BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Friday, December 2, 2011

You Never Know Who's Listening: A Guest Post by Author Robin Perini



Today's guest is Robin Perini, author of romance and romantic suspense. Her newest book, "In Her Sights", is being released on Tuesday November 29th, 2011.

Award-winning author Robin Perini’s love of heart-stopping suspense and poignant romance, coupled with her adoration of high tech weaponry and covert ops, encouraged her secret inner commando to take on the challenge of writing romantic suspense novels. Her mission's motto: "when danger and romance collide, no heart is safe."

As a writer, Robin is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high stakes adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Robin’s strong characters and tightly woven plots have garnered her seven prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finals, and Golden Heart Winner in 2011. Stolen Lullaby, will be published by Harlequin Intrigue® in May, 2012 as Finding Her Son. Her other 2011 Golden Heart® Finalist, In Her Sights, will be published by Amazon's Montlake Romance November 29, 2011.

By day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or find her training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting. She's a voracious reader and a die-hard fan of the T.V. series, BONES.



BOOK BLURB (from author):

 Jasmine “Jazz” Parker, Jefferson County SWAT's only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. Now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor's daughter, Jazz's world begins to crumble around her.

Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, reawakening her past with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is now bent on destroying her life, forcing Jazz to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.

IN HER SIGHTS
By Robin Perini 
ISBN: 9781612181523
Published by: AMAZON MONTLAKE PUBLISHING
Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE
Format: MMP, ebook
Length: 262 pages
Release Date: NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Author Website:  http://www.robinperini.com
In Her Sights blog tour site:  http://inhersights.blogspot.com


Welcome Robin, to Bea's Book Nook. Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us today.

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Writing can be a risky business. Let me rephrase that…plotting books in public places can be a very risky business. 


I have one of those voices that carry. I can't even whisper without the entire room hearing me. It's great if you're speaking to someone who's hard of hearing…not so great when you're trying to be secretive. Not that I'm a pro at that either. 


Most of the books I've written (some of which will never see the light of day) have suspense in them. And frankly, most have dead bodies. I just can't seem to help adding a corpse into my book. In Her Sights, my debut novel, has several. My second book, Finding Her Son has nine…or maybe it's eleven. I lost count after about seven. 


So, it probably won't surprise you that one of the things I do before starting a book is to make a list of unique and different ways for my villains to do their dirty work. Such was the case one evening in a local restaurant. The staff were kind enough to let me and my plotting partners to sit in a booth for hours upon end. I'm not sure if we were simply entertaining or disturbing, but they let us stay anyway. 
I was working on a new story that was set nearby, in some spooky tunnels below a hospital. I'd walked down the corridors and decided, as is my predilection, that the cool, damp rooms would make a perfect murder site. I had my victim identified as well. An anatomy professor who had given me a grade that made me very unhappy. (Yes, I was one of those irritating A-students most people despise). 


I couldn't use his name in the book, of course, but I would take my vengeance out on his doppelganger in my book. I mean, not getting an A has to be worth a painful death? Doesn't it? 


So, I plotted my professor's demise, slipping back and forth between the real person and the character as writers sometimes do. So engrossed were we in our conversation—whether a gun would be too loud, or a silencer would dampen the noise enough, or whether a scalpel to the carotid would be too messy (we finally settled on potassium chloride)—when a man came up to our table.  


I looked up. He was frowning, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Ladies," he said, his tone somber and serious. "I have to ask you what you're talking about." 


He flipped open his badge. 


My eyes grew as big as saucers. We began rapidly explaining all at once. When finally we explained what we were doing, he smiled. "I thought it must be something like that," he said. "You're too smart to be real criminals." 

Thanks for visiting. I love to hear from readers. Please connect with me. You can get in touch via my website, www.robinperini.com where you can view the In Her Sights book trailer, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph. I'm also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I'd love to hear from you.
 

21 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for inviting me here, today. It's a real privilege to share some of the craziness we writers go through.

    So, has someone overheard you and with a strange result. I'd love to know!

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  2. Robin, that has to be the best plotting story I've ever heard! It almost makes me want to plot...almost.

    I hope you write a book one day about a writer who gets mixed up in a murder mystery.

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  3. Hahaha. You have the best adventures, Robin.

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  4. Hi Kathy...surely I can bring you over to the dark side of plotting LOL!!!

    For the rest of you, please know I'm kidding. As a writer you have to find *your* way. I'm a planner all the way, but there are so many amazing writers who just sit down and write by the seat of their pants. I'm in true awe of them. I'd have a panic attack LOL...

    How fun, Kathy, to write a book about a writer who gets mixed up in murder. Reminds me of that movie years ago with Jo Beth Williams and Tom Conti - American Dreamer. I LOVED that movie! If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Robin

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  5. Bea - thanks for hosting Robin today. I hope you are feeling better.

    Robin - what a story! That's one I think you'll be telling for the rest of your life.

    Kathy and Pat - thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Hi Pat--

    So good of you to stop by. Yep...I always say my life is pretty boring, but occasionally...

    I will admit it's WAY funnier now than when it happened. I really was scared. If I get pulled over, those flashing lights just make my stomach lurch and my legs ache!

    Doesn't hindsight frequently change perspective?

    I'm so glad you visited the blog. Great to see you!!

    Robin

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  7. Thanks, Nicole...

    I really appreciate you popping in today. Glad you liked the recount. I will admit that occasionally I wonder how long the cop was listening.

    He did have a twinkle in his eyes, though.

    I think he knew...but he definintely had a flare for the dramatic!

    :-)
    Robin

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  8. "You're too smart to be real criminals."

    Ha!!!! Love that with a fiery passion! What a great story. Thanks for making me giggle and congrats on everything!!!

    ~D~

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  9. What a great story. I've only gotten looks from discussing sex scenes out loud.Although I once emailed a local brewery to find out how they made beer and they invited me to come on down. That was fun.
    --Gabi

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  10. Robin, thank you so much for sharing your story.

    At first I smiled, thinking back to several occasions when I discussed characters in public with other writers. But when you got to the part about the LEO presenting his badge, I laughed. I loved his line about how you were all to smart to be criminals :-)

    ~Kristine

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  11. Robin, when I received your post and read it, I laughed out loud. I had no trouble envisioning the scene in my head.

    I can't think of a time when someone overheard me with a strange result but I am one of those of peopel who talks out loud to herself. My co-workers are never quite sure who I'm talking to and if they should ignore me or acknowlwdge me. :D


    Thanks for being a guest today. :)

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  12. Hi Darynda--

    Thanks for dropping by. I can hardly believe all this is happening. Everyone has been so nice!

    When the cop said "too smart to be real criminals" my mouth dropped open.

    It wasn't until after he left that I realized what he said. You know that moment when you wish you had a great comeback, but don't think of anything to say until later. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to pick the guy's brain...my brain went numb LOL.

    Hugs,
    Robin

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  13. Love the brewery story. I can imagine the looks irt love scenes LOL.

    All you have to do is kill more people, Gabi *sly grin*.

    Thanks SO much for stopping by. I do think those of us who discuss our writing in public probably have a lot of tales to tell.

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  14. Hi Kristine--

    Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad the story made you laugh. Nothing is better for a writer than evoking a bit of emotion. As I've said, the humor was definitely post-event. LOL

    Looking back, how funny! Got me to wondering how many interesting things I could hear if I just sat in a Starbucks and eavesdropped. Rude, of course, but still, a lot of fodder for stories!

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  15. Oh love the talking to yourself. I do the same thing. At least I have an office to myself right now.

    I must admit when I shared an office, I would mutter to myslf. My poor roomie. Hmmm....so, does talking to ourselves constitute an issue? I answer myself, too. Hmmmm...wonder what Freud would say LOL.

    My critique group met at Borders for several years. We changed nights one semester as I was getting my Master's at night. When we went back to 'normal' several people mentioned missing us. I think we were a source of entertainment. Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Contemporary....they had all kinds of stories to listen to. As noisy as we were. they liked us :-).

    Thanks so much for having me here. I've had the best time, and I'm so glad the blog made you laugh!

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  16. I miss Borders. It was fun to talk about so many different stories. I can't wait until Amazon delivers my copy of In Her Sights. It will be so cool to read the story I've only seen in manuscript pages.

    Congrats on the dream come true, Robin!

    Sincerely,
    Louise

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  17. Oh Louise, I miss it too. I'm so glad you've been a part of this dream. It'll be cool to read the 'real' book.

    Thanks so much for stopping by. It means the world.

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  18. Bea, it's been an absolute pleasure joining you today. Thanks SO much for having me. I would love to hear from you and your readers again, so you can always reach me at www.robinperini.com.

    All my best,
    Robin

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  19. I had to laugh, Robin. I'd probably have done the exact same thing--looked like a deer in the headlights instead of seizing the opportunity to do an impromptu interview.

    Congrats on the release of In Her Sights. So exciting! I already ordered my Kindle copy, but I'll also get a print copy. (And hunt you down for an autograph LOL!) I can't wait to see that fabulous cover in 3D.

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  20. Hi Laurie. I just love the final cover. It's matte, not gloss and they really did a nice job with the guy!

    Yep, this was a real adventure. I'm so glad you enjoyed the article. And definitely find me for an autograph. Or come by the booksigning on January 7. Info is on my website (www.robinperini.com).

    You're a doll for stopping by!

    Hugs,
    Robin

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  21. Sorry for the delay Robin. It's been a pleasure having you here. Best of luck with your book. :)

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I enjoy hearing from my readers. Let's talk!