Very Cool...

Lovely reader and firefighter Chris Barton sent me this great photo. Thought I'd pass it along to y'all...

Check out Shomi

Yes, yes, yes - I know there was a big kerfuffle about "costumes" at this year's RWA. I've gone back and forth with myself about the issue. On one hand I do absolutely lurve costuming. RT and the vamp ball? Lots of fun - I'll dress up in an instant. Y'all who know me know beyond any doubt that I'm up for a good time and I tend to walk outside the norm. I saw Marianne and Liz at RWA and just thought "Huh, wonder what's up with that?" I wasn't scandalized or shocked. My twenty year old daughter and co-author of our YA series was with me, and when someone said "Shomi - they must be dressing up to support their new line" Kristin went, "Ohhhh..." and filled me in. Okey-dokey.

I didn't have a clue about the big Kerfuffle that had broken out around them until the lovely BAM told me about it. I did post on fab Smart Bitches, and basically said that I think authors often fall on their faces when they try to costume. I don't think Marianne and Liz fell on their faces, though. They were tasteful and promo-ing their new line. Good for them.

On the other hand, I do have a problem with ultra-flamboyant authors furthering the stereotype wherein romance author are not simply disrespected, but laughed at, and then used as press poster girls for all of us. Again, I don't think Marianne and Liz fell into this category, but others did and do quite often.

No, I don't think there should be a dress code attitude at RWA. That's ridiculous. Grown-ass women should dress to their own standards. Finger-pointing and tisk-tisking makes us look like a group of women who love to gossip about each other - yet another female stereotype I abhor.

So...Please check out Marianne's debut Shomi novel and let me know what you think. As soon as I turn in The Book That's Trying To Kill Me, I'm definitely going to read it.

MOONGAZER by Marianne Mancusi
Dorchester, August 2007

Imagine every night entering a nightmare world you can't escape and being told your life is a dream. Skye Brown has it all: the cool job, the hot boyfriend, the apartment on New York's Upper West Side. But lately she can't enjoy any of it. She's having dreams of a post-apocalyptic world. Of a bleak futuristic wasteland. Of a struggle against oppression. And she's been told she's a...

MOONGAZER

But what is that? And what is reality? In her dreams, she's not Skye Brown at all, but Mariah Quinn. In her dreams there's Dawn, the beautiful yet haunted soldier, and Skye is but the empty shell of a girl he once loved. And there was a betrayal, a great betrayal. Ripped between Dark Siders and club kids, the mundane and the mystic, Skye must discover who she is, what she wants and who wants her. And why. But in the glow of the moon, it's not always easy to recognize the face in the mirror.

Cover:
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0505527251.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V41968999_.jpg

Excerpt:
http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=2222

ABOUT MARIANNE MANCUSI
When it comes to writing, award winning author Marianne Mancusi doesn't like to play by the rules. A multiple Emmy award winning television producer, she sold 11 novels to three publishers (Dorchester, Berkley , Dutton Children's) in less than three years. Marianne has worked in television stations in Orlando , San Diego , and Boston . A graduate of Boston University 's College of Communications , she currently produces for a nationally syndicated lifestyle show. She lives in Manhattan 's Upper West Side .


REVIEWS
“Exhilarating! Once I started, I couldn’t put this book down!”
– New York Times Bestselling Author Gena Showalter

"Dreams, reality and virtual reality collide in Mancusi’s exciting and frightening new futuristic thriller.”
- Romantic Times Magazine 4 Star Review

"An enthralling combination of The Matrix and Snow Crash with a bit of Blade Runner thrown into the mix.”
- SF Scope

Website http://www.mariannemancusi.com

RWA Fun

I've been smothering in deadlines, so I'm in hibernation but when I saw this funny pic of Kristin and me posted on the RWA website from our St. Martin's signing I had to pass it along to y'all. I (we) did have an excellent time at the convention - LOVED The Craft restaurant in the Dallas W Hotel so much that I'm taking Kristin back over the weekend of her 21st birthday in November. It was wonderful to see my author friends, editors, my amazing agent, and Smart Bitches Sarah and Candy!

More when I crawl out of my Goddess Summoning Book hole. Oh, the working title of this one is ALMOST A HERO. BIG cover change to reflect the title change. I can't wait to see what Berkley comes up with. You know I have excellent cover chi!

Off to Dallas!

I'm taking off for RWA Nationals in Dallas tomorrow. Sadly, I won't be at the literacy signing Wed. as a participant, but if I make it down it time I'll definitely be there as a consumer, which will actually be a fun change for me! I will be signing at the Berkley giveaway Friday, at the Frisco Barnes & Noble Saturday from 11:00-1:00, and then Kristin is flying down to join me at the St. Martin's giveaway on Saturday. If you're looking for me, check out the bar...

Hope to see y'all there!