Tanzey Talk
September 2003
If you want to contact me directly through this column's site, please be sure to click on my personal link - Contact Tanzey - and not the store's link. Unfortunately, they thought I was getting copies of everything they were getting, so they didn't forward messages meant for me. That means I missed a lot of your messages. For those of you who don't know, I do not work from the store. In fact, I live in Kansas and the store is located in Illinois. So for all of you who wondered why I didn't answer your e-mails, that's the explanation. But, thanks for your interest!
Many of you have been asking for more detailed information about the web site where my column is now posted each month, as well as the site featuring most of our reviews/reviewers. Sara Reyes, Director of Marketing and Promotion for Writerspace, has provided the following statement.
"Writerspace.com is a primary hub for Romance and Women’s Fiction online, hosting websites for over 450 bestselling romance authors. Founded in 1998, Writerspace has thrived in a time when the outlook for many "dot com" companies has been grim, beginning 2003 with the addition of the New American Library/Signet Authors site. Writerspace is visited by more than 6,000 unique visitors a day and distributes a weekly "author news" newsletter to a mailing list of over 63,000 opt-in romance readers. Writerspace delivers approximately 4.9 million hits each month, while its entire network of hosted author sites delivers over 12 million hits per month. One of the things that makes Writerspace stand out from other websites is our attention to readers of romance fiction. We create communities of interest where readers return daily - to visit our bulletin boards, discussion lists, check reviews, reader calendar, author chats and author contests. We host communities of interest for readers such as paranormal romance and sensual romance and TheBestReviews.com with over 11,000 reviews, 6,000 books and information on more than 3,200 authors. We also host publishing groups including Berkley/Jove Authors, Silhouette Intimate Moments Authors, Harlequin Blaze Authors, Harlequin Superromance Authors, Ballantine/Ivy Authors, NAL/Signet/Onyx Authors, Red Sage Publishing and TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors)."
Sara is the person who finally convinced me to take advantage of this great opportunity. It seems that many of you are just as glad as I am that I did so. So, please, keep reading!
Those of you who’ve read the back of the paperback edition of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Breathing Room know it contains an excerpt from her upcoming hardcover release, Luv U 4-Ever. Well, after this paperback edition had already gone to print, the publishing house started to get nervous about that title. It seems the weird spelling had them concerned about search engine problems, and they were also worried that it sounded like a Young Adult title. Susan says, "We talked about it for six weeks with opinions solicited from everyone, including the Morrow Avon editorial department, sales department, their nightly cleaning service, all my friends, my hairdresser, and my husband and sons...In the end, we found the perfect title for a book with a heroine named Sugar Beth. Drum roll please...Ain’t She Sweet?" Susan is asking everyone to spread the word - the book formerly known as Luv U 4-Ever is now Ain’t She Sweet?, and you’ll see it on bookshelves at the end of January. To read an excerpt from chapter one, visit her web site.
At the recent Romance Writers of America Conference in NYC, bestselling novelist Heather Graham (aka Shannon Drake) received RWA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2003. This prolific author has written over 100 novels in various genres under several names. Here’s hoping she continues to do so for a long time to come. A prestigious award for a deserving author - congrats to Heather! (To see the list of RWA’s 2003 RITA award winners, go to page 9 of this newsletter.)
Congrats also go to Vicki Lewis Thompson, whose book, Nerd in Shining Armor, has been shooting up the bestseller lists after being picked by Kelly Ripa for her "Reading with Ripa" book club. And Vicki’s appearance on Live with Regis & Kelly was great!
On vacation, my personal reading included several good books. The first I’d like to recommend is a historical romance from Patricia Rice. The Trouble with Magic (Signet, 8/03) is the third book in her wonderful Magic series involving the headstrong, logical Ives men and the beautifully magical Malcolm women. Ewen Ives and Felicity Malcolm were introduced in the previous novels - Merely Magic and Must Be Magic - so we know a little about their personality traits. Two more opposite people couldn’t be found, but we all know that’s what attracts. In this case, it’s more than true and also harder to deal with. No matter how much they fight it, fate has decreed that these two are to be together. The path they must take and the obstacles they must overcome to reach the ultimate goal makes for a charming and touching story. I was engrossed from the first page. It will be interesting to see who gets paired in Pat’s next book concerning these two diverse families. And speaking of future books from this talented author, her next release (scheduled for spring 2004) will be the third installment in her popular contemporary McCloud series set in the islands off South Carolina. Carolina Girl tells about Clay McCloud, ex-millionaire software tycoon, and Aurora Jenkins, uptown banker returned to her trailer-park roots following a family disaster. To quote Pat, "The sarcastic loner of the McCloud family meets his match in the steamroller female who never learned to keep her big mouth shut. Fast cars, fires and pots of money fly through their fingers in the merry dance they lead each other." Oh, boy, this sounds like a fun one!
Another enjoyable read for me was the fun contemporary That’s Amore (Pocket, 7/03) by Carol Grace, which Sue did a great review of in our July issue. This story, located in Italy, is part of Pocket’s Bon Voyage romances set in exotic places. I really liked that the hero (a very sexy Italian cop) and the heroine (an American librarian who’s divorced with a college-age son) are mature adults. Even though they’re antics are sometimes foolish and laughable, they are never childish. Added suspense concerning a stolen diamond, and its delivery, make the plot race along. And the descriptions of Italy made me feel like I was there right along with the characters.
Of course, you probably already know that Janet Evanovich’s latest Stephanie Plum novel, To the Nines, is another bestseller. Not much more to say there, except it again kept me in stitches. And I didn’t put it down until I’d read the whole book. Good thing I’d seen most of the scenery on our long drive in the motor home to and from our vacation destination. I could keep my nose stuck in good books. <grin>
I’m now getting set to read The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen and Sense of Evil by Kay Hooper, which I’ve just gotten. Both of these books will have highly anticipated sequels next year.
Later this month will see the release of an innovative concept from Putnam with the hardcover title Remember When by Nora Roberts & J.D. Robb. This novel blends a present-day romance, involving the proprietor of an antique/gift shop and the fortune she uncovers, with a futuristic suspense, featuring Lt. Eve Dallas dealing with the danger and death that future generations have inherited along with the fortune. This book, containing two stories, sounds so intriguing! It’s on my list to buy as soon as it goes on sale September 15.
A little less romance is slated for the future. As reported in a recent issue of Publishers Weekly, beginning this month (September), Dorchester will publish one mass market thriller and one teen fiction title (the new Smooch line) per month in addition to their adult romance, western and horror releases. To meet its usual schedule of 15 titles each month, this means that Dorchester is reducing the number of adult romances from four to three each month. Sigh...
Several people have asked if Hunter Morgan, author of the chilling suspense The Other Twin (Zebra, 8/03), is a man, since the writing seems that way. I’ve heard that this "new" writer is actually historical/contemporary romance author Colleen Faulkner.
Following the debut hardcover success of Gone Too Far, Suzanne Brockmann is working on her next hardcover - FlashPoint - which will be the seventh book in her Troubleshooters series. The only thing Suz will say is that the hero is NOT a Navy SEAL, it is NOT Max and Gina’s story, and the pub date is April 2004. Now, the book that follows FlashPoint (tentatively titled Hot Target and tentatively scheduled for a fall 2004 hardcover release) does feature a Team 16 SEAL - Chief Cosmo Richter.
 As I informed you in an earlier issue, Suzanne Brockmann’s new September Silhouette IM 1243, featuring Navy SEAL Chief Wes Skelly, has a new title - Night Watch (NOT the previous title of Wild Wild Wes). However, Suz says that "Some Silhouette books have been printed that advertise the release of Wild Wild Wes in their back pages! And at least two websites - including www.eharlequin.com and www.bn.com - have posted what sure looks like cover art for a book called Wild Wild Wes." She wants to make very sure everyone is looking for the right one, so here’s the correct cover art and title.
After checking the two web sites she mentions, I found they had the title correct in their listing, but the cover art was not. Amazon.com does have the right cover depicted with the right title.
The first book in Linda Needham’s new Gentleman Rogues series, titled The Pleasure of Her Kiss, is due for release in November. Suan has just reviewed it and called it "a scrumptious treat." The latest word from this author is that she’s having a blast writing the second book in the series - The Last True Princess - where "dangerous secrets abound and a fiery, forbidden romance ensues!" She used several of the opulent Gilded Age mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, as inspiration for the terrace and ballroom settings in this newest book. To see photos of these sites, go to www.lindaneedham.com/scrapbook. You can also see what else she does in her free time. <grin>
Jo Beverley says she’s finally gotten the Malloren data entered on her web site in a special genealogical program. You’ll find all the connections to the Wares, St. Claires and Trayces (whom you’ll meet in her November novel,Winter Fire). Just go to this web site address: http://members.shaw.ca/jobev/famtindex.htm and have fun playing with it. If you happen to spot an error, please let Jo know, so she can make the correction.
Carly Phillips is one busy author! Not only is she still writing hardcover novels for Warner (her next release is Jersey Girl due in June 2004), but she’s also signed to launch Harlequin’s brand new mass market single-title romance line, HQN, in August 2004. Carly says, "Jersey Girl (Warner hardcover) is the story of twin sisters and their hunky heroes and funky family." Harlequin is also reprinting her earlier books of the Simply series (with new covers) - Simply Sinful (11/03), Simply Scandalous (12/03) and Simply Sensual (1/04).
This month should see the next installment of Catherine Asaro’s award-winning Skolian Empire series - Skyfall - go on sale. This book has been eagerly anticipated by fans of her totally awesome and spellbinding sci-fi saga.
In October, watch for the next hardcover novel from Haywood Smith - The Red Hat Club. This group of gals dresses up in their finest duds and chapeaux for the monthly Ladies Who Lunch meeting. I know several women across the nation who belong to this club.
After returning from the RWA conference in NYC, Jill Marie Landis and hubby Steve were off to their second home on Kauai. Jill did have time to send a newsy note concerning her next hardcover contemporary - Heatwave - the follow-up to Lover’s Lane. To quote Jill, "So many of you have already e-mailed to ask if I’m doing Kat’s story (she’s Jake’s partner in Lover’s Lane) that I have to break the cone of silence and tell you that Heatwave does feature Kat as heroine. And, boy, does this straight-talking, no-nonsense P.I. have one heck of a story to tell. I’ve really turned up the heat in this one, and not only does it feature Twilight Cove again, but the fast and furious streets of Los Angeles." Oh, my, I can’t wait!
All of you who were so disappointed that Deborah Smith left Hush McGillen (Sweet Hush) down on the apple farm and not married to Nick, take notice. Deb heard from so many of you that she’s decided to make a return visit with these two. She says she’s written "a delightfully delicious short story tucked into the back of the paperback edition of Sweet Hush, to be published by Warner in January. This time the apple gang is at the White House, and a wedding is in the air. Once again, Hush and Edwina clash, and Hush harbors another secret, even from Nick." Be sure to mark your calendars for this release.
Attention fiction writers - published or unpublished! Tina St. John and her husband, John, have created a new software program just for you. Designed for the beginner, as well as the seasoned pro, they say it will help take you from your initial concept and ideas to a completed manuscript. To check out WriteWayPro and get a free demo, go to www.WriteWayPro.com. Tina says, "Sometimes having a techie for a husband is a good thing. John first developed WriteWay for me - from a wish list of features I gave him that was about 10 pages long! I needed something to help me organize my thoughts as I plotted a new book, but I didn’t want to have to switch from a plotting and story development program to MSWord in order to compose my manuscripts. So, he wrote WriteWay for me to handle everything. When I saw how great it was coming together, I told him he HAD to put it on the market. It’s a wonderful program - if I do say so myself!"
The August issue of Romantic Times BOOKclub had a no-holds-barred feature article titled "Are Readers Really Reading Less or Just Buying Less?" It was a thought-provoking, eye-opening, revealing commentary on the state of the industry taken from the many readers’ responses to a survey conducted by RT. If you haven’t read it yet, find a copy. This is something that will be discussed in greater detail at their upcoming convention in Kansas City in October.
In closing, I’d like to thank Susan Grant for including me in her acknowledgements in The Star Princess (Lovespell, 8/03). Her words reinforce the fact that what I do is important and appreciated.
Stay tuned . . .
Tanzey
And again be sure to scroll down for some of our readers’ comments.
Tanzey Cutter
Editor of the Old Book Barn Gazette
Suzanne Tucker, Minnesota: A big congratulations to Cheryl on her much-deserved honor as RT’s Bookseller of the Year! I found the Old Book Barn several years ago and they always had the book(s) I was looking for. They never cease to amaze me with their incredible inventory. I have also been fortunate enough to be a reviewer for the OBB Gazette for the last 3½ years. That has broadened my association with the store and with its manager, Sue Burke. I don’t know what I, and the store, would do without her! And she would probably agree. <grin> This leads me to a big Thank You! to Tanzey for making me look as good as I do as a reviewer. Her professionalism in editing and her support is overwhelming. And doesn’t her column look terrific on Writerspace.com? I am very proud to be associated with her. I’ll finish up by mentioning a few not-to-be-missed books I’ve read and/or reviewed recently. Bravo! goes to Pamela Clare for her debut novel Sweet Release. It’s romance at its best, and I highly recommend it. If you like suspense thrillers, don’t miss Shannon McKenna’s Behind Closed Doors and Standing in the Shadows (August release). Heart-stoppers! Lastly, Jo Goodman, one of my favorite authors, is writing a four-book series she calls the Compass Club. Let Me Be the One and Everything I Ever Wanted have already been released, with All I Ever Need set to go on sale in October. I can hardly wait! So many books, so little time...
Anne Grieveson, England: Apart from hardcover books, I haven’t read much this month. Flirting with Pete by Barbara Delinsky was good; Wish Come True by Eileen Goudge, was not so good. As always, I love Mary Balogh. I’m just sorry the three books recently published are all there are for the present. But she must be going to write about the other three siblings of the Bedwyn family, though probably not until next year, which is sad. I haven’t read Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. Over 800 pages is just too much when I’m trying to work as well. But my daughter read it and her opinion is that it’s vastly overwritten. She thinks 400 or 500 pages would have produced a tighter story. What do you think?
Author Carla Neggers: I just discovered Tanzey Talk at Writerspace.com - nice job! And fun to see your smiling face. That’s great about the Old Book Barn being named RT’s Bookseller of the Year - much deserved! I’ll continue reading your column - keep up the great work!
Lenore Howard, Illinois: Over the past few months, I’ve decided to go back and read some "classics." A few of my favorites have been Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise, Beloved by Toni Morrison, E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View, Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I also recently finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, which I loved. Returning to the "classics" isn’t as painful as I expected it to be. I suppose it’s because I’m choosing my own books instead of having them assigned, and I don’t have to worry about being tested on the material! I’ve also been surprised at how many of these books have a definite romantic element, even if the language is somewhat fancier and the sex scenes take place behind closed doors. I read the new Harry Potter book, too, and highly recommend it to fans of the series. It’s a little darker, a little more adult, but then Harry is 15 now. Yes, it’s big, but it’s so addictive and fast-paced that you’ll be through it before you know it.
Sandra Clark, Illinois: I have loved buying books at your store. I am moving out of state to the West coast and can only hope to find a place like yours. I have told many people here about the Old Book Barn and how nice you are. I will still be reading Romantic Times and looking for your ads. Keep up the good work!
Reviewer Nichole Keeton: Some of my personal reading has included a book that I just have to recommend to everyone - Traveler by Melanie Jackson. It is surprisingly good and I loved it! As soon as I finished reading it the first time, I immediately went back and reread it - my criteria for an excellent book!
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