Tanzey Talk
Here I am with a new photo.
I think the biggest announcement I have to start the new year with is that the Romantic Times BOOKclub 20th Convention is going to be held at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, October 14-19, 2003. That’s only an hour from where I live! When I called Cheryl to tell her, she told me she and Larry are planning to come, and they’re going to bring Sue along. So, if any of you would like to meet us up-close-and-personal, now is your best chance. To learn more about this conference and to register early, go to RT’s web site www.romantictimes.com. And I’ll keep you posted as things progress.
After forwarding Suan Wilson’s review of Captured Innocence to author Susan Sizemore, I got this response: Please let the reviewer know that the next MacLeod book will be about Andrew MacLeod, Christopher’s uncle. Lucy's book was supposed to come next, but Uncle Andrew insisted. Check out Susan’s new website at: www.susansizemore.com.
In the works for 2004, Eileen Dreyer is working on Head Games, the sequel to Bad Medicine that introduced death investigator/trauma nurse Molly Burke. After that, she’s still undecided, but she’s sure Maggie O’Brien will make a return in the future. Eileen, who also writes as Kathleen Korbel, wants readers to know that she’s taken some time off to relax and enjoy life. But she’s back now and working on finishing the Kendall series she began in 1992 with Jake’s Way, then continued with Simple Gifts in 1994. Gen’s story is titled Some Men’s Dreams. To reward herself for writing three tough books in that series, she’s hoping to travel to Ireland (one of her favorite destinations!) to finish work on Zeke Kendall’s story. To learn more about Eileen and her alter ego, Kathleen, visit her brand-new web site, www.eileendreyer.com.
Warner Books is launching a new imprint called Warner Forever. This line of books will encompass a wide spectrum of romance and women’s fiction with plots ranging from historical to contemporary, dramatic to lighthearted, romantic suspense to paranormal. Plans are to introduce some hot new authors, in addition to many of our favorites, with two new titles every month, priced at $5.99.
This month, Bantam Dell starts a year-long reading experience, called “Get Connected,” which will feature four of their premiere historical authors - Jane Feather, Mary Balogh, Josie Litton and Madeline Hunter - writing back-to-back books. Knowing how much readers love stories with interconnected characters, and how they hate to wait too long between the stories, Bantam Dell hopes everyone will respond favorably to this concept. They’re also priced at $5.99. Following is the schedule of titles. January is the mass market edition of Jane Feather’s To Kiss a Spy, with the follow-up in February of her new original title, Kissed by Shadows. In March, the mass market release of Mary Balogh’s A Summer to Remember appears, then subsequent new titles in her Bedwyn Family books will be Slightly Married (April), Slightly Wicked (May) and Slightly Scandalous (June). Josie Litton starts her Fountain trilogy in July with Fountain of Dreams, then Fountain of Secrets (August), followed by Fountain of Fire (September). In October, Madeline Hunter’s Seducer series begins with The Seducer, November will be The Saint, and the year ends with The Charmer. This is a fantastic line-up of books. I can’t wait!
And don’t forget the new Dorchester Leisure B.L.I.S.S. line debuts this month with Nina Bang’s From Boardwalk With Love. I told you all about this series of spy books in my November column. I’m waiting for my copy of this one, so I can get started reading.
Berkley has plans to replace their Magical Love and Time Passages lines by launching a new line, called Sensation, in June. They’re doing this so authors have more freedom to develop their own stories without having to fit into a certain designated theme. It also means authors are able to do more linked stories, if they prefer. Sensation plans to publish four titles a month - one contemporary, one historical, one special (which could be anything) and one debut. The June launch will feature Robin D. Owens’ Heart Thief, the sequel to her RITA-winning paranormal Heart Mate. And Rebecca York’s Killing Moon will start a contemporary romantic suspense trilogy that contains a dash of the paranormal. The second book, Edge of the Moon, is slated for August, followed by Witching Moon in September.
As you can see, trilogies, interconnected, linked (whatever you want to call them) stories are becoming more popular for publishers to produce. Sounds like they’re listening to us readers - the buyers. And you’ll also notice that paranormal elements of all types are again becoming the rage, with more publishers acquiring this type of romance. I, for one, couldn’t be more pleased!
And speaking of paranormal, I just finished reading Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Night Pleasures, the first book in her Dark Hunter series featuring immortals, Greek Gods, vampires, etc. Wow! Loved this book! Can’t wait for the next one - Night Embrace - due in July.
Historical author Julia London is writing her first contemporary romance, Material Girl, set for release in August. Based loosely on King Lear, it’s the first book in a trilogy about three rich, spoiled sisters, who have to learn to live in the real world. But Julia isn’t leaving her historical roots for long. In 2004, she’s planned another Regency-era trilogy set in England and Scotland.
Putting a new twist on the historical to contemporary move is Signet author Jaclyn Reding, who started her Highland Heroes trilogy with two historical novels, The Pretender and The Adventurer. However, the final book (due this September) will be Jaclyn’s debut contemporary, as she features a modern-day descendant of the sisters from the first books.
Mariah Stewart recently signed with Ballantine to do a trio of romantic suspense books. Set to run consecutively, they’re scheduled for release in June, July and August 2004.
Heads up on more reprints. Next month, NAL will be reissuing Patricia Gaffney’s historical Wyckerley trilogy. Originally published as Topaz paperbacks in 1995 and 1996, To Love and to Cherish, To Have and to Hold and Forever and Ever will be reissued as trade-size paperback editions in February, March and April.
Darn, looks like I’ve run out of room again. I still have more to tell, so until next month -
Stay tuned . . .
Tanzey Cutter
Editor of the Old Book Barn Gazette
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Quote of the day |
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“What in the world are you doing lying on the mud in the middle of a cave?” Her soft laughter rippled to him “You didn’t mistake this for a beauty spa, did you?” - Christine Feehan, The Only One Anthology, Dark Descent p.11 (posted by Heidi G. )
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