Why I read and write romance novels...

Recently I was asked why I write sweet romance. My automatic answer came out without me even thinking about it—I read for enjoyment, and to me that is once upon a time and happily ever after.

This person didn’t let me off the hook that easily, she wanted to know why?

I explained that working in the non-profit human services field I see enough of the real world, and that I don’t want to read about it.

Again, she asked why?

I explained that I have control over what I bring upon myself, and I don’t want that to be tragedy, or misfortune, or heartache. I want my life to be filled with humor, grace, and love, so that’s what I choose to read and write about.

Years ago I heard someone say the below standard, and have always believed it.
Watch your thoughts because they become your words.
Watch your words because they become your actions.
Watch your actions because they become your habits.
Watch your habits because they become your character.
Watch your character because it becomes your destiny.

On to reviews for this week….

Doctor McBride—4 hearts from Dee Daily at The Romance Studio. “Ms. Robinson keeps this tale fast moving with those twists and turns that always make a book fun.”


And Rancher McBride—5 hearts from the same reviewer at The Romance Studio. “The interaction of the characters and the dialogue in this installment of the McBride family saga is excellent.”

Doctor McBride also received a review from Joyfully Reviewed. Reviewer Tanya said, “A fast paced fun addition to the McBride brothers’ stories.”

Bloom Where You Are Planted

My garden is busy producing vegetables, and the branches on the fruit trees are hanging low from the weight of the apples and plums. I enjoy harvesting the goods and stacking the freezer for the winter months, and it always amazes me how those little plants can grow so quickly and produce so bountifully. Even more remarkable are those little volunteer guys—seeds left lying dormant from last year or the year before who sprout with life and run a challenging race with the ones who were so gently tendered and protected from frosty spring mornings.

Those volunteer ones remind me of the flower in the sidewalk or the concrete medium of a busy freeway. They gallantly prove where there is a will, there is a way.

Of course, with my love of westerns and history, my thoughts then go to the pioneers—those resilient men and women who courageously braved the unknown to plant themselves in the Wild West of North America and bloom.

Okay, so now I’m just rambling. Sorry, I wanted to get a blog post done so I can get back to work on my WIP (actually it’s four works in progress), but once I started thinking about the garden I completely forgot what I was going to blog about! All I can say is take advice from those little plants, and bloom where YOU are planted!

Writing news this week…I completed edits on two stories last weekend and got them sent back in, and the Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology received a 4.5 stars rating from The Romance Studio.

Not in Kansas anymore...

We are back in good old Minnesota. The family reunion was great. My books auctioned off for $45 a piece, and I bought a coat rack made out of horse shoes. We made the 800 mile drive in one day on the way down, but took two coming home. Age I guess.

While we were in Scott City we visited both the EL Quartelejo Museum and the Keystone Gallery. These were both excellent and I’d highly recommend stopping in if your ever in the vicinity.

My garden seemed to have popped while we were gone. I now have peppers and tomatoes coming out my ears! It’ll make for a busy weekend along with all the writing work I must catch up on!

On the road again...

We are heading back down to Kansas this week for a family reunion. It’s always great to see everyone down there. It’s tradition at this reunion to bring something ‘hand made’ for the auction that raises money for the next year’s reunion. I always donate a couple books and am excited to see how this year’s event goes. It is the Turley family reunion (my husband’s grandmother’s family) and in my book Shotgun Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 1, the sheriff’s name is Turley, so I know the family is going to have fun with that one.

Today I had the most awesome experience. I spoke to a book club in the cities. The club had chosen An April to Remember as a club read. It was so cool to talk to all these people who had read the book and had specific questions about Jerek and April and the Sultana disaster. They wanted to know how I learned about the Sultana, why I wrote about it, and a million other questions. I’ve spoken to many different groups as an author, but this, by far, was the most wonderful one yet! I invited my mother to attend with me, and she too had a great time. They had questions for her as well, the most common being how it felt to be the mother of an author. LOL.

WRDF reviews gave Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology an ‘entertaining and engaging’ rating. Reviewer Sally says the book “tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who wants to escape into an era when men were men…”

I also received preliminary galleys for both A Soldier for Christmas, my story for the American Rose Christmas Anthology, and Boot Hill Bride. I’d like to say I’ll be working on these while we drive to Kansas, but since we will be taking my car, I will be doing all the driving. Which is fine by me, the driver’s seat is more comfortable than the passengers. AND since I know she’ll be going back into storage soon, I’m happy to get as much time behind the wheel as possible. I’ve had my Mustang for a year now, and still love her as much as the day I drove her off the car lot.

P.S. The picture is Isabelle trucking across our front yard in her jeep. My DH thinks she takes after her grandmother, we can't get her out from behind the wheel either.