West Houston RWA

Who:

WHRWA Author Sharon Mignerey

What:

Creative Brainstorming

When:

Saturday, April 14th, 2007

Where:

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

More about this month’s program:

Whether Warning! Brainstorms Ahead!

Do your characters seem like the same old same old that you’ve thought of before? Are the situations you’ve put those characters in the same ones you’ve read a hundred times? If you answered yes to either of those questions, this is the workshop for you. This is a fun, highly interactive hour designed to recharge your creative batteries… and give you some useful techniques to do the same for yourself when you’re all alone. This goes from the silly to the real purpose of brainstorming – generate useful, workable ideas for your next book.

Sharon Mignerey’s (www.sharonmignerey.com) most recent book is SHADOWS OF TRUTH (3/2007), a 4 1/2 Star Top Pick from RT who describes it as, “…filled with suspense and tensions – and it’s nearly impossible to put down.” In addition to writing novels, Sharon has been published by The Writer magazine, and she’s a regular contributor to The Rocky Mountain Writer with a column entitled Muse Sings.

Schedule for April 14th:

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 – Sharon Mignerey and “Creative Brainstorming”
12:00 to 12:30 – Booksigning with Sharon Mignerey and Quickie Critiques
12:30 – Adjourn to lunch

WISH COME TRUE
by Patricia Kay
Harlequin NEXT
ISBN-10: 0373881290
ISBN-13: 978-0373881291

When Kate Bishop, a divorced mother of four, wins the lottery jackpot, she brings home a payout of $28 million—and 28 million challenges.

Soon, strangers demand charity, her children’s friends expect hand-outs, and Kate’s siblings—as well as her ex, are making plans for what they assume will be their shares. Worst of all, Kate’s youngest becomes the victim of an attempted kidnapping- for-ransom.

Our lottery winner doesn’t want to go back to the days of living paycheck to paycheck, but she’s determined to safeguard her children and put her money to good use. In other words, she wants to manage her winnings rather than let them manage her.

In WISH COME TRUE, Kate and her children have 28 million lessons to learn, and most of them hurt. Greed derails some relationships and doubt about people’s motives grounds others.

Patricia Kay’s books explore the bonds of family, and this one is no exception. WISH COME TRUE also offers an unblinking look at the peer pressure faced by today’s pre-teens and teenagers.

By the story’s end, Kate has a better handle on wealth, but the reader knows she and her money will be working hard for decades to come.

By the way, this reviewer won’t buy another lottery ticket. Ever.
-reviewed by Pat O’Dea Rosen

Too Wicked to Tame
By Sophie Jordan
Avon
March 2007
ISBN-10: 0061122262
ISBN-13: 978-0061122262

Once again Sophie Jordan steps out of the rarified world on the ton in a wonderful story of two people who have given up any hope of happiness, only to find love. Portia is the penniless sister of a duke who would marry her off to the devil himself if the price was right. She wants nothing to do with marriage, which in her experience is one step away from imprisonment. Heath is the victim of a family curse which makes marriage impossible, especially to a lady like Portia. And yet when he rescues her on the road in a bitter storm, the need to tempt her is irresistible—and tempt her he does. For the first time in her life, Portia feels desire for a man, and knowing Heath is reckless and dangerous only fuels the attraction. Although nothing technically happens
between them, they see in each other a passion that can never be and they part, never to meet again. Or so they both assume.

When they meet again, Heath’s outrage at what he sees as Portia’s plot to marry him backfires. Instead of driving her away, his insistence that he will never marry her suggests to Portia a way to avoid the humiliation of another season of husband hunting in London. Soon, however, they must deal with the undeniable attraction that could ruin both of their lives.

The characters in the story are especially compelling. Portia is a complex mix of independence and vulnerability, while Heath hides a deep sadness under an exterior of arrogance and anger. Even the secondary characters are multifaceted people who do more than act as a background to the heroine and hero.

While most regency romances tend to focus on social conventions of the time, in Ms. Jordan’s story the main characters have been badly damaged by their respective family situations and as a result live on the edge of polite society. Ms. Jordan’s story is more in the spirit of a Bronte than Ms. Austin, where raging passions are a curse rather than a blessing and love seems like an impossible dream. Still, this is a romance and the final resolution is even more satisfactory because the heroine and hero have had such a transformational journey. Too Wicked to Tame is a beautifully
written book historical readers won’t want to miss!

-reviewed by Lark Howard

The Dollmaker
By Amanda Stevens
Mira
March 1, 2007
ISBN-10: 0778324281
ISBN-13: 978-0778324287

Claire Doucett’s life hasn’t been the same since her daughter, Ruby, was abducted seven years earlier in New Orleans. Neither
Claire nor her ex-husband, Dave, ever really got over the kidnapping of their daughter. But without ever knowing for sure what had happened to their child, how could they ever be the same? While Claire spent the intervening years making an attempt to put her life back together by remarrying, Dave tried to numb his pain and guilt in a bottle. Neither was very successful.

At the opening of the story, Claire is once again in the middle of a divorce and attempting to get her own life together. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband believes she’s obsessed with finding her daughter alive and well, but Claire knows she could never walk away from the possibility of finding out what happened to Ruby. When she spies a doll in the window of a New Orleans shop, she
is struck by the uncanny likeness the doll bears to her daughter – down to the pink, frilly dress Ruby was wearing the day she disappeared.

Claire approaches Dave to help her get some answers that she’s certain will give her some closure, and he agrees, even though he’s already been drawn into another investigation tied to the one he was working on when their daughter disappeared. He
sifts through the shattered and sometimes murky world of a post-Katrina New Orleans, disturbing more than a few old ghosts
along the way.

Amanda Stevens takes the reader on a journey that is, at turns, heart-breaking, bone-chilling, and hopeful. The Dollmaker is a psychological thriller that will stay with you long after you finish the book.

- Reviewed by Jennifer Brooks

Perilous Passions
By Teri Thackston
Cerridwen Press
April 2007
Ebook

Heat on ice. A winter storm strands feisty heiress Reilly Shea and by-the-book-Deputy Hunt Ramsey in Reilly’s Harmony Falls home. Attraction is instant, fierce and hot enough to melt the New England ice surrounding them. But Hunt is looking for a cop killer and Reilly is not only a sexy distraction, she might have information he needs. Can he get that information without alerting her to his real quarry? His strange questions convince Reilly that she may have a personal stake in his case…or that he’s trying to get his hands on her inheritance.

From experience, Reilly believes that men want her only for her wealth. Hunt’s past convinces him that love is a fairytale concocted by rich young women seeking escape from their boring lives. Neither intends to be used again.

But when the killer stalks the ice-bound community, danger drives them together. Desire keeps them there. Reilly’s giving spirit and artistic lovemaking free Hunt from his jaded past, while his strength and protectiveness inspire Reilly’s confidence in herself…
and in him. Love eventually overcomes suspicion…leaving only the killer to stand in their way.

Reilly and Hunt are wonderful, strong characters that grab you from the beginning. Teri does an amazing job of setting the scene for the reader, making Harmony Falls, and the people living there, come to life. The book’s pacing is masterful and the story is both intriguing and engaging. I strongly recommend this e-book to romantic suspense lovers… and all romantics at heart!

-Reviewed by Lara Chapman

Author News

Romantic Times BookClub magazine has announced nominees for its list of Best Books and Authors of 2006. Congratulations to the following West Houston authors for their nominations!

• Kristi Gold—The Pregnancy Negotiation, Best Series Romance, Silhouette Desire
• Barbara Dawson Smith—The Rogue Report, Historical of the Year
• Sophie Jordan (Sharie Kohler)—Once Upon a Wedding Night, First Historical Romance
• Jolie Mathis (Kimberly Ungar)—The Sea King, First Historical Romance
• Robin T. Popp—Seduced by the Night, Best Vampire Romance

If you’ve ever struggled with writing a manuscript’s ending, check out Colleen Thompson’s article in this month’s issue of the Romance Writer’s Report. Colleen also has a series of articles and exercises on endings coming in a future edition (date TBA) of Writer’s Digest, so look for her there, too, and check out the writer’s blog she and new member Joni Rodgers have started at www.boxingoctopus.blogspot.com .

Kerrelyn Sparks is pleased to announce that How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire and Vamps in the City have sold to Germany. Her third book in the series, Be Still My Vampire Heart, goes on sale on March 27th. Way to go, Kerry!

Linda Barrett has an excellent review to share. Her March release, Houseful of Strangers, received four-and-a-half stars from Romantic Times. Way to go, Linda!

Winners of Houston Bay Area’s JABBIC cover art contest were recently announced. Among West Houston’s winners were Pam “P.J.” Mellor, whose book The Cowboy took first in Single Title/Mainstream while her Pleasure Beachwas third in the same category. Robin Popp’s Seduced by the Night came in third in the Fantasy/Futuristic/Paranormal Category. Kim Ungar, a.k.a. Jolie Mathis was fourth in Historical with The Sea King. Colleen Thompson’s The Deadliest Denial was fourth in Romantic Suspense.

Pam Mellor, a.k.a. P.J. Mellor, has been asked to participate in another cowboy anthology for Kensington’s Aphrodisia imprint, thanks to the overwhelming demand to her first, “Cowboy in Paradise,” from The Cowboy. Ride ‘em, Pam!

In addition, Pam Mellor recently traveled to San Diego to speak and sign at Mission Valley Barnes and Noble and to the SDRWA the following day. She had extremely positive response on both days, which was a real thrill. That’s great news, too!

Christie Craig’s Under the Precious Sky has reached the final round of the Great Expectations contest’s Steamy Hot category. In the Mainstream with Romantic Elements division, Jane Myers Perrine finaled with Life, Love and Maggie Baldovino. Congratulations to you both!

Jessica Trapp’s Master of Pleasure will be translated into German! Great going, Jesica!

Teri Thackston wants to share the happy news that Perilous Passions finally releases on March 1. I’ve also received a release date for my fourth book with Cerridwen Press. Deadly Climb will release on October 4, 2007. We’re thrilled for you, Teri!

After much discussion with her editor, Dawn Temple’s October release from Silhouette Special Edition has been re-titled. Both editor and Senior Editor assure her the new name, To Have and to Hold, will sell well in category. But her editor still loves the original title, A Will to Love and intends to use it as the shout line over the back cover blurb.

Kristi Gold’s new release, Fall from Grace, is a launch book for Harlequin’s brand new Everlasting line. The book was awarded Desert Island Keeper Status from All About Romance. Excellent news, Kristi!

Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler has release dates and titles for her next two books. One Night with You, her third historical with Avon, will release in Jan 08; and, Marked by Moonlight, her first paranormal with Pocket, will also release in Jan 08. We’re looking forward to them, Sharie!

Linda Warren has some late-breaking news. Her book, The Bad Son, is a finalist for the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence in the long contemporary division. Excellent, Linda!

Michele Dunaway was featured in the alumni magazine of her alma mater, the University of Missouri – St. Louis. To read the article, click here.

EMILY RESULTS!

Winners of West Houston’s Emily Awards have been announced. In Single Title Contemporary, congratulations to West Houston members Jerre Ferns, who took Third Place with Dead in the Heart of Texas, and Jo Ann Robisheaux, who came in fourth with A Fresh Start. In Series Contemporary, we’re thrilled that Christie Craig took first with Fatal Promise and Christy Janisse came in second with Mistaken (which has since sold). In the Paranormal category, our own Sharon Forret took second with Phantom Spirit. We proud of all of you!

Also this month…

Mistaken by Brandy Jordan (aka Christy Janisse) is available from Wild Rose Press in e-book form this month. http://www.thewildrosepress.com A paperback release comes out in May.

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