Maggie Robinson's Blog, page 12

Look Closely

I stole these RWA pix from Sarah Wendell and Beth Williamson on their websites, proof that I did not stay holed up in my room the whole time of the conference. If you squint, you can see me signing a book next to Michelle Rowan at the Berkley signing (she's to the left of Susan Sey)…or at least you can see my brown glasses. And yes, that is the back of my head in a bicycle rickshaw as we raced from the Kensington party to the Berkley party. I myself did not take one picture. Not one. So if you've got any, send them my way!

L.A. Banks Auction

Here's your chance to win the complete Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe collection, including an ARC of September's Mistress by Marriage. That's 7 books! The romance community has banded together to raise funds for author L.A. Banks, and I'm honored to be a part of it. The auction begins July 6 and runs for a week, and there's lots of great stuff to bid on. Here is the link.

PW Reviews IG!

Improper Gentlemen

Diane Whiteside, Maggie Robinson, and Mia Marlowe. Kensington/Brava, $14 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-7582-5109-1

Whiteside (The Shadow Guard), Robinson (Mistress by Mistake), and Marlowe (Touch of a Thief) collaborate on this uneven trio of tales featuring very bad boys. In the Old West of Whiteside's "Talbot's Ace," gambler Charlotte "Ace" Moreland is rescued from a perilous situation by commitment-shy gunslinger Justin Talbot. As they come to terms with their tumultuous pasts, their sizzling passion evolves into a tangible love. Robinson's witty multidimensional characters are vividly entertaining in "To Match a Thief," in which Lucy Dellamar pretends to be the mistress of broke Lord Ferguson until he sells her home to Sir Simon Keith, her first love. Suspense abounds in Marlowe's late Victorian "A Knack for Trouble" as Rosalinde Burke reunites with Aidan Danaher, Lord Stonemere, years after they shared a night of passion in a Bermuda prison. Though the stories have little in common, all will appeal to fans of antiheroes and historical romance. (Aug.)

Reviewed on: 06/20/2011

I'll take"witty," "multi-dimensional," and "vividly entertaining" any day! Thanks, Publishers Weekly!

Let's Get Improper

In a little more than a month, the Brava anthology Improper Gentlemen will hit the shelves! I just got copies of the finished product, and I giggled when I e-mailed friends and said I got a box of Improper Gentlemen. Who would not love some bad boys deliverd by FedEx?

For the next few weeks, I'll be posting snippets of my novella "To Match a Thief" right here. Let the impropriety begin!

Jane Street, London, October 1820

Chapter 1

Lucy Dellamar looked down with dismay at the diamond brooch in her hand.

It had happened again.

She hadn't meant to steal it, though it was clear she had, for why else would it be cutting into her palm? But there it had been, carelessly twinkling on the bedside table of her neighbor Victorina Castellano, where anyone might come upon it and pocket it. At least Lucy had not taken Victorina's matching earrings that were right beside it, although she probably should have. Sets were more valuable when kept together.

Botheration. No time for regrets for her light fingers and inadequate forethought. Lord Ferguson would be happy, and that's all that counted. It meant a roof over her head for another month at least, and perhaps a choicer cut of meat even if the cook had already quit. She would buy it and cook it herself.

Lucy was hungry right now. Thieving was hard work, though whoring was worse. It hadn't come to that—yet.

Even if she did live on Jane Street, 'Courtesan Court', the most wicked street in Mayfair.

Lucy lived a total lie. Oh, too many 'ls' upon the tongue, but there it was. Six years ago, she had been plucked out of obscure quasi-poverty by Lord Percival Ferguson and offered a job she could not refuse.

There was no reason to say no. She had been a twenty-four year old spinster, deserted by her fiancé, a thief far more cunning than she ever aspired to be. For all she knew he was dead—there had not been a word from him in over seven years.

Lucy's new job was remarkably easy. Lord Ferguson had asked her to pretend to be his mistress…

It's June!

Check out these gorgeous romance trading cards Mia Marlowe had made for August's Improper Gentlemen!

I've updated both contests this month. For a chance to win an ARC of Maggie Robinson's Mistress by Marriage, go here. For a signed copy of Margaret Rowe's Any Wicked Thing, go here.

So happy that the books and critique I donated to Brenda Novak's auction raised $227 toward diabetes research! Since I made a few succesful bids myself, I'll be writing some checks too.

I'm about half-way done with the current WIP, and am trying to get as much written as I can before I'm lured out to the lake by my family. I've already tried typing on the deck on my laptop but the glare makes it impossible. Any suggestions?

I've started to plan for RWA in NYC, which of course means a new wardrobe and shoes that won't cripple me. I'm so lucky that I'll have some of my favorite people with me again: two of my daughters, one of my granddaughters, and my friend Claudia. I've already ordered two books on what to do with kids in the city (Sadie is 3 1/2 going on 30). I hope to combine business with pleasure and pray it won't be as hot as it was in Orlando.

Enjoy the start of the summer!

One Day ARC Auctions

Improper Gentlemen, Wednesday, May 25

Mistress by Marriage, Friday, May 27

For a chance to read my Brava August and September releases early, go bid! The money raised annually by author Brenda Novak goes to support diabetes research. If you scroll below to the blog post under the auction banner, you'll see I've donated other prizes towards this worthy cause.

Brief Bits

The response to this month's website contest has been so overwhelming that I'm going to pick more than one winner. Someone will get the royal wedding swag and Improper Gentlemen, and two others will get prize packages, including a DVD of historic royal weddings. The rest of the entrants will receive bookmarks (see below). The newsletter announcing the winners will go out on June 1. (if I get around to writing it, LOL) If you don't subscribe yet, please see the sidebar to sign up!

I've recently received ARCs for Mistress by Marriage, and am donating one plus an ARC of Improper Gentleman to the Brenda Novak auction. I'll post a link back here when I get more info. They will go up for only one day, so if you want to be one of the first to read about Edward and Caroline and Simon and Lucy, get ready to bid!

I'm almost done with my travels. Just got back from a family vacation in Las Vegas. We had to fly around tornadoes on the way home, and my heart goes out to all those who found themselves in their destructive paths. I'll be looking for ways to help, and am sure you will too.

Tomorrow is my critique partner Tiffany Clare's release day! The Secret Desires of a Governess will hit the shelves. Tiff was picked by RT Book Reviews as a writer to watch. Congrats, Tiff!

Eye Candy

I've ordered new bookmarks. Thank you Frauke from Croco Designs!

Brenda Novak's Auction

Get ready to bid on Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research. I'm donating a heart-shaped box of books and goodies including Maggie Robinson's Mistress by Mistake, Mistress by Midnight, Lords of Passion and Margaret Rowe's Tempting Eden and Any Wicked Thing. In addition, my critique partner Tiffany Clare and I are offering to critique 55 pages of a historical romance and synopsis. Two writers for the price of one!

This yearly auction is a readers' and writers' dream. I was so honored to participate last year, and can't see to wait how much gets raised for this worthy cause!

This month's contest: an ARC of Improper Gentlemen, coverflats, bookmarks, magnets, romance trading cards AND royal wedding swag!!! What are you waiting for? Click the on the contest link!

Random Stuff

I was thrilled with the recent 4 1/2 star Saucy & Sinful review of Margaret Rowe's Tempting Eden, the book of my heart and my first sale. "Lusciously richly erotic tale" indeed! Thank you, Christine!

I've finally written almost 1/3 of my current Maggie Robinson WIP, working title Lady Anne's Lover, which I am not at all crazy about. (the title, not the story, LOL.) I've set myself up for kind of a big challenge. The hero has one arm, but that's enough for him to lift a glass or seven and bury his troubles in drink, and the heroine is the victim of inappropriate sexual attention from her own father. Oh, and did I mention he is suspected of killing his childhood sweetheart and she is the scandalous Lindsay Lohan of her time? How to get depressed Gareth out of the bottle and skittish Anne comfortably beneath (or on top of) him will require skill I hope I possess. Anne is also a younger heroine than I've written lately–just 19–and makes her appearance in the first London List book. I had not expected to turn her into the star of her own, but she just wouldn't leave me alone.

The setting of the book is along the Welsh border, and our trip this month was enormously helpful to me to picture where Gareth and Anne live and love. Our vacation was everything I could have hoped for and more. My own hero surprised me by inviting our best friends to join us. Seeing them walk up at Logan Internation Airport left me absolutely gobsmacked. We laughed, we ate (too much), we explored Hay-on-Wye (the most wonderful little Welsh town), went to the St. George's Day celebration at Royal Albert Hall and waved our English flags. I picked up fabulous research books in Hay and at the V&A in London which will keep me inspired for some time.

I also bought a few non-tacky royal wedding souvenirs which I'll give away next month. My lovely Kensington editor Megan Records sent me a few ARCs of Improper Gentlemen, so expect a giveaway soon.

There's still time to enter April's contests, too. Click on the link above and on Margaret Rowe's site.

Of the 300 bulbs I planted last fall, most seem to be peeking out under the mulch. The snow is mostly gone except for a few stubborn patches in the woods. Our thoughts are turning to docks and boats and deck furniture (none of which we can afford), but I don't yet have the courage to store my winter sweaters.

So that's my April news. What's new with you?