Guest Blogger: Caridad Pineiro

Another year at RT and it’s great to be around old friends and make new ones in Pittsburgh! It’s always interesting to talk to everyone about what’s happening in their lives, how their bookstores are doing or what’s new with their latest novel. I guess that’s the thing I love most about RT - that even though there are published authors, pre-published authors, readers or booksellers, we all have one big thing in common – WE LOVE BOOKS! In particular, we all love romance!

So for the last two days, I’ve been catching up on what’s new with everyone and sharing my good news with them. What news? Well, MORE THAN A MISSION came out as a way cool Manga book in Japan recently. THE CALLING vampire series will be continuing in late Spring 2009 from Silhouette Nocturne and wait . . . Totally exciting for me is another Silhouette Romantic Suspense – A COWBOY’S SECRET CHILD in December ’08 -- and a new sale to Grand Central Publishing for the start of a paranormal romantic suspense series that will be published in 2010. TAINTED BLOOD is about a cancer victim who undergoes radical gene therapy and finds herself gaining inhuman powers and accused of a murder she didn’t commit. Did I mention that the bounty hunter sent to find her is totally hot and doesn’t know how to deal with a woman who might be able to kick his butt?

I think I might have even found the perfect model for that bounty hunter – Big John Fish who is one of the cover models shooting for the title of Mr. Romance. Big John – and yes, he is an incredibly tall and well-built man – is about as handsome as they come and has great dimples when he smiles! If you check out my blog at www.caridad.com next week, I’ll have some pictures of him dancing with me as well as some awesome eharlequin.com mouse pads to give out as prizes for visitors. The mouse pad is quite eye-catching and you may want to Super Glue it to your desk so it doesn’t disappear.

When I’m not busy tripping the light fantastic on the dance floor, I’ve been doing some great workshops. I’ve had the opportunity to meet LA Banks, Kim Harrison, Michele Bardsley, Mary Janice Davidson, Rosemary Laurey and Heather Graham. We’ve been doing a series of workshops about the state of the vampire romance genre and it’s been exciting to hear that we all believe that there’s still a lot of life in our undead friends.

After the panels, it’s time to hang out and head to one of the great costume theme parties that RT puts on for the many attendees. The first night there was a glam Hollywood party hosted by Ellora’s Cave (where I danced with Big John). Tonight there’s a Faery Ball, followed tomorrow by the Undersea Ball. Of course, my favorite one is Heather Graham’s Vampire ball, duh! I just love vamps of any kind and it’s great to see people get into the immortal spirit of things.

What do I wear to the costume parties? I must confess to being a lurker since I’m really kind of shy and can’t muster the courage to dress up. Maybe next year!

If you haven’t been to the RT Convention, I hope you’ll come join all us romance book lovers next year in Orlando. Come talk, party and pick up all the free books and other goodies available. If you want to come visit with me before then, just drop on by at either www.caridad.com or www.thecallingvampirenovels.com and send me an e-mail. I love hearing from you guys!

Caridad