The new issue of RT Book Reviews has shipped! On the front cover this month, Riptide Publishing is not only celebrating diversity in romance novels, but also their fourth year in publishing! The colorful rainbow on the cover just makes me happy. Happy for Riptide's — and other LGBTQ+ publishers' — success, and especially happy for the strides gay rights have made in recent months. Read about Riptide's star authors in the new issue and why so many straight women are loving gay romances that show that love, no matter who the couple, always wins.
Something else that also makes me very happy is having authors visit the RT office! Last month, Christina Lauren, one of our favorite writing duos, dropped by for an interview with our executive editor, Regina Small, to talk about book three in their Wild Seasons series, DARK WILD NIGHT, which received 4.5 Stars in the September issue of RT. Regina did a masterful job of getting this very upbeat and funny duo to answer some burning questions about Lola and Oliver, graphic novels and how they "organically" develop characters, like producer Austin Adams! You may recall that Christina Lauren won RT's 2014 Seal of Excellence Book of the Year for book one in the series, SWEET FILTHY BOY, and books two (DIRTY ROWDY THING) and three have definitely lived up to that standard of excellence!
Lindsay McKenna fans can rejoice, as she launches a new action-packed romantic suspense series, Delos, in October, with NOWHERE TO HIDE. The heroes on the covers for this series are to die for, and you can preview them all in the new issue. Lindsay is self-publishing these series, and the books can be purchased on Amazon, as well as other stores where e-books are sold. As a bonus, readers can also pick up a FREE prequel novella, titled LAST CHANCE, which sets up the Delos series.
We all know and love author Zoë Archer, who writes diverse books ranging from steampunk to space epics. Now, the author of 21 novels can add Regency romance to her repertoire of genres, as her pseudonym Eva Leigh tackles historical romance. And if her first book, FOREVER YOUR EARL, is any indication, this is the start of a fantastic new series! Our features editor, Sarah McDaniel Dyer, asked some pointed questions that shed light on the new book and why, no matter the genre, the author always includes a touch of feminism in her books.
Fairy tale-themed stories have long been romance readers’ favorites, and this month we spotlight a new twist on the beloved classics. Fourteen bestselling authors banded together for the retelling of some of our most beloved fairy tales — each putting their own sexy spin on the classics — in FAIRY TALE CONFESSIONS. Participating authors in the anthology include: M. Clarke, Amy Daws, L.P. Dover, Elizabeth Montgomery, Shannon Morton, Brynn Myers, Wendy Owens, Sarah J. Pepper, Cameo Renae, Kellie Sheridan, Jessica Sorensen, Kristen Strassel, Tish Thawer and K.R.Wilburn. To celebrate the project, the authors are hosting a Twisted Fairy Tales Costume Party at the RT Convention in April, just one of the many parties planned for the six-day RT extravaganza, April 12–17 in Vegas.
For Teen Scene this month, our web and Young Adult editor Elissa Petruzzi talks to two superstars about their latest books. Leigh Bardugo answers some questions about her series starter SIX OF CROWS, and Kelley Armstrong talks about her new stand-alone YA suspense novel, THE MASKED TRUTH. In the Teen Scene section of RT, you'll also enjoy 19 YA and new adult book reviews, including new YA novels from Sherry Thomas and Lea Nolan.
If Mysteries, Thrillers, Science Fiction or Horror are your genres, we have a unique product for you! Steve Buick, a British composer and director of Evokescape.com, has produced music for specific genres created to enhance the reading experience. To be perfectly honest, I have not tried any of the albums, but I do like the concept he explains in the new issue. If any of you give it a try, I'd love to know what you think.
On the last page of every issue we have a column titled Parting Gifts, where you can enter to win some great books. Among the offerings this month are C.C. Humphreys’ SHAKESPEARE'S REBEL, R.L. Stein's THE LOST GIRL, and Alice Clayton's NUTS, to name a few. Be sure to check them out.
IN OTHER NEWS
Last week we finally launched our new review service, RT REVIEW SOURCE, and so far it's working like a charm. Several authors have signed up for a review, and some of the small-press publishers are also signing up. While it's a separate service from our magazine, RT Book Reviews, it gives authors and indie publishers who have a difficult time getting indie books reviewed, a chance to receive an RT-attributed review. It's our hope that, through the service, we will find some great books and be able to pass them on to our readers by including them in RT Book Reviews magazine. Authors who use the service ARE NOT GUARANTEED a good review! The books are held to the same RT magazine standards, and our reviewers for the service use the same guidelines as the magazine reviewers. We also have two mainstream print publishers interested in working with the service who will take a look at the books submitted with an eye for publication. As with any new endeavor, it will organically develop with time, but I do believe we are providing a much-needed service for thousands of authors.
RT 2016 VEGAS UPDATE
Wow! Have we got some fun things planned for RT Vegas, April 12–17, 2016. For starters, our co-sponsored opening party on Wednesday night is called Vintage Vegas Romance Casino. Each sponsor will have their own gaming table (Black Jack, Texas Hold 'Em, Craps or Roulette). Each table comes with a "dealer," who will teach you how to play and guide you through the betting process. Upon entering the party, each attendee will receive $2,000 in play money to start, so you can have fun going around from table to table, playing and learning the games. There will also be some slot machines around where you can try your hand at winning the jackpot! There will be showgirls and possibly a male revue, and Elvis, of course. You may even see the Rat Pack and Marilyn Monroe walking around for photo ops and to join in the fun!
Other parties include: a Twisted Fairy Tale Costume Party; a Bad Boys of Romance party; and a Cirque du Punk party complete with acrobats and fun fair treats.
Registration will open in early September, so be on the lookout. We will announce it on Twitter and on Facebook, as well as on RTBookReviews.com and RTConvention.com.
RT READERS & WRITERS ROUNDUP, HOUSTON (October 9 – 11, 2015)
Things are revving up for this inaugural Houston RT Readers & Writers Roundup event,October 9 – 11, where fans can meet more than 80 authors, including Colleen Hoover, Liliana Hart, Sharon Sala, Rachel Van Dyken, Emma Chase, Molly McAdams, RK Lilley, Anna Todd, Penny Reid and Kelly Elliott, to name a few. For the complete list of authors and all the details for the three-day program, go to the RT Roundup website. Click on the Purchase Tickets link to sign up for this spectacular event that will take place at the South Shore Harbor Resort, a beautiful resort in League City, located between Houston and Galveston Island.
We are now in the throes of putting together the November issue of RT, which will sport another milestone for another publisher on the cover. Congratulations to Samhain Publishing, who is celebrating their 10th anniversary in November! Read about their journey to becoming one of the most successful indie publishers in the business. Kat Latham rounds up some of romance’s most beloved rugby heroes, MJ Rose interviews Christopher Rice, and Yasmine Galenorn offers a bible to writers for how to create a bestselling series.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and celebrate that it's almost time for the kids to go back to school!
Happy reading,
Carol Stacy
Publisher & Internet Director
RT Book Reviews Magazine
Contact Info
RTBookReviews.com
www.RTConvention.com
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