. There's nothing like dirt trackin'.
Dirts for racin' asphalts for gettin' there.
So, now I can concentrate on the WIP until next Friday and hope all my other reviews for Black Smoke show up this week. Until then......
Happy reading......
Friday, April 23, 2010
Guest blogging today at The Story Behind the Book
Today I guest blogged at The Story Behind the Book. As the title suggests, I wrote about how Black Smoke came into existence. Now, I've never done guest blogging before so this was my first experience and you know how first times go with anything. I'm nervous about how people will accept it or if anyone will read it. I guess more waiting is in order. www.thestorybehindthebook.wordpress.com
If you're following my schedule at Pump Up Your Books for my tour, yesterday was posted to have a review at Crazy Book Slut. www.crazybookslut.com I'm guessing due to some personal reasons it isn't there. So, it's not you, or me, it wasn't posted.
On a good note, I accomplished A LOT of writing yesterday on my WIP. If I can do as much today, I'm nearing the completion of the story. Unfortunately, I'm struggling for a title. That will come in time I'm sure. Right now I'd just like to finish, edit and send it off to my editor.
Personally, today is Friday. Friday means racing tonight for my 15 year old son. So far the nerves aren't bothering me. Check in around 5:00 and that may be a different story. He's excited so I'm doing my best not to show him how nervous I can be. I now understand what my mother went through when I crawled behind the wheel of my race car. Although, to be fair, I don't think I can be as nervous as she was. I at least understand what's happening and how safe the car is. Still, that's my boy out there and God help anyone that intentionally goes out of their way to take him out.
Deep breath.....calm.....everything will be okay......(see I can get pumped up just thinking about it) Maybe I miss it a little too much.
Since I have some quiet time, I'm going to hit the WIP and hit it hard. I'd like to have this story wrapped up by the end of next week so I can start outlining the next series I have in mind.
Happy reading everyone!!!!!
If you're following my schedule at Pump Up Your Books for my tour, yesterday was posted to have a review at Crazy Book Slut. www.crazybookslut.com I'm guessing due to some personal reasons it isn't there. So, it's not you, or me, it wasn't posted.
On a good note, I accomplished A LOT of writing yesterday on my WIP. If I can do as much today, I'm nearing the completion of the story. Unfortunately, I'm struggling for a title. That will come in time I'm sure. Right now I'd just like to finish, edit and send it off to my editor.
Personally, today is Friday. Friday means racing tonight for my 15 year old son. So far the nerves aren't bothering me. Check in around 5:00 and that may be a different story. He's excited so I'm doing my best not to show him how nervous I can be. I now understand what my mother went through when I crawled behind the wheel of my race car. Although, to be fair, I don't think I can be as nervous as she was. I at least understand what's happening and how safe the car is. Still, that's my boy out there and God help anyone that intentionally goes out of their way to take him out.
Deep breath.....calm.....everything will be okay......(see I can get pumped up just thinking about it) Maybe I miss it a little too much.
Since I have some quiet time, I'm going to hit the WIP and hit it hard. I'd like to have this story wrapped up by the end of next week so I can start outlining the next series I have in mind.
Happy reading everyone!!!!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Second birthday of the month for my second son!!!
Personal business first. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my son Ethan! The big 12. How did time get so ahead of me?
Nothing to report on the virtual book tour front today. No reviews and no interviews up. Another interview hits the cyber world tomorrow and another review on Thursday.
Good news, I read over the 19 chapters I have written on my WIP today. Thought I might have to do some changes but after reading so far, I'm not touching it. My gut says leave it alone and finish it, so that's what I'm gonna do. I really want to finish this up. My characters are sick of being on hold and I'm sick of keeping them on hold. It's time to give them their ending. So, I might be putting in some late nights again.
I'd really like to have someone read this over before I turn it in to my editor. I want to see if the sad parts can make someone cry. (I'm so freaking twisted) And, I want to see if there's enough action to keep a readers interest. Guess I'll have to wait and find out.
With that being said, I'm going to hit the WIP and see how far I can get tonight.
Happy reading..........
Nothing to report on the virtual book tour front today. No reviews and no interviews up. Another interview hits the cyber world tomorrow and another review on Thursday.
Good news, I read over the 19 chapters I have written on my WIP today. Thought I might have to do some changes but after reading so far, I'm not touching it. My gut says leave it alone and finish it, so that's what I'm gonna do. I really want to finish this up. My characters are sick of being on hold and I'm sick of keeping them on hold. It's time to give them their ending. So, I might be putting in some late nights again.
I'd really like to have someone read this over before I turn it in to my editor. I want to see if the sad parts can make someone cry. (I'm so freaking twisted) And, I want to see if there's enough action to keep a readers interest. Guess I'll have to wait and find out.
With that being said, I'm going to hit the WIP and see how far I can get tonight.
Happy reading..........
Monday, April 19, 2010
Chrissy's World of Books Review. Awesome woman!!
Okay people! Another great review for Black Smoke from Chrissy's World of Books. Again, I wake this morning, try to busy myself waiting for the review to be posted. I got my kids off to school, my hubby off to work and took care of some household chores and then sat down and pulled up the review.
I link into the site, stare at the cover of my book and try to pump myself up to take a look at the review. I had a good review Friday so naturally I expect the cosmos to smack me down. Just the way my life works most of the time.
Carefully I scroll down and begin reading the first line of the review. Sweet, lovely relief flows through my body as I read how she couldn't put the book down. For the entire review, go to www.chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
Yay!!! I got through another one.
I love this woman. I have great respect for any woman that is a mother of 5, that's right, 5 kids and still finds the time to do what she wants and loves to to. Being a mother of 3, I sometimes struggle to keep life in line. For instance, my oldest had a birthday on the first of the month. Tomorrow my second son turns 12. In two weeks my mother has a birthday and 6 days after my husband has a birthday. RESPECT I tell you. Keeping track of 5 children, well, you go Chrissy!
On a side note, my oldest didn't get to race Friday night, (rained out) He handled it fine, probably because he had three friends coming over Saturday to spend the night. Four 15 year olds. What was I thinking? Can we say HYPER? I'm not sure any of them slept all night which kept my other two up most of the night and the dog unnerved. Ugh!!!!
Okay, I need to go now. I still have to prepare the decorations for my son's room. See, I do this thing where I decorate their room the night before their birthday while they sleep so when they wake up they have balloons and streamers hanging around. This time, since my son is so into Lego's, I'm hanging up cut outs of Lego's on his wall. I still have to cut them out, blow up balloons and tie streamers. It'll be a late night.
Take care everyone and as always,
Happy reading...........
I link into the site, stare at the cover of my book and try to pump myself up to take a look at the review. I had a good review Friday so naturally I expect the cosmos to smack me down. Just the way my life works most of the time.
Carefully I scroll down and begin reading the first line of the review. Sweet, lovely relief flows through my body as I read how she couldn't put the book down. For the entire review, go to www.chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
Yay!!! I got through another one.
I love this woman. I have great respect for any woman that is a mother of 5, that's right, 5 kids and still finds the time to do what she wants and loves to to. Being a mother of 3, I sometimes struggle to keep life in line. For instance, my oldest had a birthday on the first of the month. Tomorrow my second son turns 12. In two weeks my mother has a birthday and 6 days after my husband has a birthday. RESPECT I tell you. Keeping track of 5 children, well, you go Chrissy!
On a side note, my oldest didn't get to race Friday night, (rained out) He handled it fine, probably because he had three friends coming over Saturday to spend the night. Four 15 year olds. What was I thinking? Can we say HYPER? I'm not sure any of them slept all night which kept my other two up most of the night and the dog unnerved. Ugh!!!!
Okay, I need to go now. I still have to prepare the decorations for my son's room. See, I do this thing where I decorate their room the night before their birthday while they sleep so when they wake up they have balloons and streamers hanging around. This time, since my son is so into Lego's, I'm hanging up cut outs of Lego's on his wall. I still have to cut them out, blow up balloons and tie streamers. It'll be a late night.
Take care everyone and as always,
Happy reading...........
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Cajun Book Lady Rocks!!!!
I'll admit, I'm not an avid blog follower. I pop in and out of blogs to see what's going on but don't faithfully read many. Well, I found one I'm going to follow. The Cajun Book Lady does reviews of all kinds of books and today she reviewed Black Smoke.
I knew it was coming and have spent the last couple of days sweating and worrying about it. All the other reviews of Black Smoke came from romance review sites. The Cajun Book Lady reviews everything.
I get up this morning turn on my computer and begin the pacing and what if routine. Dumb, yes. Pointless, yes, but there you go, that's me. After the kids left for school at 7:30, I pull up the site and of course, she hasn't got it posted yet. I mean, what the heck was I thinking? It's 7:30 in the morning. The woman's a mother as well and has a life. Just because I'm freaking out over this doesn't mean she is. So after smacking myself in the head for being silly, I go run some errands and return about five hours later, pull up the site and quickly look away from the screen.
Agonizing moments pass as I work up the courage to read. I look at the screen and the first word I see is WOWZA! Okaaaay. Is that good or bad. Damn, now I have to read more to find out. As I read through the review tears well in my eyes and an unseen weight lifts from my shoulders. She likes it!!!!!
I won't repost her review because I don't know if I can, but I'll give you the addy to her site so you can read it. AWESOME REVIEW!!!!
www.thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com
Cajun Book Lady, you rule!!
I knew it was coming and have spent the last couple of days sweating and worrying about it. All the other reviews of Black Smoke came from romance review sites. The Cajun Book Lady reviews everything.
I get up this morning turn on my computer and begin the pacing and what if routine. Dumb, yes. Pointless, yes, but there you go, that's me. After the kids left for school at 7:30, I pull up the site and of course, she hasn't got it posted yet. I mean, what the heck was I thinking? It's 7:30 in the morning. The woman's a mother as well and has a life. Just because I'm freaking out over this doesn't mean she is. So after smacking myself in the head for being silly, I go run some errands and return about five hours later, pull up the site and quickly look away from the screen.
Agonizing moments pass as I work up the courage to read. I look at the screen and the first word I see is WOWZA! Okaaaay. Is that good or bad. Damn, now I have to read more to find out. As I read through the review tears well in my eyes and an unseen weight lifts from my shoulders. She likes it!!!!!
I won't repost her review because I don't know if I can, but I'll give you the addy to her site so you can read it. AWESOME REVIEW!!!!
www.thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com
Cajun Book Lady, you rule!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Time Management....Say What?
Let's see, it's been a few days since I last posted. It's not that I didn't want to, I just wasn't able to squeeze in a few extra moments for a post. By the time I sat down at night, my eyes fought me for control, my eyes won by slamming closed. By the third night, I stopped fighting. Sweet, blissful sleep suddenly became more important than anything last week.
The family business is chugging along nicely but it's eating up precious writing hours. I can live with that since the business is what pays the bills, but if I go too long without writing, those pesky voices in my head become loud, demanding and even argue with each other. At that point, I'm no good to anyone, not even myself. I try to tell them I'll be back to tell their story, but, my precious voices simply won't accept that. They're like spoiled children demanding attention stomping around in my brain and sneaking their way into awkward moments when I should be focused on something else.
On a good note, my kid had a night of practice at the racetrack. Glad we went to practice since the car couldn't seem to make it around the track without spinning out on every corner. Hubby and son, along with other drivers, figured out the problem and it looks like the car will be worth driving this Friday night. I know I said I'd be posting pics, I have pics, I just haven't gotten around to putting them on the computer yet. They'll be coming.
The virtual book tour is in full swing with interviews up all over the place. I have a review coming out this Friday for Black Smoke. If it's good, I'll post where it can be read. If it makes me cry, you'll never know it and you'll have to go hunting the review for yourself. My ego and emotions are overly sensitive lately so I'm not gonna subject myself to any painful torture. *grin*
Okay, that's all I got tonight. My eyes are snarling at me because I'm making them stay open longer than they want to. Think I'll let them win yet again tonight. Hopefully, things will slow down a bit by next week and I can get back to writing on the WIP.
Have a good one everyone......
Happy reading.........
The family business is chugging along nicely but it's eating up precious writing hours. I can live with that since the business is what pays the bills, but if I go too long without writing, those pesky voices in my head become loud, demanding and even argue with each other. At that point, I'm no good to anyone, not even myself. I try to tell them I'll be back to tell their story, but, my precious voices simply won't accept that. They're like spoiled children demanding attention stomping around in my brain and sneaking their way into awkward moments when I should be focused on something else.
On a good note, my kid had a night of practice at the racetrack. Glad we went to practice since the car couldn't seem to make it around the track without spinning out on every corner. Hubby and son, along with other drivers, figured out the problem and it looks like the car will be worth driving this Friday night. I know I said I'd be posting pics, I have pics, I just haven't gotten around to putting them on the computer yet. They'll be coming.
The virtual book tour is in full swing with interviews up all over the place. I have a review coming out this Friday for Black Smoke. If it's good, I'll post where it can be read. If it makes me cry, you'll never know it and you'll have to go hunting the review for yourself. My ego and emotions are overly sensitive lately so I'm not gonna subject myself to any painful torture. *grin*
Okay, that's all I got tonight. My eyes are snarling at me because I'm making them stay open longer than they want to. Think I'll let them win yet again tonight. Hopefully, things will slow down a bit by next week and I can get back to writing on the WIP.
Have a good one everyone......
Happy reading.........
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Third Day of Virtual Tour
Sooo, my guest blog didn't show up on Literily Speaking today. Don't know what happened but, oh well. You can still stop by Night Owl Romance and read that blog AND, if you subscribe to their newsletter, you could win a copy of Black Smoke. I'm getting great comments from readers and I try to respond to them. If you've left a comment at Night Owl and I haven't reponded, please accept my apology. I can't get into the blog as often as I like.
I was supposed to have an interview up at www.personovelty.com but I just checked and it's there now. Apparently it went up today instead of my guest blog. Okay, maybe I'm not reading my schedual right. I'll have to recheck that.
So, stop by and check out the interview. Please and Thank you!
Have a good evening everyone and as always....
Happy reading.......
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Virtual Tour Information and a chance to win a book
Okay, so yesterday started my Virtual Tour for Black Smoke. Today I guest blog at Night Owl Romance www.nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com My topic, inside Black Smoke. If you stop by and leave a comment you could win a free copy of Black Smoke. Please stop by and leave a comment.(she says batting her eyelashes with her lower lip sticking out)
Tomorrow I guest blog at Literarily Speaking. Each blog covers a different topic so check them all out. www.literarilyspeaking.net
Can I just say my nerves are crackling over this tour. I had no idea I would be so nervous. It's hard for me to put myself out there like this. It helps that this is our busy season with our business so, I'm helping my husband as much as I can in our machine shop. It takes my mind off the nerves. Still, I want my tour to be sucessful and sell hundreds of books but at the same time I hate being so open. I'm sure over time I'll become more comfortable.
Please keep checking to see my tour information.
Happy reading......
Tomorrow I guest blog at Literarily Speaking. Each blog covers a different topic so check them all out. www.literarilyspeaking.net
Can I just say my nerves are crackling over this tour. I had no idea I would be so nervous. It's hard for me to put myself out there like this. It helps that this is our busy season with our business so, I'm helping my husband as much as I can in our machine shop. It takes my mind off the nerves. Still, I want my tour to be sucessful and sell hundreds of books but at the same time I hate being so open. I'm sure over time I'll become more comfortable.
Please keep checking to see my tour information.
Happy reading......
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Oodles of things happening
A very busy week. Kids are home for Easter vacation, my oldest celebrated his 15th birthday Thursday and on Friday I received a letter in the mail saying he's been nominated for the People to People Leadership Summit in 2011. (giddy with pride over this one). Racing starts next weekend for him so we're working our butts off to get his car ready. I'll post pictures before he crinkles it up. Of course Easter is tomorrow and I waited till the last minute to gather the basket stuffer's, but, I got it done. Now all I have to do is wait for them to go to bed tonight so I can fill the baskets. Hope they go to bed early. (right)
Monday starts my virtual book tour. I'm excited but becoming increasingly nervous. I have several reviews waiting to be posted on blogs and that makes my stomach quivery. I received some very nice reviews on Black Smoke in the past, but this is different. I'm not sure the reviewers reading Black Smoke this time are all that into romance. We'll see what happens. I'll post every day when my guest blogs are up.
It's a lovely day out today so I'm going to go out and enjoy it.
Have a great holiday everyone, but as you gorge on candy remember what Easter is all about.
Happy reading......
Monday starts my virtual book tour. I'm excited but becoming increasingly nervous. I have several reviews waiting to be posted on blogs and that makes my stomach quivery. I received some very nice reviews on Black Smoke in the past, but this is different. I'm not sure the reviewers reading Black Smoke this time are all that into romance. We'll see what happens. I'll post every day when my guest blogs are up.
It's a lovely day out today so I'm going to go out and enjoy it.
Have a great holiday everyone, but as you gorge on candy remember what Easter is all about.
Happy reading......
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