2/2008 Chapter News
It’s that time of year when Romantic Times announces its 2007 Nominees! Our own Linda Barrett’s HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS was nominated for Best Harlequin Superromance!
Also nominated by Romantic Times is Nina Bangs, for her novel, WICKED FANTASY, in the Best Vampire category. Nina also has the very special honor of being nominated for a Career Achievement Award for Contemporary Paranormal Romance.
*** Keep reading! You’ll find out about our other RT Nominees further below!
TJ Bennett is off to an exciting 2008. Her April release, THE LEGACY, a historical romance set in Reformation Germany, has garnered a 5 cup rating from Coffeetime Romance! Here’s a sneak peek: “This story is superb . . . The Legacy is a riveting story that explodes with tight action. It is an interesting plot with in-depth feelings that even pierced this reader’s heart. There are situations between this loving couple that made my heart leap for joy. Drama at its best, this is one overpowering, extraordinary tale.”
That’s not all! Romantictimes.com has invited TJ to participate in their “exclusive Author Spotlight area” on their website. The spotlight will run in March 2008. The site will run a short article written by TJ, a description of the book, the cover of the book, and a 500-word excerpt.
Repeat kudos to Sarah Castleberry! For the second (or third?) consecutive year, Sarah has finaled in the East Texas RWA contest! She entered BEAUTY AND THE GEEK (the story we all enjoyed in the Gather contest) in their single title category. Her final round judge will be Tessa Woodward at Harper Collins.
First Sale Announcement! Lara Chapman has sold her first novel to RWA-recognized The Wild Rose Press. HIT REPLY is a humorous contemporary romance about a woman who is dumped by her boyfriend in an email — that goes to everyone she works with. She flees to the small hometown she once escaped and meets a man who makes her question her resolve to live a “Big City” life. This book will be released under the publisher’s Champagne Rose line.
Christie Craig has numerous reasons to celebrate! DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DELICIOUS hit 83 on Book Scan! On the heels of that great news, she heard Dorchester will take the book to a second printing. Christie has also been interviewed for the Houston Lifestyles & Homes magazine, and is featured along with her two book covers. Be sure to pick up a copy and check it out. It’s under the “City Scope” section on pg 20. DD&D is also a nominee for All About Romance’s Best Cabin Romance and Best Favorite Funny! And finally, look for her in the January issue of The Motivated Writer (www.themotivatedwriter.com)
Congratulations to Vicky Dreiling who received the exciting news she finaled in the WHRWA Emily with her historical THE DUCHESS COMPETITION. It’s being judged by Tessa Woodward of Avon/Harper Collines and agent Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management. The same book finaled in the Duel on the Delta contest and is being judged by Allison Brandau of Berkley.
Missouri WHRWA-er Michele Dunaway is featured in the Columbia Missourian in this article on romance: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/ stories/2007/12/07/passion-writing/Michele Dunaway. If you’d like to peek at the cover for her April 2008 Harlequin American Romance, THE MARRIAGE RECIPE, it’s now posted on her blog at www.micheledunaway.blogspot.com. The Marriage Recipe is her 17th book for Harlequin Enterprises! That’s fantastic, Michele!
Shana Galen’s (Shane Bolks) NO MAN’S BRIDE is now out in Dutch. The title “Liefde op het tweede gezicht” means LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT. The cover is on her website…http://www.shanebolks.com/nomans.html. Even more exciting is Shana’s Romantic Times Nomination for 2007 Best Historical Love & Laughter with her recent release, BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE!
2007 was a stellar year for member Deeanne Gist, and it looks like 2008 will be no less spectacular! Deeanne and her novel, COURTING TROUBLE were mentioned in the November 19th Publisher’s Weekly article, “Romance Readers Definitely Read Around.” She has also been asked to be the Grand Marshal of this Spring’s Corsicana Texas’ Derrick Days Parade, as her latest book, COURTING TROUBLE and upcoming release, DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE are both set in Corsicana during the oil boom days. Attendance for the event runs between 3000 and 5000 attendees. Organizers also have her slated to speak as part of the weekend’s offering.
There’s more! Deeanne has also been invited to speak at RWA Nationals and will give the same presentation she gave our chapter last year, except now it is titled, “What Takes So Long?: What Happens to Your Manuscript From Signed Contract to Store Shelves.”
Congratulations to Tracy Goodwin, whose book DANCE WITH DECEPTION has been nominated for LASR’s Best Long Print Romance for 2007!
Big news! Romantic Times has recognized member Heather MacAlister with a nomination for Career Achievement in the Series Romance Love and Laughter category!
Leslie Marshman won first place in the Chase the Dream contest with her entry, DESIGNS ON THE TEXAS TYCOON. She offers thanks to everyone who voted for her and helped make it happen! Check out her winner’s interview at: http://chasethedreamcontest.wordpress.com/entries/week-10-finalist/leslie-marshman/
A big cheer for Janice Martin, who finaled in the WHRWA Emily Contest’s Single Title Category with her entry, THE BLESSING.
PJ Mellor shares thrilling news! She learned one of her February 2007 books, THE FIREFIGHTER, is a CAPA nominee for Best Erotic Anthology 2007. She also received a great review from Romantic Times for her upcoming release, MAKE ME SCREAM. Here’s an excerpt! “Mellor’s captivating tale has characters that are real and exceptionally entertaining, which will keep you tied into the story. If you haven’t already, you’ll definitely want to read more of this author’s work.”
First Sale News!! Joann Robischeaux announces her first sale to RWA-recognized The Wild Rose Press. A FRESH START is a heart-warming story about a teacher who leaves Texas to find a new life in Wyoming, teaching in a one-room schoolhouse. The book will be released through Wild Rose Press’s Yellow Rose line!
Kerrelyn Sparks invites you to dinner! The great folks at Katy Budget Books have arranged an Author Dinner which will take place the evening of February 15th at Victor’s restaurant on Fry Rd (just down the street from KBB). To reserve a spot and/or preorder a copy of THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR, just call KBB at 281-578- 7770! Kerrelyn will also be signing at KBB on March 1st from 11 am to 1 pm. And she’ll be signing THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR at the February West Houston meeting. See you there!
Just before Christmas, Dawn Temple got a great gift from her editor, who called and bought her second novel. MOONLIGHT AND MISTLETOE will be a Holiday 2009 release from Silhouette Special Edition.
Teri Thackston has a reason to dance! Her latest romantic suspense, DEADLY CLIMB, from Cerridwen Press, received a Reviewer Top Pick score of 5 from Night Owl Romance: “Exhilarating. . .a beautiful job… The book had it all from the beginning, suspense, action, love and yes even betrayal that made it a huge 5 rated book for this reviewer. Awesome.”
The complete review is available online at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/ Review.asp?ReviewId=971
Teri also announces the release of her first erotic romance — a humorous paranormal — on Feb 13 under the pseudonym of Téa Trelawny. Great timing because it’s set on St. Valentine’s Day. Called GOING DOWN? the story is set in a haunted Manhattan elevator.
Romantic Times has nominated Colleen Thompson’s THE SALT MAIDEN for Best 2007 Romantic Suspense! In additional news, Colleen also announced the sale of four of her backlist titles to Bulgaria. Georgia Ward’s novel, BAYOU TREASURE, has been nominated for the CAPA award from The Romance Studio for Romantic Suspense. She also announces a new sale – she’s signed a contract with Cobblestone Press over the holidays for another futuristic romantic suspense novella. Congratulations, Georgia!
Kim Lenox wants to share your news— please email her atwhosinthenews@whrwa.com by the 15th of each month.
