Dear Readers:

Welcome to the second SOS Newsletter! Are you ready for the summer?

1. Write to a Soldier: In our last newsletter, I asked you to consider “adopting soldiers” who are not receiving mail. Thanks to the 10 readers who volunteered – any feedback? However, there are still more soldiers on my list. To write to a soldier, reply to this email and let me know if you prefer a man or woman. I’ll send you a name and address. All you have to do is write to him or her!

2. The Right Stuff: In our last newsletter, I asked what was the connection between the hero in Lori Wilde’s April release, The Right Stuff, to a book by the same name. In Lori’s book, the hero is an Air Force doctor who supports astronaut training. In 1979, Tom Wolfe published The Right Stuff about military pilots training to be astronauts. So the connection is military personnel supporting the astronaut program. Isabella from Tampa won a copy of Lori’s book.

3. RomVets: In our last newsletter, I asked readers to idenfity which RomVets attended RT. RomVets are military veterans who are romance writers. Check out their website, www.romvets.com for a complete roster of published and aspiring authors. I talked to the following RomVets at RT:
- Lori Avocato, www.loriavocato.com (USAF)
- Sylvia Day, www.sylviaday.com (USA)
- Cindy Dees, www.cindydees.com (USAF)
- Delilah Devlin, www.delilahdevlin.com (USA)
- Larissa Ione, www.larissaione.com (USN)
- Elle James, www.ellejames.com (USAF)
- Cathy Maxwell, www.cathymaxwell.com (USN)

In fact, it was RT/2002 where a group of military veterans gathered for a drink and launched the RomVets. The RomVets are proud to support another colloberation - the Time Raiders!

Journey back with us to different times and different cultures as our heroes and heroines race to uncover sections of a medallion that, when pieced together, could save Earth from subjugation by starship navigators from the Centaurian galaxy. Don’t miss these thrilling novels, coming August, September, October and November of 2009!
The Seeker by Lindsay McKenna
The Slayer by Cindy Dees
The Avenger by PC Cast
The Protector by Merline Lovelace

I look forward to these exciting releases (perhaps I’ll give them away in upcoming SOS newsletters).

4. Operation: L.O.V.E.: I recently attended a military spouses’ luncheon featuring romance authors. It was my distinct pleasure to meet the authors of the new anthology, Operation: L.O.V.E. (Locate, Observe, Vector, and Encounter):
- CH Admirand, www.chadmirand.com, “So Others Might Live” (USCG)
- DC Devane, www.dcdevane.com, “B&B Bivouac” (USAF)
- Lindsay Downs, www.lindsaydowns.com, “Angel from Above” (USA)
- Anne Elizabeth, www.anneelizabeth.net, “Funny Bone” (USN)
- Tara Nina, www.taranina.com, “Mission: Devil Dog” (USMC)

Drawing upon their personal connection to military families, each author wrote a sweet story about “special operations” within the five services. A portion of the proceeds is being donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, www.specialops.org.

In honor of Operation: L.O.V.E., I am giving away an autographed copy of the book plus a special T-shirt by random drawing. To enter the drawing, rely to this email with the subject line, “Operation L.O.V.E. drawing”. I will pull the winning name on July 1.

5. RWA Literacy Book signing: The Romance Writers of America (RWA) National Convention is coming to the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. RWA hosts its annual Literacy Book signing on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Many of your favorite authors, including the RomVets and authors of Operation L.O.V.E., will participate, www.rwanational.org/cs/literacy_autographing.

6. Happy Birthday, United States Army! The Army celebrated its 232nd birthday on Sunday, June 14, as known as Flag Day. To extend the celebration, I am giving away 10 books from an Army spouse, NY Times’ best-selling author Bertrice Small, www.bertricesmall.com. Bertrice’s beloved husband, George Small, served as radio operator in Rheims, France during WWII. George attended last year’s SOS Military Tribute in his original Army uniform.

7. Giveaway summary:
a. To enter the random drawing for the Operation: L.O.V.E.. book and T-shirt, reply to this email with the subject line, “Operation L.O.V.E. drawing.” I will draw the winning name on July 1.

b. To enter drawing for a Bertrice Small book, reply to this email with your top three preferences of the following books:

- A Dangerous Love (trade size)
- Bedazzled (trade size)
- Rosamund (trade size)
- The Captive Heart (trade size)
- Until You (trade size)
- Phillipa (mass market size)
- The Sorceress of Belmair (mass market size)
- The Twilight Lord (mass market size)

I will draw 10 names, one name at a time, and fulfill preferences as best I can.

Enjoy the summer, especially the Fourth of July! Thank a soldier for the freedom we celebrate on our Independence Day!

Kim Adams
SOS Military Liaison