Marketing with Mandy~Linden Bay Romance Publisher Spotlight Part IV
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Linden Bay Romance, LLC.
A: I’m actually one of the owners of Linden Bay Romance so my perspective might be a bit different from that of an author that isn’t involved in the business side of things. As an author, there are three things that stand out for me though.
First, publishing a high quality novel is very important to Linden Bay and so they invest time and resources in the editorial process. The editing that I’ve received there has consistently been first rate.
Second, the cover art is spectacular. As an author, my ideas are solicited and most often incorporated to some degree into the final look. Often the cover artist is able to improve on a germ of an idea that I have. Sometimes they come back with something totally different. But I can honestly say that I’ve never been disappointed with the outcome.
Third is that it’s obvious to me that Linden Bay Romance is a well-run professional business. If I send my editor a question, it’s responded to quickly. My royalty checks are delivered on-time without fail. And, commitments are kept.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: Stay open to new ideas. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Networking has been very important for me. It’s not the easiest thing for me to do, but it’s very effective and so I push myself to do it That means going to meetings and conventions, spending time writing blogs and conducting interviews, creating a presence on MySpace, conducting signings, and speaking in public. I don’t really think that there’s a trick to it. You just need to set aside the time and realize that promotion is part of being an author.
Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Promotion is part of being an author, a big part. When I started writing I thought that I’d be able to sit at home in my wood-paneled office, write fabulous prose, and occasionally deposit a royalty check. Now I think of finishing the book and getting that release date as the beginning of the process.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: That would be Forbidden: The Awakening, the second novel in my Forbidden vampire series. The premise for the series came to be about a year and a half ago when I was taking a long flight back from London. In most vampire stories the vamp is the seducer. I wanted to turn the table, so to speak.
So this is a non-traditional vampire series. The hero, Byron Renfield, spent years climbing the social ladder, and is successful, handsome, independently wealthy and a vampire. But in order to ensure his redemption, Byron isolated himself on a small private island, away from all temptation. He’s basically trying to be a good little vamp and it was working until Violet Deeds became stranded on his island and turned his life upside down.
Violet is beautiful, sexy, outspoken, and a human, which makes her completely off limits and completely irresistible. Byron’s societys canon may forbid relationships between vampires and humans, but will that stop them? No way! It’s a romance after all!
Forbidden: The Claim is the beginning of Byron and Violet’s story. Forbidden: The Awakening is the continuation of their story. It’s very steamy…with a kidnapping, an underground world of rebel vampires, an elaborate network of elite clansman led by an ageless prophet, and a rescue mission that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Am I tempting you? Good. To quote Byron, “Sometimes giving in to temptation can be a good thing.”
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?
A: I’m currently working on the third novel in my Forbidden series. Its title is Forbidden: The Revolution. The story is shaping up quite nicely. I’ve introduced some new characters and have brought back some of the characters from the previous books in the series. For those of you wondering what happened to the baby, Sophie, who was kidnapped and Rita, Byron’s former consort…you’ll find out!
Q: How do balance family and writing?
A: It’s not always easy. I can get lost in my work. When I’m writing the rest of the world disappears, so I need to be careful. Sometimes it’s hard to turn it off. But I have people in my life that I enjoy being with and that I want to be there for. That means turning the computer off, saying goodbye to the characters that are living in my head, and spending time with real folks. My favorite time of the day is right before dinner. I love to cook and my husband is the best sous chef in the world. When he comes home from work we pour ourselves a glass of wine and just hang out in the kitchen while dinner is cooking.
Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?
A: I tell people that I write steamy romance. It’s not erotica but it is erotic. The sex is definitely written for an adult audience and the language used to describe the sex is explicit and direct. I remember reading romance novels as a young adult where in the end the hero would take the heroine in his arms and “make her a woman”. I always wanted to know exactly how he did that.
Sex is such an important part of adult relationships—I can’t imagine writing a romance between two adults and not sharing with the reader that part of the relationship fully and honestly. That actually brings me to a funny story.
The Forbidden series is written in first person point of view from the perspective of the main character, Byron Renfield. After I wrote the first sex scene I sent it to friend and fellow author S.L. Carpenter. Scott’s a great guy. He was working on something of his own at the time, but he set it aside to read vampire sex. I received an instant message from him a couple hours after I sent him the manuscript:
Scott: You have to call it her pussy. Byrons a guy. He’s thinking pussy.
Sam: Just because he’s a guy I HAVE to say pussy? My husband’s a guy. I’ve never heard him say pussy.
Scott: He’s thinking pussy even if he’s not saying it. Ask him.
I did. Then I changed it to pussy.
LINKS:
Samantha Sommersby’s Website:
MySpace:
Blog:
Yahoo Group:
Publisher:
Browse Samantha Sommersby eBooks:
Browse Samantha Sommersby Books in Print:
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Linden Bay Romance
A: I can’t say enough about Linden Bay Romance and the gals that run it. I definitely found a great group when I stumbled upon them. They are so helpful and understanding and I’m sure I’ve tried their patience on more than one occasion. The support I receive from the editors and publishers are phenomenal.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I’m still learning the tips and tricks of promoting. I do find that having promotional material as giveaways are helpful to bring in the readers. Everyone loves free stuff. Having a Newsletter is also great and having your book covers and banners on other sites is also helpful.
Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Know your market and learn learn learn how to promote yourself. There is so much more to being an author than just putting a story to paper. And be prepared to dish out some money to promote yourself. You will not get rich overnight
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: Secrets of the Dead is a Paranormal Romance centered in a haunted house with a man who can communicate with the dead, and a woman determined to prove them a hoax.
Jessica Coltrane is a die-hard skeptic who believes that ghosts and paranormal activity are nothing more than a figment of some poor fool’s over active imagination—until she finds herself locked inside a house with the enigmatic paranormal investigator C.J. Dowling, that is.
C.J., born with the ability to see and speak to the dead, thought this would be a job like many others. Calm and self-assured, he knows his business. After all, he’s been listening to the Secrets of the Dead since he was three. He’s prepared for anything—except the smart and sexy Jessica.
Working together in close quarters, C.J. and Jessica find it’s all too easy to get under one another’s skin during the day. As darkness falls and the tension between them mounts, a spark is ignited. Fueled by passion they give into their desires…only C.J. and Jessica aren’t alone.
As the light dawns the couple discovers they’re trapped. Trapped with the ghost of a child long forgotten, an amorous entity that is threatening Jessica, and a powder keg of a spine-tingling mystery that might just be better left buried.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?
A: I am currently working on the third installment of the Passion Series due to be released possibly this fall. Discovery in Passion is a Paranormal Romance. Thomas and Cassie find love amongst a haunting and a deep dark secret that could take their lives.
Escape in Passion is a Suspense Romance. Lust and Love run rampant when Vic and Julia come together. But a secret from the past might just put an end to it all.
Mercy in Passion is a Contemporary Romance. Begging for mercy might be Justin’s only recourse when setting his sights on Beth. But will the town be as forgiving?
Nothing is ordinary in small town Passion, especially the love
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: I was born into it. There isn’t a time in my life that I can remember not writing, or telling stories. Even as a child I had a vivid imagination and loved regaling my friend and family with tales I would make up on the fly. Writing, to me, is as much a part of me as my arms or legs.
Q: How do you come up with your ideas?
A: Mostly they just pop into my head, and those that don’t have come from my dreams. There is always a pad and pen at my bedside for those times when I’m awoken with a story begging to be put to paper. There is the rare occasion I use a part of my life in my stories, which I did in both, Secrets of the Dead and Discovery in Passion. I lived in a haunted house as a child which was the catalyst to my love of all things Paranormal.
LINKS:
Website:
Newsletter: shielasbooks@shaw.ca
Publisher:
To be eligible to win one of the many prizes Linden Bay Romance Authors are offering, comment THIS WEEK on their Marketing with Mandy blog spots. Winners will be announced on Sunday!
Here are some of the prizes they’ll be giving away:
Samantha Sommersby will give away a signed print copy of Forbidden: The Awakening .
Nancy Henderson will give away a note/stationary set.
Shiela Stewart will give away a signed print of her book ‘Secrets of the Dead’
Cat Johnson will give away a signed print copy of Trilogy No. 102: Opposites Attract
Peter Brandt is giving away an ebook download of his romantic comedy novel “The Secret Life of Harden Long”
Jane Beckenham is giving away an Ebook download of her book “Hiring Cupid”
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Good Morning everyone. It’s a cool cloudy day and I am loving it. Too many day’s of heat for me, so I’m enjoying today. Just wanted to post something to let you all know my email address that is posted here is no longer valid. To email me, send a message to: shielas@shaw.ca
And if you want to check out my website and all the books I have excerpts for, and to find out what’s new in my life, you can go to: http://www.shielasbooks.ca
Awesome prizes & as always, thanks so much for interviewing such a wide variety of authors & introducing me to some I wasn’t aware of. I always enjoy learning of new authors.
:read:
They both sound like great books :lorddan:
How about a teaser from my latest release, Secrets of ghe Dead.
Pulling into the driveway, Jessie saw the white truck and knew instantly who it belonged to. Irritated by the heat and having had to wait in clogged traffic for nearly an hour, put Jessie in less than a jovial mood. Receiving a message from the realtor stating he wouldn’t be able to make it after all and would leave the keys in the mail box pissed her off. Slipping out of the muggy car, the warmth of the afternoon sun snapping out at her as it hit her skin, Jessie fumed. What the hell was he doing here?
Grabbing her overnight bag, she trudged her way to the front door. Blowing air over her face, she reached out for the door just as it opened. She snarled her greeting. “Dowling.”
“Jessica.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” The guy grated on her nerves, always did. He was so cocky, so self-righteous.
“Working. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here on assignment.”
“Assigned by whom?”
“Danbury Realtors. I was supposed to meet the agent here, but something came up and he had to cancel. He left a set of keys in the mail box.”
“Hmmm, interesting. Oh, well.”
“Oh, well? What the hell does that mean? Dowling?” She called out his name as he moved towards the truck. When he didn’t stop, she hurried after him. “Dowling!”
Pulling the box with his equipment out of the truck, C.J. replied evenly “Yes, Jessica?”
Oh, how his calm nature annoyed her. In all the years she’d known him, she’d never seen him raise his voice or a hand in anger. How could one person manage to be so damn calm all the time? “What did you mean by saying, oh, well?”
“Just that. Can you get the door for me? My hands are otherwise occupied.” He smiled at her brightly.
Growling, she pushed the door open for him, then stood in the way. “What are you doing?”
“Taking my equipment into the house.”
“Why?”
He shifted the box. “I need it to do my job. Excuse me.”
Snarling, she moved aside. “Today?”
“Yes, Jessica, today.” Setting it on the floor, he turned to get the box of groceries from the truck, then paused to look back at her. “Did you cut your hair? No, wait, you highlighted it. Looks interesting.”
Frowning, she touched a hand to her short red hair with blonde highlights. “What do you mean by interesting?” she asked, following after him.
“Just that. So how long are you planning on staying?”
“Staying where?” What was wrong with her hair? She liked it, everyone she knew liked it.
“Here.” He smiled at her over his shoulder as he walked back to the house.
He’d managed to fluster her mind and it annoyed her. “A couple of days.”
“Well, then, I guess we’ll be roomies. Door, please.”
“I’m not your fucking doorman, Dowling, get it yourself.”
“You look hot Jessica. Didn’t you have the air on in your car?” C.J. responded, giving the door a push with his hip.
“It’s busted. What do you mean, we’ll be roomies?” She followed him into the house, the door swinging shut behind her.
Setting the box down beside the other, he stood, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll be staying here for a few days. You should have it looked at.”
“Have what looked at? And there is no way in hell you’re staying here while I’m here, Dowling.” The guy was always running his hands through his sandy blonde hair, mussing up those soft waves so it looked like he’d just gotten out of bed. Okay, sure, it was nice hair, but did he have to keep drawing attention to it like that?
“The air in your car, and I will be staying here whether you like it or not.” He held his hand up to silence her protest. “I’m here on request of the owners, so therefore, I have priority. If you don’t like it, come back another day.” Turning, he knelt down and lifted the box of video equipment and carried it from the foyer to the living room.
Aghast, Jessie threw her arms in the air and marched after him. “You have some nerve, Dowling. I’m staying, you leave.”
He set the box down, turning to her. “Looks like you have a problem then, because I don’t intend to leave. Now, we can stand here and argue all day, or we can come to some sort of a truce and both do our jobs.”
Her eyes narrowed. There was no damn way she was giving up and leaving. Biting her lip, she nodded. “Fine, but stay out of my way.”
“Same goes, Jessica.”
“It’s Jessie.”
He simply smiled at her and turned back to his equipment without responding. “So, you’re here to prove there are no ghosts, I presume?”
“You got it, ace, but I wouldn’t overwork that brain of yours. You might need it later on.”
He didn’t bother to acknowledge her and began setting up the cameras. “Good luck.”
“With what?”
“Proving the lack of entities on this property.”
She snorted in response. “Not a problem, slick.”
Standing, C.J. held his hand out to her. “What do you say to a friendly wager then, Jessica?”
“It’s Jessie, and what kind of wager?”
“I bet you can’t stay here and leave in two days still a non-believer.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s an easy one because I’ll win. What’s the wager?”
“If you leave here in two days time, still believing there are no such thing as ghosts, I’ll buy you dinner.”
Her brow lifted. “My appetite’s a little more refined than burgers, Dowling.”
His brown eyes narrowed mockingly. “Tacos it is, then.”
“You’re a riot. And if I win?”
His smile was quick and looked oh so devious. “I’ll eat my shoes.”
“Deal.” She took his hand and the instant she did she found herself being yanked against him, his mouth pressed against hers in a quick kiss.
“What the hell?” she sputtered after yanking herself free.
He released her with a smile. “Just sealing the deal, darling.” Whistling joyfully, he grabbed the box of groceries and headed to the kitchen.
Flabbergasted that he would pull such a trick, Jessie huffed, spinning on her heels. Okay, so he had a nice mouth, but that didn’t mean she had to like him.
Another great set of interview. Wonderfully informative. Thank you so much.
Jen
Afternoon Sam and Shiela!
Sam, so looking forward to reading Forbidden: The Revolution! It will be great to read Bryon and Violet as well as more characters! I really loved the first two books!
Shiela, a haunted house sounds so great! Loved the excerpt where the conversation (can’t think of a good word right now) was a blast to read between them. Its nice to meet you too!
Too sorry on the old post with finding the links to the authors site. I missed them going back and forth reading. Thanks for having all the info here to look up the sites and books!
Thanks Cathie. The Banter between C.J. and Jessie is hillarious at times, but when they get together, its phenominal.
Hello everyone! I’d like to extend a special thanks to Mandy for letting the LBR authors take over her blog this week. This is the first chance that I’ve had to check in. I’m on vacation in Las Vegas and having a wonderful time. But it’s not ALL fun and games. I’m also here to do a little bit of on-location research for Forbidden: The Revolution which is mostly set here in Vegas. It looks like everyone has had a terrific week!
Great interview! Books sound great!
Great interview! This publisher has some great books. I have been so impressed that I went and took a look at the website. I can see a couple of books already that I would love to get.
:muaha: :DD
“Scott: He’s thinking pussy even if he’s not saying it. Ask him.”
:DD :DD :DD :DD
Cherie,
Thanks for checking out the web-site. We’re all very proud of the work that we do here at LBR. Not to mention, the very talented authors that we get to showcase.
Ohmigosh, I HAVE to read Forbidden:The Awakening! I LOVE vampires and I love it that she gets stranded on his island.
Secrets of the Dead sounds wonderful too! And the excerpt definitely sealed the deal- thanks for putting it up Cathie! I love the lines “Okay, so he had a nice mouth, but that didn’t mean she had to like him.” and “Okay, sure, it was nice hair, but did he have to keep drawing attention to it like that?”- Too cute!
Both of these books are definitely on my To Get list- I love paranormal romance! And I always like it so much better when the woman is mortal and the man is paranormal.
Samantha- I forgot I wanted to say how I was dying laughing when I read the story about changing the term for her private parts. See- I can’t even say it!
Shiela,
My compliments on the choice you made for the Male in the cover for “Secrets of the Dead”. He has the “Something” that is required for an excellent interpretation of a Paranormal human. He is a little familiar. Who is he?
BlueValkerie,
I’m glad that you liked the cover of Shiela’s Secrets of the Dead. I don’t know the name of the model – but the photographer is Ernesto Rolandelli.
Lori
Mandy,
I appreciate your interest in my Forbidden Series and I’m glad that you could relate to my story about the naming the private parts quandry. LOL!
Sam
Thanks, Blue V. I don’t know who was used for the cover but I think he looks like a young Michael J. Fox.
Samantha- I’m just glad to hear there’s more than one Forbidden book!
Sheila- I just noticed I thanked the wrong person for putting the Secrets of the Dead excerpt up. Sorry about that!
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to visit with us this week!