E.J. Robinson's Blog

Summertime, the Living is Easy

Ah, Minnesota

A funny thing happens in Minnesota when spring gives way to summer: peeps head out into the world and don’t look back. After two and a half years of living here, I’m still amazed whenever that seasonal threshold is crossed. It’s like some magical signal resounds from the deep DNA, yelling, not whispering: “get to the cabin!” One minute the streets and shops are filled with people. The next, the city is empty, and Facebook photos start popping up of kids at the lakes, adults on hikes, and enough BBQ smoke to prompt a few frightened calls about wildfires. After being locked inside a whiteout winter for four months, the reprieve is like the commutation of a prison sentence that can never come too soon.

This was never as clear to us as it was this weekend. All through the winter, our local movie theater sells out tickets to the latest blockbuster that everyone has to see. Which is why I bought tickets to Aladdin early. The kids wanted to see it almost as much as their rents. Then we got to the theater and guess what? It was only half full. For the biggest movie of the weekend.

Aladdin 2019

We had high expectations for Aladdin and were not disappointed. It’s been many a year since I watched the animated movie in its entirety, but the storylines were pretty close. Why mess with a good thing, right? If Disney knows anything, it’s now to make a spectacle movie, and on that note, Aladdin delivered. Plenty of songs, great visuals, and heart. I was especially impressed with the acting, led by Will Smith, who put an urban bent on Genie to ensure he steered clear of Robin Williams’ turn. But the actors that played Aladdin and Jasmine were equally good. Probably the best aspect of the movie was the Bollywood style song and dance show that busted out in several scenes. It was enough to get my eldest son doing his proudest white boy imitation of Dad in the theater aisle. Hashtag SO PROUD.

Outside of that movie making experience, we’ve managed to get out of the house ourselves. Last week I chaperoned one of the kid’s school field trips to the local wildlife park. The workers there were tagging birds that often end up as far south as South America. Then, I did a lot of bike riding. The paths here are ridiculously gorgeous. One moment you’re flying through a path along a string of houses, then the next you’re in a forest with deer to your left and wild turkeys to your right. They all stare at you as you speed past before dismissing you with nary another glance.

Get it in the water!

This weekend we also shot down to the big lake, five minutes from our house. The beach was full of kids in swimsuits, few of which were brave enough (read: crazy) to actually get in the water. Our eight-month-old puppy had no such qualms. She leaped in to hunt down anything that remotely resembled a stick in the water. It’s amazing how quickly some dogs adapt to the water with full abandon. It had us and a lot of onlookers giddy with delight.

The Minnesota Water Dog

With only a week and a half until school gets out, I’m on schedule to finish the first draft of my next book before the monsters come to roost for summer. First drafts are always about discovery and this one has been especially fun, and, honestly, easy. I keep waiting for the impending wall of doom to collapse on my head, but there’s been so sightings of it yet. Or white walkers for that matter. I suppose my Watch is almost over too. I’m very excited to get this one into the hands of some readers for feedback. Honestly, I think it’s my best yet.

That’s it for the pre-summer update. Time to put some burgers on the grill, beer in the ice chest, and to crack that book I’ve been meaning to read. The pile’s stacked, but so is summer, and I, for one, couldn’t be any more excited.

Great Review of my latest from Kirkus Reviews

Baby, it’s cold outside!

Baby, it’s really cold outside.

It’s a frigid -28 degrees here in Minneapolis. School’s been canceled, my wife was told to stay home from work, but Jury Duty must march on! So say the city geniuses that keep the big machine moving. I hope they have one of those car-jumper machines on wheels. Yesterday I found a great outdoor parking spot two blocks from the courthouse with only a couple cars in it. Walking back after court, I realized why. No one wants to be out in this mess! My car battery almost froze too. I guess I’ll have to find covered parking, but as the elderly gent sitting next to me in the jury room said, “that’s how they get ya.”

It’s been an odd winter. We started out December with warmer than average temperatures and very little snow, something welcome in my portion of Minnesota. But Old Man Winter has come back with a vengeance, bringing this arctic vortex that will give us a 60 degree turnover between today and Saturday. It would be more navigatable if I wasn’t on jury duty and we hadn’t gotten a new puppy less than a week ago. Needless to say, her inclination to “go” in the house is waging a war against her training to date. We’re winning, thanks to dogged determination. Heehee. See what I did there? Here’s a glam shot the adoption agency prepared of our new girl, Nyx.

Nyx

The release of Christopher Columbus and the Lost City of Atlantis went off without a hitch in December. I was already halfway through my next book, the first in a space series when a famous author’s tweet drew my eye to a debut author’s release, which happened to have the exact same premise. Bummed, but feeling in a very good place writerly-wise (that’s a phrase and I’m rolling with it!), so I decided to write a screenplay over the remaining Christmas break. Three weeks is a very quick turnaround for the first draft of a screenplay, but as already stated–I was feelin’ it, yo! It’s a thriller someone described as The Thing meets Jurrasic Park. Hope to see it on the big screen next year or two. Anyway, I wrapped that baby up in early January and got it out to some industry peeps for notes. Feeling good about where it’s at (two turntables and a microphone).

I immediately jumped into the next book, something I’m adapting from a screenplay I wrote many years ago, but never showed around. I was crazy about the idea then and my adoration for it has only gotten stronger with age (unlike me). Good news is it’ll be a quick write too as it should come out half as long as my last novel. I can’t mention the idea yet, but, let’s face it, I rarely write anything other than high concept ideas. That’s a movie term for stories or films with a big, commercial hook. I don’t write these because I think the hook will sell, but because it’s the type of story/film that I enjoy. I’m hoping you enjoy them too.

I get a lot of emails asking me about a new Robinson Crusoe book and a second book for Christopher Columbus. I’d love to write both. RC is still on hiatus in the former UK but will return in 2247 somewhere down the line. He’s enjoying time with his daughter and family. Friday does too, but she worries about getting too soft.

A new Columbus book will depend on how the first one sells. Even with a passel of fans from my previous trilogy, I’ve come to learn not everyone makes the immediate transition to a new series. I know it’s good from those that have read it, but I’ve got to continue to work on marketing and publicizing it. If you haven’t read it yet, the feedback and reviews have been pretty stellar so far. I hope you’ll give it a chance.

That’s it from the arctic midwest. It’s time to head off to Jury Duty. If I don’t make it back, think of me fondly.

As always, be good to each other, and happy reading.

EJR

New Book Release day!

Christopher Columbus and the Lost City of Atlantis  is now available!

Releasing a new book is like giving birth. The unbridled joy in making and nurturing it quickly turns to sleepless nights and non-stop bottle feeding. By bottles, I mean wine, of course. And by feeding, I mean guzzling. For me anyway. But I digress.

The book is out and I can finally sigh with relief. Now, it’s in your hands. Or in most cases, in your reading device. If you feel tremor while holding it, it’s because there’s so much frolicking goodness inside it, it might burst out. I hope it doesn’t stain.

I know I mentioned this before, but this book is a departure from the Robinson Crusoe series, so I’m curious, nervous, and excited to see how my readers respond to it. I’d always wanted to write a fantasy-adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones, where an old pulp style hero sets out to do the impossible and madness ensues. Fear not! A lot of the qualities that drew fans to my earlier work are present here: action and adventure, a thrilling pace, heartfelt characters, and imaginative worldbuilding. At least I hope they’re all in there. Ultimately, you will decide.

Anyway, I thank you for your time and truly hope you enjoy reading this one as much as I did writing it. If you do, please consider recommending it to someone else or leaving a review. And if you love it, shoot me a note/tweet/flash of morse code and let me know. After all, man cannot live on wine alone.

Now, onto Atlantis, and adventure!

EJR

 

My new novel – Available for preorder now!

Dear readers,

I’m thrilled to announce the unveiling of my latest novel, Christopher Columbus and the Lost City of Atlantis!

History remembers Christopher Columbus as a steadfast explorer who crossed the Atlantic to discover America. But what if I told you that’s not the real truth? That he was, in fact, a notorious adventurer who defied kings and gods in pursuit of a legendary treasure? Join him and his companions as they voyage to the lost city of Atlantis, where the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance.

This is a fantasy adventure written in the vein of Indiana Jones. I originally wrote it as a screenplay many years ago. And although it was immediately scooped up by one of the biggest movie producers in Hollywood, it was never made into a film. Over the course of a dozen years, I’ve been asked time and time again, “whatever happened to that project?” It’s one of the worst things about being a screenwriter, creating something you love, which people are passionate about, but you’re unable to share it with others. Now, an entirely new audience will be able to read and enjoy it. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

It is important to note things have changed in the years since the story’s conception. Society no longer looks at Christopher Columbus as they did 100, 50, or even 10 years ago. I discuss the concerns of creating a fictional story about such a controversial, historical figure in the novel’s foreword. Once it becomes available, I suggest you check it out. For now, the book is available for PREORDER on Amazon. The official release date is December 14, 2018. If you enjoy fantasies loaded with action, adventure, and mythology-themed magic, I hope you reserve your copy soon.

EJR

Balls In the Air and other such musings…

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain. We’re still in a holding pattern awaiting runway designation. Currently, I’m sending our staff around with some free refreshments. I remind you to keep your seatbelt buckled at all times, be kind to your fellow passengers, and avoid any unnecessary hostilities like cursing in front of small children or lighting anything kept inside your shoe. Your patience is very much appreciated.

We’re just past seven months in which I finished my latest novel and I’m still not ready to hit the publishing button. As with every indie book I write, there’s always something new to learn about the publishing process. One of the most important things I need to remember going forward is doing a better job scheduling with vendors to ensure a limited amount of downtime. I’ve currently been waiting three months for my illustrator to provide a cover, something that was promised to take no longer than three weeks. Sometimes my gentle nature gets the better of me and I feel like raging. Or just eating a lot of cookies. I’ve found I’ve developed a sweet tooth in my “older years.”

It’s been an interesting summer otherwise. Minnesota was beautiful with its bevy of lakes ripe for plunging, boating, and fishing. Our family also hit the road and did some traveling to the southern states. Iowa is an interesting state. Beautiful in its own way, but I never knew it had more soybeans than corn. Saw a lot of both.

The boys and I have been doing a lot of Cub Scouts activities as well. This is the first year I volunteered (read: coerced) into being a Den Leader. So far it’s been great, but I only have three kindergarteners in my den, one of them mine, so we all play together well. Two weeks ago we did our first campout of the fall season and we gleefully slept in tents outdoors. The glee ended when it dropped below freezing and I found myself coveting the blankets I’d covered my sons’ sleeping bags with. I should have known they wouldn’t need them–heat generators they are–so once they kicked off those blankets, I nabbed one and slipped away to the land of Nod. The rest of the trip was great as we shot BB guns, did some archery, hiked, sang campfire songs, cooked most of our food over an open fire. The usual stuff. The most fun I had, however, was watching all the boys run through the forest building forts and playing games with no direction. No iPads were involved. No talk of Fortnight. Just good old plain fun. It can still be had. We also went to a Minnesota Timberwolves game in which Boy Scouts were given a tour of the practice facility, team offices, and even went down to the floor to fist bump and high five players as they entered the arena. Bravo, T-wolves. You guys did good.

Speaking of games, I’ve gotten into Dungeons and Dragons again. Well, sorta. Outside of getting a few hesitant parents to agree to join me, I have still yet to host a game. I’ve nosed around the local gaming places and should find one soon, but I do miss my group of fellas back in California. That game would have been far different (drunken buffoonery) than any I host here. Still, there’s something to be said about how D&D has come back en vogue. They’ve even remade the game so it’s sleeker and more fun. After the original company that owned D&D was bought out, they pumped a lot of money into doing things right and the new modules, books, miniatures, and aids have only elevated the game. As far as I can tell. After seeing a few videos online, I can’t wait to slice up a couple goblins.

One observation I made: there are a lot of new characters and classes to choose from. When I was 12, fresh off watching E.T. the Extraterrestrial for the first time, all I wanted to be was a rogue thief. the idea of creeping up the side of castles, avoiding traps, and slipping through secret doors left me giddy to no end. Now all I want to do is…play a rogue thief. I know. No evolution at all. But being a guileful, larcenous voyeur fits me. And I’m fine with that.

This week I bought a lottery ticket for the massively huge Mega Millions jackpot. Surprisingly, I didn’t win it. Someone in Simpsonville, South Carolina did, which immediately brought an image to my mind of Mr. Burns rubbing his hands greedily from inside his power plant. Fear not, good readers. Had I won, I still would have gone on writing. It just would have been on a gold plated keyboard from my always-airborne G5 in the sky. Is it just me or does S.R. Hadden look a lot like Mr. Burns in this pic? Hmm. Makes you wonder. 

Hope to post the cover photo and publish date info on the new book soon. Thanks for being patient. While you’re waiting, a couple of good recommendations. If you haven’t read Peter M. Brett’s Demon Cycle series, give it a go. Great character work and some fun fantasy tropes that are elevated with solid writing. And I’m not the first to recommend Lou Berney’s new novel, November Road. It’s a crime drama story that showcases some real talent. Berney’s going to be a giant in the industry.

Thanks for checking in. As always, be good to each other and keep reading!

EJR  

 

Some other Spring…

After a long, long, LOOOOOOOOONG winter here in Minnesota, the spring has made a brief appearance. Although not officially here, it feels like summer with warm temperatures, late nights on the deck, and a few appearances by my favorite friends, the mosquitoes. And by “favorite friends,” I actually mean blood enemies! But enough about those suckers.

“Let’s talk about books, baby!”

It’s been an equally long time since I posted an update on my blog and a couple days ago I received a dressing down from a friend/reader about what I’ve been up to. “Am I still writing books?” AM I STILL WRITING BOOKS?! Is this even a question? Well, I guess it’s an apt question given the length of time since my last release. And although no one’s about giving me the George R. R. Martin business (“Are you going to die before you finish the series?!”), I should be putting out more (There’s a softball pitch for my randier readers – haha). The good news is: I finished my fourth book and just received it back from the editor. I’m making changes now and look to go out very soon to beta readers (if they’re still interested) to get some initial first impressions.

I still haven’t unveiled the title or concept because one big element in it might change depending on the comments I get back. But I can tell you it’s a fantasy adventure with all the stuff my readers have come to enjoy: effusive action, imagination, endearing characters, and some humor to boot. I’ve already scheduled a cover for it, but that won’t happen until July. 

Now, I often get asked why other contemporary self-publishers manage to put out several books a year and I only put out one. It’s a fair question and a bit of a sticky one. You see, ever since Amazon opened the gates to self-publishing, authors have looked for ways to get a leg up on the competition. More often than not, this came down to figuring out a way to game the system (i.e. play Zon’s algorithms in your favor). For many, that meant keeping a constant presence in the rankings. This lent itself well to readers that like to connect with authors (through social media, of course), but also by establishing a series that readers could return to again and again. This trend invariably led to authors writing and releasing material as fast as humanly possible (some at a rate of 1 a month). For a great many authors (in many genres), this has proven a successful tact. They’re making boatloads of money, gaining loads of fans, and giving readers more and more content to read. Unfortunately, it comes at a cost. That cost is quality. It’s simply impossible to put out really good work when so little revising is done. And regardless of what you’ve heard (and what many have argued), good writing is all about revision. Now, many authors defend their quick releases as pulp writing. With all due respect, I grew up on pulp writers. Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian series has long been one of my favorites, but anyone that thinks he just rushed those stories out doesn’t understand the first thing about good writing. The ironic thing here is that there are some truly gifted authors utilizing this trend. And for many, it’s sort of like selling tapas. A small bite that’s good enough to suspend those hunger pains just long enough for the next bite to arrive. Is that a bad thing? No. But I’m a four-course-meal-kind-of-guy. I like to send my readers home fat, exhausted, and dreaming about a similar meal for months. And if some of these authors put a little more time into the meal, they’d be the renowned chefs the world deserves.

Food metaphor aside, you only live once. Every time I release a book, I want to know it’s the best I can be. I’m not worried about a legacy, but it is important my kids know hard work is always rewarded. I know I have a long way to go before I’m compared to the Stephen Kings and Arthur C. Clarkes of the world. But I’m okay with making less money as long as I can feel proud of the work I put out (don’t tell my wife.). And the truth is, I’ve always liked stories that challenge me. As such, I do a great deal of research for my work, and that takes time. There’s nothing worse than someone pointing mistakes that could have easily been corrected with some forethought. Or afterthought. As many great authors have said, the story is really in the details. I don’t want cliches and tropes. I want originality, flavor, and mind-blowing creativity. I hope fans of my work want and appreciate the same thing.

BTW, the image above is of a tree in our backyard. It’s called a “flowering crab tree” and it only blooms once every three years. And, then, the pink leaves only last a week to ten days. Makes you appreciate its beauty even more, right?

The new book is scheduled for release in July. I hope my fans love it as much as I do. I’d also like to report that I’m about halfway through my fifth book, which is unrelated to #4 and the RC series. As that one will be set in space, it requires a little less research than past works, so who knows? Two books in 2018 might not be out of the question.

Hope you’re all ready for a wonderful summer. Be good to yourselves and others.

And, as always, good reading.

Robinson Crusoe – the TV Series?!

It’s been a while since I posted. Apologies. I’ve been busting hump on the new novel, which I would describe in technical terms as NEXTGEN! No, it’s not sci-fi. It’s straight fantasy, but it has a lot of parts, a lot of depth, and a lot of humor. Don’t worry, though. Fans of RC will love it, as it has much common with my previous trilogy. It’s audacious, loaded with action, and imagination. Right now, it’s in the hands of my first two, closest readers. After their feedback and some possible changes, it’ll go to the beta reader team. You haven’t been forgotten!

 

In the meantime, I’m finally able to reveal some exciting news that has been a long time in the making. Producers have optioned the New Chronicles of Robinson Crusoe for a potential TV series! Woohoo!

This is a very exciting development and I’d love to give out a ton of details, but we’re in the mum stage as the producers implement their plan for media domination. I love their vision, however, as well as their passion. They see the same potential in the project as I do and are setting out to put together a team up to the task to bringing it to the small screen. When I’m able to post more information, I will definitely let you all know.

Lastly, I would be very remiss if I didn’t congratulate the narrator of the RC books, Malk Williams for winning a prestigious industry award. He earned the Earphones Award for his narration of Arrowood by Mick Finlay! He’s also the narrator of the Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve. I couldn’t be prouder of him. Best of all, he’s putting the finishing touches on the audiobook for Robinson Crusoe 2246 right now. It should be done and available in the next few weeks. I’ll send out another mailer when it’s ready.

Outside of all that great news, we’re transitioning into a beautiful fall here in Minnesota. The weather is dropping, the trees are turning gold and red, and the kids are back in school, allowing me more time to write. Looking forward to getting this one done and out there. Thanks to the best readers everywhere for their patience and passion.

As always, I wish you good reading!

E.J.R.

Sunburned, but feeling cool…

Hello, fellow book lovers,

So, I traveled back to L.A. for the first time since moving to Minnesota. It was a blast to see my friends and spend some time in the warm Cali sun, but all in all, I have to say, I don’t miss the big orange much. All those things other people complained about when I lived there smacked me in the face like never before. Flying in, I could see the carpet of smog hanging over the city. Once on the ground, the traffic was even worse than I remember. Within five minutes of driving around, angry people were honking, glaring, and speeding around other cars. None of that happens here. The ultimate irony, of course, is how many friends who once scoffed when I left said they want to leave L.A. too now. Crime is up. Everything costs a fortune. The taxes are stupid. People are leaving in droves. The center cannot hold, man! It cannot hold!

Now that I’ve returned home to the land of lakes, I’m recharged and ready to put this new book to bed. I’ll be working overtime to get it right and in front of my fellow book fanatics asap.

In the meantime, a lot of people have been asking me for book recommendations. There’s been a flood of new indie writers out there, but many of them are leaping on this runaway train tact where you write and hit publish as quickly as possible. If you notice a failing in quality, this is the reason why. I’m loath to recommend anyone that writes a book in twenty-one days regardless of how quickly they become “successful.” A good story takes a long time to craft and it’s not done until it’s RIGHT. That’s why I continue to love the work of John L. Monk. Some of my oldest readers might have remembered me pimping his Jenkins Cycle series a couple years back. The guy just gets it. Plus, he has the natural talent to compete with any of the traditionally published giants.

Last year, John published a post-apocalypse book called:

HELL’S CHILDREN, which was a modern take on Lord of the Flies. It’s different than my stuff, but oh, so good. I encourage you to check the series out. He just published the second volume in the series, HELL’S ENCORE, and it’s even better than the first.

Both have received excellent reviews and for good reason–they just plain rock.

Check out John’s website here or just click on the book titles and you’ll be whisked away to the magical land of (Ama)’Zon.’

Hope you dig them as much as I do.

(I know you will, but I love talking about hope. As Andy Dufresne said, “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

 

That’s it for now, faithful readers. Back to the grind. May all your rough reads be short, and all your great reads be long.

And, as always, be good to each other.

Erik

New Audiobook in the works and UPDATES!

Hello, friends and fellow readers!

Very excited to announce the esteemed Malk Williams has agreed to return to the microphone to use his prodigious talents in narrating Robinson Crusoe 2246 (book 3). As many of you know, Malk narrated the first two books and won heaps of awards and global recognition. Okay, maybe stretching it a bit there. No awards, but he did earn many fans, myself among them. In fact, the first two audiobooks have been flying off the shelves in the last couple months and many of the listeners have reached out to me to ask when the final audiobook will be availble. While we don’t have a firm date yet, I’m happy to say he’s starting the read thru now, and shouldn’t be too long until it’s up and running. Check back here for a release date.

In other news, I expect to have the second draft of my new (non-Crusoe) book done within four weeks. I can’t tell you how geeked I am with excitement over this one. Like Crusoe, it’s a big sweeping adventure with lots of action, but it has more humor than any of my previous books. I suppose you could compare it to Guardians of the Galaxy tonally, although it is not science fiction. It’s a fantasy-adventure. I’m not giving out too much more information just yet, but expect a big announcement in the not-so-distant future.

One surprise this spring happened last week when I saw a Facebook post from fellow indie writer (but so much more successful), Faleena Hopkins. She writes “contemporary romance,” which sounds benign, but it is hot, hot, hot! Faleena’s books have exploded in the past year, making her one of the highest ranked authors in the genre and earning her legions of fans. I met her years ago in Los Angeles when she was dating one of my very good friends, and we’ve stayed in contact since. When I first decided to publish the Crusoe series, she educated me on the “do’s and don’ts” so I could reduce my mistakes to triple digits rather than a few thousand. I’m over the moon about her success, which is well deserved. She was in town for an acting role (which she continues to do), and we took the family to meet her and sat outside at a fancy burger joint (I had pork belly in my hamburger) and enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. Ah, spring with friends.

Outside of writing, life is blissful in Minnesota. The “bad” weather went away (although a little late with the last snow falling the first of May), and everything is so green here. We bought bikes for the family so we can ride, get exercise, and see all of God’s beautiful country. We’re really looking forward to getting onto one of the big lakes for some tubing and skiing, but that might be another month out

We also enrolled both our boys in Karate, which has been a blast for both us and them, but the “KI-YAWS!” around the house are getting a little nuts. Especially when they’re accompanied by the words “front kick!” as one of them spears me from behind. Still, it’s good to see them be so disciplined for someone. Our martial arts instructor is really good with kids—scary good. Here are photos of them getting their white belts.

I’ve been asked a lot lately about continuing the Crusoe series. As I’ve mentioned to some of you, I do have a second trilogy worked out that would take place in Europe and even engage more of Robinson’s family and friends. But right now, I’m concentrating on making my current project the absolute best it can be. Don’t fret, though. RC and Friday are never very far from my thoughts. I have a feeling they won’t be at rest long.

For those of you eager for other indie books, I’ll have a blog post with some recommendations coming up. There are a lot of good writers out there (along with a lot of bad ones). I want to help those with real skill find the audience they deserve and book lovers new voices for the future.

Hope you’re all doing well and getting ready for the summer. Feel free to drop me a note anytime with questions.

And, as always, happy reading.

Erik