The April issue of RT Book Reviews features the final round of Kensington/RT’s Writing with the Stars contest. I am one of three finalists vying for the top prize – a book contract from Kensington Brava.

For those of you who haven’t been following, this all began back in July when I entered my full manuscript, Seducing Charlotte, into the competition. Initially I was reluctant to enter because Brava is Kensington’s more sensual line and I thought Charlotte was more suited to the Zebra imprint. But my husband convinced me to enter – and boy am I glad I did!  A month later, I got a phone call from Kensington Associate Editor Megan Records informing me that I was one of 10 finalists in the national competition.

Now after four months and as many rounds of competition, we are in the final drive to the finish. In this last round, the Best Love Scene is judged.

I am so excited to have reached the final round – and to be THIS close to my dream of publication. 
I hope you will take a moment to CHECK IT OUT BY CLICKING HERE. Please consider voting for Seducing Charlotte – a Regency romance set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution. Voting is super quick and easy. No registration required. Just click on the link, scroll down and vote!

But be forewarned, it is a little spicy! Voting continues until this Sunday, Feb. 27. The winner of Writing with the Stars will be announced at the 2011 RT Booklovers Convention on April 7 in Los Angeles.

Thanks for taking the time. I really appreciate it!

Even though the New York Times indicated it would not count self-published books on its new ebook bestseller lists, one has made it to the top.

Not surprisingly, it’s a book that costs just 99 cents, which might have a lot to do with the high sales. I admit I’m often persuaded to buy an ebook that looks interesting at that price point. Nancy Johnson’s Her Last Letter is Number 31 on the “also selling” list of fiction ebooks.

Publishers Weekly quotes Johnson as saying, “After I wrote my first novel, I was able to find a great New York literary agent, and I was thrilled. At the time, I thought I had it made. But though several big publishers took interest, nothing came of it, and my book never sold…. In the end, I formed my own publishing company. It was the best thing I could have done.”

Check out the list here: NYT list. All this goes to show that, while ebooks are making a mark on the publishing industry, no one knows which box to put them in or how they will surprise us next!

ALSO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT…

…to vote in the final round of the Writing With the Stars contest. I am elated to be one of the last three contestants standing.

Voting runs until Sunday, Feb. 28, 2011.
Whoever wins this round – by drawing the most online votes – wins a BOOK CONTRACT with Kensington Brava! It’s been a long road. This contest began with submission back in July 2010. We had to squeak through four other rounds of voting to make it to this deciding vote.  

This time the Best Love Scene is judged. Be forewarned that it is a little spicy. Still, I hope you will take a minute to check it out. Voting is super quick and easy. CLICK HERE NOW TO VOTE. Thanks for your support!

Valentine’s Day is off to a great start for me. 

RT Book Reviews announced today that I am one of three finalists to advance to the final round of Kensington/RT’s Writing With the Stars contest. This is such a big deal because the person to gets the most votes in the online poll wins a book contract!

I’m SO excited to be this close to my dream of publication.

I hope you’ll take a minute to CLICK HERE and consider voting for my entry, Seducing Charlotte, a Regency romance set against the backdrop of the dawning Industrial Revolution.

Thank you for your time!