As we go into this holiday season, there's uncertainty in the air. Will some of our favorite retailers still be around in the new year? What about our own jobs and those of our loved ones? Will our savings accounts ever recover from the beating they've taken this fall?
I believe we're in the midst of a cultural revolution, and no one knows what's going to happen next. That's scary, but it's also exciting. Each one of us has an enormous amount of power to SAY how the future's going to go, because when it's all up for grabs, people who forge ahead with vision and excitement stand out and opportunities abound.
Here at Sourcebooks, we're seeing an enormous amount of opportunity--to increase our market share, to work with talented people, and to think differently about how the book industry and marketplace can and should function.
We're particularly excited about the opportunities in the romance category, and we're acquiring aggressively:
*new authors with something distinctive and exciting in their work
*established authors who want to take a new direction or are looking for a new publishing home
*classic backlist books that have been off the market and readers and booksellers miss them
So, even with all the uncertainty ahead, you'll be seeing us building our list, building our authors, building our authors' readership.
We're looking for:
Single title romance (series/trilogies too!) in all subgenres:
*paranormal
*historical
*contemporary
*romantic suspense
*erotic romance
minimum 90,000 words, please
*a heroine the reader can identify with
*a hero she can fall in love with
*a world gets created
*a "hook" so I can sell the book in 2-3 sentences
Send synopsis and full manuscript (Word .doc files preferred) to deb.werksman@sourcebooks.com!
Can't wait to read you! Come and dance in our revolution! (Remember the Emma Goldman quote "If I can't dance, it's not my revolution"?)
Meanwhile, have a WONDERFUL holiday season, full of love and romance.
I believe we're in the midst of a cultural revolution, and no one knows what's going to happen next. That's scary, but it's also exciting. Each one of us has an enormous amount of power to SAY how the future's going to go, because when it's all up for grabs, people who forge ahead with vision and excitement stand out and opportunities abound.
Here at Sourcebooks, we're seeing an enormous amount of opportunity--to increase our market share, to work with talented people, and to think differently about how the book industry and marketplace can and should function.
We're particularly excited about the opportunities in the romance category, and we're acquiring aggressively:
*new authors with something distinctive and exciting in their work
*established authors who want to take a new direction or are looking for a new publishing home
*classic backlist books that have been off the market and readers and booksellers miss them
So, even with all the uncertainty ahead, you'll be seeing us building our list, building our authors, building our authors' readership.
We're looking for:
Single title romance (series/trilogies too!) in all subgenres:
*paranormal
*historical
*contemporary
*romantic suspense
*erotic romance
minimum 90,000 words, please
*a heroine the reader can identify with
*a hero she can fall in love with
*a world gets created
*a "hook" so I can sell the book in 2-3 sentences
Send synopsis and full manuscript (Word .doc files preferred) to deb.werksman@sourcebooks.com!
Can't wait to read you! Come and dance in our revolution! (Remember the Emma Goldman quote "If I can't dance, it's not my revolution"?)
Meanwhile, have a WONDERFUL holiday season, full of love and romance.
"Each one of us has an enormous amount of power to SAY how the future's going to go..."
ReplyDeleteThank you for saying this. We do have this power...and when our outward circumstances are chaotic, our power is actually stronger.
I signed with Sourcebooks because it is a young company. I hoped it would be more flexible, less hidebound, and more nimble, and therefore more able to modify itself and adapt to changing times.
I'm excited to know you and others at Sourcebooks stand ready to "forge ahead with vision."
Count me in.
Welcome back, Deb!
ReplyDeleteThe Emma Goldman quote reminds me of another saying:
ReplyDelete"If you're skating on thin ice, you might as well dance."
Guess that's what we're doing!
Hi Deb~
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
I'm so glad you can be with us and thank you for your post. It's so nice to hear something up-beat and positive in the land of gloom and doom.
What you and Sourcebooks are doing brings to mind what Warren Buffet said and I'm paraphrasing...
When everyone else gets greedy, I get nervous. When everyone else is nervous, I buy.
It's just good business.
Robin :)
Merry Christmas, Deb!
ReplyDelete"May we live in interesting times" has often been attributed to a Chinese curse, maybe related to the Chinese proverb, "It's better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period."
But in any event, life is change, no matter how we look at it, for good or bad. I'm looking forward to the year ahead and can't wait to read all the new titles!! :)
I'm SUPER EXCITED to be a part of Sourcebooks continuing plan!
ReplyDeleteAs your post so eloquently states, Deb, it is all a matter of perspective. There are still lots of opportunities and positive things going on if you look for them.
HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
AC
Everyone else has already expressed my thoughts so eloquently that all I can do is say: Amen!
ReplyDelete"Change is good" is a phrase higher-ups like to use in the medical/nursing field. Of course, often times that is just a euphamism for something annoying that is about to occur. LOL! But generally it is the truth - at least eventually once all the bugs are worked out. Over my years I have learned to be accepting, and even embracing, of new ideas and radical movements. May as well since you rarely have much choice in the matter anyway!!
Let's pray this is one of those times when the end result will be worth the difficulties. Thanks for popping in with a positive message Deb!
Have a Merry Christmas!!
Hi Deb!
ReplyDeleteYou know I know exactly what you and the rest of Sourcebooks means about taking a new direction with how we approach the market in 2009. We've got a FABULOUS group of authors that are ready to work and do whatever it takes, and we're lucky to have an innovative and dedicated editor to keep us all going :)
Happy Holidays,
Danielle
Hi Deb,
ReplyDeleteI clicked a link on Robin Kaye's website, and here I am (see, Robin, people are visiting your website!)
I'm glad Sourcebooks is looking forward. Just heard about the Cumberland House acquisition. I recognized the name when I read the note on Publishers Marketplace because Cumberland House author J.L. Miles recently guest-blogged on my website (her book, Divorcing Dwayne, is a hoot).
It's great to hear GOOD news about the industry right now. As a writer, I've decided to strap on blinders and just forge on. Doesn't mean I'm ignoring industry realities, but focusing on them makes my muse cranky. When we don't know what the future holds, that provides us with the opportunity to experiment and play, try different things, and just have fun. You never know what will happen, so we might as well enjoy the journey.
Cindy