This is a special edition of the SOS Newsletter in honor of our Nation’s Birthday on July 4th! To celebrate our independence, I am giving away an anthology, American Girls About Town, by Jennifer Weiner, Lauren Weisberger, Adrian Trigiania, and 14 other American women authors. See the rules for all giveaways at the end of this newsletter.

1 What is SOS? Support Our Soldiers (SOS) America Inc. is a 501(c) charity established by Kathryn Falk, Lady of Barrow, and CEO of Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine. Shortly after military personnel deployed for the War on Terror, Kathryn mobilized readers, authors, and publishers to send letters, books, and snacks to them. 8 years later, SOS also sponsors projects for wounded warriors and military families. To learn more about SOS, log onto www.sosamericainc.org.

2. Heroes Unwrapped: I salute the authors of the e-book anthology, Heroes Unwrapped, www.lindenbayromance.com/product-heroesunwrapped-106-145.html.

Linden Bay Romance donated the proceeds to SOS America Inc. The authors include:
- Under the Covers by Cat Johnson, www.catjohnson.net
- Rules of Engagement by Barri Bryan, www.barribryan.atfreeweb.com
- Baghdad Bad Boy by Marie Carroll
- Gift Exchange by Lee Rowan, www.lee-rowan.net
- The World She Wants by Denny S. Bryce, www.dennysbryce.com
- A Hero’s Welcome by Melanie Anderson, www.authormelanieanderson.com
- Come A’Courtin’ by Philippa Grey-Gerou, www.greygerou.com

Thank you for your contributions to SOS!

3. Christmas in July: Heroes Unwrapped has put me in the Holiday Spirit – so let’s celebrate Christmas in July! I am giving away holiday books from three of my favorite authors:

- Nick of Time by Elle James, www.ellejames.com
- Kansas City Christmas by Julie Miller, www.juliemiller.com
- Christmas Spirit by Rebecca York, www.rebeccayork.com

These authors generously sponsor the SOS Military Mixer at the Romantic Times’ Booklovers Extravaganza. I thank them for their early Holiday gifts to our readers! See the rules for all giveaways at the end of this newsletter.

4. Readers’ Projects to Support Military: Each month, I will spotlight readers’ projects to support military personnel and their families.

Let me know what you do so I can share it with other readers – you may inspire them!

My inspiration is Mary from St. Louis. I met Mary during the book fair at RT/Daytona in 2006. I mentioned that I was a military spouse and she asked what she could do for military personnel. I gave her a list of items requested by wounded warriors at Walter Reed – she collected the items from her office for the past three years.

Thanks, Mary, for your support of military personnel and their families!

If you are looking for ways to support the military, log onto www.ourmilitary.mil/help.shtml

5. My Move is Your Gain: You can help a military spouse – me! We are moving to Hawaii - yes, it's paradise. But the path to paradise is paved with closet cleanouts. My recent effort yielded more donations from authors, publishers, and even Borders. So let’s give some stuff away!

- Tote bag plus drink cozies from Sharon Page, www.sharonpage.com

- Tote bag from Anime authors (anime characters printed on bag)

- Drawstring bag, “Its Hot in Here”, from Samantha Kane, www.SamanthaKane.com, and Mari Freeman, www.MariFreeman.com

- From Shari Anton, www.sharianton.com
---- At Her Service (trade size hardback, autographed)
---- Midnight Magic (trade size hardback, autographed)
---- Once A Bride (trade size hardback, autographed)

- From Elizabeth Boyle, www.elizabethboyle..com
---- It Takes a Hero
---- Something About Emmaline

- From Charlaine Harris, www.charlaineharris.com
--- Dead Over Heels
--- Dead Until Dark

- From Bertrice Small, www.bertricesmall.com
---- A Dangerous Love (trade size)
---- Border Lord’s Bride (trade size)
---- Philippa

- Desperately Seeking a Duke by Celeste Bradley, www.celestebradley.com

- Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase, www.lorettachase.com

- To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt, www.elizabethhoyt.com

- Sinful Between the Sheets by Barbara Pierce, www.barbarapierce.com

- Desire by Amanda Quick, www.amandaquick.com

- Scandalous Miranda by Susan Sizemore, www.susansizemore.com

- A Historical Christmas Present – An Anthology by Lisa Kleypas, Linsay Sands, and Leigh Greenwood

See the rules for giveaways at the end of this newsletter.

6. Last month’s winners: Everyone who responded to the June newsletter won at least two books. Congratulations to Katherine in Texas and Kelly in Ohio for winning the autographed copies of Operation L.O.V.E.: A Special Ops Romance Anthology.

If you won a book, please thank the author – use Google to find the author’s website which may list the author’s email address. Authors enjoy fan mail! .

7. What’s next? I’ll publish a second newsletter on July 19 with a recap of the RWA National Convention – I’ll have more books to give away! If you live in the DC area, join 300+ of your favorite authors at the RWA “Readers for Life” Literacy Book signing on Wednesday, July 15, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. For a list of participating authors, log onto

www.rwanational.org/cs/literacy_autographing.

From the website, “This event is open to the public; there is no admittance charge. Sales of books purchased at the event go to literacy charities, and we ask that you purchase books at the autographing rather than bring copies you already own.” Let me know if you are coming and I’ll be happy to introduce you to the authors who support SOS!

8. Book Give Away: You can instantly win one item (bag or book). Send me your top three preferences and mailing address. I’ll fill the requests on a first come, first serve basis. Here’s a recap of the items available:

Sharon Page tote bag
Anime authors’ tote bag
“Its Hot in Here” drawstring bag
American Girls About Town
Nick of Time
Kansas City Christmas
Christmas Spirit
At Her Service
Midnight Magic
Once A Bride
It Takes a Hero
Something About Emmaline
Dead Over Heels
Dead Until Dark
A Dangerous Love
Border Lord’s Bride
Philippa
Desperately Seeking a Duke
Your Scandalous Ways
To Seduce a Sinner
Sinful Between the Sheets
Desire
Scandalous Miranda
A Historical Christmas Present

Happy 233rd birthday, America!

Kim Adams
SOS Military Liaison