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August 2003 Newsletter
Whew!!!!!
Congratulations to Debbie Macomber,
our resident celebrity! Debbie was awarded the Romance Writers of
America's prestigious RITA for THE CHRISTMAS BASKET. Way to go
Debbie! Read below for a lot more news on the 2003 RWA Conference in
New York.
At this writing, it looks like I may be
handing over the newsletter baton to my daughter next month. Kristen
is in her last semester of college and has expressed an interest in taking
over the reins from Mom. I think it is great!
Our household is really getting excited.
The first grandchild is due next month. We'll be introducing
Savannah Elizabeth Price hopefully in the October newsletter. I
can't wait to be a Grandma. And Auntie Kristen has gone ballistic.
Sandi Price
http://www.romanceauthorspage.com
 Back
home safe and sound from The Big Apple and just coming out of Conference
Coma. What an incredible city! I've been before but there's always
something new to see and experience. There just wasn't enough time this
trip to do even a little of what I would have liked. Now on to conference
info...
The RWA conference was amazing! The New York Hilton was truly beautiful. I
shared a fabulous suite with my roommates, Sandra Paul, Barbara Benedict
and Angie Ray. We laughed and ate and stayed up late every night, though I
admit I'm the wimp, going to bed between 1:30 and 3:30 am on different
nights. The awards ceremony on Saturday night was spectacular, with Eileen
Dreyer as our wonderfully funny host. I didn't come home with a RITA,
(Cindy Gerard took the lady home this year) but after seven nominations,
no one wants to hear me complain about it, darn it.
I do want to rave about the Harlequin Black and White Ball at the
Waldorf-Astoria (as seen in Coming to America) What a glamorous,
eye-popping evening, with great food, drinks and dancing. I received a pin
from the president of Harlequin, Donna Hayes, to honor my twenty-fifth
book I've written for them. I hope to have pictures up right away from the
party and from a few of my experiences at the conference, including a
luncheon with Melissa Jeglinski, the Senior Editor for the Desire Line.
Ten authors, including myself, that are part of DYNASTIES:DANFORTHS, (a
new Silhouette Desire continuity that starts in January with my book, THE
CINDERELLA SCANDAL) took Melissa out to lunch. We had a great time and got
to know each other a little better. What an incredibly nice group of
ladies. Check out the picture on my website...
All in all, New York was wonderful. But it's back to the real world now
and I'm chained to my computer for quite a while. I'll be updating my
website and as always, GIVING OUT FREE BOOKS! Check out the basket winners
on my website, and last month's book winners. I'm in a mood to give more
away, (I think five this month, at least!) so come visit me and sign my
guest book. I'll also be putting together a late summer basket, I think
with an Aloha theme. The lucky winner might be YOU!
Hope you're all having a great summer!
Barbara
Well, friends, while others were having a festive, productive time in New
York City at the Romance Writers of America conference, I was home serving
as the “hand” maiden for my husband. Not for me cozy chats with editors,
sightseeing, being feted by one and all. (Of course, also not for
me–tired, swollen feet, sleepless nights, butterflies cavorting in my
stomach, too much rich food.) My husband had surgery in early July to
correct a fairly common, increasingly pesky problem with his right hand
(his dominant one), so I did more than my usual share of pampering the man
in my life. Fortunately, I had just sent in the completed manuscript for
THE WRONG MAN (Harlequin Superromance, March ‘04) so I was able to devote
to him my full attention.
I also used this “vacation” to do lots of reading and daydreaming about my
next book ideas. From all reports the conference was wonderful and I’m
sorry I missed it and, especially, the reconnecting with friends, but just
wait. Dallas and Reno (sites of the next two conferences), here I come!
Laura Abbot
Hi
readers! I can't believe that the June Lover's Lane promotional tour in
the Southern California area is over and that I'm also actually back
from the Romance Writers of America National Conference in New York
City! Steve and I are furiously unpacking our city duds and grabbing the
swim suits, suntan lotion, and flip flops and getting set to head back
to Hawaii until September.
I've put the finishing touches on my next book, Heatwave. So many of you
have already emailed to ask if I'm doing Kat's story (she's Jake's
partner in Lover's Lane) that I have to break the cone of silence and
tell you that Heatwave does feature Kat as heroine. And, boy, does this
straight talking, no nonsense P.I. have one heck of a story to tell.
I've really turned up the heat in this one, and not only does it feature
Twilight Cove again, but the fast and furious streets of Los Angeles.
That's all I'm going to say for now!
Have a great August. Stay cool and keep in touch with me via the website
at www.jillmarielandis.com
so that you'll know all about the latest contest and winner news.
Aloha nui!
Jill Marie
Hey guys....
It's hotter than a two dollar pistol at a shooting range down here in
southeastern Oklahoma. My grass crunches when I walk on it. My swimming
pool has turned green. The puppy can't even be bothered to chew on the
cats any more, but chooses to sleep with them in the shade instead. And to
prove my superior intelligence, it wasn't hot enough here. I had to go and
book a flight to New York City to attend the national Romance Writers
convention. Oddly enough, it was cooler in NYC than here at home, which
says how screwed up the weather is right now.
I did enjoy going to the theater while in NY. Went to see Phantom of the
Opera. It was just magnificent. The music has always been one of my
favorites, but seeing it performed live was magic.
Travel, however, was not magic. I got to NYC but my luggage did not. It
arrived the next day. It was good that my roommate, Janis Reams Hudson,
and I have known each other for so many years. I was missing my nightgown,
as well as my clothes. She's a good sport. She just closed her eyes and
crawled into her own bed, although I swear I heard her snickering.
I've been trying to finish a manuscript for some time now, but too much
stuff has been going on with my family. My Auntie is enduring chemo for
colon cancer. The prognosis is not good, but I still take her to her chemo
treatments with hope in my heart. My mother is suffering from TMJ. (jaw
problems). I take her to her doctor knowing that she can be healed. My
daughter survived West Nile Virus, although I almost did not. That is the
sickest I've ever known her to be. Scared me to death.
Hmmm, I'm rereading this message and thinking that it would all be good
fodder for a soap opera. Maybe I'll call it The Edge of Madness... or Days
of my Dwindling Lives... or... or... I KNOW!! All My Aches and Pains and
the Doctors that sucked My Pocketbook Dry.
LOL
Have a happy August,
Sharon Sala
aka
Dinah McCall
Hope everyone's having a wonderful summer. My hubby Arron and I celebrated
our 40th wedding anniversary by taking our first "real" vacation in over
three years. We spent a magical ten days in Maui in a fabulous resort with
a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. For anyone who thinks a long term
marriage means the romance is over, I can assure you it's not. In fact it
gets better and better. Being in the most beautiful spot in the world
doesn't hurt either. Oh those sunrises and sunsets--sounds like a song
doesn't it? For those of you that know about my hiatus from writing caused
by my "aching back," the bad news is that my condition still isn't great.
The good news is that I was thrilled to get away and compensated for the
difficulties in traveling by luxuriating in the world renown Spa at the
Four Seasons.
Traveling from romance to grandchildren: Spencer turned seven on July 4th
and as usual we celebrated with a party and fireworks, Isabella "Bella"
turned three on July 26th causing us to also party and Haley is turning
four in September so we're getting ready to party again--loving every
chance to spend time together. Son-in-law Stuart scared us all with what
we thought was an appendicitis attack but turned out to be something right
next to it instead. For good measure they removed both and he's now on the
mend.
As for writing, I'm back at work on my fourth novel and want to thank all
of you for your encouragement during the last two difficult years. No
publishing date set in stone yet as I'm still not able to work full-time,
but I'm very grateful to be at it again. Also, I'm doing my pool therapy
three times a week and while I'm meditating I find my characters talking
to me and telling me more of their stories. Although I haven't been on the
road, I've participated locally in panels and seminars and its fun to be
with my author buddies again as well as heartwarming to be surrounded by
loyal readers and fans. I'll be donating books to be auctioned off in the
Romance Authors Newsletter so look for an announcement soon. That's all
for now. Take care. Love, Mimi
Hello
Everyone,
I hope you’re having an enjoyable summer. My tomatoes are looking good,
the peas and pole beans are up, but that isn’t the only thing that’s
growing around Port Orchard. I’ve decided to expand my office. (I have a
big announcement to make in September related to this expansion, but I’m
going to make you wait until next month before I share the news. Just
think Cedar Cove . . .
I’ll be away for the first part of August with my husband of nearly 35
years for a few days of R & R. Then it’s back to work on the fourth
Cedar Cove book, which is titled 44 Cranberry Point, and will be
published in September 2004.
Enjoy these last few dog days of summer, take time to bask in the sun,
and be sure to take a tall glass of iced tea with you and a good book .
. . preferably one of mine.
Warmest regards,
Debbie Macomber
P.S. From Debbie's publicist: Debbie is being modest. She isn't telling
you some big news, so I'll tell it for her. At the Romance Writers of
America National Conference in New York in July, Debbie was awarded a
RITA (romance publishing's "Oscar") for her 2002 novel, THE CHRISTMAS
BASKET. We're so proud of you, Debbie! You can read an excerpt of this
delightfully funny novel on
www.debbiemacomber.com, and watch soon for the excerpt of 311
Pelican Court, the third Cedar Cove book, which will be out in
September.
(Or maybe you should . . . Linda Lael Miller's 2003 Scholarship
applications are now on line!)
Linda Lael Miller's suspenseful new hardcover, DON'T LOOK NOW is a month
away from publication, but readers across the country will find her 2003
Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women applications and rules on line
now.
Again, Linda will be awarding $5000 in scholarships, the grants going to
women seeking to improve their lot in life through education. There might
be five $1000 scholarships, and there might be 10 $500 scholarships. It
all depends on what the applicants request, but the maximum for a single
grant will be $1000. If you've entered before and didn't win, now's the
time to enter again. And be sure to explain in your application what you
would do with the money and why the education is so important to you.
Linda is gearing up for her DON'T LOOK NOW book tour across the country
and hopes to meet you when she signs at a bookstore near you. She'll
e-mail everyone on her list her signing schedule, so if you haven't joined
Linda's e-list, do so now by visiting her guestbook at
www.lindalaelmiller.com and
filling out the form. And watch her website for an excerpt of DON'T LOOK
NOW, which will be posted very soon!
Sounds like a must-read to me!
Watch for
Linda's new book coming in September
DON'T LOOK NOW |
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All of you who wrote Deborah Smith after reading SWEET HUSH, sweetly
complaining that you hated to leave Hush McGillen down on the farm with
that sweet Nick, unmarried and all, take heart!
Deborah has listened to you, and she is delivering.
What she's delivering is another sweet visit with Hush and Nick, a
delightfully delicious short story tucked into the back of the paperback
edition of SWEET HUSH, to be published by Warner Books in January.
This time the apple gang is at the White House, and a wedding is in the
air. Once again, Hush and Edwina clash, and Hush harbors another secret,
even from Nick.
This is classic Deborah Smith fun. So pull out your future to-buy list and
jot down "January - SWEET HUSH. If you haven't treated yourself to SWEET
HUSH yet, visit www.deborahsmith.com
today and succumb to the pleasure.
Pam
Binder is delighted to announce the winner in her My Secret Protector Bed
& Breakfast Contest. The winner is (drum roll, please): Amanda Paige, of
Little Rock, Arkansas.
Congratulations, Amanda!
Pam was swamped with entries, both from her website and during the Romance
Writers of America National Conference in New York City. Paige entered via
Pam's website.
Those of you who read RTBookClub know that Pam is giving away a second Bed
& Breakfast weekend to any who mentioned the magazine in their comments
when they signed up to enter. That "RT" winner's name has been drawn, and
she has been sent an e-mail notification. She has until Friday, August 1
at 5 p.m. CDST to respond. However, when Pam's publicist notified the
winner via e-mail, she received back a notification that the winner had
put a block of some kind on her e-mail, and she must check her messages in
a certain way in order to read this one. So stay tuned. There could be
another drawing, and you might win!
The winners and the Bed & Breakfast Inns selected as their prizes will be
posted on Pam's website as soon as both winners are confirmed, so visit
www.pambinder.com.
Now Pam is gearing up for the Romantic Times Booklovers' Convention in
Kansas City, October 15-19. If you've never gone to an "RT" Convention,
you've missed one big party! The Convention closes with the Pam Binder
Pajama Party on Sunday, evening, October 19. Annually Pam hosts this party
and gives her guests a to-die-for sleepshirt. For more information, visit
http://www.rtbooklover.com/.
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Amanda Paige is the
lucky winner of Pam's Bed & Breakfast Weekend |
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August Book Winners |
Deborah Smith -
Sweet Hush
Ashley Gibson, Bryson City, NC
Jill Marie Landis -
Magnolia
Creek
Sharon
A Putnam, Springfield, VT
Debbie Macomber - Darling
Daughters
Debbee
Hernnadez-Russell, Huntsville, AR
Georgina Gentry - TO
TAME A TEXAN
Melissa Zeigafuse, Nazareth, PA
Linda Lael Miller -
LAST
CHANCE CAFE
Blanche
Nixon, Asheboro, NC
Barbara McCauley -
WHERE
THERE'S SMOKE
Pam
Hutchinson, Stoughton, MA
Dar Tomlinson -
UNBREAK MY HEART
Julie
Dang, Bensalem, PA
Gayle Lynds -
MOSAIC
Monica Guerra, Rosenberg,
TX That's All for this
month,
Sandi Price
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