Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

PART ONE First, I must provide the answers to the questions I posed in my last blog . The magnificent Jane Ashford took a stab at answering these questions, and I’ve provided the answers below hers—way to go Jane!!!: Jane Ashford August 30, 2014 at 12:21 PM Taking a stab What is the median age of the romance reader? 4. 40ish First of all, my bad, because the stat I have is actually the average age, not the median age, and it’s 42 years old. What is the household income of the majority of romance readers? 5. $45,000 It’s $55,000 What is the education level of the majority of romance readers? 6. some college Correct! In what region does the highest percentage of romance readers live? 7. the South Correct! In what region does the second highest percentage of romance readers live? 8. the Midwest Correct! Where do the majority of romance readers buy their books? 9. Online They buy them in stores! First in Barnes & Noble, next Walm...

Just came out of Sales Conference, a full two days of talking about our books, our authors, our PR/marketing plans, our cover designs and looking at lots of data As I think about the data, it reminds me of  conversations I’ve had lately with authors, both Sourcebooks' authors and many others I meet at conferences, along the lines of “you are not your reader.” Now, it’s probably obvious that authors are also voracious readers. But authors are not necessarily the demographic of their readership. So here’s a quiz, and as I look at your posts and answers (feel free to pose questions too) today, I’m going to share some of the data I have about who the romance reader is, and what I know about her (yes, she’s predominantly a “she”). PLEASE ALSO POSE QUESTIONS—I THINK THIS IS A REALLY USEFUL CONVERSATION FOR AUTHORS TO HAVE, AND QUESTIONS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ANSWERS SOMETIMES. 1   (Yes or NO) Do you think you and your core readership match in: ...

By Danielle Dresser  It’s that time of year when romance authors take flight and gather together over the next few months to meet with readers, industry professionals, and other authors… yes, it’s conference season! There are so many different ways for authors to interact and meet readers and others, and Sourcebooks will be at a bunch this season: Public Library Association Conference; Indianapolis, IN Wednesday, March 12-Friday, March 14 (yes, I’m here RIGHT NOW) I’m attending my first PLA conference this year, and couldn’t be more excited. Public Librarians do a great job of getting the word out about all books, but they are also among the most romance-friendly librarians in the business. Along with some fabulous marketing and sales colleagues, we’re going to have a busy booth with signings each day, book giveaways, and a lot of fun. Chicago-North Spring Fling Conference; Hoffman Estates, IL Friday, April 25-Saturday, April 26 This is one of my f...

A few days ago I was on Facebook checking out a post on the upcoming Authors After Dark Convention. AAD is among the best conventions for authors and readers to meet and party. Anyway, I commented on the post that I hope to attend in 2015. I decided to pop my Convention cherry at RT because I desperately want to visit New Orleans. Anyway, you know how when you comment on a post, you're alerted to other comments? Well, later on someone was talking about how wonderful AAD is because she loved meeting her favorite authors, but then she went on to name a few authors who are no longer her favorites because of how poorly treated their fans. The stories of such rude, ungrateful behavior made me gasp in outrage and brought tears of disappointment to my eyes. It made me remember the few authors that are no longer my favorites. But mostly, it made me think of the authors who have always been gracious and kind. I still remember jumping up and down when Eloisa James messaged m...

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...

Recently, a novelist friend of mine shared one of her fan letters with me. It was from a woman who'd been blind and had recovered the sight of one eye. She raved about my friend's last book, specifically about its realism--the protagonist had an accident that severely diminished her eyesight--even going so far as to say she was sure my friend had had experience with visual impairment herself or knew someone who had, so well had she captured what that world was like. Wow--I can understand why my pal was so touched by that note. It affirmed her world-building skills, her meticulous research and ability to use real-life detail to create a sympathetic story. By "sympathetic," I mean a tale that the reader identifies with, nods her head to, thinking "yes, that's true, that's how things really are, and I didn't know how to articulate it." Before I started writing fiction seriously (that is, taking the time to learn the business and investing the time i...

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...

by Sharon Lathan It’s a fair question, I’ll admit. Does the world really need another rendering of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet? But one could ask that question about ALL novels! And the answer is - Yes! No matter how many witch or vampire or football player or Irish hunk novels are written, as long as someone creates a new way to approach it, folks will snap it up. Genres don’t get exhausted as long as the ideas are fresh. So, obviously, the key is to take a new approach, blaze a new trail, and go where no man has gone before. I think I have done that with my series of novels and want to share why. The Darcy Saga trilogy begins with " Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Two Shall Become One " (available March 1, 2009), and follows with " Journeys Beyond Pemberley " and " The Darcys at Year’s End " (both in the Fall of 2009). The full account of how I ended up writing a Jane Austen sequel fan-fiction can be read about at my website: The Darcy Saga . I...

by Danielle Jackson I’m going to make a confession right here on this blog—before I worked with romance authors, I never read romance books . EVER. I’m not even joking. Ok, actually I am joking (in the tiniest of wa ys). My mother, a lovely woman and quite possibly my favorite person on the PLANET, is OBSESSED with romance. Mainly contemporary, but she’s got quite a few historicals on her overflowing bookshelf. Little does she know, ever since I was about 12-years-old, I’ve been secretly stealing them and reading the saucy bits. So for all of the times I made fun of walkin g into her room while she was tearing up over a happy ending, I suppose I should bite my tongue and stop because I was more than li kely doing the same. I’m a reader—I read all the time and I am thrilled to have a job in publishing. And for the longest time, I read just about anything (all types of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essay s, critiques, you name it, I read it), but I steered clear of romance...

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy Writing is meant to be read. Whether by one pair of eyes or millions, the sheer act of committing words to paper (or cyberspace) demands the existence of someone to read them. Perhaps the only reader will be the same person who wrote the words, but a reader exists all the same. From an early age, I felt the compulsion to write, to give my thoughts form by transcribing them into words. To prove the existence of my thoughts by written expression was in fact, proving my own existence. I indulged in this private form of self-expression for years, and still do by keeping a journal. For now, it is enough that only I read the pages and pages of my thoughts, but maybe someday, long after I’m gone, some distant relative will read some of those pages. Or maybe not. However, somewhere along the line (I think it was in my teen years), I discovered the unique and wonderful concept of writing for an audience. Writing to entertain gave a whole new purpose to ...