The winter of 2006-2007 is history,
Spring and Summer 2007 are gone, too, and what a demanding time it
has been. Dealing with the sharp weather swings from one extreme
temperature to another, and from drought to heavy rain made work and
travel difficult and colds frequent. Nonetheless, meeting deadlines
has been my preoccupation for months now, and today, I can finally
breathe. So I apologize for not having sent out an issue of the
Forster Sentinel since winter.
I conducted a workshop at the local
branch of the New York Public Library on the elements of fiction
writing, and it was well received. I'm hoping that some of the
individuals who attend that annual lecture will get that
life-changing call from an editor who wants to purchase their
manuscript.
Genesis Press, a publisher for whom I
wrote three books and a novella in the late 1990s, reissued two of
my novels, AGAINST THE WIND and NAKED SOUL. I was excited about
those reissues, and looked forward to them. Unfortunately, they came
out replete with humongous errors. I have not been on Genesis'
roster of writers since the year 2000, and I had nothing to do with
those editions of the two books. The senior editor (who joined
Genesis after the reprinting was done) has said she will do what she
can to make amends to those who purchased the faulty copies. So if
you bought a copy, Please e-mail editor@genesis-press.com and give
her the pertinent information. All concerned regret this very much.
The winter was a busy one. In
February, I guest speaker at a benefit for Eviction Intervention
Services, a non-profit organization in
New York City that works to prevent people from becoming
evicted from their homes. The organization sold copies of my book,
HER SECRET LIFE, as a fund raiser.
The following weekend, I had a
wonderful visit with Sisters Sippin' Tea in
Tulsa,
Oklahoma. That was my first visit to
Oklahoma, and I am exceedingly glad that I had that
opportunity. The generosity and hospitality of my hosts greatly
exceeded rightful expectations. They treated me to a wonderful tour
of the beautiful city and its museums. I don't think I ever saw so
many African American churches in one city. I spoke to the groups
and their guests on romance (because February is romance month) and
some historical facts about African Americans that I discovered in
the course of researching both my general fiction novels and my
romance novels. The idea was to let it be known that my novels are
informative as well as entertaining.
In March, Kimani Press released
ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, my second book for Harlequin. The book is
the sequel to AGAINST THE WIND, which Genesis Press published in
1999. For contractual reasons, I changed the names of certain
characters. However, several readers who proved to be good sleuths,
wrote that they had figured it out.
In April, I attended the Romantic
Times Convention in
Dallas,
Texas in order to receive a Lifetime Achievement
Award. I was nominated for that award in 1999, but didn't win.
Recognition for one's work is always gratifying. You may have a look
at it on my web site (www.gwynneforster.com).
My novel, JUST THE MAN SHE NEEDS
led off the Arabesque summer series in June of this year. It's all
about a woman reporter who hired an escort (through an escort
service) to accompany her to an awards ceremony and learned that
she had forty-carat, mesmerizing corporate giant on her hands.
Kensington publishing Corp/Dafina
Books released GETTING SOME OF HER OWN, my sixth mainstream novel
this past August to rave reviews. When I say she was getting some of
her own, I mean just that. The trouble was, the guy she picked
decided to get some of his own. I think you'll love it.
This summer, one of my publishers,
Harlequin Books, entered a deal with St. Jude Children's
Research
Hospital in
Memphis in which Sandra Kitt and I will each write a
book, a romance novel (with appropriate references to St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital) that the hospital officials, Harlequin
and the authors will advertise widely and strongly support so as to
bring the attention of African Americans to the hospital's research
and its work with children. Specifically, we want to call attention
to the care there that is available to any child who suffers
from HIV, Sickle Sell Anemia ( most widely prevalent among African
Americans and some other groups with heavily pigmented skin) or
cancer. No child is turned away for lack of funds, and not enough
African Americans know about this. From now throughout most of
2008, we will be promoting these books and the project, which is
called WARM HEARTS & HEALING HANDS. Tell everyone
about it. We need your support. Sandra Kitt's book is entitled,
FOR ALL WE KNOW. My book is entitled, WHAT MATTERS
MOST. These books are not propaganda. They are the solid
romance novels that our readers would expect us to write.
Publication dates are September and October 2008.
I've just received copies of my latest
Harlequin romance, Forbidden Temptation. It is the fourth and
final book of the Harlequin continuity series, THREE WEDDINGS AND
A
REUNION. Others in the four book series
are:
Brenda Jackson, IN BED WITH HER
BOSS
Jacqueline Thomas, THE PASTOR'S
WOMAN
Elaine Overton, HIS
HOLIDAY BRIDE
It's great reading, so be sure to get
your copies today.
I've been a member of the RAWSISTAZ (Reading
and Writing Sisters) online group almost since its inception seven
years ago, but I hadn't attended one of its land conferences. I had
already planned to attend this year when Martina Royal, the group's
founder and shepherd invited me to be the keynote speaker. I had met
a number of the members, but I counted as friends some who I had
never seen. So it was a thrill to attach faces to some screen names
and to interact face to face with some really wonderful
individuals. The theme of this year's conference, which was convened
at Crown Plaza Hotel in
Atlanta,
Georgia, was family. And since I am a social
scientist and have set many of my novels within the context of the
family, talking about family and what it means in our lives, was a
topic that suited me. The conference had an aura of elegance, one of
the best organized meetings of its type that I've attended. Hats off
to you, Tee. If you don't belong to RAWSISTAZ@yahoogroups.com, and
if you love to read or write, you might consider joining.
It's getting late in the year, and I
haven't had a vacation, but I'm heading off to
Europe in about ten days. Stay well, and don't forget to
get your flu shots. More next time.
Fondly, Gwynne Forster
