Just how good are you at this yoga thing? Yesterday, I tried to do the intro yoga class I used to teach (10 years ago). Oy! The pain! I'm so sore and inflexible, I feel like a broken pretzel. Hopefully your authors don't need to demonstrate yoga skills to impress you!
I am a reader so this question is for someone in the know about Sourcebooks-Casablanca-Discover A New Love... I found the Discover A New Love website just after it was launched and adored it immediately. I mean as a dedicated romance reader of all genres what was not to like? For an investment of $9.99 I could get 6 digital books (that downloaded easily and completely to my Nook Color WITH the color thumbnails in place) and get introduced to new to me authors and win books and prizes! It was awesome. Now the website is not being used except for the monthly book choices and discounted purchase of the Sourcebook romance authors books (with a bad search engine for searching for all a particular author's books). I use it A LOT every month! But I am in constant fear the monthly choices won't appear each month and I won't get my FIX of favorite Sourcebooks releases that I found from the site to begin with. They frequently are posted late and I'm a mess (lol).
My question is: Is Sourcebooks going to continue the DANL venue and discount monthly? Can I relax about getting my monthly romance releases with my banked membership choices? I'm frustrated at trying to download books from other venues (Kobo & Harlequin) that offer discounts as they almost always have incomplete or problematic digital issues with my Nook Color I'm dying to know what corporate thinking is. The customer service at DANL is AWESOME!
I'm so glad you love Discover a New Love. I will find out from our ecommerce team what the plans are. Email me directly at deb.werksman@sourcebooks.com and I'll let you know what they say!
My question(s) is: In today's fairly crowded market, what can a writer do--other than writing the best book possible--to better reach readers? Are blogs still useful or on their way out? Do the new changes at Facebook change which social media platform to use to reach our readers?
Asa, that is a great question. I think different authors find different social media tools more effective than others. Blogs are definitely useful, Facebook makes fans feel closer to you and as if they know you personally, Twitter is great if you're pithy. Our PR department and marketing department like to work on every front (a friend of mine says "Forward in all directions." I love that!). Another thing that's very important is the "hook"--if you have a strong hook, it makes it much easier to talk about the book in every medium.
Hi Deb! Thanks for doing this! I always love the chance to "talk" with you. For authors, what floats your boat nowadays? What makes your heart sing in submissions?
Hi Cassie! I'm open to all kinds of submissions these days. What makes my heart sing is a really great hook--like Asa's immortal Viking warriors, for example. Or Kim Redford's Cowboy firefighters. We love all subgenres of single title romance.
Hi Debra, I am looking for "Dallas" type contemporaries--set in the world of the rich and kitschy, with tons of action and glamour--I'm also looking for contemporaries about ordinary people. I'd love to see some really original paranormals--maybe with some magical realism. Romantic suspense with military or law enforcement themes, and historical westerns, contemporary westerns, a late Victorian would be awesome!
Are you still here, Deb? Joining in late, but I have a contemporary romance that takes place in Scotland with Vikings (movie stars). Might that interest you?
Just how good are you at this yoga thing? Yesterday, I tried to do the intro yoga class I used to teach (10 years ago). Oy! The pain! I'm so sore and inflexible, I feel like a broken pretzel. Hopefully your authors don't need to demonstrate yoga skills to impress you!
ReplyDeleteJade, you are hilarious. No, we don't require yoga skills in our authors. However, the ability to make your editor laugh is definitely a plus.
ReplyDeleteI am a reader so this question is for someone in the know about Sourcebooks-Casablanca-Discover A New Love... I found the Discover A New Love website just after it was launched and adored it immediately. I mean as a dedicated romance reader of all genres what was not to like? For an investment of $9.99 I could get 6 digital books (that downloaded easily and completely to my Nook Color WITH the color thumbnails in place) and get introduced to new to me authors and win books and prizes! It was awesome. Now the website is not being used except for the monthly book choices and discounted purchase of the Sourcebook romance authors books (with a bad search engine for searching for all a particular author's books). I use it A LOT every month! But I am in constant fear the monthly choices won't appear each month and I won't get my FIX of favorite Sourcebooks releases that I found from the site to begin with. They frequently are posted late and I'm a mess (lol).
ReplyDeleteMy question is: Is Sourcebooks going to continue the DANL venue and discount monthly? Can I relax about getting my monthly romance releases with my banked membership choices? I'm frustrated at trying to download books from other venues (Kobo & Harlequin) that offer discounts as they almost always have incomplete or problematic digital issues with my Nook Color I'm dying to know what corporate thinking is. The customer service at DANL is AWESOME!
I'm so glad you love Discover a New Love. I will find out from our ecommerce team what the plans are. Email me directly at deb.werksman@sourcebooks.com and I'll let you know what they say!
DeleteEmail sent :-)
DeleteOh and in real life I'm Lenna Hendershott so you can connect the email.
Hi Deb, thanks for doing an Q&A.
ReplyDeleteMy question(s) is: In today's fairly crowded market, what can a writer do--other than writing the best book possible--to better reach readers? Are blogs still useful or on their way out? Do the new changes at Facebook change which social media platform to use to reach our readers?
Asa, that is a great question. I think different authors find different social media tools more effective than others. Blogs are definitely useful, Facebook makes fans feel closer to you and as if they know you personally, Twitter is great if you're pithy. Our PR department and marketing department like to work on every front (a friend of mine says "Forward in all directions." I love that!). Another thing that's very important is the "hook"--if you have a strong hook, it makes it much easier to talk about the book in every medium.
DeleteHi Deb! Thanks for doing this! I always love the chance to "talk" with you. For authors, what floats your boat nowadays? What makes your heart sing in submissions?
ReplyDeleteHi Cassie! I'm open to all kinds of submissions these days. What makes my heart sing is a really great hook--like Asa's immortal Viking warriors, for example. Or Kim Redford's Cowboy firefighters. We love all subgenres of single title romance.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThe $64,000 question....what do you see as the next big trend in romance fiction? Or, an easier one may be what 's on your wish list?
Hi Debra, I am looking for "Dallas" type contemporaries--set in the world of the rich and kitschy, with tons of action and glamour--I'm also looking for contemporaries about ordinary people. I'd love to see some really original paranormals--maybe with some magical realism. Romantic suspense with military or law enforcement themes, and historical westerns, contemporary westerns, a late Victorian would be awesome!
DeleteThank you Deb :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAre you still here, Deb? Joining in late, but I have a contemporary romance that takes place in Scotland with Vikings (movie stars). Might that interest you?
ReplyDelete