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.

Archive for December, 2007

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The Year of Independent Thinking

Monday, December 31st, 2007

I’m such a follower. I know this about myself. There’s a theory in dog psychology that says if a dog is licking another dog’s face, he’s looking for guidance. I lick a lot of faces. Somehow I’m always willing to believe someone else knows better than I do about just about [...]

My favorite New Year’s Eve ritual

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

Years ago a friend of mine whose mother was Korean taught me what her mother said was a traditional Korean ritual for New Year’s Eve: You want to go into the new year the way you want the whole year to go.
That means, among other things, creating an atmosphere of order and abundance. [...]

Here’s a book list for your files

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

It’s awfully nice of Little Willow to do the heavy lifting here. For those of you who are teachers, librarians, parents, aunts, booksellers, authors–okay, any of you–check out this comprehensive list Little Willow compiled. (Thank you for putting my book there under Religion, LW!)
I know some of the rest of [...]

The Friday List (nice things you’ve done for yourself this week)

Friday, December 28th, 2007

Let’s talk a little detox. Let’s talk about the fact that sugar is my crack, my booze, my nicotine–whatever someone else’s poison is, sweets are for me.
Sure, I love it when I’m shoveling it in. Love the feeling on my tongue, the genuinely happy feeling in my stomach, that wonderful sense that all [...]

Nothing to feel but sadness

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

This woman had big brass balls. I so admired her for her bravery. And now that’s it.
So sorry, Benazir. You were one of a kind. Sorry this is the kind of world you had to operate in.
Technorati Tags: Benazir Bhutto

Tuesday Book Club

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

Sorry I’m a little slow here. MAJOR sugar hangover–starting my detox today. But that’s another discussion. Let’s talk books.
Last week I finished the massive–and massively-entertaining–debut adult novel by best-selling YA author Stephenie Meyer (Twilight, etc.). The new one is called The Host, and the flap copy says it best:
The Host takes [...]

My Christmas gift to you

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

My whole family actually gathered around a computer screen in a small room this past Thanksgiving so we could watch this again. I never get tired of it. Thought you might like to gather your people around it for Christmas.
Merry merry! Hope you’ll all have a wonderful and relaxing day!
Technorati Tags: Drums, [...]

And for those of you celebrating Festivus

Monday, December 24th, 2007

Hop on over to Mother Reader’s for the annual Airing of the Grievances.
And if your family participates in the Feats of Strength, we’re going to need pictures here.
Technorati Tags: Mother Reader, Festivus

Not the only writer Scrooge

Monday, December 24th, 2007

For some reason, Tess Gerritsen keeps posting directly from my brain lately. Here’s today’s psychic connection.
I am SO relieved that someone besides me feels this way. Because having this mid-January deadline hanging over my head has made me the least-elfish (elflike?) Christmas participant. Every time I have to leave the keyboard to [...]

The 24/7 job

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

Thought you guys would like to read this bit of wisdom/insight from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen. It’s amazing to remember that this isn’t just an issue for us beginning/newly-published writers. Apparently it goes on and on.
I’ve always appreciated Tess Gerritsen’s honesty–not every author at her level would dare to admit [...]

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