"Tag, You're It!" with me - Robyn Corum!

Hey all!  I’m participating in a fun round of interviews with sister authors this week!  We’re all part of a dynamic campaign called, “Tag, You’re It!”  I’m posting my interview questions and answers here today and at the bottom, you’ll be able to (come back and) find the links to the other girls’ interviews! 

 

Questions for Robyn Corum for Tag – You’re It!

What is the title of your book?

Melinda Heads West

Where did the idea for the book come from?

The idea actually came from a flash fiction contest on a writing website.  I created the first chapter and really liked the character of Melinda.  I decided to ‘play’ with it, and more chapters followed.  Soon, I was in the middle of a novel!

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s a Historical Romance/Western

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I am so bad at this.  Matt Damon as Boone, maybe, and Jennifer Lopez as Melinda.  The only problem is that I don’t see Melinda as classically ‘pretty’, and her hair is always a mess!

If anyone can come up with better characters, let me know!  I’d be interested to hear your ideas. *smile*  (Leave them in the comments section!)

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

A young girl traveling across three states for a family deed finds misadventure, danger and love.

Will your book be self-published or agented?

It’s published by Crimson Romance, a division of Adams Media! It was released October 8^th, 2012.  The paperback should follow in about a month. 

 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

About seventy days.

What other books within your genre would you compare your WIP (writing-in-progress)to?

I can’t think of a single book similar to the one I’m currently writing, except that it has a very loose mail-order bride plot! 

Who or what inspired this book?

I have often heard about the tenements in New York City at the turn of the century.  I wanted to try to capture the harsh realities of that life on paper and in a character people could relate to.  “Ama” was born.

 What else about your book might pique the readers’ interest?

It’s a hard story to tell.  I threw myself couple of hard curves, which I can’t really share or it would give away too much.  But suffice it to say that like today, the mail order ads in the 1800s didn’t tell the whole story either!  *smile*

 

***

Here are some ways to catch up with Robyn after the interview:

To purchase Melinda Heads West: Melinda-Heads-West

Authors Den:  authorsden

Pinterest:  pinterest.com/robyncorum

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/pub/robyn-corum

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MelindaHeadsWest

Twitter: @robyncorum

 

***

 

Here are the links to other authors participating in the Tag- You're It! Fun:

Suzanne Barrett      Molly Kate Gray

Galen Rose       Pam B. Morris     Susan Blexrud

Nancy Loyan       Shelly K. Wall        Traci McDonald      

Tara Mills

***

Thanks so much!  robyn

Learning I Have a Lot to Learn...

LEARNING and GROWING!

Well, I’m getting a fast lesson in marketing with the release of my ebook, Melinda Heads West!  Did you know that when you purchase a book at Amazon there are all kinds of things you can do to help ensure the author’s success while you’re there?  It’s true!

Near the title of the book, there’s a ‘Like’ button, similar to the one on Facebook.  By clicking it you help advance that item up the charts when people are doing searches.  Encourage your friends to do the same.

Next, waaayyy down at the bottom of the page are ‘tags’.  By clicking on the tags you think correspond to the book you again help it move up the ranks.  It’s amazing how these little things add up! 

And reviews are so important.  Even 10-20 words, in your own everyday speech do wonders!   –  Don’t be intimidated by those folk who write the equivalent of a novel!  People  who are considering buying a book are more likely to read the smaller chunks of writing anyway! 

HOW ARE SALES?

People keep asking me how sales are going, and to tell the truth, I have no idea.  If I counted the actual people who have TOLD me they’ve purchased books, I would say there have been about 50 sold!  But I hope there’s been more than that.  It’s a scary thing.  I just have to post notices on Facebook, send a few emails, and then sit back and cross my fingers.  I’m not too good at that!  *smile*

How’s NEW YORK, Robyn?

In the meantime, I’ve been spending a great deal of time in New York, at least in my mind.  That’s where my newest book takes place.  And I love it!  I’ve been doing so much research!  You know, a historical romance takes a ton of work.  For the last few chapters, it seems like I’ve researched two days for each paragraph of writing!  But in the end, I hope it will be worth it.  I love to read a book and learn something at the same time, and I hope my readers will feel the same way…of course, that is, if I’m lucky enough to get “Ama” published.

It’s the story of a girl who grows up in  the tenements of New York with her younger stepbrother and stepsister.  Their life is not pretty.  It’s the late 1800s and times are hard.  Living conditions are barely tolerable.  Most of us can’t imagine an existence like this. 

I’ll keep you posted on the story line.  From the reviews I’ve had so far, it has potential.  I just have to do the story the justice it deserves. 

Until next time -- I'm going to leave you with a 'thinking poem' I wrote recently called,

 

 

Faith in the Fall

 

does that one falling leaf
look back?

or does it rejoice
in the experience of
the fall?

exhilarating
in the twists and turns
of its new journey?

does it pine
for lost aquaintances?

or reach out to earth
where millions of new
friends await?

does it mourn what was?

or see what will be?

- robyn corum

10/12/2012

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment to let me know you were here.  Tell me what YOUR favorite part of Fall is.   

 

 

To check out Melinda, go to: 

to order



Facebook: Melinda Heads West

Make it a great day!

A Crazy, Blessed Week!

WHAT A WEEK! 

 

This week has been hectic but wonderful.  It's official, my cup of blessings runneth over.   This past Monday, my historical romance, Melinda Heads West, finally debuted in e-format with Amazon, iTunes and other vendors. 

To mark the event, Monday morning I planned to have a very small group of women (4) to my home to share the moment as I downloaded my own copy.  Hurray!  Then we took turns reading through several of the short chapters.  I offered the ladies a delightful (catered) lunch on a rose-laden table with flowers fresh-picked from my garden -- and then forced them to listen a bit more as I read them the first five chapters of the novel I am currently working on.   To me, it was a heavenly way to spend a couple of hours!  I imagine my friends (DEAR friends) could have found something more productive to do.  But…that’s what good friends are for.  Right? 

The ‘celebration’ continued Monday night!

My eldest daughter planned a little ‘get-together’ with a few friends in honor of the book release and my birthday.  (It was a big one.  My 50^th birthday was on Wednesday, October 10^th).  The ‘theme’ was mixed and fun:  “Melinda Heads West and Robyn Heads Over the Hill!” 

The cake, as you can see in the picture, was amazing!  It looked EXACTLY like a book – my book!  As a matter of fact, one of my guests tried to open it and only found their mistake when they got a bit of icing on them! 

Once again – my dear friends (some of them were the same from the morning!  EEK!) allowed me to read them a few sample chapters from the book.  Am I blessed with good friends, or what? 

A local celebrity!   -  ME! -

On Wednesday, my birthday, an article appeared in our local newspaper featuring yours truly. (I’m afraid I’m going to be a sad case next week when no one is paying any attention to me! *smile*) It spoke about Melinda and the poetry book that’s due out in November,entitled, Pieces of Her Mind.  More information about it follows.  It was a great article. 

Whew!  What a week! 

A definite distraction …

On October 1^st, I started a new book project that I’m really excited about.  It’s features a young woman named Ama who ends up being a mail order bride.  Her story starts out in the gritty tenements of 1870’s New York City.  It’s not a pretty beginning.  It’s a tough story to put into words and I really want to tell it well.  I’ve entered a contest to write 50,000 of the words in 50 days!  That's an average of 1,000 words a day, and needless to say, this week has put me off my mark.  With all the hoopla and carryings-on – I’m 5,000 words behind schedule!  UGH.  That will mean several days of doubling up, but it can be done. 

Wish me luck, please!

 

***

 

For more information on Melinda Heads West, my newly released e-book, please check out the following:

For “Look Inside”/Reviews/Ordering info:

http://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Heads-West-ebook/dp/B009979330/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350085930&sr=1-1&keywords=melinda+heads+west

For my Facebook Fan page about the book, where you can WIN a FREE BOOK or GREAT WESTERN JEWELRY:

http://www.facebook.com/MelindaHeadsWest?ref=hl

 ***

For more information about Pieces of Her Mind, the poetry book dedicated to Japanese short-form poetry written with seventeen other women-poets, please check out the following:

 

http://www.facebook.com/PiecesofHerMind

 

http://www.missy-piecesofhermind.blogspot.com

 

***

 

Thanks so much for tagging along today.  I appreciate you!  Please don't forget to leave your email address at the top of the page (beneath the magnolia blossom) to receive these posts on a regular basis, or sign up with the Google+ button. 

 

Please notice that I've added more 'idea' and prompt links, so we should never be without ideas for our writing! 

 

I know today is a long post, but if you'll indulge me, I felt that the following poem was appropriate for this 'colorful,' extraordinary week.  May God bless you as you follow your dreams! 

 

 

My Life in Color

 

 

It’s time to live my life in color!
No more washed out black and white ~
I long for bold and vivid brushstrokes...
That can’t fail to bring delight.

I want a grand and massive canvas -
I want to cover it with paint!
I’m tired of timid, pastel palettes,
And there’ll be no more restraint...

I’m tired of hiding in the shadows --
So I’m stepping in the light,
Where the blues and greens and yellows
Entertain, tease and excite ~

So I’ll do away with sepia -
Say goodbye to puce and rust!
It’s time to live my life in color!
 - My new life, full and robust -

--by robyn corum, 8/31/2012

 

(Leave a comment and tell me what your most immediate dream is right now!  I'm crossing my fingers for you!)  And don't forget to feed the fishes!  Make it a great day!   robyn