Tanzey Talk
May 2003
If you haven't read the article in the April issue of Romantic Times BOOKclub magazine about Cheryl being honored as the RT Bookseller of the Year at their convention in Kansas City in October, try to find a copy. We've received lots of congratulatory messages from her many customers.
Jill Jones recently informed me that when she changed publishers, they wanted her to write her contemporary Gothics under a pseudonym. Her first release under the new name of Emily LaForge, titled Beneath the Raven's Moon, went on sale in April. She says she still has a few "Jill Jones" stories up her sleeve, but probably not romances. We'll just have to wait and see.
Attention futuristic romance lovers! The long-awaited and eagerly anticipated sequel to Robin D. Owen's RITA award-winning HeartMate (2002 Best Paranormal Romance) is finally on its way. Heart Thief will go on sale in June. Watch for Sue's review next month. Then in May 2004, you can anticipate further adventures on Celta with the release of Heart Duel.
Even though Bertrice Small has completed her Skye O'Malley saga, rest assured she'll still be providing her fans with sizzling, sexy romances. Coming next is Until You, which is set for release in October. She says it's the second book in her Friarsgate Inheritance series.
You'll find the review for Leanne Banks' first single-title release, Some Girls Do, in this Gazette. Her next single-title release, When She's Bad, is scheduled for November. Both these books have quite unique and brightly colored cover treatments.
When Disney purchased the film rights to Deborah Smith's Sweet Hush, she was ecstatic. And it looks like there's already some early interest in film rights for the book she's working on now, Charming Grace, which is due for publication next spring. Way to go, Deb!
Brenda Novak has started a new drawing on her web site. This time she's giving away a $750 travel certificate for a romantic getaway of your choice. The certificate will be awarded through Novel Explorations and travel agent Patty Suchy will help the winner plan the perfect escape. Since trip possibilities are endless, Brenda invites everyone to head over to www.brendanovak.com and drop your name in the hat!
Gaelen Foley sent me some info I just have to pass along. It's about Book Crazy Radio - a radio station that's all book-talk, all the time. Even better, it comes over the Internet 24/7 and can be heard all over the world. All you have to do to hear it is go to www.bookcrazy.net and click on the little whirly globe icon. Enjoy!
It's been quite awhile since we've had anything new from the talented Laura Kinsale, but she tells me she's busy working on a new book, titled Shadowheart, set for publication in April 2004. This will be Allegreto's story, a spin-off of her medieval classic For My Lady's Heart, which will be reissued in March 2004. I know this is still a long way off, but I'm betting it will be worth the wait.
Another book I've been anxiously awaiting is Elizabeth Lowell's third installment in her Rarities series, following Moving Target and Running Scared. I'm delighted to know that Die in Plain Sight is set for publication in July, which means it will go on sale June 16th. I have my fingers crossed that I'll be getting an ARC for reviewing. I love this author's expert writing of romantic suspense.
Brenda Jernigan is writing a sequel to Dance in the Wind. Scheduled for release in November, Until September is the story of Claire, who, when she learns she has a short time to live, decides to do it with gusto. Things get complicated when she loses her heart to Billy West, and she finds out what it's like to walk away from the one thing she wants most.
Last month, I told you how much I enjoyed reading The Deepest Edge, a new book by Jessica Hall. This month you'll find my review of her second book in this trilogy, The Steel Caress, which I also loved. In doing some research about Ms. Hall, I found out that her real name is Sheila Viehl, and she also writes fantastic sci-fi under the pseudonym S.L. Viehl. Her StarDoc sci-fi series is especially popular. She also wrote a series of books as Gena Hale - Paradise Island (2000), Dream Mountain (2001), Sun Valley (2002). To learn more about this multi-published, versatile author, check out her web site. Oh, and the last book of her new trilogy, titled The Kissing Blades, is set for August. Another one I can't wait to read!
The newest 6-page glossy newsletter from Debbie Macomber fills us in on all the latest from this prolific writer. I told you a few months ago about her November Harlequin Superromance, Those Christmas Angels, featuring Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. In September, the third book in her continuing saga set in Cedar Cove, 311 Pelican Court, will be published. Then, in October, her latest gift hardcover will be The Snow Bride, a romantic comedy set in Alaska based on an Internet relationship. She'll be giving away a gift basket full of items relating to this book. And her five-book Silhouette Special Editions "Navy" series is being reissued - Navy Wife was in February, Navy Blues in June, with the rest to follow later.
Tall, Dark and Cajun is the title of Sandra Hill's new book for the Warner Forever line. It promises to be a very hot and sexy story. It's a loosely linked sequel to her earlier title, The Love Potion, which Leisure will be reissued in October. In May 2004, she'll have a new "Viking" release with Leisure, called A Tale of Two Vikings, followed later by another Cajun contemporary for Warner.
If you like your reading experiences to be wildly erotic, hot and sizzling, you should be enjoying Kensington's new Brava line of trade-size paperbacks. In July, Janelle Denison makes her Brava single-title debut with Wilde Thing. We were introduced to the Wilde brothers in her novella, Something Wilde (Eric), in the I Brake For Bad Boys anthology. Steve, who rides a Harley, is the Wilde Thing. Then in November, Adrian is The Wilde One, which is part of Brava's Bad Boys To Go anthology.
Almost every letter Elizabeth Boyle got last summer about One Night of Passion said the same thing - write Temple's story next. Since her editor had requested the same thing, that's exactly what she did. With her July release from Avon, Stealing the Bride, Elizabeth says, "I have indulged everyone's wish with Temple's tale of lost love and redemption, a story that is the book of my heart, and hopefully yours as well."
July will also see the start of Susan King's new Scottish Victorian trilogy with Taming the Heiress. In September, Waking the Princess will be released, followed in November by Kissing the Countess. You can preview all three books on www.susanking.net.
And fans of Susan Krinard's highly acclaimed historical werewolf series will be delighted to know that she's now writing the story of Morgan Holt. To Catch a Wolf is slated for publication in September, so be sure to mark your calendars for the end of August.
Heads up! It's happened again for Suzanne Brockmann. This time it's U.S. Navy SEAL Chief Wes Skelly's Silhouette Intimate Moments release that's had a change in title, but NOT a change in release date. It's still set to come out in September, but it's now being called Night Watch (instead of Wild, Wild Wes). Suz also has a Silhouette Desire that's set to go on sale in July - Scenes of Passion. This is another of those books (like Letters to Kelly) that was originally going to be published by Meteor Kismet - the folks who released her very first book, Future Perfect - except they went out of business.
While Jill Marie Landis was at her other home in Kauai, she got an exciting phone call from her mom. It seems the March 2 edition of the Long Beach, CA, Press Telegram featured a special magazine insert, titled WHO Magazine...100 Famous Faces of Long Beach. As Jill puts it, "Mom was so excited she could hardly talk, for guess whose face was right there among the likes of Cameron Diaz, Bo Derek, Vicki Lawrence, Snoop Dogg, Tiger Woods and Nicholas Cage? You guessed it! MINE! Was I thrilled? You bet, but not half as much as my mom was."
In closing this month, I'd like to extend my own congratulations to good friend Cheryl (and all her staff )! As I stated in the recommendation I made to Romantic Times, "Cheryl's many years of dedication to promoting authors, books and reading makes her very deserving of the RT Bookseller of the Year Award."
And again be sure to scroll down for some of our readers' comments.
Tanzey Cutter
Editor of the Old Book Barn Gazette
For those of you who do not subscribe to the paper publication of Old Book Barn Gazette, where my column originates, I'd like to include some of the interesting readers' comments we occasionally receive.
- Reviewer Lenore Howard: Congratulations to Cheryl on being named Romantic Times' Bookseller of the Year! As a longtime customer of the Old Book Barn (since it literally was a barn!), I have been delighted to see the positive changes Cheryl has made over the years. I've rarely been in a new or used bookstore that's so well-organized and welcoming. She and her employees are unfailingly friendly, professional, and their knowledge of what's among those thousands of books is quite amazing. I was lucky to live near the store for several years and spent many happy hours browsing through the stacks and enjoying long conversations with Cheryl and her staff. After seven years away, I have yet to find another bookstore I can call "home." So congratulations, Cheryl! It couldn't happen to a nicer person.
- Sandra Clark, Illinois: I was in your store for the first time as a result of seeing the article in Romantic Times. I just wanted to say thank you. Everyone was helpful, and I was in romance novel heaven. It's great that you have the older series books, as well as the newer ones. I will definitely be making the 45-minute trip from Springfield as often as possible. The atmosphere was welcoming and non-pretentious - my kind of place.
- Jean Carlson, Arkansas: I've been reading for many years, but I'm tired of Regency and Medieval stories. I hope we can get some more understandable and better plots in the future. The covers on the newer books now are very ugly, and so far, I won't buy them. Some of my favorites are Maggie Osborne and Dorothy Garlock's early books. I have over 300 keepers, and I have all of the books by Norah Hess and Leigh Greenwood. I try to get older books at our local bookstore and yard sales.
- Author Anne Mather: Cheryl, I just wanted to write and congratulate you on being chosen as the RT Bookseller of the Year. I've just read the article in the April edition of Romantic Times, and I have to say I agree. I hope you have a wonderful time in Kansas City, and that you enjoy continued success for many years to come.
- Nancy Demuth, Nebraska: My friend loves her new subscription to the Gazette. She's just learning about books, so she plans to keep all of your newsletters for future reference.
- Patricia Atkinson, Australia: Cheryl as RT Bookseller of the Year! Wow! Although I shouldn't sound surprised. You've been my "bookseller for ALL the years" I've had the pleasure of dealing with you. And that's quite a few now. I hope this honor brings you all the customers you can handle, and more. Of course, they'll have to get behind me - I'm first in line. I must say that although Cheryl is now the Big Boss, I remember when she used to handle my mail-orders. Cheryl must have trained all her staff in her own ideas on the best way to handle customers. So, to be awarded Bookseller Of The Year, she has the staff to make it run well. I'm your #1 fan, and this award is well deserved. As a satisfied customer, my thanks go to all of you, especially [current store manager] Sue.
- Heide Cloninger, Germany: Congratulations, Cheryl, for being honored as Bookseller of the Year. You (and your staff) have earned it. I still remember fondly the time when you were manager of OBB and we used to have our monthly chat by fax. Keep up your dedicated work and you'll never lack for booklovers buying in your store.
- Author Emilie Richards: Tanzey, I just found your newsletter on-line. What a pleasure to have easy access to it. I hope you're enjoying writing it as much as I'm enjoying reading it.
- Monthiti Danjaroensuk, Thailand: I just read Romantic Times and found out that Cheryl is to receive Bookseller of the Year award. Please give her my congratulations - Cheryl's Old Book Barn deserves it.
- April Hayden, Kansas: I am so excited to hear that Romantic Times will be having its convention in Kansas City this year. And then to find out that your store will be honored as Bookseller of the Year - fantastic! All of you who work there deserve the credit for making your customers so happy over the years. And I hope it continues for many years to come. Keep up the great work you do for readers and authors alike! Oh, and congratulations!
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"I love you man. Do you really forgive me?" 'If you hug me ," Wes said, "I'll kill you."...."I missed you, Wesley." "Yeah," Wes said, heading toward the front of the bus. "I'm going to miss you, too" - Suzanne Brockmann, Taylor's Temptation p.237 (posted by Susana Pimentel)
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