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Our January 2010 issue has just shipped with a stunning cover promoting Anya Bast’s new book, WICKED ENCHANTMENT. Book one launches an exciting new series that offers a unique spin on the paranormal with fae creatures.
Our main feature for January is on doomsday fiction and is quite timely with the release of 2012, which took over the weekend cinema box office sales. We have been tracking this trend in fiction for over a year now and had the feature planned long before we knew about the movie! In the article we explore the public’s fascination with this topic, as well as why authors are creating “brave new” post-apocalyptic worlds.
There’s also a sidebar by Joss Ware, aka Colleen Gleason, who talks about her new post-apocalyptic series, launching in January with BEYOND THE NIGHT, which received a Top Pick. Joss is also the “Ask the Author“ guest on our website, so be sure to visit her and bring all of your questions. She will be there through November 29!
From post-apocalyptic worlds to medieval times! We often receive letters from readers asking why there are so few medievals being published today, so we went to the experts to find out. Editors, authors and Borders Books buyer Sue Grimshaw weigh in, along with a sidebar Q&A with the medieval mistress herself, Roberta Gellis. Roberta penned one of the most beloved medieval series of all time, the Roselynde Chronicles. If you haven’t read her Magdalene la Batarde medieval mysteries yet, be sure to give them a look. They are pretty spectacular!
Colleagues and friends of the late Kensington editorial director Kate Duffy shared some wonderful touching and poignant stories with us for a special tribute titled “Remembering Kate.“ The tributes will also be up on our website, where you will be able to add your fond memories of this industry icon whom we miss terribly.
Our interviews this month are all about the girls: Jude Deveraux, Tami Hoag, Catherine Anderson. There’s also a host of talented writers in our Clubhouse section.
Jude is excited to be back writing historicals, although the setting — Edilean, Va. — for her latest book, DAYS OF GOLD, may sound familiar to fans because it’s where last year’s contemporary blockbuster, Lavender Morning, takes place. The author says while writing this book she rediscovered her love for historicals — let’s hope that means there will be more from her in the future.
On the other hand, Tami Hoag, who began her career writing humorous series romances for Loveswept back in the ‘80s, is having too much fun penning her chilling, gritty suspense novels, so don’t look for her return to lighthearted romances any time soon. Although she does admit that still loves humor and tries to inject it into her books wherever she can. Her latest thriller, DEEPER THAN THE DEAD, hits stores late December. The article was written by author (and Tami’s No. 1 fan) Kylie Brant, who attributes her venture into dark romantic suspense to this master of suspense.
As for Catherine Anderson, whose 10th book in her multi-generational series hits stores in January, there’s no need to worry. The author says she is just as passionate about romance today as she was when she penned her first and has no plans to jump genres. Look for EARLY DAWN, following the lives of the Kendricks, Coulters and Harrigans, in early January.
Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock teamed up for a fun quiz where you can “Find Your Romance Heroine Alter Ego.” Take the eight-question quiz and discover your inner heroine!
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, our 2010 convention brochure has been printed and it looks awesome. You can download it as a pdf file online or request a printed copy by e-mailing me directly. Also, please let me know if you want a bunch to pass along to book lover friends, bookstores or reader and writer groups. We’d appreciate your help to get the word out about this fabulous event with more than 125 workshops to choose from. If you are wondering about your costumes for this year’s balls, the new issue features the themes for each so be sure to check out the convention pages.
Lots of new authors taking the spotlight this month with Top Picks for debut historical romance authors Courtney Milan and Kaki Warner leading the way. Courtney’s book, PROOF BY SEDUCTION, is hailed as “a dazzling debut by a multitalented author who thrills readers with a twist on a traditional plot and truly unforgettable characters.” RT senior historical reviewer Kathe Robin calls Kaki’s debut, PIECES OF SKY
, “a western romance that is a striking portrait of the territory in all its reality, harshness and beauty.” And kudos go to our 2008 American Title winner, Helen Scott Taylor, who also received a Top Pick this issue for THE PHOENIX CHARM. RT reviewer Lauren Becker praises it, saying it’s “set in a rich, imaginative world that beautifully blends fantasy and romance…,” and kudos to all of you who voted for Helen online. You picked a true winner!
On our website for the next several weeks is a special treat for you: chapters from Bree Despain’s teen paranormal debut, THE DARK DIVINE, published by Egmont Press. For the next six weeks, we’ll be posting a chapter a week to whet your appetites for the book’s release on December 22. Plus, every Friday, one lucky reader will win a copy of the book plus a bottle of The Dark Divine nail polish, which was created exclusively for the debut. Read the first chapter in our blog, where you will also find details for the giveaway.
We are deep in the throes of our February 2010 issue, which of course is our Valentine’s issue. We decided to have a little fun in celebrating the month for lovers so we contacted several authors and asked them to imagine a beloved character from one of their books in another author’s story and tell us how they would handle a situation. We contacted several bestselling authors and we are awaiting their entries will much anticipation.
The term for this novel-blending is “mash-ups,” which we have been following in the magazine. Our article on zombie fiction in the May ‘09 issue featured Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author Seth Grahame-Smith, who added brain-munching zombies to Austen’s well-mannered world. We also covered the concept in our September 2008 issue with an interview with Jasper Fforde, who mashes up the classics in his Thursday Next series.
Carole Nelson Douglas will be leading a workshop on this new trend at our upcoming convention in Columbus, Ohio, April 28-May 2. She’ll talk about how she put Midnight Louie in an Irene Adler setting, creating a mash-up between her two popular series.
Every now and then we answer your questions in our Quips & Queries section about “whatever happened to” a certain author. For February we will supersize the column with a expanded version where all of the RT editors track down beloved authors that we haven’t heard from for a while to find out where they are now. Should be fun and I enjoyed walking down memory lane remembering so many talented authors who have all but disappeared from the writing world.
Our cover story is on the incomparable Lori Foster as the final book in her SBC fighter series, BACK IN BLACK, gets ready to hit stores in February. Can’t wait to read this one.
Then, drum roll please, we have an interview with Laura Kinsale, who is back and better than ever. We will have the scoop on where she’s been and what took her so long to write her next book. I am looking forward to that interview. Other interviews lined up are with science fiction/fantasy fave L.E. Modesitt, Jr. and mystery mavens Kris Montee and Kelly Nichols, sisters who write together as P.J. Parrish.
From all of us at RT, have a wonderful a joyous Thanksgiving.
Happy reading,
Carol Stacy
 Happy Reading,
Carol Stacy
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