MAY
2011

Greetings From Rochelle

Happy Mother’s Day!

Remember, you do not have to give birth to be a mother. Mother are the ones who dry your tears, pick you up when you fall, support you through every adversity and love you unconditionally.

I just returned from Baltimore and Slam Jam’s Sweet Sixteen celebration. And, I’m here to say the girl is really growing up. In another two years she will be grown and very sexy. Adrianne Byrd was a dynamic keynote speaker who was not only profound but also quite entertaining. To say a good time was had by all is an understatement.

The 60s and 70s party really took me back – back to a time where things were really changing so fast it was difficult to keep track of what was happening. Personally I feel the music, and the editors of Rolling Stone magazine also agree that the music from the 70s is the best since the advent of recorded music. The Afros, miniskirts, bellbottoms, platform shoes, Afro picks, love beads, headbands and the Soul Train line were so authentic it was as if we were time travelers.

The 2011 Emma awards winners were more than deserving of the honors:

Best Cover – Recipe For Temptation – Maureen Smith
Best Inspirational – Still Guilty – Pat Simmons
Best Romantic Suspense – Like No One Else – Maureen Smith
Best Steamy Romance – Recipe For Temptation – Maureen Smith
Best Sequel – Love Me Now – Celeste O. Norfleet
Favorite Hero – Trey Evens – Love Me Now – Celeste O. Norfleet
Favorite Heroine – Natalia Coles – Cross My Heart – Celeste O. Norfleet
Best Romance of the Year – Sing Your Pleasure – A.C. Arthur
Debut Author of the Year – Rhonda McKnight
Author of the Year – Maureen Smith


Even aspiring authors were given the opportunity to showcase their talent. Contest winners are:

1st place: Crazy In Love – Bridget Midway
2nd place: The Winged Serpent – Tiffany Howard
3rd place: The Heat Between Us – Roben Rasheed-Hernandez
4th place: Trust Fall – Savannah Frierson

If you haven’t read these authors, please pick up the aforementioned titles to see why they are winners and reader favorites. This month we observe and celebrate: older Americans, BBQ, national book month, skin cancer awareness, get caught reading, better hearing and speech, better sleep and national family month.

For those of you who have asked for my earlier titles in an electronic format, it is happening as you read. I have hired someone who is an expert in electronic publishing, so all of my backlist will eventually become available for your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader and iPad.

I’m a little late announcing the winners of the Here I Am contest. The odds were even greater because there are more than 700 entries.

1st place: Evelyn McKinnon
2nd place: Mary Felder
3rd place: Vanessa Riggins

Congratulations! Please email your home address and I’ll send you your prizes.

Until next month … don’t forget to read, love and live romance.

Words to the Wise

The man who has no imagination has no wings. – Muhammad Ali

In This Issue

1) Words to the Wise
2) Cooks Corner
3) Reader Spotlight
4) Love Notes
5) Happy Birthday
6) Coming Up

Cooks Corner

The following is an email from Andrea McLemore who actually tried one of the recipes from Cooks Corner:

Greeting Ms. Alers,

I just want you to know how much I enjoy your books. I just finished Here I Am and have Harvest Moon waiting in the wings. I just wanted to let you know that I tried the Shrimp and Grits recipe on my family yesterday morning and it was delicious. Thanks for including it in your newsletter - I had been craving it since I read about it in one of your books and it did not disappoint! Thanks for many hours of enjoyable reading (and now it seems...eating LOL). Andrea

Happy Birthday

To all my readers born in the month of May. Below are some notable celebrities who celebrate their birthday as well.

Kimora Lee Simmons – 5/4
Katherine Jackson – 5/4
Judith Jamison – 5/10
Billy Joel – 5/9
Bono – 5/10
Lauryn Hill – 5/25
Manny Ramirez – 5/30

Reader Spotlight - Beverly Walker

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. (Nothing too personal)

am one of 12 other siblings who are blessed with an awesome father and the coolest mother ever. I love to READ, taking long walks (even in the rain), family-time, church, dancing and event planning.

2. What is your favorite Rochelle Alers' book and why?

3. How has reading romance changed your life?

Reading romance novels relaxes me and helps me to unwind after a long day or trying situation. I also gives readers the idea of anything is possible. The ideas for storylines has to reflect life to some degree.