In recent weeks our inboxes have been flooded with award and nomination news. From the RITAs to the National Reader’s Choice Awards – TKA clients are racking up! We are so proud of their accomplishments and happy that others are as enthusiastic about their wonderful books as we are. Way to go, ladies (and gentleman)!

Also, something to cheer about is news from both inside and outside the industry that the public’s insatiable appetite for romance is not going away anytime soon. ABC’s Nightline recently spotlighted romance giant Harlequin’s 60 years of amazing success, and TKA client and bestselling author Gena Showalter was the only one of the publisher's authors to be interviewed for the segment!

With the romance genre moving full steam ahead, (FYI, we’re also we hearing YA’s not too shabby), our team is heading into the summer months with as much enthusiasm as kid looking forward to the last day of class.

Author Chloe Neill hit the Barnes & Noble Fantasy Trade bestseller list at #6 with her debut novel SOME GIRLS BITE, Book 1 in the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series. This amazingly talented author has reviewers and readers clamoring for more, and they'll soon get it with her upcoming YA series, VARSITY MAGIC, and the fall release of FRIDAY NIGHT BITES.

TKA: Your debut title, SOME GIRLS BITE, Book 1 in the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series, released to rave reviews on April 7th. Please give us a brief synopsis of the story.

CHLOE NEILL: SOME GIRLS BITE is the story of our Merit’s first two weeks as a vampire. From attack, to Change, to her first meeting with Master vampire Ethan Sullivan, to the historic position she’s given in Cadogan House. The premise is pretty fundamental: If your life is turned completely upside down, what do you do? How do you handle it? I’ve thrown Merit into vampire shenanigans, and she has to figure out a way to be herself in the middle of all that fanged chaos.

TKA: Neophyte vampire Merit is smart, feisty and not afraid to voice her opinion.

How important was it for you to create strong female characters? What other characteristics does Merit share with some of your all-time fave literary heroines?

CHLOE: Thanks! She thinks so, too. It was incredibly important that Merit be a strong character. I wanted her to be the kind of heroine that I (and hopefully other readers) want to be—someone who’s human (in all the ways that matter), but not perfect. Someone who has the chance to be something more than she was, even if it scares her. Someone who takes that leap of faith.

I think Merit has a lot of the hallmarks of strong female leads—stubbornness, her own kind of grace, and an interesting flaw or two. Merit would be the first to admit that she’s far from perfect. I think Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan has that in common, and Rachel’s that much more interesting because of it.

TKA: In the beginning, did you see the Merit’s story stretching out over a multiple book arc, or was it something you decided upon researching the viability of series versus single titles? What do you think are the pluses and minuses of series writing?

CHLOE: I always imagined Merit’s story as a series, largely because I almost exclusively read series fiction. I love the character development, the inside jokes, the little secrets that folks who follow a heroine from book to book get to savor. Of course, the downside is that it will take Merit a little longer to get her happily ever after.

TKA: What can we expect to see from the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series in the future?

CHLOE: Lots of interesting things! In Book Two, Merit returns home to assist with an investigation, so we’ll meet additional members of her family and we’ll see how she adapts to her new role as House Sentinel.

TKA: What other writing projects do you have on the horizon?

CHLOE: I’m currently winding up the draft of FIRESPELL, the first book in my new young adult series, which will be released in January 2010. I also have two additional series in the planning phases—one focusing on werewolves, and the other a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy.

TKA: When did you decide you first decide you wanted to be a writer? How long did the journey take from that moment, to a viable concept and finally seeing your work in print?

CHLOE: I used to hate writing. HATED it. I avoided it (and careers that would require me to do it), like the plague. I didn’t feel comfortable with words, and that discomfort led me to avoid it. Writing was definitely outside my comfort zone.

At some point, I became less intimidated by it professionally. Probably because I secured a job that required me to do journalistic writing on a daily basis. That practice was immensely helpful, and helped me streamline my writing style and break through the emotional barrier.

I’m still relatively new to fiction writing. I went through a phase where I was devouring historical and paranormal romances—usually a book a day—and I was inspired by one authors’ books to write a few hundred words of fan fiction. But after I’d spent the timing writing those few hundred words, I decided that I could just as easily spend the time writing something of my own. I started working on my first manuscript (another paranormal romance) in 2005. I received the offer from Penguin for SOME GIRLS BITE in 2008. I consider myself to have been incredibly fortunate to have such a short road to publication.

TKA: How does the use of electronic inspiration boards figure into the part of your writing process? What other unique ways do you research your books or find inspiration for various characters or settings?

CHLOE: I am a very visual person, and it’s easiest for me to write things that I can imagine visually. Inspiration boards help provide visual source material—images that I can describe to readers—and they help inspire the feel of the world. World building is very important to me, and my kind of world building requires lots of layers—history, geography, architecture, art, music. Inspiration boards help me create those layers.

Visit Chloe's website and blog!

We've got an extra special online chat planned this month. Come out this Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET, to chat with Chloe Neill AND her agent, Lucienne Diver. Both of these ladies are great resources for finding out more about breaking into the publishing world, specifically in the paranormal genre. Also, you can get the skinny on what Chloe's working on and win some awesome prizes. Free prizes are always good, right? Besides the goodies, there is much, much more to be gained from attending this chat! Don't miss it!

WHEN: Thursday, April 30th @ 9:00pm ET
WHERE: Click Here to Enter the TKA Chat Room *Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.

The Romance Writers of America RITA Finalists:

Paranormal Category - Gena Showalter, THE DARKEST NIGHT; Nalini Singh, MINE TO POSSESS

Contemporary Series Category - Crystal Green, FALLING FOR THE LONE WOLF

Young Adult Category - Rosemary Clement-Moore, HELL WEEK

Series Adventure/Suspense Category - Jessica Andersen, TWIN TARGETS

and RWA Golden Heart Finalists:

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements - Elizabeth McIntyre writing as Elizabeth Devlin, HOME WATERS

National Readers' Choice Awards, sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, finalists - Novella: Crystal Jordan, IN ICE, in SEXY BEAST IV; Jasmine Haynes, UNDONE in UNLACED

2009 Colorado Center for the Book Awards finalists - Genre Fiction: Carol Berg, BREATH AND BONE; Sarah D'Almeida, A DEATH IN GASCONY; Sarah A. Hoyt, SOUL OF FIRE

Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, sponsored by Southern Magic RWA, winner - Young Adult Category: Rosemany Clement-Moore, HELL WEEK

The Lories, sponsored by From the Heart RWA, winner - Romantic Suspense Category: Beth Cornelison, UNDER FIRE

2009 Fab Five Contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin RWA, finalists - Best Paranormal: Patti O'Shea, IN TWILIGHT'S SHADOW

Colorado RWA, finalist - Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy/Futuristic: Patti O'Shea, IN TWILIGHT'S SHADOW

Passionate Ink Contest, finalist - Best Paranormal/Time Travel: Crystal Jordan, TREASURED

*Didn't see your name? If you've been nominated for or received an award and weren't listed, then we didn't hear from you! There are so many great TKA authors being recognized, we need a little help keeping up! Help us by sending in your latest contest news or achievements to info@knightagency.net, and it could possibly be included in the next edition of TKA's newsletter.

QUESTION: What are some key factors aspiring authors should evaluate before deciding which convention to invest their time and money into attending?

NEPHELE TEMPEST:I think the most important thing is to see who the speakers are, and who will be running the workshops etc. You want a conference that offers a diverse program with different types of writers and editors presenting information, and where there is a fair number of guests given the size of the conference. If your only exposure to a professional writer or editor will be listening to a keynote over lunch, you want to be sure there is a good assortment of workshops you will find useful to balance out that lack of interaction.

ELAINE SPENCER: How many pounds of chocolates the conference hosts are going to be giving away to attendees. Kidding - I think that the best thing you can do to plan is to look at the event's website from the previous year. While things change from year to year, typically a conference has a general blueprint that can be really helpful when trying to make a decision. By going over the previous year's itinerary you can determine if the conference caters to the programming needs of your career. Other perks you want to review are things such as the number of keynote speakers, number of agents/editors attending and the types of events they are hosting, the number of published authors in attendance, what different opportunities for networking are presented, if there are any options that will enable one-on-one manuscript attention, these are all things that should help you decide if its the right event for you or not.

*Please remember that you can participate in Agents of the Roundtable. Send a question you would like our agents to tackle to info@knightagency.net, and we might feature it in an upcoming issue!

EDGE OF HUNGER
by Rhyannon Byrd | Harlequin Enterprises

Ian Buchanan has always felt the unknown—the deep, impenetrable darkness that lives within him. Yet he is determined to lead a "normal" life, ignoring the unsettling dreams in which he succumbs to his wildest desires.… Until psychic Molly Stratton tracks him down, claiming to share his sensual nightmares.The petite Molly even has the bite marks to prove it. And she's also received a message from Ian's deceased mother: an enemy is near. And it's time for the creature inside Ian to finally awaken. A creature with an insatiable hunger that must be controlled before it overtakes them both….

THE MORETTI SEDUCTION
by Katherine Garbera | Harlequin Enterprises

To seal the deal that would put Moretti Motors back on top, Antonio Moretti would do whatever it took--even seduce attorney Nathalie Vallerio, his family's rival. He'd have the ice queen melting before the ink on their companies' agreement was dry. Yet Antonio wasn't prepared for a vixen in a business suit...and neither of them was used to losing. No matter what, one part of this deal was nonnegotiable: he'd have Nathalie, one way or another.

ON THE PROWL
by Crystal Jordan | Kensington

Meet the Cruz brothers. They look human—except for the golden sheen their eyes take when they're aroused beyond control...and the way their claws come out when it's time to play rough. They're Panthers, ancient shapeshifters, and their survival depends on mating to bring out their wild sides...

LORD OF LEGENDS
by Susan Krinard | Harlequin

He is Arion, King of the Unicorns. Powerful, seductive, he could possess any female he desired—until now. He is condemned to live as a man, and it is only the enchanting Lady Mariah Donnington's innocence that can release him from his curse. Abandoned on her wedding night, frightened of her hidden, otherworldly heritage, Mariah is instinctively drawn to the mysterious stranger she discovers imprisoned on her husband's estate. But as the secret of Arion's magical identity unfolds, their friendship burns into a passion that cannot, must not, be consummated. For to do so would destroy them both….

THE SISTERS EIGHT: JACKIE'S JOKES
by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The calendar page has turned once again. April has finally arrived. How lucky of Jackie to have such a lovely month as this as the backdrop to her story. It starts off with fun and laughter on April Fool's Day, and then all the beautiful flowers start to bloom and then...wait a minute. April fifteenth. That's not a fun or laughable day. That's the day every working person dreads--it's Tax Day! Aaahhhhh! Of course, the eight Huit girls have never had to worry about Tax Day. Their parents always took care of everything. But as we all know by now, their parents are gone (or dead). Who will take care of the taxes now? Luckily, the girls have Pete the Mechanic on their side. He'll help them face down the Tax Man. But what's really interesting is what the girls discover while taking care of their parents' taxes.

CRIMINALLY HANDSOME
by Cassie Miles | Harlequin

Criminologist Miguel Acevedo had come face-to-face with his biggest challenge--Emma Richardson, guardian to a newborn baby and admitted psychic. The Native American beauty claimed to have information that could bring down a notorious criminal, but Miguel wasn't about to buy into her "abilities" so fast. Before long, though, Emma's leads attracted a killer and Miguel became her bodyguard. Now, as he watched her with the innocent baby and became captivated by her blue gaze, Miguel sensed his ordered world tilting on its axis. First he'd gone from skeptic to believer. Could the switch from confirmed bachelor to family man be far behind?

SOME GIRLS BITE
by Chloe Neill | Penguin

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord of the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuriesa worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone is still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war and there will be blood.

SIMPLY SHAMELESS
by Kate Pearce | Kensington

One forbidden weekend years ago, Helene Delornay found herself stranded with a total stranger. Philip Ross opened Helene’s eyes to a world she never knew existed. Now proprietress of London’s most exclusive house of pleasure, Helene never forgot the bliss she shared with Philip—and she never found another man who could satisfy her…

Every fantasy is fulfilled when Philip suddenly returns to Helene’s life, the physical attraction they share is far too strong for either to deny. Now as they explore their fantasies and take them beyond the limit, Helene discovers that her feelings for Philip run far deeper than that of just a lover…