Author Tip from Ella Quinn + News

NEWS

THE CITY WE BECAME by N. K. Jemisin is a finalist for Best Novel Hugo Award as well as the Ignyte Awards. It was also the Best Novel winner for the 2020 British Science Fiction Association. The author is also teaching fantasy and science fiction writing in a MasterClass.

Alyssa Cole’s HOW TO FIND A PRINCESS put her in the LibraryReads Hall of Fame. The book also received a glowing online review from Library Journal.

The New York Times’ April 21 print issue gave Christina Henry’s NEAR THE BONE a great review, calling it “utterly gripping.”

BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury and DEAD DEAD GIRLS by Nekesa Afia were included in Bustle’s “51 Debut Books To Look Forward To This Spring & Summer” list.

MAGIC DARK AND STRANGE by Kelly Powell is a finalist in the Crime Writers of Canada Awards.

Oprah Daily’s 15 Best Mermaid Books to Dive Into This Summer included THE MERMAID by Christina Henry.

HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS by Debby Giusti made the Publishers Weekly Bestsellers List two weeks in a row.

Aimie K. Runyan's ACROSS THE WINDING RIVER is a finalist for the Colorado Book Awards.

WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Alyssa Cole was the AAMBC Literary Awards Ebook of the Year. It is also up for Best Paperback Original in the International Thriller Writers Awards.

THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA by TJ Klune was nominated in the High School category for the Black Eyed Susan 2020-2021 Awards. It also was back on the Washington Post and Indie bestseller lists.

ENGAGING THE ENEMY by Reese Ryan was a finalist in the inaugural RWA Vivian awards Contemporary Romance Short category.

Liselle Sambury talked about BLOOD LIKE MAGIC in an interview with Geeks Out. The book also received great reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.

Publishers Weekly did an interview with Nekesa Afia, in which they discussed her upcoming release, DEAD DEAD GIRLS.

Tiana Laveen discussed her latest release, WHAT THE HEART WANTS, in an interview with Harlequin Junkie.

AUTHOR TIP OF THE MONTH

Ella Quinn has lived all over the United States, the Pacific, Canada, England, and Europe before finally discovering the Caribbean. She now resides in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, with her wonderful husband, three bossy cats, and a loveable Great Dane.

Her latest release is THE MOST ELIGIBLE VISCOUNT IN LONDON.

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Ella's Tip

If you are a previously unpublished author, I suggest that you finish your book before joining a critique group. The reason is that I’ve seen too many new writers who put up their chapters for critique and become distracted from finishing the book. Also, it’s much easier to evaluate the critiques you’ll receive if you know where your book is going.

At the end of the day, you’re responsible for making your book the best it can be. After you’ve finished your book, I highly recommend finding a critique group not only in your genre, but in a group that has multiple genres. For example, I write historical romance, so I was in one group where the other writers wrote only historical romance, and another group of general romance writers. I do not recommend you join a group that is in another genre altogether. Although I do know some writers (strangely enough they are all men) who join romance critique groups in order to learn craft. We have a reputation of being better at it than any other genre.

My second tip concerns marketing. You must build your brand. Generally that means focusing on one sub-genre (historical romance) until you have built a following, or until you discover you are actually in the wrong sub-genre. You must have, at the very least, a website, a Facebook page, and a newsletter. Where you go from there really depends on where your readers are.

I ran a survey through my newsletter and discovered that Twitter, a platform I had devoted a lot of time to, was not it. Only about two percent of my readers were on Twitter. They were, however, on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Once we can travel again, I recommend attending conferences in your genre. Attending conferences gives you a chance to meet those already reading your books, as well as readers who haven’t discovered them yet.

NEW CLIENTS ON THE BLOCK

Gabrielle Aku

Gabrielle loves a good villain … and writing about them, too. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Screenwriting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. When she’s not writing, Gabrielle is traveling the globe or exploring her hometown of New York City.

Mary Liza Hartong

Originally from Nashville, Mary Liza graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She also holds an MA from Dartmouth in Creative Writing and an MA from the University College Cork in British and American Literature. She is a Fulbright Scholar, an aunt, and a proud member of the queer community. When she’s not writing, you can find her hunting for treasures at the local antique mall.

Lauren R. Taylor

Lauren R. Taylor teaches skills for stopping harassment, abuse, and assault with Defend Yourself. She started working to end gender-based violence in 1978 and somehow she’s still passionate and inspired. She loves her hometown of Washington, DC, cats, justice, chocolate, not necessarily in that order.

RECENT DEALS

- THE SECOND YOU'RE SINGLE by USA Today bestselling author Cara Lockwood (writing as Cara Tanamachi), about a freelance writer who decides to give up dating for the month of February as an experiment, only to reconnect with a smoking hot, cupcake-baking guy from her past as soon as her resolution begins, to Alexandra Sehulster at St. Martin's in a two-book deal at auction, by Deidre Knight

- Kerry Ann King's IMPROBABLY YOURS, in which a young woman's love life and professional career are disrupted by a mysterious bequest from her belated grandmother that catapults her into the lives of an orphaned girl and a frustrated treasure hunter, to Jodi Warshaw at Lake Union Publishing in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight

- Debbie Mason's next book in her Highland Falls series, to Alex Logan at Forever in a very nice deal, by Pamela Harty

- USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's three new untitled books following sisters from her Worthington series, in a nice three-book deal, along with an untitled holiday-themed Worthington novella for publication in 2022, to John Scognamiglio at Kensington, by Janna Bonikowski

- Shirley Jump's inspirational romantic suspense, to Adrienne Macinstosh at Love Inspired in a nice two-book deal, by Pamela Harty

- Darcie Wilde's two new books in the Rosalind Thorne mystery series, about murder and manners, ballrooms and banter, to Wendy McCurdy at Kensington in a nice two-book deal, by Lucienne Diver

- Jacquie Thomas's inspirational cold case collection, to Katie Gowrie at Love Inspired in a nice deal, by Pamela Harty

- Elizabeth Mower's LOVE IN HER SIGHTS and A KISS AT THE CHRISTMAS GALA, to Katie Gowrie at Harlequin Heartwarming in a nice two-book deal, by Pamela Harty

- Aimee Aristotelous's THE DOCTORS WEIGHT LOSS DIET, to Leah Zarra at Skyhorse, in a nice deal, by Pamela Harty

NEW RELEASES

The Warlord: A Novel (Rise of the Warlords Book 1)

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New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter begins a dark, sexy new series—Rise of the Warlords—with a fan-favorite character from her beloved Lords of the Underworld series, Taliyah Skyhawk. The ice maiden faces off with her greatest enemy, a villain brutal beyond imagining.

For centuries, Taliyah Skyhawk has prepared to become Harpy General, leader of the deadliest female army in existence. One of the requirements? Remain a virgin. But, for a chance to save her people, she must wed the fearless leader of the Astra Planeta, Alaroc Phaethon.

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A woman trapped on a mountain attempts to survive more than one kind of monster, in a dread-inducing horror novel from the national bestselling author Christina Henry.

Mattie can't remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they’re not alone after all.

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Mom's Got Money is a mother’s guide―an instruction manual to help them use the skills they already possess to become extraordinarily confident managers of their money.

Alford won’t pretend mothers don’t have a lot on their plate. She already knows they’re pressed for time. The weight of their daily decisions takes a toll. Sometimes, it feels like they manage everything, whether they have a supportive spouse or not. She knows this because it’s that way in her house too. However, we all have a choice on how to handle that responsibility, and Alford thinks we can flip the script. Instead of being frustrated or feeling resentful, Alford teaches moms how to recognize their own strengths and develop true financial confidence.

The Soldier and the Spy: A Gay Regency Romance (Society of Beasts Book 2)

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A beholden man finds himself falling for the war hero he’s destined to double-cross.

Three hundred pounds for one night of protection. It’s a job offer, but it’s also a ruse. Captain Benjamin Frakes, war hero and de facto head of the Society of Beasts—a club for gentlemen who prefer gentlemen—is tempted to turn it down. But August Weatherby, the sexy, brazen stranger making the offer, has captivated him completely.

Purrfectly Dead: A Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot Mystery (A Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Mystery Book 5)

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Deidre “Foxtrot” Lancaster is back—with her supernatural sidekicks Tango and Whiskey—to unlock the mysteries of life, death…and murder...in Dixie Lyle's Purrfectly Dead.

When zillionairess Zelda Zoransky throws a party, she means business. Assistant extraordinaire, Deidre “Foxtrot” Lancaster knows she’s in for a night when anything can—and will—happen. The evening’s festivities include a high-stakes game between two escape artists locked in a bitter rivalry.

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Can one heart change the lives of many?

Ambitious financial planner Emily Windsor is the golden child of an elite New York family. Proud of her family roots, she disdains those who are different from her and embraces her entitled, wealthy lifestyle. Emily feels her life is perfect until her congenital heart condition is pronounced terminal and she’s given just months to live.

The Most Eligible Viscount in London (The Lords of London Book 2)

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In bestselling author Ella Quinn’s intriguing new Regency trilogy, a dashing suitor must decide if love and marriage are mutually exclusive . . .

Viscount Gavin Turley is convinced that love matches cause nothing but trouble. Still, after months of courting, he’s fallen for Miss Georgie Featherton. He’s passionate about her, in fact. But words of love are not an indulgence he will allow himself. When he presents Georgie with his marriage proposal, he will lead with his head—not his heart. His qualifications as a husband are excellent, after all. What could go wrong?

His to Protect (Harlequin Romantic Suspense)

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She looked a criminal in the eye…and now she’s a target

When Connie Shaw witnesses a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, security specialist Trace Halstead makes himself her personal protection detail. Days and nights together make it impossible for Connie and Trace to resist the attraction burning between them. But Connie doesn’t know which she fears more…the threat from the man who wants to end her life or the love of the man trying to save it.

Up in Smoke: A Gay Firefighter Romance (Hotshots Book 4)

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Three Men and a Baby meets Backdraft with explosive chemistry and heartfelt feels.

Freewheeling smoke jumper Brandt Wilder thrives on adrenaline. He’s never met a parachute he can’t repair or a dangerous situation he couldn’t wrangle his way out of. He’s popular and fun-loving and not at all looking to settle down or form lasting relationships. It’s a lifestyle that’s served him well…right up until the day he finds a baby on his doorstep.

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