PW's Top 10 Christmas Romances



Publishers Weekly has named its top 10 Christmas romances.

 

Romance author and blogger Anne Browning Walker's list starts with two anthologies.

 

The first is Naughty & Nice by Ruthie Knox, Molly O'Keefe and Stefanie Sloane.

 

The second is Snowy Night With a Stranger by Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries and Julia London.   

 
In the Christmas past category, Browning Walker picks A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas, The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig and A Christmas Bride and Christmas Beau by Mary Balogh.

Titles by bestselling contemporary authors top the Christmas present category. These include Susan Wiggs' Lakeshore Christmas, Robyn Carr's Bring Me Home for Christmas, Hers for the Holidays by Samantha Hunter and Angels at the Table by Deb Macomber.

And for Christmases yet to come, there's JD Robb's futuristic drama Holiday in Death, which takes place more than 40 years in the future and revolves around a serial killer who uses Christmas imagery in association with his crimes.

Top Trends in Children's Books

Scholastic has released its forecast of the top 10 trends in children's books for 2013.

They include the "timely topic" of bullying, biographies and Civil War anniversary books.

Survival stories in nonfiction could also be hot.

In fiction, the Scholastic editors expect to see more strong girl protagonists, novels in cartoon form, and science fiction.

The year's big movie tie-ins include Ender's Game, from Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures, Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments, and the upcoming Percy Jackson adaptation, Sea of Monsters.

Booklist Selects 2012's Top 10 Romances

Booklist, the book review magazine published by The American Library Association, has selected its top 10 romance fiction titles for 2012.

The New York Times calls the magazine "an acquisitions bible for public and school librarians nationwide." Its network of editors and  reviewers reviews thousands of books each year, mostly before publication.

In explaining her selections, Booklist's Donna Seaman writes, "Wit and fortitude distinguish the smart women protagonists in the best romances of the last 12 months as authors ingeniously spin new gold out of classic themes..."

Here are 2012's Top 10 romances as selected by Booklist:

 

 

Bedding Lord Ned by Sally MacKenzie

 

 

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

 

 

Can’t Buy Me Love by Molly O’Keefe

 

Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle

The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

 

A Lady Never Lies by Juliana Gray

The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy

The Night Is Mine by M. L. Buchman

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James

  

Amazon's Best Romance of 2012

 

It's time for the year-end, best-of lists to start coming out. Amazon has released its list of the Best Romance Books of 2012, as selected by Amazon editors. Here's the list.

   

BARED TO YOU

by Sylvia Day



THE WITNESS
by Nora Roberts

 

THE RECRUIT

by Monica McCarty

 

 

GUNMETAL MAGIC

 by Ilona Andrews

 

LOTHAIRE

by Kresley Cole

 

FOREVER AND A DAY 

by Jill Shalvis

REDWOOD BEND

by Robin Carr

 

 

DARKER AFTER MIDNIGHT

by Lara Adrian

WHEN THE DUKE FOUND LOVE

by Isabella Bradford

HOW TO BE A PROPER LADY

by Katharine Ashe

 

 
NOTE: I've taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for!

I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on!

Come along and have a look! Click here.

 

Getting the Call!

I am very excited to report I've signed a two-book deal with Entangled Publishing's Scandalous imprint.

My first historical Regency romance, Seducing Charlotte, will be published in Spring 2013. The next title in the series, Tempting Bella will be out in Fall 2013.

Scandalous is Entangled's new historical line and I am thrilled to be working with this innovative ebook-first publisher. I can't wait to see the historical covers! 

Here is the announcement which appeared in Publisher's Marketplace:


Diana Quincy's TEMPTING BELLA, in which the hero is enchanted by a beauty he spots at the opera, unaware she is the wife he was forced to marry as a teen years ago in order to settle a gaming debt between their parents, to Alethea Spiridon Hopson at Entangled Scandalous, in a two-book deal, for publication in Fall 2013, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (World).

 

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

2012 PYHIAB Winners Announced

The New Jersey Romance Writers have announced the 2012 Put Your Heart In A Book Contest Winners. Congratulations everyone!

Romantic Suspense
1st Place: Jenna Blue – The Runaway
2nd Place: Michelle Sharp – The Dreamer
3rd Place: Keith Zwingelberg – Medicine Woman

Single Title Contemporary
1st Place: Michele Mannon – Octagon Girl
2nd Place: Susan J. Bickford – Synchrony’s Call
3rd Place: Claudia Handel – Lost in You

Historical
1st Place: Eileen Emerson – Embracing an Unloved Earl
2nd Place: Joanna Shupe – Drawn to the Earl
3rd Place: Mary Jane Esber w/a Miranda Liasson – The Spy Who Loved Me

Paranormal
1st Place: Laurel Wanrow – Passages
2nd Place: Leisl Leighton – Seer’s Blood
3rd Place: Katrina Snow – Bewitched by a Kiss

Young Adult
1st Place: Karen Schwartz – Extra Ordinary Guy
2nd Place: McCall Hoyle – Twice Shy
3rd Place: Laurel Wanrow – Seaside Sorcery

Honorable Mention
McCall Hoyle – The Other Cheek

Penguin Launches Pilot Library Ebook Program

Penguin's library ebook lending pilot program kicked off this week at the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library.

The digital titles are being made available through the 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending Service. The ebooks should be available nationwide to 3M library clients by the end of the year, according to a company press release.

3M's current ebook lending base is about 70 libraries.

In addition to the Penguin collection, 3M says it will offer additional titles from its Cloud Library, which contains more than 200,000 titles from about 300 publishers. 

During this special pilot period at the New York-area libraries, patrons should be able to access digital titles remotely with their personal devices, including PCs, iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches, Nooks and Android devices. 

In other library e-lending news, PublishersLunch reports library ebook provider, OverDrive, will offer a  new Nook-specific app for the new Nook HD and HD+, along with Nook Tablet and Nook Color. The app is supposed to make it easier for patrons to borrow library ebooks remotely through their devices.

'Parachutist' Finals in 2012 Molly Contest

I recently got word my manuscript, The Parachutist, is a finalist in the 2012 Molly contest sponsored by the Heart of Denver Romance Writers.

The frosting on the cake is that my heroine, Manon, a parachutist inspired by a real French woman who lived in the early 1800s, is up for the Unsinkable Molly award, which judges spunk, imagination, creativity and unsinkability.

Here is the complete list of finalists:

Contemporary
Southern Comforts by Nan Dixon  
The Inconvenient Mistress by Mary Oldham         
Clear as Glass by Lynn Kellan            

Paranormal
Bound by Traci Douglass
To Catch a Fetch by Melonie Johnson
Must Love Breeches by Angela Quarles

Romantic Suspense
Grown Up and Still Running by Shelley Wall
The Distance Between Us by Linda Bond

Single Title
Murder, Curlers, and Cream by Arlene McFarlane        
Mesmerized in Madagascar by George & Noi Guthridge 
Emma's Treasure by Judith Luke

Young Adult
Chimera by Laura Alford
Shadowman by Linda Kelley

Heart of the Molly
Beauty for Ashes by C. Elizabeth Carroll    
Death Whisperer by Katherine Matzen
Emma's Treasure by Judith Luke                        

Unsinkable Heroine
A Scandalous Gentleman by Renee Ann Miller       
The Parachutist by Diana Quincy
Murder, Curlers, and Cream by Arlene McFarlane

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

 



Behind the Scenes at a Romance Cover Shoot

Discover a New Love, by Sourcebooks, is back with one of my favorite regular blog features - behind the scenes at its latest romance cover video shoot.

It's a lot of fun. One model says his grandmother encouraged him to take the job. Check it out!

Gen Y Buys More Titles; Ebook Prices Drop

Move over Baby Boomers. A new report finds Generation Y - people born between 1979 and 1989 - is spending more money on books than you are.

The report, the 2012 U.S. Book Consumer Demographics & Buying Behaviors Annual Review, says  Gen Y bought 30 percent of all titles in 2011, up from 24 percent in 2010. Baby Boomers, who have historically spent the most on books, have a 25 percent share.

 Forty-three percent of Gen Y’s purchases are made online, which is helping push the industry's shift to digital. 

The report, prepared by Bowker Market Research, also finds ebook prices fell between 2010 and 2011.

It puts the average price of a fiction ebook at $5.24 in 2011, down from $5.69 in 2010. In nonfiction,  the average price fell from $9.04 to $6.47. In the juvenile segment, it dropped to $4.47 in 2011 from $4.88.

The reports finds ebooks have the most impact in the Mystery genre, accounting for 17 percent of spending, followed by Romance and Science Fiction, which accounted for 15 percent of dollars spent.

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

2012 Catherine Finalists Announced

Contemporary Series – Final Round Judge: Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin
Crashing Into Tess by Christine M. Griffin
Scarlet Distraction by Elly Takaki*
Testing The CEO's Theory by Sarah Darnell*

Contemporary Single Title – Final Round Judge: Leonore Waldrip, HQN
First Aid for a Broken Heart by Kat Latham
Hawaiian Heat: The Marriage Trap by Diane Garner
Octagon Girl by Michelle Manon
Precious Jewels by Mary Behre
Royally Screwed by Kelle Z. Riley

Historical – Final Round Judge: Katherine Pelz, Berkley
An Unloved Earl by Eileen Emerson
The League of Rogues by Lauren Diana Smith
The Winds of Fate by Elizabeth Byziek

Paranormal, Fantasy, Futuristic – Final Round Judge: Esi Sogah, Avon
Fairy Tales by Liz Roadifer
Mated by Magick by Kat Bastion
Seal of Destiny by Traci Douglass

Strong Romantic Elements – Final Round Judge: Kathleen Gilligan, St. Martin's
Murder, Curlers & Canes by Arlene McFarlane
Murder, Curlers & Cruisers by Arlene McFarlane
Wrestling with Alligators by Lateia Elam Sandifer

Romantic Suspense – Final Round Judge: Leis Pederson, Berkley
Death by Design- A Crime of Passion by Meline Nadeau*
Her Unreasonable Doubt by Anne-Marie Carroll
The Cell by Diane Garner

Young Adult – Final Round Judge: Karen Chaplin, HarperCollins Children's Books
Disposables by Elly Takaki*
Dolphins, Dorks & Danger by Robin Weaver
Sway by Nicki Pau Petro *
Atlantis Riptide by Allie Burton

* TRW member
Categories with more than three finalists are due to ties.

'Parachutist' Lands 2nd Place in 2012 Ignite the Flame Contest

The Central Ohio Fiction Writers chapter of the Romance Writers of America has announced the 2012 Ignite the Flame contest winners.

I was excited to learn that my manuscript, The Parachutist, placed second in the historical category. The complete list of winners is below. Congratulations everyone!

2012 Ignite the Flame Contest winners

Suspense Romance
1st Place SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY by Urusla Renee
2nd Place SEVERED THREADS by Kaylin McFarren
3rd Place HARBOR ME by Mandy Rathbone

Single Title Romance
1st Place WHEN IN ROME by Adeline Grey
2nd Place MESMERIZED IN MADAGASCAR by George & Noi Guthridge
PLACE YOUR BETTS by Katie Graykowski
3rd Place HOLDING ON by Ellen Dean Price

Category-Length Contemporary Romance
1st Place THE BESTMAN by Simone James
2nd Place PRESERVATION by Carrie Christie
3rd Place HEART BE STILL by Patrice Wadie

Paranormal Romance
1st Place CHERUB'S PLAY by Katie Grant
2nd Place TO HISS OR TO KISS by Katya Armock
3rd Place MIDWORLDER LOVER by Maggie Mundy

Historical Romance
1st Place FROM YOU I CANNOT HIDE by Cora Lee
2nd Place THE PARACHUTIST by Diana Quincy
3rd Place AMBUSHING THE HEIRESS by Kristen Boe

Young Adult
1st Place BENEATH THE SURFACE by Miranda Rae Carter
2nd Place PAINLESS by Jenna Grinstead
3rd Place WE TWO UNUSUAL by Tony Roberts

'Parachutist' Wins 2012 Duel on Delta

I'm was thrilled to learn that my manuscript, THE PARACHUTIST, took top honors in the 2012 Duel on the Delta contest sponsored by the River City Romance Writers.

My other manuscript, TEMPTING BELLA, placed second in the historical category.

Here's the full list of finalists and winners. Congratulations everyone!

21st Annual Duel on the Delta Contest

Contemporary
Winner: Clear as Glass — Lynn Kellan
Second Place: Synchrony's Call — S.J. Bickford
Third Place: Surrender's Vow — S.J. Bickford

Historical
Winner: The Parachutist* — Diana Quincy
Second Place: Tempting Bella — Diana Quincy
Third Place: Seduced by a Spy — Christina De Gennaro
*Full manuscript requested by the editor

 Inspirational
Winner: Deliver Us from Evil — Mary Curry
Second Place: Liberty's Lady — Mary Curry
Third Place: Too Late to Apologize — Christy Smith

Paranormal
Winner: Dark Conquest — Christina Kenton
Second Place: The Book of Dracon, The Mayhen Series — Briana MacWilliam
Third Place: Seal of Fate — Traci Douglass

Romantic Suspense
Winner: One in Ten Thousand — Jackie Flaum
Second Place: Deadly Rumors — Pamela Anderson-Moore
Third Place: Treasure Life — Sherilyn Alexander

Young Adult
Winner: Operation Breakup — Jeanmarie Anaya
Second Place: Lost Souls — Beth Watson
Third Place: Blood, She Read — Sara Hubbard

Caroline Linden Celebrates RITA Win with Huge Giveaway!

Today I'm over at the Dashing Duchesses talking to RITA-award winning author Caroline Linden about her upcoming book, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DUKE.

The Harvard grad also reveals how her brainiac friends reacted when the Ivy League math major turned to writing romance. 

Clearly, it was a great move since Caroline just won the RITA for her novella, I LOVE THE EARL.

To celebrate her win, she's giving away FIVE copies of I LOVE THE EARL.

Dash on over to the Dashing Duchesses for a chance to grab one! CLICK HERE. Good luck!

2012 PYHIAB Finalists Announced

The New Jersey chapter of the Romance Writers of America has announced the finalists in the 2012 Put Your Heart in a Book contest. The full list is below. Congratulations to all of the finalists!
 
Paranormal
Katrina Snow – Bewitched by a Kiss
Laurel Wanrow – Passages
Leisl Leighton – Seer's Blood

Romantic Suspense
Keith Zwingelberg – Medicine Woman
Jenna Blue – The Runaway
Michelle Sharp – The Dreamer

Single Title
Michele Mahon – Octagon Girl
Susan J Bickford – Synchrony's Call
Claudia Handel – Lost in You

Young Adult
McCall Hoyle – Twice Shy
Laurel Wanrow – Seaside Sorcery
Karen Schwartz – Extra Ordinary Guy

Historical
Eileen Lloyd – Embracing the Unloved Earl
Mary Jane Esber w/a Miranda Liasson – The Spy Who Loved Me
Jodi Rotondo w/a Joanna Shupe – Drawn to the Earl

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

'Parachutist' Finals in ECO Contest

I was super excited to receive an email telling me that my manuscript, The Parachutist, is a finalist in the Emerald City Opener contest sponsored by the Greater Seattle chapter of the Romance Writers of America.

The final round judge in the historical romance category is Amanda Bergeron, associate editor at Avon Books/HarperCollins. Thanks to the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America (GSRWA) for this great opportunity.

Here is a full list of the finalists. Congratulations and good luck!

CATEGORY SERIES ROMANCE
Annabeth Albert  All the Wrong Reasons
Jennifer DeCuir  Drawn to Jonah
Regina Kyle  One Sweet Day

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Annabeth Albert  Still Got It
Tracey Alvrez  In Too Deep
Jen Lois  Permission to Land

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Louisa Cornell   His Charming Seductress
Melanie Meadors  His Roman Heart’s Desire
Diana Quincy  The Parachutist

NOVEL WITH STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
Kathy Bremner   Undercover Cowboy
Celeste Deveney  Only Till Midnight
Orly Konig-Lopez  The Day the Merry-go-Round Stopped

PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Amanda Byrne  Iron Jewel
Christina Kenton  Dark Conquest
Angela Quarles  Must Love Breeches

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Marni Folsom  Flannigan’s Grace
Ellen Herbert  Is It Me You’re Looking For?
Christine Solberg  Take My Hand

YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
Amy DeLuca  Hidden Deep
Rebecca Lees  Foreseer
Rachel Pudelek   Dark Waters

2012 Maggie Finalists Announced

The Georgia Romance Writers just announced the finalists in the 2012 Unpublished Maggie contest.

My manuscript, The Parachutist, is a finalist in the Historical Category. I am so thrilled to be among all of these talented writers!

Here's the complete list of finalists:

2012 UNPUBLISHED MAGGIE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FINALISTS

Contemporary Series Romance:
Melissa Klein, A Risk Worth Taking
Lisa McKinney w/a Lisa Whitaker, Bad Boy Daddy
Pam Mantovani, Daytime Friends
Kasey Dillard w/a Vanessa Moss, The Russian's Unexpected Lover         

Single Title Romance:
Ann Greville w/a Elizabeth Kelley, Doctors With Benefits
Katrina Crew w/a Kat Latham, First Aid For A Broken Heart
Kimberly Kincaid, Food For Thought
Jane Kurtz, Objection Overruled
Kimberle Swaak, Trust Me

Historical Romance:
Eileen Lloyd w/a Eileen Emerson, An Unloved Earl
Frances Fowlkes, The Duke's Obsession
Dora Mekouar w/a Diana Quincy, The Parachutist
Elizabeth Bysiek, The Winds of Fate
Leigh Stites w/a Elisabeth Burke, Tom Sawyer Returns

Inspirational Romance:
J'nell Ciesielski, Lightning From Red Above
Karen Fleming w/a KD Fleming, Love Thy Neighbor
Kristi Hunter w/a Kristi Ann Hunter, Miss Amelia and The Marquis
Gina Conkle, Norse Jewel

Paranormal/Fantasy Romance:
Debbie Herbert, Deep Fathoms
Elizabeth Bank w/a Noelle Pierce, Lightstorm
Angela Trigg w/a Angela Quarles, Must Love Breeches
Marilyn Baron, Sixth Sense
Denise Plumart, Syphon's Song
Adrienne Trent, The Hidden One

Young Adult Romance:
Debbie Herbert, Changeling
Julie Barnard w/a Jules Barnard, Fates Divided
RoseAnn DeFranco, Forbidden Signs
Amy DeLuca, Hidden Deep
Paula Huffman, Red Tide

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

2012 Sheila Contest Winners Announced

The Valley Forge Chapter of the Romance Writers of America has announced the placements in the 2012 Sheila Contest. My manuscript The Parachutist placed second while Tempting Bella placed fifth.

Here are the final placements in all categories:

Paranormal - Final Round Judge - Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks

1st Place - Fairy Tales by Elisabeth Roadifer + Full Requested
2nd Place -  Flood and Fire by Amy Raby
3rd Place - Incandescent by Mary V. Freeman
4th Place - Blood Vine, Book One by Amber Belldene
5th Place - Dead Vampires Don't Date by Meredith Allen Conner

Young Adult - Final Round Judge - Wendy Loggia, Delacorte Press, Random House

1st Place -  Flying Objects, Falling in Love and Other Catastrophes by Caryn Caldwell
2nd Place - The Agreement by Angela N. Blount
3rd Place - Designer Genes, The Boyfriend Cut by Harley Brooks
4th Place - Dolphins, Dorks and Danger by Robin Weaver
5th Place - Midnight Siren by Ruth Knafo Setton

Historical - Final Round Judge - Elizabeth Poteet, St. Martin's Press

1st Place - Embracing an Unloved Earl by Eileen Emerson**
2nd Place - The Parachutist by Diana Quincy + Full Requested
3rd Place - Her Every Desire by Jennifer McQuiston
4th Place - Taming Huck Finn by Elisabeth Burke
5th Place - Tempting Bella by Diana Quincy
6th Place - The Winds of Fate by Elizabeth Bysiek

Women's Fiction with Strong Romantic Elements - Final Round Judge - Alex Logan, Grand Central Publishing

1st Place - Murder Curlers and Cruises by Arlene McFarlane
2nd Place - Unredeemed by Joni M. Fisher
3rd Place - Preservation by Carrie Christie
4th Place - Untamed Valor by Virginia E. Boylan
5th Place - Taylor Made Life by Kary Rader

Single Title - Final Round Judge - Emilia Pisani, Gallery Books

1st Place - Cat on a Hot Steel Flight Deck by Heather Nickodem
2nd Place - The Secret Ingredient by Susan Spaulding**
3rd Place - Octagon Girl by Michele Mannon
4th Place - The Novice Wife by Adele Downs**
5th Place - Doctor with Benefits by Elizabeth Kelley**

Romantic Suspense - Final Round Judge - Katherine Pelz, The Berkley Group

1st Place - Double Trick by Ava Milone + Full Requested
2nd Place - Mesmerized in Madagascar by Georgi and Noi Gutheridge
3rd Place - Twisted by Tori Lennox
4th Place - Her Unreasonable Doubt by Anne-Marie Carroll
5th Place - The Way You Love Me by Janis Thereault


+ Full Requested
** VFRW member

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

A Bargain Bride: The Duke of Chandos Buys a Wife

Credit: National Museums Liverpool

Today I'm over at the Dashing Duchesses blogging about the true life story of Anne Welles, a chambermaid who became a duchess after being sold by her husband.

The story goes that Henry Bridges, 2^nd Duke of Chandos, first saw Anne while dining with a friend at the Pelican Inn in Newbury, where she worked.

A stir in the inn yard drew the duke’s attention. When he learned a man was about to sell his wife, His Grace reportedly replied, “We will go and see the sale.”

Dash on over to the Dashing Duchesses to find out what happened next, CLICK HERE. 

Which Digital Books Are Thriving

A recent Publishers Weekly article focuses on how well ebook imprints are taking root in the publishing industry. It highlights the changes and trends on the digital side of the business.

Kensington is one of the latest houses to launch an ebook-only imprint, eKensington.

Crimson Romance's ebook imprint is unveiling an ebook subscription site for romance titles.

HarperCollins’ Impulse imprint will go from one digital title per week to two this fall.

Which ebooks are doing best? According to PW, it's a mix. Books that have done best for the digital imprints encompass both original titles and reissues. At InterMix, Nora Roberts classics are among the bestsellers.

Over at Impulse, an original story by Rachel Gibson, "Crazy on You," and an original novella by Eloisa James, "Winning the Wallflower," have been winners. 

Loveswept’s top ebooks include an original title, "Because of You,"  from debut author Jessica Scott.

'The Parachutist,' 'Tempting Bella' Final in 2012 Orange Rose Contest

The finalists in the 2012 Orange Rose Contest have been announced.

I'm thrilled and grateful that two of my manuscripts, THE PARACHUTIST and TEMPTING BELLA, are among the top eleven overall finalists.  

The Orange Rose differs a bit from other contests in that it doesn't split entries up according to category. All genres of romance (historical, paranormal, contemporary, etc) are judged together.

The finalist entries are judged by three editors and agents. The winners will be announced on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Here's a complete list of the finalists. Congratulations and best of luck to everyone!

Finalists for the 2012 Orange Rose Contest

 for Unpublished Authors 

Unwritten by Rachel Bates

The Agreement by Angela Blount

Sail Away by Chris Campillo

First Aid for a Broken Heart by Katrina Crew

Burnout by Tee O'Fallon

Mesmerized in Madagascar by George Guthridge

Keeping Athena by Rowena Hacker

Genie in a Bottle by Tracy Mecca

Tempting Bella by Diana Quincy

The Parachutist by Diana Quincy

Flood and Fire by Amy Raby 

PW's Fall 2012 Top 10 List Offers Romance with a Twist

Publishers Weekly is out with its Top 10 Romance List for Fall 2012.

There are familiar names on the list, but some of those authors are trying something a little new.

Mary Wine, my mentor from Kensington/Brava's Writing With the Stars contest, is out with her first steam punk novel, A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious.

Lydia Dare's Wolfishly Yours is set in Regency England, but her protagonists are werewolves who have to be tamed to meet society's strictures.

Another of my favorite authors, Miranda Neville, visits the Georgian era with The Importance of Being Wicked,  a new series featuring reckless art collectors and how far they'll go for the prizes they want. 

Here's the complete list:

The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville

Wolfishly Yours by Lydia Dare

A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious by Mary Wine
 
Summerset Abbey by T. J. Brown

Tallie’s Hero by Sara Luck

Running Wild by Linda Howard and Linda Jones

Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl

The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

When Lightning Strikes by Brenda Novak

Touch Me Now by Donna Hill

Amazon to Acquire Dorchester?

Publishers Weekly is reporting Amazon will bid to acquire the assets of Dorchester, a publishing house which has been in financial trouble for more than two years.

According to PW, if the deal goes through, Amazon will pay all outstanding royalties owed to Dorchester authors. Amazon would acquire 1,900 active titles in many of the genres it already publishes in, including romance and westerns.

PW quotes Amazon as saying its authors will have a choice as to how they want their books published going forward. The final auction is on August 28.

According to PW,  the auction process was triggered by the owner of Dorchester's parent company, who is owed $3.4 million. The publisher has struggled in the aftermath of the drop in demand for mass market paperbacks.

Dorchester's troubles have been frustrating for authors and their agents, who've struggled to get owed royalties since their titles have continued to sell. Many authors have unsuccessfully attempted to get their rights reverted back to them.

Penguin Makes Ebook Deal with New York Libraries

In a one-year pilot program, Penguin has agreed to make its newer ebooks available at the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Penguin is now working with 3M instead of OverDrive. If the program is successful, it could branch out to library systems across the country.

The reverse decision comes about four months after Penguin pulled its newest digital titles from libraries.

The new program allows the New York libraries to lend more than 15,000 Penguin front-list titles.

The catch is that the ebooks won't be available until six months after the books' initial publication date. The delay is designed to keep ebook library loans from cutting into sales of new ebooks.

The libraries will pay current market price for the ebooks and the titles are lendable one at a time.

2012 Duel on the Delta Double Finalist

I have some great news to share on the contest front!

Two of my historical manuscripts - THE PARACHUTIST and TEMPTING BELLA - are finalists in the River City Romance Writers 2012 Duel on the Delta contest.

The final judge in my category is Deborah Nemeth of Carina Press. The  winners will be announced in late July.

All of the finalists are listed below. Congratulations and good luck at all!


Contemporary
Clear as Glass — Lynn Kellan
Synchrony's Call — S.J. Bickford
Surrender's Vow — S.J. Bickford

Historical
The Parachutist — Diana Quincy
Tempting Bella — Diana Quincy
Seduced by a Spy — Chrinstina De Gennaro

Inspirational
Too Late to Apologize — Christy Smith
Liberty's Lady — Mary Curry
Deliver Us from Evil — Mary Curry

Paranormal
Dark Conquest — Chritina Kenton
The Book of Dracon, The Mayhen Series — Briana MacWilliam
Seal of Fate — Traci Douglass

Young Adult
Blood, She Read — Sara Hubbard
Lost Souls — Beth Watson
Operation Breakup — Jeanmarie Anaya

Yay! I'm a 2012 Sheila Double Finalist

Where's the champagne?

I received a call informing me that two of my manuscripts are finalists in the Valley Forge Romance Writers 2012 Sheila contest.

THE PARACHUTIST and TEMPTING BELLA both finaled in the Historical Category.

I need to give a special shoutout to the Sheila judges for  providing excellent feedback on both manuscripts.  

Now, the six highest-rated entries in the Historical category move on to the final round, where they will be judged by Elizabeth Poteet of St. Martin's Press.

Congratulations to all of the finalists!

2012 Sheila Finalists

Single Title
The Secret Ingredient, Susan Spaulding*
Cat on a Hot Steel Flight Deck, Heather Nickodem
The Novice Wife, Adele Downs*
Doctor with Benefits, Elizabeth Kelley*
Octagon Girl, Michele Mannon

Romantic Suspense
Her Unreasonable Doubt, Anne-Marie Carroll
The Way You Love Me, Janis Thereault
Mesmerized in Madagascar, George Guthridge
Double Trick, Ava Milone
Twisted, Tori Lennox

Historical
Her Every Desire, Jennifer McQuiston
The Parachutist, Diana Quincy
Embracing an Unloved Earl, Eileen Emerson*
Taming Huck Finn, Leigh Stites
Tempting Bella, Diana Quincy
The Winds of Fate, Elizabeth Bysiek

Young Adult
Midnight Siren, Ruth Knafo Setton
The Agreement, Angela N. Blount
Flying Objects, Falling in Love, and Other Catastrophes, Caryn Caldwell
Designer Genes - "The Boyfriend Cut", Harely Brooks
Dolphins, Dorks, and Danger, Robin Weaver

Women's Fiction w/Romantic Elements
Untamed Valor, Virginia E. Boylan
Taylor Made Life, Kary Rader
Murder, Curlers and Cruises, Arlene McFarlane
Unredeemed, Jodi M. Fisher
Preservation, Carrie Christie

Paranormal
Flood and Fire, Amy Raby
Incandescent, M.V. Freeman
Fairy Tales, Elizabeth Roadifer
Blood Vine, Amber Belldene
Dead Vampires Don't Date, Meredith Allen Conner

Bringing A Romance Cover to Life

Sourcebooks is treating us to more behind-the-scenes cover action.

In this installment, cover designer Dawn Adams takes us through all of the steps that go into making the front of a book look perfect.

I don't know about you but I love these behind-the-scenes glimpses from Sourcebooks. I hope we start seeing a lot more of it. Enjoy!
   

Behind the Scenes at a Romance Cover Photo Shoot

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at a cover photo shoot for a romance novel?

Sourcebooks is giving us a little peak at the cover shoots for "Howl for a Highlander," "Luscious," "Savage Hunger," "A Lady and Her Magic," "A Waltz with a Stranger," and "A Royal Pain." Check it out!

Simon & Schuster Launches Ebook Imprint

Carrie Lofty's digital novella from Pocket.

Simon & Schuster has relaunched Pocket Star, but now the mass market line is an ebook-only imprint.

Pocket Star will feature both bestselling and debut authors in women’s fiction, romance, thrillers, urban fantasy and mystery.

While the revamped line will feature old titles, most will be new, according to the company.

“Similar to how mass market has served as a platform to develop future hardcover authors, it is our mission to use Pocket Star’s new digital-only format to establish new voices in the marketplace," says Louise Burke, executive vice president and publisher of Pocket. "An ebook imprint is flexible, cost-effective, cutting-edge and makes sense in today’s marketplace."

According to Publishers Weekly, Lauren McKenna, Pocket executive editor, is the editorial director of Pocket Star and will oversee all content.

The prices of the ebooks will vary.

Barnes & Noble Hooks Up With Microsoft

Microsoft is getting into the tablet business by making a $300 million deal with Barnes & Noble.

The deal gives Microsoft a 17 percent stake in B&N's Nook division.  

The investment gives B&N much-needed funds to continue developing the Nook.

According to Publishers Weekly, B&N will develop a Nook e-reading app for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system, which runs on traditional computers and tablets.

Microsoft says it wants to do more than just provide a platform and intends to work with B&N to find ways to add value to content.

Interview & Giveaway with Grace Burrowes!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes is my guest on The Dashing Duchesses blog today.

Grace is giving away three signed copies of her latest Regency romance Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal. It's book five in the Windham siblings series and book two in the "Duke's Daughters" series.

Dash on over to The Dashing Duchesses for the revealing interview and a chance to win a copy! 

2012 Laurie Contest Finalist

When the phone rang over the weekend, and Caller ID showed the call was from Tennessee, I guessed immediately it was good news.

I'd been waiting to hear the results of the Laurie contest and, after all, no one else calls me from Tennessee, home of the Smoky Mountain Romance Writers. 

I was thrilled to learn I'm a double finalist in the historical category - for my manuscripts Tempting Bella and The Parachutist (formerly called The Angel Who Fell From the Sky.) Very exciting news that made my weekend!


Here is the complete list of finalists:

 Contemporary

1. Clear as Glass by Lynn Kellan
2. Back in the Saddle by Susan Breeden
3. Yehaw Paisano by Pet Aubol

Young Adult

1. The Agreement by Angela Blount
2. Dream Crafters by Kim Riordan
3. The Gift by S.A. Tudhope

Historical

1. The Angel Who Fell From the Sky by Diana Quincy
2. Dealer’s Choice by Mayo Lucas
3. Tempting Bella by Diana Quincy

FFP

1. Mind Sweeper by Amy Jones
2. Witness to History by Becky Lower
3. Caller of Light by T.J. Shaw

Romantic Suspense

1. In Safe Hands by Lee Burgess
2. Body of Evidence by Melanie Duncan
3. Mesmerized in Madagascar by George Guthridge  and Talons of Desire by Kalyn Rehrig

Inspirational

1. Charmed Deception by Dianna Shuford
2. Listen to the Wind by Jane F. Thompson
3. God Whisperer by Kimberly Troutte

Sourcebooks Launches Online Romance Book Club

Sourcebooks is launching an online bookclub focused on romance titles.

Discoveranewlove.com offers a number of the independent publisher's digital romance novels for a monthly fee.

Members will have access to some of the publisher's most popular romance writers, such as Grace Burrowes and Catherine Mann.

Readers will also be able to interact with authors in live chats, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The venture launches on April 10. The website currently offers a 6-month membership for $9.99. Included with membership are featured selections at a prepaid price of $1.67 and savings of up to 40 percent on all titles in the online store.

People Buying More Books, Just Not From Bookstores

Reading ebooks makes people more likely to buy more print books, just not from traditional bookstores.

That's the latest word from the Book Industry Study Group's  “Consumer Attitudes Toward E-Book Reading” survey as reported by Publishers Weekly.

Conducted by Bowker Market Research, the survey found that more than half of ebook readers used apps to purchase books more often.  
More than a third are buying more from retail websites like Amazon.

However, the good news for digital vendors is bad news for traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores.

More than a third of ebook buyers spent less at national bookstore chains and 29 percent are buying less from independent booksellers.

The findings also show most of us are still reading all of those ebooks on e-readers, but tablets and smartphones are becoming more popular.

Justice Dept. Plans to Sue Apple, Publishers

The Justice Department has put Apple and five major publishers on notice that it will sue them for allegedly fixing the price of ebooks, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Penguin, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster all follow the agency pricing model.

According to Publishers Weekly, the agency model developed because the major publishers were worried Amazon’s $9.99 price for ebooks would erode the market for print books.

So they allegedly colluded with Apple to come up with the agency model to stabilize prices.

The Journal reports the feds believe Apple and the major publishers acted jointly to raise ebook prices and plan to sue them for violating federal antitrust laws.

Publishers Weekly reports a representative at one of the Big Six publishers pointed out the ebook industry has grown rapidly since the agency model was put into place because it allowed more e-tailers to enter the market.

Hitting it Big After Years of Rejections: An E-Pub Success Story

While the current "Wild West" world of publishing means authors have alternate ways of finding success, many still pursue the ultimate dream of publication with one of the highly-respected traditional publishers.

Author Theresa Ragan certainly did. The six-time Golden Heart finalist pursued that dream for almost 20 years.

As she tells Joyce Lamb in her USA Today "Happily Ever After" column, "I worked with two agents and a few editors. I joined critique groups and brainstorming groups. I attended writer conferences all over the U.S. I judged contests."

Ragan says she wrote every day and in many genres, hoping to attract the attention of an editor. But she never received that coveted offer from one of the big traditional publishers.

So, faced with having to find a real job when her youngest daughter headed off to college, Ragan decided to self-publish.

"With nothing to lose, I self-published Return of the Rose and A Knight in Central Park. Instead of selling 10 books, I sold thousands! After nearly two decades of working hard to get published, I felt like an overnight success," she tells Lamb in the HEA interview.

According to Ragan, she's sold more than 160,000 books in just 10 months.  

She has published six ebooks. Five of them are available in print, using templates she used through CreateSpace. 

Click here to read Theresa Ragan's full interview with Joyce Lamb in USA Today's Happily Ever After column.

Historical Parlor Games

Are you wondering what these people are up to? 

I'm blogging about historical parlor games over at The Dashing Duchesses today.  Pop over by clicking here.