Today I’m guest blogging over at Pop Syndicate (Book Addict with Angela Wilson). I”m talking about writing on the darker side. If you get a chance, come on over!

As I was going through my emails (Woo-hoo! Almost have that In-Box under control), I found some great reviews waiting for me.  My September anthology, BELONG TO THE NIGHT, was reviewed in Publishers Weekly.  Here’s a snippet from the review:

“Tough women and hot men populate this deliciously sensual anthology…. Each compulsively readable story is well-paced and filled with steamy, graphic sex. Laurenston’s characters shine with wit and depth, and Eden and Quinn deliver nonstop action. (Sept.)”

BELONG TO THE NIGHT was also selected as a Recommended Read by Tina at Two Lips Reviews (thank you, Tina!).  Tina noted, “When you want action adventure, love lost and love found you want Belong to the Night. This novel will make you want more of the creatures that go bump in the night and the mates that love them.”

You can read the full review here.

And, one last bit of good news…MIDNIGHT’S MASTER has been named a PNR Recommended Read!

Ah, now for more of my RWA update!

I attended the librarian panel and came away with some interesting info on romance books in libraries.

I found out that:

When determining which books to order, 96% of libraries use reviews in trade journals, 89% use customer requests, and 65% use publisher catalogs.

The 3 main review lists for libraries are: Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. However, many libraries also use the Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur when determining their orders.

And while we may not be seeing as many chick lit stories on bookstore shelves, that continues to be a genre favorite with library patrons.  Mystery/suspense is also another popular genre area.

I realized that it would probably be easier for me to post a few small updates instead of one long recap (due to some time constraints right now), so, here goes!

What would editors and agents like to see?  Well, the general consensus was that paranormals were hot–hot and expected to continue to be good sellers.  Historicals are proving to be in high demand–so if that’s your area, this is good news for you!  Sweet romances are also a good market (according to the booksellers there).  The erotic romance market is tightening up–still selling, but harder to break into this area. Of course, folks were advised not to just follow market trends, but instead to focus on writing the best possible book. But, isn’t that what writers do anyway?  I’m always a bit thrown when I hear a statement like that b/c I think, well, not like anyone sets out to write the worst possible book, right? (Sorry, got on a tangent there!)

More info to come!

I drove 16 hours yesterday (Red Bull is amazing), and I made it home from D.C. in one piece.  🙂  I had a great time chatting with all the writers and editors (and my lovely agent)–and touring the city was just a blast.  (Thank you, Shelli!  You are my sight-seeing sister!)

The FF&P Party on Thursday was wonderful–congrats to all the PRISM winners. Such a good time–and such a fabulous group!  I sat next to Jeri Smith-Ready (an awesome lady) just like I did the very first time I attended an FF&P party.  Jeri is awesome–no other word for her.  A classy lady and one amazingly talented writer.  And speaking of class…the FF&P President, Jeffe Kennedy, sure knows how to put on one great event!

There are so many wonderful folks in the FF&P Chapter–I think about them and I smile.  About 15 of us got together and took a haunted walk in D.C.–ghosts and writers are a perfect mix.  So thanks to my haunted fun buddies!!

And Leanna…I’m counting down the release for Strangely Beautiful!  Can’t wait!

I do have industry news and RWA highlights to share–I’ll try to get that info up soon.  But, again, I’ll just use my 16 hours of driving yesterday and wave that as an excuse. You see, my mind is a little tired today so I’m giving it a rest period.  So, I plan to finish reading my 1200 emails tonight and hopefully get back on track tomorrow.

Night!!

I’m heading out to the RWA Conference in D.C.–driving, then catching that train out of Georgia.  🙂  If you’re in the D.C. area, there is a HUGE multi-author literacy signing on Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Wardham Park Hotel, Exhibit Hall.  The proceeds from this event are donated to charity–so come on out for a great cause!

A few quick notes…if you email me in the next week, please don’t expect a response. I’ll reply some time next week–as soon as I get back in town and things settle down a bit.

And, hey, how much fun…MIDNIGHT’S MASTER is up for cover of the week over at Embrace the Shadows.  I’ve got some amazing competition.  If you get a chance, go by, check out the covers, and vote for your fave.

Have a great week! For those heading to D.C., see you soon!!

My next author interview subject is very classy lady–and a wonderful writer.  Dara Edmondson, welcome to my blog!!!  Dara recently answered my author interview questions, and I wanted to share her responses with my blog visitors.  So here you go.  🙂

1.    Please tell us a bit about yourself and the genre (or genres) that you write.

Thanks for having me, Cynthia!  I live in Florida and have worked in tourism, Real Estate and the salon industry.  I have two nearly grown kids and a very supportive husband.  Now I’m a full time writer and I love it!  I’ve written many genres, mainly contemporary romance, erotica and Young Adult.  I’ve had lots of wide-eyed stares when I say I write both erotica and YA since the two couldn’t be further apart, but that keeps it fresh and interesting!

2.    Describe your current (or upcoming) release in 15 words or less.

Captured is about a woman taken to be the courtesan for a prince.  Yummy!

3.    Now use as many words as you’d like to describe your story.

Whew!  Much easier than 15 words.  When Audrey Brookstone meets a handsome foreigner at a Broadway show, she’s instantly taken with his good looks and charming demeanor.  After an evening of passion in his limousine, he whisks her away to be his courtesan in Cazbekistan, where he is a crown prince.  Prince Milo agrees not to force himself on her, but rather to make her fall in love with him in only eight weeks, or he must set her free with a king’s ransom.  Can Audrey resist his charms or will she give in to his lavish seduction?  (A reviewer accused me of peeking into her fantasies!)

4.    Which character do you like better from CAPTURED—the hero or the heroine?  Why?

I’ll have to say my hero, Milo.  First of all, he’s totally yummy.  He’s forced to change his opinions and the way he looks at his world.  I love pulling my characters out of their comfort zone.  Although I pull my heroine out of hers as well since she’s kidnapped and taken to a whole new reality, Milo is the one who learns the most from the experience.

5.    What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

For me it’s having patience, something that does not come naturally;-)  You must have patience to revise and revise and revise before you submit a manuscript to publishers, you must find even more while waiting for their response.  The process can take years and it’s not for the faint-hearted!

6.    In a fight, who would win…Dracula or the wolf-man?  What? This question seems odd? Please, folks are dying to know this answer.

I’ll say Dracula because he’s no doubt hotter!  Plus, he can turn himself into a bat to escape, then come back when the wolf-man least expects him.

7.    What’s your favorite scary movie?  Come on, spill.  No explanations—just name it.  Let everyone else guess why.

Blair Witch Project.

8.    Tell me the one thing you wish you’d known about being a writer, um, before you became a writer.

I wish I knew all the patience and perseverance required.  When I completed my first novel I thought it was so great.  Publishers would enter a bidding war to get their hands on it.  I found out real quick how wrong I was!  That book is still under my bed.

9.    What is your writing schedule like?

I don’t have a hard and fast schedule because with two kids, a husband and two cats, stuff happens.  Every day.  Most days of the week, I start writing as soon as I come home from the gym, carpool and errands.  I often write on and off all day and into the evening.  Since I have a critique partner, I try to get to her chapter early in the week.  I am pretty rigid in my weekly word count goal and if that means I’m writing after dinner, so be it.  I also write on the weekend.

10.    Tell me anything you’d like to tell me.

One of my favorite things to do is attend writers’ conferences.  You can learn so much and meet so many wonderful people, like Cynthia Eden;-) and Angela Knight and Heather Graham.  The best thing is how encouraging and supportive most of those folks are.  I always go home incredibly inspired and ready to write the great American novel!  Well, maybe someday.

Thanks for answering my questions, Dara!!!