You know what I love about digital books? Not just the convenience of being able to store about 6 billion books in my pocket. And no, not that my book clutter has been vastly reduced or that with my iPad and iPhone, I don’t even need light to read. Oh, and did I fail to mention that I definitely read more books than ever since I got an ereader. And did I fail to mention I can sort my books by the click of a button and that they are displayed so nicely on the lovely virtual book shelf. Gosh, if all that wasn’t enough reason to love those digital books then I have to say the plethora of sales surely would push me right over the edge. When I can snag a much loved, much wanted ebook for under $5, I’m pretty much in heaven. And it would appear, so is the rest of the read buying public. 
Archive for the ‘St. Martin’s Press’ Category
Giveaway: Win an ereader & enjoy the ebook sale!
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
Why community is key to contemporary romance
Thursday, July 7th, 2011by Kat Latham
“In contemporaries, community is key,” Selina McLemore, Senior Editor at Grand Central Publishing, told me at the Romance Writers of America national conference last week.
It makes sense, right? Those of us who love contemporary romance fall for books set in a particular town or city that feels as fleshed out as the hero and heroine. A place we’d love to visit, move to, or just immerse ourselves in for a few hours.
But community shouldn’t be confused with setting. It’s more than that.
It’s characters—oddballs who make a town unique and help the hero and heroine when they need it most; fast-talking city folks who are so savvy they make a reader jealous; and families who can overwhelm the most patient person but pull together when it’s most needed. It’s colleagues who challenge and sharpen you, while also making you howl with laughter, like in Louisa Edwards’s Recipe for Love series.
But community shouldn’t be confused with character development. It’s more than that.
It’s conflict—the heroine who thinks she belongs in a city but discovers warmth and friendship in a small town; the gossip that threatens the heroine’s closely guarded secrets; the struggle to fit in somewhere new, or reconnect with a place you left long ago.
But community shouldn’t be confused with conflict. It’s more than that.
It’s tone—the appeal of a relaxed pace those of us who live in major cities don’t often get; or the snappy dialogue and cosmopolitan feel of a story set in a city, like Julie James’s Chicago.
One reason community is key to contemporary romance is that it encompasses so many elements of a well-told story. A new favorite fictional community of mine is Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor, which hits all the right spots for me. Jill Shalvis has created a community I return to over and over in my mind, but the only reason it works is that every element of the story fits together perfectly.
But more important than a beautifully crafted story, humans crave a sense of belonging. We build support networks to help us make it through life’s trials and share triumphs, and it makes sense that we’d want to see characters we love develop these same strong networks—or even stronger ones than what we’ve built in our own lives.
Last week I went to my first RWA national conference, and the sense of community was evident everywhere I looked. I feel so fortunate to have met some of my favorite authors and listened as they shared their wisdom. I got to meet amazing, talented, friendly people—like Ashley March, Roxanne St Claire, Shana Galen and Louisa Edwards—who I’ve become friends with on various online communities. What impressed me most was the emphasis so many successful authors placed on giving back to the community of romance readers and writers who have supported them over the years.
The authors I met are every bit as admirable as the heroines they create, and I am so proud to be part of a community of romance enthusiasts.
What fictional community would you love to live in, even for a little while? And what other reasons do you think community is so key to romance (whether contemporary or not)? What does being part of a community mean to you?
Bev: I saw Julie James again in NYC at the Berkley book signing, and she is lovely inside and out. Truly very sweet. Comment today and win an autographed copy of A LOT LIKE LOVE.
Click for review and book details
Kat Latham has been reading romance for a couple of decades. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. When she’s not writing contemporary romance novels, she can usually be found blogging or tweeting overly personal information. She loves meeting other readers and writers online, so follow her on Twitter or check out her blog and say hello!
A Woman Scorned
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011Why you should never screw over a romance heroine
by Kat Latham
Ever had a husband or lover who screwed you over so badly you invented new forms of revenge?
Did you follow through on them?
I’ve been reading all the RITA-nominated contemporary single title romance novels (seriously, there has to be a shorter way of saying that), and two of them feature heroines who get revenge in very contemporary ways.
In Susan Donovan’s NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, Roxie Bloom overhears her boyfriend denigrating her bedroom abilities to his friends – men she has to work with. His insults are so despicable she ends up creating a man-hating blog and describing what a troll he is. Of course, she’s got an instant audience of women who have been equally hurt by the men who’d claimed to love them.
Molly Harper’s AND ONE LAST THING features a heroine who’s sacrificed her career to support her husband’s business. Lacey even writes the monthly email newsletter to his clients, friends and family. So when she finds out he’s banging his secretary, she goes a little mental and sends out one last newsletter. Unfortunately, her audience isn’t as receptive as Roxie’s, and she has to find somewhere to hide.
Using technology in a novel can be a dangerous thing to do. Readers picking up these books fifteen years from now may be thrown out of the story because of it. Imagine picking up an old Danielle Steele novel now and getting to a seduction scene where the hero slides in an 8-track.
But the very current forms of revenge will resonate with women who’ve found out their lover lied to them and wish they had the guts to humiliate him back. And though the heroines of these two novels do have the guts and end up meeting their heroes as a result, they both suffer for their decisions. One finds her anger spirals out of control until it even turns her dog nuts, and the other is ostracized and made fun of on national television.
Revenge may not be a dish best served electronically.
As appealing as the motto “Don’t get mad, get online” is, I could never do get revenge online the way these two heroines do. Do you think you could?
What do you think of technology being used in a novel? Ever seen it backfire? Comment and enter to win the Single Title Contemporary Romance RITA nominee NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL!
Kat Latham has been reading romance for a couple of decades. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. When she’s not writing contemporary romance novels, she can usually be found blogging or tweeting overly personal information. She loves meeting other readers and writers online, so follow her on Twitter or check out her blog and say hello!
As the Publishing World Turns
Friday, March 25th, 2011So have you heard that Amanda Hocking, who is now the face of indie publishing success, signed a contract with St. Martin’s Press worth over 2 million dollars for 4 (four) books? That’s a ton of change to invest in 4 books but Amanda has a proven track record, selling over 1 million copies of her 9 (nine) self-published books, which she sold for $ .99 – $2.99. The larger question is will her fans follow her to that higher price point? St. Martin’s Press–as are all of the Big6 publishing companies–uses agency pricing when it comes to their digital books (this means the ebook price is fixed by them and cannot be discounted by the online retailer. Normally that price is set at the retail print price or higher). Time will tell if St. Martin’s risk–because this is a risk for them–pays off. For Amanda, this is an extremely smart move and a win-win situation for her. Even if her books fail to generate the kind of sales that would make this deal a profitable endeavor for St. Martin’s, she still walks away with a cool 2 plus million dollars and she can continue to self-publish to her heart’s content. Here’s a woman who made some damn fine lemonade with her lemons. Here’s the article announcing the deal, if you’re interested.
And in other news, Barry Eisler, a New York Times bestselling author of thrillers, apparently verbally agreed to publish his next two books with St. Martin’s Press for a reported $500,000 (it appears that St. Martin’s Press has their purse wide open and is spewing tons of cash) but changed his mind and has decided to self-publish his next novel titled The Detachment. During the bruhaha, Writer’s House–a well-respected literary agency–is no longer representing him. I suspect that was not a friendly parting of ways as it denied the agency a nice $75,000 on the deal. Now, of course, the industry is abuzz with the news and while some may condemn his move as short-sighted, others see him starting a trend for bestselling authors like himself. Here again, time will tell whether Mr. Eisler did the wise and sound thing for his writing career. I know I’ll be interested in how well The Detachment does when he releases it. Click here if you’d like to read his reasons behind his decision as he discusses it with Joe Konrath aka J.A. Konrath, a mystery, thriller author.
And today, Stephanie Laurens, New York Times and USA Today bestselling historical romance author, discusses digital pricing on her blog. Stephanie, like most other authors–new right on through to established–sees the changing shape of the publishing landscape and began writing weekly, very topical posts for all to discuss.
What I see occurring, is that the stigma of self-publishing as what authors do when they’re not ‘good enough’ for New York, going away. Especially, now that established and New York published authors are entering this arena. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that traditional publishers will always have a place in the publishing marketplace as long as they stop fighting the inevitability that is digital books eventually replacing or quickly gaining parity with–to a large degree–the printed book. I’m not sure in what time-frame this will occur, but like the VHS tapes, vinyl records and even CDs, which are quickly being usurped by .mp3 files, this will happen. And given the Publisher’s Week article linked here, I believe mass market paperback will be the first format affected.
I’m not sure if readers care about this kind of news but I’m pretty sure authors, from aspiring to bestselling, have their ears peeled for it. What do you think about the changing publishing landscape. Are you ready to dip your toe in the self-publishing pond, lake, ocean? Readers, do you care which publishing house–if any–puts out your favourite authors’ books? Do you even know which publishing house your favourite author writes for?
Comment and enter to win IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON, featuring a novella by the above mentioned Stephanie Laurens.
Giveaway: Sunday’s Offering
Sunday, March 6th, 2011Comment to enter to win a copy of Amanda McCabe’s THE SHY DUCHESS and Kieran Kramer’s DUKES TO THE LEFT OF ME, PRINCES TO THE RIGHT
Click for review and book details
Click for review and book details
When We Met Kieran Kramer
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Hi Kieran, welcome to The Season Blog. Okay, before I delve into the hows and the whats of WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY, please tell me who came up with the title?
I did, but my agent came up with the heroine’s name. So she helped, too.
Now you know everyone will draw a comparison between the much beloved movie When Harry Met Sally and your book. Apart for the difference of the historical setting, does WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY play out like a romantic comedy the movie is?
Available Now!
WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY is definitely a romantic comedy. And these are two people who never dreamed they could be together romantically, just like the characters in the movie. It comes as a shock to them both when the sparks begin to fly! Another similarity–Harry and Molly met a long time ago and then re-meet years later, just like Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal do in the movie.
This is your debut book, the first book in your Impossible Bachelor series. How has this experience been for you, from getting the contract with St. Martin’s to the release? We’d also love to hear your ‘CALL’ story.
It’s been a wonderful and educational experience. I’ve learned so much about the writing and publishing process along the way, but the best part has been the people I’ve met. I’ve connected with so many wonderful people already. I LOVE being in this business and hope to remain in it for years to come. I LOVE telling stories and sharing them and hoping that they’ll make someone happy.
As for the CALL, I was on a small country road when I got the great news. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and shock, I had to tell my agent I needed to hang up so I wouldn’t drive off into a corn field! Honestly, I was THIS close to losing control of the car because I could barely hang onto the wheel! LOL!!!
How much fun did you have writing this book? Were you constantly chuckling to yourself? My reviewer sent me the snippet of the poem your heroine, Molly, recited at the very beginning of the book when she was a young girl. I absolutely loved it!
I laughed ALL the time writing this book! It was a blast! The characters were a joy to write, all of them. And thinking up thee different aspects of the wager was a lot of fun, too.
Available November 30, 2010
The next book in the Impossible Bachelor series—which incidentally comes out next month— is DUKES TO THE LEFT OF ME, PRINCES TO THE RIGHT. Can you tell us a bit about this book? I have to add, that I love the play on the song Stuck in the Middle With You.
Thanks, I love that song, too. I want to brand myself as a fun, upbeat author, so if you get any hint about my attitude from that song, I’m glad. DUKES was another joy to write. I don’t want to give a lot away, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my head that my heroine would make up a fantastic lie to keep unwanted suitors away–and that somehow that lie would rebound on her.
I take it you love long titles? Hehehehe.
LOL! DUKES was super long, but the rest aren’t nearly as long! Or are they? CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE is kind of long. Hmmm…I won’t tell you my fourth one–yet. let’s just say it’s not a one- or two-word title. Not even three or four words. So maybe you’re right! My titles ARE long!
I just saw the cover for CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE and it’s absolutely lovely. Are you not just thrilled with the covers St. Martin’s has given you to work with?
Thrilled doesn’t cover it. I am over-the-top ecstatic!!! St. Martin’s Press has captured exactly the feelings I want to inspire in my readers when they see these covers: fun, romantic, and a bit sassy.
Coming April 2011
Can you tell us a wee bit about CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE which is coming out April of 2011.
Yes, this is Stephen Arrow’s book. He’s a playboy sailor who’s never been serious about any woman. And now he’s land-locked in London next door to a prudish bookseller named Jilly who hates his noisy parties. He thinks he can win her over with his charm, but Jilly’s not so easily pacified. They both have their own agendas and expect to be neighbors in name only, But little do they know, Fate has other plans for them–other very HOT and sometimes zany plans!
How many books will there be in this series?
As far as I know right now, four.
Did I miss anything, Kieran? Was there anything else you wanted to say?
Only that I’m really honored to be here. Thank you SO much for supporting me. When I met you in Orlando, I got the sense that you TRULY love romance, Beverley. I can’t thank you and your readers enough for taking the time to cheer me on by being here with me today.
I’d love to see all of you at my website, www.kierankramerbooks.com, where you can enter a contest for a $100 Amazon gift card, win free books this week on my News page, and check out my over-the-top fun video with the unforgettable Penelope Brown-Braun, who spoke to me about When Harry Met Molly. I’m also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KieranKramer and Twitter (Twitter handle: kierankramer).
~*~*~
I want to thank Kieran so much for joining us on the blog today. It was such a pleasure meeting her in Orlando this year. I know without a doubt that WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY will be a smashing success.
Update: 11/3 – And Kieran did not come empty-handed, 3 (THREE) random commenters will receive an autographed copy of her debut book!
**Drawing open to residents of the United States or Canada.
And the winner is…
Friday, October 1st, 2010
Congratulations Karen! Please email your snail mail address to Tiffany at Tiffany at TiffanyClare dot com to receive your book.
Tiffany Clare debuts with The Surrender of a Lady
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010Debut author Tiffany Clare is joining us on the Blog today. I’ll be very brief with my introduction. There are two very good reasons you want to read THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Reason number one…it’s a fabulous book. I could end it right there and say that alone is reason enough but I’m going to add in the second…which is Tiffany is a fellow Canadian. Okay, so you may not be a Canadian yourself but haven’t Canada and the US always shared a wonderful, supportive relationship. I see you all nodding your heads in agreement. And voila, I’ve given you two good reasons. 
But seriously, please extend a very warm welcome to Tiffany. She’s a fantastic writer and has written a heart wrenching first book.
Hi Tiffany, THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is your debut. What was it like finally seeing it in print, holding the book in your hand? Was it better than getting ‘The Call’?
It’s kind of surreal to see it out there and available for purchase. As I type this, I’m still waiting for the release, but I remember getting my advanced readers copies (ARCs) and getting all teary eyed and excited. It still didn’t feel like it was real, like my book was going to be available for public consumption just a few months from that point. I don’t know if it’s better than getting ‘The Call.’ But it’s pretty damn close
THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is a dark book dealing with very serious and a somewhat disturbing subject matter. First tell us a little about the premise of the book and then what inspired the story.
Ah, you must be referring to the fact that my heroine is a slave. The book opens with her being sold to pay off her husband’s gambling blunders and then she finds herself in a harem (to save her infant child) where she will be taught to please men for the rest of her life.
It’s so strange reading and seeing Jinan ’s book being called dark, I’m thinking I’m totally desensitized to what’s considered shocking and risqué! LOL. To me the book just feels like a grand scale love story. Rothburn and Jinan are truly star-crossed lovers. They cared deeply for each other when they were younger and were more or less forced apart and then they get another chance to be together, only the time is all wrong, their lives are all wrong (at least Jinan’s), but once Rothburn see’s Jinan again, there is no walking away from her.
I don’t know what inspired the story to form in my head, but once it was there, there was no not telling it.
THE SURRENDER OF A LADY Book Blurb:
THE PRICE OF PASSION…
Sold. With one word, Lady Elena Ravenscliffe’s destiny changes forever. Forced into Constantinople’s slave market to pay off her late husband’s debts and save her son, Elena reinvents herself as Jinan—a harem girl adored by the rich lords who bid on her favors. But one man instantly sees through her façade.
…IS COMPLETE SURRENDER
Griffin Summerfield, Marquess of Rothburn, let Elena slip through his fingers years ago. When he recognizes her on the auction block, he pays an outrageous sum to possess her even if it is for a short period of time. But when his deadline looms, Griffin will risk all in a desperate bid to make her his—and his alone…
.
I believe that as writers, we write what we love but we’re also aware too, of the audience our stories are targeted to. Who do you believe THE SURRENDER OF A LADY will appeal to?
I think lovers of Anna Campbell will adore this. My publisher compares me to Mary Balogh and Stephanie Laurens in style.
The majority of your book is set in Constantinople/Isle of Corfu ( Greece ). Was the research of Constantinople and the Isle of Corfu particularly arduous?
I’m always the first to admit I’m geographically challenged. I knew nothing about that part of the world. I read a lot. Looked at tons of pictures and thank God they are both tourist destinations. There was a lot of information to be found and most of the tourist sights I went on had history about the place, too.
Can you give us your ‘Call’ story?
My agent emailed me to say we had an offer on the table. It was the first offer and the first we’d heard back from editors. I was a bit shocked not to get any rejections first! There was much silent squeeing and happiness as the other editors/houses made their decisions as to whether they wanted to put an offer in for THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Another house was interested, and bidding commenced.
I was a nervous wreck for the subsequent two weeks. I couldn’t tell anyone (because of the nature of bidding, the houses don’t know who they are bidding against, just another house) and I had to wait. I even got to talk to both editors before the bidding commenced. That was scary and exciting all at the same time. When St. Martin’s put in their final offer, we were glad to except.
Describe your perfect fictional romance hero.
I love Rothburn. Like, LOVE him. I would probably want to kill him in real life, because he’s all domineering and has to have his way, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing him. It’s funny, I’ve not been able to replicate his character traits since writing this book. There is just something special about him that will have me loving him for the rest of my days, no matter how many characters I create.
You received a wonderful quote from Lisa Kleypas for your cover quote. In short she says, “The Surrender Of A Lady is a riveting and spectacular debut by an exciting new author.” What does a quote like that mean to a debut author?
The world! It’s an authors every dream getting quotes from the authors they love most. Lisa Kleypas is my favorite historical romance author. I know I cried when I saw the quote come through from my editor. I kind of stared at the screen dumbfounded and teary, goosebumps along my arms and all. Having other authors basically endorse your work shows book buyers (and readers) that someone who is known and loved believes in your work.
February 2011 will see the release of your second book, THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE. Can you tell us a little about that book?
My marriage of convenience turns into so much more when my hero decided to make a reappearance in my heroines life.
Back cover blurb:
AN INCONVENIENT SCANDAL
Emma Hallaway has not seen her husband in twelve years—and that’s fine with her. As a young girl, she’d agreed to a simple marriage of convenience, allowing her to pursue her private passion for painting. And though unknown to the rest of polite society, Emma is now one of the most daring and sought-after artists in London. However, when her secret is threatened to be exposed, Emma is forced to open her heart—and her home—to a total stranger: her husband…
AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE
Richard Mansfield, Earl of Asbury, is all too familiar with danger. As a matter of fact, it is hard on his heels when he returns to England. Still, even he is shocked to learn of his wife’s scandalous double life as an artist. But once he sees the vibrant grown woman she has become—so passionate, so strong, and so alluring—his undeniable attraction to Emma stuns him. Suddenly Richard is determined to turn their sham of a marriage into a true and lasting love. But how exactly does a gentleman seduce his own wife?
Where on your blog tour are you off to next?
A ton of places, a couple not even listed yet (toward the end of October), but I’ll have those dates confirmed soon.
Thursday September 30th, Interview at Novel Thoughts & Book Talk
Friday October 1st, Interview at Lovestruck Novice
Monday October 4th, Interview at Romance Writer’s Revenge
Tuesday October 5th, Interview at Vicky Dreiling’s Blog
Wednesday October 6th, Interview with Anna Campbell on Romance Bandits
Thursday October 7th, Blogging on Lila DiPasqua’s Blog
Wednesday October 13th, Interview on Seductive Musings
Thursday October 28th, Blogging on Sarah Maclean’s Blog
Links can be found on my website here:
http://www.tiffanyclare.com/news/
Tiffany has generously offered an autographed copy of THE SURRENDER OF A LADY to one lucky commenter.
And the winner is…
Friday, September 10th, 2010
Congratulations, Sela! Please email your full name and address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com. You have one week to contact me to collect your books.
What’s in a title?
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010Titles? Do they really matter to you? Would you not buy a book because the title is just too unpalatable for your tastes? As a writer, I try very hard to give my books titles that fit. My first book had four titles before it was all said and done. It started out as An Honorable Rogue, then moved to A Midsummer’s Night Folly before being changed to A Lady’s Compromise. I really thought A Lady’s Compromise was a completely appropriate title for the book because, well, my heroine is a lady and indeed is compromised. Alas, however, that title would not do so it became SINFUL SURRENDER, sexier, hotter?
My second book was titled simply The Gauntlet. Even though I knew I’d never be able to keep it because it wasn’t sexy or romantic enough, I did love it and thought it suited my hero and heroine’s relationship to a ‘T’. I believe my editor came up with A TASTE OF DESIRE and I’m happy with it. I’m pretty happy with both titles of my books.
But within the past two years, I’ve definitely noticed a trend where titles are concerned. The first book that comes to mind is Julia Quinn’s WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON, which is an obvious play on the famous saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”. Her next book was titled TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU, again a play on the popular movie starring Heath Ledger, 10 Thing I Hate About You.
On a brief aside, I thought The Dark Knight was the best super hero movie every made and Heath was beyond brilliant as The Joker.
Okay, getting back on point, recently, this title caught my eye, WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY by debut author Kieran Kramer. Okay, now you got me because When Harry Met Sally is my favourite romantic comedy ever. Yes ever. Love love love that movie. Of course now I’m intrigued with the book simply because of the title. This particular title will make me at least pick it up to read the back cover copy. And as you can see the cover isn’t bad either. 
Next in Kieran’s offerings? DUKES TO THE LEFT OF ME, PRINCES TO THE RIGHT. Okay, some of you may be too young to get where this title is coming from. This time it’s the Stealer’s Wheel song Stuck in the Middle with You written by Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty.
Chorus:
Clowns to the left of me.
Jokers to the right.
Here I am stuck in the middle with you.
I love that song, so Jennifer Enderlin, Kieran’s editor at St. Martin’s Press who came up with that title, totally tapped into my love of 70s hit songs. Again, the cover isn’t bad either.
Yes, there are many more book titles now following in that theme (and have in the past). Some I find completely delightful, others not so much. So as you can see, the title of a book can intrigue me enough to make me want to know more about the book, but can a title totally turn me off one? Unless, I find the title totally offensive or roll my eyes just plain silly, nope. I know many authors have very little say in the title of their books so, I, as a reader, don’t want to hold that against them.
What about you, how much, if any, do titles influence you when selecting books? Can a title totally turn you off a book?
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