3/2009 Chapter News
March roars in like a lion with lots of exciting news for WHRWA members.
First, congrats to Judythe Hixon, who writes as Judythe Morgan. Judythe entered Sourcebooks/Casablanca’s January Blog contest–a 50 word pitch with a pitch for ALEX my single title contemporary that won first in the 2003 Emily. She didn’t see her name when she checked the winner announcement blog and didn’t check again. Then, a friend in New York emailed Judythe that she was one of the additional authors that editor Deb Werksman wanted a full and synopsis to review based on her pitch entry. Judythe reports it was exciting, especially since ALEX has set dormant for four years now.
Gerry Bartlett finally has a release date for the next book in her Glory St. Clair, REAL VAMPIRES series. It will be out in February 2010. She’s still looking for a title and has a contest going on Myspace. If you’ve got a suggestion, pop over to myspace.com/gerrybartlett to her blog. Winner gets an advanced reading copy of book 5. In the meantime, book 3, REAL VAMPIRES GET LUCKY, will be released in mass market form this coming November.
Sophie Jordan (Sharie Kohler) is celebrating her first (and stellar!!) review from Publishers Weekly for her April release, SINS OF A WICKED DUKE. She’s also over the moon that SINS OF A WICKED DUKE will be displayed in the mass-market fiction towers of all Barnes and Nobles during the month of April. Congrats!
Reviewers for CataRomance selected Judy Duarte’s MULBERRY PARK as one of the best single titles of 2008.
Multi-published author Colleen Thompson’s happy to announce her first sale to Silhouette Romantic Suspense, of a 2 in 1 edition to be written with New York Times best selling author Sharon Sala. DEADLIER THAN THE MALE will be a 2010 release. Colleen is also celebrating her first Norwegian translation rights sale for her single title romantic suspense, THE SALT MAIDEN.
Tera Lynn Childs followed her editor to Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, with the sale of her third and fourth books. FORGIVE MY FINS, the story of a half-mermaid princess attending high school on the mainland, will be a Summer 2010 release with an untitled sequel to follow.
Some WHRWA members are literally making headlines. Jo Ann Robisheaux (writing as Claire Sanders) was featured in an interview at http://www.examiner.com/x-3098-Houston-Romance-Novels-Examiner.
Deeanne Gist was featured in the “Faces in the Crowd” section of the Houston Chronicle ( http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/conroe/news/6252859.html ) this February. She was also mentioned/pictured in the PW Daily and the Dallas Morning News after her presentation and signing at “Girlfriends Weekend”–an annual convention of the nationwide Pulpwood Book Clubs. Her 2007 release, COURTING TROUBLE, has been nominated for “Best Heroine” in the Anne Bonney Readers Choice Award and she will be presenting a workshop this summer at the National RWA Convention in D.C.
Speaking of the Anne Bonney Award, Tracy Goodwin’s news is that DANCE WITH DECEPTION is a double finalist in the Anne Bonney Readers Choice Award in the Most Emotional and Favorite Hero categories. The contest link is http://web.mac.com/vickihinze/ACRA/Anne_Bonney_Award.html Way to go to these two authors!
As for Michele Dunaway, Jeff Herman’s Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009: Who They Are! What They Want! How To Win Them Over! 19th Edition used the April 2008 Harlequin American books as the “sample” titles, meaning Michele was mentioned in the book on page 474. She found that rather cool. Michele was also quoted in Colleen Thompson’s “Secrets of Starving Artists” in the February Romance Writer’s Report and in teaching news, Michele’s principals presented her with their “Golden Sail” recognition award, which came with a $10 QT gift card. And lastly, she’s celebrating the release of her 20th book, TWINS FOR THE TEACHER, this month. Whew.
