Michigan Author Spotlight with Robin Nadler

Today we’re spotlighting Robin Nadler! Hey Robin why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I am full time high school English teacher and writer. I love the classics and teaching Shakespeare is a passion. I spend a lot of my time with my little zoo at home. I have a dog (Moochie), a parrot (Tony) and three bearded dragons (Gherkie, Relish and Dill).

Sounds like fun!
So tell us where you’re published? I am independently published

Are you available in print? In eBook?

Yes! I am everywhere. I am available in every e-form, on iTunes, Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, whatever is out there, I think I’m there. I’m also available in print through Amazon.

 

Sounds great. What genre do you write?
 Women’s fiction, contemporary romance.

 

Oh that’s my number… I’m a contemporary romance girl too.
Are you originally from Michigan or just residing here now?
Born and raised in the mitten!

We know you are a Michigan Author but do you consider yourself a “Michigan Author”? Do your stories take place in Michigan?

I do. My stories take place in and around Ann Arbor. I write a series and it surrounds 3 couples, 2 of which are doctors at the University of Michigan hospital.

One of my characters heads up the Mott Children’s hospital surgical wing.

 

Tell us a bit more about your work.
I write a series called “Family by Choice” and there are nine books out as of June. It is a series that revolves around 3 couples: Jack and Stephanie, Tommy and Brittany, and Bill and Julie. The first three books in the series heavily focus on one couple and after that, they are all intertwined. If you are just starting the series, I recommend starting with “If Only” which introduces my heroine, Brittany. She is a fiery redhead with a secret past that is about to come back and threaten everything she holds dear. She is determined never to let anyone into her heart and as much as she tries, she can’t help the feelings she has when Tommy is near. He makes her feel safe and desirable and those are things she never thought she would feel again. She just doesn’t want to be alone anymore. The following is an excerpt that comes after Tommy has rescued Brittany from a tense situation. She wants to spare him, but a small glimpse into his heart causes her to reconsider.

 

Excerpt from If Only:

 

She looked at him, her chin quivering. “Just because you say the right things, doesn’t make them true. You don’t know what he is capable of, Tommy. You don’t know what he could do to you, just to hurt me.”

He knelt on the floor facing her and took her face in his hands. “Just because you think the worst things doesn’t mean they will happen, either. What will it take for you to trust me and let me in?”

She looked down and was silent for a minute before meeting his gaze. “I can’t.  I don’t know how.” She said softly. 

“Then I’ll help you. First we need to clean you up and get some food in your stomach. Then we’ll go from there.” He stood up and picked her up in his arms. She offered no resistance and he walked into the bedroom and placed her on the bed. He went to gather some supplies. He looked in the mirror and sighed at his reflection. He didn’t know how to help her and he was beginning to wonder if he could. He picked up everything he needed and walked to the bedroom only to see saw she was gone. He ran through the rooms and called for her, but heard nothing. “Fuck,” He swore and grabbed his keys before running out of the house where he saw her sitting on the steps in the cold. He took her arm and she let him help her back inside. They sat down on the couch and he looked at her. “Please don’t do this,” he said to her. “It’s like you want to die.” He smoothed her hair and wiped her tears. “Do you?”

She shivered and shook her head. “I used to think so. I used to wonder what my purpose was, but now I think I might know.” She looked at him. “Maybe there is more to life than pain and loneliness for me. You have shown me nothing but compassion and I have shut you off at every turn. I am a coward, Tommy. I don’t know how to let anyone into my life without thinking about pain.” She took his hand in hers and smiled a tiny smile. “I don’t think that of you at all in my heart, but I don’t know how to change what’s in my head. I am so scared of hurting you and I am so scared of being alone. I don’t know how to figure it out.”

He smiled. “That’s the problem with you, Red, you think way too much about everything.” He leaned in to her and traced a line around her forehead. “Does that hurt?” He asked.

“No,” she said softly.

He traced the line to her cheek. “That?”

She shook her head.

He leaned in closer to her and traced his finger across her lips. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand and she felt her tears fall again. “Did I hurt you?” He asked her, concerned at her tears.

“No,” she said. “Not at all.”

“Good. How about I help you get warm and cleaned up.” He said. He took her into the bathroom and she sat on the closed toilet seat. “You should take your clothes off and put this towel on.” He turned to leave, but she stopped him.

“If you just hand me that towel, I would like you to stay. I am not feeling very steady.” She said.

He nodded and handed her the towel. Her hands shook as she tried to unbutton her top. He put his hands on hers and looked at her. “Let me help you.” He unbuttoned her top and let her put the towel in front of her before he pulled the material off her shoulders. He sucked in his breath as he looked at her back. “I think we should check your platelets. You are bruised worse than before on your back.” He helped her wrap the towel around her back and tucked it into the front.

“I fell into the table before I got away and I’m sure that’s what it’s from. I always bruise easily, I have fair skin and it seems when I bump into something it turns black and blue. We can check, but don’t worry.” She said.

He helped her stand up while she stepped out of her yoga pants. The towel was long enough to cover her to her knees and she sat back down. Tommy looked at her foot and put on his gloves. “What happened to your foot? Do you remember?” He worked on cleaning around the cuts and swelling. He was as gentle as he could be, but her foot was a mess.

“It was how I got away.” She said and he looked up at her. “He wanted me to wear that dress for him, but I put it on over my clothes. I didn’t want to take my clothes off, you know? I didn’t want,” she stopped as the memory came out. Tommy listened with a lump in his throat but let her talk.

“When he came back in, he was really mad that I didn’t take my clothes off, so I told him that I wanted to put on a show for him, take my clothes off while he watched,” she felt fresh tears fall as she closed her eyes, remembering. “I didn’t know what else to do, I was so scared. There was nothing I could find to use, so I had pulled my shoe off, hoping I could hit him with the heel. I had it behind me.” Tommy stopped what he was doing and looked at her, wanting her to know she was safe and he didn’t feel any pity for her, just admiration. “He seemed really pleased at that and came over to me and held me to him, starting to touch me again.” She wrapped her arms around her middle as if to protect herself instinctively. “I grabbed my shoe and hit him with all my might in the head with the heel.” She looked at him, her horror mirrored in his face. “He threw me into the table and that’s how I cut my abdomen and hurt my back. I just got up and ran as fast as I could. I knew my foot was getting cut up but I couldn’t stop, you know? I had to get away from him. I had to get away. I couldn’t let him touch me again.” She said and looked at him as her tears fell.

Tommy didn’t think, he just put his arms around her and held her. She was frozen for a moment, not remembering the last time a man held her. He was strong and protective and she didn’t want to stop him. After a few moments she sat back.  “Sorry you asked?” She smiled.

He shook his head. “Not in the least. I would just like the chance to kill that son of a bitch.” He stood up and grabbed some bandage materials.

“You know, that’s why it would be best if I went home tomorrow.” She said and he turned again to protest. “It’s not that I don’t want to be here, but because I am, you are under a lot of stress and you are also in danger. You have a good life here, Tommy. Your sister and brother in law are moving closer and you have a niece or nephew on the way. Your sister was given a clean bill of health and your best friends are going to be parents. I am a complication that isn’t necessary.” She stood up and gingerly stepped on her newly bandaged foot. She almost lost her footing and when she went to grab the counter her towel fell off. Tommy caught her before she fell, his strong arms supporting her. He helped her sit back down and put the towel back on her.

“Everything you said is true. I have all of those things going for me. But one thing you didn’t mention was that none of those things are mine. I don’t want to live my life vicariously through everyone else. I deserve more and so do you. I love my sister and I couldn’t be happier for her. I adore Stephanie and Jack is like my brother, so I am ecstatic for them, but at the end of the day, I am alone in this world and up until now, I didn’t care. Now I do, and you leaving won’t take that away.” He knelt down and looked at her. “Please let me into your world.”

She listened to his words and for a small moment, a tiny piece of her resolve cracked. She leaned in and gently kissed him on the cheek. She leaned her cheek on his and held his face with her hand. She sat back and looked into his emerald eyes. “Okay,” she said softly. “Okay.”

 

 

You set your books in Michigan, is it because of that old adage “Write what you know” or is it something else?

I think a little of both. I love Michigan and the seasonal changes make writing such fun. I think our State is beautiful and clean and I can’t think of a better backdrop :)

 

What is your favorite thing about Michigan?
The weather changing so often (although I realize it can get annoying when it’s the same day).

Okay now some just for fun questions …

Salt Water Taffy or Mackinaw Island Fudge: Taffy! I don’t like fudge.
You are the very first person to choose Taffy :) Which I love.
The Island or the city:  City
Trolls VS. Yoopers – your vote: Trolls
Your favorite Michigan Season:  Fall
Michigan or Michigan State: I know I set my stories at U of M, but State all the way. (don’t ask)
Haha! Okay.
Football or Hockey: Both
Your favorite Michigan City: Traverse City Your favorite Michigan Lake: Lake Michigan
Your favorite Michigan Hideaway: Any bed and breakfast on the way up North
Paradise or Hell: Hell- builds character.
What’s your favorite Michigan Highway: M14
Favorite Michigan tourist activity: Apple Picking

And finally what’s next for you? Book 10 (yet to be named) comes out in September.

How can we keep up with you? Give us your social media stats ;)
Facebook page: facebook.com/robin.nadler.56
Twitter: @buka163090
Blog/webpage: www.nadlersnovels.com
Thank you so much for coming out today Robin and hanging with me. It’s been fun!
And if any of you have any questions for Robin or I, as always you can leave them in the comments below.