Letter from Tina

It's been a crazy, hot, and heartbreaking summer. My prayers and thoughts have been with those who lost their homes, their life's possessions, and family or friends. These kinds of tragedies should always make us grateful for what we have. They should remind us to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us.

What am I grateful for? My family and friends. My love for writing books that God has given me. Every day that I'm happy and healthy. My loyal readers. Booksellers who love reading and who hand-sell my books. And that my sixteenth book is coming out!

Looking for a sun-drenched romantic suspense? How about glamour and sultry breezes? Take a vacation in Miami Beach, where danger is as plentiful as the sunshine in my October release from St. Martin's Press, IN TOO DEEP.

A tragedy in her past fuels Winslow Talbot's quest for justice after a hit-and-run leaves a girl scarred and fatherless. Her suspicions lead to treacherous twists and turns, pitting her against her family, the Miami police, and a killer with one question: Is justice worth dying for?

IN TOO DEEP was inspired by an Unsolved Mysteries episode about a woman whose face was sliced by the propeller when her boat was rammed by a speedboat that fled the scene. What struck me was the woman's plea to the viewers. She needed the boat operator to be punished, or to come forward, so that she could have closure on the accident that had changed her face. It took years for the right heroine and the right story to tie those intriguing elements of justice, tragedy and face-altering plastic surgery together. I love those what-ifs!

A book set in Miami gave me the perfect opportunity to feature a Cuban-American main character. I grew up around Cubans and have always respected and admired them. I love their food. Their sense of family. As I researched the history of Cuban-Americans and Cuba itself, though, I was amazed at how much I didn't know. I was fascinated to learn about the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the politics of the exile community, and how two sides are fighting against each other for the right reasons: to help their families still in Cuba, and to bring down the current regime. I took liberties, creating a fictional organization that walks the line, and a father and son who each have different viewpoints but retain their family connection.

Unlike many of those in the north, I celebrate fall. Of course, for the end of hurricane season. For lower humidity and the ability to open the house and enjoy fresh air. For going to the beach and not getting French-fried. For all the great holidays coming up.

I want to express my sincere sympathy for those whose lives have been touched by the devastation Hurricane Katrina left behind. It is truly too awful to contemplate, even as I am riveted by the news coverage. My prayers are with you all.

2005

Happy Spring!

Okay, it's not quite spring. Wow, I'm actually ahead for a change. And it's certainly not sunny outside, even though it's Florida and it's supposed to be sunny most of the time. It's rainy and cold and very wintry. Fortunately, I don't mind, not when I live in most-of-the-year hot and humid weather.

The Best First Line Contest has wrapped up, the biggest response ever! Thanks to everyone who entered and made it so much fun. My judges deserve an even bigger thank you, since I told them there'd be, oh, just a few entries. So let's really inundate them next time (heh heh)! Tell your friends, your writing classmates, even your Aunt Ethel! It'll start in September. For those of you who are on the creative side, how about some suggestions for this year's contest? I've done the most outrageous/shocking line for a few years now. I think it's time for something new. Send any outrageous ideas my way!

Meanwhile, I'm lounging away until the October book comes out…in my dreams! Seriously, most folks have no idea how much work authors do months before their books come out. Coming up with promotion plans, getting mailings ready, working on revisions for upcoming books, working on proposals for way-upcoming books, and all of the little business tasks that pile up on the desk. Oh, yeah, keeping this website updated is on that list, too. See, like right now, I'm writing this letter to you all out there.

My October book is set in Miami, one of my favorite places. It's called IN TOO DEEP. I'm in that anxious waiting mode…what will the cover look like? The blurb (the stuff on the back that tells you what the book is about, in case you don't know) is great. My editor "loved" the book. Whew. Now it's the cover I'm thinking about, though St. Martin's Press has given me fabulous covers in the past. And about the time I get the cover, here comes the copyedited manuscript that I get to pore over. Yeah, that's part of what keeps authors busy, too, the sixth and seventh times you read the book and make sure it's as good as it can be.

So of course, a book set in Miami, and me having grown up around Cubans, I had to have a Cuban hero. I like the culture, and I love the food, and the people are great. Here's something fun: the first person who guesses what my Cuban hero's favorite drink is gets a free book. Yep, just email me and take a guess. You can pick any book (besides I'D KILL FOR THAT since I only have one copy). I'll even sign it. Put SPRING CONTEST in the subject line so I can pick it out among all my spam.

Okay, it's a wrap. Have a great spring, keep reading, and make the world a better place one day at a time.

Cheers,

Tina

I'm happy to say that we've managed, so far, not to be swept away by a hurricane. It's been a crazy summer with all of these storms, and hurricane season isn't over yet. We thank God that we were lucky many times over, but it got close! It's a tough thing to look at all of your worldly possessions and choose which ones to pack away just in case. It's hard to look at your home and wonder what it will look like in a couple of days. I feel for those who were impacted by the hurricanes, who did lose their homes, their possessions, and most importantly, someone they cared about.

In case you're wondering, no, I haven't been struck with any hurricane book ideas. But I never say never!

My new book started with a question, as most books do. Where do souls go when a person is in a coma? Sometimes they are near and can hear what's going on around them. What happens when they're not? So was born my heroine, Rita Brooks, a psychologist who has a little problem of her own…intimacy with men, which manifests in an unusual way. When she's run off the road and ends up in a coma, her soul connects with a man's soul in what she calls the "gray place." He gives her an important message that ultimately takes her to New Orleans during the heart (and heat) of Mardi Gras. She will be tested in ways she never imagined; she will fall in love with the kind of man that normally sends her running the other way; and she will face an enemy darker than her most terrifying nightmares.

When a group of us went to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras I fell in love with the mystery, the magic, and yes, even the decadence of Carnivale. I had to set a book there, and WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW was the perfect story to do so. Many of our experiences ended up in the book, but rest assured we never ran into anyone quite like the villain. He is no doubt one of my more interesting villains, and boy, did I have fun doing research on him. When you read the book, you'll know exactly what I mean.

I probably start each of these letters with a rant about how fast time is flying, and how I meant to write a summer letter, so I will abstain this time. Life is often a hurry-up-and-wait kind of thing, and lately it's been more waiting than anything. More so on personal levels, and always on a professional level. Writers, for example, work hard on a proposal for the next book contract, get excited about the plot, setting and characters, and then wait an indefinite amount of time for some indication of whether our editor loves or hates it. Then we have to wait for a year or more to see the book on the shelves. I think the best solution is to focus on the things in life that we can control and to try not to focus on what we can't control. Hard, yes. But possible, at least once in a while.

I am looking forward to my December book, I'LL BE WATCHING YOU, which is set in one of my favorite locales: the Everglades. Please visit the Fun Stuff for Readers and Booksellers page and Inside Information to find out more about the book, and check out the book's page to see pictures and get a sneak peek at the book. As a teenager, Kim took on the good old boys and testified against her stepfather in the murder trial of a young woman. When he was acquitted, she fled her small Everglades town. Ten years later, she returns after her grandmother's death. But the secrets of the past still haunt this hot, steamy town, and someone will do anything to keep those secrets hidden.

Looking for something really fun for next summer's read? I participated in something totally new, for me anyway: a serial novel. It's a really cool concept. Someone comes up with a cast of characters and a setting and hands it off to one author, who writes the first chapter anyway she wants. Then she passes it onto the next author and so on until twelve of us have each written one chapter, following what has come before. It's called I'D KILL FOR THAT (formerly known as Naked Came the Gryphon) and is scheduled out next May in hardcover. Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I will be donating a portion of my royalties to the Foundation as well, in honor of a good friend's twin sister.

Serial rights to my award-winning novel, UNFORGIVABLE sold to Norway! I hope to have some artwork, if any, to post on the site someday.

Though I'd like to think that I'd post a Christmas letter, I…well, I just know better. So I want to wish all of my visitors and fans a happy Thanksgiving and a warm, wonderful Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)!

Okay, okay, it's spring already, and I haven't even done a winter letter. As usual, time is flying by. One of my favorite librarians gently reminded me that I hadn't put anything new on my website for a while, at least for the readers. I have some new pictures to post on my photo album, and that will be my next project for the site. For those who pop over occasionally, I do appreciate the visits and I will try to put new goodies up from time to time.

As I write this, my heart is weighed by the start of war. Today we have begun, and I hope soon we will be finished, our objectives achieved. I'm not happy about going to war, but I have to believe that our leaders know more than they're telling us. I have to believe they see a threat that is very real and very big. All of the soldiers over in the Middle East are in my prayers, as are their families who wait with heavy hearts. I also pray for the innocent civilians who will pay the price.

Winter in southwest Florida was strange. Too cold or too hot, not much in-between. We've had the warm, muggy kind of summer weather for weeks now, with not much hope for reprieve. Christmas was wonderful, cold or not. We had lots of family in from my husband's side. I have fabulous in-laws so it's always a treat when they come in. Plus his sister and her family came down, too, so it was a great holiday all around.

We bought a boat, for better or for worse. Anyone with a boat knows what I mean! For us, it's a forced way to relax and take time from our busy work schedules, as well as spending time with our friends and family. Those are the important ties that sometimes get ignored because of our busy lives. We've had the joy of running out of gas, blown fuses, oh, and the dog got seasick, and we hadn't even left the dock yet! On the upside, we've seen probably a hundred dolphins playing, rolling, riding our bow wake, and playing with mangrove seed pods (they look like big green beans). We even saw a baby dolphin last weekend. We saw a flying stingray, definitely one of the highlights, as well as a few manatees. Of course, I didn't get pictures of any of those; they happened too fast. But I'll post some pictures of the boat and some of our adventures soon.

On the writing front…well, of course I was going to talk about that! For those who have enjoyed my romantic comedies for Harlequin, bad news. The Duets line is now becoming Flipside, and so it looks like my upcoming book may not see the printed page.

I participated in something totally new, for me anyway: a serial novel. It's a really cool concept. Someone comes up with a cast of characters and a setting and hands it off to one author, who writes the first chapter anyway she wants. Then she passes it onto the next author and so on until twelve of us have each written one chapter, following what has come before. It's called NAKED CAME THE GRYPHON and is scheduled out sometime this fall. To see what it's about, pick up a copy of NAKED CAME THE PHOENIX. There are lots of characters and subplots, and it's really fun.

As for my next suspense novel, it's coming out this December. I'LL BE WATCHING YOU is set in a fictional version of Everglades City. As a teenager, Kim took on the good old boys and testified against her stepfather in the murder trial of a young woman. When he was acquitted, she left her small Everglades town. Years later, she returns after her grandmother's death. But the secrets of the past still haunt this hot, steamy town, and someone will do anything to keep those secrets hidden.

Okay, I'm a little behind. Like most people, I imagine, I vow to take more time to myself, simplify my life, and (ahem) keep my website more regularly updated. This last year has been hectic, but I'm still working on the vow. One thing in the works is to periodically post some of my previously published writing how-to articles. I'm also putting together an "insider information" page where you'll get a peek at how my real life sneaks into my books. I've got more pictures scanned in and waiting to be posted as well. For our twelfth anniversary, my husband surprised me by taking us on a cruise, and I'll post some pictures of that, too.

I spent the month of May at our place in the North Carolina Mountains. I pronounced it Girlfriend Month, because every weekend I had a friend whom I hadn't seen in a while come to visit. It was great to drink wine, reminisce and catch up. I learned two things during that trip. One: I should not drive and participate in deep conversations at once. Especially when it's dark and I've never been to a particular place before. Kyle and I saw more of the area than we'd planned!

Lesson two: never assume that a trail in a state park will lead back to the parking lot. My friend Doris (who's athletic and experienced at these things) swore that every trail had to lead back to the car, and so we walked…and walked…and walked, faithfully following the blue marks on the trees. Doris thought I was crazy when we broke into our one brownie and I saved some of my half. I joked, "Hey, we'll be fighting over this and the crumbs in the bottom of the bag tonight." She thought I was just a little bit nuts when I said she'd be glad she'd brought the backpack because it would make a nice pillow. When I pointed out the signs stating we were in a bear sanctuary, however, she was not amused. Three hours later, we realized the blue marks had disappeared, and even when we backtracked for an hour, we couldn't find a trail that had led off of the main trail. After four hours of hiking on angled and sometimes non-existent trails mostly along the rim of a mountain range, we were exhausted. It was 5:30 by then, and our "two hour" hike (and yes, I did sing the Gilligan's Island version of "two hour tour" when we headed out. Little did I know!). And we hadn't seen one hiker the entire time.

We came across one of the park roads that we had crossed two hours earlier. We had a decision to make: we could continue down the trail for another two hours, or take the road, which looked as though it led downward and would probably get us down to the park on a level surface. It seemed like a good idea at the time, until it kept going and going and going…all farther away from what we perceived was the park. And then I had this bad feeling that this road led to a horse camp located somewhere in the park, perhaps even dead-ended there. I pointed this out to Doris: she was not amused.

We walked for two hours wondering if we were heading in the right direction and if the road did lead down and then wondering where it would come out. And wondering if we were going to be spending the night in the park as the sun dipped behind the mountains and the temperature started to drop. Luckily, we didn't have to worry about that. We came across a portion of the trail we had left hours earlier, and twenty minutes later, we were back at the car! We had walked and hiked for a total of six hours. Oh, we were exhausted! But we trudged back to the board that (incorrectly) identified the trails and found an obscure notation that the blue-slashed trail led…wait for it: twenty-five miles to another park! Argh!!! And yes, I'll have pictures from our "hike from hell" posted too.

You'll understand why I've been so busy when I tell you that I have three books coming out in three months! In August is my third Harlequin Duet, DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION, a fun story about opposites that will tickle your funny bone and warm your heart. Next up (September) is my first Harlequin Temptation, THE BEST OF ME. This is a book of my heart that I wrote six years ago. The hero, Christopher Maddox, is based on a real-life hero. Remember the Flipper television series? Ric O'Barry used to train those dolphins. After the show was canceled, one of them died from a broken heart. Since then, Ric has dedicated his life to trying to gain the freedom of captive dolphins. I saw a news story on him and thought, "Now that's a hero!" I had the opportunity to meet Ric and learn about the man who doesn't consider himself a hero. Check out his website: www.dolphinproject.org. His book, Behind the Dolphin Smile, will change how you see these incredible, mysterious creatures. My book is about Lucy, who inherits a marine park in the Bahamas with-you guessed it!-a dolphin. Chris has gained custody and is repatriating him to the wild.

And finally, my next St. Martin's Press suspense, NOW YOU SEE ME, comes out in October. Eight-year-old Phaedra has been kidnapped by a madman who believes her death will assuage his rage. Olivia knows that rage; sixteen years ago, she escaped his clutches. The trauma stole her sight, but gave her something in return: a psychic connection to abducted children. That connection is Phaedra's only hope, but only if Olivia can face the terrors of her past-and an inescapable new nightmare. It has romance, suspense, and that unusual element all of my single titles have. Please let me assure sensitive readers that the kidnapper does not molest the girl. He has a whole different reason for taking her. I hope you all have a great summer! Please post on my guest book and keep in touch! God bless,

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. And in a blink of the eye, another whole year will be upon us. This is the time when we reflect on the past year as well as look ahead.

2001 will always stand in our hearts as the year that our world changed. The attacks on our country and our freedom was a turning point in our lives. The shock and disbelief, the loss of life, the loss of many jobs and some of the small freedoms we’ve taken for granted are lined with the silver of our country coming together, proudly raising the American flag, and sharing our hearts, our blood, and our money. I hope that we will never forget our pride in America and our sense of community. I hope we can remember the big picture and forget the small stuff that once seemed so important. And I hope that we can look ahead and see the bright, shining light that is our future.

Have a wonderful Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate. I wish you peace, hope, and love in 2002.

I am excited to tell you about my November St. Martin’s Press release, Unforgivable. This book is like my other books, only better! I have always loved stories in which the heroine doesn’t know who to trust, stories of secrets and betrayal.

This was one of those stories that came at me in a rush. I saw a story on the evening news that infuriated me. A girl was giving away kittens outside a grocery store when a man took one and threw it against the front window. I can see your eyes widening now! I felt sick to my stomach. They showed the furry little guy and said they weren’t sure if he would make it. A group of people who saw it happen beat the guy to a pulp. I would have joined them! Since I couldn’t do that, I had to do something to ease the fury inside. So I wrote what became the first chapter of this book.

Young Katie is on an unfortunate mission: to find a home for her beloved stray kitten. When the local rich kid offers to take Gus, she’s thrilled--until he throws the kitten against a glass window. It is the teenager the kids call Spooky Silas who takes her and Gus to the veterinarian. That one event changes her life in ways she could never imagine.

Though Katie now has a comfortable life, she feels the constraints of a suffocating marriage. But her restlessness is overshadowed by the unexplained growing hostility of everyone around her. Making things worse is the reappearance of Silas, a man shadowed by secrets, who warns her about a killer lurking behind one of the familiar faces in her small Georgia town. And Katie soon discovers why they called him Spooky....

This is what New York Times Bestselling author Kay Hooper had to say: “Unforgivable is unforgettable, a rich, dark tapestry of good and evil -- and the threads that bind them together. Excellent suspense; it literally kept me up all night reading."

And New York Times Bestselling author Lisa Gardner said, “Unforgivable is a truly great read! Wainscott creates finely honed tension in a first-rate thriller where no one is who they seem and everyone is someone to fear. Don’t miss it!”

For you animal lovers, Gus survives his ordeal. I had to give the cat a happy ending! And I just found out that the real kitten survived, too! His picture is on the Unforgivable page. Click here to read his story! Incredible Cat

Unforgivable will also be available through the Rhapsody book club. Win a guest spot in a book or a critique of your book proposal! We had so much fun with my last contest, I’m hosting another one. This one follows the “Write the Best First Line of a Book or Story” theme, but it must be a spooky line.

My next Harlequin Duet, Driven to Distraction, will be out in August 2002. Right now I’m hard at work polishing up my next St. Martin’s suspense, Blindsight, which is due out November 2002. More about that later!

All the best wishes,

I wish to send my condolences and prayers to all of those affected by the terrible tragedy that befell New York City, Washington, DC & Pittsburgh, PA on September 11, 2001.

Because this was an attack on our country, we are all touched and deeply wounded by this assault. I wish us all peace of heart and mind as we try to make sense of this, and as our country decides what actions to take
to rectify the attack.

God bless us all,

Tina Wainscott
Maggie Award finalist for A TRICK OF THE LIGHT
Ready to get scared? Experience the UNFORGIVABLE, coming in Nov!

Spring has sprung, making me wonder what the heck happened to winter? Okay, I know most people are glad to see winter go away. In Florida, where spring hops into summer way too fast, I’m always sad to see winter go. Of course, this winter hasn’t been very nice, not even down here in way-too-hot-and-steamy land. It was either too cold (yep, even down here) or too hot.

As I write this, however, I’m cheating a bit because I’m up at our place in North Carolina. Being a lifelong Floridian, I’ve long been cheated out of experiencing fall and spring. (I don’t, however, mind being cheated out of those northern winters!) Our little place up on a mountain ridge overlooking lakes and valley is the perfect retreat. The dogwood is blooming and the azaleas are thinking about blooming. Tiny purple plants have sprouted up beside the roads. It’s lovely. I also get to experience small-town life, where everyone says, “Hey,” and means it. Right now the leaves are just beginning to come in, though they got a surprise a few days ago when we had snow flurries, and in mid-April yet! A real treat for me, who has seen snow once. Not a treat for members of my family who came in from New Hampshire and Pennsylvania for our family reunion.

This is a busy year for me—three books out! Still to come is my June Harlequin Duet, Dan All Over Again. This time I’m paired with new author Barbara Dunlop from the Yukon—speaking of snow… I’m amused that the powers that be paired a Florida fishing story with a story about a Canadian Mountie. Check out the link for more info about our stories. These books are a real bargain, two stories for $5.99. I love the cartoon cover, too, which depicts one of the fun scenes from my book.

My third book will be out this November—Unforgivable. This will be my first real suspense. For all my romance fans, don’t worry, there’s still a romance! But there’s a lot of suspense, too, something I’ve been wanting to put more of in my books. There’s also lots of that creepy small town, set in the woods, can’t trust anyone atmosphere. So now I have even more of a twisted personality—romantic comedy on the one hand, nail biting suspense on the other. Like my Duet, it’s a nice balance.

I’ll have more about how Unforgivable started (the things that fuel a writer’s mind), what the book is about, and the cover posted here soon. I endeavor to post here more frequently, but the last couple of months have been quite crazy. Maybe I can do better in the future. I can always hope, right?

And yes, for those clamoring to know, I will be hosting another contest in November. I’ve been batting around a couple of ideas, but “The best last line contest” just doesn’t sound intriguing. Maybe a “best pick up line”. If you have any ideas, please email them to me. Hmm, what about a contest to choose the best contest? Nah!

Also, for anyone who is in or near the Orlando area, Romantic Times magazine will be hosting their 2001 Booklovers Convention right in Orlando. This is a 5-day non-stop party filled with workshops, a masquerade ball, a cover model pageant (male), an awards banquet, and a huge bookfair. Hundreds of authors and vendors of all sorts in one large room. The bookfair is open to the public for a small entrance fee. This fair and convention is for romance and mystery/suspense fans. Check out these links for more info:

I can’t believe I’m already thinking about who’s bringing the turkey and the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving! Who put the world on fast forward, anyway? Y2K and all those worries are far behind us, and now we can look to the future with a sense of hope and anticipation. The holidays are always a good time for looking back, but only to cherish good memories and to be grateful for what we’ve been given. I have a lot to thank God for: His blessings, my family and friends, good health, and the ability to share my dreams and stories with people like you. It’s also a good time of the year to think about how we can reach out and help someone in need. That can start with something as simple as giving a genuine smile to someone you might just pass a glance to otherwise. Or holding the door open for someone. Or giving someone a compliment. Goodwill starts small and grows from there.

I’ve just returned from the latest Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Houston, Texas. What a blast! For those of who you don’t know, Romantic Times is a romance fanzine (www.romantictimes.com). They periodically put on a huge convention that brings together authors, publishing industry people, readers and booksellers. There is a huge bookfair (300 authors), masquerade ball, vampire ball, and many, many other activities. Look for pictures from this year’s convention to be posted here soon.

I’m also going to be sponsoring a new contest. Write the best first line of a book and win fun prizes! Details will be coming soon, but essentially the goal is to write the most intriguing/hilarious/naughty/shocking first line of a book or short story. You don’t have to be a writer to join in either. As long as it’s original and your own, you can enter. Start thinking up those lines now and stay tuned for more details. I’ll gather a distinguished panel of authors to judge the entries, and we’ll have autographed books, chocolate, and other goodies to award the winners. How about a grand prize of being in a book?

I have exciting news: my first Harlequin Duet release, The Wrong Mr. Right is coming out this August! As my regular readers know, I usually tend toward the heavier, more suspenseful type of book. But I have a lighter side and am having a great time exploring it! Duets are 2 books in 1, which means two stories for the low price of $4.99. Good deal, eh? I share my volume with Barbara Daly, who has a clever, fun story called Never Say Never!

My next St. Martin’s Press release will be Back in Baby’s Arms in January 2001. Here’s a peek at the back cover blurb:

With her husband's dying breath, he promised to send Maddie an angel to heal her broken heart. So every day in the year since Wayne's tragic boating accident, she's been watching for someone...

Rescued from a storm at sea, Chase can't remember who he is or where he came from-so he travels from port to port, looking for clues to his past. But his presence is shaking up the small Florida coastal town of Sugar Bay, and bizarre things are happening to Maddie and her family. Whoever this stranger is, he's working some serious miracles.

But as Chase's shocking past and true identity begin to emerge, it leads Maddie to a disturbing mystery, unexpected danger--and the determination to fight for a love she knows can only be Heaven sent...

I’m also planning to start an advice column in the Discussion Board area. I love giving advice, so this is just a natural for me! Either in writing or life, shoot me your questions and I’ll share my thoughts. I also encourage others to jump in, too.

I’m going to be escaping the humidity of Florida for a month and hiding out at my cabin in North Carolina this summer. There’s something inspirational and invigorating about being up in the mountains enjoying the charm of a small town. Good news! A Trick of the Light has garnered some interest from television movie producers! Keep your fingers crossed for me—maybe I’ll get to see one of my books turned into a movie yet!

Give my funny side a try for some fun reading. Even if you’re not a Harlequin romance reader, check out the different lines of Harlequin/Silhouette. There’s really something for everyone who enjoys a good romance! The Wrong Mr. Right/Never Say Never! is only available through the month of August and will be on shelves at Wal-Mart/K-Mart, bookstores, and some grocery stores.