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Shiny and New – What could be coming in 2013 (and a giveaway!)



by Danielle Jackson

Happy New Year! I know it’s been over a week, but doesn’t everything still feel shiny and new? I think so. Around this time a lot of people look back and reflect on the year past, but I like to look forward to the year ahead... Here are some things I think will be making a big impact in romance/publishing and book PR and marketing:

Evolution of the Author/Reader Relationship: we saw quite a bit of this last year, but I think 2013 will continue to see changes between authors and readers. Many of you have heard it from me, but social media is now a must when thinking about promoting your books. Authors and Readers can connect instantly—be it through a fabulous email, a Twitter discussion about a book, or a snarky review. You should all know my social media mantra: THE INTERNET LASTS FOREVER! So think very carefully about your interactions and how you want to be perceived among readers.

Romance in the Mainstream: The book I’m about to mention has become something of a “book-that-must-not-be-named” in our PR department, but there is no denying that 50 Shades of Grey has put romance in front of way more people than ever before. Just what was it about this book? I’m really not sure, because I will readily admit that I still have not read it (I know, right?), but I do know that talking about romance, in all subgenres, has never been easier. Should you compare your book to 50 Shades? Probably not, but it helps get conversations started.
 
What it means to be PUBLISHED: Are you a “real” author if you’re self-published? I think so. Are you a sellout because you went with one of the big six? I don’t think so. Are ebooks “real” books? Heck yes! Do bookstores still have impact? YUP. One of the things I look forward to watching in 2013 is how the book industry changes. There is so much going on, and so much more to come. It is an exciting time to be in the publishing industry, and I’m looking forward to a crazy ride!

New Names: Sourcebooks has so much going on in 2013, it’s not even funny. And we have some brand new romance authors coming out with debut novels, or already established authors writing in new genres, and current Casa authors branching out with new series… GET EXCITED!

And speaking of New Names… by the end of 2013, I will have a new one! Over the last few years I’ve casually mentioned my boyfriend, who I affectionately call Z… Well, now he’s my fiancé! We’re still in the early stages of planning things out, but we’re so excited :) And I think it is pretty cool that our other Casa publicist, Beth, is ALSO getting married in 2013!! What a fun year!

So, what’s new with everyone here? Leave a comment, and be entered to win a prize pack of some Casablanca review copies: A Howl for a Highlander by Terry Spear, Lady Eve’s Indiscretion by Grace Burrowes, Once Again a Bride by Jane Ashford, and Wildcat by Cheryl Brooks! Please leave an email address so I can contact you directly. US and Canada only.

Comments

  1. BIG, HUGE Congratulations on your engagement! What an exciting year is ahead for you and Beth!
    What's new? I'm counting the days until my debut women's fiction, The Blue Ribbon Jalapeno Society Jubilee, hits the shelves while I work on the second one set in Cadillac, Texas...The Red Hot Chili Cookoff. 13 is my lucky number so this is My year and I'm going to enjoy every single day of it.
    Looks like it's going to be your lucky number, too, Danielle! You'll always remember it as the year you and Z... got married!

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  2. Congrats on your engagement, Danielle! I had advance notification of it, didn't I? ;)

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  3. Congratulations on your engagement!!

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  4. How exciting, Danielle! Tell Z he's a lucky guy and we all think so.

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  5. Congrats Danielle! I love the blog post, especially with picks. I hope it's a exciting new year for all y'all.
    countessofmar(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  6. Happy New Year to everybody! It's been awile since I could come over. Best wishes Danielle, sounds like you hit the big lottery!
    The picks are great and I would love all the books choosen. If I don't win, I can always buy, but you know how it goes! jessie40j@hotmail.com.

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  7. congrats to you both. i wish all a great new year - and me the book wildcat...lol

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  8. ups - i forget:
    gabi dot wurst at arcor dot de

    *grins and winks*

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  9. Congratulations! I honestly don't have anything new on the horizon but you know how that is, when you least expect it...At least I know there will be new books in my future and that's the next best thing :)

    catslady5(at)aol.com

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  10. Hey, now! This is a romance blog. We need all the details on the proposal! Congrats on the engagement :-) I'm pretty excited about some of the books I know are coming this spring!

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  11. Congratulations on your engagement, Danielle!

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  12. Congrats! :) That's great news. :)

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  13. Congratulations on your engagement!

    New for this year, I am trying to branch out and instead of just focusing on work, will be looking to invest more time in hobbies.

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  14. Wonderful news, Danielle! I'm sending tons of best wishes to you and Beth. How thrilling for both of you. I hope you'll share the excitment with us along the way. And my congratulations to Z. I'd say he's one lucky guy!
    Amelia

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  15. Danielle, mega congrats! I didn't know Beth was getting married too. I'll have to hit her up.

    I hope 2013 brings us all good things to come.

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  16. Congrats to you and Beth, Danielle. I'm just hoping we all have a great 2013.

    janie1215 AT excite DOT com

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  17. Congrats to you both!

    Not much news here.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  18. What reader doesn't want more books? I already know and love Cheryl Brooks and Terry Spears but am always open to discovering new-to-me authors:) Count me in! nbristow at verizon.net

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  19. A lot of exciting things going on, congrats on the engagement and good luck to everyone entering the giveaway.

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  20. Barbara Johnson
    raeraecat1@hotmail.com

    Lol forgot that with my comment

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  21. Thanks very much everyone--it really is an exciting time!

    As for the engagement story: it was a Saturday morning, I was taking a million years to get ready and when I finally finished my hair and went to our room to grab a sweater, I turned around and there he was, on his knee! It was very sweet and quiet, just us and our dog :)

    Happy 2013 to Everyone!

    Danielle

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  22. Congrats on getting engaged and on getting married this year! I have to agree about 50 shades of Grey. Some authors go off when it's mentioned and others are content because it brought their books to people's attention. I hope that your year is awesome!
    jessangil at gmail dot com

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  23. Congratulations, Danielle and Beth, on your engagements!

    I'm looking forward to my nieces'
    college graduations this year - how time flies!

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  24. Congrats!!! Great giveaway!!
    evan32_08@yahoo.com

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  25. congrats on the engagements :D also congrats to the new authors joining sourcebooks. alas, not much new in my world (but that's not always a bad thing) ;)
    gamistress66(at) aol(dot) com

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  26. Congrats to all of you on your engagements! I don't really have anything new happening so far, but I am hoping to finally get my disablity settled soon.
    June
    manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com

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  27. Congratulations!!! Nothing on the horizon that I know about!! Great bunch of books. Thanks for the chance.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  28. Congrats on the engagement! I don't have anything that exciting to share. My only news is that my son and his girlfriend are finally getting their own place so I'll have my house back to myself. And soon I'll be getting some new kitties to keep me company, yay. :D

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  29. Congratulations on your engagement! I have to say I love the photos you added to your post. New things for me are pretty standard this year; trying to get into a fitness routine, eating healthier, continuing to climb the learning curve of being a good parent, etc. The one non-standard thing might be me trying to get something I've written published. Thanks for sharing your positive views on 2013! risurocket@yahoo.com

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  30. Great way to start off the New Year with an engagement... or two:) CONGRATS!!! As for me there really isn't much new around here to report on... still early yet, so I'm hopeful and who knows maybe I'll get engaged too:)

    yadkny@hotmail.com

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  31. Congratulations, your life is definitely changing! How exciting for you. I am looking forward to whatever the new year brings.

    elewkf1 at yahoo dot com

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  32. Congratulations on your engagements. Hopefully this year will bring me a new job, since I lost mine right after christmas. And hopefully a lot of wonderful good reads :-)

    Dyrlae@gmail.com

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  33. Wow--thanks everyone! These were awesome comments to read this morning :)

    The winner of our ARC prize pack is

    gamistress66

    I will be emailing you shortly!

    Have a great weekend!
    Danielle

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  34. Congrats on the engagement! Not much new with me. I'm looking forward to many great books coming out this year (and reading great ones I simply haven't gotten to, yet!).
    jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

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  35. Danielle, congratulations on your upcoming marriage! I'm so happy for you! As for me, I'm working on my first 3-book series for Sourcebooks, "The Cowboys of Decker Ranch," and looking forward to the publication of "Cowboy Tough" in February.

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