Hope C. Tarr's Blog, page 10

Announcing Scribbling Women & the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them

Last summer I got the idea to celebrate this Valentine’s 2014 with a nonfiction anthology of romance authors, a sort of “Chocolate for a Woman’s Soul” for the post-Millennium to benefit one of my favorite charities: Win. I floated the idea by some of my favorite fellow authors and, voila, what began as a seed of an idea blossomed into an actual book.

In Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them, twenty-eight romance fiction writers, one for each day of February 2014, reveal their real-life stories of how they met, wed and love—and are loved and supported by—their spouses and life partners. At times whimsical and laugh-out-loud funny, at others poignant and bittersweet, all unfailingly inspiring, each essay celebrates that most powerful and sacred of human bonds: love.

If readers take away just one message from our anthology, I hope it will be this: Happily Ever After isn’t only the stuff of romance novels and fairy tales.

It is every woman’s birthright.

ALL net proceeds from sales of the anthology support Win. Founded on February 14, 1983—yes, Valentine’s Day—Win works to transform the lives of NYC’s homeless women and their children.

Contributors include May McGoldrick. Katharine Ashe, Deanna Raybourn, Jacquie D’Alessandro, Leanna Renee Hieber and Lisa Renée Jones.  For a full list of contributors, visit our website.

Buy the book digitally from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Smashwords for just $2.99. Or order a commemorative print edition for under $10.

The official Scribbling Women & the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them book launch will take place at the fifth anniversary celebration of Lady Jane’s Salon, Monday, February 3, 2014 7-9 PM at Madame X.

Huzzah & Happy Valentine’s Month,

Hope

Release Day for THE CINDERELLA SEDUCTION!

It’s Release Day for THE CINDERELLA SEDUCTION, the finale to my Suddenly Cinderella Series with Entangled Publishing. Let’s celebrate!

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SUGAR Release Week

Hope & Jenna in the green room of the Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

SUGAR, my hard cover debut written with Jenna Jameson, released on Monday, 10/21, and so far it’s been quite a week!

The highlight: a book signing at the Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue and 46th Street. Prior to the 12 noon signing, the crowd queued up outside 5th Avenue, forming a line that would snake around the block.

In contrast, the bookstore’s green room was a cozy haven before facing the media blitz outside. The 2+ hours whizzed by in a flurry of signing and photo ops.

The day ended with drinks at an East Village watering hole with Lady Jane’s Salon co-founder and fellow author, Leanna Renee Hieber.

SUGAR is the first in m/our FATE Series. Look for HONEY and SPICE in 2014.  For now, we hope readers who enjoy the book will take two ticks to post a review on Amazon.

Hope

 

 

Reading SUGAR in Chicago

I’m just back from Chicago where I had the pleasure of reading SUGAR (Book #1, FATE Series, Skyhorse Publishing) at the Lady Jane’s Salon satellite in nearby Naperville on Oct 1st, my birthday eve, no less. This was my third time guesting at the Illinois based satellite run by romance writers Tracey Devlyn (also a co-founder of Romance University) and Adrienne Giordano, and as always I had a super fun time, including giving away complimentary copies of my TEMPTING and OPERATION CINDERELLA audiobooks courtesy of Audio Realms Publishing.

Then it was off to Chicago proper for a few days of birthday R&R. Highlights of our short and oh so sweet trip include stepping out on the ledge at the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), taking an architectural boat tour along the Chicago River, trolling techie exhibits, many of them interactive, at the Museum of Science and Industry (so cool!), and stuffing our faces with an array of Chicago-style hot dogs, steaks from the original Morton’s, and Giordano’s rightly famous stuffed deep dish pizza.

Now it’s back to work time, ramping up for SUGAR to release on October 21st, writing CLAIMED BY THE ROGUE (my Regency-set single title historical for Samhain), and putting la touche finale on THE CINDERELLA SEDUCTION, the wrap-up to my Suddenly Cinderella Series for Entangled Publishing.

I could really use a slice of that pizza!

 

 

In Memoriam: Cara Summers

The romance community lost a prolific author, generous colleague, and shining star when Cara Summers (Carolyn Hanlon) passed away earlier this month on September 10th. Please take two ticks to join us in honoring Cara’s amazing career–and life–on the Blaze Authors Blog.

Hope

Last Night’s GAAs & Author of the Year!

Last night was the Golden Apple Awards, the annual industry awards event sponsored by the New York City chapter of The Romance Writers of America. I was–and am–thrilled and honored to have been chosen by the membership as its 2013 Author of the Year. Below are the notes for my acceptance speech, which I managed to complete dry-eyed albeit verklempt.

A career of twenty years, thirteen as a published author, means there are many people to be thanked, so I may not be exactly brief  but I will be as succinct as these two pages permit.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my trio of fabulous agents:

To Louise Fury with whom I’ve been blessed to work since 2010. As some of you know, I first met Louise when she started coming to Lady Jane’s Salon® in our early days and at the time I had no idea she was even agenting. It took me a while but I finally cottoned on. Elizabeth Mahon and I took her out for “a” drink to celebrate a significant deal she’d made, one drink turned into many drinks, and then next thing I knew she was asking me about my books. I’ll never forget her saying, “I don’t know if I can sell it—but I’ll try.” By 1:00 AM I was back home emailing her the files.

Louise has done considerably better than “try.” She has since sold THREE series for me, including my hard cover debut, SUGAR, co-written with Jenna Jameson, which releases from Skyhorse Publishing this October 21st. And that’s not even counting the foreign and audio deals she’s made—all while fielding my many, MANY daily emails, on which I usually forget to change the subject header. Honestly, Louise, I can’t imagine being in this business without you.

To Lori Perkins who wears many hats—make that tiaras—not only as the founder and owner of the enduringly successful L. Perkins Agency but also as a writer and publisher. As you know, Lori launched Riverdale Avenue Books last December and she hasn’t stilled since. I don’t use the word “maverick” often or lightly but Lori is truly that. Lori doesn’t follow publishing trends, she forecasts them. She has brought so many publishing opportunities my way these past years, including but in no way limited to a place in her 50 Writers on 50 Shades of Grey anthology and for those and her friendship, I thank her.

To Jenny Bent, our Agent of the Year, who launched my career back in ’99 by selling my Regency-set historical to Berkley. A Rogue’s Pleasure was a first romance sale for both of us—and as they say you never forget you first. I was with Jenny through three agencies, and was so proud of her when she went out on her own and founded The Bent Agency, which has added a London office to its home base of Brooklyn.   

To the talented editors with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working over the past 13 years and counting: Cindy Hwang at Berkley, Brenda Chin at Harlequin, Helen Rosburg at Medallion Media Group, Angela James at Carina Press, Stacy Cantor Abrams at Entangled, and now Jenn McCartney at Skyhorse Publishing. I’ve done 25 books and each has been made inestimably better for your talented input.

To the uber talented former O Magazine senior editor, memoirist and now romance author, Suzan Colon for being my friend, supporter, and creative sounding board. Our lunches are not only a treat to which I look forward but a grounding point for me personally and professionally. I am so looking forward to you reading BEACH GLASS at the February Lady Jane’s Salon.

To RWA NYC for your enduring support, friendship, and encouragement. When I moved to New York in the winter of 2008, I knew ABSOLUTELY NO ONE. Attending that first Saturday chapter meeting was akin to grabbing hold of a lifeline. I met both my Lady Jane’s co-founder, Leanna Renee Hieber and past president, Elizabeth Mahon at a chapter outing to Coney Island. Others of you I’ve gotten to know through additional chapter events such as the winter holiday and spring brunches, the online loop, and of course your glorious and enduring support of Lady Jane’s Salon. To Maria Ferrer and Lise Horton and Sarah Tormey and Kwana Jackson…well, I don’t have time or breath to name each one of you but please know that your support, of me, my books, and m/our Lady Jane’s Salon these past five years means more than I can say.

Last but in no way least, to my wonderful and always supportive partner, Raj Moorjani, who daily affirms that Happily Ever After isn’t only the stuff of romance novels—we can have it in Real Life, too.

This is an enormous honor. Thank you!

SUGAR, New & Final Cover Revealed

 

So I’m having a second cover reveal for SUGAR–sounds a tad piggy, I know. As much as I loved the former cover featuring hot lips, honestly I ADORE the redo even more!

SUGAR, my hard cover debut with Jenna Jameson and the launch to our FATE Series, releases October 21st from Skyhorse Publishing.  You can pre-order your copy from Amazon as well as brick-and-mortar bookstores and other e-tailers. And please stay posted for deets on the other trilogy titles, HONEY and SPICE.

 

 

Blast from the Past Part I: Ride ‘Em!

Deadlines kept me planted in my writer’s chair during this year’s Romance Writers of America national conference held in Atlanta. Joining in the fun vicariously via Facebook and Twitter–the Literacy Book Fair, the hotel meetups (translation: lobby bar), and of course the Awards Gala–sparked my memory to fond recollections of previous conferences.

At the 2007 RWA held in Dallas, I was invited to be filmed with Kathryn Caskie and a few others as part of fellow author Sophia Nash’s “Girls Gone Wild” segment for Romance Novel TV. Our ladies’ night began with a limo ride from the hotel to Cowboy Red River Saloon. There, before rolling cameras, we received a quick-and dirty lesson in the Texas two-step courtesy of two Stetson wearing local swains, downed jalapeno margaritas, and braved the mechanical bull ride. (Note: imbibing the margarita before the bull ride was absolutely essential. Also note: save margarita #2 for celebrating your successful or not so successful descent). Think Debra Winger in “Urban Cowboy” only–hint–you can adjust the speed. Not only did I keep my seat for the full time, but I had so much fun that I just may take a repeat ride. Maybe. Possibly. We’ll see…

For now, check out these fun photos and Tips for How to Ride a Mechanical Bull. Most double as excellent advice for staying the course in life, too. I particularly like: Remember to Wear Pants.

Wise words…

And please check back here on my blog for additional Blast from the Past posts as well as giveaways, book updates and my all ’round good news–the only kind I post.

Hope

Just Because It’s Summer Giveaway

As I sit here procrastinating on finishing edits for the final book in my Suddenly Cinderella Series, it strikes me that mid-summer can feel a little sleepy, even a little…dull.

To spice things up, I’m giving away *two* paperback copies (one copy per winner) of my back list Harlequin Blaze title, EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE. Set in steamy Belize, it’s a perfect addition to your beach read pile. You can read a description and excerpt here.

To be entered to win, do any one of the following:

1. Like my author Facebook page

2. Like my Suddenly Cinderella Series Facebook page

3. Follow me on Twitter @HopeTarr

4. Provide the order confirmation for purchase of any one of my books, e-book or print, that you’ve bought within the last six months.

NOTE: To be entered, you must POST your proof of the above HERE, my website blog.

Two winners will be selected via random number generator. Giveaway ends 12 midnight ET on August 1st.

Happy Summer!

Hope

OPERATION CINDERELLA & THE CINDERELLA MAKEOVER for Just 99 Cents!

To celebrate July as unofficial Beach Reads month, my fabulous publisher, Entangled (now distributed by Macmillan) is offering both OPERATION CINDERELLA and THE CINDERELLA MAKEOVER for just 99 cents each!

Both novel-length Suddenly Cinderella series titles have been given face lifts — gorgeous new covers that accentuate the red shoes that “travel” across books. So…fitting!

The  99 cent offer is time-limited, so if you haven’t yet read OPERATION CINDERELLA and THE CINDERELLA MAKEOVER, this is your chance to do so for cheap!

Happy (Beach) Reading,

Hope