1st Conference Presentation

I'm very excited to be presenting a workshop at RWA's National conference in Washington DC next week. And shaky-scared.


Like many writers, I'm a shy person, more comfortable with imaginary people than real ones. And it has little to do with being able to control everyone, as some might suspect. LOL Frankly, I'm much smarter, wittier, and more articulate if I get a "do-over."


What has this to do with public speaking, you ask? Well, it's "public speaking," one of the top fears of 90% of the population. Add in that the workshop will be recorded and you can start to understand my apprehension.

Fortunately, I'm presenting with a really good friend, Kimberly Killion (www.kimberlykillion.com), whose historical, HER ONE DESIRE, is nominated for a RITA award. Not standing there alone is good. Our topic is "The Road So Far: The First Year After the Call," so I'm knowledgeable on the topic, which helps, too.


Does any of this erase my fear? No way. But it eases it some. Kim and I presented the talk to our local RWA chapter and were well-received. This will be the third time we've done the talk, and it gets better, more detailed, and more fun every time.


Not that I'm encouraging anyone to attend! LOL


Do you also fear public speaking? Does anyone have some tips to help me through this?



Megan Kelly
megankellybooks.com

It's Author News Day!

News

The 2009 Rita Awards will be presented in Washington, DC on Saturday, July 18. We're thrilled that two American Romance authors are finalists in the contemporary series category:

THE RIGHT MR. WRONG (Februay 2008) by Cindi Meyers
TEXAS HEIR (September 2008) by Linda Warren

Linda Warren’s TEXAS HEIR(September, 2008) is a finalist in the BookBuyer's Best Contest short contemporary category, and ALWAYS A MOTHER (Superromance—June, 2008) is the sensual contemporary winner in the More Than Magic Contest.

Leigh Duncan is delighted to report that she is now represented by literary agent Helen Breitwieser of Cornerstone Literary.

Reviews

Ann Roth’s July release, A FATHER FOR JESSE, is a Romantic Times Top Pick and received a four-and-a-half star review!

A single mom, a troubled boy and a man who doesn't want responsibility may sound like a tired plot for a romance, but Roth's wonderful tale is touching, romantic and timely. Emmy Logan isn't looking to add another man to her life when she moves her son, Jesse, from a gang-infested area to a quiet island. After a lifetime of caretaking, Mac Struthers is looking forward to his freedom. Although they try to fight it, their attraction sparks a steamy romance, but they could end up hurting the boy they both love if they're not careful.

Mark Your Calendar

July 14—Four wonderful new reads from Harlequin American Romance will be in stores. This month’s covers are posted in the sidebar.

July 15—Many of your favorite American Romance authors will take part in the 2009 Readers for Life Literacy Autographing 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Exhibit Hall, Washington DC. Sponsored by Romance Writers of America. Open to the public; no admittance charge.

Taking the day off

Because I posted a recipe yesterday and then enjoyed the day with family and friends, I decided to take today off.

I'll be back next month.

Thanks for your understanding,

Ann Roth
www.annroth.net
A Father for Jesse, a July 2009 RT Top Pick!
(and the fourth and final book of my Halo Island miniseries)

Recipe of the month

This one of my favorite recipes and it tastes so good. In fact, I just made one for Fourth of July. (To those who celebrate, Happy Fourth!) My Mom passed it to me. Now I'm sharing it with you.

Mom’s Strawberry Pie
One baked, cooled pie crust (recipe follows)

Four-plus cups whole strawberries
1-1/2 – 2 heaping Tbs cornstarch, depending on how juicy the berries are
1 cup sugar
2 Tbs butter

Put everything but the butter in a saucepan. Cook 20-30 minutes until thick, stirring often to prevent burning. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Pour into cooled crust. Let cool or serve warm. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Pie Crust
(makes enough for two bottom crusts of one bottom and one top- this recipe doesn’t need a top crust, so I freeze a baked crust for later)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

2 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 sticks butter, fresh from fridge and cut into chunks
1/4 cup Crisco solid shortening
4 Tbsp ice water

Use the metal blade of the food processor. Pour flour into food processor, add butter and shortening. Pulse (process in short bursts) till crumbly and about the size of peas. Do not over-pulse. Add ice water, 1 Tbsp at a time, pulsing briefly after each addition. Use all Tbsp of water until mixture pulls away from sides and forms a ball. Do not add too much water or it will be tough and not good. Dump onto wax paper and refrigerate 30 minutes. Roll out to fit 9-inch pie tin. Place in the pie tin. Use an aluminum pie tin, pie weights or dried beans to prevent puffing.

Bake for 12-15 minutes. After 8-10 minutes, you can remove the aluminum pan or foil and weights so that the crust browns a little. Set aside to cool.

Enjoy!

Ann Roth
www.annroth.net
A Father For Jesse, a July RT Top Pick!

JUNE CONTEST WINNER!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS housemouse88! You’re the June winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Rebecca Winters and Cathy McDavid through their Web sites.

To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Simple and painless. And FREE BOOKS.

So check back often and be sure to leave a comment. Good luck!

Happy Fourth of July and Happy Canada Day!!!!

The truth about...

In doing research for my books, I sometimes conduct in-person, e-mail and telephone interviews. I’ve cornered friends with questions about everything from medical issues to police procedures to Japanese culture to running a public relations agency.

A lot of research these days is, of course, done on the Internet. I thought you might be interested to know a few of the topics I’ve researched for my upcoming Safe Harbor Medical series in the Harlequin American line.

Before I give the details, I should mention that my next book, Doctor Daddy, to be published in September 2009 as part of the Men Made in American promotion, is set in the same local as my previous trilogy, Harmony Circle.

The first Safe Harbor Medical book is scheduled for February 2010. I’m currently writing the second one; that will come out later in 2010.

Here are some topics I’ve been delving into:

1) Childbirth classes and the topics they cover. My husband and I attended one more than twenty years ago, so this brought back some squirmy memories.

1) Adoption issues. Here are a few of the items that adoption agencies look at in conducting home studies: Is the house clean and safe? Is there space for the child? Are both prospective parents (assuming there are two) eager to adopt, and do they have experience with children? How do they plan to take care of the child – day care, or one parent staying home? Or (this wasn't mentioned specifically) Nana the nurturing dog?

2) Premature ovarian failure. Ouch. You don’t really want to hear about this, do you?

3) How to cut a man’s hair (just take my word for it, this figures into Book 2). Start with a location that’s easy to sweep up, such a bathroom or kitchen, or take a chair outside if you don’t need to plug in your clippers. This, too, brings back memories. I used to torture my sons by cutting their hair on the patio, until my husband took pity on them and started driving them to a salon. They now drive themselves to the barber.

4) Duties of a hospital attorney. The hero of my second book is the staff attorney at Safe Harbor Medical.

6) Classes you have to take for a nursing degree in California. Gee, by the time our legislature finishes cutting the budget, who knows what our universities will still be offering?

7) How to get a quickie divorce. This is information I hope I never have to use outside a book.

8) California’s safe haven law, which allows women to safely surrender newborns at a hospital, fire station or other approved facility. Sad though the circumstances may be, this law not only saves lives, it also inspired this series. You see, women keep confusing Safe Haven with Safe Harbor, so there’s a whole spate of babies arriving at the hospital in need of homes…

And no doubt, one of these days, a haircut.