RT Recap Day 4 - Military Tribute, Avon Romance, and Margaret Mitchell

How about a cowboy to start off the day?  I attended the Librarians/Booksellers' special program - In Conversation with BJ Daniels, Lorelei James, and Lorraine Heath:

Cowboy books have never been more desirable--Meet some of the genre’s biggest stars - they will share personal anecdotes, the history of the genre, where they think it’s headed and how they started out.

I moseyed on over to the annual SOS Military Tribute:

Our military is the backbone of our country. They pay the price for our freedom through all of their sacrifices. This military tribute is a multi-author-sponsored event to pay a moving tribute to our military and all they have done for our country. This event is open to all. Tables will be decorated by authors representing Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, etc.

Hosts included KaLyn Cooper, Cristin Harber, Elle James, Cat Johnson, Kim Lowe, JM Madden, Trish McCallan, Donna Michaels, Megan Mitcham, Caitlyn O'Leary, Ella Quinn, Julie Rowe, Susan Stoker, Natasza Waters, and Sabrina York.

It amazes me each year how much readers appreciate our military. Thanks to the authors who made this an emotional event.

I reported for duty at the Avon Romance Reader Party - Clinch It:

How daring are you? Find out at this fun game-show style event, which will pair readers with Avon authors in a series of fun challenges, with participation judged by a panel of judges. Earn points for participation! Winners take all ... the books, that is! The winning team will win totes generously stuffed with books and swag, compliments of Avon.

Authors included Lenora Bell, Viola Carr, HelenKay Dimon, Megan Frampton, Lorraine Heath, Beverly Jenkins, Cathy Maxwell, Charis Michaels, Alisha Rai, and Lia Riley.

I was honored to be asked by Pamela Spengler-Jaffee, Senior Director of Publicity for Avon Romance, to serve as a judge along with historical author Beverly Jenkins and editorial director Erika Tsang.  I put my math skills to use as the scorekeeper, too.  Let me tell you this was the best reader party, second only to the SOS Military Tribute. Readers were laughing, singing, posing, and conspiring with the author at their table to win the big prize - a tote bag stuffed with romance books and a bottle of wine! Charis Michaels belted out THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA to lead her team to victory!

Clearly Avon was on my mind as I followed the historical authors to the Margaret Mitchell House for a special Q&A with Lenora Bell, Megan Frampton, Lorraine Heath, Beverly Jenkins, Cathy Maxwell, and Julia Quinn.  Charis Michaels moderated this lively discussion of historical romance in one of Atlanta's sacred homes.  Thanks, Avon Romance, for a fabulous day!

Margaret Mitchell House 

For this week of recaps, I am giving away a sampling of books and swag from RT. To enter the giveaway,

1. From the authors I have listed in today's blog, who would you like to meet? 

2. Comments are open through Monday, May 15, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 16.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Margaret Mitchell House

Aloha to Lenora Bell and HOW THE DUKE WAS WON (The Disgraceful Dukes)

The Regency has never seen debutantes quite like these …

First there’s Charlene Beckett from HOW THE DUKE WAS WON:

Charlene Beckett is not your ordinary Regency heroine. She was raised in a bawdy house and learned the basics of martial arts for self-defense against the lecherous clientele. So when she’s asked to impersonate her half-sister Lady Dorothea and win a duke, she knows she’ll have to be on her guard every second. She can’t slip up and reveal her true identity. The only problem is, she never expected the duke to be so sinfully handsome…and so very tempting.

Photo credit (link)

Next is Lady Dorothea “Thea” Beaumont from IF I ONLY HAD A DUKE:

After four failed seasons and a disastrous jilting, Lady Dorothea Beaumont has had more than enough of her family’s scheming. She won’t domesticate a duke, entangle an earl, or vie for a viscount. She will quietly exit to her aunt’s Irish estate for a life of blissful freedom. Until an arrogant, sinfully handsome duke singles her out for a waltz, making Thea the most popular belle of the season.

Photo Credit (link)

And then there’s Miss Alice Tombs.  She’s known for being quirky, and she’s…not finished being written yet! But you can expect Alice will be just as determined and funny as Charlene and Thea.

Photo Credit (link)

HOW THE DUKE WAS WON is a twist on The Bachelor (with some nods to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), IF I ONLY HAD A DUKE is inspired by the Wizard of Oz (with nods to Arrow), and BOOK 3 will be a take on Alice in Wonderland.

I’m having tons of fun writing these lovely, determined ladies! I really hope you enjoy meeting them…and their disgraceful dukes!

Lenora Bell is a third generation Alaskan and her hometown still has no traffic lights or fast food, but the public library is going strong!

An English teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing, Lenora has traveled the globe using music to bring smiles to classrooms. She currently lives in Switzerland with her carpenter husband and two naughty tiger-striped kitties.

In 2014 she won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Historical. She's thrilled to be debuting with Avon Books in 2016!

Learn more about Lenora at lenorabell.com.

HOW THE DUKE WAS WON

The pleasure of your company is requested at Warbury Park. Four lovely ladies will arrive… but only one can become a duchess.

James, the scandalously uncivilized Duke of Harland, requires a bride with a spotless reputation for a strictly business arrangement. Lust is prohibited and love is out of the question.

Four ladies. Three days. What could go wrong?

She is not like the others…

Charlene Beckett, the unacknowledged daughter of an earl and a courtesan, has just been offered a life-altering fortune to pose as her half-sister, Lady Dorothea, and win the duke’s proposal. All she must do is:

* Be the perfect English rose [Ha!]
* Breathe, smile, and curtsy in impossibly tight gowns
[blast Lady Dorothea’s sylph-like figure]
* Charm and seduce a wild duke [without appearing to try]
* Keep said duke far, far from her heart
[no matter how tempting]

When secrets are revealed and passion overwhelms, James must decide if the last lady he should want is really everything he needs. And Charlene must decide if the promise of a new life is worth risking everything . . . including her heart.

Amazon

B&N
iBooks
HarperCollins

GIVEAWAY!!

A signed copy of HOW THE DUKE WAS WON and a fair trade Divine Chocolate bar! (U.S. only)

divinechocolate.com

Mahalo, Lenora, for introducing us to your debutantes!  To enter Lenora's giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Charlie and The Chocolate Factory - have you read the original book?  Seen the movie Willy Wonka with Gene Wilder?  Or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp?  

(In my original post, I wrote Gene Hackman).

2. Comments are open through Saturday, May 7, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 8. 

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Coming in August 2016 ...