2010 Wish List

by Deb Werksman

Or, what the heck should I blog about 3 days before New Year's?

I started with the idea of New Year's Resolutions, but I only have one: get to the bookstore more often. Since bookstores are among my favorite places on earth, this isn't even a sacrifice.

Then I thought, perhaps I should make some predictions. But I have really very little idea what's going to happen in 2010 and since no one else does either, suffice it to say we're in the midst of a cultural revolution and NOBODY knows what's going to happen next!

Scary? yes.

Exciting? you betcha!

Here's what I wish for in 2010

*All our retailers to make it through the year--books are such an important, vital, essential, meaningful part of our culture that any further contraction in books being available to readers would be bad for our whole society

*All my authors to grow as authors--each book better than the last, each pitch more compelling, each hook more and more exciting!


*All deadlines met!

*To meet tons of new people--authors, librarians, bloggers, reviewers, booksellers, aspiring authors, industry leaders. Part of this is also traveling to conferences and local RWA chapter meetings, where I can get my finger on the pulse of what's happening in different parts of the country. It's fascinating and I love it.

*To grow and expand Casablanca fiction--this means my authors reach new levels--more stars in their reviews, more promotions, more sales, more awards, more bestsellers lists! BIG books from my existing authors, BIG books from BIG authors to add to my list, and BIG books from debut authors whom I can have the privilege of launching!

*I'd love to see our industry take on some of the legacy practices that make publishing so difficult--returns, excessive advances, short selling cycles

*I'm excited to see what emerges in the area of digital publishing, and this year I want the perfect e-book reader to come onto the scene (preferably in time for my birthday)!

FINALLY, I wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy, prosperous and expansive New Year--I look forward to hearing from you, reading your work, and working with you!


What do YOU wish for?

And, I'm of course looking for:

• single title romance fiction in all subgenres (historical, paranormal, contemporary, erotic romance, romantic suspense)
• 90,000 words or thereabouts, please
• a heroine the reader can relate to
• a hero she can fall in love with
• a world gets created
• a hook I can sell with in 2-3 sentences
• a career arc for the author
  

email me! deb.werksman@sourcebooks.com