The Samhellion/Samhain Publishing! Samhain Publishing opened its virtual doors in November 2005 and since then they've been featured in Publisher's Weekly, RT BookClub and various other publications. they're in the top ten list of Amazon's Bestselling Kindle Publishers and on the Ingrams Publisher Services best selling list. Samhain was founded with a goal of bringing to compulsive readers books that allow them to discover new worlds and be taken on adventures through the creative minds of today’s brightest authors. For more information, visit http://www.thesamhellion.com/.

Mary Jo Putney! Since 1987, Mary Jo Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year's top five romances by The Library Journal. A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. For more information, visit http://www.maryjoputney.com.

Sandra Hill! Sandra Hill is known for her Viking books, her Cajun books and her Jinx series. When anyone asks about her novels, she always says that, if nothing else, they will make you laugh out loud...and maybe sizzle a bit. Sandra Hill has won numerous awards for her writing, both as an aspiring writer and as a published author. Several of her books have been on the USA Today, Waldenbooks and New York Times bestseller lists. Three of her books were recommended reads on Amazon.com, and one of them, Sweeter Savage Love, was listed as one of their Top Ten Romance Novels for 1997. More recently, Wet and Wild was a RITA^® Finalist, and Hot and Heavy won a 2006 PRISM for best time travel. She has also won a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times magazine. For more information, visit http://www.sandrahill.net.

Candice Poarch! Candice Poarch is a multi-published author of both romance and romantic suspense. She takes pride in crafting believable stories centered around families in all their eccentric dimensions. Her central characters explore their most intimate feelings. Her new Kimani title, LOVING SPOONFUL, is on the bookshelves now! Look for her two new titles in 2010. SAFE IN HIS EMBRACE, the third book in her donor father series, will be available January 2010. You can still get the first two titles in this series: HIS TEMPEST(June 07) and THEN COMES LOVE (Sept. 07). The third book in her "Quest for the Golden Bowl" series is still untitled, but will be published in July 2010, just in time for the beach. For more information, visit http://www.candicepoarch.com.

C J Lyons! Trained in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, CJ Lyons has assisted police and prosecutors with cases involving child abuse, rape, homicide and Munchausen by Proxy. She has worked in numerous trauma centers, on the Navajo reservation, as a crisis counselor, victim advocate, as well as a flight physician for Life Flight and Stat Medevac. Her medical suspense novel, LIFELINES, debuted from Berkley March, 2008 and became a national bestseller. Publishers Weekly called LIFELINES a "spot-on debut...a breathtakingly fast-paced medical thriller" and Romantic Times gave it 4 1/2 stars and made it a Top Pick. LIFELINES received rave reviews from national press including Newsday, the Baltimore Sun, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as well as winning the Love is Murder's Readers' Choice Award for Best First Novel. The second in the Angels of Mercy series, WARNING SIGNS, was released January, 2009 and the third book, URGENT CARE will be out October 27, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.cjlyons.net.

Marliss Melton! Marliss Melton wrote throughout her twenties and early thirties, completing more manuscripts, getting really serious with agents and publishers, etc. DANGER'S PROMISE, a medieval romance, was published in 2002, becoming a RITA finalist for Best First Book. Since then, she's written ten books (some waiting to be released) and she's branched into romantic suspense featuring Navy SEALs. (Her husband is a Navy veteran, making military romance a natural fit.) For more information, visit http://www.marlissmelton.com.

Shayla Black! Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the national bestselling author of 25+ sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances for multiple print and electronic publishers. Shayla has won or placed in over a dozen writing contests, including Passionate Ink's Passionate Plume, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader's Choice Awards. Romantic Times has awarded her Top Picks, a KISS Hero Award and a nomination for Best Erotic Romance of 2007. The latest in her popular Doomsday Brethren series will be available in October, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.shaylablack.com.

Karen Kendall! Karen Kendall was first published in 2001 and has gone on to write over 20 novels. Since then her books have garnered top reviews and several awards, including the Book Buyer's Best, Write Touch, Maggie and Romantic Times magazine's Top Pick and Reviewer's Choice. The latest book in her Take Me series, TAKE ME TWO TIMES, is available April 7. 2009. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.karenkendall.com.

Joy Nash! Joy Nash loves to write her dreams — and sometimes, her nightmares! As a child, Joy loved books and harbored a secret desire to be a writer. She became an architect instead. Years later, giving birth to three children in less than four years caused something in her brain to snap. Now she creates buildings and romance novels. The latest book in her Immortals series, IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING, is in stores now. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.joynash.com.

Lori Handeland! Lori Handeland has written over forty novels, novellas and short stories in several genres—historical, contemporary, series and paranormal romance, as well as urban fantasy. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Waldenbooks and Bookscan Bestselling Author and the recipient of many industry awards, including two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America and a Romantic Times Award. Lori's popular Urban Fantasy series — The Phoenix Chronicles continues in May with the release of DOOMSDAY CAN WAIT, followed by APOCALYPSE HAPPENS later this year. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.lorihandeland.com.

Deanne Raybourn! "Sex, lies and awesome clothing descriptions" is how one reader described Deanna's debut novel, SILENT IN THE GRAVE, published in January 2007. The first in the Silent series, the book follows Lady Julia Grey as she investigates the mysterious death of her husband with the help of the enigmatic private inquiry agent Nicholas Brisbane. It culminates, for now, with SILENT ON THE MOOR (March 2009). Deanna's novel SILENT IN THE GRAVE won the 2008 RITA^® Award for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.deannaraybourn.com.

Dara Girard! Dara Girard is a multi-published author, speaker, and publisher willing to talk about all aspects of the publishing industry. After many novels in various sub-genres from contemporary to paranormal romance and a non-fiction book for writers called, The Writer Behind the Words: Steps to Success in the Writing Life, Ms. Girard continues to win readers with each new book. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.daragirard.com.

Carly Phillips! In addition to being a Publishers' Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestselling author, Carly's books have scored the number one slots on Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com, and tied for the #4 slot on the prestigious New York Times list with romance mega-star Nora Roberts. Carly has received a variety of awards, including: the Waldenbooks Bestselling Author Award, Oklahoma RWA National Readers' Choice Award, Virginia RWA's Holt Medallion Award, the Greater Detroit RWA Booksellers' Best and the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.carlyphillips.com.

Lisa Hendrix! Lisa Hendrix has six published books under her belt and is now working on an extended series about a crew of cursed Viking raiders. The first, IMMORTAL WARRIOR, was published by Berkley in November 2008, and the second, IMMORTAL OUTLAW is coming in June 2009. For excerpts, contests and more, visit http://www.lisahendrix.com.

Raz Steel! Raz Steel has been a storyteller his entire life, Raz has finally decided to put stories to paper. He's a pilot, a teacher, a recycler, and a dad. He holds a degree in Philosophy from Lafayette College and currently resides in Pennsylvania. LOVE WITHOUT BLOOD, a vampire romance, is his first major publication. Visit Raz's website at http://www.razsteel.com.