Romantic Times BOOKreviews

An Education in Books

2008-06-30T13:57:00.001-04:00

A couple of years ago, I was a member of a book-of-the-month club. One book I got during that time was called THE WELL-EDUCATED MIND by Susan Wise Bauer. I recently, finally, picked it up again.

The subtitle on the book is "A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had." Specifically, it refers to an education in literature and how to interpret and think logically about what you have read.

I don't know about you guys, but my education didn't include the classics like it did for some people. I was that kid in the back row of the class, reading Stephen King or romance novels while everyone else was reading SILAS MARNER. I didn't read much of the assigned reading, and when I did, I mostly skimmed through it. And my college experience was abbreviated, at best.

However, I have always felt this lack and I found the concept of Ms. Bauer's book to be interesting. Each chapter includes theory, history and exercises for critical thinking, along with book descriptions and reading lists.

Despite feeling like my brain is a mite sluggish (therefore causing me to have to reread paragraphs a couple times to make sure I get the point), the book is pretty well organized and easy to digest.

Ms. Bauer suggests setting a few times to a week to read and study, concentrating on learning the subject matter. She specifically suggests the morning for this, but anyone who knows me knows I don't do mornings.

For those who have wanted to brush up on their classic literature, this book is a wonderful source. Whether you went to a university or the college of life, this book can help you with finding classics to explore as well as the skills needed to appreciate them. Even if you aren't a fan of school, this might be just the ticket for you, as it allows you to move at your own pace and pick the books you are going to learn about.

Nicole

RT BOOKreviews August 08 Issue

2008-06-24T13:36:00.001-04:00

August 08 issue book titles and ratings are now up on the site. Magazine subscribers have access to reviews online. Non subscribers can access August issue reviews on September 1st.

Go to "Current Issue" page and use "Book Reviews" drop down menu or see below.

RT Top Picks
Chick Lit
Contemporary Romance
E-books
Erotica
Fantasy
Historical
Inspirational
Mainstream Fiction
Mystery
Paranormal Romance
Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction
Series
Young Adult
All Titles

Start/renew your subscription or order current issue.

How Many Have You Read?

2008-06-23T16:48:00.004-04:00

There is a book I have seen loitering around the various tables at the bookstore called 1001 BOOKS YOU MUST READ BEFORE YOU DIE. This isn't the type of book I would normally buy, but it is one of interest. Everyone had a different outlook on what is required reading and what is not.

When I saw that some bloggers were checking off what books they had read from the list, I thought it was a good idea to see where I stood.

I have read or attempted to read approximately 95 of the books on the list. Not sure what this says about me or the list itself. I did note a few things about this list of books, though.

- It's definitely biased towards American and European literature. Very little from anywhere else.

- Heavily focused on early to mid-1900s. But then, it usually takes time for a book to evolve into a classic.

- No Shakespeare? Really?

- I have read books by many of the authors on the list, just not necessarily the ones listed there.

- A lot of the books mentioned are school reading books. However, my education skipped forward right as many of these books became standard fare. Therefore there are many classics on here that most people read in school, but I didn't. Of course, that's also partially because when I was supposed to be reading the assigned books, I was often reading Stephen King or the like.

I like the idea of the book and I think it's a great resource for people looking to expand their literary knowledge or find something new to read. However, I do think you should also look beyond this list to further your literacy.

And, if you haven't read many books on the list, that's okay, too. It's reading that's important, not whether it's a "classic".

Nicole

Watch Interview With Author Eric Jerome Dickey

2008-06-23T16:12:00.003-04:00

Short-Term Literary Relationships

2008-06-17T13:28:00.001-04:00

I don't just read a lot of books, I also read several magazines. Years ago I got weaseled into subscribing to a bunch of magazines through a service. Since then I have continued to have around 5 magazines coming in at any given time. Having read lots of types of magazines, I thought I would share some of my favorites with you.

Besides Romantic Times, of course, I also love...

SEED - Seed is a science magazine unlike any I have ever seen. The articles aren't above your head like the trade magazines are but they aren't dumbed down like some you might find in other science-related magazines for the masses. The layout is very reader-friendly, also. But the best part is the pictures. The photos in this magazine are so beautiful you want to frame them and put them on the wall. It's not just readable (and the book review section feeds my Amazon wish list each month), it's gorgeously put together.

ALLURE - This may seem a shallow magazine, but I have read some fascinating articles between those pages. The articles focus on in-depth looks into things like the history of perfume, what actually goes into an eye shadow, what lipstick can mean to a woman. They are very well-written and fascinating.

GLIMMER TRAIN - This literary journal contains wonderful short stories. In fact, in the most recent edition of BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES, they contributed the most entries. It's a quarterly magazine, but I look forward to each and I savor them when they come in.

I also read ELLE (also contains some incredible articles), GLAMOUR (the interviews are some of the best around) and SELF (a well-rounded look at wellness and health). I miss PREMIERE, a monthly entertainment magazine that went under last year, but sometimes ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY makes up for it - especially now that Michael Ausiello of TV GUIDE fame has joined their ranks.

Books are wonderful long-term friends, but magazines are great for acquaintances, too.

Nicole

NYC Event: Meet Liz Tuccillo, Writer From "Sex and the City"

2008-06-13T13:31:00.005-04:00

"'Sex and the City' writer and co-author of HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, Liz Tuccillo presents her new novel with fellow writers from the series--just weeks after the release of the movie spin-off. Fans of the beloved TV show will not want to miss the chance to get up-close-and-personal with four of the writers as they dish about the latest installment. Special guests: Amy B. Harris, Elisa Zuritsky and Julie Rottenberg (all Sex and the City Writers)"

Word for Word Author Series: Liz Tuccillo Writer from Sex and the City
Wednesday, June 18, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Bryant Park Reading Room

ARC Giveaway: DELICIOUS by Sherry Thomas

2008-06-11T15:01:00.000-04:00

Enter to win ARCs of DELICIOUS by Sherry Thomas!

A Bit of Book and Movie Randomness

2008-06-11T12:48:00.000-04:00

Read another book that I found at the RT convention this year. I was running around, collecting books, and stumbled on a friend of mine at an author's table. She hands me a book and says, "I think you really like this." I read over the back, added the book to my pile and last week, I finally read it.

I enjoyed THE DEVIL INSIDE by Jenna Black very much. I was intrigued by the premise (an exorcist who gets possessed) and the story was very well done. I especially liked how the author discussed a character's fetish in unbiased terms, while demonstrating how much her main character hates it. It was an interesting contradiction that was handled masterfully. I already have her next book on order.

Other information that has come my way recently...

Joining Stephen King's Gunslinger series, Marvel is adapting THE STAND into a comic series. The first one comes out in September of this year. Having seen the beautiful work Marvel has done on the Gunslinger comics, I can't wait to see how THE STAND is treated.

The well-known children's series, R.L. Stine's Goosebumps, is being adapted for the big screen. This should make both parents with young children and nostalgic grown ups very happy.

I am always looking for some sort of database management system for keeping track of my books. I have tried Access, Excel, online systems like Shelfari and Librarything, but haven't found one that I have stuck with for more than a couple dozen of my books. A friend of mine can't stop raving about Bookpedia. He loves the Amazon detail integration, the book cover snapshots and how he can keep track of when he read the book as well as a rating system. Might have to try it soon.

Nicole

Video Interviews With Author Heather Graham

2008-06-11T10:32:00.003-04:00

An Interesting Study

2008-06-02T14:01:00.002-04:00

Before walking into the RT Convention's Book Fair this year, I had promised myself I would not buy any books. I know, I know. Instead, I would gather the names of the authors and the titles of the books that interested me and I would add them to my list of books to buy. Of course, this did not happen. I had so many books in my hands within a short period of time that I finally just could not pick up anymore.

I got to one table with beautiful books on it. The first title intrigued me - POISON STUDY. There were two others, MAGIC STUDY and FIRE STUDY. I spoke briefly with the author, a lovely lady named Maria V. Snyder. I explained that I would love to read her books but I just couldn't justify any more purchases that day. I grabbed one of her cards featuring the books on it, and she very kindly signed it for me.

I got home and immediately ordered the first book. Once it came in, I started reading it right away. I was 50 pages away from the end when I ordered the other two books.

All three books are fascinating. The mythology, while complicated, is also easy to understand. And as the titles suggest, the books each focus on a specific type of education the main character, Yelena Saltana, experiences.

Yelena is about to be executed for murder, when she is offered a choice: hang for her crime or become the food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Choosing to become the food taster, Yelena becomes the student of Valek, the Commander's chief of security. POISON STUDY is a fantastic story with action, world-building, romance, and of course, poison.

I don't want to give away what happens after that, but MAGIC STUDY and FIRE STUDY continue all the wonderful elements of the first book while exploring new plot devices. The characters continue to be interesting and yet real, the challenges are intriguing and the action never flags.

I am hoping there's a continuation of this series. Either way, I will be on the lookout for more from Ms. Snyder. And I have learned my lesson - I won't put a limit on what I can buy at next year's RT. Who knows what I might have missed?

Nicole

Starting the Summer Off Right

2008-05-29T12:27:00.000-04:00

I read a whole mess of fun, fluffy books recently.

First, I read THE EX-DEBUTANTE by Linda Francis Lee. This book mysteriously landed on my desk a month or two ago. I was in the mood for something a little lighter than some of my usual fare, so I picked it up. I enjoyed the story about a former Texas debutante who returns to her hometown to help with her mother's divorce, throw together a doomed debutante ball and avoid falling into the arms of her first love. The writing was a little hard to take at time (random use of gimmicks distracted from the story), but overall, I had fun reading it.

Continuing the debutante theme, I read the first book of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries by Susan McBride, BLUE BLOOD. Ms. McBride had visited the writing seminar taught by Bobbi Smith at last year's RT Convention. Ever since then I had wanted to read her books. This one is about a not-quite-debutante who goes undercover at a Hooters-esque restaurant in an attempt to find out who really killed its owner. I am looking forward to reading more of the series.

I also read REMEMBER ME? by one of my favorite chick-lit authors, Sophie Kinsella. If you are a fan of the show Samantha Who? you might also enjoy this story about a woman who wakes up to find she can't remember the last 3 years of her life. At once funny and thought-provoking, it's an interesting take on amnesia and its effects on both the person who forgets and the people in her life.

And finally, I read a book I had wanted to read since this year's RT. One of the books featured in the Mr. Romance competition was WEDDINGS CAN BE MURDER by Christie Craig and I had been wanting to read it ever since. I was thrilled when it came in last week and immediately started reading it. This was probably my favorite of the above books. It was funny, charming and very real.

If you are looking for some good beach reads (or some sitting-at-the-doctor's-office reads) check out some of these books.

Nicole

RT BOOKreviews July 08 Issue

2008-05-29T11:21:00.001-04:00

July 08 issue book titles and ratings are now up on the site. Magazine subscribers have access to reviews online. Non subscribers can access July issue reviews on August 1st.

Go to "Current Issue" page and use "Book Reviews" drop down menu or see below.

RT Top Picks
Chick Lit
Contemporary Romance
E-books
Erotica
Fantasy
Historical
Inspirational
Mainstream Fiction
Mystery
Paranormal Romance
Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction
Series
Young Adult
All Titles

Start/renew your subscription or order current issue.

Download TOUCH OF EVIL by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp

2008-05-23T12:31:00.000-04:00

Register for Tor's e-mail newsletter to receive links to download free books and wallpapers from bestselling and award-winning SF and fantasy authors and artists weekly.

This week's free download is TOUCH OF EVIL by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp.

Sneak Peek and Free Access to Julia Quinn's Books

2008-05-23T10:58:00.004-04:00

Special Offer From Avon Romance:

THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM by Julia Quinn doesn't go on sale until 5/27/08, but you can start reading it online now.

And read THE DUKE AND I in its entirety for free, for a limited time only. Start reading!

Books and the Big Screen

2008-05-20T13:39:00.014-04:00

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS and TWILIGHT. What do these two books have in common?

Both are going to be major motion pictures released at the end of the year or early 2009 and both have come to my attention recently. Beyond that, they couldn't be more different.

TWILIGHT is one of those young adult stories that gets the grown ups excited, too. Everywhere I go, I see table displays of Stephanie Meyer's books (including her new adult release, THE HOST), posters for the movie and as of this week, the trailer. It's a paranormal thriller about vampires, love and high school. The movie is scheduled for a December 12 release.

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS is a completely different animal. A remarkable true love story set in Texas about a man, Steven Russell, who falls in love with his cellmate, Philip Morris. When Morris is released from prison, Russell breaks out several times to be with him.

I read MORRIS shortly after it came out in 2003. It's sweet, charming and funny, despite some pretty sad elements (they were in prison for a reason). The movie stars Jim Carrey and Ewan MacGregor and comes out early next year.

Some other movies coming out this year based on books are:

• THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2, Ann Brashares, August 8th (http://sisterhoodofthetravelingpants2.warnerbros.com/)

• NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, Nicholas Sparks, September 12th (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0956038/)

• BLINDNESS, Jose Saramago, September 26th (http://www.blindness-themovie.com)

• HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo, October 24th (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001508/)

• QUANTUM OF SOLACE (007), Ian Fleming, November 7th (http://www.007.com)

• HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, J.K. Rowling, November 21st (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/)

• THE ROAD, Cormac McCarthy, November 28th (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/)

• THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, Audrey Niffenegger, December 25th (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452694/)

• MARLEY AND ME, John Grogan, December 26th (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822832/)

I am not usually that big on big screen adaptations (or even little screen). But I am looking forward to quite a few of the ones listed above. Are you? Sound off in the comments.

Nicole

Move Over Jason Bourne - I Want Jordan Sandor

2008-05-12T14:46:00.000-04:00

I don't care for the Bourne movies a whole lot, though I admit to being biased since I also just don't believe Matt Damon as an action hero. But I do love spy movies, action stories and political thrillers.

So I approached THE PORTOFINO DECEPTION by Jeffrey S. Stephens with mixed feelings. But I was pleasantly surprised to find I not only enjoyed the book, but also liked the character of Jordan Sandor.

Sandor is a former CIA agent turned journalist who stumbled upon a shooting while on his way to meet a source a friend of his set him up with. The friend gets injured, as well as a police officer at the scene. But little of this is coincidence and as Sandor begins to look into what happened, we learn there's a lot more involved than just bad timing.

Sandor uncovers an international plot being masterminded by a former colleague turned traitor. The book touches on Homeland Security, terror fears and military operations. But there is humor and a very human kindness, too.

I only had a couple of small problems with the book. Stephens alternated between the main character's first and last name a lot, making it confusing, particularly when done in the same paragraph. And, the bad guy talks too much at the end - spilling his guts - which I just have a hard time believing would ever happen.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed it and hope to read some more about Jordan Sandor.

Nicole

Friends and Authors

2008-05-05T14:02:00.002-04:00

My mom hates reading celebrity gossip. She has learned that sometimes reading about the antics of famous people can affect how she appreciates their work. For instance, she can no longer watch Tom Cruise movies - even ones she liked. I know I have a harder time watching Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap, and she was just a kid then!

Meeting authors can have a similar effect. Not that I have met authors that I didn't like as a person; every author I have gotten to know has been very sweet. But as I have mentioned before, sometimes reading an author's book after getting to know them can be a bit awkward. Especially if they write detailed sex scenes.

However, I set aside that potential awkwardness and read S.J. Willing's POSEIDON VII this week. I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew that S.J. is a very sweet man with a ready smile and a sense of humor. But I didn't know if I would like his book as much as I liked his silly ties. I was lucky, though, in that I did enjoy the book.

It's a futuristic romance. The action and science remind me of Isaac Asimov, and the romance is completely believable. The characters act and think like humans, not just characters reacting to the whim of the author. And I was interested throughout the book to see what happened. In fact, the sub-romance involving characters who are enemies of each other is intriguing and I hope to read that story in a future book.

I know now not to let a personal knowledge of the author affect my enjoyment of their work. I have other friends who are authors and I have been a bit reluctant to read their books because I thought I would feel bad if I didn't like them, but now I will give those stories a chance, too.

Nicole

Brenda Novak's Auction for Diabetes Research

2008-05-01T12:30:00.000-04:00

Brenda Novak's 4th Annual On-line Auction for Diabetes Research has begun. The first $150,000 in auction proceeds will go the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the balance will go to the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami. Among the items you can bid on are:

* A weekend in paradise at Susan Wiggs' guest house in Bainbridge Island, Washington
* African safari for two
* Amazon Kindle
* An amazing flying getaway
* Lunch with Debbie Macomber and the radio personality Delilah in Port Orchard, WA
* 6-day Hawaiian vacation package
* Month of mentoring from NYTimes bestselling author Carla Neggers
* Evaluation of an entire manuscript--and a response in 1 week--by editor Kate Duffy at Kensington

And much much more! Don't miss it.

Guest Blogger: David Alan Johnson

2008-04-30T11:34:00.001-04:00

Over the ten years I spent in the entertainment industry I've been lucky enough to have many great experiences in some beautiful, and not so beautiful, but fun places! It all began with the RT Convention in San Diego in '93. It seems very fitting and brings me much joy that I find myself back at the beginning, in Pittsburgh for the '08 RT Convention. The warmth and kindness you gave me upon coming back was very special. Seeing people I haven't seen in many years, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. I think it was Mark Johnson that said, "We're like a family". I really believe that to be true. Out of all the things I've done in the past 15 years however big or small I must thank all you people that attend the conventions and support the genre you love so much. You've helped me learn more about myself by trusting enough to share your dreams, desires, laughter and friendships over this long adventure we call life. I hope I've helped in some small way to inspire, encourage, laugh with or support the many people I've spoken to over these years. I used to believe years ago that I needed a stage, an event or some special means to connect to the masses. Some type of forum to help change peoples lives. Over the years I now realize it's the intimate moments spent listening and sharing that matters the most. We are all connected and I couldn't have the laughter or the joy without your participation. Together we create the moments and the memories.

I thank you all,

David Alan Johnson
Mr. Romance 1993

The Line Between Romance and Science Fiction

2008-04-28T12:52:00.002-04:00

As a teenager, I didn't really read a lot of science-fiction or fantasy. I hated to read books that had so many made up names and words that I would have to reread a sentence twice just to make sense of everything.

There were exceptions to this rule - I loved Isaac Asimov, David Brin and Philip Jose Farmer. The Riverworld series was one of the first sci-fi/fantasy series I read multiple times. I still can't hear the word "grail" without picturing elements of Riverworld.

While at the bookstore this past February, I happened to glance over and I saw a new Philip Jose Farmer book called STRANGE RELATIONS. If you are a fan of his, you know that this is actually the name of a previously released short story. That short story is included in this volume, along with Flesh and The Lovers.

So far, I have read The Lovers and Flesh. These are two very erotic, romantic and creepy sci-fi stories. Apparently when The Lovers was first released in the 1960s, this story pushed the envelope on what was sexually appropriate.

The Lovers tells the tale of Hal Yarrow, a linguist from Earth a thousand years from now. All the worries we have now - scarce resources, overpopulation, world wars and increasing violations of privacy - have created the world Hal lives in. He volunteers for a mission to a far off planet that might be a candidate for colonization. The rest of the spaceship plans to kill off all the inhabitants and then come back and settle in.

But Hal falls in love with a descendent from some of the original settlers. He keeps her secret, risks his life for her, and in return, he learns about love and sexual pleasure.

While not graphic in its descriptions, it is still a very beautiful and erotic tale of love and sexual awakening. The fact that the male is the one with the awakening makes it that much more interesting. The twist at the end does not make it any less romantic, but does up the creepy factor a bit.

The second story, Flesh, is a bit harder to explain. Due to a lack of resources and other calamities, Earth has returned to a simpler way of life - little in the way of electrical technology, wood is used sparingly and the family unit is of primary importance. When Peter Stagg returns from a space expedition that started 800 years before, Earthpeople mistake him for their Sungod, and force him into a sexual slavery that is both wonderful and horrible for him.

Farmer does such a wonderful job of combining the scientific elements of his fiction with a cautionary philosophy that resonates all the more because it was written 40 years ago. The love stories he incorporates don't feel like they are forced in, but are a natural progression of the thoughts and emotions of the characters.

I was thrilled to find more stories by Farmer to explore and I highly recommend them to those fans of futuristic romances. If you like Susan Kearney or Linnea Sinclair, you might like STRANGE RELATIONS, too.

Nicole

Guest Blogger: Sharon Sala

2008-04-25T11:52:00.002-04:00

Nicole: Tell us about your favorite reader moment from this year's convention.

Sharon: It's hard to pick a true favorite because my readers are like family to me. I share a very personal part of myself with people who read my stories, so I would have a hard time choosing one reader's comment over another's. However, I had a bookseller tell me something during the convention that made a tremendous impact on me. She told me that she'd been reading me since the very first book and had never ever been disappointed in anything with my name on it. That is a high compliment which I cherish. She added that, one reason she thought that was true was because I didn't keep writing the same stories. She said she felt that my skill in storytelling grew with each book I wrote, and that I wasn't afraid to change directions, even though I had reached a certain level of success with what I was already doing. She said, and I do agree with this, that to change is to grow, and the ability to grow with the genre is what keeps people in this business.

Nicole: What panels and events did you take part in?

Sharon: I was on a panel with Lori Wilde, Lori Foster, Ann Christopher and Christie Craig called CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE - Finding Fantasy In An Ordinary World. It was a great discussion on the "hooks" each of us use to create our stories. It's always interesting to me, and hopefully eye-opening to beginning writers, to find out that there is no "one" way to tell a story and that everyone has their own strengths to bring to it. We had great response and good questions from the audience members. Hopefully there were some hints we gave that will turn out to be helpful to each of them as they follow their own paths to being published.

Nicole: Who were you looking forward to seeing most while there?

Sharon: As always, it was to reconnect with the readers and booksellers, although this year was particularly special to me. I was notified that I'd won a Reviewer's Choice Award for the Best Paranormal Romantic Suspense for my book THE SURVIVORS. That book was particularly special to me because I was in the midst of writing it when Bobby, who was the love of my life and my childhood sweetheart, was diagnosed and then died from liver cancer. He died in our home, in my arms, and I wanted to die with him. The months preceding and then following his death were absolute agony for me. I couldn't think, let alone write. My publisher, Harlequin, and my editors, Leslie Wainger and Dianne Moggy, were wonderful. They gave me all the time I needed to turn the book in, even though that meant they had to pull it from their schedule and release it an entire year later. Even then, when I finally finished it months later, it was, like me, a mess. Leslie Wainger was the one who led me through the revisions and editing. Finally it became the story I'd meant it to be all along. I dedicated it to Bobby, too, so having it win in that category was bittersweet.

Nicole: Do you have a favorite Mr. Romance competitor?

Sharon: I have to say that John De Salvo would probably be my choice if I had to name one, but that's because he's been on so many of my earlier covers. He did a lot of the covers for my stories when I was still writing for Harper/Collins, which is now under the Avon imprint. And, those books have been some of my readers' favorites. The biggest would probably be a book I wrote called JACKSON RULE, but he was also on DREAMCATCHER, DEEP IN THE HEART, and several others. His work was outstanding on all of them, so I guess he wins my vote.

Nicole: What are your upcoming projects?

Sharon: My upcoming projects... hmmm... well, I have a book coming out in November of this year called BAD PENNY, which will be the last book in my female bounty hunter trilogy. That character, Cat Dupree, and her fellow bounty hunter, Wilson McKay, have turned out to be huge reader favorites, as they have mine. I also have an anthology with Janis Reams Hudson and Debra Cowan in the Silhouette Nocturne line that will be out in October. There's been some discussion regarding the title... ours got changed... but last I heard, I think the powers that be are calling it LIFE AFTER LIFE. And, I'm working on a book right now called THE WARRIOR, which will be a paranormal romantic suspense in the same vein as my most recent release, THE HEALER.

Nicole: Will you be attending the 2009 RT Convention in Orlando?

Nicole: I would like to say yes, but right now I don't plan that far ahead. My 88 year old Mother lives with me. She has no short term memory and some health issues that we deal with on a regular basis. Even though she can't remember to take her pills, or eat a meal (that's what I'm for) we still have a ball. We're together now just as we were when I was born - under one roof - one caring for the other. Only this time it's my turn to take care of her. She might not remember anything much, but she sure knows when it's getting close to the day for her beauty shop appointment and our "lunch date" afterward. That's the mark of a real woman. We might forget a lot of things, but we do remember when it's time to get our hair done and to go out to eat a meal someone else has fixed.

I do want to take this opportunity to tell everyone who took the time to stop and talk to me how much I enjoyed seeing you again. I'd been looking forward to coming for months because of the 25th anniversary of the Romantic Times convention. I have so much respect for Kathryn Falk and Carol Stacy. It was amazing to look back over the years and see how both the magazine and the convention has grown. I'm really glad I got to be a part of it.

Sharon Sala
http://romanceauthorspage.com/sharonsala

RT BOOKreviews June 08 Issue

2008-04-25T11:30:00.000-04:00

June 08 issue book titles and ratings are now up on the site. Magazine subscribers have access to reviews online. Non subscribers can access June issue reviews on July 1st.

Go to "Current Issue" page and use "Book Reviews" drop down menu or see below.

RT Top Picks
Chick Lit
Contemporary Romance
E-books
Erotica
Fantasy
Historical
Inspirational
Mainstream Fiction
Mystery
Paranormal Romance
Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction
Series
Young Adult
All Titles

Start/renew your subscription or order current issue.

An RT Exclusive Prequel Story by Brenda Novak

2008-04-24T15:20:00.001-04:00

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 RT is proud to present. Read Chapters 1 - 4 in June 08 issue of RT BOOKreviews and download the conclusion of the Last Stand prequel here.

American Title V

2008-04-24T12:34:00.003-04:00

From RT E-mail Newsletter:

"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.

The winner will receive a publishing contract with Dorchester."

*****************
AMERICAN TITLE FAQ ANSWERED BY DORCHESTER

What does "unpublished" mean?

Any author whose work has not been printed as a book may enter the contest. For example:

• If you have been e-published, you're eligible.

• If you have had short stories or anything under 30,000 words appear in a magazine or anthology, you would still be eligible.

• If you wrote a 45,000-word story that was published in print as a stand-alone book, you are not eligible for this contest.

What formatting should I use?

Dorchester does not have any formatting requirements other than that pages are typed, double-spaced, legible and unbound.

How long should the first three chapters be?

We request that the first three chapters not exceed 50 pages. If your book starts with a Prologue, please include that and then the first two chapters.

How do you calculate your word count?

If the manuscript is written in a standard font, our word count requirement generally means it will run about 340-400 pages. Your computer can help give you a rough estimate of what constitutes 80,000-90,000 words, but we won't be tallying them up exactly when the entries come in.

May I enter more than one title?
No. Before we have allowed multiple entries, but since you can only final for one, we now request that you send only one submission.