March 06, 2006

OK Corral, March 2006 Newsletter

From our Prez, Deborah Behrens:

This month I’m going to reminisce about what brought me to OK-RWA.

I’m not sure how long I’d been writing when my husband, the wonderful man that he is, pointed me to a news article announcing a romance writers’ once-a-month Saturday meeting.

I arrived early to my first meeting to find that some people had brought their lunch and were eating while they chatted. Rinda Elliott welcomed me between bites. (I remember this because she made a point to get up and shake my hand. Oh, and also because she’s sooo darn tall. (Wouldn’t we all love to have those legs!) I think Jill Floyd was outgoing prez and Donnell Epperson was prez-elect. Betty Sanders, I just knew then as the watergirl. (She had a cooler full of ice cold bottled water that she’d lugged in from her car.)

Originally, I think they had a speaker on Scottish culture lined up, but it was announced that he had cancelled and we were going to work on metaphors instead. When we broke into small groups the terror set in… Now these people were going to know I was an amateur. Terri Schaefer helped squelch my fears and I surprised myself. I actually wrote something that made sense, but it didn’t come close to what some of the others put together. When they started reading their stuff, I was in awe! I can’t remember what it was she wrote, but in just ten minutes, Betty, the watergirl, wrote something so eloquent that I knew I was in the wrong place.

There was also a man visiting the group. I was extremely thankful for this because, instead of me, all eyes were on him now. When he read his metaphor, mouths drop open. Here I was trying to work something witty into my character’s banter and he already had his character deep in the throws of passion. Needless to say, I think he had us all blushing, and that’s not easy to do to a bunch of romance writers.

That first meeting I attended was in November of 2002. As you know, December was the annual Christmas party, so I had an extra month to decide if this was something for me. Well, as you can see, I gave it another shot. When I came back in January, I was greeted by Merline Lovelace. (The sweetest lady on the planet.) I don’t remember what that program was about, but I will always remember the people, and how welcome they made me feel both then and now. Here’s to you Outlaws, you rock!

Deb

March 2006 Program:

MEMBERS ONLY MEETING
National Book Buyer for Books-A-Million (BAM), Margaret Terwey, will be speaking to the membership of OK RWA in March 2006. She plans to give insight into her buying process, trends she is seeing in her stores, and the Books-A-Million & Bookland merchandising and marketing strategies. Ms. Terwey has been a buyer for BAM since 1998, having previously served as a manager of a BAM store in Port Richey, Florida and a systems coordinator for Wal-Mart prior to joining the BAM Corporation.

Founded in 1917 as a street corner newsstand in Florence, Alabama, Books-A-Million, Inc. has grown to become the premier book retailing chain in the Southeastern United States, and the third largest book retailer in the nation. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the company currently operates 210 stores in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Books-A-Million retail stores are modeled after one of three formats: Books-A-Million Superstores, Bookland, and Joe Muggs Newsstands. In addition to its primary retail component, the corporation includes a book wholesale and distribution subsidiary, American Wholesale Book Company, an e-commerce division operating as BOOKSAMILLION.COM, and an internet development and services company, NetCentral, in Nashville, Tennessee.

The OK RWA is pleased to welcome Ms. Margaret Terwey to Oklahoma City for this exclusive members only meeting.

From 12 to 3 p.m. at
Bravo! Restaurant
13810 N. Pennsylvania (corner of Memorial & North Penn)
405-751-7420

From 3 to 5 p.m. at
Books-A-Million
2300 W. Memorial
800-826-3038

New Releases:

The Bravo Family Way by Christine Rimmer

“I WANT YOU. NAME YOUR PRICE.”

Cleopatra Bliss had learned long ago to stay away from driven, powerful men like Fletcher Bravo. So when the handsome CEO of one of Las Vegas’s most successful gaming resorts made her an irresistible proposal, she knew she was in trouble.

Fletcher envisioned great possibilities for Cleo’s day-care center—including a special place for his little girl. But his desire for the stubbornly independent Cleo was rocking his world…until he decided marriage—with all the fringe benefits and none of the obligations—would suit him just fine. And then he looked at his wife’s burgeoning belly and realized he wasn’t the only one keeping secrets….

To Tease a Texan by Georgina Gentry

SHE'S NO LADY
Lark Van Schuyler can take care of herself--and has ever since she ran away from home and wound up in Buck Shot, Oklahoma. Taking care of others is a novelty she can't afford. Until she sees a man deep in his drink and being cheated at poker. Lark decides to do him a favor...

HE'S NO GENTLEMAN
The last thing Larado needs is more booze--especially in his lap. Just when he's about to clean up at cards, a no-account soiled dove drops a drink on him. It's her own dang fault that she loses her job. He never expects to see her again. Especially not during a bank hold-up. In Texas. And married--to him.

TOGETHER THEY'RE DYNAMITE
Being tied down to a pretty gal and her crazy donkey is turning out to be the worst fix Larado's ever found himself in. The West isn't big enough for both of them. But maybe love is..

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Georgina Gentry (Anthology also with Lorraine Heath and Teresa Bodwell)

Boston-bred heiress Henrietta never imagined she would race a horse one thousand miles across open land disguised as a boy. But then, she never believed her parents would arrange a marriage for her she would have to run away to escape. However, there's not escape from her toughest competition, expert rider and champion wrangler Comanche Jones. She needs that prize money--almost as much as she finds herself wanting him. . .

Ends of the Earth: Coming March 27th by Keira Ramsay

Chloe Saint James has lived the last forty years on the fringe of society … both human and Fae. With historian Logan Whitefeather she finds a kindred soul, and one searching for the same thing she is—the Rune of Domain.
But will the fires of passion continue to burn as bright when an enemy from Chloe’s past threatens not only their lives, but the future of the Fae?

Awaken Me Darkly (Mass Market Paperback) by Gena Showalter

Ridding the world of evil, one alien at a time…

In a time and place not too far away, Mia Snow is an alien huntress for the New Chicago Police Department, and she’s the perfect girl for the job. Tough and sexy, she’s earned each of her scars battling the elusive enemy among us. Now, investigating a series of killings, she is shaken to the core when a burst of violence leaves her partner Dallas fighting for his life. A tall, erotic stranger holds the power to heal the injured agent – and to bind Mia in an electrifying and dangerous seduction. He is Kyrin en Arr of the deadly Arcadian species – an alien, a murder suspect – who has Mia walking a knife’s edge, risking her badge and even her life. . .and edging closer to a shocking revelation that will shatter everything she’s ever believed.

Member News:

Sharon Sala is one of the authors who will be going on the Authors at Sea Cruise, sponsored by Levy and Harlequin in April.

Donnell Epperson's manuscript, The King's Man, finaled in the historical category of the 2006 Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest for Unpublished Authors.
Posted by Rinda Elliott :: 10:07 AM :: ---------------oOo---------------