Shobhan Bantwal appeared at the Edison Public Library on September 11th to discuss her latest release, THE SARI SHOP WIDOW.

Caridad Piñeiro appeared at the DragonCon Convention in Atlanta, Georgia and participated in a panel on Staying Afloat in an Uncertain Publishing Industry.

Trudy Doyle makes her Home Shopping Network debut Monday as part of a six-book set of Contemporary Romances in HSN’s “Escape with Romance” promotion! Come join Ravenous Publisher Holly Schmidt as she introduces this fabulous collection at the following times:

Monday September 14 – 8:35am – 8:55am then 4:35 pm- 4:55pm. Early Tuesday September 15 -3:00am – 3:20am.
http://electronics.hsn.com/escape-with-romance-exclusive-6-book-collection_p-5700283_xp.aspx?cm_mmc=rss*Browse*2*NA

Debra Mullins is thrilled to announce that she has accepted an offer for her paranormal romance trilogy from Heather Osborn at Tor Forge.

Karen Bostrom Walling is excited to announce that she has recently signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press to publish her first romantic suspense novel, DANGEROUS SANDS. Writing as Karen Bostrom, she has just begun the editing rounds process of her book which will be part of the Last Rose in Summer line. She would like to thank the members of Liberty State Fiction Writers and other writing organizations, and especially her critique partners, for all their hope and support throughout the years.

Various members of the Liberty States Fiction Writers participated in the group’s first street fairs in Red Bank and Jamesburg.

Joann Hali is pleased to announce she was admitted to RWA’s PAN group in September.

Melinda Leigh is now represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Christine Bush is happy to announce that she’s gotten a contract from Wild Rose Press for her new contemporary, Cindy’s Prince. There is no publication date yet, but the book will be in print and e-book. This one is an upside down fairy tale, set in Philadelphia. “What happens if Cindy loves living her single parent life, helping out in her struggling community and absolutely refuses to go hide in the castle? It takes a true Prince to adapt to car seats and occasional baby puke in order to live happily ever after…”

Patt Mihailoff was honored at this year’s Golden Apple Awards as the 2009 Author of the year.

Chris Redding is pleased to announce that she has signed a contract for her romantic suspense INCENDIARY with LBF (Lachesis) Books. This a book of the heart for Chris since it involves a rescue squad.

Wendy La Capra’s historical suspense, BEWARE, MY LOVE, is a finalist in The Heart of the West’s Great Beginnings contest. It is Wendy’s first final so she’s very excited about it.

AMETHYST, The first book in Kathye Quick’s contemporary series for Avalon Books entitled Grandmother’s Rings is already listed on Amazon.com for pre-order.

Caridad Pineiro has just received the cover for her November release from Grand Central Publishing, SINS OF THE FLESH. SINS OF THE FLESH is Caridad’s first single title paranormal romantic suspense.

LSF Writers members Eloisa James, Caridad Pineiro and Lois Winston were featured in this month’s NJ Monthly. To read the article, please use this link:
http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/people/whole-lotta-love.html

Cris Anson’s FIRST TO DIE, which was released digitally last July, will shortly be on the Cerridwen website in print! If you’d like to read a blurb and an excerpt, please visit http://crisanson.com/Firsttodie.html

Elaine Charton’s PANDORA’S JUSTICE was a Thrill Me Thursday Pick at Crave More Romance. For more, please visit this link: http://cravemoreromance.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Martin is a finalist in the Hearts Through History Contest. Hearts Through History is specialty chapter of RWA. Winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference in July.

Dianne Gerber has just signed another contract with The Wild Rose Press. Her novel, WILDFIRE, will be part of the Wayback series.

Penelope Marzec is pleased to announce that Crescent Moon Press reissued IRONS IN THE FIRE, her paranormal novel. IRONS IN THE FIRE is a Nominee for Best Small Press Paranormal.

Caridad Pineiro is pleased to announce that FURY CALLS, her March 2009 release from Silhouette Nocturne, received 4.5 stars from Romantic Times Bookclub which said, “Piñeiro infuses her vampires with very human feelings, making her paranormal story seem realistic. It’s a great read!”

Jacquie Rogers’ DOWN HOME EVER LOVIN’ MULE BLUES won the The Romance Studio 5-Heart Sweetheart and the book was featured on the TRS homepage for the week.

Pearl Wolf’s TOO HOT FOR A SPY, a March release from Kensington Publishing, received 4 Stars from Romantic Times.
Shobhan Bantwal will be signing copies of her two books, THE FORBIDDEN DAUGHTER and THE DOWRY BRIDE on March 7 at 2 pm at the Classics Bookstore, 117 South Warren Street. Trenton, New Jersey 08608.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts honored 26 individuals with 2009 Artists Fellowships at its meeting Tuesday at the Union County Arts Center in Rahway. LSF Writer member Writer Pamela Burke of Middletown received a perfect score in the prose category from the panel of judges and received a fellowship from the organization.

Please visit with Cheryl Solomini at one of her upcoming events!
Tuesday, February 24, 7:00 PM
Murder at the Beach (book-signing)
273 Pineapple Grove Way Delray Beach, FL; (561) 279-7790
Friday, February 27, 11:00 AM
“Getting Press Coverage” (workshop leader)
Saturday, February 28, 3:15 PM
“Humor in Mysteries” (panelist)
Sleuthfest, the South Florida mystery conference;
DEERFIELD BEACH HILTON 100 Fairway Drive, Deerfield Beach, FL
Saturday, March 14, 2:00 PM
Monmouth County Library (discussion and book-signing)
125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 PM
Bound Brook Library (discussion and book-signing)
402 E. High Street, Bound Brook, NJ 0880

Luci Weston’s HERE WE ARE . . . WITH LUCI’s blog entry was selected for inclusion in the January 31 issue of Blogger’s Best Carnival, edited and compiled by Karen of WriteFromKaren. The Carnival includes topics on “Life, Love, Children, Writing, Family” and more, by bloggers from all over the blog-o-sphere.
Melinda Leigh is thrilled to be listed as a finalist in Casablanca Author’s Perfect Pitch contest for her novel, Tempted.

Dianne Gerber, writing as Autumn Jordon, is proud to announce the sale of her first novel, a romantic suspense, HIS WITNESS (working title), to The Wild Rose Press. Please visit her at www.autumnjordon.com where you can sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Blurb: Elementary school nurse STEPHANIE BOYD’s ordinary world changes forever when she and her children witness a blood bath. To escape the wrath of the Russian Mafia, she has no choice but to help the FBI uncover the Mafia’s mole inside the U.S. Treasury. While on the run with the handsome agent who is willing to die for them, Stephanie learns the meaning of self-sacrifice and love.

Agent JOHN DOLTON’s only break in solving the case that cost him everything is a couple of kids and a beautiful widow. But keeping his witnesses safe seems impossible when their every move is foreseen by their enemy. Within weeks, Stephanie and her children soften the loner’s heart and John allows himself to let go of his all-consuming sorrow.

This time John vows not to fail to protect the family he loves.

Lori Avocato just received a gratis copy of The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists because she had several quotes in it The best part: Lori’s name is the same size font as Mary Higgins Clark, Lawrence Block, Jennifer Blake and Suzanne Brockman’s on the front cover. She also has quotes in two recent Wtiter’s Digest books on how to write.

Melinda Leigh is pleased to announce her manuscript, WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, won first place in the Romantic Suspense category of the Missouri Romance Writers of America’s Gateway to the Best contest. Melinda is also pleased to announce that her manuscript, WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, won first place in the Romantic Suspense category of Romance Writers Ink’s Where the Magic Begins contest.

Debra Mullins’s GARLANDS AND GARTERS series, beginning when a wedding planner returns to her native
England to plan a prominent wedding only to have it disrupted when the young bride’s far-too-attractive fiance (believed lost at sea) returns, to Esi Sogah of Avon, in a nice deal, by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency.

Caridad Piñeiro’s December 2008 release, SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD from Silhouette Romantic Suspense,
received 4 Stars from Romantic Times who said ―Soldier’s Secret Child (4) feels like a wonderful dream. . . Cataromance gave the book 4 1/2 Stars from and noted that SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD was ―Intriguingly suspenseful plus overflowing with conflicting emotions, SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD is poignantly compelling. In addition, SOUTH BEACH CHICAS CATCH THEIR MAN was chosen as a Joyfully Reviewed Recommended Read for December.

Kathye Quick’s Leadership Class 2008 had to do a community service project, so 14 of us did a Go-Green E-Zine which is now posted on several county and municipal websites, the Somerset County Energy Council, all the Boards of Education in Somerset County, the National Association of Counties and New Jersey Association of Counties. Since it was my idea, I was Project Manager and now our Go-Green Group has won an Award from Somerset County for the E-Zine for Excellence in Planning and
Education. We’re getting it on January 20.

Chris Redding will be offering SHOW UP NAKED, an online course, to the Orange County Chapter from February 16 to March 15. For more information, please visit www.occcrwa.org/classignup.html.

Anne Walradt will perform LOVE LETTERS at the United Methodist Church of Red Bank, NJ, 257 Broad Street, on Feb. 14, 2009, at 7:30 PM. Desserts will be served. Free-will offering.

Lois Winston will be offering PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT FOR THE EDITOR OR AGENT OF YOUR
DREAMS, an online course, sponsored by the Elements of RWA Chapter the first two weeks in March. For more information, please contact workshops@elementsofrwa.com.