Marketing with Mandy~ Author Jaci Burton
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Bantam Dell.
A: My agent sent out the proposal to Surviving Demon Island, the first in my Demon Hunter series, and Bantam Dell was one of three houses who bid for the book at auction. Bantam Dell is an incredible publishing house that publishes some amazing authors like Karen Marie Moning, Tara Janzen, Shana Abe and others, so I was thrilled at the prospect of writing for them. Bantam Dell ended up the high bidder and I was so excited that my Demon Hunter series found a home there.
I have a fantastic editor, Shauna Summers. She’s very tough, extremely thorough and really understands the concept of worldbuilding, characterization and building a series in paranormals. I really enjoy working with her. She’s been an incredible help to me in guiding me along the way as I write the Demon Hunter series.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: Get your name out there. Advertising, blogging, contests, whatever it takes. You have to talk about your book… a lot. Do guest spots, interviews, send out bookmarks, run contests. I think a lot of what marketing is just getting name recognition and word of mouth, so when readers see your book on the shelf, they remember your name. I really love talking to readers, so that part is pretty easy for me. I like the exposure of the internet, so I enjoy blogging and talking about my writing life, and just life in general. I’m also a reader of romance, of course, so I like to engage readers about what everyone is reading.
Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Don’t expect readers to find you and your book. It’s not enough just to write the book and have the book published. You have to go out and find your readers, let them know who you are. Be social. Get your name out there, over and over and over again.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: Hunting the Demon is the second book in my Demon Hunter series. It’s set in Australia, and the demon hunters are on the trail of Nic Diavolo, Derek’s brother. Derke was the hero in Surviving Demon Island, the first book. Now they have to locate and grab, Nic, and determine whether Nic is on the side of the Realm of Light—those who fight the demons, or on the side of the Sons of Darkness, the dark demon Lords. Helping Derek is Shay, a relatively new demon hunter who is charged with watching over Nic. And Shay has a secret of her own, one she uses to learn more about Nic and who he is. Nic and Shay are a very hot couple who share some supercharged scenes together. I love them, and hope the readers fall in love with them too.
Q: What’s your favorite genre to write in and why?
A: I write in two genres, actually. I write paranormal romance for Bantam Dell, and I write contemporary erotic romance for both Berkley and Samhain. I have to say I love both, because by the time I finish writing a paranormal romance, I’m ready for a genre change, and it’s easy to slip into writing a contemporary erotic romance, because it’s a complete turnaround for me. By the same token, when I finish a contemporary, I’m ready to dive into the complex world of the demon hunters again. So I have the best of both worlds this way. *grin*
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?
A: I’m currently working on the third Demon Hunters book. Titled The Demon’s Touch, this one will be Ryder and Angelique’s story. You’ll meet Ryder and Angelique in Hunting the Demon. It’s set in Italy, and once again, it’s a complex story with a ton of twists and turns and surprises. I’m having a blast writing it.
Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?
A: Probably because I love reading it so much. Romance to me is my fantasy. I live for the happily ever after. I started reading romance when I was a teenager, and was swept away with the larger than life couples who met, fought, fell in love, and through every conflict, managed to find their way to each other and make it work. Life is so hard, and finding that one person to love is sometimes even harder. I love making it work in my books. And I’ve always written hot love scenes, so branching out into erotic romance seemed natural to me. Sex is a natural human emotion, and I love showing it on the page—it’s another way for my characters to communicate their desire and their love for each other.
LINKS:
Website
Blog
Chat Group
MySpace
Jaci Burton will be giving one lucky person a copy of Surviving Demon Island! To be entered to win, comment here!
