Dark Nights, Bright Lights

Welcome to the Time Of Shadows on Title Magic

Time of shadows was apparently an old Celtic name for the time between Halloween and the winter solstice. I think it's a great title for a book, and if anyone pinches it I will hunt you down.

It's anything but shadowy here on TM at present, because we are pushing the dark nights away with some American Title magic. American Title V. You've met four of this year's finalists - Tamara, Barbara, Edie and Qaey. Next week say hello to Marie Claude, Jessica, Michelle - oh, and me. I'll be talking to Mel on Thursday about ATV and UK author Giselle Green on Friday about starry stuff - using the zodiac to help create your characters.

And that leads me straight into STAR - Launching a Star, which is the contest of the SpacecoasT Authors of Romance. That contest has a special place in the hearts of the Title Magicians as it's the one that launched Anitra into gaining an agent and a three book contract.

The superwoman who does the co-ordinating for the contest, Lee Duncan, blogged with us in May, talking about the competition and the fun, and hard work, she has when pulling it all together. Lee's blog and Anitra's success inspired me to have a go. I have to say Lee is a smashing lady who helped me get my entry emailed in good order, during the hurricane season. We exchanged emails in amongst her picking up large bits of tree from her garden.

Then, this week I got the call - at least my Mum, who was staying with me at the time, got it, but that is completely another story. I've made it to the final, with Out of Sight, Out of Mind, which was the paranormal romantic suspense that finaled in last year's American Title. So fingers, toes, eyes crossed that something good may happen.

Voting in American Title V is just over a week away. The schedule runs from mid November to mid March. There are only 8 contestants this year, so the first two eliminations will be one person only. That will be hard, because when there are two of you it doesn't feel quite so bad. Whatever you do, don't forget to visit the RT site after 10 November to see the entries, and please remember to vote, and keep voting.