5/2008 Chapter News
Spectacular news from Sarah Andre! Agent Michelle Grajkowsy of 3 Seas has requested a full of her romantic suspense manuscript, LOCKED, LOADED AND LYING, which Sarah pitched to her at the Desert Dreams conference. This is the second request for a full she’s received on this story (Patience Smith also requested after Sarah finaled in the Lone Star last year.) We’re looking forward
to hearing more good news from you, Sarah!
Gerry Bartlett announces that REAL VAMPIRES LIVE LARGE just went small. At least it came out in the mass market edition this week for a mere $7.99. It should be at a book store or WalMart near you. So if you got hooked on REAL VAMPIRES HAVE CURVES and never picked up LIVE LARGE, here’s your chance to grab it at a bargain price. Or maybe you have friends who haven’t
started the series at all. CURVES came out in the mass market size in February. Get them on the Glory train and then you can all wait eagerly for book 3, REAL VAMPIRES GET LUCKY, which will be out in June.
TJ Bennett has been traveling to promote her April release, THE LEGACY. She presented, "Finding the Dark
Side of Your Knight in Shining Armor," in Los Angeles in mid-April. The feedback from participants was good, and the handouts were very popular. She’ll be giving the same presentation for Bay Area Houston Chapter in June, so if you’re interested, put the date on your calendars.
Here’s news with a good cause! Cheryl Bolen would like to remind everyone that during the month of May is Brenda Novak’s fabulous auction to benefit Juvenile Diabetes. Just go to her site and bid on tons of stuff, including reads by top agents and editors. Cheryl has donated a stars-and-stripes tote bag stuffed with some of
her out of print books (new and autographed) and hopes someone will bid on it. She expects it will go cheap.
Gladys Clifton reports that she pitched to Megan Records while in attendance at the Romantic Times Conference in Pittsburg, and received a request for a full. Go, Gladys, go! Let us know how things turn out!
Tera Lynn Childs is happy to announce a series of upcoming events for May. Blue Willow Bookshop will be hosting her debut party for the release of OH. MY. GODS. on the 8th at 7:00pm. In addition to signing at the May WHRWA meeting on the 10th, she will be speaking on writing for a teen market at the early workshop. Her first school visit will be at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice on the 16th. She’ll also be guest blogging at Killer Fiction on the 17th and the Jaunty Quills on the 19th. All events subject to cancellation should she not survive the release of her debut novel, OH. MY. GODS., on the May 1st. If you’d like to know more about Tera and OMG, Tera gave an interview to the online review website, Darque Reviews. They’ve also posted a review for the book! (http://darquereviews.blogspot.com)!
Christie Craig is in the news! WEDDINGS CAN BE MURDER received a great review in Library Journal! http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6547833.html?industryid=47120 The book also rated a 4 ½ star review from Romantic Times Magazine! The Houston Chronicle also featured Christie in a online video feature: chron.com/mm/devotion But wait, there’s more! On the eve of her second book’s release, Christie
has agreed to a new three-book deal with Dorchester. Christie, we can’t wait to see what the rest of 2008 holds for you! CHEERS!
Contest maven Vicky Dreiling won first place in the historical category of the Great Expectations Contest with her entry, THE DUCHESS COMPETITION. The entry was judged by Tessa Woodward – - who had already requested the manuscript at the NOLA confernence. Vicky, we hope it’s just a brief matter of time!
KUDOS to one our out-of-state members!! Michele Dunaway announces a new 2 book contract with Harlequin American. We’re looking forward to hearing Michele share some of her secrets to success when she visits us as our meeting speaker in July!
Laura Gompertz, writing as Lynn Lorenz, is amassing a collection! A collection of great reviews! She announces that her February Loose Id release, THE MERCENARY’S TALE received 5 Nymphs and a Golden Blush Recommended Read designation from Literary Nymphs Reviews! Review site, Sensual Romance, awarded the book 5 stars and Sizzling said it was a ‘truly masterful piece’ and a ‘must read novel’. Fallen Angel Reviews gave it 5 Angels and made it a Recommended Read. The sequel to this book, JACKSON’S PRIDE, comes out April 15.
Sharie Kohler a/k/a Sophie Jordan announces that the foreign rights for ONCE UPON A WEDDING NIGHT have sold to Spain and that her August Avon historical release, SURRENDER TO ME, has been selected as a featured alternate in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Bookclubs.
Publisher’s Weekly blogger, Barbara Vey, featured PJ Mellor’s upcoming anthology piece, HARD IN THE SADDLE (from ONLY WITH A COWBOY). http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/
post/420025442.html
Chicago North has announced the finalists in their 10th annual Fire and Ice Contest. Winner’s will be announced later this month in Chicago. Congratulations to our two WHRWA members: Patricia O’Dea-Rosen for her Series Romance final with A PLACE AT THE TABLE, and Jody Payne with STALKED in Single Title!!
Great news from Georgia Ward (writing as Georgia Tribell)! She announces the release of her newest book,WINDHANDLER, published with Cobblestone Press. Check out an excerpt here: http://www.georgiatribell.com/wind
And finally — Ellen Watkins, Emily Contest Chair, announces that judging by the booksellers is now complete and WHRWA is proud to announce the winner of Best of the Best! The winner will receive a detailed critique of the first three chapters and synopsis of her manuscript by Patience Smith of Silhouette Books. Placements are
as follows:
1. An Early Frost by Tanya Holmes
2. The Devil’s Virtue by Laura Williams
3. Breaking Daylight by Mary Fechter
4. Project Honeymoon by Becke Turner
Congratulations to all of our finalists, and congratulations to Tanya Holmes for winning the Best of the Best!
