Sara Reyes | Bridging the World | Scenic Travels, Thousand Authors, TONS of books!!!

My trip to California (and back to Texas) is over. On one hand I say thank goodness, on the other, I miss the cool air of Northern California. According to husband it was in the 100s while I was gone. It's "cooled" down to just 100 since I've been home. Just call me "bringer of cool temps" LOL Gwen and I saw lots of the country on our twelve day adventure, and it's a BIG country if you were in any doubt. Still many many miles of beautiful vistas, no houses or lights and awe-inspiring landscapes! It nourished my soul to be able to see it closer than 40,000 feet through a small dirty porthole.

Our main objective on this trip was the annual Romance Writers of America convention in San Francisco. We arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon and spent the rest of day relaxing and getting ready to go-go-go. We closed down on Saturday night after FOUR JAM PACKED DAYS!!! I'm not sure how to cover it all, so I'll just try to hit some of the highlights.

Fresh Fiction staff - Sara, Gwen, Suan, Mindy, Faye, Tanzey
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Wednesday, July 30th. The Fresh Fiction team met, some of us for the first time face-to-face, and had dinner before the big literacy signing on Wednesday night. We were all in pink -- except for Gwen who had an incident with a tire and "gup-covered" luggage at the airport -- so we were easy to spot! And had our gold name tags! I think was a first no one forgot theirs (since I'm usually the culprit, I've gotta mention this triumph!). From dinner it was off to the signing, a MASSIVE crowd in the main ball room!

The GIANT Literacy Signing on Wednesday
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

We missed the long lines but arrived by 5:50pm so no one had left as they tend to do when they've sold all their books, or don't have any to sell. We've gotten smarter over the years and have our lists all ready so we can cover most of the authors. So if we missed any, we're sorry, we did try really really hard! And then of course, our first catastrophe of the night struck. The battery on Gwen's camera gave out. As it's one of those rechargeable ones, we had to rely on Mindy, Faye, and Tanzey to carry with the rest of the evening. I'd type up a list of authors I saw, but that would take the rest of the space. So check out our RWA photos on Flickr and get an idea! Also we're missing some names for the photos, if you can help us match them up, we'd be grateful!

After the signing, and YES THEY TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS ON US, we went up to the bar to regroup. Tanzey and Suan headed for bed as they'd been at the librarian meetings all day, but Gwen and Mindy went to a few parties, Sherrilyn Kenyon's, the Romance Bandits and another they can't remember. Faye and I rested at the bar -- do NOT ever get a green tea tini, it tastes worse than bad cough syrup -- and chatted with authors.

Broken Hearts quilt by Marie Bostwick
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Thursday, July 31st Meetings, workshops, luncheons and dinners. It was jam packed from 8am to midnight. The editorial staff (editor Mindy Ewing, editor Tanzey Cutter, reviewer Suan Wilson plus content manager Faye) met with some authors for a coffee break in the morning. Authors included: Sabrina Jeffries, Melody Thomas, Elizabeth Boyle, Mary Burton, and Roxanne St. Claire as well as others. It was a great time for authors and reviewers to meet and chit chat about publishing trends and their books.

Faye, Tanzey and Suan joined the fabulous Nancy Berland team for dinner! They are all TRULY a delight to work with. Gwen, Mindy and I went to Famous John's Steak House where Gwen managed to confuse the server with her cowfish request. She was tired, and wanted "meat." A fun time was had by all!

Ally and her date D'Alessandro
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Friday, August 1st More meetings, publisher meet-and-greets, meetings, and PARTIES!!! We split up with all the team members doing different things: attending some workshops, one-on-one with authors, publishers and others. In other words, work work work. But Friday night is the traditional evening for networking and celebrating. We did some of that on Friday night at the Ballantine party, St. Martin's party -- I missed the St. Martini their signature drink. I am assured it was deLicious! On to the Berkley / NAL party -- crowded and noisy but fun seeing Angela Knight, Christine Feehan and Celeste. Then it was on to the Harlequin Party at the Four Seasons. With dancing, great food, decadence chocolate and a great crowd of people, the HQ party is the one not to miss! Check out the infamous tree falling as well as the conga line. I'm only sorry I can't find photos of the handsome men in kilts! A great time was had by most!

Saturday, August 2nd More meetings, publisher meet-and-greets, dinner with one of my favorite authors, Marie Bostwick and then the sad departures. We admired our friends in their festive RITA outfits and wished them all the best! Bringing us books we love to read and talk about is the top in our minds!

See all the photos from our RWA SF Adventures Be sure to comment and help us fill in the blanks!

Sara Reyes
Fresh Fiction.com ...for today's reader

Don't miss THE Fresh Fiction Readers Conference on October 11th, 2008! With Sherrilyn Kenyon and many other favorite authors. Details at Readers-n-ritas.org -- celebrate passionate literary obsessions

Colleen Thompson | Explores the Dark Side of a Mother’s Love

Have you ever looked down at a sleeping child and realized you would do anything, resort to any measure, to protect the life entrusted to you? Have you ever loved so deeply that it’s almost like a physical ache? Excused behavior even when you knew it was wrong?

If the answer to any of these is yes, perhaps you’ll understand the inspiration for my latest romantic thriller, Triple Exposure, where I explore the idea that even the best, most wholesome emotional attachment can be taken to deadly extremes.

Fine art photographer Rachel Copeland is acquitted of the self-defense slaying of a nineteen-year-old student who’d been stalking her back in Philadelphia. But thanks to a heart-wrenching emotional appeal from the young man’s mother, a popular television personality and the doctored-pornographic photos the “victim” posted to the Internet, Rachel finds no peace, even when she returns home in an attempt to reclaim her life.

What Rachel does find is a new assignment that leads her to photograph reclusive desert craftsman Zeke Pike without his knowledge. The picture taken highlights both his strength and sensuality as he creates his furnishings, igniting feelings Rachel had thought extinguished by her ordeal. But the lit fuse also burns toward hidden dangers, from the mysterious lights that rise above the desert plateau to the fragile gliders Rachel pilots to a killer intent on avenging a secret buried in the past.

Though I was deeply invested in Rachel and Zeke’s story, I found myself feeling compassion for those characters who choose to journey into darkness rather than struggle toward the light. I may not approve, but I understand them, for I, too, have watched a sleeping child.

So what about the rest of you? Are you ever caught up in a “villain’s” story? Do you catch yourself wondering how you might respond to the same situation or hoping one will find redemption in a sequel? If so, which stories’ villains caught your attention?

Thanks for reading,
Colleen Thompson

http://www.colleen-thompson.com/

Christine Son | Yes, It Can Happen

My debut novel, OFF THE MENU, hits bookshelves on August 5th, and recently, a lot of people have been asking me how I went about getting published. The short answer? By keeping my chin — and optimism — up even though I was receiving stacks of rejections every day. The long answer takes me back to a Facebook question I answered for my profile, which called for my most embarrassing moment. Unfortunately, my life is riddled with heinously embarrassing moments, and one of them occurred at a writers conference I attended in the mountains of California, where I met my agent. I’d been invited to an industry cocktail party out of the graciousness of one of the conference’s board members, and being an unpublished writer who was desperate to make a good impression, I researched the guest list, which included dozens of publishers and agents. This was my chance to wow them, I thought. And maybe snag an agent. So, I perfected my pitch. Practiced my smile. Wore a cute outfit. As ready as I’d ever be, I showed up at the party, determined and excited. And it would have been a great party had I managed to stay upright for more than thirty minutes. I can’t say what exactly caused what happened next — the high altitude, perhaps, or maybe low blood sugar, or the single sip of wine in my system — but in front of God and everyone who mattered in publishing, I fainted. As in, hit the floor face first. With my wine glass still in hand. I don’t recall the fall, but a number of revelers told me afterwards that I then did a pushup before a couple of concerned hosts helped me to a chair, brought me water, and then guided me back to my room, where I spent the rest of the night horrified and cringing. I’d never fainted before, and of all the times in the world to pass out, I couldn’t believe that my body had chosen that moment to try it out. I wrung my hands (literally), sure that I’d forever blown my chances to find an agent. I worried that publishers would think that I was a jackass at best, and a liability at worst. I fretted all night, wishing that I could turn back time and praying that there might be at least a few attendees who hadn’t witnessed my complete lack of grace. Alas, everyone heard about the fainting girl in the darling ruffled shirt.

The next morning, I spent some time apologizing to people I recognized from the night before, and my pitiful conversation with a striking woman turned into a long one about the troubles with thin mountain air, me and my book. She asked me to send her the first chapter of it, which I did as soon as I returned to Dallas, and three days later, she called to request the rest of it. The next week, she signed me on, made me change a few things in the manuscript, and then sent it out to a bunch of publishers. It went nowhere. But I began writing what would become OFF THE MENU, and after a number of rewrites, it sold to Penguin.

So, there you have it in a nutshell as to how I went about getting published. I worked really, really hard, wrote during every free second I had, learned the industry, went to several writers conferences, attended a cocktail party and then passed out. I guess the road to publishing is a bit like that — a mix of preparation and luck. It’s incredibly labor intensive, and sometimes, what seems like the worst thing in the world ends up becoming the best. Because the kicker of it all is that my agent would never have noticed me had I not caused a ruckus at the coc ktail party. You can read more about me at www.christineson.com/.

Christine Son

Charlene Sands | Everything but the Kitchen Sink.

Five-Star Cowboy launches my first mini-series with Silhouette Desire called Suite Secrets. It’s a series I had a lot of fun writing and because I wanted the first of the three stories to include all of my favorite things, I threw in everything dear to me into this story.

So what do I love?

Well, location, location, location.

I love Arizona. I set my very first book there, a Kensington Precious Gem titled Chance in a Million. Now 25 books later, I’m still using Arizona as a primary setting for many of my stories.

Five-Star Cowboy takes place the fictional area known as Crimson Canyon, fashioned after Sedona, Arizona. Jutting mountains, deep colorful canyons and vistas from Mother Nature’s best day all play a part in my story.

I love cowboys.

What’s not to love about a rugged, man of the earth? I grew up watching Bonanza, The Big Valley, The Rifleman and so many more. Those stories dealt with family and values and taught me a thing or two about western life. The cowboy heroes were all men you could admire and trust.

So of course, the owner of the elite, exclusive dude ranch type Tempest West Hotel had to be sweet-talking, Stetson-wearing cowboy Trent Tyler. He made an appearance in the prequel to this story, The Corporate Raider’s Revenge and I fell in love instantly. No doubt, Trent had to have his own story!

I love horses.

As a young girl born in New York, I dreamed of owning a horse and when I arrived in California at the tender age of seven, I thought everyone lived on horse property. We were, after all, out west. Well, I didn’t get a horse, but I did to ride. I took English and Western riding lessons and visited the stables often. Part of my dream had come true.

So, yes we have horses in Five-Star Cowboy. Tempest West houses stables on the grounds and wild mustangs run free in Crimson Canyon on the property. Where would a cowboy be without his horse?

I love a good romantic legend.

We have that to. This contemporary story has roots that go back to an earlier time. Discover the legend of Destiny Lake!

I love country music.

I like all kinds of music, but I’m a country music junkie. Give me Tim and Faith, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith and Martina McBride and I’m in foot-stomping heaven.

So yes, you’ll find famous country western singer Sarah Rose (the heroine in November’s story) giving a rock solid performance at the lake!

Most of all I love a great love story!

Some of my early favorite books include, LaVyrle Spencer’s Hummingbird and Kathryn Woodwiss ’, The Flame and the Flower. For movies, I stop channel surfing at the old classic, It Happened One Night along with Operation Petticoat and Man’s Favorite Sport. I tend to like the light side of romance when it comes to movies, but more emotional tales when reading.

Yes, I tossed in everything but the kitchen sink in Five-Star Cowboy, a story that Romantic Time Book Reviews gave 4 ½ stars and deemed steamy and terrific!

I hope some of my favorite things are yours too.

Wishing you Suite Dreams, Suite Reading and Suite Secrets!

http://www.charlenesands.com/
http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com/

Allie Pleiter | I think I have a writing disability.

Well, perhaps disability is too strong a word, except that I do truly feel “differently-abled.” I feel somewhat hampered by it, like I stand out more than I already do by being six feet tall. And at gatherings of writers and readers, like here at the Romance Writers of America conference in San Francisco this week, I feel my “freak flag” flying especially high.

I’m an extrovert. A raging, card-carrying, put-my-photo –in-the-dictionary-next-to-the-definition extrovert. And introverts—not extroverts--populate the writers world by a huge majority.

Why is that a disability? Well, it sets me at a disadvantage. All you thoughtful introverts are watching, observing cunning truths of human behavior, carefully selecting your contribution to the dialogue, and I’m…well I’m yakking away like that crazy uncle everyone tolerates at Thanksgiving. I’m on my ninth story, mistaking all your quiet for consent when I’m now rather sure you all were saying to yourselves (or maybe even each other) can’t someone rein this gal in? Take her volume and drama down a notch? I’m trying—perhaps too desperately—to pull you into conversations when you all would probably rather have a root canal than make small talk with the likes of me.

Really, I’m starting to think I’m coming off rather badly at these things. I’m missing a gene. Most of the writers I truly admire don’t have this psychotic impulse to go meet new people and make them talk to me. Perhaps I need to start counting to ten before I engage another person in conversation. Or find a support group. Perhaps I am the exception that proves the rule. Perhaps I serve some useful social function, saving introverts from having to create conversation—or…gulp…giving them an oddity they can all talk about like the bad boss that unites an office by giving all the workers a common enemy.

Pipe up! Chime in! The internet is the water cooler of introverts! Tell me what you think of the oddities of extroverted writers…or extraverted readers…or tell me to please hush up and go home….

Allie Pleiter
www.alliepleiter.com/

Eve Silver | Why Gothic?

Thanks to FreshFiction for inviting me to blog today.

Sometimes, the best laid plans blow up like a shook-up soda.

I’m a suspense fan. Lisa Jackson's Shiver, Linda Howard ’s Cry No More, Lisa Gardner’s Hide...those books sent a shiver up my spine. But I never imagined myself as a suspense writer. In fact, my very first romance-writing attempt was a light, funny contemporary romance that is buried in the back yard where it belongs. Some books should never see the light of day, LOL! Still, the months I slaved over that manuscript were not a waste. I learned a lot. Specifically, I learned I should not be writing contemporary romantic comedy. (What was I thinking?)

No problem. I tried my hand at a light, funny historical. Umm...not such a success. No matter how hard I tried to be funny, everything I wrote was dark. Very dark. And spooky. And scary. In fact, that first historical ended up as a twisty, creepy gothic. So I ran with it, and I kept writing gothics. It was easier than fighting the dark cauldron of my imagination. I guess you could say that I didn’t choose gothics, they chose me.

My August release, His Wicked Sins, is no exception. It’s a little less gothic, a little more suspense, and a lot sinister. In 1828 Yorkshire, a killer lurks in the shadowed halls of Burndale School. Three women are dead. Murdered. Elizabeth Canham is drawn to Griffin Fairfax, the father of one of her pupils. But she soon learns that all of the victims were intimately connected to him. As the murderer stalks her, Elizabeth must decide if Griffin could be the charming, seductive killer so many women have lost their hearts—and lives—to...

Considering how much fun I have writing these books, I must admit that I don’t regret going over to the dark side.

Please visit www.evesilver.net/ or www.evekenin.com/ for more information on HIS WICKED SINS and other Eve Silver / Eve Kenin books.

Happy reading!

Eve Silver / Eve Kenin