whoa! I came across the notice in the Publishers Marketplace Newsletter. I depend on fellow authors and certain websites to warn me away from shady predators. But this lady fought back!

Literary Agent Sues Sites for Ruining Her Reputation
By Lynn Andriani
Literary agent Barbara Bauer is suing 19 bloggers and websites, including Wikipedia, YouTube and AbsoluteWrite.com, claiming they are ruining her reputation, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported yesterday. Online critics call Bauer one of publishing’s “20 Worst Literary Agents,” claiming she charges clients high fees for little work, and is a “scam agent.” Bauer did not return PW’s calls for comment.

Book Roast is a fun way to find out more about authors and their books. Each week, BookRoast cooks up five authors from different genres. Stop by to hear about their books, jump in the oven and poke them with a meat thermometer to see if they’re done.

In today’s world, we love our computers and Internet, and at the same time, are slightly paranoid. As writers that’s the stuff we love; it has all the makings of a good and juicy plot. Here’s one example of an author who made a success of it.

 Reality:

Cyber-terrorismcan have a serious large-scale influence on significant numbers of people. It can weaken countries’ economy greatly, thereby stripping it of its resources and making it more vulnerable to military attack.Cyber-terror can also affect Internet-based businesses. They cannot afford to lose money in the event of downtime created by cyber criminals. As Internet-businesses have increasing economic importance to countries, what is normally cybercrime becomes more political and therefore “terror” related.

Bureaucracy has created the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). This is a bipartisan organization of legislators and their staff created to help policymakers of all 50 states address issues such as those affecting the economy or homeland security by providing them with a forum for exchanging ideas, sharing research and obtaining technical assistance. This is how they define Cyber-terrorism:

The use of information technology by terrorist groups and individuals to further their agenda. This can include use of information technology to organize and execute attacks against networks, computer systems and telecommunications infrastructures, or for exchanging information or making threats electronically. Examples are hacking into computer systems, introducing viruses to vulnerable networks, web site defacing, denial-of-service attacks, or terroristic threats made via electronic communication.[2]

Fiction

The book title: Daemon

Author: Leinad Zeraus (aka database consultant Daniel Suarez)

Genre: Thriller

Originally self-published, “the story of a terminally ill game designer who unleashes a diabolical, self-replicating Web entity that enlists disaffected Netizens in its mission to destroy civilization,” has been sold to Ben Sevier at Dutton, in a major deal. A separate film deal will be announced shortly.

The story is about:

Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer – the architect behind half dozen popular online games. His premature death from brain cancer depressed both gamers and his company’s stock price. But Sobol’s fans weren’t the only ones to note his passing. He left behind something that was scanning Internet obituaries, too – something that put in motion a whole series of programs upon his death. Programs that moved money. Programs that recruited people. Programs that killed.

Confronted with a killer from beyond the grave, Detective Peter Sebeck comes face-to-face with the full implications of our increasingly complex and interconnected world– one where the dead can read headlines, steal identities, and carry out far-reaching plans without fear of retribution. Sebeck must find away to stop Sobol’s web of programs – his Daemon – before it achieves its ultimate purpose. And to do so, he must uncover what that purpose is . . .

It all begins when one man’s obituary appears online. . .

Wed April 30
Day one of the Romance Slam Jam in Chicago.

I’ve only recently become a comfortable flyer. This flight didn’t make me freak out once more. It was smooth and only two hours long in a direct flight. Southwest, thank you!

The seating was a bit filled, and I sat next to the nicest man on his way to Chicago for a day’s business. He loves romance writing! There are actually quite a few men who enjoy romance writing and aren’t ashamed to admit it. He was fascinated with the idea of a conference for readers to meet their favorite authors of multi-cultural fiction. He was also interested in my work. Glenn, I hope you aren’t disappointed when you read my books.

From Midway airport, I took a shuttle to O’Hare and from there a free shuttle to the hotel. The shuttle was the beginning of the fun and camaraderie of the conference. There were several authors on the shuttle. One guy. Everyone who came on greeted him by name. “Hi, Wayne!” It was like Norm on Cheers. Male romance writers are scarce. And one as nice and prolific as Wayne Jordan is even rarer. There were also a couple of readers, clearly excited to be with their favorite authors. Hi, Harriet! She spent some time with me and my friends quite a bit.

The Wyndham was beautiful and the staff excellent. The whole stay was outstanding as far as maid service, meals, logistics of meeting rooms etc.
The Slam Jam planning group outdid themselves and previous years in this year’s conference. Everyone I heard said so.

I arrived at the hotel to meet my friends from Virginia who had arrived the day before. They let me put down my bags and then we went sightseeing! Chicago is an exciting, dynamic city. I love big cities anyway. So much to see on the streets, places to go. We bought tickets and rode on the train, an adventure in itself for me. Then we walked. Boy, did we walk. I walked more that day than I had in the last two weeks. Chicago weather was blustery, in the 40’s and 50’s. Chilling for Virginia girls, but we were with Wayne Jordan who had come directly from Barbados and didn’t have a jacket. Our first stop was an Old Navy store where he purchased a sweat jacket. A couple of readers (one was Harriet :P) were with us- nice ladies, voracious readers. At this point they decided to split and see the Sears Tower. The rest of us went on because one of us had been told that a meal at Gino’s Pizza was a must. Wayne broke off for his own plans before we reached the Chicago Cultural Center. Impulsively, we decided to take the tour of the building that was just starting. What an impressive place with a history to fuel a writer’s imagination. I’m going to use that building as a model for one of my futuristic castles. Also you can almost feel the swirl of knowledge and exploration from those meticulously finished walls. Much of the building of the structure is a mystery but they created a priceless monument, to last and be used.

Onward to Gino’s. We got conflicting directions from almost everyone we asked, but after a stroll down the Magnificent Mile and off to other streets we found Gino’s. A little building, shadowed and busy inside with graffiti covered walls. And the pizza! Wow is all I have to say.

A book store gift certificate as well as a copy of one of my books is the prize.
What city was the setting of all of the following books: (info can be found on website www.pbdiva.com)

·         Who’s That Lady?

·         Bodyguard

·         Hand in Glove

·         Tails You Win (in the Merlicious 3 anthology) website contains adult material

In order to win, you must be a member of my newsletter loop (low volume). http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AndreaJacksonGroup/

You must be a member of the newsletter group (which has very low volume) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AndreaJacksonGroup/

It’s in Chicago this year, and I’ll be there! I hope to meet you there. Here’s a link to Slam Jam’s newsletter so that you can keep up with all the exciting events that are planned.

http://www.romanceslamjam.org/Conference/Newsletter/newsletter.htm

Last week my reading at Russell Memorial Library was a memorable experience. I’m a reluctant public speaker at best but I do love reading good books to folks.  Even if it’s my own!  I read from Bodyguard and Who’s That Lady?

There were 3 other authors in addition to me and I loved each of their readings too.

Yvette Hines read from The Marriage Clause. It’s about an arranged marriage between two wealthy, powerful families. Chantal and Stephan are so wonderful you just want them to get together ASAP! But the problems they face are real and will keep you on the edge of your seat rooting for them.

Crystal B. Bright  read from her novel Revamped. The hero is a vampire with Obsessive/ compulsive Disorder. A vampire who can’t feed because of his fear of germs! Talk about funny! He commandeers the heroines services as a therapist to help him out. But Elaine has her own problems. And she’s not about to get involved with Seth and his crazy friends. This book is hilarious as well as sexy. Yum!

Jonathan Queen’s book is called Don’t Blame Me: The Convict Chronicles. This is based on his experiences in the federal prison. He has turned his life around and now uses his many talents to help youth. This book is awesome–eye opening and inspiring. You’ve gotta read it.

All three of these books will be well worth your time. They’re all available on Amazon.com or you local bookstore. I’ve included links to their websites so you can find out more about their work.

I wonder what your opinion is?

GMI POLL: AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE STUDY

African-American Literature
When asked why more African-American authors haven’t crossed over into the mainstream, less than a third of African-American respondents said mainstream readers are the problem because most actively avoid reading books written by African-American authors. 35% of respondents said the books are the problem: African-American authors just don’t appeal to most Americans. The largest number of respondents, nearly two-thirds, said African-American authors have seen very little crossover success because the books are only marketed and distributed to an African-American audience.

 I would agree with the last statement. We just haven’t done a good job of marketing to the mainstream audience. Only a few mega-authors are known and sought out by the general reading public.

WHO READS ROMANCE?
Surveys find that :
most readers attended or graduated from college and more than half work outside the home.
Most romance fiction readers are between 31 and 40 years of age
Romance readers come from all races, all walks of life, all income levels.
About 41 million people read a romance in the past year, including 3.5 million men (about nine percent).
Seventy-seven percent of romance readers are Caucasian, 11 percent are African-American, and nine percent are Hispanic.

at Waldenbooks in Greenbrier Mall Chesapeake.  The first one to tell me they saw my announcement on the internet will get a free book!  I’d love to see all of you that can come out.

Andrea Jackson
www.pbdiva.com