Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful 2007 and send you many blessings for 2008!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

Paty Jager-My Mentor

Many of you have asked me who Paty Jager is-the author whose quote appears on the front cover of Mail Order Husband. Paty is an author with The Wild Rose Press. I consider her my mentor. Her insight, talent and expertise have been invaluable to me since I contracted with The Wild Rose Press.

AND…Paty’s latest book, Perfectly Good Nanny, is a finalist in the Contemporary Romance category for the EPPIE Awards, a contest for Electronically Published Books! If you’re looking for a good read, check it out, it’s available in both e-book and print.

Congrats, Paty!

Other news…I have my Christmas shopping done, that is if everything I ordered on line arrives by Saturday! I spent all weekend, shopping, writing out cards, and wrapping. Of course, I had double the presents to wrap for Isabelle since her 1st birthday is the 23rd. It is true, being a Grandparent is one of God's greatest gifts!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Gryphon House

Okay, it's not "romance" but it is writing! --Today I was notified Gryphon House accepted a lesson plan I submitted for The GIANT Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans, which will be released in July. A couple years ago they selected several ideas I submitted for The GIANT Encyclopedia of Transition Activities: For Children 3 to 6. Gryphon House publishes wonderful and useful resource and idea books for children. They are great for Grandparents too! I look forward to using these books as Isabelle gets older.

On the romance side...I'm still working on the edits of An April to Remember, and I had lunch with a friend today who'd purchased several copies of Mail Order Husband for Christmas gifts, which I autographed. I'm sure her purchases are what had put the book back on the Western Best Selling list at Amazon earlier this month. Thanks, Sandy!

AND...on the personal side--Preparations for Christmas are underway. The guest bedroom, or "Heartbreak Hotel" as they boys call it, is full of gifts, which I need to find the time to wrap, and I've made a couple batches of candy. Yesterday, I went to the Mall of America with my mother and sister. We met up with my aunt from Texas, aunt and cousin from Baudette, and aunt and uncle from the Iron Range where we all participated in the World's Largest Christmas Carol. The rotunda, and all three balconies, were full of carolers as everyone joined Alvin and the Chipmunks in singing "The Chipmunk Song" (Christmas Don't Be Late). Wearing red Santa hats, with a big, black A on the white rim, we sang eight rounds of "Christmas, Christmas time is near, Time for toys, and time for cheer. We've been good, but we can't last, Hurry Christmas, hurry fast. Want a plane that loops a loop, Me, I want a Hula-hoop..."

Hope you all are enjoying your holiday activities!

An April to Remember Cover

I received my cover for An April to Remember today....here it is, let me know what you think.

Here's the unedited blub for the story:

April Simonson hated men—all men. They were cruel, sinful beasts. Her disfigured face was proof. That is until she met Jerek Brinkley. Then, as the revered Sultana explodes, April falls into the dark, muddy waters of the Mississippi River terrified she’ll never see the light of day or the handsome riverboat gambler again.

Jerek Brinkley fought hell and high water to save the northern vixen who’d won his heart with her card tricks, only to fear Allan Pinkerton’s arrival in Memphis might reveal secrets he’s not ready for her to know.

Based on history’s greatest maritime disaster, An April to Remember, sprinkled with real facts and events, revives the Sultana, a Civil War riverboat whose death toll surpassed the Titanic’s, and offers a new twist on what might have happened that fateful night in 1865.

It is still in the editing process, and will probably be released some time in 2008.

I've really enjoyed working on this story. The research was so facinating.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Release Dates

This week I was notified of the release dates for A Wife for Big John. February for the e-book and August for the print version. The galley is done and turned it, so for now that child is sleeping.

I'm working on the first round of edits for An April to Remember, and I'm also working on a short time travel story, An Unbelievable Journey. It's about a girl who travels back to the 1880's and helps Buffalo Bill Cody plan his first Wild West Show. She believes aliens abducted her and accidentally dropped her off in the wrong century. It's a short, fun story.

The Northern Lights Writer's retreat was fabulous. It was held at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast near Hinkley. So I was able to stop and see Isabelle on the way there and back.

We only had six trick or treaters for Halloween, so I made sure they each went home with a pumpkin from my garden. My great nephew was excited because as he put it, "Halloween isn't just about trick or treating, it's about carving pumpkins too."

Deer hunting season has started, so I'm a weekend widow, and enjoy the extra time to sit on the computer!

Hope your November is a wonderful one!

Tickled Pink

I am just tickled pink today! I received a contract for my next book. An April to Remember will be published through the American Rose line at the Wild Rose Press. I absolutely love this story. It is about the Sultana, a riverboat that sank near Memphis at the end of the Civil War. I've been itching to start the edits on the story, but wanted to wait until I heard if it would be contracted.

Last week the Big Lake Library hosted "A Night of Romance". Kathleen Eagle and Judy Baer (and I) spoke to the audience about being a romance writer. Michele Hauf and Lois Greiman also attended as did a group from my RWA Chapter, Northern Lights Writers. The meal included a chocolate buffet! My husband, my mother, all three of my sons and their wives/girlfriends, as well as my granddaughter, Miss Isabelle, attended. A reporter from the Big Lake paper (a wonderful woman who also critiqued A Wife for Big John for me) took this photo of me and Isabelle.

Other news...next weekend I'm going on the Northern Lights Writers retreat, and am really looking forward to it. Still hoping to hire a replacement at work (only two of us work there and one retired...nope it wasn't me), and I get to wait on tables this weekend for a fundraiser at Applebee's! Haven't done that since high school.

Oh, and today is my birthday. :)

Cover for A Wife for Big John

I got my cover today for A Wife for Big John. It really turned out to be a tough one! At first we focused on the stove Dani (the heroine) falls in love with, but had a very difficult time finding one to represent the one in the story. I took some pictures of my antique stove, but it's over 100 years old, so most certainly doesn't look "new" as reflected in the story.

Then we turned our attention to Big John, the hero. Needless to say, we didn't have much luck coming up with a Lumberjack either.

In the end, we went for a true Northern Minnesota scene, tall pines and lots of snow! Here it is...let me know what you think.

Is Summer REALLY over?

Wow, August simply flew by! It was a busy month. We went to the NASCAR race in Michigan...it was rained out! Didn't run until Tuesday morning, and we were already back home by then. BUMMER! While we were gone Cody went on a plum picking excursion, so I was quite busy making jelly for a week. :) Also had a new event to pull together at work. I was hoping things would slow down in September, but by the looks of my calendar, there really is no hope. Maybe October.

I am now working on the second edits for A Wife for Big John, it had been awhile since I worked on it, and I'm finding how much I like Dani and John all over again. They are quite a pair. I've started working on another book, it is set in Western Kansas, and my research is really interesting. I lived there for over ten years, and wish I would have know some of this then. I visited Squaw's Den several times, but never knew the real story behind the landmark. I'll have to drive out to it next time we go down to see Jess's family.

I'm also working on an event with the Big Lake Library. "A Night of Romance" we are inviting MN romance authors to join us for an evening of fun, story telling and book signings. It will be Oct. 11th.

Oh, and I received my first sales statement from TWRP for Mail Order Husband. I was astonished by how many e-books sold through Fictionwise in May and June. Thanks to all who purchased one.

Hope you all accomplished goals you'd set for this summer. :)

Coming Soon

It's official, A Wife for Big John has been contracted by the Wild Rose Press and is now on their coming soon page for the Cactus Rose line. Yeah! The story setting is a lumber camp in Northern Minnesota in the 1890's and was a lot of fun to write.

Mail Order Husband update....
It is still on the Amazon Western Best Selling list, the highest I've seen it is number 3, currently it's hovering around 8-10.
51 readers have rated it at Fictionwise.
Today I found a review from Two Lips, Reviewer, Arianna says, "Lauri Robinson has turned the tables on mail order forever. ... I really enjoyed Mail Order Husband and recommend reading it because I believe that you will too!"

Other news...We spent the weekend in Iowa visiting with my husband's family, and next weekend we are off to the NASCAR race in Michigan.

Hope you all have found the time to enjoy the summer....it feels like it's almost over! YIKES.

Amazon's Hot New Releases List

OMG...Yesterday, I googled Mail Order Husband, (checking for new reviews), much to my surprise, a link to Amazon's Hot New Releases List came up. I clicked on it, and Mail Order Husband was #11 on their Best Selling Hot New Releases Western Category list!!!

Earlier today it went to #12, and is now at #14. It says the list is updated hourly, so I don't know how long it will stay on the list, but it sure was exciting to see it. Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/271584011 if you want to take a peek.

Cheers!

Print Release Date--JULY 6th

Hello All,

We are back from vacation and had such a wonderful time, I wasn't ready to come home. :) But isn't that usually how it is? Hope you all a wonderful 4th of July!

While we were gone, the RELEASE DATE FOR THE PRINT VERSION OF MAIL ORDER HUSBAND arrived. The book is now available for purchase. Any bookstore should be able to order it in, if they do not have it in stock. OR you can purchase it on line from Wild Rose Press, as well as Amazon and others.

Thanks so much for all of your support and please let me know what you think of the book!

I'm working on another one....as always. :) And feel new inspiration since I had time to read a couple books while traveling and then waiting for the fish to bite. (Which they did, we now have our limit of wonderful Walleyes to have for a fish fry with friends and family.)

Enjoy the warm summer days, they are already flying by much to quickly!

Cheers!

Mail Order Husband in Print

I received an email saying I could purchase print copies of Mail Order Husband, this was such GREAT news because we will be on vacation during the July 6th print release date. We meet several others out at the Missouri River in South Dakota to camp and fish for a week. It is great fun and I am so excited to be able to bring copies of the book with, especially since I only see most of these people once a year.

I am really not a boat or fishing person, most of the time, (yes, I realize I live in the land of 10,000 Lakes, so going to South Dakota to go fishing sounds strange), but while we are out there, we are completely on vacation, no phones, no TV's, (I insist on running water and electricity so we stay at the lodge, others do the "camping" parts), no traffic, etc., that I even enjoy relaxing in the boat, and catching record size walleyes is an added bonus!

Fictionwise update: I slipped from the best seller list this week. I'm not disappointed! Just to be on the best seller list was wonderful, but to actually make the NUMBER ONE slot was more than I ever dreamed of!

I'm working on another book, it's during the Civil War and about a Riverboat that was truly the greatest maritime disaster in the U.S. history. The Sultana blew up on the Mississippi in 1865 just north of Memphis, and her cause is still in debate. It's been a lot of fun to research and create a love story around.

Hope you all have a GREAT week!

Love Western Romances

Love Western Romances is a new site, check it out when you have a chance. http://www.lovewesternromances.com/
They also reviewed Mail Order Husband and gave it "Four Spurs" Reviewer Carol sent this in an email to me...
"I enjoyed the book and the byplay between the two characters but I absolutely fell in love with Jace --definitely a "knight in shining armor"! Look forward to more from you, Lauri--Best, Carol"

You can read the full review here http://www.lovewesternromances.com/mohreview.html

It is so wonderful to hear from people who have read the story I worked so hard to create!

Fictionwise update: Mail Order Husband went from #1 to #2, then to #7 on the overall list. It went to #2 on the romance only list, and has remained there for sometime now. My family checks it regularly then calls to update me. I never thought my three sons would be so supportive of their mother's hobby. It is great. :)

Other news...I sent in my next manuscript, "A Wife for Big John" it's about a logging company in Minnesota in the 1890's. While sitting with my Dad every weekend, I'd work on it, and since he'd worked in the "woods" as a young man, he had a lot of stories to share. It was wonderful, and makes the story all the more special to me.

Hope you all have a GREAT week!

# 1 Best Seller

Mail Order Husband has hit # 1 on the Fictionwise best seller list!

It had moved to # 3 last week and I was very excited, but when I looked today and saw # 1... Well, I'm still screaming it from the roof top! http://www.fictionwise.com/

I have no idea how many have to sell to make the list, but THANK YOU to anyone who has purchased it and I hope you enjoy the story!

My son, Dallas, had class tonight and had told his teacher his mother's book was at number 3, then during break he listened to the message I'd left saying it was now # 1. He went back in and the whole class had to check it out! :)

It's so wonderful to have such a supportive family!

Have a GREAT week everyone!

FIVE HEARTS FROM THE ROMANCE STUDIO

Brenda Talley, reviewer for The Romance Studio, just gave Mail Order Husband FIVE hearts!

When I got the email from WRP and saw it was a review for MOH, I had to take a deep breath before I could click!

I read it, screamed, read it to my husband, screamed, read it to my Mom, screamed, read it to my son...well, you get the picture.

Ms. Talley says, "This book is a very romantic, yet suspenseful........There is a constant undercurrent of danger, but there are also some poignant moments which made me shed a few tears. This book is a great read and I was not ready for it to end. I envision this book will be a keeper for many bookshelves; I highly recommend that you read it!"

You can read the full review at http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/mailorderhusbandrobinson.htm

How will I ever sleep tonight?????????

Mail Order Husband Tagged as a BEST SELLER

OMG...I was told to check out Fictionwise and to my surprise Mail Order Husband has been tagged as a best seller! I really don't know who purchased my book, but...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook46132.htm

As of this week it is number 10 on the romance best seller list and number 12 on the all category best seller list.
http://www.fictionwise.com/topstories.htm

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/RomanceEbooks.htm

AND Readerwise has tagged it as number 3 on the best selling romance list!
http://www.readerwise.com/servlet/mw?t=browsebook&catid=9&si=47

I am jumping for joy, and again-THANKS to all you wonderful e-book readers!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Miss You Dad

Early in the morning on Mother's Day, one of the greatest men I will ever know quietly slipped out of my living life. My father had been suffering from Alzhemier's for some time. About 1:30 AM my Mom called, and my youngest son, Cody answered the phone. I heard him say, "You need help? I'll be right there." He and I jumped in the car, and drove to my parent's house. An hour or so later, my dad slipped away as I sat on his bed holding his hand. It was very quiet, and beautiful. And I am so very thankful to have shared that wonderful moment with him.

For the past few years I have stopped at my parent's house every morning on my way to work and every evening on my way home. Every Sunday I would sit with Dad while Mom went to work. She retired several years ago, but enjoyed getting out that one day a week and earning a little extra spending money. Those Sunday's are now some of my most precious memories. Somedays we talked, somedays we watched movies, and somedays he slept while I wrote. But everyday ended with a hug and a kiss. Most days he'd say, "Thanks for stopping."

The past week has been the longest, and the shortest week of my life. We had two services, one local and one in Northern Minnesota, which was always "home" to daddy, and where we buried him. It was hard to say good-bye, and even harder watching my three sons loose their Grandpa. At the same time, I felt extremely blessed. My three little boys have grown into three wonderful, young men. And their Grandpa was very proud of each one of them. That pride filtered into my heart at one point on the trip north. As each one of the boys, driving their own pickup and/or car, pulled out of the gas station where we had all filled our vehicles with gas, Justin the oldest, with his girlfriend, Connie, Dallas, the middle, with his wife, Liz, and daughter, Isabelle, and Cody, with his girlfriend, Sarah, I waved and watched the convoy, and felt my Dad in the car beside me. "You have a lot to be proud of there," floated across my mind, and I know it was him.

One Saturday, a few years ago, just Dad and I went to an old car show and had this picture taken. It was one of his favorites, and an eight by ten of it sat beside his chair until last Sunday.

I miss him very much, and am so very thankful that God had chosen him to be my Daddy all those years ago.

Mail Order Husband E-Book Release

It's here...The release date!

Wild Rose Press has released Mail Order Husband today in e-book. Check it out at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Creating Jace and Penny and their life together was such fun. I sincerely hope readers enjoy the story and characters.

Romance Readers at Heart reviewer Julie Kornhausl says "There’s more to this story than just the romance between Jace and Penny. There’s someone who is out to destroy the other ranches. Throw in some Indians and your run-of-the-mill bad guy, and MAIL ORDER HUSBAND turns out to be quite the entertaining western.
I would recommend reading MAIL ORDER HUSBAND by Lauri Robinson."

You can read her full review here: http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2007/may07/MOH_LR.html

Now it's time to focus on the next one! And the next....

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tagged

I've been tagged by Jenna Bayley-Burke to tell everyone 8 things they didn't know about me before!

What a way to start out the morning....Let me think...

1. For Jenna... my favorite show is Deadliest Catch too. My son got me hooked on it.
2. In High School, (many years ago) I lettered in wrestling. (Long story.)
3. I am one of eight children, six boys and two girls. All but one of us are now grandparents.
4. My 24 year old Kitty died last July...Odd thing is I never really liked cats, I got him by default when my boys were little. Still miss him.
5. I am addicted to ice tea. ONLY FRESH BREWED! I drink at least a pitcher a day.
6. My guest room is "Heartbreak Hotel". It is decorated with all of the Elvis memorabilia I have been given over the years. Complete with a full size cardboard cut-out. (Which many guests put in the closet, saying they can't sleep with Elvis staring at them.)
7. My favorite grilled food is an Oscar Mayer hot dog.
8. My dream car is a '65 Mustang. I'm still looking for the perfect one and arguing with my husband about it. (He's a Chevy guy).

I will now tag eight other Wild Rose Press Authors....

In case I tag you, here are the rules:
1) Each player starts with 8 random facts or habits about themselves.
2) People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their 8 things with a copy of these rules.
3) At the end of your blog you need to choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names.
4) Don't forget to leave them a note saying they've been tagged.


Tag you're it!

Clover Autrey, Marly Mathews, Tina Gayle, Stacy Dawn, Cindy K. Green, Alisha Paige, Gina Black, and Rayna Vause.

Trip to Kansas

Sorry it's been a few days since I posted. My husband and I made a trip to southwestern Kansas to see his Grandfather. We were about eighty miles west of Greensburg which was devasted by a tornado while we were there. Please remember the town and people in your prayers.

We had a nice time visiting family and friends. Grandpa is 88 and lives alone in his own house, so one day was spent cleaning for him. It was quite trying to convince him that tools do NOT belong in the silverware drawer or the dishwasher!

TRUE STORY....Grandma died about ten years ago and after her death we bought Grandpa an answering machine when he complained no one ever called him. He couldn't figure out how to work the machine so once a week he would take it up town to the small Radio Shack store and they would play the messages for him and write down the names he needed to call back. Yes..it's a small town! I used this tale as well as some other 'quirks' of Grandpa's in "A Message of Love ".

The quick trip was fun but I must say, I am glad to be back in Minnesota and to have internet access again!

Make it a GREAT Week and Happy Mother's Day to all you MOM"S!

Wild Rose Press

For those of you who haven't heard of Wild Rose Press I would highly recommend you check out their website. They have a tremendous amount of wonderful books available. Both in e-book and print formats. They are also open to submissions by new authors. The website is http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/. Be sure to check out the author pages to learn more about women around the world who have fabulous stories to share!

Make it a GREAT week!

Book Blurb

Here is the back cover blurb for Mail Order Husband:

Penny Jordan doesn't want a husband- she needs one. It's the only way she can save her ranch. Her pickings are slim, so she asks her friend from back east to find one and send him to the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory, ASAP. Penny soon discovers that her mail ordered husband is the last thing she needed- he's nothing more than a mail order problem!

Jace Owens doesn't want a wife-again. When his meddling sister-in-law drugs and ships him to the middle of nowhere as a mail order husband, all he can focus on is getting back to Pennsylvania to wring her scrawny neck. Then he meets his new wife, and soon discovers he's going to have to convince her to let him stay-for a lifetime.

I got the idea for the book while visiting the Black Hills with my youngest son. We had flown to Custard for him to attend prom with his girlfriend who is from there.

Book Cover for Mail Order Husband

Just got the book cover for Mail Order Husband. I finished the galley on Saturday. So I think it is almost a done deal! It's all very exciting. Let me know what you think of the cover!

Snow Again

Yes, it is April, but it snowed again. That's life in Minnesota.
I am reading my galley for Mail Order Husband and hope to soon be working on the cover. I have also sent another manuscript to Wild Rose Press and started to work on a Civil War story. It is a story I'm excited to tell, but then again, they each have been my favorite as I've been working on them. I'm also checking out prices and time commitments for a website. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears.

New Week

The weekend came and went...I was busy with family and writing on my next book. The Wild Rose Press has added an author page for me. That was very exciting. Check it out. (I would give a direct link, but still figuring that all out... so go to www.wildrosepublishing.com then authors and then my name.

Have a great day!

Fishing Season has Started!

My darling hubby bought our joint fishing license today. This always makes me laugh, because I know when I read mine how I look to him. :) Some years I am 5'4" and weigh 110 pounds, others I am 5'2" and 150 pounds. I always have blue eyes.
Bless his heart! I've been 5'3" and 135 pounds for most of the 26 years we have been married!

Welcome

I'm new to blogging. Just created this page because it was suggested by the Wild Rose Press, a publisher of romance novels that just accepted "Mail Order Husband", an historical romance I wrote. I'll post availability as soon as I know. While waiting feel free to check out my other novel, "A Message of Love" available at amazon.com.