Landslide Blog Tour! (+$25 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway!)

Title: Landslide

Author: Robin Mahle

Series: N/A

Pages: 276

Date Published: July 22nd, 2014

Publisher: N/A

Format: Kindle Edition

Genre: Mystery

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours!

Synopsis:

In the sprawling suburbs of Seattle, Claire McKenna finds solace in her perfectly ordinary life. With the daily struggles of raising a family and climbing out of debt, she and her husband Colin, work hard to hang on to what they’ve got.

So when Claire is offered an incredible opportunity to rise in the ranks of her firm, she jumps at the chance. Her joy, however, is short lived at the discovery that her close friend and colleague, Beth Graves has just been accused of embezzlement.

Compelled to see Beth’s name cleared, Claire soon stumbles onto something far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined possible. A conspiracy that involves people she once trusted. A conspiracy that threatens to destroy her ordinary life.

~Guest Post!~

The Great Debate: Should I Write What I Know, or Write What I Wish to Know?

This is a question that I suspect plagues a great many writers. We’re so often told to write what we know. But if we did that, would there ever have been such a thing as Middle Earth or Hogwarts? Okay, so those are fantasy novels and maybe they don’t apply. After all, they require an incredible imagination and if one is lucky enough to be blessed with that, then one is writing what they know, correct?

For me, well, let’s just say that when I started writing, I knew I wanted to write crime novels. Am I criminal? No. Am I in law enforcement? No. I am, however, very intrigued by those worlds. So, I did what every good writer does, I studied them. In fact, even in my spare time I studied them, whether I was working on a novel or not. It fascinates me. Perhaps I should have taken a career in criminal justice or something like that.  I don’t know.

I have learned over the past few years and continue to learn, so many facets of both sides. I’ve studied the FBI; their vernacular, procedures, old cases. Not to mention, the really cool technology they get to use! I’ve also put a great deal of time into studying the minds of killers, thieves and the like. I’ve often found that part rather disturbing, as I think most people would, but it was essential for me to understand them, to an extent of course. I read lots of true crime books, talked to former law officials. All of the things that I felt I needed for my work to be authentic. That brings to mind something my husband said to me once. “Why can’t you write about rainbows and unicorns?” I replied, “because then I would be an author of children’s books, silly.” So, while I didn’t really answer his question, I understood it. But, I am who I am and I am drawn to the darker side of humanity, but I am also drawn to those who fight against it.

While most of my novels revolve around murderous crimes, my latest release, Landslide, focuses on those elements in addition to the primary theme of white collar crime.  It was a world in which I knew very little when the idea came to me. But never let it be said that I walk away from a challenge! Instead, I threw myself into that world. I read everything from the fall of Enron to the subprime mortgage crises all the way to Ponzi schemes. Boy, let me tell you, those people responsible were just as bad and did almost as much damage as murderers!

So I’ll wrap it up by saying this. It helps to know what you write about, most definitely, but what you don’t know, you can always learn.  Never let it stop you. It hasn’t stopped me from writing with great passion and it never will.

~Try an Excerpt!~

THE SHEETING RAIN clouded her view of the blazing taillights ahead, but the image soon sharpened beneath the rhythmic swish of the wiper blades. Office buildings, parted by the road on which Claire was now wedged among the other commuters, had emptied out for the night. Downtown Seattle was in full rush-hour mode.

The radio proved helpful in subduing the dissonant clamor of drivers pressing down on their horns and of the rain thumping on her car roof. A man in a BMW next to Claire appeared aggravated, as evidenced by the pounding of his fists on the steering wheel, having missed the stop light she was now approaching. He caught her momentary glance and raised the one-finger salute in her direction.

“Nice.” Claire turned back, glancing at the clock on her dashboard; 5:15, and prepared for the long drive back to Bellevue. The upscale gated community that was home to Claire and the rest of the McKennas was a stretch financially, but, like many, they had banked on the continuing upswing in the housing market during the boom. Now, they only hoped to climb their way out from beneath the crushing weight of that speculative conclusion.

If she were a betting woman, Claire would wager an hour, at best, before arriving home. Colin would probably beat her there by a small margin, but she knew there was little chance he’d do anything to begin preparations for the evening meal. A good father and husband, he sometimes fell short in forward-thinking ability, opting for more traditional gender roles. This was something she hadn’t noticed in him until after the children were born. 

~Meet Robin!~

Robin Mahle lives with her husband and two children in Arizona. She found her passion for writing, which later became her second career, after spending 20 years in the construction industry.

Having always been a lover of books, Robin attributes her creativity to the wonderful overseas adventures she has shared with her husband of 15 years. Traveling throughout Europe and having lived in England, opened her mind and with that came a steady stream of story ideas inspired by her author-idols in the suspense/thriller genre.

Robin published her debut mystery/suspense novel, Redwood Violet in March of 2013. And in September 2013, the much-anticipated sequel, All the Shiny Things (Redwood Violet II), was released. Both have become Amazon Bestsellers! Now, Beyond the Clearing has also joined the list!  Her latest novel, Landslide, was released in July, 2014. This exciting corporate thriller reveals Robin’s unique voice yet again.

Robin will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn host.