Seton Hill Writers Deals and Publication News for November 2010

The subject of Patrick Picciarelli's true crime book, Takedown: The True Story of the Undercover Cop Who Brought Down the Real-Life Sopranos, has optioned his life rights to Steven Spielberg and Steve Zaillian for a feature-length movie based on Patrick's proposal.

Patrice Luneski sold her paranormal YA novel, Lethally Blonde to Leap Books. It will be out in Fall 2011.

The second book in Pearl North's Libyrinth Trilogy, The Boy From Ilysies, is out and available in bookstores everywhere.

The Boy from Lysies by Pearl North
The Book Beat has signed copies available. Calico Reaction has a review up here.

Two holiday novels by Seton Hill Writers are on the shelves now:

Dana Marton's The Spy Who Saved Christmas
The Spy Who Saved Christmas by Dana Marton
and

A Montana Maverick's Christmas by Susan Mallery and Karen Rose Smith
Susan Mallery's A Montana Mavericks Christmas with Karen Rose Smith.

Also, Susan's Finding Perfect is an editors' pick for Top Ten Romance Novels of 2010 at Amazon.com.

Heidi Ruby Miller has an article in Nov.-Dec. 2010 issue of The PennWriter titled "Almost There", which she talks about on her blog.

The Winter 2010 issue of Eye Contact includes the poem "Origami Moon" by Penny Dawn, photographs by Jason Jack Miller ("Wave Swinger") and Meg Mims ("Clockwork") and short stories by Matt Duvall ("The Shorts Have Eyes") and Heidi Ruby Miller ("Sounds in the Jungle").

Jennifer Brisendine's creative non-fiction essay titled "Oh Hell! What Have We Here?" was accepted last week for publication in The Pedestrian, a quarterly literary journal of non-fiction.

Mary SanGiovanni's novel Thrall will be out Spring 2011.

Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller's Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction from Headline Books, Inc., will hit shelves in April 2011.

Timons Esaias sold a poem to Strange Horizons.

Seton Hill Writers Online and Out in the World - September 2010

Lynn Salsi was the guest speaker at the Mecklenburg Historical Association. You can read an article about her and her award-winning The Jack Tales in the Charlotte Observer.

Cynthia Ravinski is part of a new blog group The Greater Portland Scribists.

Nicole Taft is giving away a free book at A Bookseller Recommends.

Thomas F. Monteleone and Mary SanGiovanni were guests and readers at Horrorfind Weekend.

Dana Marton is giving a free seminar at Coffee Time Romance on Project Management for Writers. Here are the first two lessons:
Lesson #1: Writing is an Art -- Publishing is a Business
Lesson #2: A Goal is a Dream with a Deadline

Michael A. Arnzen will be featured in the Snark Infested Waters radio program in October to discuss tracks from his audio CD, Audiovile. Look for it after October 5th online.

He will also read at the Morgantown Poets night on Thursday, Oct 21st, 7pm-8pm at the Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, WV. Directions available on booktour.com.

Seton Hill Writers Book Updates

In no particular order...

#1: Shelley Adina, also a Seton Hill Alum and Mentor, welcomed her latest novel in the All About Us series to the shelves this month: The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth is available in stores and online.

#2: New York Times Bestselling Author and Seton Hill alum Gaelen Foley also has a new novel out this month. My Wicked Marquess is the first in her new series The Inferno Club.

#3: New Seton Hill Mentor Lucy A. Snyder's debut novel Spellbent hit shelves this month. You can purchase this first book in a series online and in stores.

#4: New York Times Bestselling Author and Seton Hill Alum and Mentor Maria V. Snyder will be signing books in her first book tour in England this month to celebrate the UK release of her novel Sea Glass.

#5: Seton Hill Mentor Tim Waggoner's short story "Disarmed and Dangerous" is part of the Spells of the City anthology, edited by Jean Rabe.

This story features Matt Richter, the zombie detective from Tim's latest novel Nekropolis, which is due out next month.

#6: Seton Hill Alum Alayne Adams's latest novel The Not So Simple Life is available for pre-order online.

#7: Seton Hill Alum Laurie Alice Eakes's first book for Barbour Publishing, which was reprinted in a three-book collection called Wild Prairie Roses, is being published in large print by Thorndyke Press.

#8: Seton Hill Alum Dana Marton's latest novel The Socialite and The Bodyguard is on shelves now.

#9: Seton Hill Alum Jessica Warman's debut YA novel Breathless received a good review in this month's issue of Pittsburgh Magazine.

PATHS TO PUBLICATION - DANA MARTON

Saved by the Monarch by Dana Marton

Many years ago, I had a job as an afternoon receptionist at a company. The morning receptionist was a Harlequin reading maniac. We shared the same desk and every drawer was filled to the brim with Harlequin novels. Since work was slow, I began reading those little books in between answering the phone. (Romance writers must learn to multitask.) Soon I was reading them faster then I could find them. Then one day in the library I came across Kathryn Falk’s How to Write a Romance. I suppose I haven’t considered the authors until then. They seemed mythical creatures born with this extraordinary knowledge. But the very existence of Kathryn’s book suggested that romance writing could be learned! That was a stunningly new concept to me at the time, almost too good to be believed.

So I took How to Write a Romance home and read it, and began to write a historical romance set in Ancient Egypt. I had a couple of hundred pages when the floppy disk that held my only copy got corrupted. I just didn’t have the heart to start all over again. When I overcame the disappointment of losing my early masterpiece, I began a sci-fi romance. This one I even sent to a publisher! (Optimism is very important for a romance writer.) I got a very nice letter back, but they weren’t interested. The next book was an inspirational romance. This time the publisher (a different one) loved the partial and asked for a full. Sadly, no sale. Then I wrote a straight romance. Then a western historical. (Romance writers need lots of resilience.) Then a romantic suspense that actually won a couple of writing contests. I might have meandered along like this endlessly if I hadn’t found Seton Hill University and their Writing Popular Fiction program. (Romance writers ask for help when they need some.)

I tried more romantic suspense there along with epic fantasy. I was told by knowledgeable people that I had a category voice and romantic suspense was my strength. Only one publisher publishes category romantic suspense so, yay, I had a target. Harlequin Intrigue was one of my favorite lines anyway. I started reading even more of them. And wrote a novel specifically with them in mind. And sold it. Just like that. After only thirteen years of trying! Piece of cake. (Romance writers don’t give up. Ever.)

Holding that book in my hands was so much fun that I have done it since again and again and again. I have twenty novels so far and my books are published in eleven countries in eight different languages. Some have been turned into audio books, some you can download to your phone chapter by chapter. One was even turned into a comic book in Japan! I’m a Harlequin author at last. And I’d like to think there are some receptionists out there with my books in their desk drawers. (Romance writers are optimists. Oh, right. I’ve already said that.)

-Dana Marton
May 2009


Dana Marton’s TALL, DARK & LETHAL is a Rita finalist this year. You can find out more about her and read excerpts from her books at www.danamarton.com. Her most recent release is SAVED BY THE MONARCH.

–Forget kissing frogs. Meet Prince Miklos of Valtria. And if the crown fits….--

Seton Hill Writers Book News

#1: Veins, the debut illustrated novel by Lawrence C. Connolly, is now available from Fantasist Enterprises. You can see and read more about it at the official Veins site.

#2: The Song of Kwasin, a novel by Philip Jose Farmer and Seton Hill alum Christopher Paul Carey, was announced at Farmercon 90. The novel is a direct sequel to Hadon of Ancient Opar and Flight to Opar.

#3: Susan Mallery's latest novel Sweet Talk is on shelves now.

#4: Kimberley A. Opatka-Metzgar, Director of Public Relations for Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary and Seton Hill alum designed The Illustrated History of the Schickel Motorcycle written by Ken Anderson.

#5: Nica Berry has a new e-book out from Torquere Press titled Hart and Soul.

#6: Simply Romance Reviews gave Katherine Ivy's novel Dishonorable Intentions an A+. You can read the entire review here.

#7: Timons Esaias has only a few copies left of his poetry chapbook The Influence of Pigeons on Architecture, now in its second printing.

#8: Dana Marton has an unedited draft of one of her novels up for free on her site. She is asking for email addresses (privately) just to see how many people are reading the book. If enough people take advantage of it, she'll post more free books.

#9: Michael A. Arnzen's limited edition novelette Bitchfight is available now from Bad Moon Books.


Michael A. Arnzen, Heidi Ruby Miller, Christopher Paul Carey, Katherine Ivy, Susan Mallery, Nica Berry, Dana Marton, writing, Timons Esaias, Seton Hill Writers, Lawrence C. Connolly, Kimberley A. Opatka-Metzgar

Book Giveaways

I've run across two recent book giveaways:

#1: Shara Saunsaucie, a current Seton Hill student, has a detailed list of the superlatives from the PYR books she reviewed this year and is also having a PYR book giveaway.

#2: The Harlequin Intrigue Authors, including Seton Hill alum Dana Marton, are giving away lots of free books this month to readers who comment on the blog.


Heidi Ruby Miller, book giveaways, Shara Saunsaucie, Dana Marton, Harlequin Intrigue Authors, PYR, writing, Seton Hill University

HEIDI'S PICK SIX - Dana Marton

HEIDI'S PICK SIX with Dana Marton is up at ambasadora.

Seton Hill Writers News

#1: Mary SanGiovanni's short story "The Eleventh Hour Syndrome" is in Issue #100 of Space and Time, the double-sized 40th anniversary issue.

#2: The poetry contest from Michael A. Arnzen's goreletter is about to close. Check it out here to win a copy of Mike's movie Exquisite Corpse.

#3: Secret Contract by Dana Marton comes out this month. Her interview will be up tomorrow on HEIDI'S PICK SIX.

#4: Chapter three of Assassin Study is up at eHarlequin. Tell Maria V. Snyder where to go from here by voting on the ending. You can also read the first two chapters and see what choices the voters made.

#5: Gary Braunbeck is on the Stocker Final Ballot for his novel Prodigal Blues and his fiction collection Destination Unknown.


Mary SanGiovanni, Michael A. Arnzen, Dana Marton, Maria V. Snyder, Gary Braunbeck, Stokers, writing popular fiction, Seton Hill University

HEIDI'S PICK SIX - WEEK 7

Here's the line up at ambasadora for this week:

Monday - Alan Dean Foster / Science Fiction and Fantasy

Wednesday - M. D. Benoit / Science Fiction

Friday - Dana Marton / Romantic Suspense


HEIDI'S PICK SIX, Heidi Ruby Miller, Alan Dean Foster, M. D. Benoit, Dana Marton, writing, author interviews

Seton Hill Romance

#1: To celebrate the upcoming Top Pick release of Secret Contract from Harlequin Intrigue, author Dana Marton is giving away a box of Godiva chocolates. Email her at danamarton@yahoo.com and tell her one thing you like about the excerpt from Secret Contract that is posted on her web site. She will draw one lucky reader from all who respond by April 30 to receive a box of Godiva truffles.

#2: You can win $500 in the texting sweepstakes for Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. The contest ends April 10.

#3: Penny Dawn's latest short Go For Miles is available now through Amber Heat.

#4: Kaye Dacus has moved her blog Write Place, Write Time to a new home.


Dana Marton, Secret Contract, Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study, Penny Dawn, Go for Miles, Kaye Dacus, Write Time, Write Place, Seton Hill University