Monday, January 24, 2011

Interview and Giveaway with Robin Kaye

I recently read Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye, the fourth book in her Domestic Gods series. (My review here) This is a series I really enjoy and I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to interview her:

Book Addict: I love the “marriage of convenience” storyline but usually I see it in a historical novel. Was it difficult to work that into a contemporary setting?

Robin Kaye: The “marriage of convenience" storyline happened by accident. I was writing Too Hot to Handle and my heroine, Annabelle had just broken up with Mike, the hero. She was in her office, talking to her best friend/boss, Ben, still holding a tissue box and wiping her tears when Ben surprised the hell out of me and proposed to her. I was shocked. I had no idea that he needed to get married in with a year. It worked really well with the plot of Too Hot to Handle and when something unexpected like this happens I’ve learned to just go with it. I think my subconscious works a few books ahead and doesn’t bother cluttering my conscious mind with unnecessary information. I wrote Breakfast in Bed next, and when my editor called and asked for Ben’s book, the “marriage of convenience” storyline was a given. Since the reason for it had already been set up in Too Hot to Handle, I found it pretty easy to put a modern twist on it. Ben needed to marry to keep his grandfather from selling the ranch where Ben had lived with his parents before their death. When Ben proposed the idea of a marriage as a business deal to Gina, she had her own reasons for accepting it. It would give her some much-needed cash to right a wrong she’d felt guilty about for most of her life.

Book Addict: After reading the last book in the series, Breakfast in Bed, I didn’t think I was going to like Gina, but once I started reading I was really rooting for her happiness. Do you know your character’s stories before you’ve written their book?

Robin Kaye: Yes, I do, but that doesn’t mean the reader does. When I “met” Gina in Romeo, Romeo, I knew she had one hell of a backstory. She fascinated me and it wasn’t long before I learned her life story. Still, she was a secondary character, so as a writer, I struggled to keep Gina and the rest of the secondary characters in their place until they earned their own books. Both Gina and Ben tried repeatedly to take over the books they were in. I was thrilled to finally write theirs.

Book Addict: Yours for The Taking is set in the city and the country. Have you lived in both places? Which do you prefer?

Robin Kaye: Yes, I was born in Brooklyn and lived in and around New York for years. When I was about 7 years old, my dad bought a farm with his two best friends in Nampa, Idaho (right outside of Boise). We’d visit my dad’s friends and ski in Boise. A year or so later, they bought a condo in Sun Valley. I grew up visiting Idaho and when I was about 8, I remember sitting on a chairlift with my dad on Bogus Basin (the ski mountain right outside of Boise) and telling him that when I grew up, I was going to live in Boise. He said “What the heck are you going to do in Boise, you’re from Brooklyn?” When my husband and I married, we honeymooned in Sun Valley. As we drove back to Boise to fly home, I said “Let’s move to Boise.” He liked the idea, we moved eight months later and lived in Boise for ten years. I can’t wait to go back. As for which I prefer, I guess I’d have to say Boise. I love the weather, the mountains, and the fact that there’s so much to do there. My family and I adored living in Boise. Still, if I could afford to, I’d live between Brooklyn and Boise.

Book Addict: I’ve heard some authors talk about their characters controlling the storyline. When writing, do you control your characters or do they tell you what they want to do?

Robin Kaye: I like to think I control the characters. I tell myself that my subconscious works a few books ahead and when it seems as if the characters do something I’m not expecting, I chalk it up to my subconscious mind just not clueing my conscious mind in on the details. It’s taken me a while to formulate my “excuse” but it works for me. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Book Addict: I see on your author profile you’re from Brooklyn, and your books contain a lot of “Italian family”-type settings. Do you draw on your own experiences to use in your books?

Robin Kaye: I’m from a very Italian family so I guess I do. Though, to be truthful, my family is way over-the-top—if I used them in my books, no one would believe it. I’ve taken what I know of my family and friends and toned them down to come up with more believable characters. I’ve always been a people watcher and I think that helps as a writer. It’s easy for me to come up with fictional characters. They come alive in my imagination with their quirks and their own voices. That’s what makes writing so fun. For me it’s like making new imaginary friends.

Book Addict: How many books are you planning for the series? Do you have any new projects coming up?

Robin Kaye: Yours for the Taking is the last book in the Domestic Gods series, but I’m writing a connected series called Domestic Gods Gone Wild. This series features Ben’s cousins who all make an appearance in Yours for the Taking. The first book On the Wild Side is Hunter Kincaid’s book and is currently in revisions. I have two more under contract—Trapper and Fisher’s books. There’s a possibility of a fourth, we’ll see if people want to read Karma Kincaid’s story. I know I want to write it!

Book Addict: I read your “Top 10 Reasons Why Women Love Domestic Gods” (here) and cheered for each one. Is your husband the model for this list? :-)

Robin Kaye: My husband is a Domestic God but he’s not the world’s most romantic man. In my Top Ten List, I’ve added a few romantic details my DH has a habit of leaving out. But then I do write fiction.

Book Addict: Robin, thank you so much for stopping by and congratulations on the release of Yours for the Taking!


The Giveaway: Thanks to Sourcebooks, I have two (2) copies of Yours for the Taking to give away! (US and Canada addresses only please) To enter, leave a comment below; giveaway ends Friday, February 4.



YOURS FOR THE TAKING BY ROBIN KAYE
– IN STORES JANUARY 2011

He might be too good to be true…
Ben Walsh shouldn’t be single. Handsome and wealthy, Ben is equally at home in Idaho where he grew up and in Manhattan where he’s now an art dealer. Suave and successful with impeccable taste, he normally has women beating down his door. But the one woman he wants can’t be convinced that he’s for real…

She isn’t sure if she has time for fairy tales…
Gina Reyez has fought for every bit of her success, and it’s about time for things to start going her way. So when Ben makes a proposal that will allow her to take care of her family the way she wants to, she agrees. Besides, a guy this perfect would never be interested in her...right? By the time Gina figures out that she’s read Ben all wrong, the arrangements are made, the papers are signed…but what exactly are they getting themselves into?




ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robin Kaye is a professional writer and winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for her first novel, Romeo, Romeo. Her romantic comedies feature sexy, nurturing heroes and feisty, independent heroines. She lives with her husband and three children in Mt. Airy, Maryland, where she is working on a brand new series for release 2011 and 2012. For more information, please visit www.robinkayewrites.com/.

28 comments:

  1. Hi :)
    Please do not enter me in giveaway.
    I just wanted to leave a comment thanking you for this interesting interview. Robin gave great indepth responses & I loved learning more about her.
    All the best,
    RKCharron

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great Interview....some really interesting questions also. :) Well since it sounds like this might be a good series to try please enter me in the giveaway. :)

    ksg_amg(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I enjoyed the interview. I'd really like to read this book. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your Domestic Gods, Robin and look forward to the Gone Wilds.

    BTW, you can exclude me from the drawing since I already won a copy of this fabulous new book!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great interview, Robin! Sounds like you've written another winner!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds good, I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. @ Kris - So glad you enjoyed the interview! Good luck on the drawing.

    @ ruynreba - Thanks for dropping by! Good luck.

    @ Martie - Thanks so much, Martie. Enjoy the book you already won!

    @ Cheryl - Thanks, that means a lot coming from you! You've written so many winners!

    @ tetewa - Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great interview. It is neat to learn new things.
    This book sounds great! I haven't read any of them yet, but are now on my tbr list.

    Please enter me in the contest.

    Deb
    mammy4423@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Robin
    Just finished YFTT yesterday & just loved it. Poor bewildered Ben totally undone by little Gina. Great cast of characters & great setting up of the next books.

    RE:“Italian family”-type settings
    I still laugh at your answer when I emailed you the first time & asked if you knew my family. You said that it was your own toned down LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just stopping by.

    And yay his cousins :D I am gonna enjoy reading about them

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for bringing this author to my attention. I enjoyed reading the interview.
    (too bad I'm from Europe ;))

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds like you have another winner on your hands!
    Your new series sounds just as interesting as this one was.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great interview. Thanks for taking the time to do it. Sounds like a great book. Looking forward to reading it.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great interview, would love nothing more than to get my hands on this book :) Thanks so much for the chance, crossing fingers

    june111(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  15. @ Deb - I hope you'll pick them up. It's been a fun series to write. I'm really looking forward to jumping back into my alternate reality and writing Trappers book next. Good luck in the drawing.

    @ Mary - LOL Bella! I have saved all our emails and always look forward to hearing from you! Someday we should get our families together. Could you imagine what a riot that would be?

    @Blodeuedd - I hope you do, I'm having so much fun with Hunter, Trapper, Fisher and Karma...I'm going to have a hard time letting go of them.

    @ Janna - sorry about that, sweetie. I just got an email from a reader in Belgium today. I know they're available. I hope you'll check them out.

    @ Estella - Thanks for stopping by. So far, the reviews have been wonderful.

    @donnas - I was thrilled to get the invitation. Plus the questions were great! Good luck!

    @ Jolene - Good luck to you, Jolene! I'd keep my fingers crossed but then I'd have a hard time typing. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'd love to be entered to win this one. It sounds awesome.

    follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Robin, Thanks again for stopping by - I really enjoy your books and I'm so happy to see all the comments leaving book love!

    Good luck to the contest entrants (it's a great read!)!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I enjoyed the excerpt very much, I would love to read the book. Thank you for the great giveaway.

    seriousreader at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Patti - Thanks again for having me. It was a lot of fun! Good luck, everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This was a great interview! I haven't read anything by Robin Kaye yet, but now she is definitely on my "to be read" list. Thank you the the giveaway!

    julstew at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great interview! And I can't wait to read this book :-)

    smaccall @ comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  22. OH my gosh, please please please please enter me!!! Great interview! I so love learning about the authors read! And I want this book!!

    alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great interview! I'd love to read this book - please enter me!

    anneb_in AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Please count me in for the giveaway.Robin is a new author to me and this sounds like a good book.
    Great interview
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like that Robyn's Italian family has a bit of influence in her books!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Please count me in! Sounds like a great read! :D

    dothetwist(at)live(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
  27. The giveaway is now closed - thank you to everyone who stopped by!!

    ReplyDelete