Guestpost by Author Denise Robbins + Giveaway

I'm very happy to welcome Author Denise Robbins here today. She writes techno-romantic thriller novels and in real life she is a little Geek too. Today she tells us how her real life influences her writing. Be sure to stay tuned till the end of the post to check out what Denise offers for one lucky commenter. Please give her a warm welcome.

Does your work affect your writing?

Hmm. Good question.

My work affects my writing in a couple of ways. One way is that it interferes with my writing time. I have to squeeze in paragraphs, pages, chapters between day job, sleep, and weekends. My goal is to one day be a writer who writes full-time. Keep your fingers crossed!

As someone who considers her novels to be techno-romantic thrillers, my technology day job influences my writing a great deal.

What exactly do you do for my day job?

I’m a software engineering manager.

Huh?

Denise snickers. That’s how most people react. You know all those software applications you use such a Facebook, Microsoft Word, Family Tree Maker? Well, I manage the development of software applications. Not those ones, but ones for different companies such as education, banking, call-centers, blah-blah.

It’s my job to architect a software solution to a business problem and then build the team of engineers to build it. I love building things…like my stories! Knowing how various technologies work and what different technologies, not to mention the people who write them are capable of, inspires me with some terrific story lines.

That’s fascinating. Tell us about where some of your story lines have come from?

All you have to do is read a newspaper and you see all kinds of articles related to technology. You’ll read about a phishing scam where people receive emails from their bank, they click on the link that takes them to a page that looks like their bank, and then they fill in the information requested. Unbeknownst to the email receiver they have just given their bank information to someone who will use it to steal their identity or their credit, or both. As much as the media has warned people about these kinds of technology scams they keep happening, keep getting some poor victim. Phishing is one thread behind my current work-in-progress titled Phish NET Stalkings.

Ooo. Tell us more.

In my first book, It Happens in Threes, the bad guys use software to launder money from various investor accounts into their own for nefarious purposes. The heroine, Ruby, writes an application called a Trojan that she installs onto a network that allows her to trace the money and the villain’s movements with the money.

Besides using my real-world skills and knowledge, I am an avid reader who likes to keep abreast of technology happenings. The story idea for Killer Bunny Hill came from reading an article, which turned into many articles on the use of manmade “real” diamonds in technology and as computer chips. Can you imagine it? Diamonds as computer chips – cool!

Connect the Dots goes back to my software roots and a heroine who is a human intelligence operator for the CIA. Charley uses computers and software to create wire diagrams that keep track of people and events and how they relate to other people and events. In other words, she creates a virtual connect the dots. Only this time she doesn’t connect the dots on an image of a cute bunny, she connects the dots on murder, military secret prisons, and the people who operate and are in them.

My latest release, Never Tempt Danger, involves software and robotics. The heroine is working on a military prototype for a mini-robot that morphs into various shapes depending on where it is trying to get to, whether through a crack in a wall, up stairs, in water, or even airborne. The robot has the ability to transform through the use of software and a little mental boost. You’ll have to read it to find out more.

What do you think? Does my job affect my writing?

I’d say it influences your story and in a way that will fascinate readers and keep them riveted.

About Denise
Denise Robbins, born and raised in the Midwest, migrated to Florida, and finally settled down to her home in New Hampshire that she shares with her kittens Mischief and Mayhem.
From her back deck, she sits outside, listens as the old roller coaster from the local amusement park inches its way up the wooden structure on its clanking chains, and waits to hear the kids scream in terror and delight. The best mental therapy a girl could ask for. The long, cold winter nights in New Hampshire provide the serenity and motivation to write excitement into the night.
After twenty years in the computer technology industry, Denise decided to use that experience and her passion for mysteries and thrillers to write her first techno-romantic thriller novel, IT HAPPENS IN THREES. Her latest novel, KILLER BUNNY HILL is available now, and CONNECT THE DOTS is right on its trail for a December 2009 release date. In 2010, readers can expect to see Denise's fourth novel, NEVER TEMPT DANGER.

In addition to writing, Denise enjoys scuba diving (only in warm water), snowboarding, and playing in her garden.

Where to find Denise: website, blog, twitter

About Never Tempt Danger

Maureen thought her special gift was a curse. Maybe she’s right…

As the one man who accepted her “gift” slid the diamond ring onto her shaky finger, Maureen saw his death flash in her mind an instant before the bullet struck. With blood on her hands and a government research project in the balance, Maureen—Gilly—Gillman does the only smart thing she can. She disappears. If there was one thing Maureen had learned, it was Never Tempt Danger.

Special agent Lucas Danger knows Maureen Gillman better than any other man. Assigned to find Gilly and her military robot prototype, Lucas discovers that his past has caught up with him. When the woman he loves collides with his secretive past, Lucas has to open his mind as well as his heart to save Maureen.

Who will get to her first?

~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~

Denise offers a signed copy

of Never Tempt Danger to 1 lucky commenter.

All you have to do is ask Denise a question

or just leave a meaningful comment about the post.

Please leave me a way to contact you

(email in blogger profile or twitter name is okay- no way to contact you - no entry)

This giveaway is open Internationally!

Giveaway ends on Saturday, November 6th and we will announce the winners on Sunday.

Good Luck!