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Forgive me for being a tad late this month with my newsletter but it's taken me a few days to recuperate from five fantastic days in Pittsburgh at the Romantic Times BOOKLOVERS Convention. I have included some highlights at the end of my newsletter for those of you who are interested or merely curious. :)
The new issue (June 08, #292) has started shipping. We managed to get 1,000 copies sent overnight to the RT convention where attendees received it hot-off-the-presses! It made a HUGE hit, especially for Jessica Andersen who is on the cover to promote her new paranormal series, Novels of the Final Prophecy, with the launch book, NIGHTKEEPERS.
The winners for the 2007 Romantic Times Career Achievement and Reviewers Choice Awards are also announced in this issue so be sure to check out if your favorites won.
After years of entertaining readers with her tales of small-town life, author Brenda Novak is tackling life and love in the city of Sacramento in her new trilogy, The Last Stand, which launches this month with TRUST ME
(Mira). The trilogy follows three women who run a victims' charity after having been victims of crime themselves. To give readers an inside peek at how The Last Stand charity began, Novak created a prequel story that is EXCLUSIVELY for RT readers. What a real treat! Read Chapters 1 - 4 in this issue of RT BOOKreviews and download the conclusion of the Last Stand prequel online.
Our feature this month is one that's always a hot topic on the message boards: Stop the Series! Explore how authors and readers feel about this heated topic and learn which series have been voted off the island, to borrow a phrase from Survivor.
Speaking of voted off ... in this issue we announce the winner of our American Title IV contest sponsored by RT and Dorchester. The winner, Helen Scott Taylor, is our first from overseas. We were thrilled to meet her and her lovely daughter at the RT convention. The cover for Helen's novel, THE MAGIC KNOT, was unveiled at the RT Awards luncheon.
You may have noticed that we announced in the June issue that the American Title contest would be ending. However, due to popular demand, we talked Dorchester into sponsoring the contest for another year so the AMERICAN TITLE COMPETITION WILL CONTINUE. Dorchester is currently accepting submissions so polish your manuscripts. To enter, send the first three chapters (no more than 50 pages), a two- to seven-page synopsis and a cover letter (aka query letter) to American Title Contest, Dorchester Publishing, 200 Madison Ave., Suite 2000, N.Y., NY 10016
. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 15, 2008. For American Title V anything goes: historical, paranormal, time-travel, futuristic, romantic suspense, romantic urban fantasy. The only thing we're *not* looking for are straight contemporaries, young adult or women's fiction. Your manuscript must be completed prior to entering and run between 80,000-90,000 words. Finalists must agree to participate in each of the five competition rounds and must submit copy for ALL five categories by August 15, 2008.
Our lead clubhouse this month is on Jacqueline Carey who candidly tells all about the future of her much acclaimed Kushiel series. She almost made it to this year's convention and we will try our best to get her to come to Orlando in 2009. I know fans would love to meet her.
The July issue is well underway and Roxanne St. Claire is our cover story promoting her latest romantic suspense in her Bullet Catcher series, THEN YOU HIDE. Roxanne reveals how she is not a big fan of series, which is why all of her books are stand alone although they do have a common thread.
In the last year or so we've heard of more and more authors who are mentors for aspiring writers and new authors so we have rounded up some of the big names to tell us how it's done in a fun and informative feature.
Our big interview for July is with suspense author Lisa Gardner and we asked Allison Brennan, a fast rising star of the genre, to conduct it. Allison was thrilled because she is a huge fan of Lisa's work.
Enjoy the new issue. Happy Reading & Happy Spring!
Carol Stacy
Publisher
Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine
Contact Info
Recap of the 2008 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention
What a time we had. From the Wednesday workshops to the All Romance e-Books Afternoon Break to the spectacular E-Book, Independent Publisher & Multimedia Expo where a thousand people showed up to meet the publishers and the authors. Later that night Ellora's Cave put on a wonderful party, which was preceded by a show starring their Cave Men. All 125-plus EC authors were introduced and then it was dancing 'til dawn.
Thursday's events began with our 25th Anniversary Welcome Mixer where Bertrice Small, Heather Graham and Kensington's editorial director Kate Duffy honored Romantic Times and Kathryn Falk for their contribution to the women's fiction industry. Helen A. Rosburg's luncheon was thrilling. The tables were set with a Mexican motif and had beautiful themed centerpieces, which were given away to one lucky person at each table. The show, which featured actors performing a scene from Helen's August book BLAZE OF LIGHTNING, ROAR OF THUNDER, was mesmerizing. An actual gallows was set up on the stage and Helen's beautiful daughter Ali
played the part of the Indian/Mexican heroine Blaze who was hung. Helen had an illusionist stage the hanging so it was quite dramatic when the floor of the gallows opened and body dropped. The hero Bane (portrayed by Mr. Romance 2007 Jason Santiago) rescued Blaze and we were left with the cliffhanger -- does Blaze survive or not? And of course everyone wants to read the book to find out.
MaryJanice Davidson, Michele Bardsley and Dakota Cassidy sponsored a lovely Evening Temptation Mixer where fans received lots of giveaways and one-on-one time with the authors.
Thursday evening was the magical Faery Ball and the events staff transformed the ballroom into an Under the Sea Fantasy. Photos will be posted on our website soon. The stage had a 40-foot backdrop with an underwater Atlantis-like background that added to the illusion of being underwater. The lights, decorations and centerpieces all added to the ambience making it shimmer like an underwater celebration.
Christine Feehan's after hours Speakeasy party, which started at midnight, was a huge hit. Besides Texas Hold 'em tables, it was a perfect cap to an evening for socializing and winding down. Christine brought members of her family, including her handsome, light-footed son Brian known at our event for his ballroom dancing and her lovely daughter Domini who helps plan her mom's events.
Jacquelyn Frank hosted an "eye-opening" Stud Muffin Morning Mixer on Friday where she was surrounded by her books -- and many cover models. She also gave away lots of prizes. Readers were thrilled.
The Awards luncheon was wonderful as we honored 19 authors who began their careers in the 1980s or earlier. From Roberta Gellis to Bertrice Small to Janelle Taylor to Mary Jo Putney, Mary Balogh and Patricia Rice to name a few. We honored then with a PowerPoint presentation that included many older book covers. Each author also received a stunning crystal award designating her as one of the "Pioneers of Romance". An introduction summarizing their illustrious careers was prepared and read by RT Editors Elissa Petruzzi and Stephanie Klose, which the audience enjoyed. Then the Romantic Times Career Achievement and Reviewers' Choice Awards were given out to the authors in attendance.
Renee Bernard and Robin Schone hosted their second annual R & R Soiree where port wine and dark chocolate slivers were served, while champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries made their way around the room by white-gloved servers. What a class act!
Helen A. Rosburg joined Heather Graham in hosting this year's Vampire Ball and it was the most colorful one yet. The costumes were to die for! Unfortunately the public address system could not handle the sound so it was difficult to hear the skit but the visuals made up for it as we all watched the show on stage and on the jumbo screens. A live band called The Impalers was brought in from New Orleans to perform, and they were amazing! Everyone danced the night away.
Saturday morning began with a bang as the Mystery Chix and a Private Dix threw one helluva morning mixer hosted by the fun group: Lori Andrews, Lori Avocato, Lillian Stewart Carl, Toni McGee Causey, Carole Nelson Douglas, Shane Gericke, Lois Greiman, Sandra Hill, Roberta Isleib, Harley Jane Kozak, CJ Lyons, Nancy Martin and Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Then it was onto the Book Fair where 350 authors were there to meet fans and sign books. The room stayed packed for the three-hour event that delighted the authors and the fans.
The SOS America, Inc. mixer followed the Book Fair and was our best ever. Bertrice Small's husband George was dubbed Mr. Romance of 1944 - and when he appeared in his WW II uniform, the crowd went wild. Between the Sheets raised more than $1000 and it was much appreciated. One of the attending officers in uniform, a chaplain, is expected to spend the Christmas holidays at Kathryn Falk's retreat in Alvin, Texas when he returns from Iraq in December. This year's organizer, Kim Lowe, is planning to expand the event next year, as several bases in Florida have asked to participate. Fabio's
heartfelt speech at our SOS Military Mixer was much appreciated. It even aired on YouTube after the convention.
The 2008 Mr. Romance Competition was a lot of fun as usual and the winner is Chris Winters from Portsmouth, VA. First runner-up is Fred Williams, a fan favorite from St. Louis and James Gaskin from Hilo, Hawaii was the second runner-up. John Fish -- affectionately dubbed "Big John" as he stands 6' 3" and has a chest size of 54 inches!-- walked away with the Reader's Choice and the Contestants' Choice awards making him the most popular of the group.
Following Mr. Romance was the highly anticipated Cover Model Reunion Dinner where nearly 200 people paid to have dinner with Fabio and actor Adrian Paul. Diane Duff and Kelli Salkin hosted a wonderful event, which brought back many of our former Mr. Romance winners including David Allan Johnson, John DeSalvo, Mark Johnson, Andrei Claude, Jason Santiago, Ryan Storm, and such favorite past contestants as Sly Bowden, CJ Hollenbach, Lance Taubold
and others. The attendees enjoyed meeting and posing for photos with one of the guests of honor -- the very gracious Fabio. A huge round of applause rang out for Adrian Paul, who was witty and charming, recounting anecdotes and also happily posing and signing autographs. We've invited Adrian to next year's post-pageant dinner, entitled the Highland Fling.
Directly following the reunion dinner was Dorchester's annual dance party and this year is was all about the shoes -- and boots! Prizes were given out for the best, craziest and most creative. It was a blast. The rock group The Impalers were back with more rockin' music and everyone danced the night away!
Sunday started with Samhain's Sayonara morning mixer where dumplings and spring rolls were served along with lots of giveaways including a handy throw blanket that rolled into a convenient carry on perfect for travel.
Psychic Sunday was huge this year and we have already had request to mainstream it into the general program, which we will consider.
At twilight the dwindling group snuggled up on sofas and pillows for some R & R and watched romantic movies -- the perfect ending to a most enjoyable five-day event.
A huge thank you to The Rebels of Romance, Marianne Mancusi and Liz Maverick and producer Morgan Doremus, for providing daily video blogs of the RT convention. More to come so stay tuned! Also thanks to Nicole who scheduled several guest author blogs throughout the five-day event.
Anyone who has convention photos they would like to share can post links to the photos on our convention message board.
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