April 2003 Newsletter

Take note of all the new books out this month from our authors.  Prolific bunch, aren't they?  But if you are as greedy as I am when it comes to my favorite authors, they can never put out as many books as I would like. 

Spring has sprung in Oklahoma.  That means torrential rains here.  So far, I've been caught in two such "showers".  The last straw was yesterday when I was not only drenched from above in Sam's parking lot but also waded up to my ankles getting to the car.  Just call me the idiot who left her umbrella in the car. I know we really need the rain, but . . . sigh.

Our new site is a month old.  Should I whip out the cake and candles yet?  Well, maybe not.  A few areas are getting off to a slow start -- like the bulletin board/forum and the Add Your Recipe page.  I would love for you all to contribute to these areas of our site so maybe I just ought to add another incentive.  Sometime during the month of May, I will select one contributor who has posted to the bulletin board and another who has added a recipe (add a recipe and also be eligible to win the cutting board) and send them a free hardcover book.  The two books are: Deborah Smith's Sweet Hush and Jill Marie Landis' Magnolia Creek.

Sandi Price

http://www.theromanceauthorspage.com

I'd sure like to give away this darling kitchen cutting board.  All you have to do to enter is just add your favorite recipe to our Romance Cookbook and watch this page for more giveaways too. Click here and do it now.

And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to enter the contest for our gorgeous 10-pc. Watermelon Kitchen Set and win free books each month too.

Dear Friends, 

While many of you are heading outdoors and planting your gardens, I’ll be on tour, promoting my May hardcover, CHANGING HABITS, the story of three women who become nuns, then leave the convent. I'll be touring in Boston, Vero Beach, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City planting another kind of garden . . . a garden of readers. I have a love/hate relationship with tours. Little is more gratifying to me as a writer than to meet my readers. You are so terrific! It’s like getting a shot of Vitamin B-12 every time I get a chance to meet one of you.

The hate part is lugging around a suitcase from city to city — one that grows increasingly heavier because I have this silly addiction to books. I can’t be in a bookstore and not buy books. I need a twelve-step group--“Hello, my name is Debbie, and I buy books.” Even worse, I write them! I can’t join such a group. You can’t either -- I need you! In fact, we need one another.

In addition to my road trip, I’ll be doing a month long series of radio interviews. A list of the stations and times is posted on my website.

Listen in if you can -- I look so thin on radio! And if you want to read an excerpt of CHANGING HABITS, visit www.debbiemacomber.com.

Debbie Macomber 

Will there be a foal on Springwater Station, or has Cocoa eaten too many carrots?

Cocoa, my beautiful bay, is still holding out on us here at Springwater Station. I'm beginning to wonder if the little bugger isn't "with foal" but just plain fat!

I just returned from a great family reunion trip to Virginia, where I enjoyed getting together with a whole flock of family. I call them the Lost Tribe of Laels, though, of course, they really weren't lost, just misplaced. Getting to know them a little, and hearing tales of the forebearers, a lively lot to say the least, was a pure delight. Southern hospitality is unmatched, in my experience. How interesting to find out that, almost to a man (so to speak), we all sleep with one foot outside the covers. Must be from the old days, when we might have had to run from the revenuers!

I'm revising book two in my McKettrick Brothers series, SHOTGUN BRIDE, just now, and will soon be starting the third book, which I now call TOMBSTONE BRIDE. (The title is still in publishing limbo, and who knows what will emerge!) I'll make sure you hear about it in plenty of time.

I'm reading up a storm right now -- Emerson is a favorite, and Jean Houston's magnificent A MYTHIC LIFE is blowing my mind wide open. As for your reading, in May you'll be able to find the paperback version of my 2002 hardcover, THE LAST CHANCE CAFE, about a woman who fled for her life, and that of her daughters, and, while rebuilding her life, found love in an unexpected place. You'll find an excerpt on www.lindalaelmiller.com.

This talk of women rebuilding their lives reminds me that I'm putting together the final details for my 2003 round of Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women. Look for the rules and application on www.lindalaelmiller.com, to be posted soon. The deadline for this year's competition will be November 15. Again, I'll be awarding five $1000 scholarships. If you're wanting to improve your lot in life through education, you must apply!

Spring has come to the Station, and my roses are flourishing. There are so many reminders that life is precious. I'm grateful for every ray of sunshine, and, faithful readers, I'm grateful for you.


God bless,

Linda

--Wait! What am I saying? It's been raining off and on for days here. But you know what they say about April showers. My roses are blooming beautifully and the annuals I've planted are settling in nicely. All this rain has been wonderful for my garden and it's definitely looking like spring around here, even with all this rain. I'll have some new pictures of my garden up, so stop by my website and check it out.

I'm still floating on air from my RITA NOMINATION FOR TAMING BLACKHAWK. This is my seventh nomination for the Romance Writers of America's yearly contest (short contemporary category) and I'm just as excited as if it were my first. (All my babies are important to me, of course!) The winner will be announced this July at the RWA National Conference in New York. The ceremony rivals the Academy Awards, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this wonderful celebration of romance novels. Wish me luck!

My LUCKY WINNER FOR MY GIFT BASKET IS DANALYN EFRUS! Check out my website www.barbaramccauley.com to see the basket Danalyn won. After I e-mailed Danalyn with the news, she said, "I'm thrilled!" Me, too, Danalyn! I'll also be posting a picture of my next gift basket, which holds a bunny, carrot chocolates and a pretty flower pillar candle. Everyone who has signed my guest book is eligible (Danalyn has to wait another six months to be eligible again) So if you haven't signed my guest book, just take a minute and pop in. It's that easy! Gift basket winners are selected by my webmanager, Sandi Price.

I'd also like to invite you to come to my website and check out my next book coming out in May, WHERE THERE'S SMOKE... and read the excerpt.
 

Marilyn Puett, with WritersUnlimited says, "Once you start reading Emily and Shane's story, you won't be able to put it down until the smoke has cleared..." Thanks, Marilyn!

Best Wishes to All,
Barbara
 

Hello fellow readers,
 

Have I got news for you -- my newest novel, MY SECRET PROTECTOR, will be coming your way in June, just in time for vacation and beach reading.

For all of you who long for a getaway weekend, to promote MY SECRET PROTECTOR, I’m giving away a weekend at a luxurious bed and breakfast in a contest tailor made for those with romance in their hearts. (And guess what will be on the bed when the winner arrives? A copy of MY SECRET PROTECTOR to set the mood for romance!) So be sure to sign my guestbook on www.pambinder.com to be in the running for the prize.

Even if you don’t win this dream vacation, transport yourself to another time and place by reading MY SECRET PROTECTOR. This sequel to THE INSCRIPTION, winner of the Emerald City 2000 Keeper Award, and published by Pocket Books, continues the saga of a race of immortal warriors in the highlands of Scotland -- men and women destined to be heroes.

MY SECRET PROTECTOR tells the story of William MacAlpin, a courageous fire fighter and smoke jumper in the rugged backcountry of Montana. As a member of a dying breed of immortals sworn to protect the earth, William returns to 16th Century England to save a ruthless killer from changing history. The heroine, Isabel de Pinze, is a gifted painter and servant in Queen Mary’s court, and knows nothing about the existence of the Immortals or of the battle that rages between good and evil. She knows only that the man she sees being ambushed along the Thames River needs her help, and that his stolen kiss stirs her deepest longings. Soon, however, William discovers that his quest is linked to Isabel’s own amazing destiny, for he has fallen in love with the one woman who can destroy them all.

You’ll find MY SECRET PROTECTOR wherever paperback books are sold and an excerpt on my website. Good luck in the contest!
 

Hey y'all,

Just in case you don't know, that's Okie for hello. Spring is finally here. Sort of slipped upon me a bit like my age... knew it was coming, but still a bit surprised by how swiftly time flies. There's been a lot happening here in my world. I had two new books out in March - AMBER BY NIGHT, a Silhouette Desire, and WHIPPOORWILL a release from Loveland Press, both under the Sharon Sala name. In May, my new Dinah McCall book, THE PERFECT LIE, will be released from Mira. I want to tell all my readers that WHIPPOORWILL is not my usual story. It's neither contemporary nor a romantic suspense. In fact, it's a funny historical story set in the Kansas territories right before the Civil War. It's sort of a cross between the two movies Cat Ballou and The Hallelujah Trail. Think a bawdy Lonesome Dove with a lot of humor. I'm really excited about it and even if it is my 48th book to be released, I am anticipating it as much as I did my
first release.

On a personal note, this has been a really rough month for our family. My dear Auntie, who was my writing inspiration, was recently diagnosed with a third recurrence of cancer and has just faced her third bout of surgery in just over three years. This time the prognosis for getting well wasn't as positive as the other two times. We're taking this one day at a time and saying a lot of prayers.

Within days of this news, my niece's husband was killed on the job - crushed to death by a huge hydraulic lift. They were just enjoying the fruits of being new grandparents for the first time. The whole awful thing is heartbreaking and there are no words to describe the loss.

Then came Easter and a reminder to our family that while death parts us from loved ones, we always have the promise of seeing them again. And then there are the little ones who give meaning to our lives, renewing our faith as well as being symbols of the circle of life. After all the sadness, I could laugh again as I watched my 19 month old grandson hunting Easter Eggs for the first time. The joy and delight on his face as he
spied all the brightly colored eggs laying in the grass was second only to his elation when he learned that the deal was to put them in his little basket while all the goofy parents and grandparents filmed his "first Easter Egg hunt."

Enjoy your family and make peace with those with whom you are at odds.
Life is short and too sweet to waste.

Much love to all,
Sharon Sala

Steve and I will be in southern California from now until mid-July, when I fly to New York for the Romance Writers of America National Conference. But soon I’ll be out and about, promoting LOVER’S LANE, the first in my Twilight Cove Trilogy, out in hardcover from Ballantine in mid-June. If you’re on my mailing list, you’ll receive a postcard about the book soon. If you’re not, visit www.jillmarielandis.com and sign my guestbook, and I’ll send you one. By signing the guestbook, you’ll also be in the running to win a tray full of fun-in-the-sun goodies.
 

And while you’re visiting my website, check out the excerpt of LOVER’S LANE, which has just been posted.

California is not just a place, but a lifestyle and I’ve incorporated all the drama, sand, sun and surf into LOVER’S LANE, the first of three books set in a fictional town called Twilight Cove. It’s the kind of town where you know your neighbors, where lovers stroll along the bluff overlooking the sea and watch the dolphins play in the waves.

I just returned from a trip with my mom to romantic Charleston, South Carolina, where we visited the Nickless family – my aunt, uncle and cousins. Our sojourn included a stay on Edisto Island, which had plot lines spinning in my head. Although I’m putting the finishing touches on HEAT WAVE, the second book of my Twilight Cove Trilogy, and gearing up to write the final book of the series, HEARTBREAK HOTEL, I’m always looking for new locales and plots.
 

With lilacs, dogwood, and azaleas in bloom, I am reminded of a custom my grandmother introduced us to years ago. The May basket. Does anyone do this anymore, I wonder? We would wake up in the morning, and there on the doorstep would be a May basket full of spring flowers from Nana. What a wonderful way to start a day and a month! As children, we spread May baskets to our neighbors, as well. Please consider this message a cyber-May basket full of good wishes for a month of fragrant blossoms and balmy skies.

Another reason, as a child, that I loved May was because I have a May birthday right around Mother's Day, another favorite observance of mine. And this May I have yet another reason to celebrate–YOU'RE MY BABY (Harlequin Superromance, May 02) is a finalist for the Colorado Romance Writers' Award of Excellence contest in the long contemporary category, the winner to be announced in May.

Many of you will be involved in end-of-school rituals and graduations, but do take time to smell the flowers–and read some good books! Happy May Day!
 

April Book Giveaways

Dar Tomlinson - UNBREAK MY HEART
     Winner: Tiffany Howard, Belfast ME

Gayle Lynds - MOSAIC
     Winner: Kim Fail, Bunnlever, NC

Debbie Macomber - DARLING DAUGHTERS
     Winner: Sherry Haut, Judsonia, AR

Georgina Gentry - TO TAME A TEXAN
     Winner: Susan Marks, Woburn, MA

Linda Lael Miller - BRIDGET
     Winner: Tamara Leonard, Wakeforest, NC

May Book Giveaways
Enter to Win Books

Debbie Macomber - 204 ROSEWOOD LANE
Georgina Gentry - TO TAME A TEXAN
Linda Lael Miller - LAST CHANCE CAFE
Barbara McCauley - WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
Dar Tomlinson - UNBREAK MY HEART
Gayle Lynds - MOSAIC
Sharon Sala - Amber By Night

That's All for this month,
Sandi Price