Robin Riopelle

Just in case you missed it, and it's not like I'm spammin' y'all, but there's a giveaway on Deadroads right now. Enter to win over at My Bookish Way's blog (plus, read her interview of me, only slightly more coherent than Dennis Rodman's babbleage in North Korea).

The giveaway is for those living in US parts, but never fear! I will be conducting a giveaway for all sorts of other places on my Goodreads page in the coming weeks. Come to think of it...yeah. Follow me on Goodreads, too, okay?

Also, an interview. Want to find out what writers influenced me? What I'm scared of (hint: everything)?

This is one of the first interviews I've given about Deadroads, and you know, it was really pretty painless. Imagine that, me, talking about myself. For ages. With nobody telling me to shut up. My Bookish Ways is an awesome book blog, there's lots to explore there and Kristin, who runs the show, is dedicated far beyond the norm.

Also, she's giving away books like Santa on uppers for the next few days, so you honestly have nothing to lose and everything to win.

Here's the interview: http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/03/interview-giveaway-robin-riopelle-author-of-deadroads.html

Heya peeps,

If anyone's at Ad Astra in Toronto April 5, I will be having a launch for Deadroads there. I cannot promise, but I believe there will be readings, and perhaps some alcohol involved.

I will also be doing some guest postings on other folks blogs because I'm lazy like that.

Batten the hatches! Ebook launches in, like, 3 days! On St. Patrick's Day. Nothing says "green" like buying a book, right?

Finally, holding the Advanced Review Copy of Deadroads in my hot little hands. I am utterly terrified.

I've blogged about it here, if you care to read more AND SEE THE AWESOME COVER (or just play along with Panic Bingo at home).  E-version should be available March 15 and the actual bookity book book on April 1. This year, yes?

Also, I would be watching Justified, except FX Canada forces me to do illegal things.

And here it is: http://robinriopelle.blogspot.ca/

Trying to decide when to actually go live with my website. I live in terror that once I've posted it, I won't be able to change it.

Designed myself with obsolete software. That's how I roll. Any advice?

Believe it or not, it looks like there might be a deux ex machina for Dead Roads. See my blog for some details. http://robinriopelle.blogspot.ca/2013/04/getting-back-on-new-horse.html

Otherwise, carry on...

It's been a hella week.

Okay, seriously, anybody else really, really want spring to come? Or more specifically, for this winter to be bloody over?

This has been such a strange time, so much work and personal strife that ONE MORE THING ought not to bother me, but really? This is terribly disappointing.

I've split with my publisher, Night Shade Books. I really liked them, they put out terrific books, and ... they wanted to change the terms of our signed contract weeks from publication. I didn't think it was in the best interest of the book, and so. I walked.

That's right. No publication in April. I'm not a prima donna, I'm really not. It's heartbreaking, but it's not the end of the world.

So hang tight, everyone. Deadroads will see the light of day, just not next week.

SIGH.

Some additional details at http://robinriopelle.blogspot.ca/2013/03/news-tricky-business.html

I AM NOT KIDDING YOU.

Seriously. There will be review. Of Dead Roads. It's lovely. Also, associated blogging on my part.

It's a flurry of activity, like Christmas come early. Or Armageddon.

Dead Roads (now officially two words in the title, though remaining one word in the text, go figure) is now available at my publisher's, http://www.nightshadebooks.com/book/deadroads/#.UOoiDrZ59_k . You can, apparently, get it as an E-book too, which is quite thrilling -- all come April 2, 2013, which is not so far away.

In other news, the nice folks doing the audio book have contacted me, wondering exactly how I pronounce "Riopelle". Ha. That's the least of their worries. I hope someone there speaks French, especially some form of North American French (I'd settle for chiac, or even joual, or Cajun French...all good).

A word, then, on the origins of the actual name, "Robin Riopelle".

This is my birth name. The name given to me by my birthmother before placing me for adoption. I grew up with another name (which is why many of you know me as Liz), but Robin Riopelle has been part of my personal identity since I was around 13 (when my adoptive mum gave me my adoption papers). I've been on contact with my birthfamily for more than 20 years now, and everything is about as good as you could hope for. I love them, they love me, I know who my "mum" is (that would be the woman who raised me), but I also have an enormous, incalculable connection with the woman who gave birth to me, and who gave me my first name.

One of the characters in Dead Roads has been disconnected from her birthfamily -- I'm not saying that she's me, but I understood a lot of what she experiences, how she might react to situations, how she perceived nuances, because I've been there. I know what it's like to re-connect with birthfamily after years apart, how difficult and weirdly easy it is to forge bonds -- and how impossible it is to shake or even want to shake, the connections you have to the people who raised you.

So, Robin Riopelle. I've published under my adoptive name (mostly museum-related articles, etc.), but this is the first thing under my birthname. It seemed time.

p.s. for the record, it's pronounced "RIO-pel" or REE-a-pel", according to my sister and brother who were raised with the name.

It's kinda moot, because I do tweet https://twitter.com/Robin_Riopelle, but I'm not seeing the utility of it, not yet.

How do you all use it? Or not use it, especially in terms of your fannish lives? Inquiring minds want to know.