Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Today seems like a good day for a little writing motivation so let's do a writing prompt.

Your goal should you choose to accept it is to write. Write as much or as little as you like, but write something that finishes this sentence.

Writing Prompt: She picked up her glass. . .


Enjoy! Have fun and just write whatever pops into your head.


Here is what I came up with:

Jane picked her glass up and swallowed liquid courage. Then gulped some more. Whew! Her head felt a little light. She shook it off then stiffened her spine.

“I had sex with Cooper,” she blurted out.

David was mid-drink when he set his glass with great care onto his desk then leaned back in his leather chair, clasped his fingers together across his stomach and stared at her.

Was it hot in his office? She was hot. She started fanning herself and tugging at the collar on her blouse.

“I see.”

He sees? What does he see? She had sex with Cooper. A cop. Not just any cop, the mother of all cops. The gosh-darn-frickin’ Chief of Police.

“More than once,” she divulged and downed the rest of her champagne. She hiccupped as she set the glass on the desk in front of David.

She hiccupped again and slapped her fingers across her lips.

Second Night added to next Mystery Event!

What happens on January 21st AND January 22nd at Zorvino Vineyards? Another MURDER, of course……

The demand for this event was so great that Zorvino Vineyards asked the authors to host a second night of Loud and Lethal Murder Mystery Event.

If you haven't bought your tickets yet...do so today!!! You now have two nights available, but HURRY.
Visit www.zorvino.com to get your tickets!

Join us for a very special evening in January as we present LOUD & LETHAL - A Rock & Roll Murder Mystery. Once again, we bring together a group of 4 talented Mystery authors to help create the perfect crime…one that actually happens while you’re here at Zorvino Vineyards !!!

Our theme this time....? ROCK & ROLL !!! Enter the sordid world of the music industry as our favorite band, LOUD & LETHAL has mechanical trouble with the tour bus and has to spend the evening in our winery. But wait...there's already a huge wine bash going on ! What happens when a vortex of vipers, vagabonds, vixens, varmints & vino vault into our vineyard venue ! Viola !

This is a general admission event…Doors will open at 6:30 pm and we ask our guests to be present in the great room at 7 pm for the evening’s kick-off. The murder will be solved at 9:30 pm sharp as we share the details of the mystery with everyone. The one person who comes closest to figuring out what happened will receive a prize. The authors will be on hand at the end of the evening to personalize books and chat with their fans.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Meez 3D avatar avatars games

Loud and Lethal - Our next Murder Mystery Event

What happens on January 21st at Zorvino Vineyards? Another MURDER, of course……

If you haven't bought your tickets yet...do so today!!! There's only 40 left.
Visit www.zorvino.com to get your tickets!

Join us for a very special evening in January as we present LOUD & LETHAL - A Rock & Roll Murder Mystery. Once again, we bring together a group of 4 talented Mystery authors to help create the perfect crime…one that actually happens while you’re here at Zorvino Vineyards !!!

Our theme this time....? ROCK & ROLL !!! Enter the sordid world of the music industry as our favorite band, LOUD & LETHAL has mechanical trouble with the tour bus and has to spend the evening in our winery. But wait...there's already a huge wine bash going on ! What happens when a vortex of vipers, vagabonds, vixens, varmints & vino vault into our vineyard venue ! Viola !

This is a general admission event…Doors will open at 6:30 pm and we ask our guests to be present in the great room at 7 pm for the evening’s kick-off. The murder will be solved at 9:30 pm sharp as we share the details of the mystery with everyone. The one person who comes closest to figuring out what happened will receive a prize. The authors will be on hand at the end of the evening to personalize books and chat with their fans.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sharing a lesson from my mom

Sometimes it really does pay to listen to your mom. And I mean that in the literal sense of the word, "pay".

A long time ago my mom taught me to throw change in a jar. She said, "If you want to save up for something fun to do on a rainy day, throsing it into a jar is the way to do it."

When I got a little older and was living on my own or when I was first with my ex-husband and was dirt poor, I remembered those words of wisdom.

At the end of every day we would toss our change into a jar. In a month's worth of time we could take our coins to the bank and could afford to go scuba diving. For the first few years of our marriage that was how we saved for fun, whether a dinner out, a movie, or a one-day dive trip we scrambled through that jar for our fun funds.

After a while we started adding whatever dollar bills we had at the end of the week into the fun funds. Wow! What a hugs difference. Then we could afford to order a pizza in once every two weeks or do a weekend dive trip.

To this day, thanks to my mom, I still do the "fun fund jar". And let me tell you it does add up. The best part is you don't even realize you are saving because you're not having to go to the bank every week to ensure that you are putting money aside. You are just doing it.

A few months back I took a trip to see my sister and her family and just so happened that I had packaged my fun fund up to take to the bank but never made it there. Instead, I had the money with me when I went to see my niece and nephews. Long story short, I tossed the plastic baggies with all the coins and dollar bills to my nephews and told then that if they counted it they could have it...with one caveat. They had to take their mom, dad, and sister out to dinner with part of it and then they could spend it on whatever else.

First, you have to imagine the chins dropped to their chests and their mouths catching flies. Too funny and a great precious moment. You would have thought they hit gold after they finished counting. Too funny!

This is the best part. After they realized how much cash they had in their hands they wanted to know how I saved all that. I shared with them the same wisdom my mom shared with me. . .

Find a jar, a bucket, a basket. Then sit it in the corner of a room and start emptying your pockets every evening and tossing your change inside. Put it out of your mind other than making it a routine habit.

Then when you really decide you want or need something you don't have to break your wallet open, you can turn to the jar and if the money is there, "Go for it."

I spoke with my nephews this evening and since then they have both been saving their money and it appears to be working for them.

Moms are brilliant people and it really does pay to listen. And I am so very glad that I got to pass my mom's words of wisdom on to my nephews. Maybe this little family treasure will help you in the new year to come.

Thanks Mom!!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Visiting Inspired Quill


Today I had the opportunity to stop by Inspired Quill and have a quick chat with Sara about NEVER TEMPT DANGER.

Please drop on by Inspired Quill, say hi, and leave a comment.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

What says holiday cheer more than a free book

'Tis the season for family, friends, fun, and free so let's have a little fun and give a free book to family or friend.

How to win is easy. Tell me who you want to give one of my books to and why then leave your email address with something like (drobbin AT comcast.net) so the stupid scammers don't get your mail. ;-)

If you want to give a specific book of mine to a person then mention that book in your post. Who knows, I may pull more than one name and/or book out of the random hat.

In case you haven't seen my four novels they are:













If you have a cook that is always on the look out for new recipes to try then perhaps a recipe book put together by a group of authors donating recipes might be a fun and unique idea.

Friday, December 10, 2010

An authors loves to hear

I love weeks like this!

The other day when I was at breakfast a woman who is reading NEVER TEMPT DANGER told me, "The book is getting really good. I was still reading at 2 in the morning."

HA! That's my idea of being hooked.

A couple who have read all my books (yes, both of them) introduced me to their kids as "their favorite local author."

Love the warm and fuzzy feeling that gave me.

A blogger contacted me and said she is just waiting to see my name on the list of attending authors for the Authors After Dark.

Then another reader emailed me to let me know she is loving my books (She's read NEVER TEMPT DANGER, CONNECT THE DOTS, and has KILLER BUNNY HILL) and is going to give one of them to the local library and convince them to carry the others.

I love hearing these things. I am feeling the author love.

OH! Wait! One more. A friend of mine called me from Minnesota and the first thing out of his mouth was "My family wants to know when the next book is coming out?"

Is he kidding me? NEVER TEMPT DANGER came out less than two months ago.

What do I have to say about that. Double arm pump and "Yippee! I'm one of those authors who can't write fast enough for her readers."

I have authors I love that can't write enough for me so that is an amazing feeling.

What does all this do for me? Makes me want to write and write and write some more. I've written 2500 words this week just by writing a little each morning.

For those of you that read my books and send me messages, "Thank you. You are great inspiration."

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Writing Prompt Thursday

After being out and about the last two days touring the blog scene I thought today would be a good day for a writing prompt.

We'll keep it short and sweet. You ready?

Writing prompt: OMG!


Write as much or as little as you want but that little bit should leave it wide open for you to go in any direction. Play with it, have fun, and most importantly write.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

I'm off to another blog stop


Today on our our book blog tour we are stopping over at Babbling about Books, and More.

Katie and I chatted the other day and she shared with me that she had a few or more writer friends interested in getting published. I am stopping by Babbling about Books, and More.
to share with Katie and her friends my journey to getting published and hope you will find it inspiring. *Look for a few tips at the end of this journey.*

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

JoJos Book Corner


Join me today at another stop on my blog tour. I'll be over at Jo Jo's Book Corner along with Gilly and Lucas from my latest novel, NEVER TEMPT DANGER.

Join in the fun at Jo Jo's Book Corner as Jodie asks my characters some very interesting and fun questions.


Stick around and ask your own question to possibly win a copy of NEVER TEMPT DANGER for yourself or a loved one. It'll make a great holiday gift!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Daddy’s little girl…

Today is my father’s birthday and today I wanted to take the time to share with you how much I love, admire, and respect him. I want to share with you why I am daddy’s little girl.

Daddy’s little girl…

I’m daddy’s little girl, of this I know is true.

I’m daddy’s little girl because he loves me too.

He tucked me in, held my hand, and soothed my broken heart.

He clapped with joy, bought me ice cream, and shared a little part.

I’m daddy’s little girl, as no man will ever do.

I’m daddy’s little girl, he is the man I compare every man to.

He’s caught me when I’ve fallen and dusted me off to take a new flight.

He’s helped me soar and fly to my destiny.

I’m daddy’s little girl and that is how it should be.

I love my daddy and he loves me.

I’m daddy’s little girl.

~by Denise Robbins for her father


Many of you know that my father, Keith Goodman, is my first round editor of all my books. He has endured every word, every scene (don’t forget I write romantic-suspense), both good and bad at least twice. He does it because I ask.

This is the same man I shared with you months ago who wrote a poem about me when I was about two years old and kept it. I think I get my writing ability from him.

I admire my father for his common sense, for his ability to take on anything and do it right, for his undying love even when I probably get on his nerves. I respect him for holding his own against an establishment and taking care of the folks who worked for him.

Ten years ago we had this tremendous surprise birthday party for dad and the number of people who came out to hug, kiss, and surprise him was overwhelming. Even a high school friend of mine flew in from overseas to see my father’s face when everyone showed up. This is a guy who for whatever reason became my father’s adopted son and has been since I was about 15 years old. At the party, I heard story after story of how great my father was. I’m here to tell you that I know this first hand.

My father is the person I turn to when I need to talk something through. He’s the first person I called when I got my first book published. Heck, I still call him whenever a book is bought or I get the book cover. He was here when I bought my house and helped me clear out all the Forsythia that had taken over the yard.

When I was a kid, dad was the one who helped me learn to ride my purple banana-seat bike. He was the one who introduced me to different books to read. Dad was the one who endured algebra with me. Let me tell you…that was not pretty. While both my parents went to all of my sporting events it was my dada who was on the field with me as coach and friend, and the person who would play with me in the yard when I couldn’t get the throw or the kick quire right.

Both my parents support me in everything I do and for this I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Happy birthday, Dad! Hugs and kisses and birthday wishes.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

I'm visiting A Buckeye Girl Reads today

My blog tour continues at A Buckeye Girl Reads!

Today I was invited to stop by Colette's for a quick interview and a giveaway of NEVER TEMPT DANGER.

Stop on over, say "Hi," learn a little more about the heroine of NEVER TEMPT DANGER.

Leave a comment so we know you were there and to possibly win the giveaway.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Writing Prompt Wednesday

I'm trying to reach another two thousand words in my WIP today and thought a writing prompt might help me get there. How about you? Could you use a little creativity boost?

Today's writing prompt: He found Jack. . .

Write whatever pops into your head. Don't think, just write. Write as much or as little as you want and share it back here when you finish.

Hook that reader and make us want to read more.

Happy writing!

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