You Are Viewing Author News

As was recently reported by TheBookseller.com popular author here in the US, Diane Chamberlain, will be moving from Mira to Pan Macmillan in a three-book deal. What’s truly exciting about this is that many readers abroad will now be able to enjoy Diane’s books as readily as we have here in the US. Recently Leah had the opportunity to review Diane’s latest, The Midwife’s Confession, and she enjoyed it so much it went on her list of “Favorite Books of the Year So Far“. I’m also a big fan of her writing and am excited for this great new venture of hers.

Here’s a little more from the article at TheBookseller.com:

“We will publish the first novel in 2013 with a huge fanfare, and work very closely with our sister company St Martin’s in turning Diane Chamberlain into a global brand.”

Chamberlain added: “My UK readers rock! I’m thrilled that they love my stories and it’s been amazing and gratifying to hear from so many of them. I’m excited about the move to Pan Macmillan and know it will help me share my books with many more UK and Commonwealth readers in the years to come.”

Chamberlain’s first title with Pan Mac will be published in 2013.

I’m curious to see how this will affect her publications here in the US if at all, but I’m also excited for her potential readers abroad. What do you think? Does this new development have you eager to pick up her newest title from Pan Mac in 2013?

It wasn’t too long ago I was breaking the news that Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novel Second Hand Heart had been released for US eBook readers, but now she’s back with another offer for her readers. Direct from Catherine’s blog…

Most of you know my novel Second Hand Heart has just been released here in the U.S., in both ebook and paperback. And I’d like to make an offer to my U.S. readers, particularly those who have e-readers (such as the Nook or Kindle). I’d like to give you an electronic copy of the book in return for your word of mouth. If, and only if, you enjoy the book, I hope you’ll return the favor by spreading the word. Tell a few of your friends who read, review it on your blog, mention it to your book group…or…you tell me.

The reason I bring this to the attention of our readers is not so that we can pick up a copy (because you already know Leah and I loved the book), but so that you can have the opportunity to read Second Hand Heart. I know many of you are fans of Catherine’s writing, have your own review sites, and simply love to read wonderful women’s fiction and I didn’t want you to miss out on this fantastic opportunity. She’s holding the opportunity open until mid-September so I’d suggest to anyone who may be interested in reading Second Hand Heart who is also willing to spread the word about this wonderful book to run over to Catherine’s blog and let her know you’re interested. All it takes is a single comment and she’ll get right back to you. So run, take a chance on a great book and feel free to tell her I sent you!

And just in case you need a reminder, here’s the synopsis for Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde:

Vida is 19 and has never had much of a life. Struggling along with a life-threatening heart condition, her whole life has been one long preparation for death. But suddenly she is presented with a donor heart, and just in time. Now she gets to do something she never imagined she’d have to do: live.

Richard is a 36-year-old man who’s just lost his beloved wife, Lorrie, in a car accident. Still in shock and not even having begun the process of grieving, he is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife’s donor heart.

Vida takes one look at Richard and feels she’s loved him all her life. And tells him so. Richard assumes she’s just a foolish young girl. And maybe she is. Or maybe there’s truth behind the theory of cellular memory, and maybe it really is possible for a heart to remember, at least for a time, on its own.

By bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde, SECOND HAND HEART is a story of love, of unexpected chances, and of inconceivable loss—of having to learn to live for the first time, and having to learn to live all over again.

Today I’m excited to share with our readers a little something you might find really fun and the perfect way to end out your summer months. Three of the biggest names in Chick Lit have come together to write a set of short stories to be published in an eBook for Cosmopolitan Magazine and Open Road Media. What happens in Cosmo’s Sexiest Stories Ever: Three Naughty Tales is something I’ll share in my review a little later today, but until then take a look at the story behind the partnership…

Cosmo’s Sexiest Stories Ever: Three Naughty Tales by Jane Green, Jennifer Weiner and Meg Cabot

The world’s bestselling magazine for young women asked three bestselling authors to each write a story steamy enough for the pages of Cosmo—a tall order, but these ladies so delivered. The trio of tantalizing tales was such a hit that they’ve been compiled into this must-have ebook. Now, readers can devour these naughty little nuggets whenever, wherever. Here’s a taste of the deliciousness inside.

“Sex Under the Stars” by Jane Green

Maggie’s marriage fell apart three years ago—and now she has her eyes set on her ex-hubby’s smoke-show of a best friend.

“Birthday Sex She’ll Never Forget” by Jennifer Weiner

Daphne’s turning twenty-six, and the best damn gift she could have ever asked for comes in the form of a hot guy from her past—and his spine-tingling mattress moves.

“Falling in Lust at the Jersey Shore” by Meg Cabot

When Gemma agrees to go in on a house at the Jersey Shore, she assumes every dude there will be a gorilla juicehead. So she is pleasantly surprised by the yummy piece of eye candy waiting for her when she arrives.

What I thought was fantastic was the piece they each did for The Kindle Daily Post. Each of them was interviewed about their experiences writing these short stories and it was hilarious to see how they were able to find the characters for these steamy scenes. Obviously this is going to be one for those of our readers who like their books a bit more on the naughty side, but at only .99 cents for the eBook its a steal!

Find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and on iTunes.

So, what do you think? Will you be picking up this eBook for a glimpse into something different from some of your favorite authors?

Before Victoria Connelly got her book deal with Avon, she wrote three novels that were published in Germany (in German) but Victoria has made the three books available for Kindle now - in English! - and you can buy them from Amazon US and Amazon UK. They’re currently at a very low price, so snap them up soon!

Unmasking Elena Montella

Following your heart’s desire is much easier when you’re invisible … Elena Montella has some problems. Their names are Reuben, Mark and Prof and she’s engaged to all three of them. But it’s time she made her mind up because they’re all expecting a wedding by the end of the year. In her turmoil, she flees to her sister’s in Venice but she doesn’t expect that each of her fiancés will follow her there. And she certainly doesn’t expect to be given a magical mask which gives her the power of invisibility, and the rare opportunity to spy on her fiancés and find out who, if any, is the right one for her. But is her invisibility just masking the real fears she harbours from her past? The Unmasking of Elena Montella is a magical romantic comedy about falling in love, over and over again, and trying to discover just who is ‘The One’.

Three Graces

Carys Miller doesn’t believe in the aristocracy nor does she believe in the supernatural. So, when she finds herself married to Richard Bretton, 12th Duke of Cuthland, and living in his haunted house, she wonders if she’s going mad. As the new mistress of Amberley Court, Carys discovers she’s now in charge of a house the size of a small village. And, as if that isn’t enough to be getting on with, she finds herself in the most unpopular of roles: a stepmother to young Cecily and Evie. Carys desperately needs help but she doesn’t expect it to come from an eighteenth-century duchess who simply refuses to leave Amberley. Three Graces is a romantic fantasy about mothers, daughters, lovers and ghosts, and how the past always manages to find its way into the present.

Flight of Angels

Just when you think you’ve found true love, death gets in the way … What would you do if your husband died and you started seeing tiny angels on your desk at work? What would you do if your girlfriend left with your life savings, leaving only a broken heart and a goldfish behind? Claudie and Simon: two people battered and bruised by life. But can they learn to love again? Flights of Angels - a romantic comedy with a heavenly twist!

Miranda Dickinson, hugely successful author of Fairytale of New York and Welcome To My World is launching a fantastic competition for anyone interested in writing! The Rose Prize is a new short story competition which is being run through Miranda’s blog and is open to everyone. All you need to do is write a short story - less than 2,500 words - of any genre you fancy and send it in!

The competition is being judged by Ruth Saberton (author of Katy Carter Needs A Hero and Ellie Andrews Has Second Thoughts), Jamie Guiney (A short story author), and Miranda herself. The first prize is a place on one of Ruth Saberton’s writing holidays, and the top three entries will be published on Miranda’s blog. The closing date for entries is Wednesday August 31st at midnight. Entries have to be emailed to [email protected], be in a Word document, 12 point text with double spacing with ‘New Rose Prize Entry’ as your subject line.

It’s a great opportunity for writers out there to get their work read by some great names in the business, and the prize is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the art of writing! Good luck!

AUTHOR JJ SALEM LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE/BLOG WITH GLAM GIVEAWAY

J.J. Salem, author of the 2008 UK bestseller TAN LINES, has launched a new Website (www.jjsalem.com) and companion blog (www.bonkbusterdiaries.com) in advance of the summer release of his next novel, THE STRIP, just praised by industry legend Jackie Collins as a “fun, fast, furious, and sexy read.”

The author site is a content-rich pinball machine of image galleries, video trailers, interactive games, snap polls, and book extracts (written and audio). Also offered is a free membership to the Bonkbuster Girls Club (BGC), a subscriber-based online activity that will feature commercial women’s fiction picks, sneak peeks at upcoming novels, drink recipes for book club nights, and immediate entry to contests and promotional giveaways.

Salem’s companion blog, Bonkbuster Diaries, is an homage to the past, present, and future of sexy, guilty-pleasure fiction as well as a place for the author to speak out on the writing life and to chronicle fantastic things happening in pop culture. The blog launch is being celebrated with a special glam giveaway—a metallic blue makeup bag and fiery red nail polish from Mac Cosmetics’ new Wonder Woman colour line, plus an advanced readers edition of Salem’s summer bonkbuster THE STRIP.

THE STRIP is a steamy page-turning account of three upscale married women with one scandalous secret in common—the hottest male escort in Las Vegas. Set for holiday release on July 15, it marks the first of Salem’s next four releases from Pan Macmillan. National bestseller Tilly Bagshawe has praised the forthcoming title as “deliciously sinful.”

For those who may not know her, Lauren Conrad is a household name in the US and I’m sure elsewhere in the world. Made hugely popular through her hit reality television show, The Hills, Lauren has now moved onto the fields of fashion and book writing. Her very successful young adult book series LA Candy recently released the third book, Sugar and Spice, this last Tuesday and on the same day she made a huge announcement concerning her future writing projects. The new series, The Fame Game, has been signed with HarperCollins for a planned three books to be released over the next few years. Speaking with US Magazine she revealed a little bit about what it will entail. As a huge fan of The Hills as well as Lauren’s fashion line, I for one am definitely eager to read this next installment in the ever growing Lauren Conrad “empire”. Take a look at the synopsis below and let me know what you think…

Called The Fame Game, the Hills alum’s upcoming trilogy is set in the reality TV universe, and features Madison Parker, an ambitious, ruthless character from the L.A. Candy series who’s ready to become a star in her own right. In her way? Backstabbing family friends, dogged paparazzi and one media scandal after the next!

It’s a well known fact that Melissa Senate is a household staple when it comes to American Chick Lit. So, when this incredibly talented writer puts together a list of her Top 5 Debut Authors to look for in 2011…we should all be on the lookout!

A couple of them I hadn’t heard of yet, but know I’ll definitely be checking into. But…no big surprises here, two of my most anticipated reads for 2011 made her list!
The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen
The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

Congratulations to both Rebecca and Sarah! I was absolutely thrilled to see both of these lovely lady’s books on Melissa’s list and now know that I’m even more excited than ever to read both of them!

So, head on over to She Knows Entertainment for the three other picks Melissa made and let me know, will you be picking any of them up?