West Houston RWA

Who:

WHRWA Author and USA Today Bestselling Author Patricia Kay

What:

A CAST OF THOUSANDS
or Who Are These People, Anyway? and What Do They Want?

When:

Saturday, August 11th, 2007

Where:

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

More about this month’s program:

Patricia Kay, USA Today bestselling author of forty-six novels of romance and women’s fiction and a former RITA nominee for her December, 2000 single title from Berkley, will talk about the people who people your stories. Pat says that for her it’s always about the characters. If she doesn’t care about them and believe in them, she can’t root for them, and if she can’t root for them, why read the book?

If you want your agent, your editor, and (hopefully) your readers to want/buy/love your book, you need to make sure they care about and are rooting for your characters. Pat will do her best to help you achieve that goal.

Tentative Schedule for August 11th:

8:30 – Open Doors – Sign in/coffee
9:00 to 9:45 – Business meeting, PAL reviews, introductions
9:45 to 10:15 – Break
10:15 to 12:00 – Pat Kay – A CAST OF THOUSANDS
or Who Are These People, Anyway? and What Do They Want?
12:00 to 12:30 – Booksigning and Quickie Critiques
12:30 Adjourn to lunch

HEAD ON
By Colleen Thompson
A Dorchester Love Spell Romantic Suspense
(July Release)
ISBN 978-0-505-52713-4

Beth Ann Decker has worked hard to lose the title of Official Tragic Figure of her small Texas hometown since that long ago night when a terrible accident killed three other teen-aged cheerleaders and left her crippled and scarred. She survived the surgeries and physical therapy, and has proved herself of worth as a hospice nurse, helping the terminally ill and their families
deal with death.

Now the gruesome murder of a loved one has her using all her knowledge to deal with her own grief, and the entire population is back to calling her “Poor Beth Ann.”

The other driver in that fateful wreck, Mark Jessup, has grown up. He has built both a financially successful and philanthropic business and is raising his son alone, hopefully in a home with more love and support than he received as a boy. Now Mark has returned to Eudena to care for his dying father, the very man who disowned him sixteen years before when he proved himself worthy of the town’s bad boy label of “Hell On Wheels” by causing the accident that killed three girls, including his own sister.

Mark did his time for the crime, and has become a better man through the grief of his actions. While he feels he is foolish to hope for his father’s forgiveness, he knows he must try, even if it means bringing his mixed race son into the bosom of the conservative
Texas Bible Belt. While willing to handle any aspersions the town might throw at him, even the suspicion of a horrible murder, he will not tolerate the least bit of disrespect toward his child.

When Beth Ann shows up with her cane at his door to administer care to his father, both must deal with their memories and their grief. And when the underlying attraction of their earlier years collides with the passion that ignites between them now, Beth Ann
knows it is not pity that she sees in this man’s eyes, but only the heat of desire.

But what would someone do to avenge the past or to hide the dangerous secrets that would destroy them? A small town web of deceit and fear threatens to end not only the fragile bonds of Mark and Beth Ann’s budding love, but their very lives, including the life of an innocent five-year-old boy. Colleen Thompson has created a spine-chilling story with realistic and frightening plot twists and two powerful characters, each finding their own truths in those of the past. Fast-paced yet sweetly sensitive, this story will have you glued to its pages. Enjoy!

-Reviewed by Jo Anne Banker

Author News

Tera Lynn Childs announces that her title, Growing Up Godly,to be released by Dutton in summer 2008, has received a title makeover and will be released as OH. MY. GODS. Great title, Tera! Check out the exciting Publisher’s Marketplace announcement for this sale: Tera Lynn Childs’s OH. MY. GODS, in which a cross-country-running California girl gets uprooted to a tiny Greek island and struggles to find her place at a school for the descendants of Greek gods… without getting zapped to Hades in the process, to Sarah Shumway at Dutton, in a nice deal, by Jenny Bent at Trident Media Group (world English).

Michelle Dunaway announces the title for her upcoming April 2008 Harlequin American Romance will be The Marriage Recipe (Michelle, if we read the book do we get the recipe?)

Deeanne Gist’s The Measure of a Lady finaled in the Bookseller’s Best Contest hosted by GDRWA, and in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest hosted by Faith, Hope & Love RWA. Winners will be announced at Nationals in July. As if that weren’t exciting enough, Deanne shares that Woman’s World Magazine – with a circulation of 3 million — featured Deeanne Gist’s new release Courting Trouble as their “What To Read” pick in the June 5th weekly issue.”

Pat Kay’s next eight-week Write Your Novel course will begin on July 2nd. If you’ve been thinking about taking it, it’s time to sign up! Learn more at her website, www.patriciakay.com. Click on the link at the top that says WRITING CLASSES.

Thrilling news! Robin Popp received the coveted honor of being a USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR for her Dorchester Love Spell novel, Immortals: The Darkening. Robin! We couldn’t be more excited for you!

Gail Ranstrom and Barbara Dawson Smith have both finaled in the Historical Romance Mystery/Suspense category of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier contest – Gail as a double finalist with her Harlequin releases, The Courtesan’s Courtship and Indescretions, and Barbara with her St. Martin’s Press romance, THE ROGUE REPORT. Best wishes to both of you, as you are both very deserving!

Barbara Dawson Smith has also finaled in the Booksellers Best Contest with The Rogue Report! Barbara, your Rogue has garnered quite a reputation!

Daredevil alert! Colleen Thompson missed the WHRWA June 9th meeting – and bravely risked death – all in the name of research. She went up for her first glider ride, and found the experience exhilarating!

Diva News

Kimberly Chambers received the best sort of news this month: “THE CALL” from her agent! The Berkley Publishing Group has made a two-book offer for her humorous urban fantasy, Would-be Witch, and a sequel. Let’s help Kimberly celebrate her new deal in Dallas!

Contest Announcement! Laura Gompertz finaled in the 2007 TARA Contest, sponsored by the Tampa Area Romance Authors. Her entry, Open Doors, placed in the inspirational category. Final judge is Jessica Alvarez of Steeple Hill!

Kudos to Patty Henderson, who announces her first sale to Wild Rose Press. Gift of Deception is a romantic suspense told with a unique southern voice and is Patty’s first completed manuscript! Her sale to Wild Rose Press is a result of her pitch at San Antonio RWA’s Super Saturday in May.

Christy Janisse is excited to announce she’s sold a short story to The Wild Rose Press. Murder and the Media Specialist will be released as an e-book this summer. Way to go, Christy!

Congratulations to Terri Richison who finaled with Deadly Inheritance in the Celtic Hearts Golden Claddagh contest in their romantic suspense category.

Please send Kimberly Ungar/Jolie Mathis , The author of the award winning book The Sea King, your news at whosinthenews@whrwa.com by the 15th of each month.