So they say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. In terms of book sales, that strangely translates to “March comes in like a comedy and out like a . . . western?”
Yep. Demand for titles like Linda Lael Miller’s Creed in Stone Creek and Tyler by C.H. Admirand eclipsed most everything contemporary through the month of March. But how can we blame readers for wanting visions of western perfection (and not just the cowboys) when the climate which surrounds them is anything but?
Thankfully, contemporary readers will be able to escape the weird weather this month with titles like Roxanne St. Claire’s Shiver of Fear, Robyn Carr’s Harvest Moon, Jill Sorenson’s Edge of Night, Emily March’s Hummingbird’s Rest, and Jill Shalvis’s The Sweetest Thing.
May brings RITA nominee Rachel Gibson’s Any Man of Mine, perfectly timed with the coming of the Stanley cup playoffs (the hero is a hockey player!). The recent announcement of RWA's RITA nominees heralds the beginning of the frenetic summer conference season.
It’s always interesting to consider the dire pronouncements made at previous conferences and their relation to what’s selling in the store. The various individuals who predict the death of the historical every so often would be surprised to hear how well Lecia Cornwall’s debut, Secrets of a Proper Countes is doing. Historical readers have a great deal to look forward to, with double RITA Nominee Kieran Kramer Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage, RITA Finalist Sarah MacLean's Eleven Scandals to Start to Break a Duke’s Heart, Maya Rodale’s A Tale of Two Lovers’ and Julia Quinn’s Just Like Heaven to look forward to in May.
Those who publicly complain about large numbers of paranormal romances being published would be shocked to hear how well Molly Harper’s second book, The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf is doing, not to mention a lovely blue hardcover called Lover Unleashed by someone named J.R. Ward, which only came into the store towards the end of the month. Actually, paranormal readers get a great deal of bounty this coming month, with the release of Born of Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon and then in May with Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh, Lynn Kurland's One Magic Moment, and the Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess by Leanna Renee Hieber.
Sherrilyn Kenyon’s title is actually a science fiction romance, one of her “League” series. Science Fiction Romance? Oh, yes. In fact, despite all of the conversation about what wasn’t nominated for the RITA awards, it should be noted that Enemy Mine by Marcella Burnard is a Science Fiction romance that was nominated in the paranormal category (and if we’re splitting hairs here, Ann Aguirre’s Killbox, nominated in the romantic elements category, is part of a Science Fiction romance series…). That means that despite all of the talk about how little Science Fiction Romance is publicized, liked, sold or in the end published, it’s getting to the hearts of readers and staying there. And so this month’s second column will discuss science fiction romance, especially a book called Alien in the Family by Gini Koch—as well as give an inside look into how an impromptu signing is set up in an independent bookstore.
Books Mentioned:
Creed in Stone Creek—Linda Lael Miller (February 22,2011)
Tyler—CH Admirand (March 1,2011)
The Sweetest Thing—Jill Shalvis (April 1,2011)
Shiver of Fear--Roxanne St Claire (March 29, 2011)
Harvest Moon—Robyn Carr (February 22,2011)
Edge of Night—Jill Sorenson (April 5, 2011)
Any Man of Mine—Rachel Gibson (April 26, 2011)
Hummingbird Lake—Emily March (March 22,2011)
Secrets of a Proper Countess—Lecia Cornwall (March 29,2011)
Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage—Kieran Kramer (April 26,2011)
Eleven Scandals to Start to Steal a Duke’s Heart—Sarah MacLean (April 26,2011)
A Tale of Two Lovers—Maya Rodale (April 26,2011)
The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf—Molly Harper (March 29,2011)
Lover Unleashed—J.R. Ward (March 29,2011)
Born of Shadows—Sherrilyn Kenyon (April 26, 2011)
Kiss of Snow—Nalini Singh (May 31,2011)
One Magic Moment—Lynn Kurland (May 5, 2011)
Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess—Leanna Renee Hieber (May 2,2011)
Enemy Within—Marcella Burnard (November 2,2010)
Killbox—Ann Aguirre (August 31,2010)
Alien in the Family—Gini Koch (April 5th, 2011)
