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!

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Marketing with Mandy~Winners from Linden Bay Romance Week

Cathie you have won a free signed copy of Secrets of the Dead From Shiela Stewart, please contact her at shielas@shaw.ca

Cathie is the winner of an ebook of “The Secrets of Harden Long” from Peter A. Brandt, please contact him at pbrandt@rogers.com

Nicole Bishop -Cat Johnson’s signed T102: Opposites Attract, please contact her with your snail mail mailing address at cat@catjohnson.net

Joyce Miller – Jane Beckenham’s Download of Hiring Cupid, please contact her at neiljane@ihug.co.nz

**please note that not all authors had selected a winner by the time this post went LIVE, I’m sure they’ll be stopping past and announcing their winners as well. Please look for them in the comments section.

Thanks everyone for stopping by this week for our Marketing with Mandy Linden Bay Romance Publisher Spotlight

To all the readers/authors who commented throughout the week to be entered in the contest, don’t give up hope if you didn’t win… Jaci Burton (Surviving Demon Island) and Robyn Carr (MIRA author of the Virgin River Trilogy) will be joining us on Marketing with Mandy this coming week and then authors from Dorchester Publishing will be stopping by in the weeks following.

Authors/Publishers, interested in having your publisher in the spotlight? Email mandy@mandyroth.com and sign up for a week!

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Marketing with Mandy~Linden Bay Romance Publisher Spotlight Part V

Q: For anyone who doesn’t know who Linden Bay Romance is and what they do, could you please tell them a little bit about the company and yourself?

A: Sure! Linden Bay Romance is a publishing company offering romance books in electronic and print formats. Our catalogue contains short stories, novellas, and novels in all the usual romance sub-genres. We are a royalty paying publisher, with no fees paid by authors.

Our novels focus on the developing relationship between the central adult characters as they discover their attraction to each other. Passion is paramount, and you’ll almost always find a deliciously high level of unresolved sexual tension. Sex scenes range from mildly erotic to very erotic, and can be as graphic as the story and the author’s style deem appropriate. And, we love happy endings.

These are mostly fast-paced, escapist stories. So whether it’s a light comedy or a serious drama, all stories end on a positive note. Linden Bay offers memorable characters that you can relate to and heroes that you’ll fall in love with.

A little bit about Lori James? I run the operation along with my business partner, Barbara Perfetti. Barbara is the Chief Publisher and manages the acquisitions, editorial, and finance departments. I do the rest. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Baylor University in 1984 and my Masters in Social Work from San Diego State in 1988. After working for fifteen years as a psychotherapist in the healthcare industry, I left what I used to call my “real life” day job in early 2007 to pursue writing and working in the publishing industry full-time.

In addition to being the COO for Linden Bay Romance, I am a member of the Board of Directors of Worldview Press, a non-profit publishing house that specializing in children’s books. I’m also the co-owner of All Romance eBooks, an eBook distribution company that represents ninety different romance publishers.

When not hard at work, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my friends and family, reading, watching movies, and wine tasting. Or, you might find me sequestered in my office with my laptop or out at a convention or book-signing. Writing as Samantha Sommersby, I’ve had eight novels published thus far, including the critically acclaimed cross-genre paranormal romance series Forbidden.

Q: What is Linden Bay Romance in the market for from authors? What would you like to see more of? Less of?

A: At this time we’re mostly looking at manuscripts that are referred by current authors, submitted by agents, or that we’ve solicited as a result of convention editor appointments or other contacts. Can a current author refer a manuscript to us on your behalf? Yes. We have a very talented group of authors. If they recommend that we take a look at something, we’ll do it. We don’t make any promises, but we will get it to an editor for review.

Q: What do you feel is the single most important thing an author can do to promote their work, after writing a “killer” book of course?

A: Develop a presence. Doing one simple task isn’t going to do it. In order to get your name out there and get people reading your book you have to actively promote. That means doing signings, interviews, banner and print ads, blogging, social networking, maintaining a web-site, submitting work for review, distributing video trailers or Bookpeeks, participating in chats and even holding contests.

Q: What publicity can authors contracted through Linden Bay Romance expect from the publisher on their behalf?

A: Like most publishers, our marketing budget varies depending on the book itself. We find that the more an author works to market his/her book, the more we feel inclined to do so as well. At the bare minimum we will place banner ads if given a banner based on the coverart, we have a publicity company on retainer that does new release publicity, and we’ll supply print ready graphics for bookflats, postcards, and signing posters. We also host new release chats and coordinate group print ad opportunities. And there have been instances when we’ve partnered to help subsidize contest prizes, print ads, and other special promotions.

Q: What online promoting do you feel is the most effective? Blogs? Chats? Virtual Booksignings? Blog Tours? Websites? Myspace? Ect?

A: I think that MySpace is a wonderful tool and I don’t think that it’s something we’ve taken full advantage of at Linden Bay. We’re actually in the process of evaluating our current MySpace strategy and we anticipate a major change come fall.

Q: What types of advertising do you credit part of Linden Bay Romance’s success to (strictly marketing speaking, we know that the people in the company also determine success)

A: When we started out we were very small and relied mostly on banner ads. We placed them on reader sites and started to get the word out that way. Now, we also participate in a fair number of interviews, chats, place print ads, circulate announcements on blogs and via Yahoo Groups, and we submit all of our books for reviews.

Q: What conferences does Linden Bay Romance attend? Do you feel author attendance at these conferences is beneficial to their career? Why?

A: This past year we attended EPICON and the Romantic Times BookClub convention. We plan to attend those two conventions again next year and are also budgeting for COMIC-CON in San Diego and Book Expo America in Los Angeles. We do encourage author attendance at conventions. The networking opportunities alone make it worthwhile.

Q: What aspects of your job do you think it would surprise authors to hear?

A: One of the things that I do is oversee the art department. Sometimes I have to spend hours and hours searching through hundreds of photos to find just the right guy. It’s a terrible job…but someone has to do it.

Q: Does Linden Bay Romance offer catalogs / promotional items for author use when going to book-signings and for general promotional efforts? What is the procedure for attaining / requesting such items?

A: We supply print-ready new release postcard graphics on request. The authors usually then have them printed locally for distribution. The same is true for signage. When we do group signings we tend to print and provide the signage for the sake of continuity.

Q: Are there services offered to authors by Linden Bay Romance that they generally don’t take advantage of and maybe don’t know about?

A: No, we have a very active Authors’ Loop where our group actively exchange ideas and support, so the word goes out very quickly about any new opportunity that becomes available.

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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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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Marketing with Mandy~Linden Bay Romance Publisher Spotlight Part II

A: I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Linden Bay, especially since I have had experience with other publishers.

Of paramount importance to authors is Linden Bay’s respect for the writer’s voice and story. Manuscripts go through a content edit where the editor points out issues and/or inconsistencies, many of which are not apparent to the person crafting the story. The content editor looks at the manuscript as a reader might, making suggestions. The difference I have found with Linden Bay is that the decision to publish, and/or what to publish, is mutually arrived at by the editors, publisher, and author.

Why is this important when what every writer wants to be is published? I had a young adult novel published (mercifully under another name) which was such a dreadful experience I have never been able to read the book through. Suffice to say, I was a novice and I should have known to pull the plug when they changed the book drastically, cut out what I considered the best parts, and, in the end, lopped it off and ended it in the middle. It was, however, well-marketed and has made money for me, which is something, but honestly not the most important thing.

Being published with a work you are proud of is far more important than just being published.
Trust me!

Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?

A: I have to admit that promotion and marketing is not my strong suit. (Okay, we can all stop laughing now—I readily admit it remains to be determined if I even have a strong suit.)

One of my issues is living in a small community where I’m a little reluctant to show up at the local bookstore for a signing. Why?

People who know you just don’t seem to get that it’s a “story”—they think it’s really your story. (Which of course it is, in many ways, but not in the obvious ways everyone thinks. Because redheads are underrepresented as heroines, mine frequently are, but that doesn’t mean that the redhead in the book is me. No one, I fear, really believes that.)

However, I have just drawn up a new organization schedule for myself with goals to be met weekly in marketing.

I think it probably helps to join a number of groups, something that I’ve done, but haven’t mustered up the organization to post on a periodic basis. I have also joined a local writers’ group, with the intent that group-marketing might work better for me.

Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?

A: Don’t give up. Persevere. Try different genres—all writing experience informs you. Enter contests where you receive feedback.

The best advice I might give is—always read your work aloud. If you have a critique group with whom you are comfortable, read aloud to them. But always remember it’s your voice! Even if you only read aloud to yourself, it works.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: The Not-So-Victorian Viscount is set in mid-19th Century Hong Kong, then a British colony.
Forever letting her curiosity get the better of her, our heroine, Angelica Aldrich, has refined her penchant for listening at doors to a high art.

Just out from Virginia, Angelica joins her brother, David, and his wife as the couple await the arrival of their first child.

When David’s business partner, the dashing Viscount St. Alban, returns from a sea voyage, Angelica is surprised to find that the shortage of appropriate housing for foreigners requires the Aldriches and St. Alban to share a house.

Despite Angelica’s shock at St. Alban’s rakish ways and unsuitable female companions, she is quickly charmed by a pup he took in as a foundling.

Angelica gradually develops a friendship with the enigmatic, mysterious St. Alban himself, a man whom so many women find attractive but who seems to have no close friends.

Exotic Hong Kong excites Angelica’s interest. Unlike most of the expatriates, she is fascinated by Chinese culture, considered by the others inappropriate and even dangerous. St. Alban alone encourages her, even persuading one of the mandarins to instruct her in painting.

The expatriate community is startled when the Black Dragon, a mysterious pirate, begins raiding ships in the vicinity.

Will Angelica’s curiosity put her in the path of danger?

Will St. Alban’s secret plot for revenge on an old rival succeed?

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?

A: The alpha males ride again! Hey, I love these guys and they work better in historicals. I’m taking a chain saw to a Victorian novel set in India, hoping to cut it in half. (Even Tolstoy was not as wordy as I can be.) My characters have enough adventures to stock a television series.

I’m also at work on a historical set in Central and South America.
My heroes tend to be Clark-Gable-as-Rhett-Butler playing a new role. That’s the kind of man I adore and my heroines do, too.

Q: How do you come up with your ideas?

A: I daydream. My mind wanders when I drive and I end up in all sorts of unexpected places. I keep a notebook beside me in the car and I have learned to make notes without looking. (I know, I know, this woman is even more dangerous than someone yakking on a cell phone while driving.)

Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?

A: Maybe it was growing up in the South, but I always knew my most important degree would be my MRS. Despite coming of age during the feminist revolution and becoming a charter subscriber to MS. magazine (that subscription caused the first fight between me and my husband-to-be), I was always looking for Rhett Butler.

My dolls and my paper dolls were romantics. I kept a diary which I hoped in later years would beguile me into thinking I had a hot romantic life, too. Unfortunately my mother read that and I was always getting lectured about something that (sadly) never happened. I wrote excruciatingly sweet romances in high school that all my friends read. (Surprisingly, they remain friends today.)

When I went off to college, I was more interested in romance than studying (rather the sort of thing my own Student Prince does today).

Gone with the Wind was my favorite book (yes, Rhett came back to Scarlet) and Anna Karenina and Dr. Zhivago were close seconds. (There are no happy endings in real literature.)
I like writing romance because I like reading it. I’m a romantic at heart. In my view, love is an extraordinary force.

I don’t consider my writing “erotica,” but it is indeed more sensual than books were fifty years ago. I sort of think a higher degree of the sensual is the norm for contemporary writing. To omit it in adult literature would almost render the writing archaic in sound. Sensuality is even pretty much a given in the mysteries and spy novels my husband reads.

Having said that, portraying hints of passion and sexuality (not to mention the book covers!) do inhibit some of my attempts at marketing. I grew up in a small town and shedding the notion of “what people think” is not easy. Sometimes I feel like a split personality. I’m very active in my church. Wow, would a “church lady” write stuff like this? Would a docent at a premier American art museum write romance? Would the lady who reviews art exhibitions for Philadelphia’s Main Line weeklies write romance?

LINKS:
Homepage
Blog
E-mail: MarieCarroll@mariecarroll.com
Publisher

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Linden Bay Romance

A: Working with Linden Bay Romance has been one of the best experiences in my writing career. Barb Perfetti makes certain that each book LBR publishes is “worthy” of four and five star reviews.

I’ve written SF, fantasy, and horror for a number of years, but In Trysts was my first romance. Barb was really patient with her explanations regarding the distinctions between romance, which is character-driven, and my other novels, which tend to be more action-driven. I have to say that I had never been through so many edits as I was with In Trysts. By the time it was released, I could feel confident of its technical, and hopefully content, quality.

Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?

A: Blogging, ads, interacting in chatrooms with readers, posting excerpts and book titles on sites which specialize in that genre.

Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?

A: Patience, perseverance, providence: if you’re patient enough, and work long and hard at perfecting your craft, some day you’ll find yourself in the right place at the right time, and you’ll be published.

Q: What types of research do you do for your books?

A: Scientific journals, archeology journals, history journals, and all the databases therein. I’m a student as well, and I’ve done postgrad mycology as well as archeology, with a little virology tossed in. My problem is frequently too much information! Once something interests me, it’s difficult for me to let go.

Q: How do balance family and writing?

A: I get up at 4 a.m., and 3.30 a.m. when the situation calls for it. I have 14-year-old at home, but not so very long ago all four of my kids were still at home. I’d steal time when I could between work and mothering, read parts of my fantasy novels aloud to my children to determine whether they flowed, and basically give myself impossible deadlines that I’d then somehow fulfill.
Since I’m solo parenting, I do the 4 a.m. rising, sandwich in class and projects around writing, and quit everything at 3.45, when my daughter gets home from school. That’s her time, and she needs to feel valued. A lot of the time we may just watch TV, yak, do the DVD thing, or I’ll read aloud to her. She still enjoys that. We may shop or sing, goof around. She understands if I have the occasional urgent project, but I try to manage my time around her. It’s a matter of priorities. Published books may feed my ego and my pocket, but my children fill my heart. They come first.

Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?

A: Actually, I don’t! Oh, horrors!

I find it much more fun to write SF or fantasy, with a bit of romance tossed in. I actually find it a bit boring to slant the entire book toward the interaction between two characters. It’s something I haven’t really been able to change about my writing, either. All my books tend to have multiple characters, undertones of horror, and threat coming at the characters every which way.

I think it gets to my romance editors every once in a while – the way my action jumps here and there to tear the characters apart, maybe with another character, a monster, a demon or a mutant. Sigh! These things happen. You never know when you’re about to kiss someone, and he suddenly begins to arc electricity. LOL

Q: What would you do if you weren’t a writer?

A: What I’m already doing, only more of it. I oil paint, plus I’m a full-time postgrad student in archeology. The goal remains the same: finish up and do two-week research stints throughout the Pacific Islands. I’d also paint a heck of a lot more, and maybe begin to market my work again. I have pieces in eight countries, but always worry that I may have lost my “edge”.

LINKS:

http://MelodyKnight.com
http://www.NDHansen-Hill.com
Books at fictionwise
Publisher Author Page
CP Publisher Author Page
MySpace

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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Marketing with Mandy~Linden Bay Romance Publisher Spotlight Part I

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Linden Bay Romance

A: I can honestly say that LBR ‘discovered’ me. They plucked a short story I sent them out of the submissions box and turned it into the first of my 6 trilogies. That piece was “Taking a Leap” and it is the first story in Trilogy No. 102: Opposites Attract. It’s a romantic comedy about a sexy computer geek who finds himself in an interesting position when he and a coworker have to rewrite the missing sex scenes of an erotic romance novel in a client’s damaged computer.

Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?

A: I do the usual stuff—I write a regular column for Wicked Escapes Ezine, participate in chats, maintain a website and a MySpace, design promo items, etc., but it is coming up with unique and creative ideas that really gets me excited. I go all out, head to toe. I really enjoy a theme! At booksignings for my military romances, I dress in camouflage (right down to my camo high-heels), have camouflage-wrapped Hershey kisses and give out book cover postcards with attached sample packs of Gun Oil personal lubricant—a product formulated by actual Marines during Operation Desert Storm. For the release of my first book, which has a high heel shoe on the cover, I found a stiletto cookie cutter and handed out cellophane bags of shoe cookies and bookmarks at the opening day of our town pool.

Recently, my publisher suggested I commission a cat logo to brand myself as an author. I did, from a very talented artist who also happens to be my aunt, and I am thrilled with my new logo. It is a very cute but sexy kitty cat (with green eyes like me) and the tagline I came up with is ‘Cattitude’. I love it and have just spent a ton of time and money on new promo gear with her on it. Check it out at www.cafepress.com/catjohnson. The doggy shirt that says ‘Cattitude’ on it is hysterical! If only my dog would wear it!

Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?

A: Learn as much as you can from other authors early on. Everyone in this business is very willing to share his or her knowledge. We were all beginners once and we are all still learning.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: I am very excited about my newest full-length novel with Linden Bay Romance, A Few Good Men. It is the next in my military romance series and revisits some old favorite characters but focuses mainly on an Army Staff Sergeant deployed in Iraq who finds himself unexpectedly and unwillingly falling for his pen pal back in the states.

Q: What types of research do you do for your books?

A: The Internet is an unbelievable resource for multiple reasons. First, and most obvious, research. I can Google anything and find what I need to know. But the World Wide Web also connects me to millions of people around the globe. I research my military books by emailing and instant messaging actual deployed troops on the front lines. There is nothing more amazing than knowing you are communicating in real time with someone seven thousand miles away. It can be frightening when they type in ‘Gotta Go! Getting shelled’ and then sign off. But even with the gray hair worrying about these brave men gives me, I wouldn’t give up that contact for anything and the information, the feeling of really being there right down to the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes they provide, is invaluable in my writing. I wouldn’t have wanted to write A Few Good Men without the input from my military guys.

Q: How do you come up with your ideas?

A: I’ve seen a t-shirt that says ‘Careful or you’ll end up in my novel’. It is so true. I find myself seeing potential for a story everywhere and my friends know their lives are fair game for book fodder. I guess that is the beauty of writing contemporary romance. It is real life but a whole lot more fun.

Q: What would you do if you weren’t a writer?

A: I would be a librarian. I really love books. There is nothing more beautiful than a room full, floor to ceiling, of books.

LINKS:
http:// www.catjohnson.net
http:// www.myspace.com/authorcatjohnson
http://www.lindenbayromance.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LindenBayRomance/

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Linden Bay Romance.

A: We’ll I’m the newbie on the block. I was introduced to LB via my great friend writer, Melody Knight. I submitted my sensual novel Hiring Cupid. They’re a great company and I found their feedback so positive and inspiring. Certainly great editorship.

Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?

A: I’ve just begun doing lots of chats, interviews, writing articles etc. I’ll be doing a live radio promo in late June which is exciting. It’s with a station in the United States and considering I’m way down in New Zealand, it’s a biggie for me.

Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?

A: Don’t give up. Work hard. Grit your teeth when you get rejections, and eat chocolate! But also learn that writing the book is the easy part. Selling, promoting and then turning around and doing it all over again, that’s the hard part. But that is were your determination comes in.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: Hiring Cupid is being released 1 July from Linden Bay Romance. It’s a fun, sexy book, where a desperate and dateless Carly Mason must front up with the man she’s being bragging about. A man who adores her and is as sexy as sin. About to admit he doesn’t exist, fate delivers her Marco Valente, a knight in shining armor. The charismatic Italian fits the description of Carly’s fictional Mr. Perfect. A man totally averse to marriage. So who needs cupid? Before she can stop herself, she makes a daring proposal and hires Marco to spend for four long days…and nights with her. Alone on an island, with no way off, Carly finds herself unable to resist Marco’s charms, and gives in to passion—a passion that seems every bit as perfect as the fantasy. But then reality comes knocking. Will their newly discovered feelings survive? Or will Cupid’s arrow miss its mark?

Q: How do you come up with your ideas?

A: My poor brain won’t leave me alone! Very annoying at times, when I’m trying to sleep, which has become a tad elusive since I began writing. But often I find my ideas come as dreams, or when you’re at that half sleep stage, as I drift off, or just before I waken fully. Sometimes they’re full blown stories, dialogue, plot, and definitely my hero too! I remember one weekend, I was in a trance, all weekend, as a whole story, the characters talking to each other etc, full scenes just hit me hour after hour – and no, I don’t wear a straightjacket, though if this keeps up, you never know!

I don’t normally get ideas from reading articles, or the newspaper, it’s more like settings. I.e. My book Always a Bridesmaid came to me as I was in a hotel staying for the RWNZ conference. I imagined a fire and this hunk in boxer shorts which cupids firing arrows on them, knocking on my heroine’s door, telling her to get out. Of course that only ended up about 2 paragraphs in the book, but hey it was the birth of Always A Bridesmaid.

Normally, I will write my ideas down, even if it’s just a back cover blurb. Those often come while I’m driving and at once stage I always carried one of those Dictaphones with me to babble away to, in case I lost the thought – which is always a possibility when there’s too much crowded in on the grey matter!

Q: How do balance family and writing?

A: I write at 5 a.m. and then when the kids are at school, then I write after dinner and usually late into the evening. I’m doing this at 11 pm, and I was up at 5 a.m. – see I said sleep isn’t a requirement!
But I do try and not write during the day in the weekends and keep that for the family, though if there’s a deadline, my family are very understanding. It is easy however, to let it rule your life!

Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?

A: I like writing romance because I like a happy ending. I like it be a bit of a tough journey, but ultimately everyone wants to be happy. Don’t we all want the magic of true, everlasting love, a love so deep and real, that really counts? In books that is magic. And attainable. Although you gotta make the hero and heroine suffer a bit. I love the possibility in romance of finding out what makes my characters tick, what is it in their background that makes them act a particular way, or say something.

For example, in my current WIP – A Traitor at Heart – a regency for which M&B have asked for the full manuscript, my heroine is from the slums of London’s East End. She’s never had enough to eat as a child, and there she is in the midst of the high society’s over indulgence. How does it make her feel seeing all that food?

I write romance because it can cover so many genres. My first two books are time travel romances, the next two contemporary, so love covers every style of book and gives authors a great choice.

LINKS:
Website
Newsletter
Blog

Publishers www.lindenbayromance.com
www.trebleheartbooks.com

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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Interview at Lust Bites

Hi everyone… Deanna Ashford (Black Lace Author who can pen the hell out of a sex scene) has interviewed me for the Lust Bites Blog. If you get a sec, stop by and say hi! I’d love to have ya!

LUST BITES BLOG

I’ll be selecting a winner from the people who comment there today. Winner will get a PDF download of Red Light Specialists!

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Mandy & Michelle Present Character Lovin’

If you could be any character from our books, which you be and why?

www.michellepillow.com
www.mandyroth.com

Reply to this post with your answer and you’ll be entered to win a PDF download of your choice from our backlist.

M&M

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Marketing with Mandy~The Romance Galleria

Marketing with Mandy would like to extend a welcome to Dawn from The Romance Galleria. Thanks for chatting with us today, Dawn. I’d like to take a moment to mention to mention how absolutely cool (yes, I used the word cool in this interview) what you’re doing is. Tell us about yourself.

Can you tell us a little about The Romance Galleria?

The Romance Galleria is a virtual venue offering chats, events, exhibits and storefront services to romance authors, publishers and related industry professionals. Like your local hotel or convention center, the Romance Galleria offers a variety of services and amenities for all your promotional event needs. From public author chats to paid workshop events to private staff meetings, the Galleria has the flexibility to offer professionals a virtual environment available anytime, anywhere. It’s the only truly interactive, real-time 3D world in the industry.

What inspired the idea?

The idea was actually conceived almost a year ago during a visit with my father, who is the developer of the Expo3D program, which runs the Galleria. It just so happened to be the week of the big Romantic Times convention. We got to talking about how I would have liked to go but just couldn’t justify spending the money or time for such a quick event. He had just launched his first electronic convention through Expo3D and when he showed it to me, I said, “RT needs to do this so everyone can attend their event.” That was the beginning of the Galleria.

How difficult was it to set up and to maintain?

Well, if you crack open the code to the Galleria you’ll see a lot of my blood, sweat and tears in there. LOL! For me, it was an extremely difficult process because although I’ve been a designer for the past seven years, this was my first crack at 3D. So I had to not only concept the idea for the Galleria, but teach myself 3D in order to design it. It took me close to a year to build the actual world that is now the Galleria. We launched this February on Valentine’s Day by hosting the CAPA awards for The Romance Studio. Maintaining the Galleria is a daily job. Although I’ve got it down to a science now, the Galleria is a dynamic environment that’s always changing and evolving as my staff and I come up with new and exciting ideas to try. So it’s still very much a full-time job for me.

What are some of the fun things readers can do while visiting the Galleria?

We like to say the Galleria is one-part video game because there are so many fun things to do there. Right now we have two weekly chats: our Mocha Mondays, which are wonderful hour long author chats and our Friday Film Series in which we offer a virtual showing of some of the best romance trailers and then chat with the authors and developers. In addition we are finalizing a third weekly chat called Wild Wednesdays which features authors and publishers specializing in erotic romance. In the next few months we’ll be hosting our second Murder Mystery Game night (the first was wildly successful and a lot of fun), we have a few book signing parties and some upcoming chats with some of our Galleria authors including Lori Foster. Starting in July we will also be hosting a monthly eBookclub presented by All Romance eBooks.

Live events are certainly our specialty, but there is plenty to do in the Galleria during the off days. We have a Trailer Theater where readers can sit back, grab a bag of popcorn and watch some fabulous romance trailers. The Galleria is also the virtual home to tons of wonderful authors, publishers and industry sites. Our Exhibit Hall features stunning suites and alcoves for such individuals as Lori Foster, Carly Phillips, Michelle Pillow, The Romance Studio and Mardi Gras Publishing. In addition we’re also currently building a library where readers (and authors) are welcome to read some free stories and books, browse through a selection of books offered by our Galleria authors, read transcripts from past chats, visit with other Galleria guests and read some wonderful articles.

What are the steps involved in loading the Galleria onto ones computer?

The download and installation process is actually pretty simple. We’ve designed it to be very user-friendly. You simply visit our website and click the download links. A set-up wizard will walk you through the installation, so the whole process is relatively quick and painless! The Galleria and its host program, Expo3D, are completely free. There are no fees to use, visit or download the Galleria.

I’d like to take this opportunity to mention a few key notes about downloads and installations. First off, the Galleria is a very large virtual world. We have over two dozen rooms and alcoves in the Galleria so please note that the download process does take a few moments (and can take upwards of 20 minutes or more on slower connections). But believe me, the first time you walk through the Galleria, you’ll see it was well worth the short wait.  Also, the Galleria is not currently compatible with Macs. Expo3D is currently working on a Mac version but it will be some time before this product is ready to release.

Do you offer authors ways to promote via the Galleria? If so, what do you offer?

Oh, yes, beneath its video game façade, the Galleria is at it’s very core, a promotional tool. We currently offer chat hosting, promotional exhibits, private suites, virtual book signing events, specialized large events (like the CAPA’s, Cameo Awards and our Murder Mystery Nights), general cover art advertising, and book trailer promotion. In addition we also offer a variety of free promotional opportunities including our weekly hosted chats.

Any words of wisdom for authors just starting out as far as promotions go?

Authors need a marketing plan in place even before they get their books published. Internet venues like The Romance Galleria offer a wide variety of both free and paid promotional opportunities for authors to take advantage of, and that fit any budget or need. Banner ads, cover art ads, MySpace and Bebo pages, book videos, newsletters, blogs, websites – these are all “must-haves” for authors, but they’re not enough. Authors have to be willing and unafraid to roll their sleeves up and market for themselves. A publisher or advertising outlet can only do so much to draw readers to your work. The rest is up to you, and it can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Links:

Visit us on the website at http://www.theromancegalleria.com to find out more about our virtual venue.

For general information and questions about our services please contact us via email at info@theromancegalleria.com

Thanks so much for stopping by, Dawn!

CONTEST: Monday-Friday of this week– anyone who comments on The Romance Galleria’s blog post (on this blog only) will be entered to win a download of their choice from Mandy’s backlist

To enter: Comment on the blog in a Marketing with Mandy Romance Galleria post this week! The more you enter, the more chances you have to win. Winners will be selected on when I get back from RWA and announced on the blog.

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Marketing with Mandy~ WINNERS from Virgin Spotlight

Please email me your choices mandy@mandyroth.com

Thanks everyone for stopping by this week for our Marketing with Mandy Virgin Publishing Spotlight! The authors were awesome for taking time out with us to share their tips/ tricks/ and experiences.

To all the readers/authors who commented throughout the week to be entered in the contest, don’t give up hope if you didn’t win this week… I’ll be spotlighting others pubs this summer, including Kensington, Lotus and so very many more!

Authors/Publishers, interested in having your publisher in the spotlight? Email mandy@mandyroth.com and sign up for a week!

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