Last day to enter the Hot Prospects Contest

LAST CHANCE!

ENTER TODAY!

2014 Hot Prospects Contest
Sponsor: Valley of the Sun Romance Writers

****Permission to forward****

Looking to sign your first book contract, switch from a small press to a large
publisher or simply explore another genre of romantic fiction? Turn up the heat
on your writing career with the Hot Prospects Contest.

GRAND PRIZE: The grand prize winner of the contest will have their entire manuscript (400 pages, Courier, 12pt, Double spaced) reviewed by two professional editors at Novel Needs http://novelneeds.com

Announcement by a former winner:

“After finaling and winning the hot prospects romantic suspense category with my entry The Gilded Cuff, Lauren Plude from Grand Central made a three book offer for my series. I just wanted to extend my thanks and gratitude to your chapter for hosting the contest and bringing in such great final judges! Thank you!” ~ Lauren Smith

Fee: $25 for Valley of the Sun RW chapter members
$30 for non-chapter members
Chapter website has PayPal capability. www.valleyofthesunrw.com http://www.valleyofthesunrw.com


Postmark Deadline: September 1st, 2014
E-Submit Deadline: Midnight, September 1st, 2014

Eligibility: The Hot Prospects Contest is open to any work that is not under contract and
is unpublished at the time of entry.

Enter: 3-5-page synopsis and up to the first 25 pages of story (30 pages max). Entry or
synopsis may be shorter, but neither may be longer than specified.

Categories/Judges: Trained judges for preliminary round

Final round judges

1) Historical/Regency
Editor—Esi Sogah, Kensington
Editorial Director - Angela James, Harlequin Carina Press

2) Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal
Editorial Assistant –Kristine Swartz, The Berkley Publishing Group
Editor—Amy Stapp, Tor /Forge

3) Romantic Suspense
Associate Editor- Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing
Editor -Tera Cuskaden, Samhain

4) Contemporary Long/Single Title
Editor at Large – Sue Grimshaw, Random House
Editor—Cat Clyne, Sourcebooks

For More Information, entry form, and rules, see website at
www.valleyofthesunrw.com http://www.valleyofthesunrw.com For questions please email Voshotprospects@yahoo.com mailto:Voshotprospects@yahoo.com

Those entries that do not final will be returned approximately October 30th,
2014 to help those who plan to enter RWA's Golden Heart.

Lena Jakes and Lisa Heartman
Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects Co-Chairs

Interview with Sir Nicodemus Wulfson from ENCHANTING THE BEAST, by Kathryne Kennedy

Author:  “Hello, Sir Nicodemus.”

Nico turns around in the pond he’s been swimming in. The sunshine filtering through the forest canopy makes the drops of water that cling to his muscular torso glitter like diamonds. “Who the hell are you?” he says in a gentle growl at being caught unaware. 

Author:  “No one terribly important.  I’m just the one who created you.”

Nico tosses his damp hair away from his eyes, the blond strands within the brown refusing to cooperate, falling back over his forehead.  “You think so? How do you know that I don’t exist in some alternate universe and I created you to tell my story?”

Author, frowning:  “Very clever, but that’s beside the point.  I came here to interview you for my readers.”

Nico shoos away a water sprite. “Ah, I see.  Then I am happy to oblige, madam.”

He emerges from the pond, and Author realizes he’s naked as the day he was born and turns her back.  Hears the rustle of clothing, takes a peek, and is half-relieved to see that he’s pulled his trousers on. 

Author:  “Um, can you tell my readers a bit about yourself?”

Nico shrugs, muscles rippling beneath smooth skin. “I’m a were-wolf, I live in a castle that my brother swears is haunted, and I have a sister-in-law who tries my patience.  Is that sufficient?”

Author, smiling:  “No, not quite.  Tell me about Philomena.”

Nico:  “The ghost-hunter?”  His dark brown eyes glaze a bit, the golden specks in them glinting with something akin to hunger.

Author shivers.

Nico:  “She really can talk with ghosts, you know.  Amazing woman.  Her companion is a were-snake and she has a spirit-guide named Tup.”

Author:  “I understand she’s a bit older than you.”

Nico:  “That doesn’t signify.”  He scowls.  “Although she uses it as an excuse to keep me at arm’s length.  Not that it will work, mind you.  I bloody well get what I want.”

Author:  “I have no doubt.”  Takes a step back from the predatory gaze in his eyes, then scolds herself for being foolish.  Despite his look, the man wouldn’t harm her.  “But you’ll have to deal with some issues before that can happen, won’t you, Nico?”

The shadow of his were-self surrounds Nico.  “Know about that, eh?”  Picks up his white linen shirt from the mossy bank and shrugs into it.  “What am I saying, of course you do.”

Author:  “But my readers don’t know yet.  Can you enlighten them?”

Nico cocks his head, more hair tumbling over his eyes, as if he’s trying to hide behind that shaggy screen. “So what do you want me to say?  That I fear my very nature?  That I enjoy it when my wolf hunts, when he devours our kill?”  He paces the mossy bank like a caged beast, the movement parting his unbuttoned shirt and revealing the hard ridges of his belly, the sculpted contours of his muscular chest.  “That doesn’t mean I killed my fiancée, damn it.  I would never murder anyone.”

Author, soothingly:  “Of course you wouldn’t, Nico.  But you need to prove it.”

Nico:  “I can.” Fists his hands.  “I will.”

Author:  “Maybe Phil can help you.”

Nico stills, his handsome face calms. “Yes, she believes in me.  But I’ll solve my own problems.”

Author, smiling indulgently:  “We shall see, Nico.”

http://www.kathrynekennedy.com

Hot Prospects Contest

2014 Hot Prospects Contest
Sponsor: Valley of the Sun Romance Writers

****Permission to forward****

Looking to sign your first book contract, switch from a small press to a large
publisher or simply explore another genre of romantic fiction? Turn up the heat
on your writing career with the Hot Prospects Contest.

GRAND PRIZE: The grand prize winner of the contest will have their entire manuscript (400 pages, Courier, 12pt, Double spaced) reviewed by two professional editors at Novel Needs http://novelneeds.com

Announcement by a former winner:

“After finaling and winning the hot prospects romantic suspense category with my entry The Gilded Cuff, Lauren Plude from Grand Central made a three book offer for my series. I just wanted to extend my thanks and gratitude to your chapter for hosting the contest and bringing in such great final judges! Thank you!” ~ Lauren Smith

Fee: $25 for Valley of the Sun RW chapter members
$30 for non-chapter members
Chapter website has PayPal capability. www.valleyofthesunrw.com http://www.valleyofthesunrw.com


Postmark Deadline: September 1st, 2014
E-Submit Deadline: Midnight, September 1st, 2014

Eligibility: The Hot Prospects Contest is open to any work that is not under contract and
is unpublished at the time of entry.

Enter: 3-5-page synopsis and up to the first 25 pages of story (30 pages max). Entry or
synopsis may be shorter, but neither may be longer than specified.

Categories/Judges: Trained judges for preliminary round

Final round judges

1) Historical/Regency
Editor—Esi Sogah, Kensington
Editorial Director - Angela James, Harlequin Carina Press

2) Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal
Editorial Assistant –Kristine Swartz, The Berkley Publishing Group
Editor—Amy Stapp, Tor /Forge

3) Romantic Suspense
Associate Editor- Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing
Editor -Tera Cuskaden, Samhain

4) Contemporary Long/Single Title
Editor at Large – Sue Grimshaw, Random House
Editor—Cat Clyne, Sourcebooks

For More Information, entry form, and rules, see website at
www.valleyofthesunrw.com http://www.valleyofthesunrw.com For questions please email Voshotprospects@yahoo.com mailto:Voshotprospects@yahoo.com

Those entries that do not final will be returned approximately October 30th,
2014 to help those who plan to enter RWA's Golden Heart.

Lena Jakes and Lisa Heartman
Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects Co-Chairs

Killer Romances Box Set

I'm thrilled to be included in a box set with 9 other romantic suspense authors. Killer Romances comes out on September 15th and includes USA Today Bestselling & Award-Winning Authors. Authors include Dana Delamar, Tallulah Grace, Sandy Loyd, Kristine Mason, Nina Pierce, Chantel Rhondeau, K. T. Roberts and Susan Vaughan. These are full length novels and the entire bundle will be on sale for only 99 cents for a limited time.

There something for everyone. If you like good guys, we've got them. If you like bad boys, we got them, and if you like a really good thrill, you won't be disappointed. Also, you really can't beat the price.

Barbara White Daille

It is my pleasure to introduce Barbara White Daille and her new release

The Texan's Little Secret - August 2014

 

Coming home might be the worst decision Carly Baron has ever made. Each minute on her family's busy ranch is one minute closer to seeing him—her first love—the man who broke her heart seven years ago. While coming face-to-face with Luke Nobel again brings back painful memories, Carly quickly realizes there are other strong feelings just under the surface…. 

 

Luke would be a lot better off if Carly had stayed away. Being a single dad to an adorable two-year-old girl and managing the Roughneck is tough enough, but resisting the sparks that fly whenever he and Carly are together is near impossible. But first she must tell him her secret. The truth could heal their past…or forever destroy their chances of becoming a family.

Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille
Rancher at Risk - January 2014
Court Me, Cowboy - e & larger print now available
The Texan's Little Secret - August 2014

Romance Writing Contest

2014 Hot Prospects Contest

Sponsor: Valley of the Sun Romance Writers

****Permission to forward****

Looking to sign your first book contract, switch from a small press to a large

publisher or simply explore another genre of romantic fiction? Turn up the heat

on your writing career with the Hot Prospects Contest.

GRAND PRIZE: The grand prize winner of the contest will have their entire manuscript (400 pages, Courier, 12pt, Double spaced) reviewed by two professional editors at Novel Needs

Announcement by a former winner:

“After finaling and winning the hot prospects romantic suspense category with my entry The Gilded Cuff, Lauren Plude from Grand Central made a three book offer for my series. I just wanted to extend my thanks and gratitude to your chapter for hosting the contest and bringing in such great final judges!  Thank you!” ~ Lauren Smith

Fee: $25 for Valley of the Sun RW chapter members

$30 for non-chapter members

Chapter website has PayPal capability. www.valleyofthesunrw.com

Postmark Deadline: September 1st, 2014

E-Submit Deadline: Midnight, September 1st, 2014

Eligibility: The Hot Prospects Contest is open to any work that is not under contract and

is unpublished at the time of entry.

Enter: 3-5-page synopsis and up to the first 25 pages of story (30 pages max). Entry or

synopsis may be shorter, but neither may be longer than specified.

Categories/Judges: Trained judges for preliminary round

Final round judges

1) Historical/Regency

Editor—Esi Sogah, Kensington

Editorial Director - Angela James, Harlequin Carina Press

2) Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal

Editorial Assistant –Kristine Swartz, The Berkley Publishing Group

Editor—Amy Stapp, Tor /Forge

3) Romantic Suspense

Associate Editor- Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing 

Editor -Tera Cuskaden, Samhain

4) Contemporary Long/Single Title

Editor at Large – Sue Grimshaw, Random House

Editor—Cat Clyne, Sourcebooks

For More Information, entry form, and rules, see website at

www.valleyofthesunrw.com For questions please email Voshotprospects@yahoo.com

Those entries that do not final will be returned approximately October 30th,

2014 to help those who plan to enter RWA's Golden Heart.

Lena Jakes and Lisa Heartman

Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects Co-Chairs

Creating Characters

My husband and I weren't sure what to expect when we watched the movie And So It Goes. The fact I was dabbing at tears at the end says it all.

Any romance writer who wants to know how to take an unlikable hero through a character arc and make him likable, should watch this movie. Oren, played by Michael Douglas, is obnoxious, but we know he must have some redeemable qualities because he has a friend who understands him.

Next, we discover why he lost his compassion and can accept how this happened. Early in the film, he is thrown into a situation where he must rediscover his finer qualities with the help of a new love interest. Each step of his journey is believable. At the end, he has to prove he is a better version of himself by giving up the one goal he has worked so hard to obtain.

It is a simple formula, but it works.

Until next week,
happy reading and writing.

Tina Swayzee McCright

Déjà vu or Premonition?

Lately we have been experiencing déjà vu concerning one of our books.

If you have been following the news this past year there’s been a particular issue covered which was of interest to us (yes, there has been a ton of events happening but we wanted to discuss only one).

We’re talking about the outbreak of undrinkable water around the United States. For example, in January 2014, West Virginia was forced to deal with contamination of one of their rivers. Nine counties’ drinking water began to smell like licorice. Investigation eventually discovered a potential toxicity of Crude HCHM primarily composed of a chemical name 4-methylcyclohexand methanol had leaked from a coal company’s old storage tank into West Virginia’s Elk River, rolling down to many towns drinking systems.

Symptoms of ingesting this chemical through water soon gave way to various ailments such as stomachs, rashes, and other ailments. In time over 300,000 people were forced to go without tap water for three days.

Now, in August, we hear of cities around Lake Erie experiencing a water pollution problem as well. This time a major city, Toledo, Ohio, and parts of SE Michigan (over 500,000 people) were affected. Not only from their drinking water, but for bathing and cooking. The suspected cause...a blue-green algae growing in the usually warm Lake Erie and fed by high amounts of microcystin, a cyanotoxin. It came from excess farming runoff (nitrogen and phosphorus) and eventually drained into the lake.

When the incident happened in West Virginia, we thought…Oh, wow! How ironic…but now with Michigan and Ohio having problems, it really brought home how poignant our book Color of Dreams was turning out to be. One of the major themes in the book is about water pollution and how, if not checked, could affect people downriver who relied on waterways supplying their drinking water.

Color of Dreams revolves a young woman who is determined to stop a corporation from secretly dumping a pollutant into a river that feeds into a major water source. One stumbling block is the hero (and a former sweetheart) who recently came to work for the corporation.

Though the story also involves the premises of spiritual protection of our earth, the message to our readers was to show how important we as humans must protect our planet.

There is also another reason as to why we are so intrigued over this incident. More and more we are discovering that often our stories are premonition driven. We can’t say why or how it happens but we now believe it will eventually become clear.

Right now Color of Dreams is on sale at Breathless Press for $2.50. (50% off) It's a great chance to download your copy.  This sale won't last for long. 

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=13&products_id=417

Thanks for reading today,

Tia Dani

Don't Miss the 2014 Write Now! Conference

“Mastering Crime Fiction:
A Whodunnit How-To”

.   6-9 p.m., Fri., Aug. 15  

.  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Aug. 16

Meet internationally known writers at the WriteNow! 2014 Conference, to be held 6-9 p.m. Fri., Aug. 15, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Aug. 16, at Embassy Suites Phoenix – North, 2577 W. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, sponsored by Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter, a group of local mystery writers.

OUR SPEAKERS

Creating Characters

WHO Breathe:

Catriona MacPherson

WHERE? Getting to
the Finish Line:
Tim Hallinan

WHY? Your Plot, 
the Heart

of the Story: 

Graham Brown

WHAT Really Works?
Optimize Writing Time,
Increase Productivity:

Mark Sullivan

---

JENN MCKINLEY—Guest of Honor
The nonprofit organization will also honor writer Jenn McKinley as Guest of Honor during the Saturday luncheon. McKinley is author of a variety of cozy series, such as Sugar and Iced in her Cupcake Mysteries, and her London Hat Shop Mysteries, her latest Death Of A Mad Hatter.

---

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY—One to one critique
Also available for a $20 additional fee this year is a one-on-one critique of the first 15 pages and a synopsis by a Desert Sleuths published member. Participants will meet the Desert Sleuths member on Aug. 15, where writers will have the opportunity to bring their work for a personalized critique, which will be sent to the writer within two weeks following the conference.

---

WHERE:
Call the Embassy Suites Hotel - Phoenix North Reservations Department at 1-800-EMBASSY and ask for the Desert Sleuths group or “SDS” discount rate of $79, which includes free parking and free internet. Guests may also book a reservation by visiting the Desert Sleuths reservations page at http://bit.ly/ UKLsGl.

---

HOW MUCH:
Conference Registration: $100 Desert Sleuths members; $120 non-members Includes the Friday night social and Saturday conference with continental breakfast, plated lunch, snacks.

---

Click Here to learn more about the conference.
Click Here to register for the conference

---

Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter is part of an international organization that promotes professional development and advancement of women crime writers to achieve equality in the industry.

To Connie Flynn Site