West Houston RWA

Who:

WHRWA Authors and Critique Partners Nina Bangs and Gerry Bartlett

What:

“Getting and Staying Published: The Market, The Magic and The Myths”

When:

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

Where:

Memorial Drive Christian Church, 11750 Memorial Drive, Houston, 77024

More about this month’s program:

Nina Bangs and Gerry Bartlett will share their experiences and input from their editors and agents to talk about trends, why some manuscripts are snatched up and some die on the vine, and why you can’t believe everything these workshop divas tell you anyway.

Nina Bangs is a New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen paranormal romances. Gerry Bartlett is published in both contemporary and historical romance and is anxiously awaiting the debut of her paranormal chick lit series this March.

Schedule for March 10th:

8:30 – Open doors – sign in/coffee
9:00 to 10:00 – Business meeting, PAL reviews & introductions
10:00 to 10:15 – Break
10:15 to 12:00 – Program – “Getting and Staying Published: The Market, The Magic and The Myths” With Nina Bangs and Gerry Bartlett
12:00 to 12:30 – Booksigning with Nina Bangs, Gerry Bartlett, Linda Barrett, Sharon Mignerey, Sophie Jordan, Pat Kay and Amanda Stevens. Teri Thackston will hand out bookmarks for her e-book release and Quickie Critiques
12:30 – Adjourn to lunch

The Firefighter
By PJ Mellor/Susan Lyons/Alyssa Brooks
Kennsington/ Aphrodisia
January 30, 2007
ISBN-10: 075821538X

When Nick Howard transfers from Houston to become Chief of the fire department of a small Texas town, he’s looking forward to some peace and quiet. But his first day he meets Tricia “Hurricane” Lundsford, a local girl who has returned to town after 10
years away, and the sparks fly—literally. Tricia’s reputation as a Calamity Jane isn’t underserved as Nick learns when, in the throes of passion, she sets her apartment on fire. Needless to say, the new Chief makes quite an impression on his men when
they appear to put the fire out. Tricia’s been the town’s primary source of gossip before and now that she’s back she’s determined to stay under the radar. But she can’t resist the sexy Fire Chief, with very public and volatile consequences.

“All Fired Up” is an entertaining and very sexy novella. Nick is handsome, strong and charming, but he doesn’t understand the lack of privacy in a small town. Tricia is cute and quirky and well aware the town is watching for her to screw up again. And
when she does, the results are laugh-out-loud funny. P. J. Mellor once again balances lots of steamy sex with a hardly dose of humor and a sweet happilyever- after. A great read for fans of erotic romance.

-Reviewed by Lark Howard

Give Me More
By PJ Mellor
Kensington/Aphrodisia
January 30, 2007
ISBN-10: 0758214413

The three novellas of Give Me More loosely follow the erotic adventures of a white silk scarf and the women who own it.

Wild Thing
Maggie Hamilton books herself on a singles cruise hoping to change her bad luck with men. Unfortunately for Maggie, she finds herself on a honeymoon cruise by mistake. Her room is a nightmare and then she falls in what is supposed to be a romantic grotto pool. When Drew Connor, the handsome cruise director, hears her scream, he comes to her rescue and the attraction between them is instant and irresistible. He knows he could lose his job for getting involved with a passenger, but when one of the crew shows interest in her, Drew will risk getting fired to keep Maggie in his bed.

Hold Me, Thrill Me
Ryan Holmes’ boyfriend left her stranded and penniless on the island and now she wants to get back to the States and kill him. So she’s waiting tables to make enough money to get home. Jean, a Frenchman, is waiting tables too while he searches for an American to marry so he can accept his dream job and move to the States. Ryan assumes Jean doesn’t speak English, so when he asks her out for a drink the combination of the language confusion and the electric attraction between them results in a night of mind-blowing sex. Ryan’s determined to keep the relationship purely sexual and Jean still needs an American wife, but neither can avoid the feelings that could ruin both their plans.

Light My Fire
Emily Mitchell is in denial when it comes to her boyfriend, Scott. She hopes he’ll propose during their vacation in Colorado, but Scott would rather work than spend time with her. When she falls into the neighboring room’s hot tub naked, surprising the gorgeous man relaxing alone there, she tries to ignore the immediate attraction that sizzles between them. Jason can’t believe any man would neglect Emily, so when Scott returns to Houston on a business emergency and asks him to take care of her, he decides to give her the attention she deserves. Needless to say, things heat up fast. Emily resists at first, but soon she must admit that Jason makes her feel sexy and alive in a way Scott never did. But is it love or just fabulous sex?

Offered up with a wicked sense of humor, the sex in these three erotic romance novellas is plentiful and explicit. The characters are well drawn while the stories are playful and original. P. J. Mellor fans will be delighted by her newest release. This is a charming, entertaining book erotic romance devotees won’t want to miss.

-Reviewed by Lark Howard

Fall from Grace
By Kristi Gold
Harlequin Everlasting
Feb 1, 2007
ISBN-10: 0373654049
ISBN-13: 978-0373654048

When renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Jack Morgan, is partially paralyzed by a stroke, the last person he wants help from is his ex-wife. Anne is equally unenthusiastic about the prospect of having Jack temporarily back in her home. But the alternative is for
Jack to return to his lonely apartment with only hired help to oversee his care.

Jack struggles with depression as he fights to regain his mobility. Anne knows that helping Jack recover also means helping him to return to the very thing that destroyed their marriage – his career.

Will Jack regain the use of his hand and be able perform surgery again? And, if he does, will things be different this time? Can he find a way to balance his demanding career and still have time for his family? Can Anne find a way to forgive Jack for
past mistakes?

Don’t miss FALL FROM GRACE! A heart-warming, wonderful story of renewal and hope.

-reviewed by Terri Richison

Good Groom Hunting
By Shana Galen
Avon
February 2007
ISBN-10: 0061124966
ISBN-13: 978-0061124969

Shana has again created a unique pair of characters for her second in a series about four cousins who swear never to
get married.

Her heroine, Josephine Hale, is a lady ahead of her time. She’s independent, impetuous and doesn’t care what society thinks. Josie wants the other half of her family’s treasure map and she doesn’t care if she has to seduce the Earl of Westman, her family’s sworn enemy, to get it. She bets her reputation that if she can find a treasure that most people consider a myth, that society will overlook her outrageous behavior.

Stephen Doubleday, a reformed rake trying to re-establish the Westman family fortune he gambled away in his youth, has his own plans for the treasure. Resisting Josie’s advances is a test he never thought to have to endure and one he doesn’t really want to pass. But he and Josie aren’t the only ones searching for the treasure; and their opponents are not above eliminating the competition permanently.

Join Shana as she spins an entertaining tale of pirates, treasure, betrayal and trust. Who will win the treasure? And what is the
true treasure—gold, gems or love?

-Reviewed by Lynda Kryzwicki

Author News

Here’s some more terrific sales news. Linda Jacobs is pleased to announce a new two book sale to Medallion Press, the same wonderful folks who’ve already published three of her books. Lake of Fire by Linda Jacobs will be the third in her Yellowstone Series after the WILLA Award winning Summer of Fire and Rain of Fire. Lake of Fire will be released in August 2007 and is a historical set in 1900 at the Yellowstone Lake Hotel. The Senator’s Daughter, writing as Christine Carroll will be a winter book next year. It’s the second in the San Francisco Bay Area Series of contemporary single title romances, this new one will be set in the Napa Valley. That’s terrific, Linda! Keep ‘em coming!

Jane Meyers Perrine will be teaching an online class, “What Earl and Mary Teach Us about Humor” for the Outreach International Chapter of RWA in August 2007. Colleen Thompson will also be teaching an online class for the Outreach chapter. “Emotionally Engage from the Very First Page.” The workshops are open to all, and more details can be found at http://www.oirw.net/campus.htm.

We have some good news on the foreign sales front to report this month. Kimberly Ungar, w/a Jolie Mathis received word that Portuguese rights were sold to The Sea King. Colleen Thompson reports that Fatal Error and Heat Lightning will be translated into Estonian and Polish, respectively.

The cover of Patricia Kay’s novel, Come October, is the winner of the 2005 Annual Cover Café Contest in the Series category. It’s a wonderful cover, as many voters agreed. Congratulations, Pat!

Congratulations to Shane Bolks, a.k.a. Shana Galen, whose hero, Stephen Doubleday, of her February historical release, Good Groom Hunting, was awarded a KISS from Romantic Times BookClub. Also, Shana has a title for the third book in her Misadventures in Matrimony series. The December release will be titled Blackthorne’s Bride.

Pam Mellor, a.k.a. P.J. Mellor, is celebrating a four-star review of her new release, Give Me More, from Romantic Times BookClub. Pam was also the featured Kensington author of the month. Nice work, ladies!

Judy Duarte is pleased to announce the sale of a 3-book series to Silhouette Special Edition. The first story in the Texas Homecoming series is tentatively entitled The Cowboy Takes a Wife and will be released in early 2008.

Robin T. Popp’s Tempted in the Night – the third in her Night Slayer series debuted Jan.1, 2007 at #47 on Bookscan’s Top 100 romances, at #22 on Barnes & Noble’s Top 50 romances, was a recommended read in a Border’s flyer and, like the other two books in the series, is offered in hardback by Doubeday Book Club. The fourth book in the series, Lord of the Night, is complete and due for release in December. And the last book that’s kept her hidden away from the world, Immortals: The Darkening, which she’s doing for Dorchester’s Immortals series, is complete and due out in June. Check out all her books at: www.robintpopp.com and www.immortals-series.com

Shane Bolks, writing as Shana Galen, will appear on the Fox 26 morning show Monday, February 6 in the 7 a.m. hour to discuss what men can learn from romance novels and give tips for a romantic Valentine’s Day. We’ll be watching for you, Shane!

Also, Shana Galen, Sophie Jordan, and Robin T. Popp will be presenting “So You Want to Write a Romance Novel” at the Barnes and Noble Copperfield at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 13, with a book-signing to follow.

Linda Warren has some excellent news to report. All Roads Lead to Texas and Son of Texas are finalists for the Readers and Bookbuyers Best Laurie for published authors. Congratulations, Linda!

First Sales

New member TJ Bittick, writing as TJ Bennett, has a first sale to report! Her outside-the-box historical romance, The Legacy, has been bought by Medallion Press, a royalty and advance paying print publisher recognized by RWA. Though TJ’s book won’t be out until April 2008, she should be proudly wearing a first sale pink ribbon in Dallas this coming July. Look for her behind the big smile! Welcome and congratulations!

We have another first sale to report this month! Christy Janisse has sold her romantic suspense manuscript, Mistaken, to The Wild Rose Press. She has chosen the pen name of Brandy Jordan for this one, since it’s an e-book (though it will be available in print as a trade paperback a few weeks after its digital release). This manuscript has also finaled in West Houston’s Emily contest, in the Contemporary Series category. Her website (still under construction) is www.brandyjordanbooks.com. For more information on the publisher, please visit www.thewildrosepress.com. We’re delighted for you, Christy!

Contest Divas

Sara Andre and Fleury Sommers have recently received agent requests for full manuscripts. Good luck to both of you with your submissions!

Though Christie Craig recently sold four (count ‘em!) books in one week, she still has great contest news pouring in. A Promise Is a Promise has finaled in the 2006 Gateway to the Rest contest in Contemporary Category. She is a triple finalist in the Connections Contest, with To Remember Jenny and Murder, Mayhem & Mama in Single Title and A Desperate Woman in historical. In the Romancing the Novel Contest, To Remember Jenny is a finalist in Single Title, and in the Beacon, Tough Love is a finalist in Single Title. Way to go, Christie!

Lark Howard reports that her paranormal entry, Deyrolle, is a finalist in the Gateway to the Rest contest. Congratulations to you!

Terri Richison also has some contest news. Her entry, Storm Clouds, is a finalist in the Heart of the West contest, in the Mystery/Suspense Category. Best of luck in the finals!

In addition to Christy Janisse, Member Jerre Ferns is thrilled to be a finalist in West Houston’s own Emily contest, in the Single Title category with Dead in the Heart of Texas. JoAnn Robisheaux’s entry, A Fresh Start, is also in contention for an Emily in Single Title Contemporary, along with Christie Craig’s Fatal Promise in Short Contemporary and Sharon Forret’s Phantom Spirit in Paranormal. Nice work, ladies. This is an incredible showing from our chapter, and we’ll all be rooting for you in the final round!

Results are in for the Finally a Bride contest, which is limited to entries which finaled in other contests. Jerre Ferns took second place in the Romantic Suspense/Single Title category, while Kay Hudson was fifth in the Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic division. Congratulations, ladies!

Member News

Several members participated in National Novel Writing Month with fabulous results! NaNoWriMo asks participants to clear their schedules, put off editing, and blast through 50,000 to 60,000 words in only a month. William Simon completed 59,980 words in 30 days! Becky Gotthardt succeeded in meeting the goal as well, with 50,068 words. Anna Phegley was derailed by a health issue after 19 days, but she still gamely managed 34,321 words. Not only does NaNoWriMo help writers meet their goals, the organization also raised money to build and fund six children’s libraries in Vietnam. Something tells me that we’ll have many more members going for broke next November! Way to go!

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