Hi, everyone!

Today I’m guesting over at the Borders True Romance Blog, and I’m guest posting at Bitten By Books (the event will start at 12 pm Central time for Bitten By Books).  Two great places! And great prizes (yes, I said prizes).  So if you have a chance, come check out the fun.

Thanks to everyone for participating in my Deadly Days of Summer event.  I will definitely plan more blog parties!!

It’s time for me to announce the big winners so…

Here we go!

The “Share” winner is Laurie (HighlandHussy)–$50 Amazon.com gift certificate

June’s $50 Amazon.com gift certificate:  Marlene Breakfield

July’s $50 Amazon.com gift certificate: Mary Preston

Congrats!!

Please email me at cynthia@cynthiaeden.com to claim your prize.

I thought I’d share my pics in “Yearbook” slide style (Yearbook was the only setting that let me get my crazy long captions on there!). I do have a few videos, but they are having some technical difficulties–I may wind up loading them on YouTube.  But, that’s later. Here’s now.

Now for the industry talk…
Grand Central Publishing’s Forever line will be releasing four titles in 2011 (they had been releasing three a month).  They are looking to acquire sensual historicals, contemporaries, erotic romances (romanticas), RS, and paranormals. You do need an agent in order to submit to Grand Central (unless you receive a submission request at a conference or as a result of  a contest).  The word count for the Forever line is 85-95k.

I attended the Booksellers Panel (with all the Book Buyers from Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Books-a-Million).  When asked what was “trending” in romance, erotica was the answer for the e-book side. In print, paranormals were listed as being hot sells.  Regency historicals were noted to be doing well, and steampunk was also mentioned.

They cautioned that after a few books in a series, it was better for an author to then do a spin-off instead of a “straight” series continuation (perhaps readers get tired after the third book?).

More info to come!

I’m back from RWA (and slowly recovering!), and I wanted to thank everyone who participated in my Deadly Days of Summer event.  I will be checking through all the blog posts soon and awarding any prizes that, well, have not been awarded already! I think there are a few left…like the big Amazon gift certificates!  I should have that material posted tomorrow.

I will also get a slide-show ready and compile a summary of my RWA trip (with the publishing news I learned while in Orlando).

I feel like I’m functioning at low capacity today, so check back tomorrow for all those details!

I am having a great time at RWA–meeting lots of new friends, catching up with old friends, and getting a romance writing buzz!

The publisher spotlights will start tomorrow (and I’ll be sure to share the details I learn), but for today, I thought I’d share some pics:

Beth Williamson, me, and Anya Bast–love those ladies!  Awesome writers and just fun folks. 

Next up…my date for last night.  The lovely Ann Aguirre (who is a fantastic author and one very skilled dancer–I’ll show that video later):

And I got to meet new Kensington Brava author Rebecca Zanetti, too! Rebecca has a great new vampire series that will launch in 2011.

More pics will come! I’ll add a photo album to my facebook fan page soon.

And I’ll be back where I hear any good RWA gossip to share!

Have a good day!