Welcome to a special issue of the SOS Newsletter! I just returned from Heather Graham's "Writers for New Orleans" conference (www.eheathergraham.com). Heather sponsors this conference each year during Labor Day weekend to bring tourism back to New Orleans. The French Quarter is back in business with artisan shops, street musicians, and history steaming from every corner! Please allow me to share our fun weekend:

- Shopping: On Friday afternoon, NYT Bestseller Cathy Maxwell (www.cathymaxwell.com) invited me to shopping excursion along Royal Street. We gawked at the beautiful antiques in the window displays and ventured into a few artisan shops. We learned that mystery writer Nevada Barr (www.nevadabarr.com) is also a talented artist, painting as Nevada Paxton (www.papertigerproductions.net). The shop owner noted that Mrs. Paxton's paintings feature ballgowns, smoking guns, and dead clowns after a reader complained of dating "clowns." Only in New Orleans ....

- Dining: On Friday night, we enjoyed a Steamboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi River courtesy of Helen Rosburg (www.helenrosburg.com), author, editor, and CEO of Medallion Press. The ladies dressed in hoop skirts and the gentlemen carried swords, reminding us of the New Orleans' Southern History. I loved the Ettouffe Soup and Bread Pudding! Thanks, Helen, for a jazzy party!

- Cajun Classics: On Saturday afternoon, I soaked up the sights and sounds of Jackson Square, munching on beignets from Cafe Du Monde (www.cafedumonde.com). I also attended services at the Saint Louis Cathedral (www.stlouiscathedral.org). The Cathedral is the "oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States". It has served as a Beacon of Light to all residents of New Orleans throughout the city's turbulent history. As the preacher noted, it was a good weekend to not have a hurricane coming!

- Pirates Singing: On Saturday night, Heather Graham and her merry Pirate band treated us to a entertaining history of the Lafitte Brothers. It was a pleasant surprise to find F. Paul Wilson (www.repairmanjack.com) on the drums. Obviously, NYT's bestsellers like Heather and Paul have many talents!

New Orleans lends itself to a paranormal atmosphere ... so let's giveaway some paranormal books! I have multiple copies of many books. Send me your top three requests and mailing address.

Happy reading ... but don't forget to keep a stake, garlic, and holy water nearby!

Kim Adams
SOS Military Liaison

Jennifer Armintrout, Queene of Light
Jenna Black, The Devil Inside
Shayla Black, Tempt Me with Darkness
Rhyannon Byrd, Edge of Hunger
Eileen Carr, Hold Back the Dark
Janet Chapman, Moonlight Warrior
Shannon Drake, Realm of Shadows
Judi Fennell, Wild Blue Under
Heather Graham, Dust to Dust
Lori Handeland, Any Given Doomsday
Rita Herron, Insatiable Desire
Diana Holquist, Hunger for More
Alexis Morgan, Darkness Unknown
Patti Nagle, The Betrayal
Kate Perry, Marked by Passion
Michelle Rowan, Bitten and Smitten, Lady and the Vamp, Stakes and Stilettos
Diane Rowland, Mark of the Demon
Jaime Rush, A Perfect Darkness
Gena Showalter, Awaken Me Darkly and Seduce the Darkness
Eve Silver, Demon's Hunger
Kassandra Sims, Hellbent and Heartfirst
Kathryn Smith, Let the Night Begin
Kerrelyn Sparks, Secret Life of a Vampire and The Undead Next Door
Terry Spear, Hear of the Wolf
Jennifer St. Giles, Bride of the Wolf and Kiss of Darkness
Anne Stuart, Silver Falls
Rachel Vincent, Prey
Christine Warren, One Bite with a Stranger
F. Paul Wilson, Midnight Mass