Member News

June Member News

Debra Mullins was featured on the Borders True Romance Blog.

Judi Fennell’s Wild Blue Under is a finalist in the Prism Awards, Light Paranormal. Winners will be announced at The Gathering at the FFP celebration at the RWA National Conference.

Kathy Kulig’s Damned and Desired received 4.5 cherries and was Book of the Week at The Long and Short Reviews

Patt Mihailoff will be doing a talk at the Clarendon Library (near Brooklyn College) on June 8th at 6 p.m.

Caridad Piñeiro just received the cover for her November 2010 release STRONGER THAN SIN. Caridad is also pleased to announce that she has accepted an offer from Carina Press for two Aztec-themed paranormal romances and an offer from Grand Central Publishing for two more books in the SINS paranormal romance series.

Anne Elizabeth was Author Reporter at the BEA for PW’s Barbara Vey. Here’s a link to the news:
http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/
Anne also signed her graphic novel—PULSE OF POWER—and over five hundred promo pieces with LA Banks (for her Vampire Huntress comics). Both Anne and LA Banks debut in July with Dynamite Entertainment.

Autumn Jordon’s OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE received 4.5 stars at The Romance Studio.

Penelope Marzec’s FIEND OF WHITE BUCK HALL received a great review at Hot Gossip Hot Reviews.

Member News

January-February Member News

Cris Anson is pleased to announce the sale of PUNISHMENT AND MERCY to Ellora’s Cave. PUNISHMENT is wildly different from her contemporary DANCE books—it’s a ménage set in 1694 Massachusetts Bay Colony. Cris’s editor said, “I don’t know where this story came from in your mind, but I can only say that it reads as inspired. The way you’ve done the voice of the characters, the absolute ‘feel’ of the piece—it’s amazing!” Oh, yeah, she also says “And, boy oh boy, is this a hot one!”

Anne Frazier Walradt will present a workshop “Secrets of the Ha-Ha Sisterhood: The Community of Women’s Humor” at Maumee Bay Resort (Oregon, OH) for “A Writing Retreat: In the Company of Women” on April 16-18, 2010. Registration is limited: http://www.bigwits.com/MAUMEE general info.htm
Joanna Aislinn received her first review at Amazon and it was 5 stars.

Autumn Jordon’s OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE was released on January 27th by Wild Rose Press.

Blaise Kilgallen’s TIMELESS was released on January 15 by Class Act Books. The sequel to “TIMELESS” — “CADY’S STORY” — will be released on March 15th.

Judi Fennell’s third Mer story, CATCH OF A LIFETIME, is up for Best Book on Long and Short Reviews.

Jenni Holbrook is teaching an on-line class about Pitching and Synopsis writing at HCRW in February. Registration is still open. I’m really looking forward to teaching. This is my favorite topic. For more information, please visit http://www.heartofcarolina.org/
Mary Kennedy was interviewed by Jean Henry Meade.

Kat Henry Doran was recently interviewed by the Rochester Romance Novel Examiner.

Lori Varallo has released her first article at the Examiner.

Member News

2009 December Member News

Mary Kennedy is pleased to report that she’ll be reviewing books for Book Page, the publication that goes out to every public library in the country. Her first Book Page review will appear in October. She continues to review crime fiction for the Examiner.

Tina Gabrielle, is thrilled to announce that her Regency historical, LADY OF SCANDAL, received 4 stars from Romantic Times BOOKreviews: “Debuting with a tantalizing tale, Gabrielle employs themes of revenge, secrets, and misunderstandings, blending them with sizzle and characters that engage readers’ emotions. Gabrielle has the opportunity to garner a strong fan base eager for her next novel.” LADY OF SCANDAL was also nominated by the RT Book Reviews Choice Awards as one of the best first historical romances of 2009!

Joanna Aislinn’s aka Joanne Timrum’s debut novel NO MATTER WHY was released as an Early Bird Special by The Wild Rose Press.

Cris Anson is happy to announce that FIRST TO DIE, released digitally last year, is now available in print from Cerridwen Press, the mainstream imprint of Ellora’s Cave. FIRST TO DIE received an “Outstanding Read” from Simply Romance Reviews and a “Golden Blush Recommended Read” along with a 5-Nymph rating from Literary Nymphs.

Shobhan Bantwal is excited to see her latest release, THE SARI SHOP WIDOW featured on the Publisher’s Weekly blog,” Beyond her Book” Wednesday, Nov. 25, run by Barbara Vey. It’s there with several other books and it’s got a really nice review, too. “Never thought I’d make it on the PW blog, but one never knows…. “

Mickey Flagg announces her second sale to editor Callie Lynn Wolfe of The Wild Rose Press. CONSEQUENCES—THE CHAMPION CHRONICLES: BOOK 2 will be a 2010 release. Every action has a consequence, but some are more difficult to face than others. Visit Flagg at www.Mflagg-author.com
Anne Frazier Walradt spoke on www.coffeefolk.com on December 6 on using humor to survive in your life. If you want to catch the show, the Archives link is alive in the Program Menu (on LH side) at http://holisticglobe.webs.com/. The link will take you to a page where you’ll see that the Archives is a “Members Only Area,” below which is a “form” to “Join Our Community,” a free subscribe, where you’ll submit your name and email, and then be asked to select a password, which you’ll use to Log In thereafter.

Penelope Marzec reports that Coffee Time Reviews has given her Four Coffee Cups for THE COMPANY YOU KEEP and a lovely review.

Caridad Pineiro’s March release, FURY CALLS, is one of the nominees for Best Nocturne for the 2009 RT BookReview Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

Cris Anson is pleased to announce that Fallen Angel Reviews has given 5 Angels to her latest release, DANCE OF THE ROGUE.

Registration for the 2010 Create Something Magical Conference is now open! Please visit our conference page:
https://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/lsf-writers-conference/
On this page you can find information about our speakers, see the list of attending editors and agents, sign up to receive conference email updates and, of course, register to attend the conference. Over the coming months we will be posting information on the workshops, any additional speakers/editors/agents that will be attending, when editor/agent appointment sign up will open, as well as the conference schedule to this page, so stop back often.

Member News

2009 November Member News

Various members of the Liberty States Fiction Writers participated in the group’s street fair in Somerville.

Caridad Pineiro has received 5 stars from SingleTitles.com for her November release SINS OF THE FLESH. Single Titles noted “An innovative paranormal romantic suspense series begins with SINS OF THE FLESH, where danger constantly lurks and pressing questions need immediate answers. Caridad Pineiro never disappoints, and her new series looks to be a winner in every possible way.”

Cris Anson is pleased to announce that Literary Nymphs Reviews was given 5 Nymphs to her latest release, DANCE OF THE ROGUE.

C.H. Admirand just signed a contract with Sourcebooks for a 3 book deal to be published in mass market paperback!!! Dark-haired, dark-eyed Irishmen…Tyler, Clint & Jesse Garahan. The men of the Circle G. Book one is Tyler’s story.

Linda Parisi is thrilled to announce that she won NJRW’s Golden Leaf award for Best First Book. Her book is NOBLE BLOOD, from The Wild Rose Press.

Kathy Kulig reports that she just had an email from her editor at Ellora’s Cave. She’s been offered a contract for DAMNED AND DESIRED, book 2 in her Demons in Exile series.

Registration for the 2010 Create Something Magical Conference is now open! Please visit our conference page:
https://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/lsf-writers-conference/
On this page you can find information about our speakers, see the list of attending editors and agents, sign up to receive conference email updates and, of course, register to attend the conference. Over the coming months we will be posting information on the workshops, any additional speakers/editors/agents that will be attending, when editor/agent appointment sign up will open, as well as the conference schedule to this page, so stop back often.

Other

First line quiz by Chris Redding

Here’s a first line quiz. I will award a bag of chocolate to whomever gets all of them correct. If there is more than one person than I will draw a name from a hat.

1. My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name being Philip, my infant tongue could make both of those names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.

2. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

3. When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.

4. “What’s it going to be then, eh?”

5. A squat grey building of over thirty four stories.

6. Boys are playing basketball around a telephone pole with a backboard bolted to it.

7. My names was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie.

8. It was a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance.

9. She dreamed of sanctuary.

10. The corpse grabbed her arm with cool fingers.

Thanks for playing.

Chris Redding

www.chrisreddingauthor.com

http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com

Member News

2009 September Member News

Shobhan Bantwal appeared at the Edison Public Library on September 11th to discuss her latest release, THE SARI SHOP WIDOW.

Caridad Piñeiro appeared at the DragonCon Convention in Atlanta, Georgia and participated in a panel on Staying Afloat in an Uncertain Publishing Industry.

Trudy Doyle makes her Home Shopping Network debut Monday as part of a six-book set of Contemporary Romances in HSN’s “Escape with Romance” promotion! Come join Ravenous Publisher Holly Schmidt as she introduces this fabulous collection at the following times:

Monday September 14 – 8:35am – 8:55am then 4:35 pm- 4:55pm. Early Tuesday September 15 -3:00am – 3:20am.
http://electronics.hsn.com/escape-with-romance-exclusive-6-book-collection_p-5700283_xp.aspx?cm_mmc=rss*Browse*2*NA

Debra Mullins is thrilled to announce that she has accepted an offer for her paranormal romance trilogy from Heather Osborn at Tor Forge.

Karen Bostrom Walling is excited to announce that she has recently signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press to publish her first romantic suspense novel, DANGEROUS SANDS. Writing as Karen Bostrom, she has just begun the editing rounds process of her book which will be part of the Last Rose in Summer line. She would like to thank the members of Liberty State Fiction Writers and other writing organizations, and especially her critique partners, for all their hope and support throughout the years.

Karen Bostrom Walling

Various members of the Liberty States Fiction Writers participated in the group’s first street fairs in Red Bank and Jamesburg.

Joann Hali is pleased to announce she was admitted to RWA’s PAN group in September.

Melinda Leigh is now represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Christine Bush is happy to announce that she’s gotten a contract from Wild Rose Press for her new contemporary, Cindy’s Prince. There is no publication date yet, but the book will be in print and e-book. This one is an upside down fairy tale, set in Philadelphia. “What happens if Cindy loves living her single parent life, helping out in her struggling community and absolutely refuses to go hide in the castle? It takes a true Prince to adapt to car seats and occasional baby puke in order to live happily ever after…”

Patt Mihailoff was honored at this year’s Golden Apple Awards as the 2009 Author of the year.

Patt speaking to the LSF Writers during her Short Fiction Workshop

Other

Because You Never Know by Joanna Aislinn

Many years ago—geez, I’m old enough to write that?—I worked with another occupational therapist who once commented, “Joanna, you have a story about everything!” She was right; I still do, but isn’t that what makes me a writer?

So it goes that I have a story about my absolute favorite chicken recipe, this amazingly simple, incredibly delicious, very elegant dish; perfect for special occasions yet easy enough to make during the week and even better the next day! Feel free to make ahead, store in a covered glass baking dish and reheat before company comes!

When I was a girl I lived down the block from a family-owned Italian butcher/grocer/deli. As soon as I was old enough to cross the street, my mom had me there almost daily, picking up little things she needed. Sometimes, she’d send me without money and I’d sign a receipt; she’d pay for those items on Saturday, when she made her weekly visits and bought our meats for the following week. Three brothers owned that store, and over the years, I’d established a pretty decent rapport with at least two of them.

By the time I was in my late teens/early twenties, the owners offered a hot deli bar. One of the brothers gave me a sample of this to-die-for-chicken breast made with rosemary and wine, so I asked for the recipe. He got really annoyed when I pushed for it, told me he paid to have it, and that I had no business asking. Good thing the little Italian lady who did the cooking motioned to me when said owner wasn’t looking or I would have ended up in a rather caustic exchange of words. She slipped me her phone number and gave me the recipe on the sly.

Long story short: I must have written that recipe down on two pieces of paper because at some point, I had only a list of ingredients and no directions on how to put them together. I even tried flubbing it a few times, but the dish never tasted the same as when Angelina (not her real name) made it. Of course, I’d lost her phone number too.

Somewhere between five and ten years ago, I was sitting in my doctor’s waiting room, waiting for a routine physical. An elderly woman and developmentally disabled man entered together. After a while she looked at me, nodded and finally told me I seemed familiar. I shook my head, and though I recognized the man from church, I’d never connected him as her son. She shook her head in the way someone who’s had her hardships does and started talking about where she went to church, etc. Then she told me she used to cook at my old butcher/grocer/deli before the place was sold and eventually went out of business. (It is now a custom motorcycle shop, go figure.)

I nearly jumped out of my chair. “Oh, my gosh! You’re the lady who used to make the chicken!” I immediately knocked on the receptionist’s window, secured pen and paper and begged Angelina for the rest of the recipe. (Yes, it’s at my official website. Look below for the link.

Thoughts for the day: Expect the unexpected. Be open. Smile and say hello. You’ll be surprised at who crosses your path, and why, when or how any given person will impact your life.

Here’s the link: www.joannaaislinn.com/Recipes.html

Try it! Let me know if it’s as awesome as I say!

Joanna Aislinn
NO MATTER WHY
The Wild Rose Press
January 15, 2010
www.joannaaislinn.com
Member News

2009 June July Member News

LSF Writers members Kathy Kulig, Tara Nina and Cris Anson signed books at the Ellora’s Cave booth at this year’s BEA.

Shelley Freydont’s THE MAN FOR ME won second place in the More Than Magic contest.

Caridad Pineiro and the various authors of the Colton Continuity series from Silhouette Romantic Suspense were featured in

Barbara Vey’s Publishers Weekly blog.  For more information, please visit http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/post/1570045757.html

Kathy Kulig’s article “Twittering on Twitter: Viral Marketing in Small Tweets” will appear in the August issue of RT Bookclub.  Kathy will also presenting a workshop on the same topic at the 2010 RT Convention.

Joanna Timrum, writing as Joanna Aislinn, received word that her debut novel, NO MATTER WHY, will be released by The Wild Rose Press on January 15, 2010.

Tina Gabrielle’s first Regency-set historical romance, LADY OF SCANDAL, is being released on September 1, 2009 by Kensington/Zebra Books. Tina is hard at work on the second book of the series, A PERFECT SCANDAL.

Other

Save the World, Write Green By Kathye Quick

Question for 2009: What can you do as a writer to leave less of an eco-footprint on the world?

Answer – plenty. While every suggestion will not work for every person, one or two small steps can actually help.

Paper and pens are two of the most basic office tools, but while we’ve been recycling paper and using recycled paper for years, pens have mostly gotten left out of the recycling picture. Enter BeGreen pens, which are sold in packaging made from recycled materials. You can find the BeGreen line at major office supply stores and national retailers including Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and Target. Add Pilot’s BeGreen line and the pen is now greener than the sword. (Unless we’re talking about recycled swords, which is a whole different story).

ForestChoice® pencils are manufactured from the finest California Incense-cedar wood, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to have originated from environmentally well-managed forests. ForestChoice® now offers consumers a high-quality writing instrument that demonstrates a serious commitment to the environment.

And then, there are pencil sharpeners. Do you really need an electric or battery pencil sharpener? No.

We’ve been using rescycled paper for years (at least we should have been) and now by adding the eco-friendly lights bulbs when we can, we’re on our way.

Other things we, as writers, can do to help include”

  • Take “no tech” days. Writers, especially web writers, spend a whole lot of time online which means they’re spending time using up energy. Turn off (and unplug) computers and other electronic devices.
  • Get into green computing. There are many different ways that you can make your computer more environmentally friendly. Get an energy-efficient computer; refill ink cartridges instead of sending them to the landfill; do all the day’s printing at once and keep the printer unplugged the rest of the day. These little things add up to big energy savings.
  • Submit your next manuscript electronically whenever possible. Even my publisher, Avalon, is getting into this submission policy.
  • Reduce the number of mailings you send out by using an electronic query whenever possible.
  • Swap one regular promotional mass mailing in favor of an electronic mailing
  • Skip one cross-country convention and do an online conference instead
  • Switch from press kits and full-sized mailers to postcards
  • Make one book appearance–or tour–a virtual tour online
  • Use solar rechargers for equipment like your PDA, cell phone, MP3 player
  • Reuse/recycle writing equipment/computers by using the Freecycle Network rather than just trashing them than buying new and trashing.

The Freecycle Network is wonderful. You can post anything you don’t want on it and before you know it someone else does! They even come pick it up. A friend of mine got all new kitchen cabinets because a woman didn’t like the cabinets she custom ordered once they got in her kitchen remodel. You can’t charge for anything on the Freecycle network, but that is made up in the fact that the unused item is gone from your house.

The URL is .www.freecycle.org. A screen will come up and ask for your town that then lists all the freecycle networks in your area.

Take one step, take them all. But let’s all try something to help.

Happy Green Writing in 2009

Kathye Quick
Cynthia and Constantine – Beyond Camelot – The Wild Rose Press
digital 2/09, print 3/09
Grandmother’s Rings – 3-book series contemporary from Avalon Books
Amethyst 8/09, Sapphire 12/09, Citrine early 2010

Sources –

I-Planet shopping, 8Waysto Green your Writing, the Green Writing Challenge, Writing Green/Planet Books

Other

Importance of Critique Groups By J. Hali Steele

You know… critters. At least that’s what we call them. No, they’re not a bunch of little creatures running with nuts and looking for cover. Well, not most of them. Though we’ve been known to hide out when involved with a new WIP and the words simply fly from our fingertips.

Finding a group that fits you is very important. You’ll only grow as a writer if you learn the mechanics of writing. I remember reading somewhere that great authors weren’t born that way–they learned to write. This doesn’t mean not to attend classes, you should. But read, read, read. From all genres. Become serious about your craft.

You have a story to tell, so now you have to write it in a way that others want to read it. Nothing works as well as having someone (no, your mom, sister or best friends don’t count) look through your WIP with a fine tooth comb. The fun part is–you get to comb theirs.

It can be scary telling someone you don’t think something they wrote works or is passive and, ach! the dreaded back story. But it’s important to be honest in your critique. There’s no need to be brutal or disrespectful of someone’s creation. A few well thought out ideas or suggestions will go much further in teaching and helping. This is a very subjective industry. We all read books looking for something different. It’s not the difference we critique, or the author, it’s the mechanics of writing.

When I joined my first group, it literally scared me to death. I was getting ready to give my story, my baby, over to a total stranger to rake over the coals! What if they didn’t like what I wrote? What if they tell me to forget it, you’re terrible. All these things ran around in my head until I gathered my courage and posted the first chapter. And, boy, my first one was tough. She wrote, “watch the head hopping.” Then every other sentence there appeared a box to the side saying, “whose POV is this?”

I’ve since learned that little box to the side is a comment box. It’s used to give suggestions and comments, and if used effectively, it will help you to hone your craft. All kinds of good stuff can appear in that one little box. One day there was a comment to me from the same person that said, “Wow, this is good.” An encouraging note that told me I learned, I improved.

Without my critters help I’d probably still be sitting at my computer, all alone, struggling through another story and wondering why the hell my email was full of messages saying thanks but no thanks.

There are many groups out there who share their expertise in various genres, Google critique groups. Find one that fits you and always keep an open mind. You’ll only improve at what it is you love doing–writing. Remember: Grow and roar-it’s okay to let the beast out.

A Multi-Genre Fiction Writers Organization