Hi, Roben, welcome to Word Wranglers! I get to call you
Roben because we’re friends as well as fellow writers, but the rest of the
world knows you as author Robena Grant. We’re so glad to have you here today to
celebrate the release of your new contemporary romance, Corsica Gate. It’s now available at e-book retailers everywhere
right? We’ll have links later in this post.
Thanks for inviting
me, Nan. Yes, Corsica Gate is available
in all formats, including print, however, it is print on demand. Unfortunately
you won’t find it on the shelf at B&N, or with other print booksellers.
You usually write romantic suspense, Roben, so Corsica Gate is a step outside your box,
isn’t it? What made you decide to do something a little different with this
book?
I have one three book
romantic suspense series, and one single title RS already published. A fifth RS
will publish later this year. For me, it was easy to blow something up, tie someone
up, or level a Glock at a chest, but finding enough conflict to drive a romance
was difficult. I didn’t enjoy digging deep into emotions when they pertained to
love. I challenged myself to “do what
you’re afraid of” and I like the result. J
My goal is to write one RS and one contemporary romance per year.
I know you get a lot of the settings for your books from
your own travels—have you been to Italy? What did you like best about it?
I’ve been to Italy
several times and honestly, there is nothing I didn’t like. The differences in
this small country, from North to South, are evident in lifestyle, fashion,
food, and I found it all so intriguing. And the history, wow! I felt so at home
that I asked my mother if perhaps she’d had an Italian lover. I got a smack on
the arm for that. Ha ha. I’d love to go back again.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Surprisingly, no. I was a late bloomer. I worried that I didn’t have
the educational background in fine arts and would make a fool of myself,
however, I learned late in life that a storyteller is a storyteller. You read a
few craft books, take some workshops and then practice getting those words on
the page. Then you practice some more. Then you swallow your pride and let
someone take a look. Your work gets rejected over and over again, and if you
don’t give up, eventually the pieces of the jigsaw fit together and someone finally
gives you a chance. Then you start the real learning. J
What are you most likely to be doing when you should be writing?
Messing around on
social media.
What books do you go back to and reread over and over again?
Funnily enough, I almost
always reread Regency novels, like Georgette Heyer’s books, or historical romance
novels set in England, mostly by Jane Austen. I grew up reading them and I
return to them for comfort and pleasure. My favorite contemporary author to
reread is Jennifer Crusie.
Last question. What woman, living or dead, would you want to
have dinner with? Where would you go? What would you talk about?
Jane Austen and I would have high tea in London, maybe at the
Dorchester. It would be my treat. It’s very expensive and I think Jane would
frown upon the extravagance, yet deep down she’d be thrilled. It would be
extraordinary people watching, and we’d enjoy making up stories about the other
patrons. I’d like to ask her about her characters: How she gave them such
richness that they have become real people to me, and yet they are from an era
never experienced. I’d like to know how she attained the level of writing that
turned her books into classics.
A believer in love and happily-ever-after, Robena Grant writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance, and
enjoys writing about places she has visited. Born in Australia, she now resides
in California. The proud mother of two adult children, she adores travel,
reading, movies, and yes…karaoke.
Buy Corsica Gate here: http://amzn.com/B00RGWK6PE
A heroine who has stopped believing in fairy tales and happy
endings, Dia Sophia Romani, jilted three days before her wedding, has lived
with Mama in San Diego’s Little Italy for six months. She’s tired of everything
Italian, and is ready to move on…
Enter an unlikely hero. Carlo Antonelli is of Italian
descent. He adores Dia, but he’s willing to take his time and not rush her.
When he learns she will be vacationing in Italy and Corsica, he must step up
his game.
Will a wish made at a magical gate destroy, or strengthen,
their newfound love?
Excerpt from Corsica Gate:
“You mean…?” Dia
looked back at the guy. Nah, impossible, I’ve never been that lucky.
“Yeah, that’s
Carlo Antonelli. Tell him anything,” Tony said. “I’ll get your back. You don’t
want to accept the date, just make up whatever excuse you want.” He beckoned.
A jolt of heat
spread through her abdomen when Carlo grinned and waved. He ducked through the
slow moving traffic and stopped in front of her, smiling a crooked smile. He
pushed his sunglasses onto his head, white teeth flashing, and mahogany eyes
sparkling. My wedding date? Her heartbeat pounded, and her mouth went
dry.
“You must be Dia,”
he said. He tucked the book underneath one arm and held her hand gently with
his other big warm hand. “Carlo Antonelli.”
“Yes,” she said,
the word coming out on a soft breath. She swallowed hard. “Tony mentioned you
wanted to speak to me about Marco’s wedding.”
Something inside
of her shifted, as if a huge iceberg started to melt in her chest and slid
sideways, leaving a pool of cool, blue, bubbling water. She floundered for a
minute wondering what to say next, because she couldn’t use the word date. Not
while looking into his magnificent eyes. Then she remembered he was Italian, or
at least part Italian. Strike one. Her shoulders stiffened. She had no interest
in Italian men. She pulled her hand away, hitched up the purse onto her
shoulder, and squinted from behind her dark sunglasses.
Hi, Roben! We're so glad you're here. I'd love to go to Italy, although my list is so long... I'm with you on Jenny Crusie's books. I'll be so glad when she gets a new one out there.
ReplyDeleteWell, if I ever rent that villa in Tuscany, Liz, I'll put you on the guest list. *wink* I'm also looking forward to Jenny's new book. I love her collaborations but I hope she'll do a single real soon.I adore her voice.
DeleteThanks so much for inviting me here today. I'm almost awake. Only 7:30 in California. :) I'll grab a coffee and pop back in a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Word Wranglers, Roben! So glad to have you with us today. Feel free to Reply to comments as they come in, okay?
ReplyDeleteHi Robena, If you ever have that high tea with Jane, please invite me!
ReplyDeleteI am only just starting Corsica's Gate, but have already fallen for the characters. Dia is a sweetie. Her mother? LOL - great character development!
Now, back to your messing around on social medial. ;)
Wouldn't that be a blast, Lynne? The questions we could think up...oh, my.
DeleteThanks for the comments on CG. I adored writing Mama. :)
Welcome to the Wranglers! Great interview and excerpt. I'm heading off to Amazon to get it now. Sounds like the perfect rainy-day escapist read :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margie. I hope Corsica Gate warms you all the way to your toesies. :)
Deletewelcome, welcome! So glad you could visit us today. I love rainy day reads (like Margie), thanks for giving us a peek.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely blog, Kristina. I've enjoyed everyone's books over the years...you make a great group. Thanks for hosting me and helping me spread the word about, Corsica Gate.
ReplyDeleteHi Roben! I am *dying* to go to Italy!! Seriously. The Amalfi Coast is calling my name. Congrats on your latest release!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. You would love everything about Italy. I just know it. And do I sense an amazing Italian hero in your writing future? :)
ReplyDeleteHubs & I went to Italy on our honeymoon, and I would love to go back, but I think this year, my Italian getaway will have to take the form of Corsica's Gate. ;) Can't wait to read your latest!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sam. That's so sweet of you. I can't think of a nicer place to honeymoon than Italy. I mean it is the country of love. I did two in depth tours and loved both of them. And it wasn't too hard to communicate...a few phrases, lots of arm waving and smiling...a few Spanish words when really stuck. They worked wonders. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks again so very much, Nan, for thinking about me, for giving me this space, for spreading the word. I'm very appreciative. Sending super hugs!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd love to have tea with Jane as well. I would love to tell her that her writing has endured and maybe, Roben, you and I could get her to watch one of the movie adaptations of one of her novels. Personally, I loved Emma.
ReplyDeleteRobena, so sorry to get here late. I too would love tea at the Dorchester with Jane AND you. I can't wait to hunker down with Corsica Gate. xo
ReplyDeleteHi Kate and Tanya...yes, let's make it a party. High tea! With Jane. :)
ReplyDelete