THE 25TH ANNUAL BOOKLOVERS CONVENTION

The Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine is celebrating its BOOKLOVERS Convention’s silver anniversary. This is the book industry’s event of the year, featuring TWO public book signings where thousands of readers can meet more than 400 bestselling authors. The extravaganza takes place at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, April 16-20.

Plus, the BOOKLOVER’s Convention is looking for some of Pittsburgh’s finest hunks to compete in its annual Mr. Romance Pageant. The grand prize is a NYC cover shoot for a Dorchester Publishing romance novel, and a $1,250 cash prize. More than 1,000 women are expected to cheer on the contestants and FREE Books and Prizes will be given away.
The king of covers Fabio and Highlander hunk Adrian Paul will also be there to raise money for their charities.

Writers will learn how-to-write and get published with 125 workshops to choose from covering 16 genres of women’s fiction including: Inter-racial, African-American, Teen Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Chick Lit, Mystery/Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Action Adventure, Historical, Category and Series Romance, and Vampire. There is also a special Reader Program with fun workshops led by bestselling authors.

When the sun goes down, the “real” characters come out dressed in outlandish costumes for nightly theme parties—visual for energetic morning or evening live shots, VOs, VO/SOT, and in-studio guests. Individual celebrity authors are available for interviews—radio, newspaper/magazine, and TV like New York Times, USA Today, and national bestsellers Bertrice Small, Heather Graham, Christine Feehan, L.A. Banks, and Brenda Jackson. For a complete list, or to register, visit RTConvention.com.
-More-

HIGHLIGHTS


Wednesday, April 16
Workshops throughout the day.
5-7 pm: E-Book, Independent Publisher and Multimedia Expo with 100 authors
8:30-Midnight: Ellora’s Cave Fantasy Party with 120 their authors and their gorgeous Caveman hunks. Fantasy costumes, music and dancing

Thursday, April 17
10:30-11:30 am: Bad Pirates Get All The Booty. Workshops throughout the day.
4:30-7:00 pm: Wild ‘N’ Wacky Reader Party and Evening Temptation Party.
8:30 pm-midnight: Under the Sea Faery Ball and Costume Competition.

Friday, April 18
8:30-9:30 am: The Nightwalker Stud Muffin Mixer. Workshops throughout the day.
8:30 pm-midnight: Blood and Steel Vampire Ball. Costumes galore

***Saturday, April 19***
9-10 am: Mystery Chix and a Rooster Mixer.
11 am-2 pm: The Largest Public Book Fair, meet more than 300 authors signing.
4-5 pm: Support Our Soldiers Military Mixer—A tribute to those serving in the armed forces, military personnel, military authors, and military families with a special appearance from Fabio
.5-7 pm: The 15th annual Mr. Romance Pageant—Drooling, cheering, and fainting are allowed.
9 pm-midnight: Dorchester Publishers present “These Boots are Made for Strutting party.

Sunday, April 20
11:00-12:30 pm: Samhain Publishers Mixer
5-9 pm: Romance at Twilight comfy/PJ party.


Business of Consumer Publication & Romance Writers of America net revenues reported from 2006 U.S. retail sales.

 Romance novel sales accounted for $1.37 billion dollars. 26.4% overall book sales.
 Sci- Fi/Fantasy $495 million. Mystery $422 million. Mainstream $448 million
 Harlequin is the top selling publisher of romance books with sales of $418 million.


What past host cities are saying about the annual BOOKLOVERS Conventions:


“It’s an under cover of romance...” Orlando Sentinel

“Romance is in the air and in the money…” St. Louis American

“Book fair binds authors and fans…” South City Publications

“You say you read…John Grisham and Michael Crichton? The figures show that the true heavy hitters now are Karen Robards, Susan Kearney, Heather Graham, Laurell K. Hamilton and Sherrilyn Kenyon.” Alton Telegraph

“Book sales brought in $70,000 says Jan Crow of Katy Budget Books”
Houston Business Journal
What some bestselling authors are saying:

“RT connects authors to the most important pulse of inspiration—their readers. Don’t miss the opportunity to get you battery recharged, hear how your characters come to life in the minds of your readers, and be treated with love and affection,” L. A. Banks, national bestselling author of The Vampire Huntress Legends series and Scarface.


“The air is electric and the pace is non-stop! Meeting readers is a special thrill. No matter what's happening, I drop it to attend a Romantic Times convention,” Christina Skye, national bestselling author of the CODE NAME: Navy Seal series.
“Hands down, RT is the best party of the year! It's a time when authors and readers get to let loose, enjoy the eye candy, and leave boredom at the door. Between the workshops and the parties, there's a good mix of work and play. Don't miss it--I never do!” Kayla Perrin, USA Today Bestselling Author of We’ll Never Tell

For more information, visit http://www.rtconvention.com, or call 314-630-5856.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November  2007                  

Contact / Orders :

Infinity Publishing

(877) 289-2665 or

WWW.BBOTW.COM

SOCIETY NEEDS TO READ:  BITTERSWEET DIARY  -  A new novel that hits home on every level.  It will make you wonder if it is indeed fact or fiction.  This is not your sisters diary…It’s Better!

Written from a child’s point of view, this book sheds light on issues that most adults deal with but are sometimes afraid to act on.  The old saying of children being seen and not heard is masterfully broken down by a young girl.  At an age where children should be playing and thinking only on the things that make them happy, this young heroine had to develop and instill her own confidence through what she experienced living in her schools boiler room…alone.  

In today’s society, children are witnessing parents engage in drug related activities.  Thousands upon thousands are forced into sexual situations.  Most know how to handle a handgun.  There are those who are already strung out before they reach their teenage years.  Today many of our children are suffering at the hands of their own parents and it needs to stop.  They are dying, exploited, mistreated, abused, sold and bartered…and for what? 

Where is the family structure and how do we get it back? 

As they are to become our future leaders, their foundation should be solid, sure and enriched with the tools to lead...not destroy.  Today’s parents should stand with their teachers in helping to prepare our children.  The “not my child” phrase and attitude we give our teachers is an ignorant assumption when you’re not sitting next to them in the classroom all day.  We need to remember that they are still children in every sense of the word.  But never underestimate the mind of a child!

What happen to the “villages” that raised the child?  Learn how this determined young girl decided that her time to live was now.  Between the ages of five and eleven she grew twenty years.  She truly was an old soul and far wiser than her years. 

Read “Bittersweet Diary” today and see how this story not only relates to our black communities but transpires from city to city and background to background.  It was written as fiction…but is it?  The author, Saundra Seward, sparks some questions we stop asking and triggers the urgency of responsibility which we must take back!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2007                      

Contact / Orders :
Infinity Publishing
(877) 289-2665 or
WWW.BBOTW.COM

SOCIETY NEEDS TO READ:  BITTERSWEET DIARY  -  A new novel that hits home on every level.  It will make you wonder if it is indeed fact or fiction.  This is not your sisters diary…It’s Better!

Written from a child’s point of view, this book sheds light on issues that most adults deal with but are sometimes afraid to act on.  The old saying of children being seen and not heard is masterfully broken down by a young girl.  At an age where children should be playing and thinking only on the things that make them happy, this young heroine had to develop and instill her own confidence through what she experienced living in her schools boiler room…alone. 

In today’s society, children are witnessing parents engage in drug related activities.  Thousands upon thousands are forced into sexual situations.  Most know how to handle a handgun.  There are those who are already strung out before they reach their teenage years.  Today many of our children are suffering at the hands of their own parents and it needs to stop.  They are dying, exploited, mistreated, abused, sold and bartered…and for what? 

Where is the family structure and how do we get it back? 

As they are to become our future leaders, their foundation should be solid, sure and enriched with the tools to lead...not destroy.  Today’s parents should stand with their teachers in helping to prepare our children.  The “not my child” phrase and attitude we give our teachers is an ignorant assumption when you’re not sitting next to them in the classroom all day.  We need to remember that they are still children in every sense of the word.  But never underestimate the mind of a child!

What happen to the “villages” that raised the child?  Learn how this determined young girl decided that her time to live was now.  Between the ages of five and eleven she grew twenty years.  She truly was an old soul and far wiser than her years. 

Read “Bittersweet Diary” today and see how this story not only relates to our black communities but transpires from city to city and background to background.  It was written as fiction…but is it?  The author, Saundra Seward, sparks some questions we stop asking and triggers the urgency of responsibility which we must take back!

Contact:

Monica Marie Jones

www.myspace.com/monicamariejones

monicamjones@hotmail.com

(734) 945-8129

Detroit , MI-- June, 2007

  The Ups and Downs of Being Round

"The Ups and Downs of Being Round" takes its reader on a soul searching journey. The main character, Madison, like so many women of today, equated her self-worth with the attention she receives, especially from the opposite sex. From a young child she deals with the unfortunate reality of being overweight in today's society. Madison's most critical struggle comes from within as she discovers that her self-esteem does not have to fluctuate with her size. This book gives an intimate, vivid look into a girl’s journey to find herself, and offers a vast amount of inspiration to anyone looking to improve in any area of their life. Madison realized that she not only must change the way she eats, but the way she lives. Definitely a must-read.

Ray John

Rhema Health Care

~

I must say, it is a touching story and will help others to recognize that beauty is truly skin deep and that they should adorn the inner person, because that is the essence of true "beauty" I don't know how much of the story was based on your own personal experience, but I applaud you for your personal victory in losing weight, but much more importantly, gaining a sense of self and self-worth.  Keep reaching for the stars............

Chris Campbell

Editor, Michigan Front Page and Michigan Chronicle

~

Real story; real words; real message; from a real woman. The Ups and Down of Being Round, takes the reader on a journey through the mind of Madison as she progresses from childhood to womanhood and from obesity to weight-loss, all while battling and conquering self-image issues. Filled with dry-humor of the Seinfeld essence and experiences the reader can relate to, author, Monica Marie Jones, is able to captivate the reader from cover to cover. Once the story is over, Monica gives her reader a map to getting healthy with a guide to living a healthy lifestyle, making her not only entertaining as an author, but relevant.

Travon Talley, MBA

~

I must offer you many accolades my dear.  I thought the book was well written, humorous while

very realistic and easy to relate to.  I really feel like this book will lead to more doors than you can imagine.  

Kelli Kinney-Brownlee

Gospel Recording Artist

  About the Book 

     The Ups and Downs of Being Round is a coming of age story about a girl who struggles throughout her life with issues of weight.  Overweight as a child, Madison Jenson struggles with teasing and physical limitations until she loses the weight during her adolescent years.  Just as she begins to enjoy life as a slim girl she gains the weight back during her college years.  Finally, being fed up with being unhappily overweight, she loses it again as a young adult, but to her surprise she loses a lot more than just the weight and finds out that physical weight loss does not guarantee happiness

The Ups and Downs of being Round is broken up into four parts.  Part One, Fat Girl, highlights the torturous childhood full of teasing that Madison experienced as an overweight little girl.  Part Two is called Phat Girl because Madison lost the weight as she approached her adolescent years and experiences all of the attention and accolades that accompany being a slim person.  Part Three, The Freshman Fifteen, chronicles the college years when Madison gradually gains all of the weight back and then some.  The story ends with Part Four, A Lifestyle Change, when Madison loses the weight as a young adult and learns some valuable lessons about her self and life along the way.  Just when she thinks she has it all, a wonderful career, a fabulous physique and a serious love interest, she may risk losing it all because she fails to love the most important person of all…herself.

          In this story the author mixes real life experiences with creativity and humor to address issues of self image, love and relationships, family  and health to make colorful story that can apply across all ages, genders, shapes and sizes. 

            All of the emotions will be tapped as the reader takes this journey with Madison as she experiences heartache and heartbreak, joy and hilarity, pain and struggle,  and after many mistakes and lessons love and happiness.

About the Author

     Monica Marie Jones is an author, having had an excerpt from her first novel, "The Ups and Downs of Being Round," published in September 2005 in "Chicken Soup for the Girls Soul" in the form of a short story called "Okay to Be Me".  She is also the co-author of a chapter in the Winter 2006 edition of New Directions for Youth Development.  She is a journalist in that she is a freelance writer for the Michigan Front Page Newspaper and a member of the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.  Currently she is a Youth Development Specialist for the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation as well as a professional dancer that travels frequently to perform with some of gospel music's leading recording artists. She is a native of Detroit, MI where she is a member of the Motown Writers Network in addition to working to complete a poetry book, three novels and a stage play. 

 To purchase the book visit the following locations:

 www.myspace.com/monicamariejones

www.amazon.com

www.hubbooks.biz

Barnes and Nobles

Distribution: Available through Ingram

The author is available for book signings, book club meetings, speaking engagements and seminars.  Contact monicamjones@hotmail.com for scheduling.

One Hour Teleseminars by Chandra Sparks Taylor