Marketing with Mandy~EC Authors Part I
Marketing with Mandy ~ Author Ann Cory
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with EC.
A: So far I have to say that I’m enjoying myself and am very happy. All the authors are nice, supportive, and fun, and I adore my editor. The covers are gorgeous and I like the creative series.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I just had my very first title Next Floor Naughty come out, and I swear I must have promoted everywhere…and even made a fun trailer for it. Otherwise I’m usually found blogging, at a group, at MySpace, or stopping by an author party to share some excerpts.
Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: You’ll be made to feel right at home.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: In Next Floor Naughty, Davian accepts an invitation to a BDSM party because she feels her sex life with fiancé Liam has fizzled. She doesn’t realize Liam finds out about the party and concocts a sneaky plan of seduction to prove he is all she needs. At the party she rides on a Domwaiter – a dumbwaiter with a kinky flair and goes down four floors of erotic pleasure. It truly is some naughty fun.
You can check out the trailer here
Q: How do you come up with your ideas?
A: Sometimes an idea forms because of a song, a phrase, or a word. I always start with a title and go from there. Without a title, I just stare at a blank screen. Sometimes an idea comes to me in the bath or shower, which can be frustrating when I try and later read what I wrote down. I can be in the car or out to eat with the family, though I find when I’m cooking or doing dishes I come up with some interesting subplots. Usually if my hands aren’t free, I think up something really exciting. It’s very cruel, actually.
Q: How do balance family and writing?
A: I’m still working on that one, though I’m closer to a balance now than before. In the past I haven’t always balanced family and writing, but after my mom passed away last year, I’ve made it a priority. Dinner is always together at the table, and we usually watch a movie or play a game together afterwards. Interaction and communication are important. It’s bad enough time flies as it is, and I don’t want to look up from the computer screen one day to see that I’ve somehow missed five years of my son’s life. The muse likes to think she is boss, but she isn’t. While writing is a passion, my family comes first.
Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?
A: I love to write in a variety of genres, and I love to write sexy scenes. In erotic romance you can visit any genre you want, and even mix them. It’s amazing the worlds you can create and the level of depth you can go with your characters. I’ve written in other genres before and haven’t found them to be as open, exciting, and well…steamy. I like things hot and spicy.
LINKS:
http://www.anncory.com
http://www.myspace.com/ann_cory
http://anncory.blogspot.com/
Groups:
Moonglade Elite Authors
Amorous Authors
Authors Who Dare
Marketing with Mandy ~ Author Wylie Kinson
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with EC.
A: The sale of Destiny by Design was my first to Ellora’s Cave. WOO HOO (Sorry — As you can see, the thrill hasn’t worn off!!) Once I’d sent in the query and sample chapters, I checked my email obsessively (I hear this is common) until finally, FINALLY, I received word from Kelli Kwiatkowski – and she was interested! Kelli is a terrific, nurturing editor with a delightful sense of humor. I feel tremendously lucky to be working with her and the entire EC family.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: Keeping in mind that I’m new to this game, I went with the obvious: revamping my website with image/branding in mind, joining loops, self-promoting on my blog, networking with other authors, joining my local RWA chapter, getting promotional fridge magnets and postcards ready for distribution, and buying ‘cover’ space on a couple of romance chat/review sites.
Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Have faith in your ability, be open to critiques/comments from trusted sources and most importantly, listen in your editor. And despite what your non-writer friends may believe, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be buying a condo in the Cayman Islands with your first royalty check 
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: I like to introduce Destiny by Design by saying “You won’t find this kind of action on HGTV!” It’s a story about a competition for interior designers. They each get assigned a room in an executive home and have to complete it within a very tight time frame and budget. The heroine, Ellis Strathmore, who has a unique methodology when it comes to decorating, stumbles upon a bit of shenanigans. She also falls madly in lust with the owner of the construction firm that built the Show House. Together, they solve the mystery and do some very creative things together.
Q: What’s your favorite genre to write in and why?
A: I’ve had two shorts and one novella published and all three have been contemporary erotic/erotic romance. At this early stage in my career, I’d like to try different genres until I find one that suits my voice best. Who knows, I may find that contemporary is my forte, but I won’t know until I dabble a bit. (seamless segue into next question…)
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?
A: I’ve got two on the go – one is a paranormal and the other is a pirate historical. I’ve not attempted either of those genres yet! When you’re starting out, people tell you “write what you know” so I naturally gravitated towards contemporary. What do I know about ocean sailing pirates in the 1700’s or paranormal creatures! But what I do know is how to research – and I’ve enjoyed that aspect immensely. In fact, much to my children’s delight, I’ve acquired an extensive pirate vocabulary for a 21st century suburban housewife.
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: I began writing both satire (think David Sedaris) and children’s picture books and was terribly distraught at the number of rejection letters I kept getting with a recurring theme, “Not what we’re looking for at this time.” I got hold of Writers Market to find out what publishers WERE looking for and three things kept coming up – gay/lesbian stories, fantasy/sci-fi and erotica. Going back to the ‘write what you know’ rule, I quickly ruled out the first two. I’d never read erotica before but figured with all the hot Brad Pitt dreams I’ve had over the years, it’s the one genre I’d be qualified to write! So, I sat down in my office (a little desk crammed between my washer and dryer) and in four hours produced a 3000 word short erotica piece. I sent it off to Virgin’s Black Lace and forgot all about it. Six months later I got a very surprising email from Black Lace editor, Kerry Sharpe. Cavern in the Green came out in 2001’s Wicked Words 7. Of course I was thrilled, but I wrote it on a lark and considered it a lucky fluke, so went back to my children’s stories. Years filled with rejection letters went by and I seriously started doubting my abilities as a writer so I thought, hey… let’s see if we can do this erotic thing one more time. It was much harder the second time because I was actually trying. Happily, Bella Fiore sold to Chippewa Publishing, the one and only house it was submitted to. Another year… more children’s story rejections… One more go at erotica, but this time I wanted to add romance and a fun story. I raised the bar and decided it would be Ellora’s Cave or nothing. That’s about the time inspiration for Destiny by Design came in the form of naked painting. In conclusion, I either suck as a children’s author, or I do good sex J
Q: How do you come up with your ideas?
A: Destiny by Design was inspired by an incident that happened in our own home. Mr. Wylie and I were attempting a little DIY on our powder room. I took it upon myself to put a coat of lovely pastel pink on the walls and realized rather late in the process that I was wearing white slacks and a white t-shirt. Rather than hunt out old clothes, I stripped to my undies (not the fancy ones, I assure you!) and continued the job. Of course, not to be outdone, Mr. Wylie surprised me by stripping to the bare, so not spoil his boxers! Hence the pivotal scene in Destiny by Design was born. And though hubby and I laughed for days about our naked painting, my characters, Ellis and Simon, had quite a different reaction!
LINKS:
www.wyliekinson.com
http://wyliekinson.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/wyliekinson
Marketing with Mandy ~ Author Red Garnier
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: Spin Devil is my first Ellora’s Cave release, from the Exotika imprint, which is Ellora’s Cave erotica line. This is the first book of a small series, and I have to say this one is very dear to me - since it’s the first fully erotic book I’ve written. It was very emotional since the characters had such passionate feelings for each other. The spin devil is actually a toy used instead of a bottle for an adult version of a “spin the bottle game”. Imagine what happens when two unlikely people are on the opposing ends of it! There’s a substantial clash of wills between the hero and heroine, and a need between them that’s so deep it’s almost primitive. The hero, Sebastian, is such a bad boy I swear he really could use a little spanking, while Cleo is his complete opposite. When they get together it gets really hot, both physically as well as emotionally.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?
A: Right now I’ve just turned in the final edits for Spin Some More, which is the third book on the Devilish Games series. Unlike Spin Devil, which is darker in tone, Spin Some More actually turned out not only to be extremely sexy but quite funny, too.
I’ve also been working on a funny paranormal which I’m having a blast with. It’s untitled yet but it’s pretty refreshing and I have a feeling readers will be very pleased. The hero is just to die for, and he has a talking critter pet who’s so adorable I swear I want him for my own.
Q: How do you come up with your ideas?
A: Ideas can have the best timing, or the worst. Sometimes they just pop inside my head all at the same time, where I need to sort them out. And sometimes I urgently need an idea and I can’t find it. When I need to search for ideas, or get stuck in a part of the book, I tend to either take a fifteen-minute “nap” (I don’t really sleep, I just relax and let myself think!) or take a walk or drive around with a little music, and right then, bam, it’s all there. Thank God.
Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?
A: I love the positive, uplifting message in all romances, be they inspirational or erotica. I love the emotion and the passion and everything that happens when the characters find that special someone who compliments them perfectly. I love the fights as these two different beings try to keep their own sense of self and yet cannot help but fall deeply, madly in love. I just love it all!! I really do think love conquers all… =)
LINKS:
You can find my books at www.ellorascave.com
And please feel free to drop by anytime at my website, www.redgarnier.com . I always love to hear from my readers!
CONTEST: Monday-Friday of this week– anyone who comments on ANY of the posts for Marketing with Mandy’s Ellora’s Cave Publisher Spotlight (going on all week long) will be entered to win a download of their choice from Mandy’s Ellora’s Cave backlist and Michelle’s Ellora’s Cave backlist. (There will be two winners, each selecting one download)
To enter: Comment on the blog in a Marketing with Mandy Ellora’s Cave Spotlight post this week! The more you enter, the more chances you have to win. Winners will be selected on SUNDAY and announced on the blog.
