March 9th, 2012 → 8:53 pm @ Robin Donovan
Saturday, February 18, 2012 was the date of Omaha’s first Author’s Fair held at W. Dale Clark Library downtown.
March 9th, 2012 → 8:20 pm @ Robin Donovan
Just some very nice folks who like to get together and talk about murder mysteries. On February 25th I had the good fortune to spend the evening with the “regulars” at the Mystery Bookstore on 13th Street. I met some interesting and very sweet people who asked very interesting questions, such as “How do you take something as serious as murder and turn it into a comedy?”
January 30th, 2012 → 8:32 pm @ Robin Donovan
Miss Madylyn
Thanks to everyone who made my debut book reading/signing at The Bookworm last Saturday a wonderful experience!
I feel extremely fortunate to have such incredibly supportive friends! So many of you gave up your spectacular Saturday afternoon to come down and help make my book event a success (I think I mentioned most of you by name on my events calendar – check it out).
I also met some awesome new folks and Miss Madylyn, who is a beautiful young Bernese Mountain dog with an adorable personality. Good thing I’m not too insecure because she was really the hit of the show!
The folks at The Bookworm provided a warm and cozy atmosphere – allowing dogs to participate really adds to the ambiance. So surrounded by friends – both long standing and new (including Miss Madylyn and her companion Ann) I attempted to give my audience a feel for the experience they can expect when reading my book.
Over time Clovis has become my favorite character, so I chose passages that featured her unique brand of charisma – or should I say anti-charisma?
I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my “star” character and reading about her antics. My audience was attentive and engaged, reacting to Clovis’ drama and asking great questions to wrap things up.
I would be remiss if I did not thank all of you who purchased books to cap off this amazing experience – it’s one that I will never forget!
January 26th, 2012 → 7:55 pm @ Robin Donovan
Thanks Grace, for buying copies of my book for your book club. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to enhance your club’s experience.
And Happy Birthday!
January 23rd, 2012 → 10:05 pm @ Robin Donovan
Signing Books for Aspiring Authors
I am so grateful for the invitation to speak at the LaVista Library this past weekend. The group was obviously very serious about understanding the process of writing a book. They listened intently and asked great questions. I wish I’d had a chance to attend a talk like that before I started writing!
My star pupil was Jerry, who took tons of notes, asked terrific questions, bought a book at the end (thanks to everyone who bought books) and told the library representative that he was thrilled he saw the announcement in the paper. His enthusiasm so incredibly gratifying. The library itself is gorgeous and they welcomed me so graciously – I’d go back any time!
LaVista Author Talk
December 28th, 2011 → 5:06 pm @ Robin Donovan
Congratulations to contest winners from Arkansas, Missouri and Wisconsin!
Check out all the details of the Goodreads book giveaway:
Three lucky people will win a copy of Is It Still Murder, Even If She Was a Bitch?
Donna Leigh owns an Omaha ad agency. She is also an energetic and somewhat sardonic menopausal woman. When a former colleague is murdered, Donna becom…more
My rating:
December 22nd, 2011 → 7:38 pm @ Robin Donovan
Although we lost our Gracie, we are very fortunate to have Roxi, a little white English Bulldog with small reddish/brown spots on her body and more prominently on her ears. She is a spunky little sweetheart who knows what she wants and usually gets it.
Roxi came to us when she was a little over a year old. She was the product of a divorce and apparently got very little attention, except from the 4-year old boy in the family. As a result she is both hungry for attention and hug-averse. We think because she may have been squeezed too tightly by the little boy.
It’s not uncommon to have her give you one of her soulful looks which spur you to want a big hug. When you move toward her with your arms outstretched you generally end up with an armful of air because Roxi has jumped to safety and has successfully avoided yet another hug. Here’s a hint, she’s not as fast when she’s really tired – so we enjoy a lot of “hug n’yawns.”
Then there’s big sis Jasmine (or Jazzy for short). She is the canine version of Mother Theresa. There was never a sweeter more gentle creature than Jazzy.
Jasmine
She’s beautiful with her shiny red coat and her sleek white head. Her one brown and one blue eye are a major source of curiosity to many who meet her.
Not only is Jazzy a wonderful and patient teacher to her younger sisters, she has a healing quality that draws her to anyone in need of healing. And let’s face it – who couldn’t use a little healing?
As a pup, Jazzy was sold to a hunter who threw her into a pen with grown hunting dogs. The poor thing was malnourished having to fight for every morsel of food. When the breeder realized her situation he took her back and we were lucky enough to get her. She was extremely shy of people and it took a long time for her to begin to trust, first us, and then friends and family. Jazzy loves being home with her family.
Our newest addition to the family joined us a little over a week ago. Sweet Pea was found wandering the streets of an Iowa town. Through Illinois rescue she was placed in a foster home and spent four months trying to overcome malnutrition and demodectic mange.
Sweet Pea
What an indomitable spirit she has. What this poor little thing has been through we will never truly know. We do know that it hasn’t left her wary and skittish around humans, nor has it made her timid or overly aggressive.
Her coat is far from full and luxurious – but she has some fur. Her skin is far from healed – she scratches and bleeds like she’s one big hot spot – but she is happy and sweet and anxious to complete her orientation into our family.
These are our furry babies and they give us great joy and they help us stay grounded. We are very fortunate to have them.
Sure, life will be different without our Gracie, but we were lucky to have had her for as long as we did, and she will always be with us. Now it’s time for a new chapter in our lives. Does anybody know how to stop chronic scratching?
December 13th, 2011 → 6:04 pm @ Robin Donovan
Gracie was a wonderful Olde English Bulldogge. She came into our lives just after her 5th birthday, having spent her early years as a career breeder. After she became deathly ill and could no longer be used to breed, she came to live with us.
Gracie
December 5th, 2011 → 11:20 pm @ Robin Donovan
That’s probably the most frequent single question that people ask. So many of us are poised to write, but hesitate because of the uncertainty of being stuck with a manuscript that no one will publish. The true diehards just go ahead and write. If they get published – great – but what happens when/if they don’t?
I can’t pretend to be one of those brave souls. I talked about writing a book for years, and none of the options appealed to me at all. I could invest all of the time, energy and passion it would take to create my masterpiece, and then spend a lot more time, energy and passion – not to mention money – in shopping it around and trying to get it published. I would bravely struggle to keep my hopes up as rejection after rejection flooded my mailbox and broke my resolve.
From what I’m told, shopping your manuscript around for an agent isn’t really much better. And, if you do find an agent to represent you there’s still no guarantee that they’ll be able to interest a publisher. I have known authors who were elated at finally finding that elusive agent – only to realize a year or two later that they are not infallible – even if they’re sure your book will be easy to sell!
Then, if you do manage to get your book published, will your publisher realize all of the financial benefits of your endeavor? I have also seen authors who earned pennies per book and could barely feed themselves after publishing more than a dozen novels.
Then there’s always self-publishing. You spend your money to back yourself and then hope there’s some change left to get out there and promote yourself. Experienced authors have cautioned that the uninitiated end up with a raw unedited piece that does not present itself, or you, in the best light.
Personally, I feel very fortunate that I stumbled upon a publisher who was willing to spend the time evaluating an unknown such as myself. My publisher took the time to help me polish my creation until it was ready for prime time; and the final product was something that could make us both proud.
My publisher has been my partner and my cheerleader, not trying to greedily reap all of the profit if profit is to be made. Everybody should have the benefit of a publisher like mine.
Let me know if you’d like to meet my publisher. I am confident they will be willing to review your work and give you an honest assessment. If they decide to take your manuscript on you will learn an enormous amount and benefit from their knowledge and connections.
Why am I making this offer? I’m too new to worry about being completely inundated with everyone trying to get to me – maybe someday. I, myself, have wondered if I would ever get the chance to share my musings with the world – and now I know that it feels incredible. If it’s what you want, you should have a fair shot at it too. And no, I’m not getting any kickbacks.
November 21st, 2011 → 5:04 pm @ Robin Donovan
Renee Lincoln made the first official purchase of Is It Still Murder, Even If She Was A Bitch? In fact she made the first three purchases!
Thank you, Renee, your support is appreciated more than you can know!
And thanks to the rest of you who jumped into and purchased as well! You’ve made this menopausal woman very happy!
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