I just signed a new book contract!!

[Beth Groundwater]

I am thrilled to announce that after my agent, Sandra Bond, spent over a year and a half diligently trying to sell my new mystery series to various publishers in this disastrous economy, she has finally succeeded in finding a home for it at Midnight Ink Books ( http://midnightinkbooks.com/ ), the mystery imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide ( http://www.llewellyn.com/ ). We were getting feedback like "the concept for this series is fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the manuscript" followed by a big BUT and references to the poor economy to explain why they weren't buying it.

Midnight Ink, however, was willing to take a chance on launching a new mystery series in this economy and offered me a two-book contract with first-refusal rights for subsequent books in the series. The books will be published in trade paperback and electronic formats.

My new series is set in Salida, Colorado and stars 27-year-old Mandy Tanner, an unmarried river ranger for the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). The first book, Wicked Whitewater, is already written and will be released in the first quarter of 2011. When Mandy rescues a man who fell out of a raft on the upper Arkansas River in Colorado and he dies on the river bank, she feels driven to find out what—-or who—-killed him. The book takes place during the First in Boating on the Arkansas (FIBArk) festival ( http://www.fibark.net/ ) that occurs every June.

The second book, tentatively titled Evil Eddies, will take place during a fly-fishing competition on the upper Arkansas River, which is why I've been researching that sport lately. ;-) It should be released in the first quarter of 2012.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Congratulations! Way to stick through it all and come out on top!

[Donna Carrick]

Good work, Beth! Such an accomplishment!

[D.R. MacMaster]

Congrats on the book contract. Here's something you should pitch to your publisher. Since the series takes place in and around a tourist friendly place and events get the gift shops and tourist bureaus in the area to stock them.

[Grant McKenzie]

Congratulations, Beth. Encouraging to hear.

[Beth Groundwater]

Thanks so much for the congrats, folks! I've been sitting on the news for two months waiting for all the contract negotiations to complete. I'm so happy that it's finally a done deal!

[D.R. MacMaster]

Congratulations. Hope is sells huge.

[I. J. Parker]

Wow! Excellent!

[J. F. Juzwik]

Many congratulations, Beth, and wishing you continued success. Joyce

[Dana King]

Great news, Beth. Hearty congratulations and kudos to your agent, as well.