Lauri Robinson's Blog, page 22

Sweethearts of the West

I hope you all had a wonderful, fun-filled Easter!

I had to take mom to a doctor appointment today, and 8 month old Karlee Jo went with. Goodness! Those snap in/out, carry-baby-with car seats weigh a ton! But the three-generations of us had a wonderful time. We went shopping and out to lunch and visiting...Awesome!

So I am just now getting home and wanted to say I'm a guest blogger over at Sweethearts of the West blog. Stop by and say hi!

Happy Easter

I just wanted to pop in here to wish everyone a very happy Easter, and to tell you that on my way home from my RWA writer's group today, I saw the Easter Bunny.

HONEST! He (or she) was driving along County Road 22 in an old beat up white Ford Pickup. One ear was flopping out the driver's window. I waved and he (or she) waved one big paw back at me.

I'm still chuckling over it.

Enjoy your Family, Friends, and Faith. 

Blessings.

Time flies when you're having fun!

The past week and a half has flown by. My mother had several doctor appointments and is doing so well. She is such an inspiration to what can be accomplished at any age! Hubby and I attended the Wild Turkey Federation Banquet.  Besides winning several awesome things in the raffles, we purchased a log pub table and chairs off the live auction. We had a barbeque for our step-grandson's birthday, I spent a wonderful day with my daughter-in-law on her birthday, and another day shopping with a friend. My new computer arrived and I'm still figuring out the ins and outs of this updated version of word. Oh, goodness, I could go on, but this is my writing blog, not my daily journal, so, on to the writing world: 
I received this wonderful review for Wildcat Bride from TheLong and Short of It Reviews. 
Along with the cover for Nights with the Outlaw came a round of edits for both stories in the El Dorado Widows Duet. I'm happy to say both have been completed and returned to my editor.
Night with the Outlaw will be released on May 1st. (Thanks again to those who pre-ordered. I'm so humbled.)
Wildcat Bride was released this week on Fictionwise. (Thank goodness for Google alerts or I'd never keep up with these staggered release dates.) Thanks for all the wonderful notes on this book. Yesterday I received one that simply said. "Awesome book. Made me cry."
Several wonderful opportunities on are the horizon right now, and I'm so grateful for the way things fall into place just as they are suppose to.
I'm off now, have a bit of writing to complete while baby Karlee is taking her morning nap. As we approach Easter, remember to believe. In all there is, in all you do, in all you have.

Two Things

Busy day, so this is a quick update:
 1. Here's the cover for Nights with the Outlaw.  

















2. Made the appointment to take my car out of storage Saturday AM!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Day!

Oh, goodness, what a glorious day! Too fabulous to let it go unnoticed, I took a long walk. Listened to the birds. Noticed the deer tracks in the spring mud. Relished the sight of spring mud! Amazing. Refreshing. All of it.
I do believe it will soon be pony time! Just this morning a friend from Kansas called. He'd seen a car just like mine, (with the ponies on the side) and thought we were in town and hadn't let him know. I had to say it wasn't us, that my car is still in storage—but not for long!
Wow…thanks to so many for celebrating the release of Wildcat Bride! I received several wonderful emails—from people who bought the book and read it immediately. Here's a snippet from one:  "Thank you for the newest Quinter book.  We loved it!  Ma's next….Keep your wonderful stories coming.  The only regret we have is that we come to the end and have to wait for another release." She explained both she and her husband have enjoyed the series.  
I'm humbled. And so very grateful.
Next release: Nights with the Outlaw, my next HQN Undone will be released May 1st. As soon as I get a copy of the cover art, I'll post it. The pre-buy link is up on Amazon. And once more, I must express my thanks to those who have already reserved their copy.
Do me a favor…turn off the news for a day, ignore any negative thoughts, and just immerse yourself in the abundance of wonderful things surrounding you.
Life is good.

Five Heart Review

I received a wonderful surprise this morning—A five heart review for Wildcat Bride.
This is the first review I've received from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews and so appreciate their time in reading and reviewing the book.

As I've posted before, today is the official release day of Wildcat Bride. It's now available in both print and e-book through The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.

Here in MN we are still awaiting spring, and to rub salt in the wound, the news had to remind us that last year the temperature on April 1st reached 80! Speaking of April 1st…April fool's day, my hubby already got me—which he's still chuckling about. I'm off now to formulate my game plan. Never fear, by this evening he will be 'gotten' as well.

Have a wonderful day—and weekend.

Release Week

I'm so excited Wildcat Bride, The Quinter Brides book 5 will be released this Friday, and I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the people who have emailed me anxiously awaiting the release. I am humbled each time I receive a message from a reader, and can't thank you enough for reading my stories. Your support is so appreciated. I love to write, but you are the fuel that keeps me going day in and day out.

As this story hits the market, I'm feeling a longing to revisit the Quinter families, and have started considering stories for the second generation…Don't know where that will take me, but I'll keep you posted.

Along those lines, recently a reader of this blog emailed to ask what WIP means. I use that as a general reference to my next work in process, and have now created a page on this blog (click WIP under the header picture) to keep readers posted on the stories I'm working on.

And to those of you who have asked about my mother, she is really doing well. Chemo is tough stuff at any age, and I'm very proud of how well she's tackling it all. I'm also honored to have such a wonderful family. All I have to do is say 'Grandma's having a tough day,' and there are people calling her and stopping to visit within minutes.

I hope you all have a wonderful week, with lots of sunshine and a spring in your step.

Taxes and Addictions

I'm working on our taxes this week. I put it off as long as I dare, and I'll be glad when it's all collected, inputted, and delivered to our tax man. I truly don't know why I put it off every year, but I do. 'Individual Income Tax' was first suggested in the US during the War of 1812, however, the treaty of Ghent was signed which ended the need for additional revenue, so the tax was never imposed. Then in 1861, again needing funds to pay for the 'Civil War' the US Gov't imposed it's first personal income tax of 3% on all incomes over $800. By 1866 over $310 million had been collected in taxes. In 2009 Individual Income Tax revenue was approximately $915 billion (this does not include Social Security, Medicare, state, Corporate taxes, etc.). Needless to say, I enjoy research.

On to another topic: I believe I'm becoming addicted to HGTV. I not only like the makeover shows, I like the ones with people searching for homes or apartments. I find myself turning it on for background noise. I've never done that before. I'm much more of a radio or CD person to break the silence. Something else I'll have to contemplate, but in the mean time, I'm enjoying it.

I became a great aunt again last week. My nephew and his wife had a son on the 16th. We attend our fair-share of fundraising events, and I like to look for unique gifts on silent auctions or raffles. At an event back in January I'd purchased a baby blanket for this new arrival. My nephew and his wife can decide what personalization they want embroidered on the blanket and it will be mailed directly to them.

My break from taxes is over. I must get back to it so I can then hit my next WIP.

Enjoy the arrival of spring!

Wildcat Bride

The print version of Wildcat Bride is now available at Amazon and The Wild Rose Press.

The e-book will be released on April 1st.

Tomorrow I'll be at Paty Jager's blog talking about it!

My mother's birthday party was spectacular! My brother and his wife left on Sunday, and that evening called to tell me they bought a new laptop on the way home. While downloading the pictures from his camera, he realized he had the wrong camera. My other brother's camera was identical and the two got mixed up. Thank goodness it was cameras and not kids! Most of the cousins look so much alike that could almost happen.

My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Japan and other parts of the Pacific. The wonderful people I worked with during the sale and translation of Mail Order Husband are all fine, but their emails continue to talk of after-affects I can only imagine.

I'm editing my latest WIP and hope to send it off to my critique partners this week, and then I'll get back to my gold mine story, I think I have the kinks worked out.

Be happy, and smile at someone today—it'll be worth it.

Read an E-Book Week

Yep, that's this week, March 6th-12th. The purpose of the week is to provide education on the ease and advantage of reading electronically. On the official website it says the first e-book came out 40 years ago! If you've never read one, I hope you'll give it a try. I read on my Kindle every night, but don't let not having a dedicated reading device hold you back. Before receiving my Kindle, I downloaded the app to both my laptop and my cell phone, but most e-books come in several formats so no app is needed. Many sites have specials happening this week, and there are lots of free reads out there. I have two with the Wild Rose Press. (Just scroll down the right side panel of my book covers and you'll see them.)

This is also 'party week' around our place. We're celebrating my mother's 80th birthday on Saturday. Family is due to arrive later in the week, and on Friday, I'll be making 20 lbs of Sloppy Joes and ten pounds of au gratin potatoes. My father used to make AWESOME potato sausage, which my mother loved, and just for her birthday, my youngest son (who has the recipe down pat) and his wife made 22 lbs of it for the party. There will be lots of other food and good family fun, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by! (She's doing great with her chemo treatments and is looking forward to the event.)

I'm wrapping up the rough draft a story this week. I love finding out how the characters solve their problems and find their happily ever after. With that said, I'm off now, to pull up the manuscript and type away until it's time to feed hubby.

Have a GREAT week, and DECIDE to be happy. That's all it takes.