Monday, April 21, 2008

SHAPESHIFTER BLOG / RT REPORT

I've joined a blog for authors of shapeshifter romances. (I don't know if any of the heroines morph into chickens, though.)
We're kicking off the site with a contest this week. We're giving away books and a cute little wolf puppet I found. So if you want to go over and check it out, it's at

http://shapeshifterromance.wordpress.com/

I also have a report from the RT conference in Pittsburgh (last Wednesday through Sunday):

In many ways, RT was the same rip roaring non-stop party scene. Where else could I pose for a picture with Fabio? I'm always amazed at how much work goes into putting it together. And it seems to run more smoothly every year. I think the workshops are getting more "professional," but they were less well attended than in the past few years. Maybe those two things are related!

It's hard for me to evaluate the parties, since I am not a party animal. I have to periodically go hide in my room. But I did love seeing all the fantastic costumes. People put so much work into them! And I have an insane desire to dress up in a costume. But I was working too hard before I left to actually buy something. I do have a picture of me wearing vampire teeth, though.

This year was RT's 25th year, so they made a big deal out of that, including honoring the "pioneers of romance" who were in attendance. (Including me, Heather Graham, Carole Nelson Douglas, Bertrice Small, Roberta Gellis, Jannelle Taylor, and Pat Rice--among others.) They had a nice ceremony for us at the awards luncheon and gave us engraved chunks of glass (about 4" x 5"--shaped like a mountain.) The recognition was actually quite nice, even though I keep joking that it's an award for still being alive and still publishing.

The hotel is under construction, so that got in the way somewhat. Like, our hall was half done, so some days it smelled horrible. Apparently, the day before we arrived, there was plaster dust all over it.

DH was upset because the wireless was not working on the 6th floor--our floor. But we could use it in the lobby. So he kept going down and reading mail. Sometimes I went with him--which gave me more opportunities to meet people.

Because of the construction, there were no bathrooms on the lobby level. Kind of inconvenient. (But I did discover one hidden unisex bathroom in a large meeting suite.) Also, on the ballroom level, they had done something really strange. The women's room had urinals. And the men's room had a Tampax machine. (This latter info from DH.) I guess they hadn't planned to make the restrooms available, but they opened them up and slapped the signs on the wrong rooms.

Last year in Houston, there was a large atrium where you could meet people. This Hilton didn't have as good a meeting place. So there were more places you had to look for people.

Right at the end of the book signing, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF IN THE BALLROOM, if you can believe that. I was, as usual, at the back of the room, facing a wall. But near an exit. I'm really glad I wasn't in the middle of a suddenly dark huge room. I carry a small flashlight in my purse, and I led DH and the woman signing next to me out of the room. It wasn't pitch black because some light came in through the exits from the windows outside the ballroom I can believe the blackout allowed some people to escape without paying, though.

I sold 43 books, so I felt really good about that. And it always makes me feel wonderful when people come up and say they love my books.

I always make an effort to meet new people. I did sit with readers I didn't know at some banquets, and I think I got some new people interested in my books. One of them is a guy who works as a prison guard but loves paranormal romance. He lcame up to me at the Book Fair and bought a copy of all three books I had there. And he says he'll e-mail me. His favorite writer is MaryJanice Davidson, so he will probably hate me, since my books are not funny.

Besides meeting fans, I felt like I made some good contacts with booksellers and also got to have a long talk with Sheila English, who heads Circle of Seven Productions. They've made three really great Book Trailers and teasers for me--all of which you can see at www.rebeccayork.com.
I also went to a private reception for Betweenyoursheets authors. And I loved putting faces with the names of the great people I've met there. They ran a contest at the Book Fair which sent a lot of readers to me to get my signature. You can check out their Web site at:

www.betweenyoursheets.com

I was also on the H/S panel--which included Randall Toye. I, um, asked him why lines start up and disappear so fast. (Bombshell, Everlasting, Love and Laughter.) He said that the cycle moves faster than it used to. Booksellers can track whether a line is selling practicaly in real time, and if it isn't, they stop carrying it. He said paperback sales are down across the board, but H/S sales are up--but not as much as they want. In the past, people could grow into liking a line. Now they'd better get with it fast, or they lose the chance.

Randall thought print books would be around forever, but e-books are definitely gaining. Still, even though they are increasing a lot, they started with a really small base. Some people in the audience said how much they love e-books. Other people said they want a real book.

Something I also like about RT is getting to sit down and talk with writer friends. Carole Nelson Douglas and I shared a table in Club RT. So--RT from my perspective.

RT is a great place to meet fans, meet with friends and have a great time.

Ruth

Rebecca York (aka Ruth Glick) ** http://www.rebeccayork.com
GHOST MOON, Berkley, 5/08
SOLDIER CAGED, Hqn Intrigue, 7/08
MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE ROMANCES, Running Press, 8/08

Thursday, April 03, 2008

LADY AND THE VAMP, by Michelle Rowen

With a title like this, Lady and the Vamp has to be a winner!



LADY AND THE VAMP by Michelle Rowen
April 2008 – Forever, an Imprint of Grand Central Publishing

She fights.
Janie Parker’s a supernatural assassin—not by choice, but what’s a girl gonna do? The only thing standing between her and decapitation at the hands of her hellish boss is a magical artifact called The Eye. To get it, all Janie has to do is find a dark, broody vampire named Michael Quinn and take it. Easy, right? Except if Quinn keeps kissing her that way, she just might lose her head...in more ways than one.

He bites.
Former vampire hunter Michael Quinn is determined to become human again. If he grabs hold of The Eye and makes a wish—then boom, everything’s good with the world. But now Quinn has a sassy tagalong with a long, delectable neck and orders to stake him on sight. He just hopes his first bite won’t be Janie’s last moment on earth...

Cover: http://www.michellerowen.com/images/

Excerpt: http://www.michellerowen.com/latv_chap1.htm


ABOUT MICHELLE ROWEN

Waldenbooks bestselling author Michelle Rowen is a self-confessed bibliophile, reality TV junkie, and is well known for making a mean pot of Kraft Dinner. Her novels for Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books) include the Immortality Bites series: BITTEN & SMITTEN (2007 Holt Medallion winner for Best First Book), FANGED & FABULOUS, and LADY & THE VAMP, as well as the standalone paranormal romance, ANGEL WITH ATTITUDE. Under the pseudonym Michelle Maddox she has written COUNTDOWN (August ’08) for Dorchester Publishing's new and exciting SHOMI line of "speculative" romance novels. Michelle lives in Southern Ontario, and is currently hard at work on her next fantastical novel.

REVIEWS

“I loved Lady & the Vamp! Michelle Rowen has again successfully written a funny and highly entertaining vampire story...I can’t wait for book four of this series!” – Armchair Interviews
“Lady & The Vamp is a fast paced and entertaining read. Its light comic style effortlessly pulls the reader along for a ride...dishing up romance and laughs along the way.” – LoveVampires.com
“This book was great fun. Janie and (Quinn) are a breath of fresh air...you'll be laughing and rooting for them both from the very beginning.” – Fresh Fiction

"Excitement, a strong, character driven, intense plot, and wicked humor keep this story racing... As usual, Ms. Rowen delivers a winning story. Enjoy it. No fooling." – Huntress Romance Reviews

"4 stars! Fans will appreciate the light tone, the smooth and swift narration... throughout the third book of Rowen's Immortality Bites series." – Romantic Times BOOKreviews

Website: http://www.michellerowen.com