Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Robin Cain: NAKED!

So there is nothing better I like than getting naked, yes? And I ADORE a guest who has done her homework (not to mention one who writes in one of my genres and seems to have a VERY exciting book!), so I am THRILLED today.

I need to give a shout first though, today is the FOR REALS book release for Alex Cavanaugh and CassaStar! I can't imagine I have any readers who don't already know Alex, because he has this blog thing worked to an art form, but today is REALLY the first day you can get his book and don't you want to be his first?


Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled blog.

You remember a while ago I posted (nearly snarky) 'if you want to blog here' rules? My REASON is that I love all of YOU and want people who guest post to be writing for YOU instead of just generically promoting... Robin is a SUPERSTAR... she totally took me seriously, even though I am only a little scary, and she has guest posted EXACTLY for you.

Robin Cain lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, daughter, three dogs, three horses and donkey. As a novelist and regular contributing writer for an online publication, she spends her days searching for the perfect words to amuse, enlighten and touch her readers. By reading her work, you’ve not only helped make her dreams come true, but others as well.

Welcome Robin!

Naked, nakeder, nakedest?

When offered a guest post on this blog, I have to admit I stumbled a little bit. It’s not easy to get noticed when standing next to someone who has a witty sense of humor and unique writing style, but I’ve found the only way to learn from someone is to emulate their habits for a bit, see how it feels and just see what new ideas come through by osmosis. So now….


I AM NAKED!  (Tart note: warms my heart!)


Sure, you laugh and roll your eyes (what lengths will an author go to get noticed?!?), but I figured there must be something to this. I mean, freeing oneself from restrictions, constrictions, confines or that little-too-tight waistband can’t hurt, right?

Writing isn’t always easy – even on the best day – so why not? We writers get in the habit of our little spaces, our just-so work places, our special pens, and our certain weighted paper. Why not shake it up a bit? Maybe our stories, our characters, our plots could use a little diversion – if not a little laughter (I don’t know about you, but my nakedness isn’t going to warrant a call from a modeling agency any time soon). Maybe freeing ourselves from the ‘normal’ is just what we, oft-stumped writers, need.
Like any ‘routine’, the act of writing can get stagnant.

Ever read an author whose books have become formulaic? Or an author whose endings always seem to be ‘happily ever after’? How about one who can’t seem to get past the overuse of exclamation points or the monotonous boring sex scenes? Dull, duller and DULLEST! Maybe if authors stripped themselves of everything extraneous, they, too, could find something a little out of their typically comfortable box.

My point – and not that one session of nakedness has made me a scholar – is that for an author to stand out, to be noticed, in this ever-expanding crowd of authors, we have to push the edges, maybe go for the not-to-tried and true. We need to stretch ourselves and our writing minds. Readers want to be entertained – not be given the same old story, hashed and re-hashed. Characters who come alive, who speak to them by doing a little something different than what they themselves would do is what every book buyer craves.

You say you can’t seem to get there today? Plot line got you a little bogged down? Your writing brain is a little foggy? You know, Albert Einstein would define that as insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I’m sitting here naked and, 15 minutes and 432 words later, I’ve had an epiphany. Just imagine what altering your writing routine might just do for you…

@ 2010 Robin Cain
Robin Cain lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, daughter, three dogs, three horses and donkey. As a novelist and regular contributing writer for The Examiner, she spends her days searching for the perfect words to amuse, enlighten and touch her readers. By reading her work, you’ve not only helped make her dreams come true, but other’s dreams as well.

A percentage of the proceeds of her book, WHEN DREAMS BLEED, will be donated to the American non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), which aims to present hope and find help for people struggling with problems such as depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

To learn more about Robin or read an excerpt from her book, please visit her website: http://www.robincain.com/

BOOK BLURB:
A software genius with a knack for business, Frank Campelletti’s been living the dream his whole life. He’s amassed money, success, and is now accumulating women, but someone out there thinks he’s gone too far.

Who is seeking revenge and why? His wife? His mistress? Or the shadow who’s been following his every move?

Just when he thinks he has anticipated his opponent’s next move a tragic car accident leaves him paralyzed, his life’s work is being stolen and his wife has disappeared. Just how far will someone go to teach him the correlation between deception and despair?

WHEN DREAMS BLEED examines temptation and the ensuing consequences in a contemporary world. It’s no secret that dreams come at a price, but what happens WHEN DREAMS BLEED?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the quote from Albert Einstein. I couldn't write naked,though, my Raynaud's would turn me hypothermic. LOL! I like the sound of When Dreams Bleed. There's a fun comment about Victor Hugo writing naked over at http://lynneawest.blogspot.com/ :O)

Rachael Harrie said...

Great guest post Robin.

LOVE your blog Hart, so cool. And funny!!!

Rach

Hart Johnson said...

Madeleine-welcome! And as long as you will agree to MENTALLY get naked... teehee... I saw a Victor Hugo naked writing thing at Erica and Christy's yesterday--wonder if they'd gotten that in the same spot!

Rachael-thanks so much for adding me as a follower! You're very welcome here!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm taking that advice to heart and really stretching for the next book.

And thanks, Hart! Looking forward to next Tuesday.

MJenks said...

Awesome job.

That's probably why I haven't gotten anything done the past two nights. It's been too chilly in my room to write naked.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like endings that finish with "Happily ever after." It gives me hope. Slim hope, but hope nonetheless that someday I'll be published.

Hart Johnson said...

Alex--YAY for bending and stretching! (and I'm looking forward to Tuesday too--the blog for you is written, but only half typed!)

MJenks-when turn the HEAT ON! And I'm not a fan of happily ever after, either. I mean... sometimes... but I really prefer a 'happy enough' or 'makes you ponder'

Robin Cain said...

Thanks to everyone for stopping by! This blog was loads of fun to write. To those a little intimidated by the cold weather, I say "big wooly scarf!"

Southpaw said...

Thanks for the advice. Turning things upside-down is a great idea.

Helena said...

When Dreams Bleed is SUCH a great title! And I'm looking forward to reading the book, especially because it sounds as if I'll be reading something fresh and new.

Hart Johnson said...

Robin--thanks so much for coming in! And yes, the answer to cold is ACCESSORIZE!

Holly-EXACTLY!

Helena--it IS a great title, isn't it! Real emotional pull!

Dawn Ius said...

Wow. Two great books to add to the TBR pile... And some interesting imagery :-)

Old Kitty said...

Right. That's decided it. I am so going to write as nature intended me to.

In my Birthday Suit! OH Yeah - feel the breeze!!

LOL!
p.s. thanks for a fab guest blog from Robin Cain!

Take care
x

Unknown said...

What a great post. I think she's right, we need to get naked, push the boundaries, take risks to get noticed.

Great.

CD

Robin Cain said...

wow, this is the best blog site ever!! All you crazy people just jumping right in to get naked!! LOL!! Good luck to all you adventurers and let me know how it works out. I'd tell you to take pictures, but I'm guessing that's another sort of blog....te he.
Many thanks to all of you for the compliments and for putting me on your TBR list!

Arlee Bird said...

Hey! Where's the pictures? This was all a big tease!
You are so right that it is difficult to stand out in a sea of books and authors. Although I think that some writers do find a happy place and start writing the same old thing that the audience comes to expect. Not a good place to be in my opinion, but a comfortable place for those who are making money with the formula.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Cheeseboy said...

WEll, this is not what I was expecting from the blog title, but it is still good.

I'm excited for Alex. He really does seem like a great dude.

Mark P Sadler said...

Just want to add that Robin has a great book and I have seen her fully clothed! We had breakfast in Tucson a year ago as both our books came out about the same time last summer.

The Words Crafter said...

Aww, dang it! It's the wrong time of year for me to get naked. Unless....does being naked while wrapped in a soft, squishy blanket count?

A really fun post.

erica and christy said...

Hart - psst . . . don't tell anyone, but http://lynneawest.blogspot.com/ is actually erica and christy's pseudonym.

Robin - I got my furnace fixed today (finally). Let the naked writing continue. (um, no pictures. for your sake more than mine.)
erica

Kas said...

Absolutely LOVED this entire post.
Favorite guest post yet.
Also, completely sold me at TWLOHA.
That organization is near to my heart, so I will DEFINITELY be purchasing this book as soon as I can.

Hart Johnson said...

Robin-you've really had fabulous response! We can definitely use you on the publicity campaign for the Naked World Domination Tour! Brought in some new guests, too, so that is FABULOUS!

Lee--sorry to tease... you know that is sort of how I roll around here...

Patricia Stoltey said...

I loved this post, Robin and Hart. The book sounds great, and even though I'm not likely to get naked for the sake of writing (my little office is too cold), I applaud the idea of changing up the routine. Makes great sense.