6/2009 Chapter News
As I sit here and write this, it’s hard to believe that we’ve passed Memorial Day weekend and the official start of summer. Where did the time go? Is it me, or does it seem to speed up the older we get and the busier we are?
First off, Teri Thackston will be signing TO THE RESCUE and Christie Craig will be signing GOTCHA at Katy Budget Books on June 6 from 1-3 PM. Drop by and see them.
We’ll start this month’s news with contest finals. Congratulations go to Susan Breeden who has finalled in the Writers’ League of Texas 2009 Manuscript Contest (Romance category).
Next up for a big hooray is Jo Ann Robisheaux, who writes as Claire Sanders. She’s a finalist in the Inspirational category of the Dixie First Chapter Contest.
Kay Hudson’s JIN & TON IC is a finalist in RWA-San Diego’s Spring Into Romance contest (paranormal division). The final judge is LaToya Smith of Grand Central Publishing. Good luck Kay!
Linda Warren continues her contest streak. TEXAS HEIR is a finalist in short contemporary for the Golden Quill given by the Desert Rose Chapter. Also, ALWAYS A MOTHER is a finalist in long contemporary. Also, because I may have missed including this last month, Texas Heir is a Rita finalist in Series Contemporary and it won first place in contemporary romance in The Lories Best Published Contest. Always A Mother won second place in mainstream category in The Lories Best Published Contest. Way to go Linda.
Great reviews keep rolling in for WHRWA authors. Deeanne Gist’s June release, A BRIDE I N THE BARGAIN , received a 4-1/2 star review from RT and is a June Top Pick!
Christie Craig’s news is that GOTCHA! earned Christie her first PW and Booklist review. It got Top Pick 4 1/2 stars from RT, and sold to Rhapsody Book club. Christie reports that she also just turned in her third book in the Divorced & Desperate Series: DIVORCED, DESPERATE A ND DECEIVED.
Sharie Kohler/Sophie Jordan officially has a title for the first book in her young adult Harper Teen series—
FIRELIGHT! It has also been decided she will be writing the series under her Sophie Jordan name. She also has a title for her historical romance April 2010 release—IN SCA NDAL THEY WED. Sharie’s first book in her paranormal series, MARKED BY MOO LIGHT, has been scheduled for reprint in August for Target’s backlist promotion. Yay!
Kerrelyn Sparks continues her domination of in the world of vampires. Kerrelyn Sparks’ FORBIDDEN NIGHTS
WITH A VAMPIRE has survived a third week on both the 4ew York Times and USAToday bestseller lists. Kerrelyn is currently working on book 8 of the Love at Stake series and has agreed to write four more for HarperCollins. To watch book trailers, read excerpts, and play vampire games, please drop by www.kerrelynsparks.com.
Teri Thackston’s latest erotic romance (written as Tea Trelawny) will be released June 12. WARRIOR’S RELEASE is a paranormal “romantica” from Ellora’s Cave and will be released initially in ebook format. Congrats Teri!
Donna Maloy is very pleased to announce, and we are thrilled as well, that she has signed a contract with Ammi-Joan Plaquette, who is a new agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Erin is one of the top agents for children’s and young adult books. The first thing Joan is going to be shopping is Donna’s middle grade historical fantasy, LEGE ND OF THE FOX (book one in The Shapeshifter Chronicles). Legend won the YA category in North Texas RWA’s Great Expectations contest in 2007. Donna’s new website is www.donnamaloy.com.
Two other authors aside from Kerrelyn have sale news. Shana Galen has accepted a contract with Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks to write 3 historical romances. The first book will be out in June 2010, and Michele Dunaway reports that she’s sold another romance to Harlequin American, her 23rd. U NDER DOCTOR’S ORDERS (w/t) will be out in summer 2010.
Congrats go to Jessica Trapp, whose THE PLEASURES OF SIN received a KISS award from RT!
Saturday, June 20th, from 2:00-4:00 PM, Colleen Thompson and Christie Craig are celebrating their latest releases with a launch party at Read It Again and Again. Fajitas, adult beverages (free to attendees) and, oh, yeah, autographed copies (not free, but such a bargain) will be featured. Come out and help them celebrate!
