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March 2004
Newsletter
Happy Leprechaun Day!
It looks like I just inherited the Romance Authors Page newsletter. But
that's OK because I really enjoy reading all of the author news before
anyone else gets it. Are you all ready for spring? I just went out to
the mailbox and was almost blown down the street. That's an Okie wind
for you. But when the winds blow this hard in Oklahoma, it means spring
isn't far away. I'm sure ready for nice weather. The new grandbaby
(actually my one and only niece) came for a visit this past weekend.
Wow! Babies are great, especially this one because she's the only niece
I have. But by the time she left (oh yes, my brother and his wife
accompanied the baby), I was exhausted. Spike was ready for them all to
be gone too. He was happy to get his house back (without the dreaded
Fisher, the dumb Sheltie). I could blather on and on but I know you'd
rather get to the meat of this newsletter, so here tis . . .
Kristen Price
 I've
got a wee bit o' the Irish in me and to honor my heritage, I'll just have to
GIVE AWAY FREE BOOKS! This month I'll be sending three copies of
THE
CINDERELLA SCANDAL, my January Desire, at the end of the month. If you haven't
already signed my guest book and you'd like to win one, please do so. If
you've already signed my guest book, you won't need to again--you're already
entered. So, the question is...Do you feel lucky? Let's hope so!
I just finished my next SECRETS! book, MISS PRUITT'S PRIVATE LIFE, a
Silhouette Desire and it was such a fun book to write. Marcy Pruitt needed a
man like Evan Carver to muss up her tidy life, and does he ever! Evan is
Jacob's brother from
THAT BLACKHAWK BRIDE, and my Secrets series continues in
Wolf River. Now I'm on to the book so many of you have been asking for--Dillon
Blackhawk's story. But more about this wounded hero later...
Almost time to start puttering in the garden. We've had a little warmup here
in California and my daffodils are already blooming. Roses are starting to
leaf and a few things I planted in fall are starting to come alive. Can't wait
to get my spring plants in the ground and pots. I'll put up pictures as things
get going here--if you haven't checked out my garden on my website, please
come visit my website and take a look.
I'll leave you all with this e-mail someone sent me, written hundreds of years
ago by the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tse:
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors,
If there is to be peace in between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart"
I wish you all peace and love.
Barbara McCauley
Howdy, y'all, from
down on the farm. Is anyone else tired of the cold weather and ready
for spring? The cattle are shivering on their hooves and the new baby
calves can't figure out what that white stuff is that keeps dropping
from the sky. Husband Ed has been feeding hay bales left and right and
the stockpile is almost gone. Hurry up, spring!!!!
As for writing, I'm pleased to announce that I have just finished up
the final edits and revisions for the new Harlequin American--Cupid
and the Cowboy, which will be out in Feb. 05. My next project will be
the proposal and sample chapters for another western historical that
is set in Dodge City, Ks. I'm really anxious to get started on it! I
also mailed off the final galleys for the upcoming historical, Texas
Bride, which will be released in July, 04. There will be a novella for
Harlequin's historical Christmas collection which will be out in
October and in Dec. this year, another historical, The Last Honest
Outlaw will be on the shelves. Here's hoping everyone will enjoy the
new books as much as I enjoy writing them.
Happy reading, y'all!
Connie Feddersen, Carol Finch, et al.
Dear
Friends,
I literally just got back – as in, last night – from a wonderful
mother-daughter trip to San Miguel de Allende, which is in central Mexico,
about three-and-a-half hours north of Mexico City, by car. My daughter, Wendy,
turned twenty-nine on the trip. We stayed at a fabulous bed-and-breakfast (www.casadelacuesta.com),
occupying the Roman Lopez Suite. All the rooms at la casa are dedicated to
famous Mexican folk artists, and the whole experience was magical.
Wendy and I were determined NOT to have an agenda – we didn't take a single
tour. Instead, after a leisurely breakfast most mornings with fascinating
people from all over the world, we walked to the Artisans' Market at the base
of the hill. We made lots of new friends and bought pottery and delightful
retablos, which are little scenes inside tin boxes. The place is a feast, if
you're into folk art. We took tons of pictures, and will post some on the
website at the first opportunity.
When I got home, the cover art for NEVER LOOK BACK, my August romantic
thriller hardcover, was waiting, and it is GORGEOUS. I am eagerly awaiting
same for SECONDHAND BRIDE, December's paperback release of the third
McKettrick story. On the writing docket now: McKETTRICK’S CHOICE, Holt's
story, which will come out sometime next year. Watch the website for details.
I've chosen my scholarship winners for this round – a bunch of great,
motivated ladies with a lot to offer the world. Soon we’ll post the winners’
names on www.lindalaelmiller.com
with information about these fabulous women. If you applied and weren't
chosen, do not despair. More scholarships are in the works.
Blessings to one and all.
Love,
Linda
Dear
Friends,
I’ve always had the luck of the Irish. The first evidence of that happened
when I was a high school freshman. I spent my lunch money to help my cousin,
David, who was selling raffle tickets to raise money for his school. That
dollar investment won me a side of beef—just what every high school student
longs for, right? Over the years I’ve seen plenty of evidence to confirm my
belief I’m a lucky sort of gal. Lucky in life and lucky in love. Of course,
the harder I worked, the luckier I got.
I’ve been working especially hard recently, pounding away on the computer
keyboard on my 2005 hardcover titled THE PATH NOT TAKEN. I’m not saying a word
about the plot, hoping that will whet your appetite. Until next year there are
a number of Debbie Macomber books in the pipeline to keep you entertained.
Speaking of being entertained, I’m feeling especially lucky . . . I think its
time for a trip to Vegas.
Have a great month.
Debbie Macomber
As you read this, we will be basking (I hope) in the Arizona sun. Last March,
while visiting my husband’s elderly, childless aunt in Tucson, he discovered
his usual March allergies here in Arkansas disappeared out there. In addition,
traditionally our biggest snows occur here in early March, so we decided to
try a bold experiment this year–renting a condo in Tucson for an entire month!
We are looking forward to enjoying the warmth and dry desert air–and the
visits of family members. Since we are both, by nature, homebodies, it will be
fun to see how we adapt to a new environment. Or . . . what if we like it too
well?
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THE WRONG MAN
Harlequin Superromance®
March 2004
ISBN 0-373-71191-3
$5.25 U.S. $6.25 CAN |
I’m also looking forward to spotting my March Harlequin Superromance,
THE
WRONG MAN, in Arizona bookstores, flying off the shelves, I hope. I’m a great
believer in the potential for change, so in this book I played with the idea
that even though a marriage was once doomed, would that necessarily mean the
death of love? Libby Cameron and Trent Baker weren’t ready for the realities
of partnership when they first married, and their problems led them to
divorce. Years later, however, Trent, now a widower with a seven-year-old
daughter, returns to northwest Montana and finds Libby again. Facing into his
own past mistakes and needing a mother for his daughter, he sets out to win
Libby back. But for her a big question looms–can she forgive him and trust
that he is, finally and forever, the right man?
Laura Abbot
As
her humorous new novel,
CHARMING GRACE, hit the stores in mid-February,
Deborah Smith got the news an author dreams about – a rave review from
Publishers Weekly and a starred review in Booklist. If you haven’t bought your
copy of CHARMING GRACE yet, drop in on
www.deborahsmith.com, where you’ll find an excerpt. This is that gem of a
book that will make you laugh out loud.
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CHARMING GRACE
Little, Brown
and Company
February 2004
ISBN 0-316-805874
$24.95 US / $36.95 CAN |
While you’re on Deborah’s website, be sure to sign up to receive her
newsletter. (Those who were on the list were treated recently to
CHARMING
GRACE excerpts e-mailed to them daily for a week!) There’s another delicious
reason to sign up now. Not only will you be in the contest pot to win a
gorgeous CHARMING GRACE necklace, you’ll be in the running for the March
prizes, which include free books and scrumptious fudge from Dahlonega,
Georgia’s own THE FUDGE FACTORY. This is the same fudge that Stone Senterra is
hooked on in CHARMING GRACE. If you’re lucky enough to win a box, you’ll know
why he’s hooked!
Deborah Smith
In
two short months, readers will be treated to not one but two Jill Marie Landis
stories. HEAT WAVE is a rich, big-book read and the second in her Twilight
Cove series for Ballantine Books that began with
LOVER’S LANE, which will be
published in May in paperback.
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HEAT WAVE
May 2004
Ballantine Hardcover
$19.95 U.S. $27.95 Can. |
In HEAT WAVE, Landis really turns up the heat with some steamy love
scenes. She captures the flavor and intensity of the fast-paced
California lifestyle and blends it with a return to Twilight Cove, the
small town setting of
LOVER'S LANE. Those of you who've read Jill
Marie know this former kindergarten teacher does little children
better than anyone in the business. In
HEAT WAVE, an irresistible
child tugs on your heartstrings. To read excerpts of both books, visit
www.jillmarielandis.com.
Watch Jill Marie's website for an exciting new contest. Think beach!
What's really neat about
HEAT WAVE is the blend of California and
Hawaii cultures, which are so much a part of Jill Marie Landis's life.
In fact, right now our Long Beach, California gal is in Hawaii with
husband, Steve, for a month, at their retreat on one of the outer
islands. Last time we chatted with Jill, the temperature was 83
degrees, and the skies gloriously clear and sunny.
Jill Marie Landis
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March Book Winners |
Paperback
Laura Abbot -
MY NAME IS NELL
Amy Smith, Manchester, KY
Linda Lael Miller -
SHOTGUN BRIDE
Tammy Congdon, Herkimer, NY
Georgina Gentry -
TO TAME A REBEL
Linda Lansford, Palatka, FL
Barbara McCauley -
CINDERELLA SCANDAL
Rita Phillips, Walker, LA
Debbie Macomber - NAVY BRAT
Susan Petrey, Westmoreland, TN
Hardcover (Autographed)
Deborah Smith -
CHARMING GRACE
Brenda Bailey, Conway, SC
Debbie Macomber -
SNOW
BRIDE
Diana Kohler, Wichita, KS
Linda Lael Miller -
DON'T LOOK KNOW
Lillie M. Young, Fort Wayne, IN
That's All for this month,
Kristen Price
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