Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

by M. L. Buchman A few weeks ago I attended Romance Writers of America National Conference in San Diego. There were tours of Naval Base Coronado where the West Coast SEAL teams test and train. There were publisher dinners, fantastic conversations, great meeting sessions, and several book signings. Other than a few small signings that I've done to support the nearest town's bookstores: https://www.facebook.com/NorthByNorthwestBooks and http://www.bobsbeachbooks.net/ these were my first signings in a decade. They were also my first big signings as M. L. Buchman and as a romance author. The number one response? "You're male!" (sound of deep shock) Personally I thought the beard was a giveaway, but it did tickled me no end. (The beard does at times too.) Pointing at my RITA Finalist flag for Target Engaged. (The RITA is sort of the Oscars of romance writing.) The second most common response? "I've read every single one of your books, short...

When I was taking a management course, I learned an interesting statistic. If you make a customer happy, they'll tell one person. if you anger a customer, they'll tell twelve. That was twenty years ago. These days with all the social networks, in a matter of moments a disgruntled customer could tell thousands! What does that mean to authors? To put it succinctly, be nice to your customers...the readers and fans. Since fellow authors are often avid readers, I'd put them on your list also. I read something on a professional authors' loop recently (like an hour ago) that got me so riled up, I was tempted to tell a dozen people not to buy this woman's books. Of course, I wouldn't twitter it, but I could always secretly hope one of those dozen people would! (evil laugh) Instead, I'm taking deep breaths and trying to rise above the temptation. I don't want to sink to that level. And if you believe in Karma (which I do) I won't need to do a thing. Chances a...

by Sharon Lathan Frequently I have said that one of the BEST by-products to this whole writing thing has been the marvelous people I have become acquainted with. Most of you know by now that I came into my writing and publishing ventures in a roundabout way. I began by freely posting my short-stories and chapters on my website for anyone to read. I suppose there are pros and cons to that approach, but for me the pros so outweigh any cons that I am very happy this was the path fate chose for me. Along the way, as readers from all over the globe found me and read the chapters and commented in the forum, I grew to “know” a few of the regulars. For a long time I was leery of this. I mean, we all hear of the internet dangers and see the exposes on Primetime! But it was a gradually building relationship and in the end there are a dozen or so gals who have stuck with me to this day. All of them are dear to me and precious friends even though I have met few of them face-to-face! We are primari...