What's the Monday NuNoos?
Well, no news is good news so new news must be great!
Check back every Monday for the newest news about our Silken Sands Conference At the Beach. We'll have interviews from speakers and workshop presenters, things to do in Pensacola Beach, schedules, contests and trivia. By the time April finally gets here you'll know more the conference than we will.
Today's NuNoos: Promotions and book fair
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS:
Paper products, such as bookmarks and postcards - please send no more than 50.
Books - as many as you want to send.
Other goodies - pencils, pens, magnets, etc. - no more than 150 for goodie bags.
Please mail all items to:
Cindy Roussos
283 Thrift Street
Mobile, AL 36609
BOOK FAIR:
You'll find a spot on the registration form to mark if you'd like to be included in the book fair. Fran McNabb will contact you after your registration is received. Fran will need names, titles and ISBN numbers from anyone wanting to participate. Books will be ordered from Waldenbooks out of Pensacola. We'll post information about "bring your own" books later.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
REMINDER: Check the archives!
Our Silken Sands blog usually posts what's going on this month, but don't forget to check the archives over there on the right column for items you may have missed in earlier months. Like click on JULY under ARCHIVES and you'll find conference information and conference fees as well as some great photos and information about the hotel.
We'll be posting an updated list of conference speakers by Monday. In fact, there will be updates posted every Monday between now and the conference, and then photos posted after the conference for you to click on and save!
So check out the archives for something you might have missed, and come visit us at this blog every Monday for "The Monday NuNoos." What's NuNoos? Check here Monday and see!
We'll be posting an updated list of conference speakers by Monday. In fact, there will be updates posted every Monday between now and the conference, and then photos posted after the conference for you to click on and save!
So check out the archives for something you might have missed, and come visit us at this blog every Monday for "The Monday NuNoos." What's NuNoos? Check here Monday and see!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Gulf Coast Chapter RWA in the news
The Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA made the news today and got a mention at the end for the conference. - Donna
From The Mobile Register (Mobile, Ala.)
ROMANCE ON THE COAST
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
By ROBERT McCLENDON
Staff Reporter
Fabio is on the dust jacket, puffy shirt ripped open to reveal rippling pecs. Sometimes a buxom heroine is draped over him, but she's optional. Usually they are posed standing in front of a castle.
That's the image many folks conjure up when asked to picture a romance novel, but that stereotype is out of date. Romantic fiction is now a booming business with myriad subgenres -- many of which have nothing to do with pirates, highwaymen or rogues of any kind.
The largest genre in fiction, annual sales for romance novels totaled about $1.4 billion in 2005.
And there are lots of romance writers, too. Many of them right here on the Gulf Coast, which boasts its own chapter of the national organization Romance Writers of America.
The work of Cynthia Eden, a young writer from Mobile, is an example of the romance genre's diversity. Instead of brash pirates and temporarily chaste maidens, her novels are populated by lusty vampires and shape-shifting private detectives. Her latest work, "Hotter After Midnight," features a psychologist who must track down a serial killer with supernatural powers. It's due for release in 2008 by New York -based Kensington Publishing Corp.
As a writer of paranormal romance and erotic romance, Eden's work has no shortage of saucy bits -- detailed love scenes -- but there are plenty of writers in the romance world who keep it PG.
In fact, there are really only two rules in romance writing, at least as far as RWA is concerned: There must by a love connection between two main characters and they've got to get together in the end, no maudlin it-wasn't-meant-to-be endings allowed. After that, anything goes.
Sheri Cobb South, who has had a number of books distributed by various publishing houses, is one of those whose writing isn't meant to steam your windows but does aim to get your pulse racing. She writes mystery romance now, but she used to write Regency novels, books set in the England of Jane Austen in the early 1800s.
Cobb South, of Chunchula, swapped genres because every business has its trends, and romance is no different. Regency writing is about as out of style today as the high-waisted, lace-trimmed dresses that typified the period.
Said Cobb South, quoting another artist's advice to her: "Write what you love, but love a lot of things."
Another chapter member, Don McNair, of Foley and the group's only male writer, has apparently taken that motto to heart. While he does write romance, he recently published his first novel, "The Long Hunter," a book based in colonial America about a young man searching for his sister.
Though the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA counts several published authors among its ranks, many of the writers in the group are working on their first novel and have yet to find a home for their work. For information, you can visit their Web site at www.gccrwa.com. The group meets on the first Saturday of each month.
The group also hosts a conference each year and invites agents and editors from major publishing houses speak on panels and meet new writers.
From The Mobile Register (Mobile, Ala.)
ROMANCE ON THE COAST
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
By ROBERT McCLENDON
Staff Reporter
Fabio is on the dust jacket, puffy shirt ripped open to reveal rippling pecs. Sometimes a buxom heroine is draped over him, but she's optional. Usually they are posed standing in front of a castle.
That's the image many folks conjure up when asked to picture a romance novel, but that stereotype is out of date. Romantic fiction is now a booming business with myriad subgenres -- many of which have nothing to do with pirates, highwaymen or rogues of any kind.
The largest genre in fiction, annual sales for romance novels totaled about $1.4 billion in 2005.
And there are lots of romance writers, too. Many of them right here on the Gulf Coast, which boasts its own chapter of the national organization Romance Writers of America.
The work of Cynthia Eden, a young writer from Mobile, is an example of the romance genre's diversity. Instead of brash pirates and temporarily chaste maidens, her novels are populated by lusty vampires and shape-shifting private detectives. Her latest work, "Hotter After Midnight," features a psychologist who must track down a serial killer with supernatural powers. It's due for release in 2008 by New York -based Kensington Publishing Corp.
As a writer of paranormal romance and erotic romance, Eden's work has no shortage of saucy bits -- detailed love scenes -- but there are plenty of writers in the romance world who keep it PG.
In fact, there are really only two rules in romance writing, at least as far as RWA is concerned: There must by a love connection between two main characters and they've got to get together in the end, no maudlin it-wasn't-meant-to-be endings allowed. After that, anything goes.
Sheri Cobb South, who has had a number of books distributed by various publishing houses, is one of those whose writing isn't meant to steam your windows but does aim to get your pulse racing. She writes mystery romance now, but she used to write Regency novels, books set in the England of Jane Austen in the early 1800s.
Cobb South, of Chunchula, swapped genres because every business has its trends, and romance is no different. Regency writing is about as out of style today as the high-waisted, lace-trimmed dresses that typified the period.
Said Cobb South, quoting another artist's advice to her: "Write what you love, but love a lot of things."
Another chapter member, Don McNair, of Foley and the group's only male writer, has apparently taken that motto to heart. While he does write romance, he recently published his first novel, "The Long Hunter," a book based in colonial America about a young man searching for his sister.
Though the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA counts several published authors among its ranks, many of the writers in the group are working on their first novel and have yet to find a home for their work. For information, you can visit their Web site at www.gccrwa.com. The group meets on the first Saturday of each month.
The group also hosts a conference each year and invites agents and editors from major publishing houses speak on panels and meet new writers.
Monday, August 20, 2007
List of participants
Megan Records, an editor at Kensington Publishing has accepted our invitation to attend Silken Sands.
Here's a quick rundown on the RSVPs so far:
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Catherine Mann (Silhouette, HQN)
Kelley St. John (Warner Forever, Harlequin Blaze)
Janice Lynn (Love Spell Dorchester)
Kathleen Long (Harlequin Intrigue)
Lenora Worth (Harlequin Steeple Hill)
Ginny Vail (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
Allison Knight (Kensington, Champagne Books)
Elizabeth White (Harlequin Steeple Hill and Zondervan)
Sheri Cobb South (Five Star)
Barbara Collins Rosenberg (agent, The Rosenberg Group Literary Agency)
Diana Love Snell
Mary Buckham
Caren Johnson (agent, Caren Johnson Literary Agency)
Vivian Beck (agent, Vivian Beck Agency)
Margo Lipschultz (editor, Harlequin)
Janice Lynn
Kathleen Long
Megan Records (editor, Kensington Publishing)
Here's a quick rundown on the RSVPs so far:
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Catherine Mann (Silhouette, HQN)
Kelley St. John (Warner Forever, Harlequin Blaze)
Janice Lynn (Love Spell Dorchester)
Kathleen Long (Harlequin Intrigue)
Lenora Worth (Harlequin Steeple Hill)
Ginny Vail (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
Allison Knight (Kensington, Champagne Books)
Elizabeth White (Harlequin Steeple Hill and Zondervan)
Sheri Cobb South (Five Star)
Barbara Collins Rosenberg (agent, The Rosenberg Group Literary Agency)
Diana Love Snell
Mary Buckham
Caren Johnson (agent, Caren Johnson Literary Agency)
Vivian Beck (agent, Vivian Beck Agency)
Margo Lipschultz (editor, Harlequin)
Janice Lynn
Kathleen Long
Megan Records (editor, Kensington Publishing)
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Workshops
WORKSHOPS FOR SILKEN SANDS 2008
(more added as they are announced)
Kelley St. John (Warner Forever, Harlequin Blaze)
“Extreme Pitch Makeover - How’d She Do That?" - Pitching to an Editor or Agent
Kelley St. John, Janice Lynn (Love Spell Dorchester)
Kathleen Long (Harlequin Intrigue)
“I’m a Hooker, She’s a Hooker, Wouldn’t you like to be a Hooker Too?" - How to “hook” the reader with the opening of your book
Catherine Mann (Silhouette, HQN)
“Military Heroes”
Lenora Worth (Harlequin Steeple Hill)
“Emotional Suspense”
Ginny Vail (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
“Google Researching”
Martha Krieger (Kensington, Champagne Books)
“E-Publishing”
Beth White
(Harlequin Steeple Hill and Zondervan)
Sheri Cobb South (Five Star)
“Romantic Suspense vs. Romantic Mystery”
Barbara Collins Rosenberg (Agent)
“Contracts”
Diana Love Snell and Mary Buckham
“Break Into Fiction” - A 2-hour hands-on workshop
Editor/Agent Panel Discussion
Agents Caren Johnson, Vivian Beck, Barbara Collins Rosenburg, and Harlequin Associate Editor Margo Lipschultz (Other editors TBA)
Janice Lynn and Kathleen Long
“Promotions”
Other sessions TBA
(more added as they are announced)
Kelley St. John (Warner Forever, Harlequin Blaze)
“Extreme Pitch Makeover - How’d She Do That?" - Pitching to an Editor or Agent
Kelley St. John, Janice Lynn (Love Spell Dorchester)
Kathleen Long (Harlequin Intrigue)
“I’m a Hooker, She’s a Hooker, Wouldn’t you like to be a Hooker Too?" - How to “hook” the reader with the opening of your book
Catherine Mann (Silhouette, HQN)
“Military Heroes”
Lenora Worth (Harlequin Steeple Hill)
“Emotional Suspense”
Ginny Vail (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
“Google Researching”
Martha Krieger (Kensington, Champagne Books)
“E-Publishing”
Beth White
(Harlequin Steeple Hill and Zondervan)
Sheri Cobb South (Five Star)
“Romantic Suspense vs. Romantic Mystery”
Barbara Collins Rosenberg (Agent)
“Contracts”
Diana Love Snell and Mary Buckham
“Break Into Fiction” - A 2-hour hands-on workshop
Editor/Agent Panel Discussion
Agents Caren Johnson, Vivian Beck, Barbara Collins Rosenburg, and Harlequin Associate Editor Margo Lipschultz (Other editors TBA)
Janice Lynn and Kathleen Long
“Promotions”
Other sessions TBA
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Conference Information
Gulf Coast Chapter RWA is excited to host the 2008 Silken Sands Conference At the Beach.
All you SHERRILYN KENYON fans will be thrilled to know that she is our featured speaker at the April event. And CATHERINE MANN will be our kickoff speaker Friday night. Agents who have confirmed include VIVIAN BECK with The Vivian Beck Agency, BARBARA COLLINS ROSENBERG with The Rosenberg Group Literary Agency and CAREN JOHNSON with The Caren Johnson Literary Agency. Our conference committee is busy emailing and calling to bring you a great line-up of agents and editors, so get your pitches ready.
So... why register for Silken Sands Conference At the Beach?
Why not?
Seriously, give yourself a much needed break from everyday life. Escape for a few days to beautiful, sunny Florida for a little sand, sun and romance all around. Well, romance writers at least! Not only can we offer you best-selling authors and top-notch agents and editors for brain picking and elbow rubbing, but we’ll also have workshops, a book fair, raffles and prizes.*
No snow, no earthquakes, no heavy traffic – and not a single pesky hurricane in sight! Just sun, fun and a wonderful working vacation - and you know what they say: “What happens at the beach stays at the beach!”
Click HERE to request more information
or
Click HERE for a printable registration form.
*Participants should bring the first 30 pages of a manuscript in case you are one of the winners in our Critique Raffle. Winners will have their manuscripts read by and agent, author or editor of their choice.
All you SHERRILYN KENYON fans will be thrilled to know that she is our featured speaker at the April event. And CATHERINE MANN will be our kickoff speaker Friday night. Agents who have confirmed include VIVIAN BECK with The Vivian Beck Agency, BARBARA COLLINS ROSENBERG with The Rosenberg Group Literary Agency and CAREN JOHNSON with The Caren Johnson Literary Agency. Our conference committee is busy emailing and calling to bring you a great line-up of agents and editors, so get your pitches ready.
So... why register for Silken Sands Conference At the Beach?
Why not?
Seriously, give yourself a much needed break from everyday life. Escape for a few days to beautiful, sunny Florida for a little sand, sun and romance all around. Well, romance writers at least! Not only can we offer you best-selling authors and top-notch agents and editors for brain picking and elbow rubbing, but we’ll also have workshops, a book fair, raffles and prizes.*
No snow, no earthquakes, no heavy traffic – and not a single pesky hurricane in sight! Just sun, fun and a wonderful working vacation - and you know what they say: “What happens at the beach stays at the beach!”
Click HERE to request more information
or
Click HERE for a printable registration form.
*Participants should bring the first 30 pages of a manuscript in case you are one of the winners in our Critique Raffle. Winners will have their manuscripts read by and agent, author or editor of their choice.
Conference Fees
Here's the truth: Conferences cost. There's no way around that. As much as we'd love to throw a ginormous party on the beach and invite all our writer friends, the Gulf Coast Chapter RWA has to pay the bills for the beautiful hotel conference rooms, delicious food and our wonderful speakers and teachers.
We want you to get the best and we hope to offer it, without causing you to break into your piggy banks for the fees.
Our conference is $145.
Our regular rate for our conference is $145. (Installment plan information available HERE)
* If you register before Oct. 31, you get an “Early Bird” rate of $125.
* If you register after March 10, you get a “Hungry Bird” rate of $165.
Get it? Early Bird catches the worm; the late bird goes away hungry! OK, couldn’t resist. Seriously though, no matter what you pay to attend, we will offer you more than enough to fill you up.
You get:
• Workshops and classes
• Appointments with editors and agents
• Friday night reception
• Continental breakfasts Saturday and Sunday morning
• Saturday lunch
• Saturday evening banquet
• Book fair
• Raffles – You could put your manuscript in the hands of an accomplished editor or agent!
• Networking opportunities
• Friendships and camaraderie
• Southern hospitality, Florida sunshine, warm sand, cool blue water and a great excuse to research for that beach romance
Here’s some of the fine print we have to tell you about. Full refunds are available through March 10 minus $20 for administrative costs. No refunds can be given after March 10. Registration fees DO NOT include your hotel room. (Scroll down a few posts for that info.)
We want you to get the best and we hope to offer it, without causing you to break into your piggy banks for the fees.
Our conference is $145.
Our regular rate for our conference is $145. (Installment plan information available HERE)
* If you register before Oct. 31, you get an “Early Bird” rate of $125.
* If you register after March 10, you get a “Hungry Bird” rate of $165.
Get it? Early Bird catches the worm; the late bird goes away hungry! OK, couldn’t resist. Seriously though, no matter what you pay to attend, we will offer you more than enough to fill you up.
You get:
• Workshops and classes
• Appointments with editors and agents
• Friday night reception
• Continental breakfasts Saturday and Sunday morning
• Saturday lunch
• Saturday evening banquet
• Book fair
• Raffles – You could put your manuscript in the hands of an accomplished editor or agent!
• Networking opportunities
• Friendships and camaraderie
• Southern hospitality, Florida sunshine, warm sand, cool blue water and a great excuse to research for that beach romance
Here’s some of the fine print we have to tell you about. Full refunds are available through March 10 minus $20 for administrative costs. No refunds can be given after March 10. Registration fees DO NOT include your hotel room. (Scroll down a few posts for that info.)
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Sherrilyn Kenyon at Nationals
Our guest speaker promises to be quite the entertainer - inside the pages of her best-selling novels and out. This is Sherrilyn during an appearance at RWA nationals in Dallas earlier this month. I don't think I've ever seen a hat like that on sale at Wal-mart.Thursday, July 12, 2007
About the hotel
Hampton Inn Hotel Pensacola Beach Florida2 Via Deluna, Pensacola Beach, Florida, 32561
Phone: 800-320-8108
Rooms for the conference begin at $139 plus tax.
IMPORTANT: You must mention the code "ROM" to get the discount rate. This rate is available through March 14.
Click HERE to find Pensacola Beach on a map!
The Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach, Florida hotel is located on Pensacola's famous white sand beaches on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. This Florida beach hotel is at the center of all island attractions. Hotel guests at Pensacola Beach will enjoy spectacular views, convenient specialty
shops and great restaurants and night spots just outside their door.
The Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach Florida hotel features many amenities sure to please the busy executive or leisure traveler. On the House complimentary "deluxe" hot breakfast buffet is served daily, and Monday through
Friday hotel guests at the Pensacola Beach Hampton Inn, can take advantage of our complimentary On the Run Breakfast Bags and USA Today newspaper. The Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach hotel also offers an exercise room, guest laundromat, laundry and valet services, babysitting and child 
services, cribs and connecting rooms and room service.Each hotel room at the Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach, Florida comes standard with mini-refrigerator, microwave, wet bar, iron, ironing board and hair dryer as well as high-speed internet and cable TV with movie channel. Our Gulf front rooms on the second and fourth floors feature private balconies. This Florida beach hotel also has a large beachside deck with two swimming pools and Gilligan's
Island Tiki Bar for the enjoyment of our hotel guests.Meeting and banquet facilities that accommodate up to 300 people are available at this Florida Pensacola Beach Hampton Inn.
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