TwoLipsReviews.com - May Author News & Contests!

AUTHORS! Do you have some exciting news to share with readers? Do you have an appearance or book signing coming up? If you have any news you'd like to add to this page, please email it to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it no later than the 25th of the current month for the following month. We do NOT announce book releases on this page as we have ad space available for that purpose. Please email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for our advertising price list.



The Agatha Awards will be handed out during Malice Domestice May 3 through May 5, with the winners announced on May 4. Here are the 2012 nominees:
Best Novel:
The Diva Digs Up the Dirt by Krista Davis
A Fatal Winter by G.M. Malliet
The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Best First Novel:
Lowcountry Boil by Susan M. Boyer
Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown
A Scrapbook of Secrets by Mollie Cox Bryan
A Killer Read by Erika Chase
Faithful Unto Death by Stephanie Jaye Evans
Best Non-fiction:
Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels by John Connolly/Declan Burke
Blood Relations: The Selected Letters of Ellery Queen, 1947-1950 by Joseph Goodrich, Editor
More Forensics and Fiction: Crime Writers Morbidly Curious Questions Expertly Answered by D.P. Lyle
Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies by Ben Macintyre
The Grand Tour: Around the World with the Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie by Mathew Prichard, Editor
Best Short Story:
"Mischief in Mesopotamia" (PDF) by Dana Cameron (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Nov. 2012)
"Kept in the Dark" by Sheila Connolly (Best New England Crime Stories 2013: Blood Moon Anthology)
"The Lord is My Shamus" by Barb Goffman (Chesapeake Crimes: This Job is Murder)
"Thea's First Husband" by B.K. Stevens (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2012)
"When Duty Calls" by Art Taylor (Chesapeake Crimes: This Job is Murder)
Best Children's/Young Adult Novel:
Seconds Away by Harlan Coben
The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
The Code Busters Club, Case #2: The Haunted Lighthouse by Penny Warner
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Best Historical Novel:
The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for Murder by Catriona McPherson
Murder on Fifth Avenue by Victoria Thompson
An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
Maggie Shayne: Maggie be awarded her second Career Achievement Award from the RT Book Reviews Magazine. Congratulations Maggie!
Future Conferences:
June
Lori Foster's Readers & Authors Get Together is June 6 to June 9. This great event always sells out fast. If you'd like to attend, please click here for more information.
Romfest is June 19 through June 23 in Gatlinburg, TN. Please click here to learn more.
RomCon is June 21 through June 23 in Colorado Springs, Co. For more information, please click here.
LD-Con-SF is June 21 through June 23 in San Francisco, CA. This conference is for fans of Donna Grant and Lisa Renee Jones. You can click here to learn more.
Erin McCarthy's Speed Reader Weekend is June 28 through June 30 in Sandusky, OH. Find out how you can head to the races and spend a day at Cedar Point by clicking here.
July
RWA Romance Writers of America 33^rd Annual Conference is July 17 through July 21 in Atlanta, GA. Please click here for more information.
August
RNC's First Annual Romance Novel Convention is August 7 through August 11 in Las Vegas, NV. Please click here to go to the website.
Authors After Dark Reader Event is August 15 through August 18 in Savannah, GA. You can learn more by clicking here.
The Naughty Mafia Rocks Vegas is August 16 through August 20 in Las Vegas, NV. Please click here to find out more.


I can't believe it's time again for the RT Convention. This year the dates are May 1 through May 5 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, 2345 McGee St., Kansas City, MO. The giant book fair which is open to the public for a $5 fee, is Saturday May 4 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Some of the authors attending this year are:
Jus Accardo
CH Admirand-panelist on the Graphic Novel Panel, Hosted Author at the Cowboy Corral, Afternoon Delight Bookseller
Vivan Arend
Maya Banks
Dana Marie Bell
Shayla Black
Dee Brice
Monica Burns
Jaci Burton
Shannon K Butcher
Rhian Cahill
SL Carpenter
Mari Carr
Robin Carr
Sylvia Day
Jess Dee
Nikki Duncan
Donna Grant
Rachel Harris
Lillian Hart
Lorraine Heath-May 4 booksigning
Sara Humphreys
Alexandra Ivy
Julie James
Cat Johnson
Lisa Renee Jones
Sahara Kelly
Kieran Kramer
Jade Lee
Lora Leigh
Heather Long
Lynn Lorenz
Shawntelle Madison
Mia Marlowe-Undressing the Hero Workshop
Kallypso Masters
Cathy Maxwell
Erin McCarthy
Killian McRae
Ranae Rose
Jayne Rylon
Leia Shaw
Heather Snow
Kerrelyn Sparks
Shiloh Walker-Bookfair
Beth Williamson/Emma Lang
Rebecca Zanetti
Wednesday May 1 through Friday May 3, Florida Library Association Annual Conference, Hilton Orlando, 6001 Destination Pkwy, Orlando, FL Wednesday, 11:30 am – 12:30 am, New Possibilities in Publishing with authors Sandra Balzo, Nancy J. Cohen, Patrick Kendrick, Ron Farrington Sharp and Elaine Viets. Location: Lake Concord Room
Malice Domestic, Friday May 3 through Sunday May 5, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, One Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD. Winners of the Agatha Awards will be announced at the Awards Banquet on Saturday May 4. The following mystery authors will be attending, just to name a few:
Gloria Alden
Connie Archer
Deborah Blum
Rhys Bowen
Frances Brody
Ellen Byerrum
JoAnna Carl
Ann Cleeves
Krista Davis
Stephanie Jaye Evans
Earlene Fowler
Kaye George
Barbara Graham
Judy Hogan
Norma Huss
James M.Jackson
Tammy Kaehler
Vivian Lawry
Mollie MacRae
Arlene McFarlane
Carolyn Mulford
Monica Faeth Myers
Anita Page
Lynne Raimondo
Barbara Ross
Mary Saums
Maggie Sefton
Rochelle Staab
Denise Swanson
Victoria Thompson
Penny Warner
Lois Winston
Sheila York
DFW Writers Conference is Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5 at the Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst, TX. (817)581-0044. Please click here for more information. A small list of authors who are holding workshops:
Angeline Hawkes
Diane Kelly will be holding two workshops.
Roni Loren will be holding two workshops.
Jenny Martin
BEA (Bookexpo America), Javits Center, 655 W 34th St., New York, NY. Wednesday May 29 CIROBE Remainders & Sidelines Pavillion Open Early, Thursday May 30 through Sat June 1 All BEA exhibits open. For more information about the expo, please click here. A small list of authors who will be attending:
Sylvia Day
Lisa Renee Jones:
Sara Humphreys: signing at the RWA booth
Lori Handeland: signing time, Friday May 31, 9:00am to 10:00a
Joanne Rock

Jus Accardo: May 18, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Jus will be at Anderson's Book Shop, 96 Chatsworth Ave., Larchmont, NY. (914)834-6900.

Nancy J. Cohen: Friday, May 17, 12:00pm, Nancy will be at the Broward County Library Association Luncheon, Fra Diavolo, 5444 N. University Dr., Lauderhill, FL (954)746-3132.

Lorraine Heath: Saturday, May 11, 2:00 to 4:00pm, Lorraine will be at Katy Budget Books, 2450 Fry Rd., Houston, TX. (281(578-7770.
Laura Kaye: Saturday, May 18, 9:00am to 6:00pm, Laura will be attending the First Annual Frederick Book Festival, at the E-ventplex at the Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E Patrick St., Frederick, MD. This event is free for the public, but there will be plenty of books available for purchase. To find out more about this event, please click here.

Wednesday, May 22, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, Laura will be at Chocolate and Romance 101 at the Arbutus Public Library, 855 Sulphur Spring Rd., Arbutus, MD.
Lora Leigh: Saturday May 18, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, Lora will be hosting The Wicked Readers On Sinful Saturday Book Discussion Group at 61 Baltimore St, Cumberland, MD. The guest author is Shayla Black and there will be a reading from one of Shayla's new books. There will also be a couple of raffles. Lora and Shayla will be doing a book signing after the book club meeting. Please RSVP by May 15 to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .
Cathy Maxwell: Saturday May 11, at 2:00pm, Cathy will be touring with her good friends Elizabeth Boyle and Lorraine Heath at the following locations: Katy Budget Books, 2450 Fry Rd., Houston, TX.
Tuesday May 14, at 6:00pm Fountain Books, 1312 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA.
Wednesday May 15, at 7:00pm, with special guest Toni Blake, Joseph Beth Booksellers, 2785 Dixie Hwy., Crestview Hills, KY.
Veronica Moreau: Saturday May 25, 3:00pm to 6:00pm, Veronica will be signing books with Melissa Foster at Beans In The Belfry, 122 W. Potomac St., Brunswick, MD. (301) 834-7278.
Ranae Rose: Saturday, May 18, Ranae is sharing an exclusive tent with Carrie Ann Ryan, Veronica Moreau, and Gabrielle Bisset at the Frederick Book Festival at the E-ventplex at the Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E Patrick St., Frederick, MD. This event is free for the public, but there will be plenty of books available for purchase. To find out more about this event, please click here. If you want to know more about each author, just click on their name.
Denise Swanson: Sunday May 5, at 7:00pm, Denise is one of Five Deadly Dames who will present a program and sign books at the Eastport Yacht Club, 317 First St., Annapolis, MD. The ladies will be discussing their latest mystery novels and answer questions o writing, agents, publishing, promotion and whatever else might be on the audience's mind. Books will be available for signing. For more information, please click here. The other Deadly Dames are:
Frances Brody
Ann Cleeves
Marcia Talley
Elaine Viets
Monday May 6, is the 18^th annual Festival of Mystery is hosted by Mystery Lovers Bookstore, and will be held at the Greek Orthodox Church, 12 Washington St., Oakmont, PA. Tickets to the festival are available in advance for $8, or at the door for $9. Tickets can be purchased online. The doors open at 4:00pm and the program will be begin at 5:00pm. A partial list of authors attending:
Heather Blake
Frances Brody
Erika Chase
Shelia Connolly
Deborah Coonts
Lila Dare
Anne Faigen
Kathleen George
Tammy Kaehler
Mary Jane Maffini
Daniel Palmer
Marcia Talley
Victoria Thompson
Lou Vitti
Lois Watson

AUTHOR CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS


Who's Your Wicked Lover? Giveaway hop is May 7 through May 12 and will feature Shayla Black. You can win a Kindle Fire HD 7". Looks like a great hop, please click here to start hopping.

Wet and Wild, May 20 through May 25. Gotta love a hop with a catchy name like that. :)
Over 150 stops on this hop! Grand prize is a $100 gift card to Victoria Secret, there is also a secondary prize. Each stop will also be offering a prize to one commenter, so there are a lot of chances to win.
Books to Go Now Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop is May 22 to May 29 with over 75 blogs participating. Grand prize is a Kindle Fire, 2^nd prize is a $100 gift card to Amazon.
Blog Tours:
Heidi Lynn Anderson: Maggie's Desire May 4 through May 30
Nancy J Cohen: Warrior Rogue May 6 through May 20.
A M Griffin: Dangerously Yours Scavenger Hunt May 24 through June 21
Desiree Holt: Buck Naked Blog Tour May 4 through May 10
Kim Beyer-Johnson: Exile May 10 through May 31
J Annas Walker: Scion's Avalon May 23 through June 7

Nancy J Cohen: Nancy is having a Release Day Contest April 26 through May 24. You can help Nancy celebrate the official release of Warrior Rogue and enter to win a hand-made Troll figurine from Trolls of Norway. Two runners-up will each receive a signed copy of “Wicked” Women Whodunit. To enter the contest, please click here to go to Nancy's website.
Bonus Subscriber Drawing! As a bonus for her loyal newsletter subscribers, authors Karla Darcy, Linda Hubalek, Terry Odell, and Maggie Toussaint are each offering a free Ebook to one lucky winner. In addition, Nancy is contributing a stack of gently read trade paperbacks. You can click here to sign up for Nancy's newsletter and here to enter the contest, April 26 through May 19.