Posts Tagged ‘editorial’

« Older Entries

The cover dilemma

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

So last year, when I had Kim Killion of HotDamnDesigns create the cover for my upcoming release, AN HEIR OF DECEPTION, only one other author had used that particular stock photo. And the good thing about the Mary Jo Putney cover was that 2/3 of the photo was covered. You could barely tell the photo was the same. Well, fast forward a year later and that photo is super popular and has been used on about 8 (eight) more covers.

When I saw the last beautiful rendition of this photo I wanted to cry. Yes, it was beautiful, but my cover could now be mistaken for a good half dozen other books. What was I going to do? I decided I needed to commission Kim to make another cover but this time I bought all rights to the photo. Unfortunately, although Kim created a lovely cover for me, it wasn’t as good as the one I have and there was no way I would replace my current cover unless the new cover was either as good or better.

So I tried once again to get another cover made and that didn’t even make it off the floor. I swear, I wanted to cry. What was I going to do? So then a fan emailed me to kindly let me know she’d seen my photo on another cover. I thanked her and told her that I intended to have a new cover made. She pleaded with me to please think about changing it because she loves the current cover. To her, the couple on the cover is Alex and Charlotte and she suggested I open up the question to my readers. So today, that’s what I’m doing. The question is simple: do I commission someone to create a new cover for the third time or do I keep the cover I have with the firm knowledge, it won’t be unique?

Help me make the right choice. I think I’m too close to the issue and I trust your collective judgement.

“When was he born?” he asked quietly, bracing his hands on the pillow at the sides of her face as he closed the gap between them. “And this time I want the truth.” His tone held a warning note.

As if the truth was alien to her tongue, Charlotte started to speak several times before the word finally emerged breathless and broken. “February.”

Alex said nothing for several seconds, just held her captive in his flat, empty stare before lowering his head until his mouth brushed the lobe of her right ear. “See, that wasn’t so hard was it?” 

~ AN HEIR OF DECEPTION
    Coming Spring 2012 

Should I keep my current cover or have a new one made?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

A random commenter will receive a $10 eGift Certificate.  

Tags: , ,
Posted in Miscellaneous, self-publishing | 73 Comments »

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ~ I Have A Dream

Monday, January 16th, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. KING

“ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL”

“I HAVE A DREAM”

Tags:
Posted in Miscellaneous | 15 Comments »

Kindle Select – What do readers think?

Friday, December 9th, 2011
toowicked

Amazon is offering self-published authors the option of entering their books in the Kindle Select Program. So here’s my question for readers, would you pay $79/yr for an Amazon Prime Membership which offers the following benefits:

1. Free 2 day shipping.
2. Instant streaming of over 10,000 videos
3. Borrow 1 (one) book a month for free from Lending Library. Currently the majority of these books are self-published and none of the Big6 publishing companies participate in this program.

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Giveaways, Grand Central, Miscellaneous | 54 Comments »

What warrants a 1 star review?

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
winter

Most of the books I read are professionally edited and the writing is good to fantastic. The issues I have with most books I read is the story and its appeal–or lack thereof.

Lack of appeal could be: characterization, plausibility issues, too much internal examining by either hero or heroine, or the dreaded, nothing is really going on.  But those are taste issues. What appeals to others may not necessarily appeal to me and vice versa. That’s why reviews are subjective.

But if pressed and I had to rate a book that was essentially well written and not to my tastes, I’m not ever going to give it 1 star. If you can write, you will garner at least 2 stars from me on a scale of 1 to 5. Of course, that’s just me. Everyone has their own criteria when it comes to rating books and I’d like to know yours. Specifically, I want to know what would make you give a book 1 star?

 

Tags:
Posted in Miscellaneous, Reviews | 27 Comments »

A bit of this and that

Monday, November 28th, 2011
arogue

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I know I did. Now it’s full speed ahead to Christmas. I’m exhausted just thinking about it. My son has been bugging me to put up our tree since early November. He won’t be put off any longer. Sigh. :)

So what’s up? Well, as of early this morning, the tally for free downloads of ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE & SEDUCTION has reached 126,417. That’s a little more than halfway to my goal of 250,000. When I reach that goal, I’m going to give away a Kindle Fire.

(more…)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Avon Books, Miscellaneous | 27 Comments »

RAINN: Comment for a cause

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
rainn

Last week, the college sports world and the country were rocked the sexual abuse allegations at Penn State University. I won’t get into the nitty gritty details of this story as, I’m sure, many of you have heard the more than disturbing charges being brought against the former assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky.

If these allegations and everything set forth in the 23 page grand jury indictment are true, Penn State allowed a pedophile to roam free for years.

Well this time, I’m not going to bury my face in the sand and just be happy this didn’t happen to my child. Every child, regardless of gender, race, nationality or religion deserves to be protected against any kind of abuse be it emotional, physical, physiological or sexual.

That’s why today, I’m going to donate $.50 for every comment on today’s post to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network). 

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotlines’ free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual violence; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual violence, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

The abuse of children is a world-wide epidemic and the vast majority of victims remain silent, suffering in silence. No,  as one individual, I don’t believe I can stop this, but I want to try to do something no matter  how small.

 

Tags: ,
Posted in Miscellaneous | 83 Comments »

Ccccchhhhaaaannnnges…

Thursday, October 27th, 2011
editorial

Yesterday, I was forced to take stock of my life when I realized AN HEIR OF DECEPTION wasn’t going to be ready by January 2012. It literally hurt my heart to admit it to myself. I then looked back and realized I managed to complete the first draft of SINFUL SURRENDER in 60 days. I wrote 115,000 words in 60 days!!! Was I on speed or something??!! (**Note — Although I completed the first draft in 60 days, I then sent 9 mos on and off rewriting, revising, and polishing the book  about 3 times before I sent out the version that was contracted by Kensington. After it was contracted still more revisions and polishing prior to publication. Suffice it enough to say, I spent a great deal of time writing this book.)

(more…)

Tags:
Posted in Miscellaneous | 42 Comments »

In Memorial: The death of a Dream maker

Thursday, October 6th, 2011
apple

Yesterday, at the young age of 56, Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple Inc. with Steve Wozniak at the age of 21, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Although I knew Steve was very very sick, I prayed for a miracle for him. This is a man who has changed my life–our respective lives in some shape or form. Back in the 70s, Apple created one of the first successful ‘personal’ computer.

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Miscellaneous | 20 Comments »

In Memory : 9/11, Where were you?

Sunday, September 11th, 2011
9_11_thumbnail

Ten years ago today, an event that would change the course of American lives took place. It will be featured significantly in history books as the day the United States lost its innocence. Things we as Americans long took for granted would be gone when two planes plowed into the Twin Towers and forever changed the New York skyline. The loss of lives numbered 2752 while 3000 people survived. But as we know from these last ten years, the United States lost so much more than that.

This post today is in memory of that, all that we lost. It’s also to celebrate all we still have and all we’ve managed to regain, because I do believe we’ve healed and are stronger for all we’ve endured.
(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Miscellaneous | 20 Comments »

What are you tired of or can’t bear to read?

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
season_thumbnail

Okay, I want to state from the start that this is not a rant. This is simply an airing of all our little and not so little grievances when it comes to our beloved books. Yes, as a reader, we all have gripes. Plot lines we’re just plain bored with. We’ve read the exact scenario so often, we can practically recite the book with unerring accuracy. What does that mean since all romances deliver HEAs. It means the journey is exactly the same as the last such plotline. Believe me I know that for some readers–hopefully not the majority–my books may fall in to this category. I definitely started my publishing career with books that had tried-and-true plotlines.

Or what about scenarios you don’t find remotely ‘romantic’. I personally don’t think a woman selling her body to survive is the least bit romantic as we see in the movie Pretty Woman. I also don’t like my romances too issue-based. Reminds me too much of women’s fiction. Stories that deal a lot with illness are especially pretty much a debbie-downer for me. I love my romances to make laugh, cry and tug at my heart but it should never make me want to take a whole bottle of sleeping pills. I won’t read a book that is sure to depress me.  But that’s just me. I’m quirky like that. ;)

What about you? Are tired of particular plotlines or characterizations–heroine too wimpy or just too kick-ass? Or are there plotlines you avoid with a ten-foot pole? 

Tags:
Posted in Miscellaneous | 32 Comments »

« Older Entries