West Houston RWA

Author News

Hats are off to a number of our members who exercised their right to free speech after Texas comptroller candidate Fred Head slammed incumbent Susan Combs for having written “pornography,” in the form of a 1990 Kismet romance novel. Kimberly Unger, a.k.a. Jolie Mathis was among the first to get the ball rolling on her blog, and what a ball it turned out to be, with our authors spreading the word on their own blogs and giving quotes to news sources from Time to Fox News to The Houston Chronicle and then some. Participants included Shane Bolks, a.k.a. Shana Galen, Patricia Kay, Sharie Kohler, a.k.a. Sophie Jordan, Jessica Trapp, Joan Reeves, and Colleen Thompson.

Sharon Mignerey also wrote in defense of the romance genre after the widely-syndicated Dear Abby made some remarks that many considered ill-informed. Though “Abby” (who is actually Jeanne Phillips, daughter of the column’s originator, Pauline Phillips) received many eloquent letters on the topic, Sharon’s name was mentioned in a rather contrite, and much better-informed, follow-up on the topic.

Congratulations, Kerrelyn Sparks! Kerry’s book, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire recently took first place in the Most Humorous division of the Anne-Bonney Reader’s Choice contest.

Colleen Thompson will be writing an article on endings in an upcoming edition of the Romance Writers Report and a series of related pieces for Writer’s Digest. These articles were inspired by her “How to Finish the Damned Book” talk at West Houston RWA’s Emily awards event last spring.

SOLD!

Christie Craig is back with a vengeance, with not just one but four new sales to report! The first, Murder, Mayhem and Mama, a paranormal romantic suspense, went to Triskelion and will be coming out in 2007 in e-book and 2008 in print. As if this weren’t enough, Christie followed up with a three-book sale to Dorchester. Desperate, Divorced and Delicious, Desperate Divorced and Dating, and Weddings Can be Murder are all humorous romantic suspenses. The first book will be out in December of 2007. Congratulations, Christie! We’re so happy for you (and I have a feeling a lot of your contest competitors are thrilled, too, that you’ll be off the circuit)!

Contest Divas

Janice Martin recently found out that her story, The Legacy, finaled in the Romantic Suspense/Single Title category of the 2006 Finally a Bride contest. The Legacy, formerly titled Caitlin’s Rose, was the second place winner in the 2006 Duel on the Delta contest. Also, Janice had request from two agents at the 2006 Lone Star Conference (which featured Mary Buckham’s presentation on “The Hero’s Journey”) sponsored by NWRWA. As an aside, Janice reports that the explanation of “The Hero’s Journey” as it applies to plotting a romance was just what she needed to confirm that she is on the right track with her writing. Congratulations, Janice! This is very encouraging.

Contest empress Christie Craig has once again struck pay dirt. Her entry Weddings Can Be Murder has taken first place in the mainstream category of the Jasmine, and her Murder, Mayhem, and Mama won third in the paranormal division. Way to go, Christie! In the Golden Gateway, Christie’s Weddings Can Be Murder took first in the romantic suspense category and Murder, Mayhem, and Mama took second in the same category! In the Golden Rose, Murder, Mayhem, and Mama received an honorable mention. In the Writer’s Voice contest, Dead Ends and Fairy Dust won second place in paranormal and Weddings Can Be Murder placed first in contemporary. In the Orange Rose, Tough Love placed second in single title, and in the Golden Opportunity, Weddings Can Be Murder came in third. We are so impressed, Christie!

Sarah Castleberry finaled in the RWA East Texas Chapter contest AND had the highest score in her category! She also had a request for a partial from agent Caren Johnson from a query letter. Congratulations, Sarah – you’re on the move!

Lark Howard has had some terrific news. Her manuscript, Price of Paradise, was the first place winner in Calgary RWA’s Writer’s Voice contest, in Romantic Suspense. Way to go, Lark!

Tera Lynn Childs has placed first in the Chick Lit category of the Original Golden Opportunity with her manuscript Straight Stalk while also taking second place with her Eye Candy. Fantastic, Tera!

Romantic suspense author Colleen Thompson, a past RITA-finalist whose latest release is Heat Lightning (Love Spell Romantic Suspense, Nov. 2006), announces WHRWA’s glad tidings in each month’s “Who’s in the News” column, wherein she shatters her self-imposed moratorium on exclamation points. Please send Colleen your news at whosinthenews@whrwa.com by the 15th of each month