Readers in the Orlando, Florida area will have the chance to meet Toni by attending the 2010 RWA “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing. This annual event brings hundreds of popular romance authors together for one signing, and proceeds from the event are donated to charity.

This year’s signing will take place next Wednesday, July 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, Pacific Exhibit Hall, in Orlando, Florida. The event is free an open to the public. If you’re in the area or in town for the RWA conference, be sure to stop by, say hello, and get a book signed. You can read more about the event and get a complete list of attending authors on RWA’s website.

At the RWA conference, Toni will be attending a reception for the Bookseller’s Best Award, for which One Reckless Summer is a finalist. One Reckless Summer was also recently given an Award of Merit in the prestigious Holt Medallion contest.

For those of you eagerly anticipating the next book in the Destiny series, Whisper Falls’s release is just around the corner. It’s already available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This past Saturday, June 19, Toni was invited to discuss and sign Sugar Creek with the romance book club at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Kentucky. What an event! There was a great turnout of readers, and their questions led to a lively discussion about Toni’s career, some of the fun facts behind Sugar Creek, and future plans for the Destiny series – including a few secrets about upcoming books (but they promised not to tell!).

The discussion was followed by a signing, where Toni autographed piles of books and got to chat more personally with some of the readers. One group of fans even put together a surprise present for Toni – a fabulous basket of apple-themed gifts, in honor of the Farris Apple Orchard in Sugar Creek, of course. Everyone also got to enjoy some Sugar Creek Cake, a delicious concoction of white cake, apples, and chocolate.

This – the discussion and the cake – was all put together by Joseph-Beth’s fabulous Gina Scalera, romance bookseller and huge Toni Blake supporter. Gina is a delightful person and runs a fantastic romance section, so if you’re anywhere near the Lexington area, you should definitely stop in. Humongous thanks to Gina for such a wonderful event.

The final highlight? Seeing the giant Sugar Creek cover on the banner advertising the event. Joseph-Beth was kind enough to let Toni keep it, so there may be some upcoming redecorating in the Blake household…

Looking to meet Toni at an upcoming event? Her next appearance will be at the 2010 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing at the RWA National Conference in Orlando, Florida, Wednesday, July 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

See more pictures from this and other recent events on Toni’s Facebook page.

Sugar Creek is the current book club selection at Jennifer Crusie’s Cherry Forums. Join Toni there from June 16-23 for discussion of all things Destiny: http://www.cherryforums.com/index.php?board=18.0

Toni is also pleased to announce that One Reckless Summer is a finalist in the Single-Title category for the Greater Detroit RWA Bookseller’s Best Award. The winner will be announced at a reception at the RWA National Conference in Orlando, Florida this July.

Sugar Creek is now in stores! The much-anticipated second book in the Destiny series and follow-up to One Reckless Summer releases today. Return to the quaint small town of Destiny, Ohio to watch sparks fly between straight-laced cop Mike Romo and wild child Rachel Farris – and to learn about the feud that’s raged between their families for generations. So far there are six books slated to take place in Destiny, and now is the perfect time to get started on the series. Start now with the excerpt for Sugar Creek.

Sugar Creek is available at numerous booksellers and retail outlets, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. Don’t see it at your local store? Be sure to ask someone to help you find or order it.

Reviewers are loving Sugar Creek so far! Romantic Times gave it 4 stars and called it “An entertaining return to Destiny with a Romeo and Juliet romance” and “a fun, sometimes humorous, journey.” Sugar Creek also received a Top Pick from Romance Reader at Heart, where they said, “Toni Blake’s smooth storytelling style is almost hypnotizing, and her realistic characters jump off the pages. I enjoyed SUGAR CREEK from beginning to end, and look forward to reading the next installment in this charming series.” Read more of the early praise for Sugar Creek.

Don’t forget to explore ToniBlake.com for extra tidbits about the book. Learn about the inspiration Toni took from her grandmother – to whom the book is dedicated – in the Notes section, search out new Fun Finds for some behind-the-scenes info on hero Mike Romo, and keep checking back for news on the third book in the Destiny series, Whisper Falls, due out January 2011.