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Our September issue has just shipped and it's full of books you will be clamoring for in early fall.
Christine Feehan has another Top Pick to add to her much beloved Dark series titled Dark Slayer and our reviewer says, "for Carpathian fans, this is a game-changing book that is packed with horrifying danger and unconditional love."
Jayne Castle, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, offers her latest in the Ghost Hunters series, Obsidian Prey, where she forges a link between this series and her Arcane Society books. It's another Top Pick for this master storyteller!
Roxanne St. Claire adds another winner to her Bullet Catcher series with Hunt Her Down, while Andrea Kane gives us her annual dose of thrills with her latest, Drawn in Blood.
Leading a slew of great historical romances for September is newcomer Tessa Dare, whose second book, Surrender of a Siren, received a 4 1/2 Top Pick, as did the latest titles from veteran authors Kasey Michaels and Susan Krinard (How to Tempt a Duke and
Lord of Sin, respectively).
If urban fantasy is your flavor, Patricia Briggs hits one out of the park with her second from the Alpha and Omega series, Hunting Ground. And if you are in the mood for something steamy be sure to check out Kimberly Kaye Terry's scorcher, The Sweet Spot, which our reviewer writes "pulsates with sensuality"!
Now that I've whetted your appetite for great books reviewed in the new issue, let me entice you further with some of the fabulous articles that await you, starting with one of my favorites, "Romance 101: Why Your Favorite Novels Are Worthy of College Study." This one is close to our hearts because it validates what we've always known -- that our books have intrinsic value!
RT Book Reviews Senior Editor Elissa Petruzzi did a super job putting this together, gathering information from several professors who have added the study of popular fiction and/or romance fiction to their curricula. RT's Executive Editor Faygie Levy also contributed to the article by interviewing Jayne Ann Krentz about how she explored this topic extensively in 1992 with the publication of Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women
. This compilation of essays from bestselling authors is a valuable resource for those who want to learn about the romance genre. A syllabus of novels used in various courses (most of which you have probably already read) is included as well as a few sample assignments demonstrating how genre fiction is used to reflect on and understand popular culture in modern society.
Also in the new issue is an interesting article that explores fiction set in the '20s and '30s and why it's not yet embraced in some genres. RT Managing Editor Liz French, who has written many of our trend pieces, contacted some authors, editors and a few readers to sort it all out. Bottom-line question: Are we ready for historical romances set in the Roaring '20s? A book list is included for those who may want to give one a try.
Our cover story this month is on Erin Quinn, nom de plume of Erin Grady. Writing as Quinn, she launches a contemporary paranormal series set on the Emerald Isle with book one, Haunting Beauty. An interview with this talented author, who debuted in 1994 with Web of Smoke, reveals how family and friends play a big part in her writing life.
As reported in last month's newsletter we snagged an interview with YA sensation Suzanne Collins, who explains how the idea for last year's blockbuster The Hunger Games came about and how the new book in the series, Catching Fire, ties in. If you want a unique adventure, pick up either book and get to know this exceptional author.
Captain America has been in the news lately because of plans to resurrect the beloved, yet killed-off, comic character in the near future. But in our interview with the creator Joe Simon we wanted to know about his first romance comic series dating back to the 1940s called Young Romance. The 95-year-young artist reveals his softer side, which, turns out, he is very proud of.
And speaking of comics, we have a Q&A with urban fantasy great Patricia Briggs, who not only has a new Alpha and Omega book out in September titled Hunting Ground but is also debuting her first graphic novel -- a compendium of five Mercy Thompson comics released last year.
All this and more in the new issue, which should arrive this week or next at the latest.
I'd like to switch gears for a moment to talk about the RT Booklovers convention coming in April in beautiful Columbus, Ohio. I just returned from a planning trip at the Hyatt in the downtown area and will only say that there will be more parties and mixers than ever before at this event. We will also be expanding our Readers' Program next year to include two tracks (which means double the workshops!) since we have so many great workshops and private parties lined up that are exclusively for readers.
The Hyatt Regency Columbus is huge and has a spacious lobby on the first floor with a bevy of eateries sure to satisfy just about everyone's tastes. The second-floor lounge is perfect for hanging out and talking books and for catching up with friends and authors over refreshments. We are going with a small-town America theme for Columbus, so expect this year's RT Convention to have a look and feel of a family reunion.
In the next issue Columbus resident and author Donna MacMeans shares an insider's view of the surrounding area and what not to miss while you are there, complete with colorful photos. One of the main attractions is the restored German Village, which was settled in the 1800s and is quite charming. It is also where you will find Schmidt's Restaurant und Sausage Haus, a not-to-be-missed culinary experience, and The Book Loft
, which is a maze of 32 rooms of books -- a book lovers paradise!
When we launch our new website this fall all of this great information will be included in our convention microsite, so stay tuned.
Now for a sneak peek at the October issue. We always have fun with this issue since it's Halloween; this time we will celebrate heroines who are witches by spotlighting books with this theme. A sidebar will include some real-life spells and potions -- all in good fun.
Our feature is on sci-fi/fantasy romance: Where it is, where it came from and where it's going. We are talking to lots of authors for this one.
Our cover story is on a mystery author who has taken the genre by storm with her reporter-related tales of murder and mayhem. Reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan, winner of 26 Emmys for investigative TV reporting, has her third book starring TV reporter Charlotte McNally coming out in October. The title is Air Time, and we will have the scoop about the series and this talented, savvy author in the next issue.
Also look for interviews with newcomer Ilona Andrews -- actually a husband-and-wife team -- as well as veteran mystery author Marcia Muller. In Locked In, Muller's longtime protagonist P.I. Sharon McCone gets shot and is paralyzed with Locked-in syndrome. Though she's trapped in a hospital bed, Sharon is aided by her agency's detectives and they try to find the person responsible for her condition. Also there will be an interview with YA authors Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier. Our senior editor Stephanie Klose
met up with the couple at one of their favorite restaurants for an interview in the Big Apple. She got the skinny on these two extraordinary authors in their own right who spend six months in New York and six months in Australia. Not a bad gig if you can get it!
Enjoy what's left of the lazy, hazy days of summer as we brace ourselves for the fall and the holiday madness that follows. 2010 is just around the corner!
 Happy Reading,
Carol Stacy
Publisher
RT Book Reviews Magazine
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