WELCOME to my PARTY!!!

The month of October is a special time for me:
my debut novel, my baby,
Tessa,

will be released IN PRINT on Halloween!
WHEEEEE!!!!!

I’ve lots planned for this month, and will post something each day leading up to the big day. I’ve got a couple of reviews up my sleeve, some contest-y things going on, question-and-answer event at the on-line party on the day. I’m rounding up some themed prizes. I’ll post my regular blog on Fridays, with Tessa related topics, and a character interview on the day. I’m working to have my website functioning live before the end of the month (fingers crossed!) and will involve all y’all in that kick off!!! Whaddya think it’ll look like?

I’ll begin by introducing ME! I’m Robin. I started blogging in April, which got hijacked in July when I was sick; been a bear trying to get back in the groove and post regularly! Yeah, and now I’mma try to post every day! ok. I’ve more than a dozen previous posts that reveal some of who I am. The most significant item being, “Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was invisible. Or she thought she was invisible, felt that way at least. And when she felt people were staring at her, she wished she was invisible. That little girl was me. Hello, my name is Robin, and I’m a recovering invisiblet.” [Friendship, posted 050214] In this, Tessa is a characterization of me. Her story is not mine, at all, at all. But the feeling of being invisible, insignificant, is, was.

That is all in the past now. But it bears on who I am now, too. Because I know how precious it is to be valued. I don’t take for granted when my friends pay attention, verily, it still blows me away when friends go out of their way to, well, be a friend to me. I am blessed, Papa God has richly blessed me with dear friends, and mentors, brothers and sisters in Christ who lift me and encourage me in countless ways. [see also Friendship, 050214] And now, I got this whole huge circle of other authors and writers that I count as friends!

I’m an eclectic personality. Don’t do well in surveys because my answers either fall in the in-between, or “either/or” answer. For instance, I love my solitude, which truly is God time - except when I’m working, like now – but I also love being with people. Sometimes it’s a fine balance. Sometimes, kind of a tricky balance. There is much disparaging talk about electronic connectivity. And I agree. And I disagree. I have maintained certain friendships online, and garnered new friends, online. But when I’m face to face, it’s time to be face to face and put the electronics down. ‘Cause while {{{{{HUGZ}}}}} might suffice if you’re miles away, it just doesn’t have the same effect as a pair of arms literally wrapped around you.

I’ve also got more than the one career. I’ve my BFA in Interior Design, earned that just last year. Yet, here I am, on this career trail as an author. And I’ve done some teaching, which I discovered – and rather surprised me – that I truly love! There’s just something about that moment, that twinkling, when a student “gets” what I’m teaching. The day one of my fourth graders whiz-bang-zipped right through her long division, because of my help and input remains one of my favorite memories.

As a word person, I am a lover of language. #understatement! #bigduh! Not English only, though! I speak Spanish, somewhere between proficient and fluent, and am picking up some French. But I don’t stop there, I want to learn German, too. And Russian. And Greek and Hebrew. And Irish. My son once told me I would be the most useless person on the planet. To know all those languages. [He was about 14 at the time. Or maybe in his twenties, can’t remember for sure.] Methinks not. Methinks I would be highly valuable, not to mention sought after, to know multiple languages. But that’s just me.

I’m an actress too. I first stumbled on the stage in 1975, when I was a freshman in high school. [shhh, don’t tell anybody I’m that old] Our spring musical was Fiddler on the Roof, and I was a peasant. And I was hooked! As a sophomore, I earned, or rather my British accent earned me a role in Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians. I was Dr. Armstrong. I maintained my theatre career throughout high school, but life, marriage and babies, put that on hold. It’s still “on hold.” I remain an actress, though. And the accents, not British only, come out to play sometimes: there’s the Irish, and the Aussie. I can pull of a pretty mean Brooklyn. And lest it get overlooked, I can, of course, twang a right fine Southern accent.

I’m one of the curious minds that want to know. Not in a National Enquirer kind of way, though. In a research and find out kind of way. I love puzzles, I love putting pieces together. I love knowing how and why words are spelled a certain way and mean a certain thing. I love grammar. Weird, I know. But that’s me. History is such a puzzle to me, pieces that fit together. I love all things Irish, am fascinated by Irish folklore, the history. I’m an artist and I love the color purple. I am a cat fancier and have five kitty babies: Shadow is the Mama cat; she’s three. Two years ago, she birthed five babies, three of which were to be adopted out. Only one was adopted and the others remain with me. They are, in no particular order: Trinity Juniper Starr, Jasper Jupiter Mars, Jacob (Jake) Jeremiah, and her royal highness, the diva, Princess Penelope Primrose.

Tomorrow I’ll introduce Tessa to you, pique your interest in her story – and of course to induce you to buy the book! #winkwink I’ll talk about what I write about, and why. And Friday, I shall introduce my premier issue of my newsletter! By the way, future posts will be earlier than bedtime! LOL Took some doing this afternoon to get the cover finalized and submitted!

For now, here’s my online locations. Please stop by and like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, on my blog! Please leave me a comment, I’d love to hear from you, even to say hello!

http://robinsnest212.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robin-...
http://www.amazon.com/Robin-E.-Mason/...
https://twitter.com/amythyst212
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...