Scandal is only the beginning…
Charlotte Fallon let her guarded virtue fall once—and she’s paid dearly for it ever since. She swore she’d never succumb to men’s desires again. But even a village spinster’s life miles from temptation can’t save her from a sister with no shame whatsoever. Or a heart that longs for more, whatever the cost…
Sir Michael Bayard found more than he expected in his bed when he finally joined his new mistress. He’d fantasized about her dewy skin and luscious curves, assured her understanding that what passed between them was mere dalliance. But he didn’t expect the innocence and heat of her response in his arms. Nor her surprisingly sharp tongue once she was out of them…
A few days of abandon cannot undo the hard-learned lessons of a lifetime. Nor can an honest passion burn away the restraints of society’s judgments. Unless, of course, one believes in nonsense like true love…
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My call story? I have two. You’ll hear about the first one on June 1, when I magically turn into an entirely different writer, Margaret Rowe, author of Tempting Eden, a Regency Noir erotic romance coming from Berkley Heat. But today I’m Maggie Robinson. Maggie writes lighter yet still emotional, sexy historical romances for Kensington Brava, and today is the release day for Mistress by Mistake. MBM is the first of the Courtesan Court trilogy, featuring three unlikely mistresses and the men they master.
Yes, the two of me have two debuts, a little more than a month apart. I could not be more happy or more terrified. I’ve been writing for almost seven years. One night I was so angry with my husband I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to create a fictional man who would do just what I wanted him to. Hah. My characters do seem to have a mind of their own—I still have no luck bossing anybody around, but I got hooked at the keyboard and here I am.
I got my wonderful agent Laura Bradford in 2008 (after finishing three very bad books and then writing Tempting Eden), and got a two-book deal with Berkley in April of 2009. Then, two months later, I sold 4 books and 2 novellas to Kensington. Sounds crazy, right? It was! Especially when we’re talking a total of 8 books, only four of which had been written at the time.
We gave my Berkley editor a first look at the trilogy, and she liked it but wanted me to make significant changes—in effect, make it darker and more similar in tone to Tempting Eden. Well, my husband (he of the writing inspiration) will tell you I’m stubborn, and I didn’t want to rewrite anything. I have no problem with revisions—I had to change the last third of Tempting Eden, but I loved Sir Michael Xavier Bayard and Charlotte Fallon just the way they were. So I asked Laura if she would proceed to submit the books elsewhere.
That was scary. But that same day she sent MBM out, she got positive e-mail feedback from Megan Records at Kensington. The next day we got the lovely offer, less than 24 hours after I got stubborn!
But other publishing houses had the book too. Laura called them and told them to read fast.
A week went by. A long week. Some passed right away. Some waffled. One was very interested. So we waited until Friday.
It turned out the first offer was the best offer. I walked around with my cell phone in a death grip all day, even when I got a pedicure. No news as I got back into my flip flops with wet toes. But on the drive home, Laura called and I pulled over in front of the courthouse. I was thrilled to know my books had a home, and Megan called me the same night to welcome me.
You can read an excerpt of Mistress by Mistake on my website, www.maggierobinson.net I’ll give away a copy today to one commenter—let’s talk toes. Do you do your own, or spring for the luxury of a pedicure? Wild colors or neutrals?
If you don’t win today, follow me on my Magical Mistressy Tour for another chance. Thanks so much for having me on the blog today to celebrate my debut!
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Thank you for your visit, Ms Robinson, and best of luck with Mistress by Mistake!
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 
Maggie, I always get shivers when I think of your call story. It’s wonderful and so exciting! Congratulations on release day!!
I love this story!!!! Congrats, Maggie!!! I loved this book sooooo much and others will, too.
Please don’t enter me into the contest since I’ve read this book when Maggie first finished it. 🙂
Great story! Congratulations, Maggie!
Thank you for the interesting post and giveaway!^O^
I do toes my own and I prefer wild colours!*_*
Thank you for this chance!
Giada M.
fabgiada @ gmail.com
Hi Maggie,
Congratulations on your duet debuts! Your’s is a true writer’s fantasy! A real ‘over-night’ success story…7 years in the making! Love it.
I’m placing you on my BTB list. Mistress by Mistake sounds like a great book and one I will enjoy reading!
Great story. Congratulations! I do my own pedicure. I like to try all kinds of colors.
Hi Maggie, congrats on your new release. Loved your call story! I have been hearing a lot of good things about this book and I so want to read it! Also love the cover! Thanks for sharing with us today!
Great story. This book sounds good.
I do my own pedicure.I used to use wild colors when I was younger but now I’m more into neutral colors.
Major congrats Maggie!!! 😀
As for toes, No polish for me… my sister uses enough for 10 women!
I love reading call stories, thanks for sharing! And all the best for release!
I do my own toes, and just use clear nail polish, rather dull, I know.
Congratulations again, Maggie, I truly am happy for you!
I’ve never had a pedicure… I know, I’m a real fuddy-duddy — thankfully, not in my taste in books!
Savor this moment!
I’ve never really had a pedicure but do my own nails with wild colors!
I’m a minimalist. I’ve never had a pedicure nor do I plan on having one during my lifetime. If I had to have one, I’m sure it would be a neutral colour or clear. Not a priority in my life.
I rarely wear makeup. If I do, it’s lip gloss and a bit of facial colour. That’s it. No nail polish (I love working with my hands), no eyebrow pencil (I have a birthmark/scar that would be exaggerated if I did wear it), no mascara (they look fine to me without it), no eyeshadow (did that in the 80’s and looked like a you-know-what), and no foundation (I have great skin).
Same-age girlfriends have had their hair coloured for years. I tell people mine is brown with white highlights. I have no problem with aging gracefully. I don’t have to worry about my roots showing or wrecking my hair. Those same girlfriends are now envious because once you start colouring your hair, you must continue on a regular basis. They hate feeling the pressure to maintain their looks, whereas I would hate spending my money and time on it. I am what I am: happy in my own skin.
Wow! What a great story. Okay, on to toes…when they get done, its because of a pedicure. I bring my own polish (so I can do minor touch-ups at home) and generally, it’s purple. (Is purple wild? To me, it’s normal!)
Hi, everybody! Thanks so much for the opportunity to be at RR@H! I must tell you I’m in pretty desperate need of a pedicure, but today at least I cut my toenails in celebration, LOL. My polish used to be raspberry red but it’s chipping. No sandals for me. 🙂
Enjoyed the call story.
Have never had a pedicure and don’t paint my toenails.
My stepdaughter often jokes that I use her for slave labor – which is of course partially true since I pay her to paint my toes inbetween birthdays when I indulge in a pedi. Sadly, she has yet to learn how to color inbetween the lines – even at 13.
Congrats on your awesome call story – and happy release day!
Oooo…just had my toes done: Sunrise, Sunset – it’s a peachy orange pink with a shine. This time, my daughter did it for me. Most of the time I get a pedicure and usually bring my own polish unless I go on a whim.
Congrats on your call story. Love the excerpt and the cover on Mistress!
I will get my done about 2 or 3 times a year to really get them taken care of and then I will do them in between. Depending on the mood, either a french or a really wild color.
A double debut…how exciting! Looking forward to both books.
Great story! And I do my own toes! I own so many colors of fingernail polish it would be silly to go anywhere else! LOL!
They are my fun secret since I have to keep them hidden in closed toe shoes for work. I do my own and the colors range from mild to wild. And when I want something very different I use a bronze color near the base of the nail bed for sand, robin egg blue for sky, white for clouds, green for a cactus, and yellow or gold for a round sun. Too much for a nail you think? You’re right, I spread out the design to look like a partitioned painting and incorporate all of the toes on a foot. And when people speak seriously with me and I have to be ultra-professional, it makes me smile.
WOW I liked your call story. Sorry no pedicures ever. I don’t paint my nails. I wear athletic shoes in my spare time.
johnslake at usa dot com
Ooh, pedicures! I’m lazy but somewhat frugal… that means that usually my toes are unpolished, but occasionally I’ll make time to do them myself, and then even more rarely, I splurge and have them done. Such a treat!!! I prefer pinks or springy colors for warm weather and deep reds for winter 🙂
I always do my own. And yes in the summertime I do go for wild colors. Like bright pink or purple. I think it’s a fun thing to do and I make them match my outfit.
It’s very rare for me to color my toes. most of them i don’t do pedicure, coz i like the original color of my toes 🙂
if i do pedicure, i’ll go to professional and the color must be neutrals.
I love spa care – but not for my toes! I want to try some wild colors too…. someday.. soon?! Congrats on your newest book Maggie!