The Jennifer Blake Newsletter - March 2011

Greetings:

So much has been going on here recently that I’m not sure where to start except to take things more or less in order. First up was the reprint of FIERCE EDEN by Sourcebooks in their Casablanca Classics program of presenting romance novels from the classic period of romance in trade-size editions. Reviews for the book have been heart-warming with many sites awarding it top honors of 4 ½ or 5 stars. A selection can be found at these web addresses:

http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-fierce-eden-by-jennifer-blake/

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Danya-reviews-Fierce-Eden-by-Jennifer-Blake.aspx

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/2011/02/fierce-eden-by-jennifer-blake.html

http://www.suite101.com/content/historical-romance-fiction-book-review--fierce-eden-a337219

http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=28008

http://saveyspender.com/2011/02/10/fierce-eden-book-review/

http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-fierce-eden.html



A great “5 book” review was also posted at the Long and Short Reviews web site, where readers voted FIERCE EDEN the Best Book of the Week for February 6 – 12. The review and special button showing its winning status are here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/fierce-eden-by-jennifer-blake.html

For work in progress, I completed the second round of pen-and-ink self editing/polishing for SEDUCED BY GRACE, book 3 in the medieval Three Graces trilogy that will be out later this year. Though I still have to transfer the corrections and additions from paper to computer, it looks as if I’ll easily make my editorial deadline of April 1. The closer I get to the final The End, the more I like this book, which is always a nice feeling. As this is the last book in my current contract, I’m looking forward to a few weeks of R & R after I zap it off to my editor.

A side note: book 1 of the new trilogy, BY HIS MAJESTY’S GRACE is already available for preorder on Amazon.com. It won’t ship until late July, but readers can reserve their copies. Last time I looked, Amazon had no cover art available for the title. I posted the covers for the trilogy to a Facebook album last week, so my “friends” there got an advance look at them. I’ll add these to the Photo section of this Yahoo group soon, so you’ll have a sneak peek, too. If you’d like to join me on Facebook, just do a “search” for Jennifer Blake. Several people have that name, but I’ll be only one with a book cover for my profile photo!

Meanwhile, the Three Graces trilogy has been sold in Turkey. I was in Istanbul year before last while on a Mediterranean cruise. It’s a great pleasure to think of my books being read in this lovely old city beside the Bosporus.

I can’t remember if I told you that TRIUMPH IN ARMS, final book of the Masters at Arms series, has been nominated as Best Historical Romance 2010 in the Romantic Adventure category by Romantic Times Book Review Magazine. This award will be presented to the winner at the RT convention in Los Angeles next month. In addition, I received my author’s copies of the hardcover library and large print edition of TRIUMPH IN ARMS this past week. That means it’s out there now in this additional format.

For some time I’ve been posting a “Writing Tip of the Day” to the blog on my web site. I’m now coming up on Tip #250, and will actually post that one tomorrow. The current subject is Dialogue. The next will be Manuscript Preparation, the dos and don’ts of preparing professional-looking manuscripts. You can view these at: http://jenniferblakejournal.blogspot.com/

On the subject of blogs, I’ll be posting a new one on March 9 to the Mira Author Blog on the Harlequin web site. The title for it will be “10 Tips for Productive Writing.” Check it out here: http://community.eharlequin.com/content/mira-author-blog

On March 11 -12, I’ll be at the NOLA Stars conference, the annual writing conference for the North Louisiana branch of Romance Writers of America. I’m not speaking or giving a workshop this year, but have donated a basket of writing-themed goodies to the silent auction to be held during the weekend, and also a personal critique for a synopsis. You’ll need to be present to bid on these and the other great items, as well as to enjoy the super workshops and speakers. A Barnes and Noble book signing with several authors from NOLA will be a part of the conference as well. FMI: http://www.nolastars.com/nola-stars-conference

I’ve also contributed an autographed book and hand-knitted lace scarf in turquoise/aqua shades of silk and wool to Brenda Novak’s annual auction for the benefit of diabetes research. These things will be included in a basket of books and hand-crafted items gathered by author Winnie Griggs, a fantastic collection from romance authors who are also do handicrafts. FMI: http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

And, speaking of autograph sessions, I’ll be signing books at Book Expo America in New York on Wednesday, May 25th. At this session, advance copies of BY HIS MAJESTY GRACE will be given away to booksellers. The invitation-only event is by arrangement with my publisher, Mira Books, and should be great fun.

While all this has been going on, the unusually cold weather here in Louisiana has slowly warmed to something near normal, or even a bit above. Daffodils and narcissus are blooming, along with maples, pears, plums and redbud trees. The grass is beginning to show a haze of green, as are the weeping willow trees at the lake’s edge. What grand timing, to be almost done with my book and contract just in time for my favorite season of the year. It couldn’t have worked out better if I’d planned it that way!

With warmest wishes for a well-timed spring wherever you are,

Jennifer

The Jennifer Blake Newsletter - February 2011

Greetings:

February 1, at last. The reprint of FIERCE EDEN should be showing up on the shelves as we speak. I received my author’s copies a few days ago, and must say I’m impressed with the presentation Sourcebooks has done for the book. They’ve gone to trade-size paperback—paperback the size of a hardcover book—with their Casablanca Classics reprint program. The lovely shades of green and rose they chose for the cover look like spring and Valentine’s Day, and should make it easy to spot on the shelves. You may have seen this “profile” picture on my FaceBook page, though you have to click on the image for the full, enlarged effect. I’ve said it before, but will repeat it to be perfectly clear: this is a reprint of a bestseller from 1985, not a rewritten book. So many authors are reworking their earlier books these days that the question naturally arises. The only thing different about this reprint is correction of a few printer’s errors plus a small continuity bit that the original editor missed. FIERCE EDEN is available for the Kindle on Amazon.com. Other e-book formats can be downloaded at: www.ereads.com.

I also received a couple of contributor’ copies this month for FALL IN LOVE LIKE A ROMANCE WRITER, TRUE LOVE STORIES BY 67 AUTHORS. This collection was compiled by Amelia Gray, who is a romance author herself. My love story is in there, along with those of Robyn Carr, Heather Graham, Eloisa James, Kat Martin, Linda Lael Miller, Bertrice Small and 60 others. And it’s just in time for Valentine’s Day, too!

Meanwhile, I’ve completed the first round of author revision and polishing for Book #3 of my medieval trilogy. I think I gave the title for this as BY GRACE SEDUCED last month—not surprising as I’ve gone back and forth on what to call the story. The title for publication will be SEDUCED BY GRACE. I’m not sure what difference it makes, but there you are. The book is set for publication in October, following BY HIS MAJESTY’S GRACE in August, and BY GRACE POSSESSED in September. As I’ll be doing a second round of revising and polishing before I ship the manuscript to my editor, you’ll still be hearing about this book next month, I’m sure.

We’re under a tornado watch this morning, and rain has been pouring down. The storm delayed my sending this newsletter as I had to shut down my computer for a while as a precaution against power surges and outages. Otherwise, our winter has been fairly normal. We had a few snow flakes, sleet and freezing rain for a couple of days last month, but nothing compared to the horrific snow and ice elsewhere. (My heart goes out to all who are under blizzard and deep snow warnings today!) Last week saw our usual late January “warm spell,” with daytime temps in the high 50s and low 60s. I took advantage of the sunshine to work in my garden, pruning my antique roses (or helping my husband since this is a man-size job on these 6-feet tall shrubs), also cutting back the huge oleander that’s been trying to take over the driveway, and making art bonsai forms out of my intermediate-sized crepe myrtles. The plants fought back, and I have the scratches to prove it! But things are looking more orderly, at least for now. Funny, how much better that, plus a few hours of sun, can make you feel.

I’ll be attending the Written in the Stars writer’s conference for NOLA, the North Louisiana Branch of Romance Writers of America, on March 11-12. A book signing, sponsored by Barnes and Noble, is included during this event. I’ve also agreed to participate in the Silent Auction that’s part of the conference. My contribution is the critique of a synopsis, with auction proceeds to benefit NOLA. Anyone attending is free to bid. For information and registration go to: www.nolastars.com

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, ever wonder what a romance author does for it? My husband and I usually go out to dinner. Sometimes, he gives me a piece of jewelry, sometimes roses, sometimes candy—it’s always a surprise. In return, I usually make one of his favorite desserts, but with some special twist. This year, the plan is for a made-from-scratch cheese cake (Betty Crocker Ultimate Cheesecake recipe) with a center decoration of a hand-sized Reese’s chocolate and peanut butter heart-- Reese’s being one of his favorite things. Ah, romance!

With warmest wishes for love and remembrance this month and all through the year,

Jennifer

The Jennifer Blake Newsletter - January

Here we are with another new year, another new beginning. This winter period has always been a favorite of mine: the holidays are over, the winter solstice has passed so the days are growing longer, and not much is happening which allows extra concentration on writing projects. Still I won’t be putting fresh words on paper this month for the first time in ages. Because of the way the deadlines for my medieval trilogy fall, I’ll be polishing a rough draft, instead, getting the manuscript ready for its April 1 send off. This is for BY GRACE SEDUCED, the final book of my trilogy set during the reign of the first Tudor king, Henry VII. It will be released in October, following Book 1 in August and Book 2 in September. Can’t wait to get back to this story that was finished at the end of November—which is a good thing since it must be done!

I’ve mentioned the Sourcebooks reprint program here before. FIERCE EDEN is the next title up from them, scheduled to ship late this month for a February 1 debut. Look for it on the shelves in a gorgeous trade size paperback edition, the larger format selected by Sourcebooks for their Casablanca Classics Collection. FIERCE EDEN, set during the Natchez Indian uprising in French colonial Louisiana, circa 1730, spent many weeks on the best seller lists in the 1980s. Its original release from Random House was in trade size paperback as well. Cover Art for this book appears on the the home page for my web site.

And I discovered yesterday that I’ll have another book reissued this year, in addition to two Sourcebooks reprints and the three books of the medieval trilogy. Scheduled for June, this will be LUKE, a contemporary romance that belongs to my Louisiana Gentlemen series. Mira Books is bringing it out again in a hardcover library edition.

That second Sourcebooks reprint mentioned above, in case you’re interested, will be MIDNIGHT WALTZ, on the schedule for August. The covers for both LUKE and MIDNIGHT WALTZ are posted below.

For the sake of clarity, here’s a simplified list of the books appearing in the coming months:
Publications for 2011
February 1: FIERCE EDEN, historical reprint, Sourcebooks.
June 1: LUKE, contemporary reissue in hardcover, Mira Books
August 1: BY HIS MAJESTY’S GRACE, medieval trilogy Book 1, Mira Books
August 1: MIDNIGHT WALTZ, historical reprint, Sourcebooks
September 1: BY GRACE POSSESSED, medieval trilogy Book 2, Mira Books
October 1: BY GRACE SEDUCED, medieval trilogy Book 3, Mira Books

Another reprint from Sourcebooks, SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL, may be released before the end of the year, but the date hasn’t been confirmed.

So what’s next, when the medieval trilogy is done? Nothing! Well, nothing except answering editor’s queries and checking page proofs for all the books that will be out in 2011. In between, I expect to relax, travel a bit, catch up and clear away the household clutter that piled up while I was so involved with writing. I also want to work in my yard that’s been seriously neglected; one of my Christmas gifts was a candy apple red “little mule” truck, about the size of a golf cart, that has a bed for hauling mulch, fertilizer, clippings, etc., and I’m looking forward to puttering around in it. Eventually, I may work on a short contemporary romance or else write the futuristic novel that’s been in the back of my mind for years. Or I could revisit the medieval period if the trilogy goes well, who knows? The year ahead is chock-full of possibilities!

With warmest wishes for a New Year filled with plans and promise for you, as well,
Jennifer