Today we are happy to introduce you to Robyn Thomas, whose debut novel His Unexpected Family was realesed just last month in Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line. I was curious to learn how His Unexpected Family came to be published and what the experience of getting THE CALL was like for Robyn, so I am glad to share her story with you and you could even win a copy of her book!

The Adventure of Getting Published

Getting published has been an enormous adventure for me. And absolutely worth it! Would I have started out on the journey if I knew what it was going to entail? Uh, no, probably not. But life is like that, and the things worth having inevitably take time and effort.

The very first time I submitted a story it caught an editor’s attention, and I thought I had it made. Could I write another story in the same tone, except with the focus more on the two protagonists, and would it be possible to keep the door shut? Sure! Could I tweak that new partial and send the full? Could I revise it? And revise it again? Could I take on board the feedback from it and try again? And again? I kept saying yes, and giving each story my best shot, growing less certain of gaining a place in the publishing world as time ticked past.

Eventually I listened to the nagging voice in my head that questioned the size of the pigeon hole I was trying to squeeze my writing into. It had become too small, and I was miserable because I was forcing myself to write in a way that didn’t come naturally. Doing an about-face and lining up a different target was surprisingly easy. Did I nail it first time? Well, no, but the joy of writing had returned and my next couple of manuscripts caught the attention of different editors who gave feedback and revisions and requested more. I dared to believe that I was on the right track, and I continued to write and submit, trying not to dwell on the stories that had “almost” made it.

I heard that Entangled Publishing was running a pitch contest and I decided to enter. Condensing an entire story into one or two attention-grabbing sentences seemed like a daunting task but I gave it a shot and was fortunate enough to have my manuscript requested. A few months later, whilst looking for an email that’d gone astray, I stumbled across my “call” email. It’d been languishing in an obscure folder for several weeks and I was too horrified at the delay to fully appreciate how awesome it was. I’d hit refresh on my inbox nine million times during those few weeks – when I wasn’t outside stalking the postman – and yet I’d missed the most important email of all. With shaking hands I hit reply… and got an error. Chaos and panic ensued as the error repeated again and again and a hideous array of what-ifs crashed down on my head. After all the waiting and writing and submitting, the ups and downs and requests and rejections, I couldn’t possibly have blown it at the last hurdle. Could I?

I’m happy to report that whilst it did seem to be touch and go there for a while, I hadn’t actually blown my chance. I set up a new email account and used it to get in contact with my editor and accept her offer, and I’ve contracted another two books since then. In addition to two beautiful children and the (almost) quarter century I’ve spent with my husband, getting published is a big part of my personal Happily Ever After.

For a chance to win a copy of His Unexpected Family please answer this question. Aside from the universal quest to find (or keep) love, I would like ????? to help me live Happily Ever After.

 His Unexpect Family by Robyn Thomas

Sometimes you have to take the leap… again.

Newly widowed with a new baby, Ren Jamieson is putting her life back together after her thrill-seeking husband’s death. But when she’s called to show a high-end property to a prospective client–a commission she desperately needs–she meets a man who makes her pulse pound like nothing she’s ever known…

Cole Matthews is more than he seems. Real estate is only part of the reason he’s in Australia–the other is to see Ren, and make amends somehow for the life lost. The last thing Cole expects is a woman whose humor, sweetness, and sexiness give him a rush greater than any he’s ever experienced…

Torn between her growing feelings for Cole and the risks of loving yet another adventurer, Ren will have to choose between keeping her feet on the ground… and taking the most dangerous leap of her life.

Read an excerpt

Buy at Amazon – B&N

Robyn is a cheesecake connoisseur, caffeine addict, and mother of two boys. Happily married, she lives in Melbourne, Australia. Writing romance helps her balance the effects of living in an all-male household. Robyn loves movies, art glass and browsing in quirky gift shops.

Find out more or connect with Robyn at her website / Twitter / Goodreads

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~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Entangled Publishing has generously offered an ebook copy of His Unexpected Family by Robyn Thomas to one lucky commenter!

All you have to do is answer Robyn’s question:

Aside from the universal quest to find (or keep) love, what would you like [to do/achieve] to help you live Happily Ever After?

(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).

This giveaway is open to everyone!

Giveaway ends on 8 September 2012 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good Luck!

About Stella

Stella is a proud bookaholic and a self-taught multilinguist in training. Besides reading, her other great passions are travelling and baking. When she is not globetrotting she lives in sunny Budapest, where she loves to spend her free time preparing (and feasting on) delicious cookies or devouring equally yummy books. Her favourite genres are urban fantasy and romance and she couldn't live without her daily dose of sunshine. Besides being the Latin Lover on BLI Stella also blogs about books and a bookish life on Ex Libris.

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