WATERMARK: DEBUT HISTORICAL ABOUT PAPERMAKING

FROM AVON A

Online Workshop Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX (March 3, 2010) --

The introduction of papermaking into Western society was a milestone that changed the face of the world. Using her lifelong fascination with the subject, award-wining short fiction author Vanitha Sankaran depicts the tumultuous transformation of that age in her debut novel, WATERMARK, A NOVEL OF THE MIDDLE AGES, due out from Avon A on April 13, 2010.

That this debut was workshopped in NovelPro, an exclusive online forum known for launching writing careers, also bodes well. Three NovelPro authors have received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist.

It is 1320 in a small French village. Auda, the mute daughter of a papermaker, secretly finds solace and escape in the wonder of the written word.  But this is an age of the Inquisition and intolerance, when difference and defiance are punishable "sins" and new ideas are considered damnable heresy. When darkness descends upon her world, Auda—newly grown to womanhood—is forced to flee, setting off on a remarkable quest to discover love and a new sense of self, and to reclaim her heritage and the small glory of her father's art.

“Compared to parchment, paper offered a cheap means of capturing the written word,” says Ms. Sankaran.  “Suddenly, it’s not only nobles and the clergy who have access to education, and that changes the face of the world.”

New York Times bestselling author Sharon Kay Penman says, “Watermark is a powerful novel about the destructive forces unleashed by ignorance and superstition. Readers will care deeply for the courageous Auda, who finds love where she least expects it, in the shadow of the Inquisition.”  Library Journal marks the book as one that will appeal to readers of historical fiction and to bookclubs, an audience HarperCollins is also targeting for Watermark.

Books Inc in Berkeley, CA will be holding a release party at 7 pm on May 3rd.  Further details can be found at www.vanithasankaran.com

Due out from HENRY HOLT FOR YOUNG READERS on June 3, 2010 is NovelPro author Susan Coventry's debut, THE QUEEN'S DAUGHTER, which tells the story of Princess Joan, the youngest daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. Joan loves her parents, but feels like a political pawn when she is forced to choose between them. Married off to the King of Sicily, ten years her senior, but unable to forget Lord Raymond, her childhood crush, is Joan too warped by political ambition to learn who to trust and who to love?

NovelPro founder, J R Lankford adds, “I expect great things for Vanitha’s and Susan’s books, which give uniquely delightful and absorbing glimpses of history. Because talent is a prerequisite and then we focus on craft, our twelve published authors have earned high praise for their novels, and I think Vanitha and Susan will do the same. "

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THE QUEEN’S DAUGHTER & WATERMARK

DEBUT NOVELPRO HISTORICALS

Online Workshop Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX (January 5, 2010) --

On the heels of an innovative workshop’s first YA author success -- the Kirkus-starred In the Name of God, and Three Witches by Paula Jolin, both from Roaring Brook Press -- a second author's debut YA historical workshopped in NOVELPRO will be published this year by HENRY HOLT FOR YOUNG READERS.

Pre-orders are arriving at online booksellers for Susan Coventry's debut, THE QUEEN'S DAUGHTER, which tells the story of Princess Joan, the youngest daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. Joan loves her parents, but feels like a political pawn when she is forced to choose between them. Married off to the King of Sicily, ten years her senior, but unable to forget Lord Raymond, her childhood crush, is Joan too warped by political ambition to learn who to trust and who to love?

A debut also workshopped at NovelPro and due to be published in April by Avon A is WATERMARK, A NOVEL OF THE MIDDLE AGES by Vanitha Sankaran. “Watermark is a powerful novel about the destructive forces unleashed by ignorance and superstition. Readers will care deeply for the courageous Auda, who finds love where she least expects it, in the shadow of the Inquisition." (New York Times bestselling author Sharon Kay Penman)

What’s in the water at this small workshop, which at the moment has only 18 members?

Founder J R Lankford says, "Well, first, we have high admission and participation standards. Next, we've found a way for authors with a great book concept and great prose to shorten the time from first draft to a submission-ready manuscript that wows publishing professionals and avid readers alike.”

That NovelPro “way” involves thorough whole novel critiques per detailed guidelines in clinics that last from 4 to 6 weeks. Member authors submit first drafts (and revisions) and come away with comments that help them leapfrog to a quality that might not otherwise occur until a 5th, or even 20th, draft ...

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NEW YA SUCCESS FROM NOVELPRO

Workshop Launches Careers

Bellaire, TX September 20, 2008 -- A second success in the Young Adult genre has emerged from NOVELPRO, probably the best full-novel critique group on the Internet.

HENRY HOLT FOR YOUNG READERS just bought Susan Coventry's debut novel, THE QUEEN'S DAUGHTER, about Eleanor of Aquitaine’s youngest daughter, Princess Joan, who becomes first Queen of Sicily then Countess of Toulouse.  Publication is slated for the fall of 2010.

Already established as a YA author is NovelPro member Paula Jolin, whose IN THE NAME OF GOD, was published by HOLTZBRINCK'S ROARING BROOK PRESS last year and earned a starred review from KIRKUS.  Paula's THREE WITCHES is due out in the spring of 2009.

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Following are excerpts from past press releases

NOVELPRO LAUNCHES SUPER CLINIC

Workshop Jumpstarts Careers

BELLAIRE, TX FEBRUARY 28, 2008 -- The writing workshop, NOVELPRO, considered by some to be the best full-novel critique group on the Internet, today completed its first trial of a new six-week offering called the Super Clinic.

Paula Jolin, whose YA novel, IN THE NAME OF GOD, was published by Holtzbrinck's Roaring Brook Press last year and earned a starred review from KIRKUS says, "The Super Clinic was fabulous. It was an amazing experience to take an already good book and watch it, step by step, become extraordinary. I thought the interactive experience really mirrored a professional author-editor relationship." Paula's THREE WITCHES is due from Roaring Brook Press in the spring of next year.

Pat Brown, author of L.A. HEAT, participated with the first draft of her new novel, BERMUDA HEAT. "I'm loving this clinic," she said. "Not that the regular NovelPro clinic isn't head and shoulders above anyone else's critiques, but this Super Clinic is up in the stratosphere. I'm sure I'm on the right path now for my rewrites." L. A. Heat, put out by Alyson Publications, was #1 on the Amazon Gay/Lesbian Mystery Thriller list last year on its publication.

Founder J R Lankford devised the Super Clinic to go beyond the in-depth critiques for which NovelPro is known. "I wanted to offer our authors a revision process that simulates the real world in which agents and editors want revisions as quickly as possible. And I wanted to refashion the NovelPro critique process into a six-week intensive from which authors could emerge with a submission-ready draft."

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THREE NOVELPRO AUTHORS MAKE SEMI-FINALS IN AMAZON/PENGUIN CONTEST

Workshop Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX JANUARY 16, 2008 -- Members of the online writing workshop, NOVELPRO, weren't surprised that three of its authors made the cut when semi-finalists in the first Amazon/Penguin Breakthrough Novel Contest were announced last night. The workshop has launched careers for several of its members and their books have garnered starred reviews from KIRKUS and BOOKLIST.

One semifinalist was J R Lankford, who founded this innovative writing workshop ten years ago. She entered THE SECRET MADONNA , sequel to her acclaimed novel, THE JESUS THIEF, which earned a BOOKLIST starred review, was translated into five languages, and is under option for Hollywood film. "What a wonderful opportunity Amazon and the venerable publisher, Penguin, are offering writers."

Also a semi-finalist are Art Tirrell for THE WIND FROM ENTOUHONORON , his prequel to THE SECRET EVER KEEPS, which was well-received by reviewers when it came out from Canadian publisher, Kunati, last year and Jeff Hagkull for his first effort, THE SISTER MAFIA.

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NOVELPRO LOOKS TO ELEVENTH YEAR

Workshop Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX NOVEMBER 21, 2007 -- As the groundbreaking online writing workshop, NOVELPRO, begins its annual winter hiatus, its founder looks back on a ten year record few writing workshops can boast.

J R Lankford's NovelPro has launched multiple writing careers and counts among its members critically acclaimed authors, Lankford included, whose novels were honed in the group's exacting critique process.

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MULTIPLE STARS FOR WORKSHOP AUTHORS

NovelPro Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX APRIL 8, 2007 - What's afoot in NovelPro? Has it invented the literary equivalent of a pot of gold?

Today and tomorrow are the publication dates of two novels, both of which have received starred reviews from no less than BOOKLIST and KIRKUS -- respectively, Lynn Hoffman's BANG-BANG, an anti-gun novel from KUNATI, and Paula Jolin's IN THE NAME OF GOD, from ROARING BROOK PRESS. Both authors developed their novels in the same workshop, NOVELPRO. Its founder, J R Lankford, herself received a BOOKLIST starred review for her 2003 medical cloning thriller, THE JESUS THIEF. Surely this a first for writing workshops online and perhaps off ...

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NOVELPRO MAKES STARS

Writing Workshop Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX JANUARY 7, 2007 -- This month, ALA BOOKLIST gives a starred review to a second author from NOVELPRO, an innovative online writing workshop. Booklist said of Lynn Hoffman's anti-gun novel bANG-BANG, due out this April from Kunati, "Brilliant might be too big a word for this novel but not by much." NovelPro's first star went to founder J R Lankford's 2003 medical cloning thriller, THE JESUS THIEF, which Booklist called "great stuff." There's more.

Holtzbrinck's Roaring Brook Press has just bought a second YA novel from NovelPro member Paula Jolin, even before the first one, IN THE NAME OF GOD, comes out this April. It snapped up Jolin's proposal for THREE WITCHES, about three girls from different backgrounds (Syria, Trinidad and Japan) who try to raise a body from the dead. That's not all ...

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KIRKUS LOVES NOVELPRO AUTHORS

Innovative Workshop Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX October 1, 2006 -- In July NOVELPRO had simultaneous Amazon bestsellers. Today, two more of its novels, Lynn Hoffman's BANG-BANG and Art Tirrell's THE SECRET EVER KEEPS, due out in March from publisher KUNATI, were favorably reviewed by KIRKUS, well-known for its authoritative assessments ...

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WRITING WORKSHOP GENERATES SIMULTANEOUS BESTSELLERS

NovelPro Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX JULY 4, 2006 -- If you clicked on Amazon's Sports Fiction and Gay/Lesbian bestseller lists in the past few days you saw three novels that emerged from an online writers community called NovelPro.

P. A. Brown's L.A. HEAT hit #1 on the Gay/Lesbian Mystery Thriller bestseller list on its July 1 publication date and Dave Shields' THE RACE and THE TOUR, cycling novels about the Tour de France, have occupied various position on the sports fiction bestseller list, including #1, for weeks. Both authors are long-time members of a unique online writing community with high admission and participation standards. Brown and Shields brought their initial manuscripts to the group and, after rigorous mutual critique and revision, emerged with bestsellers .

NovelPro Founder J R Lankford, herself an author who operates NovelPro from her Bellaire home, says, "I'm not surprised because these are two of our most dedicated members. They don't give up before they reach their goals. Pat is a master of plot and her writing reminds me of James Patterson's. Dave's novels contain some of the most thrilling sports scenes I have ever read which made me understand the Tour de France for the first time. Their success is what I envisioned for our members when I started NovelPro in 1997."

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TWO FIRST MYSTERIES PROVE WORKSHOP'S EFFECTIVENESS

NovelPro Launches Careers

BELLAIRE, TX JUNE 24, 2006 -- If you're looking for great whodunits this summer, two authors from NOVELPRO, a unique online writers community, have treats in store. Of PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN ROW, a mainstream mystery out June 24 from Avalon by NovelPro author Alan Jackson and his writing partner, Michelle Buckman, the venerable ALA Booklist says, "There's plenty to like here." P.A. Brown's L.A. HEAT, out from Alyson Books July 1 but available now, was given the highest recommendation by Mark Richard Zubro, a prominent author in the genre. He calls L. A. Heat, "The best gay mystery I have read in years" -- so good that Alyson believes it has crossover potential for the general mystery fan....

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NOVELPRO AUTHOR RIDES INTO CYCLING CONTROVERSY

Unique Writers' Workshop Takes Bike Guru to the Top

CHICAGO, IL. MAY, 2006. Even before its April publication date and his CNN appearance, DAVE SHIELDS' new cycling novel, THE TOUR, reached number one on Amazon's sport fiction bestseller list -- partly because the novel reveals the issues surrounding doping in sports in a thrilling plot and partly because Dave is on a mission. He wants America to understand and support the Tour de Georgia, The Tour of California, and the Tour of Utah like the French support the Tour de France. Developed in the success-oriented writers workshop, NOVELPRO, Dave's novels are doing just that.

Dave will sign books at one of the nation's biggest bicycle rides, Chicago's BIKE THE DRIVE, on May 28, but look around at any biking or major book event this year, turn on TV or radio, and you're likely to find him selling books, giving interviews, and turning readers into bike enthusiasts.

When CNN Live interviewed Dave on THE TOUR's publication date, the segment teaser said, "You know about Lance, France, and the dance of the pedals. Well, now Ben Barnes rides in the race. Who's Ben Barnes?" More and more Americans can answer that question as Dave goes on the road: Ben Barnes is Dave Shields' brave character, first introduced in the novel, THE RACE...

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NOVELPRO MEMBER FOUNDS INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHER

Unparalleled Writers Workshop Launches Careers

HOUSTON, TX -- APR 2006. NOVELPRO, a highly successful multinational community of 34 novelists, inspired members DEREK ARMSTRONG and JAMES MCKINNON to found a unique international publishing venture, KUNATI, INC., in search of "original, new voices, untold adventures, memorable characters, stimulating ideas, and entertaining reads. Already, Kunati has acquired three titles and plans six to ten titles in its first season, with a further sixteen in 2007. "NovelPro was our inspiration, but the power and influence of the group is apparent by the five hundred plus queries we received in our first ten days -- on word of mouth from the group," said Derek Armstrong, publisher at Kunati. "We've been planning this for two years. All of our principals are authors, and we've built this for authors. That's also the NovelPro motto: Authors Helping Authors."

Headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, Kunati is competing with mainstream publishers who are increasingly signing NovelPro members. In January, HOLTZBRINCK's ROARING BROOK PRESS acquired IN THE NAME OF GOD by Paula Jolin, about a young Syrian girl faced with the choice of becoming a suicide bomber. PRETTY MAIDS by NovelPro author Alan Jackson and his writing partner Michelle Buckman will be AVALON's lead mystery this fall. L.A. HEAT by P.A. Brown is coming out from ALYSON BOOKS in July and THE THROW-AWAY PIECE by NovelPro member Jo ann Yolanda Hernandez is due from ARTE PUBLICO PRESS this May...

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FOURTH PUBLISHER SIGNS A NOVELPRO AUTHOR

Unparalleled Writers Workshop Launches Careers

HOUSTON, TX -- Jan 2006. At a time when literary agent representation and publishing contracts can be as hard to come by as a role in a Hollywood film, a multinational community of 32 writers called NovelPro is churning out potential literary stars. This month, NovelPro member PAULA JOLIN was offered a publishing contract by HOLTZBRINCK's ROARING BROOK PRESS for her first novel, IN THE NAME OF GOD, about a young Syrian girl faced with the choice of becoming a suicide bomber.

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NOVELPRO AUTHOR SIGNS WITH CELEBRITY AGENT

Unparalleled Writers Workshop Launches Careers

HOUSTON, TX -- Nov, 2005. A unique group of writers called NOVELPRO has broken onto the literary scene, landing publishing contracts and top agents. This month NovelPro member DAVE SHIELDS, author of THE TOUR, signed with FRANK WEIMANN, President of the THE LITERARY GROUP INTERNATIONAL, whose clients range from Chemistry Nobel Laureate Dr. Kary Mullis to Britney Spears..

NovelPro made the introductions.

"I couldn't believe I'd missed this remarkable group of authors," Weimann said. "I look forward to earning a place on their 'bragging rights' page."

Other literary agencies that have signed NovelPro members or recently solicited manuscripts, include: THE GISLASON AGENCY; HARVEY KLINGER, INC.; ICM; PINDER LANE & GARON BROOK; SCOVIL, CHICHAK AND GALEN; AND WRITERS HOUSE.

In 1997 Houston-area author J R LANKFORD dreamed of creating a MULTINATIONAL COMMUNITY OF TALENTED NOVELISTS on the Internet ...

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NOVELPRO - NURTURING BREAKTHROUGH AUTHORS

Rigorous mutual critiques help authors into the limelight

HOUSTON, TX -- Books by members of NOVELPRO are being snapped up by agents and publishers. One sold Hollywood film rights. Another just topped an Amazon bestseller list. Never heard of NovelPro? It was called NovelDoc in 1997 when Houston-area author J R LANKFORD dreamed of creating a MULTINATIONAL COMMUNITY OF NOVELISTS on the internet. Back then, only one member had ever been published or had an agent. Things have changed.

Eight years later, NovelPro is a nurturer of top-flight emerging talent.

AVALON certainly thinks so, having picked up the tentatively-titled PRETTY MAIDS by NovelPro member Alan Jackson and his writing partner Michelle Buckman. There is talk that Pretty Maids will be Avalon's lead mystery in the Fall of 2006. ALYSON BOOKS just bought L. A. HEAT, a mystery from NovelPro member Pat Brown, who is now represented by TRANSATLANTIC LITERARY AGENCY in Toronto. Another member, Alistair Potter, was just awarded a New Writers Bursary from the SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL based on his fantasy, BORT, developed in NovelPro.

What's the NovelPro secret? Its 30 members read and exhaustively critique each other's new or revised manuscripts in 4-week "clinics." The price of admission? Writing ability, a few dollars a year, and lots of hard work.

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