Friday, October 9, 2015

When Authors Wine & Sign




A couple weeks ago I gave myself an early birthday present: an evening with a group of friendly, funny, talented authors. Carolina Romance Writers, the Charlotte chapter of Romance Writers of America, is a group that boasts several published authors and I feel fortunate to be living among them. Some I know casually, a couple are good friends, and others I met for the first time Saturday night. What they all have in common is a love of romance and a burning desire to tell a story and, let me tell you, there are some darn good stories being told! When they announced their book signing, complete with cupcakes, wine, and twelve published authors, well, there was just no way I was going to miss that! 








Elizabeth Michels is a historical romance author who sparkles with wit and charm, just like her stories! Be sure to check out Elizabeth's Tricks of the Ton series! For more information about Elizabeth, visit her website and connect with her at Facebook.












On the night of the signing, Sophia Henry celebrated both her birthday and the publication of her debut contemporary romance, Delayed Penalty. Set in Detroit and centered around the minor-league Detroit Pilots hockey team, reading this book was like taking a step back in time to my college years and my own hockey-playing boyfriend. Delayed Penalty is filled with plenty of angst, sizzle and heart-tugging emotion. Check out Sophia's website and connect with her at Facebook.





Left to Right: Darynda Jones, Tracy Brody and Kieran Kramer. Talk about an awesome trio!

Darynda Jones, a NYT and USA Today bestselling author, isn't from Charlotte but was the guest speaker at CRW's monthly meeting held the same day as Wine & Sign. Jones won both a Golden Heart and a RITA for her debut book, First Grave on the Right, the story that introduced her enormously popular Charley Davidson series. The most recent book in the series, Eighth Grave After Dark was released in May. An upcoming novella, Brighter Than The Sun will be released October 6th. Read more about Darynda and her books at her website and connect with her on Facebook.

Tracy Brody is the 2015 Golden Heart winner for her romantic suspense manuscript, "A Shot Worth Taking." Follow Tracy's writing journey on Facebook.

USA Today bestselling author, Kieran Kramer writes feel-good contemporary romance with plenty of Southern sass, humor, and charm. Her newest book, Trouble When You Walked In, pits a romantic librarian against the town mayor/football coach who tries to shut down the library. Sparks are flying in Kramer's Kettle Knob, North Carolina! For more information about Kieran and her books, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.




The ladies from Park Road Books in Charlotte love their romance! I know it's easy to order books from home on our computers but if you have the chance to support a local independent book store, please consider doing so.










Have you read Nancy Northcott's books yet? I love her modern-day, paranormal world set in southern Georgia. Renegade, the first full-length book in her Light Mages series remains one of my favorite paranormal romances. Nancy recently unveiled her (non-para) romantic suspense talents in the multi-author anthology, Capitol Danger. For more information on what Nancy has coming up, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.





When J.A. Coffey isn't busy writing steamy, romantic, contemporary romances, she can often be found in the kitchen making cupcakes and other mouth-watering desserts. Check out her recent visit to TRD for a delicious salted caramel cupcake recipe. For more information about J.A. Coffey, visit her website and connect with her on FacebookTwitter, and Pinterest.







Cupcakes and Cake Pops. Sweet treats! 





















Jeni Burns writes paranormal romance, women's fiction and fantasy novellas with a splash of romance. She is also the wearer of fabulous shoes! Check out Jeni's books at her website and follow her busy life at Facebook and Twitter.

Right: Jeni with Darynda Jones. As you can see, she was having a devilishly good time! :)












If you've been looking for historical romances set in America, look no further than Caroline Lee. Her Sweet Cheyenne Quartet is set in Wyoming Territory during the late 1800's (read about the four books here). The first book in the series, A Cheyenne Christmas has more than 140 reviews with a 4.5 average rating and is currently FREE for Kindle.  Her new Brothers of Baird's Cove trilogy takes readers to Charleston, South Carolina during the years following the War Between the States. The first book in the series, Renegade was released in August. Learn more about Caroline and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.











A lover of both food (she's won cooking competitions sponsored by Food Network, Cooking Channel, and more) and romance, debut author Andria Gaskins has combined the two into a contemporary romance novel about "the joys and frustrations of getting older, starting over, and falling in love for the second time." I just bought a copy of A Second Helping and can't wait to read it! Get to know Andria by visiting her website (she shares recipes!) and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.





Reagan Phillips writes steamy romantic suspense. Her debut, Confess, the first book in her Blue Line series matches a hot homicide detective with a sexy bartender who has sworn off cops and, oh yeah, just happens to be the police chief's only daughter. Discover more about Reagan and her books at her website and connect with her online at Twitter and Facebook.








Left to Right: Missy Lynn Ryan and Nancy Northcott

If  you enjoy Urban Fantasy or sexy New Adult romance, check out the books of Missy Lynn RyanForbidden Alpha, the first book in Ryan's Urban Fantasy, Love Sex Magick series was released in August and is getting good reviews. You can find Missy online at her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.





Do you have an independent book store in your area? Are they romance friendly? Do they host book signings?

Does your local library host book signings?

Have you attended a book signing this year? What did you enjoy most about it?

What's your favorite sub-genre of romance? Have you discovered any new authors in that sub-genre that you would recommend?

What are you currently reading?

Two randomly selected people leaving a comment will each receive two books from Wine & Sign. (U.S. only)

One winner will receive autographed copies of Renegade by Caroline Lee and Trouble When You Walked In by Kieran Kramer.

One winner will receive autographed copies of Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones and Renegade by Nancy Northcott.




30 comments:

  1. Yes, I have an independent store by me that does books signings.

    Ladbookfan

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  2. Such a fun night! Thank you for being there to support us and for the beautiful photos!! xx

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    1. I had a great time, Sophia! Already looking forward to your next Detroit Pilots book!

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  3. What a wonderful post! Thank you so much for being there with us and taking such fantastic photos! <3

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  4. I just moved here and I'm not too sure what the lone bookstore does lol. Ditto on the lone library.

    I haven't been to a signing since I was about 13 and had a book signed by R.L. Stine. I do collect signed books when I win them lol.

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    1. I do collect signed books when I win them lol.

      A very worthy endeavor! *grin*

      Thanks for stopping by, cathie!

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  5. I've never had the chance to go to any signings but I would love to. I'm not much of a driver and there's never been anything close by. And our library is small so no help there. Maybe one of these days I hope. I'm currently reading Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress by Theresa Romain and enjoying it a lot.

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    1. Glad to hear you're enjoying Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress. I'm a big Theresa Romain fan! She'll be here November 12th, along with her anthology mates, Vanessa Kelly, Shana Galen and Kate Noble, to celebrate their new holiday release, A Gentleman For All Seasons.

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    2. All authors that I've enjoyed very much!

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  6. We don't have any independent book stores here that I'm aware of. I've never been to a book signing, but would love to. I'm going to ask my favorite librarian next time I go if they every have any famous Authors doing a talk/book signing.

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    1. Diane, in what part of Florida do you live? RWA will be holding their national conference at Disney July 26 - 29, 2017. There will be a huge book signing with hundreds of authors that will be open to the public!

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    2. Hi PJ, I live in southern Florida. Disney is about a 3 hour drive from me. I will be home to England for a visit during this time period., so will be unable to go.

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  7. no, independent bookstores but a few local author signings at the local library

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  8. I believe Powell's Bookstore is independant and some branches host booksignings. I believe that they are romance friendly. I have not been able to make it to a signing, times for them seem to clash with my work schedule but would have loved to go to the Rachel Caine and Patricia Briggs ones. I am particularly fond of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, have not found new authors in the categories lately.I don't believe that our local library hosts book signings. Am currently reading through the Gini Koch Alien series, fun romance.

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  9. I believe Powell's Bookstore is independant and some branches host booksignings. I believe that they are romance friendly. I have not been able to make it to a signing, times for them seem to clash with my work schedule but would have loved to go to the Rachel Caine and Patricia Briggs ones. I am particularly fond of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, have not found new authors in the categories lately.I don't believe that our local library hosts book signings. Am currently reading through the Gini Koch Alien series, fun romance.

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  10. Such a fun time and talented group of wonderful ladies. Wonderful to see how they support each other too. Read and write on!

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  11. Wow, what a lovely and lively group to celebrate your Birthday! I'd adore some new books...

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  13. I wrote the name of the book wrong - it's A Cold Dark Place By Toni Anderson -I'm currently reading Toni Anderson's A Cold Dark Place - I first discovered her through the bundle group of her books sold as - HER - a romantic suspense trilogy - amazing author

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  14. there is a small independent book store in a neighboring town, but they don't carry romance books, but when I've ordered a book it usually only takes a few days.
    I don't think my local library has done any signings.
    I'm reading Catherine Coulter's 'The Prince of Ravenscar'.

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  15. Laurelwood does book signing. Missed Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The temp was 116. To hot for me being on oxygen. Looking forward to Toni Blake in November. I am reading Bonded by Laura Wright right now.

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  16. Nope, unfortunately no stores around here like that! :( We only have one chain bookstore and one used bookstore. I'd absolutely love to go to a signing one day, though! :D

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  17. Wonderful pictures of what looks like an amazing event! There a a few small bookstores in the general area -- the closest one is almost 20 miles away though. They do have book signings occasionally but I've never heard of one with romantic center authors - usually they have political type book signings. :-(

    One day I'll get to go to a fun book signing!

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  18. Wonderful pictures of what looks like an amazing event! There a a few small bookstores in the general area -- the closest one is almost 20 miles away though. They do have book signings occasionally but I've never heard of one with romantic center authors - usually they have political type book signings. :-(

    One day I'll get to go to a fun book signing!

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  19. We have book signings at wonderful indie and major bookstores regularly. Your photos are delightful and special.

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  20. I enjoyed your post and the great photos of this event. Book signings take place at different big bookstores and smaller independent ones too.

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  21. What a fun conference. Everyone looks like they had a great time. Those cupcakes look delicious.

    As for your questions:

    We had a wonderful indie bookstore Bookworms. Unfortunately it closed about 5 years ago when one of the two owners developed health issues. They featured several local or Wisconsin writers and had a weekly book club too. They had all kinds of romance books. They were also willing to order any book you desired.

    The local library does not host book signings.

    I have not been to any book signings this year. It's been hectic with my daughter moving and building a new house.

    Favorite subgenre

    I alternate between contemporary and historical. I'm catching up on Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series with Christmas On 4th Street, Jill Shalvis' Animal Magnetism series Then Came You and Linda Lael Miller's Big Sky series with Big Sky Secrets. Yesterday I started Julia Quinn's The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy. After that will be Jill Shalvis' Still The One. Tessa Dare, Karen Hawkins...

    New authors I would recommend- Anna Sugden and Stephanie London

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  22. PJ, thanks for the great coverage of the signing. It was a fun evening! I also have an independent bookstore in my area that does signings, though I haven't been to one there in a while. Our local library rarely hosts signings and then usually for authors with huge names. My favorite subgenre changes with my mood. Lately I've read a lot of romantic suspense. I'm not reading anything right now, though, lest it lure me from revisions. *g*

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