Guest post by Robyn Thomas + Giveaway

Filed in featured , Giveaways , Guest Post , Robyn Thomas , The Latin Lover Posted on August 24, 2012 @ 7:00 am 20 comments

Today we are happy to introduce you to Robyn Thomas, whose debut novel His Unexpected Family was realesed just last month in Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line. I was curious to learn how His Unexpected Family came to be published and what the experience of getting THE CALL was like for Robyn, so I am glad to share her story with you and you could even win a copy of her book!

The Adventure of Getting Published

Getting published has been an enormous adventure for me. And absolutely worth it! Would I have started out on the journey if I knew what it was going to entail? Uh, no, probably not. But life is like that, and the things worth having inevitably take time and effort.

The very first time I submitted a story it caught an editor’s attention, and I thought I had it made. Could I write another story in the same tone, except with the focus more on the two protagonists, and would it be possible to keep the door shut? Sure! Could I tweak that new partial and send the full? Could I revise it? And revise it again? Could I take on board the feedback from it and try again? And again? I kept saying yes, and giving each story my best shot, growing less certain of gaining a place in the publishing world as time ticked past.

Eventually I listened to the nagging voice in my head that questioned the size of the pigeon hole I was trying to squeeze my writing into. It had become too small, and I was miserable because I was forcing myself to write in a way that didn’t come naturally. Doing an about-face and lining up a different target was surprisingly easy. Did I nail it first time? Well, no, but the joy of writing had returned and my next couple of manuscripts caught the attention of different editors who gave feedback and revisions and requested more. I dared to believe that I was on the right track, and I continued to write and submit, trying not to dwell on the stories that had “almost” made it.

I heard that Entangled Publishing was running a pitch contest and I decided to enter. Condensing an entire story into one or two attention-grabbing sentences seemed like a daunting task but I gave it a shot and was fortunate enough to have my manuscript requested. A few months later, whilst looking for an email that’d gone astray, I stumbled across my “call” email. It’d been languishing in an obscure folder for several weeks and I was too horrified at the delay to fully appreciate how awesome it was. I’d hit refresh on my inbox nine million times during those few weeks – when I wasn’t outside stalking the postman – and yet I’d missed the most important email of all. With shaking hands I hit reply… and got an error. Chaos and panic ensued as the error repeated again and again and a hideous array of what-ifs crashed down on my head. After all the waiting and writing and submitting, the ups and downs and requests and rejections, I couldn’t possibly have blown it at the last hurdle. Could I?

I’m happy to report that whilst it did seem to be touch and go there for a while, I hadn’t actually blown my chance. I set up a new email account and used it to get in contact with my editor and accept her offer, and I’ve contracted another two books since then. In addition to two beautiful children and the (almost) quarter century I’ve spent with my husband, getting published is a big part of my personal Happily Ever After.

For a chance to win a copy of His Unexpected Family please answer this question. Aside from the universal quest to find (or keep) love, I would like ????? to help me live Happily Ever After.

 His Unexpect Family by Robyn Thomas

Sometimes you have to take the leap… again.

Newly widowed with a new baby, Ren Jamieson is putting her life back together after her thrill-seeking husband’s death. But when she’s called to show a high-end property to a prospective client–a commission she desperately needs–she meets a man who makes her pulse pound like nothing she’s ever known…

Cole Matthews is more than he seems. Real estate is only part of the reason he’s in Australia–the other is to see Ren, and make amends somehow for the life lost. The last thing Cole expects is a woman whose humor, sweetness, and sexiness give him a rush greater than any he’s ever experienced…

Torn between her growing feelings for Cole and the risks of loving yet another adventurer, Ren will have to choose between keeping her feet on the ground… and taking the most dangerous leap of her life.

Read an excerpt

Buy at AmazonB&N

Robyn is a cheesecake connoisseur, caffeine addict, and mother of two boys. Happily married, she lives in Melbourne, Australia. Writing romance helps her balance the effects of living in an all-male household. Robyn loves movies, art glass and browsing in quirky gift shops.

Find out more or connect with Robyn at her website / Twitter / Goodreads

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Entangled Publishing has generously offered an ebook copy of His Unexpected Family by Robyn Thomas to one lucky commenter!

All you have to do is answer Robyn’s question:

Aside from the universal quest to find (or keep) love, what would you like [to do/achieve] to help you live Happily Ever After?

(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).

This giveaway is open to everyone!

Giveaway ends on 8 September 2012 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good Luck!

About Stella


Stella is a proud bookaholic and a self-taught multilinguist in training. Besides reading, her other great passions are travelling and baking. When she is not globetrotting she lives in sunny Budapest, where she loves to spend her free time preparing (and feasting on) delicious cookies or devouring equally yummy books. Her favourite genres are urban fantasy and romance and she couldn't live without her daily dose of sunshine. Besides being the Latin Lover on BLI Stella also blogs about books and a bookish life on Ex Libris.

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20 Comments

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  • aurian August 24, 2012 at 10:32 am

    Thanks for this great post, you must have been really nervous for some time back then. But I am glad you succeeded, and congrats on the new contract!

    I would like to win a big price in a lottery (not millions and millions, I don’t need that) to get rid of money worries, buy a nice house with a garden, and a library and gameroom for my boyfriend, to help you live Happily Ever After. Of course I am happy with him, but no more money trouble would certainly be a big help.

    • Robyn Thomas August 24, 2012 at 7:46 pm

      Aurian, I think a lottery prize would make life easier, too. I love that you don’t need millions and millions and that you’re happy to begin with. The library and garden and gamesroom would add a little icing to the cake.

  • Michele H August 24, 2012 at 11:59 am

    Thanks for sharing your journey as an author (so far)! I guess for my HEA I would love good health for my husband and myself so we can have a long, happy and healthy life together. Ok…and enough money to pay the bills and be comfortable.

    • Robyn Thomas August 24, 2012 at 7:49 pm

      Hi Michele. Health is a big one, and very easy to overlook when we have it. Wishing you and your hubby a long and healthy and happy future – with a little bit of extra money tossed in 🙂

  • erinf1 August 24, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Congrats on the new release!!!! It sounds fantastic 🙂

    Ummm…. I would also love to win the lottery… I”m not greedy, just enough that I could pay off bills, buy a house and I’d still work part time. I want more time with my family and to read!!!! 🙂

    • Robyn Thomas August 24, 2012 at 7:56 pm

      Thanks Erin. And we have a moderate-lottery-win theme. The heroine in my next Indulgence wins herself a famous fiance in a lottery. She tries to forfeit her prize, but it has been announced publicly and she’s “stuck with him.”

      Living comfortably with more time for family and reading sounds ideal. 😉

  • JenM August 24, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    I wish I could find something to work at that wouldn’t actually feel like work. I’m so envious of people who manage to turn their passion into something they get paid for.

    • Robyn Thomas August 25, 2012 at 12:41 am

      It’s a great dream, Jen. The passion can wane when what you’re doing begins to feel like work, but working hard at something you love is personally rewarding so the passion tends to flare again. I hope you’re able to find something that doesn’t feel like work!

  • Tamsyn August 25, 2012 at 12:16 am

    I enjoyed your story. Sounds like a great adventure although I know there must have been a lot of ups and downs. I would like to be able to balance work and personal/family life so that I can enjoy both!

    • Robyn Thomas August 25, 2012 at 12:44 am

      Hi Tamsyn. That work/life balance is a difficult one to maintain, but I think that achieving it would lead to a fabulous Happily Ever After. Best of luck!

  • Laura August 25, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    I think my answer would be health (for myself and loved ones) because really it’s the one thing all the money in the world might not be able to give you. Thanks so much for the giveaway – the book sounds great!

    • Robyn Thomas August 25, 2012 at 6:25 pm

      So true, Laura. Health (and safety) for our loved ones is priceless.

  • Victoria Zumbrum August 25, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    I would liike to live comfortable and not worry about bills and money. I would like to have enough to pay my bills and do what I want.

    • Robyn Thomas August 26, 2012 at 6:18 am

      Hi Victoria, not needing to worry about money would be lovely. I think that having enough money to do the things that you want – as well as taking care of bills etc – would make for a happier ever after.

  • bn100 August 26, 2012 at 2:11 am

    I’d make sure to make time for family and friends.

    • Robyn Thomas August 26, 2012 at 6:20 am

      Spending time with family and friends is always rewarding. Including loved ones in your happily ever after sounds like a great plan!

  • Yadira A. August 26, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    I think if money troubles would go away then I could spend more time with my family and get certain members the healthcare they need. No more sacrificing just to get the bills paid.

    • Robyn Thomas August 26, 2012 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Yadira, wishing you a moderate windfall so that the happily ever after you envisage can begin right away. It sounds as if your family is lucky to have you in their corner.

  • Adis September 5, 2012 at 6:56 am

    Great post! Congratz on the new release.
    Live healthy and comfortably also made time for family and friends

  • Robyn Thomas September 5, 2012 at 7:39 am

    Thanks so much!

    The ingredients for your happily ever after sound like a great combination, and a healthy lifestyle is an ideal starting point.

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