Robin Brande, Author, Dog Lover, Coffee and Chocolate Addict. Living an Interesting Life.

Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

For writers, readers, and independent thinkers–book talk for readers and writers, life chats when we need them, writers’ motivational articles, secret behind-the-scenes stories from the publishing trenches, and more.

My 2009 challenge to aspiring authors

January 5th, 2009

Time to stop just talking about it or wishing for it or whatever else you do that keeps you from actually moving forward with your dream. I know, you’re sitting there still tormenting yourself over the great, wonderful novel you’ve had in your head forever, and the damn thing just won’t write itself, and [...]

The New Year’s Eve ritual

December 28th, 2008

I wanted to give all of us plenty of notice, so here it is:
Years ago my buddy Pete told me about his Korean mother-in-law’s tradition for New Year’s Eve. The theory is you want to go into the new year the way you want the rest of the year to go. If you [...]

A little sweetness for your weekend

December 20th, 2008

Thank you, Annette (we miss you on the blog, Annette!), for turning me on to this:

New ambition: Have puppets one day act out my book

December 18th, 2008

I learned from my server-overloading experience a few weeks ago, and am not calling this post what the video is called.
Here it is:

Let’s have a little holiday discussion

December 15th, 2008

Feel like reaching out.
I just got my copy edits back a few days ago, and they’re due right after the first of the year, and I’m actually really happy to be spending my holidays this way.
I don’t know when or exactly why, but the whole Thanksgiving to Christmas marathon stopped being fun for me a [...]

Yes, just like your siblings, dogs keep track

December 8th, 2008

I knew it! My husband makes fun of me for striving so hard to be fair when we have more than one dog in the house–this one gets a treat, so does that one–and now I have scientific proof that I’m doing the right thing.
Check it out.

Not always good to be popular

December 7th, 2008

Just a little lesson for any of you who might feel like posting an awesome video, and then giving your post a very obvious title like “Dog saves dog.”
You may notice the post with that name is gone. It’s because Friday morning I got an e-mail from my fabulous webmaster BJ basically telling me [...]

Tease!

December 3rd, 2008

Thank you, Barry, for sending me this. On the one hand, yay to get to see it. On the other hand, it makes it so hard to wait!

Why does it take so long for a book to come out?

December 1st, 2008

Ever wonder why the book you know someone just finished won’t come out until a year from now? I mean, come on! What more needs to be done?
Someone directed me to this post, which is very instructive. Don’t forget to read her editor’s comment, which sheds even more light on the process.

Technorati [...]

Dance your PhD

November 26th, 2008

Oh, glorious humanity, to think up something this original. I saw a little news item about it last weekend and had to check it out.
Do you realize there’s actually a competition where scientists create and perform dances based on their scientific theories?
Please enjoy your Thanksgiving, and while you’re digesting, take a look at [...]