Carina Press Blog

You tell us: Do audiobooks count as reading a book?

Angela James | May 21st, 2012

Recently I was in a conversation with an author who was saying she had a friend who didn’t read, but instead listened to audiobooks because the friend had a long drive to commute to work each day and this was the only free time for “reading”. The author felt that this was, in some way, not really reading a book and didn’t “count” or mean her friend had actually read it. She expressed the feeling that it felt a little bit like cheating because it wasn’t as if the friend were reading the book. I should note that she wasn’t trying to be punitive or deliberately exclusionary in her thought pattern, and in fact she said she couldn’t even put into words the exact reason for it, but this was simply a gut feeling she had.

I hadn’t given much thought on my own views on this, until our conversation, but once I did, I realized that I add the audiobooks I’ve listened to, to my Goodreads account just as if I’d read them. I don’t separate out in my head that I’ve read 300 books in a year, but also listened to ten. Instead, to me it’s 310 books read. I argued to the author that people listening to audiobooks are absorbing the exact same content as someone reading the words themselves (assuming they’re not listening to an abridged version) and that the auditory nature of taking in the words doesn’t make it any less impactful than if they’d read them. I also pointed out that there are a number of people for whom audiobooks are the only form of reading, for any number of reasons (vision disabilities, inability to hold books/turn pages, lack of time, as in her friend’s case, or many other reasons–for instance my mother-in-law gets severe vertigo trying to read, so can only use audiobooks) and I would never take away from them the label of “reader” simply because they’re not reading it themselves.

On the other hand, I recognize that if we argue semantics, the word reader does have a very specific definition of “one who reads” with reads being defined as “to look at and understand words” but in the argument of semantics, I’d also say that our visceral understanding of readers is often much greater than just the limiting definition. I think, if you’re consuming a book, whether by audiobook, by reading, or by having it read to you via a digital device/computer, then you’re a reader, even if you’re interacting with the book differently. I’d argue that even those of us who read visually a book all still interact differently with it.

But you tell us: is someone who listens to audiobooks a “reader”. Can you say you’ve “read” a book if you listened to the audiobook version?

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Posted in Carina Press | 10 Comments »

Carina Press Spring 2012 call for submissions!

Rhonda Helms | May 18th, 2012

Note: please note that the submissions guidelines must still be followed in order to submit a manuscript in response to this call. Please visit our submissions page and follow the directions there.

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Hellooooo! So, the freelance editors for Carina decided it was time to do another call for submissions. We love doing these, because we get so many awesome stories in. Of course, PLEASE note that in the end, what we really want is a good story—so even if yours doesn’t fit the descriptions below, don’t hesitate to send it to us anyway! Sometimes we don’t know what we want until we get it in our inbox. You can find out more info on all the Carina freelance editors on this page.

Rhonda Helms: I’m open to almost every genre, with or without romance. But there are certain types of stories I’m eager to read more of right now, including:

military of any genre (esp. romance, thriller, sci-fi), steampunk (haven’t had a good one in a while!), atypical fantasy with great world-building and intriguing rules/uses of magic, westerns (esp. ones that use western elements to blend genres), sci-fi/futuristic with aliens and technology, romance (any steaminess level), stories with a mythological element, historicals (esp. if they feature real historical figures/events), stories set in unusual locales of any genre, super-funny romances that make me laugh until I cry, books of any genre with kick-ass heroines, deep and resonant tear-jerkers that move me but still have a satisfying ending, stories that blend genres to create a fresh and compelling world, and anything with a strong multicultural facet (please—want!!).

Melissa Johnson:

While Melissa is eager to read submissions of any genre, she currently yearns for a romance that crosses class or culture lines—whether contemporary, historical or paranormal. She feels it takes a particularly thoughtful author to make these conflicts deep and sensitive, and is thrilled when someone pulls it off. In general, she loves characters who learn from each other, see and love each other’s flaws, and grow over the course of the story.

Alissa Davis:

I look for books I can’t put down and characters I can’t forget. I edit lots of m/m, erotic romance, contemporary romance and historical romance and would love to see more of those. I also wish authors would send me medical romance, erotic historical romance, and m/m fantasy romance, and runaway bride romance. I have a weakness for geeky beta heroes, but mostly I hope to see sympathetic, well-drawn characters with real issues and a legitimate conflict keeping them from finding their HEA.

Mallory Braus: Mallory looks for characters first. Three-dimensional characters—with depth and vulnerabilities and quirks—pull her into a story faster than anything else. She’s looking for all genres, but there are a few things she’s especially keeping an eye out for:

–A zombie hunter romance!

–Psychics – Especially if you have psychic FBI agents or members of a special government agency…

–I’ve been keeping an eye out for quirky characters. Nerdy/dorky heroines or heroes. Funny relatives. Etc.

–Dark romantic suspense or gritty thrillers.

–Historical Mysteries. I’m especially looking for any late 19th to early 20th century mysteries.

–“Band of Brother” type series. Examples would be Nora Roberts’s trilogies, Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters, or J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. Where an emphasis is on the building of multiple characters’ relationships over the course of multiple books.

–Stories with unique worlds/setting, including, but not limited to: steampunk, post-apocalyptic, futuristic sci-fi and urban fantasy.

Alison Dasho: Alison wants:

–Sci-fi, especially future humanity dealing with first contact, alien class issues, or cyborg/android integration. What defines humanity? Do robots have souls?

–Fantasy adventure, especially lighter, funnier worlds. I’d love to see a manuscript that tells a rollicking quest story, maybe with trolls and wizards and unicorns and dragons, and has superb worldbuilding and a quirky sense of humor.

–Mystery and crime, especially dark tones and morally ambiguous issues. I’m interested in how the victims cope with the crime after the fact, or how the criminal who maybe got away scot-free in terms of legal justice is forced to contend with karmic justice. I tend not to like paranormal elements in my crime fiction, but will make some exceptions. I would love to see kidnapping fallout stories. Is the kidnap victim grown up and how is s/he dealing with those memories? Is the kidnapper in jail, or contacting the victim for some reason? I’d also love to see wrongly-accused stories — not necessarily like The Fugitive, where the protagonist himself must prove he didn’t do it, but more explorations about how the protagonist feels when faced with an accusation. Powerlessness, reliance upon a flawed justice system, etc.

–Contemporary romance, especially complicated. Both hero and heroine with pasts — maybe she’s a widow, maybe he’s got a criminal history. I love stories where everyone is opposed to the hero and heroine being together at all, let alone earning a HEA.

Denise Nielsen: I’ve had a hankering to read any of the following

–Historicals

  • Dark, edgy historical – Victorian or Edwardian era, gothic elements, steampunk, suspense
  • Classic historical – vikings, highwaymen, revolutionaries, sea captains – strong female leads
  • Jazz era historical – think flappers, luxury

–Contemporary

  • Modern reinterpretations of old stories (myths, legends, history) in a believable contemporary setting
  • Unlikely hero-heroine relationships that work out against the odds
  • Open to the interweaving of parallel stories past and present

Jeff Seymour:

In addition to my usual requests (SF/F, unusual romance, mystery, thrillers, horror, anything you’re afraid doesn’t fit neatly into a genre), I’d love to see some short, fast-paced adventures with series potential. Elements of any other genre welcome—just introduce me to a character and a world I can devour in an evening and still want more of.

Deborah Nemeth: I love intelligent writing, stories that make me laugh or cry (or both), and sharp, motivated protagonists. I’m particularly drawn to exotic settings, rule-breakers and multicultural characters.

I’d like to acquire some unusual historicals, m/m fiction, thrillers, and steampunk. In mystery/suspense I’m always looking for an interesting sleuth(s) to build a series on. I enjoy everything from cozy mysteries to romantic suspense to procedurals. I’d also love a mystery series set in the past (any historical era) or in a future space opera/space western setting. I’m also seeking contemporary romance with strong conflict and strong protagonists—SEALs/Rangers, firefighters, cops, carpenters, cowboys, activists—in any heat level. I love epic fantasy that combines adventure with compelling characterization and unique world-building. In paranormal and urban fantasy I’d rather see a fresh twist on ninjas, superheroes, dragons, fae, ghosts, djinn, Norse gods, psychics or fairytales than vamps, werewolves, demons and zombies.

Angela James: My list is mostly full, but I have a few specific things I’m still pretty avidly looking for, and all center around a good story. I will overlook a lot in writing if the voice, characters and story are compelling:

An erotic contemporary novel-length (70k+) stand alone or series, m/f or multiples, but I’m not seeking GLBT only at this point. A space opera or futuristic romp with strong romantic elements, unique, maybe with some of the Western flavor of Firefly, but with a definite adventure feel. Sports-themed contemporary romance, any sports (yes, racing and MMA are sports!) where sports play a role in the book, whether through the characters or setting of books. Novel-length (70k+) contemporary romance trilogies or series (not stand alone contemporaries), setting can be small town, big city or exotic locale, I’m open in that regard. I’m just looking to build my contemporary list in general!

So, if you have anything that fits the editor requests (or just a great book in general!) to submit, visit our submissions page and follow the directions there. You can address your submission to one of the editors above, or the editorial staff in general. Thanks, and we look forward to reading your manuscripts!

Posted in Writing/Submissions Advice,editors,submissions | 10 Comments »

With Diabetes There Is No Six Degrees of Separation.

Julie_Rowe | May 18th, 2012

25.8 million people in the USA have diabetes and another 79 million have prediabetes. Of the 25.8 million Americans who have diabetes 7 million don’t know they have it. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the USA. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-limb amputations & new cases of blindness among adults in the USA.

If you don’t already have diabetes or know someone with diabetes, it’s a safe bet to say you will.

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease that has become more and more common every decade. Until the role of insulin was discovered in 1921 by Dr. Fred Banting and Charles Best, most diabetics led very short lives. The only treatment available before their discovery was a combination of dietary restrictions and exercise. Research today is showing great promise towards improved prevention, treatment and management of diabetes.

Popular romantic suspense author Brenda Novak has been raising money to fund diabetes research since 2005 with her annual online auction. But she began her personal crusade to fight diabetes much earlier than that when her son, Thad, was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at age five.

The first year Brenda ran her auction she raised $34,982, and it’s grown every year since. So far, her auction has raised $1,368,598 for Diabetes research, with most of the funding going to the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). Her auction is the biggest online event for diabetes research in the world. Some publishing’s brightest stars Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts, Diana Gabaldon, Steve Berry and Janet Evanovich are auction donors.

There’s something for everyone in the auction: signed celebrity memorabilia, trips, electronics, books, jewellery, critiques and many other items.

Carina Press and its authors have donated a Kindle Fire, a Kindle 3G, critiques from editors and authors, networking meetings, author training and other author goodies.

We invite you to share your personal stories about how diabetes has affected your life in the comments below.

Brenda will be appearing online at a Twitter party on Sunday May 27 at 1 pm PST (4 pm EST). She’ll be talking about the auction and would love to hear from you! Use the #bnda hashtag on Sunday May 27 at 1 pm PST to join in the conversation.

Posted in Carina Press | 4 Comments »

Under the Covers

Tara Stevens | May 17th, 2012

by Tara Stevens, Assistant Manager, Ebook Marketing

The other day my boss asked me what I like most about my job, what I gravitate towards when I come in to work. Which emails I check first when I sit down at my desk, that sort of thing. The answer is easy: Carina covers!

I’ve been helping to manage our digital-first cover creation process for a while now, and I enjoy it because it’s something totally unique to everything else I do in my role. I think what interests me most about it is the challenge of representing the heart or essence of a book and getting it right so that people will see it online and want to discover more about it.

Do customers judge ebooks by their covers? I think so. How we promote a book has changed a lot in the digital age, but I believe quality covers are still an important ingredient in the total marketing pie. People seem to be spending the majority of their time on the Internet these days and their attention spans are low. So how can our covers stand out from all the competitive clutter onscreen?

I think one of the biggest challenges facing our Art department and freelance designers is creating a cover that’s as unique as the book. Often it can be difficult to avoid using popular stock photo sources. When I brief the designer, we really try to get to the heart of the book’s genre and sell one thing. Part of my job is to pick one key attractive feature about the story and present it in a clear way so the cover artist can let their creative juices flow and get to work on some concepts that I share with the rest of the Carina team. We also try to keep the cover images simple, so if you had to describe the book in one word, it wouldn’t be too difficult a task.

Some of you may be wondering whether there’s anything unique about the digital-first cover process compared to the traditional print cover process. There is! One of our steps involves editor and author feedback. We welcome this insight and always try our best to address any concerns as they come up.

I’ve worked on quite a few special Carina covers along the way, spanning many different genres—everything from historical romance to erotic romance to horror to steampunk! Picking favourites is hard, but the ones you see sprinkled throughout this post definitely rank up there.

So now it’s your turn: What are your favourite Carina covers so far? What catches your eye and makes you click through to find out more about a book?

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Posted in Behind the Scenes,Books,Carina Press,Cover Art,Marketing | 10 Comments »

Mannerly Mayhem

Shannon Curtis | May 16th, 2012

As a writer, I have learned two things: 1) characters pop into your head and will not leave you alone until you satisfy their ego (i.e.; write their story) and 2) People think you’re crazy when you start talking about the hero and heroine as if they’re REAL PEOPLE. And because, as the writer, you don’t think you’re crazy, then you’re even crazier because you’re in denial…

Guarding JessWell, Noah drove me crazy. For a big guy who doesn’t talk much, he sure got annoying. That’s why Guarding Jess is Noah’s story – it was the only way I could sleep peacefully. When I first started plotting this story, I had to try and think of a strong woman who could match my hero, but would also tease out his gentler side. The initial plotting stage also happened to coincide with my interaction with a tel-co customer service representative from hell.

Have you ever had one of those experiences when someone was so incredibly rude that it took your breath away, left you shaking with rage and utterly flabbergasted that the company actually continued trading with such poor representation? When I shared my story with others… wow, it was like opening the floodgates. I heard stories about rude behaviour at parties, at soccer games, in parking lots – during job interviews!

That got us all talking about manners, etiquette, and BANG! Jessica Pennington, my heroine, emerged. I needed to study etiquette – and I’ve learned it is an absolutely fascinating subject. For example, the origin of the handshake was so folks could greet each other (possibly on a country road) and show that by using their right hand they were bearing no weapons, and not intending to attack. A friendly greeting. The word ‘etiquette’ came from the French, meaning ‘ticket’. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French royal court would draw up daily lists (tickets) of events, and include an expected dress code.

So etiquette and manners are a general observance and consideration of those around you, with our social interactions. As with all things, you’ve got to take the good with the bad – the social faux pas – or as I call it, the ‘whoopsy’. You know what I mean, when you say or do something that is so embarrassingly wrong… who else has been asked when their baby is due WHEN THEY’RE NOT PREGNANT!!!??? That’s my favourite. There’s no going back after that one.

I’m going to share a whoopsy with you. I once introduced a friend to another very good friend, one whom I’ve known for many years – only to get the second friend’s name wrong. I still haven’t lived it down. Or there was that time when I was absently watching my child do something funny and burst out laughing – at a funeral. Or that – no, wait! I’ve told you mine, now you tell me yours: what have you said/done at an inappropriate time, and wished the earth would open up and swallow you? A comment will be randomly selected to receive a copy of the book that started the whole McCormack Security Agency series, Viper’s Kiss!

Here is an excerpt from Guarding Jess – hope you enjoy!

Something clicked loudly in the brown parcel Jessica was holding, and all three of them looked at it. Jessica froze, a chill spreading over her shoulders and down her arms.
Ollie froze. “Was that—?”
“Yes,” Jessica whispered.
The man standing in front of her moved with a speed that left her stunned. He grabbed the parcel from her arms and ran to the office corridor. He pulled open the garbage chute and tossed the package in. He turned and raced straight for her.
“Take cover,” he yelled.
Jessica’s mouth dropped open in horror as screams filled the office. Before her brain could register the danger, a hard body hit hers, tackling her to the ground and rolling her along the carpeted floor. An explosion splintered the glass doors to reception. The floor they lay upon trembled. Jessica managed a terrified peek over a broad shoulder before it obscured her view, and the hard body covered hers protectively.
Smoke filled the reception area, and foul-smelling embers floated to the floor.
She turned wide eyes from the falling ash to the man lying on top of her, his chocolate-brown gaze eyeing her with a calm intensity.
Ollie’s pale face popped into her peripheral vision.
“He isn’t the client, Jess,” she said shakily. “He’s your bodyguard.”

Psst… for the month of May only, Guarding Jess has the special sale price of $0.99 – so get it quick

Shannon Curtis has worked as a switchboard operator, dangerous goods handler, logistics centre supervisor and real estate administration manager, and now writes copy and content by day, romantic suspense by night!

Follow me on Twitter: @2BShannonCurtis
Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Curtis/#!/pages/Shannon-Curtis/177000805653410
Visit my website: www.shannoncurtis.com
Visit my blog: http://shannoncurtis.wordpress.com/

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Posted in Books,Carina Press,Contest/Giveaway,Excerpt | 7 Comments »

REACH FOR THE LIGHT

Cynthia Justlin | May 15th, 2012

Edge Of Light

“Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes.”
–Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

We’ve all gone through storms in our life, some have been fleeting, nothing more than a bit of wind and rain, others have pelted us from all sides, bringing the cold darkness and volatile lightning with it.

Oliver Shaw, the hero from EDGE OF LIGHT, came to me in a flash of dark and gritty prologue unlike anything I had ever written. He was so broken. He’d long since lost the will to fight for his life. He no longer believed in anything outside his small cell. And as he turned to the fermented fruit in one corner and began to paint the walls with a mural of home, I knew, with an almost obsessive certainty, that I had to write his story and find a reason for him to go on.

I’m not a dark and tormented person. I wear my rose-colored glasses, having inherited my dad’s “tomorrow will take care of itself” philosophy. But this book poured out of me from some undefinable place. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in the summer of 2010, that I realized I’d been writing this book while completely unaware my body was turning on me.

My cancer had grown into a prison, every bit as solid and impenetrable as Oliver’s. And just like Oliver, I had to learn to reach for the light. I finished EDGE OF LIGHT while recuperating from my colon resection surgery, uncertain of what the future held for me. What followed was six months of chemotherapy and then preparation for a major secondary surgery.

During that time, I clung to my faith. I became best friends with hope. I discovered the difference between surviving day-to-day and living for each day. Now, over one year (and counting!) post chemo, I am cancer free.

It is such an honor and excitement to be here to share EDGE OF LIGHT with all of you. Oliver’s journey is intense and difficult to read at times, but it is my wish that amidst the pulse-pounding action, the chilling villains, and the emotional love story, you will find a greater appreciation for the storms in your own life.

As Alexandre Dumas writes in The Count of Monte Cristo, the book Oliver uses as his journal, “All human wisdom is contained in these two words–’Wait and Hope’.”

Please visit my website to enter my EDGE OF LIGHT giveaway. Win Oliver’s journal, Cambodian money pendants, copies of EDGE OF LIGHT and more!

And now I’d like to open up the blog. Feel free to post any questions you may have about my story or share one of your own. What has made you reach for the light?

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EDGE OF LIGHT

Taken prisoner by a ruthless group of anarchists deep in the Cambodian jungle, anthropologist Jocelyn Hewitt is isolated in a dark prison cell. Without chance of rescue. Or hope. Until the man in the next cell reaches out to let her know she’s not as alone as she thinks.

CIA agent Oliver Shaw has been held prisoner for over two years. Forced to witness the brutal torture and slow murder of his entire team, his spirit is not just broken, it’s crushed. He no longer believes in hope. Until he hears Jocelyn through the wall, and suddenly feels like a glimpse of light is trying to reach in…

Jocelyn’s heart aches for the tortured man whose presence and voice give her the courage to risk their escape. But first she’ll have to remind Oliver who he once was, what he once loved, and bring him back to life. Only then will they have a chance for freedom—and the kind of love neither ever thought possible.

Buy EDGE OF LIGHT from Carina Press, Amazon, B&N. EDGE OF LIGHT is also available as an audiobook from Avdible!

C Justlin

Cynthia is a former Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® Finalist in Romantic Suspense. She started out writing contemporary romance, but when all her plots began to turn dastardly, she decided to stop fighting the urge to throw explosions, dead bodies, and evil villains into her books.

With her B.S. in the chemical sciences and her love of the periodic table (yes, she’s a geek and proud of it!) she finally found the perfect potent mix of love and danger to put into her stories.

Cynthia lives in Arizona with her real life hero husband and their two sons. Visit her website, connect with her on Twitter, find her on Facebook.

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Posted in Books,Carina Press | 16 Comments »

Drink Deep and Drink Oft, Yo Ho!

Jennifer_BrayWeber | May 15th, 2012

“Ah. Rum and a new flintlock. Brings a tear to me eye.” ~ Henri, The Siren’s Song

Pirates sure loved their liquor. Who could forget the Pirates of the Caribbean scene where Elizabeth Swann burn’s Jack’s stash on a deserted spit of land to signal a passing ship for help. Poor Jack was beside himself. Oh yes, pirates loved their sauce. Perhaps it was pirate Richard Haines who said it best with this sentiment. “A life without liberty is not worth living. But a life with liberty and no beer mug ain’t much better.” Hear! Hear!

As colorful as pirates were, both in fact and fiction, so were their choices of poison. They guzzled rum, beer, brandy, and wines.

But man needs water to survive. Fresh water, also known as sweet water, was a precious commodity because stagnant water often soured in their casks. Think – slime in the ice machine. Yuck! So to make the water more palatable, rum, beer, or wine was added. The mixture was called grog and was rationed out to crewmen daily.

Pirates were quite creative in their elixir concoctions, too.Untitled

Bumboo was an alcoholic beverage of rum, sugar, lemon and lime juices, and nutmeg. Drink this, mate, and you may stave off a bout of scurvy.

Arrack was made from fermented fruits, grain, and sugar cane. Toke was liquor made from fermented honey. I’m not entirely convinced that these drinks were sweet to taste.

Kill-Devil rum included booze, beer, and raw eggs. Eww!

Hangman’s Blood, a potent medley of various strong liquors, could knock even the most hardened fellow on his arse. It was probably best not to smoke while drinking this mixture for fear of igniting. Whoosh!

In The Siren’s Song, pirate Captain Thayer Drake’s rum drinking is one battle he can’t seem to win. Perhaps Gilly, the beautiful songstress he saved from drowning, will help him kick the habit. But not after one particularly exasperating evening with her. Instead, he hits the bottle harder than usual, stirring gunpowder into his rum. Yes, pirates did do this. Gunpowder contains saltpeter which was believed to deaden sexual desires. It was also thought to inspire courage and aggression before heading off into battle.

To read an excerpt of The Siren’s Song, click here.

Want more? Click here for your copy of The Siren’s Song.

As far as swilling goes, I think I’d fit in just fine with the pirate brethren. From rum and cola to the fruitier Jamaican Sunrise, I love rum drinks. What’s your favorite rum drink? Not a fan of rum? What is your adult beverage of choice?

Jennifer Bray-Weber hopes to one day live out her life as the island goddess she was meant to be somewhere in the Caribbean. Until then, she lives in her native state of Texas with her real life pillage-and-plunder husband and two spirited daughters. Catch up with her at www.jbrayweber.com.

Posted in Authors,Books,Excerpt | 22 Comments »

Friday feed: How to stay creative, perfect your elevator pitch, & in honor of Mother’s Day

Angela James | May 11th, 2012

From Fast Company comes an article on how to stay creative while you’re insanely busy. The article advice is geared more towards growing companies, but since I think every author is a growing business, the advice in general seems applicable. Definitely gives you something to think about anyway. In addition to other advice, they suggest, “Be busy enough to create what you want to create, but not so busy you compromise the breathing space required to be creative.” Important advice in a time when authors are taking on more and more of the business end of publishing, and less and less of the writing end of publishing!

Mashable offers advice on how to perfect your elevator pitch. I think this is something every author should learn to do, not in order to pitch their book to an editor or agent (in the elevator) but so you can become a more effective representative of your own books. Every time you run into a potential consumer: in the line at the grocery store, at a friend’s party, at a conference, in the park, anywhere someone says “what do you write” how easily are you able to give them a concise summary that will pique their interest and make them want to look it up when they get home? Perfect your elevator pitch and become the best spokesperson/salesperson you can in one minute! Mashable offers a number of tips but the first is “find the sweet spot”. In other words: start your pitch at the right point (and that doesn’t mean the beginning or background of your book!)

Last, in honor of Mother’s Day in the US on Sunday, this wonderful article (and totally not cheesy, I promise) on how we can get our daughters to think big, dream big and believe in themselves. “Don’t marry someone just because you think he’s cute. Find a partner who doesn’t just “look at” you, but who really “sees” you and values what you want.”

Have a great weekend, everyone, and Happy Mother’s Day! And don’t forget, we’re offering three books for $0.99 this week!

Brooke Street: Thief by Ava March, m/m historical novella

Guarding Jess by Shannon Curtis, romantic suspense novel

Let Me In by Callie Croix, erotic contemporary novella

Posted in Carina Press | No Comments »

Recommending to a Non-reader

AmyWilkins | May 10th, 2012

by Amy Wilkins, Harlequin Digital & Carina Press Acquisition Team

If you’re reading this blog, chances are the idea of someone not reading is crazypants. Yet we all probably know someone who just isn’t a reader.

Years ago, I was going on vacation with a friend and she asked me to bring some books for her to read. I asked what kinds she liked and she said “list books” – as in books from Oprah’s picks, bestsellers, award finalists, or generally ones that someone else had picked out. She didn’t care what genres they were, just if they were popular. The examples of “list books she read” ran the gamut of genres – chick lit, classics, thrillers.

I suppose on some level this approach may make sense…if it’s a bestseller or recommended by someone as big as Oprah, it must be good, right? Well, that’s the theory J But as a book nerd, I was aghast. How could someone not know what kinds of books they liked and rely solely on what’s popular? Needless to say, it made choosing books for her difficult, especially since I like genre books – rarely the types of books that make big bestsellers or garner critical acclaim from the NYT or whatnot. I don’t think I was very successful in my recommendations.

My fiancé isn’t much of a reader, either. He loves Harry Potter, but it was a trial to get him to read Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. I’m now trying to convince him to read George R.R. Martin since he likes Game of Thrones on TV is dying to know what happens next…but he just won’t commit to reading the books. What is a book nerd to do?!

Do you have a non-reader in your life? How do you convince them to give a book (especially a genre book) a try and what would you recommend?

Posted in Carina Press | 8 Comments »

A Writer’s Desk

Ava_March | May 9th, 2012

I sat down to get to work and had that feeling something was due. A quick check of the Hello Kitty planner proved my ‘something’s due’ ESP was right on – “finalize Carina blog post”. Last month, I talked about card games (research) and the month prior about a scene in a book. So today I’ll veer into random-interesting territory and give you a look at a writer’s desk, or at least my desk.

1 – The Muses and a girl (Bella, Ryan and Jake). Originally, Ryan and Jake were propped up against the wall behind Pretty. My daughter decided they needed the pink couch and Bella’s company.

2 – Pretty. I named my laptop Pretty because it’s so shiny and pretty, and that’s the reason why I bought it. Hubby, who’s in IT, tried to steer me toward a more practical computer (all I do is use Word, Excel, surf the net, and dabble with Photoshop), but I ignored him and went for the prettiest laptop Bestbuy had to offer.

3 – The best cup ever. Seriously. The little sticker that said it didn’t sweat wasn’t lying. And it takes all evening for ice to melt. Best 12.99 I ever spent.

4 – Planner, magazines, and pile o’notebooks in various sizes. The magazines are good to flip through when I should be writing but am not in the mood to write, and the Hello Kitty planner keeps me on schedule. The notebooks…sometimes all it takes is picking up a pen to jumpstart the muse. I read an article once on how holding a pen hits acupressure points that simulate creativity, and I believe it. Love technology, love the delete key, but there are times when it takes putting pen to paper to get to the emotional heart of a scene.

What’s missing in the picture is my phone. It’s usually right next to Pretty, but I had to use the phone to take the picture. So if you imagine it there, in its turquoise and pink case (selected by kidlet), then you’ll have the complete picture of my writing desk.

I will add, the desk in the basement is a newer phenomenon. I used to write at a little table in the garage in front of the cars and under the cupboards. Very peaceful in the garage. But I had a couple incidents with the pitter-patter of little feet that sounded suspiciously like little furry critter feet, and I relocated to the basement.

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Two of London’s most notorious rakehells, Linus Radcliffe and Robert Anderson, are the best of friends. They share almost everything—clothes, servants, their homes, and even each other’s bed on occasion. The one thing they don’t share: lovers. For while Linus prefers men, Robert prefers women…except when it comes to Linus.

As another Season nears its end, Robert can’t ignore his growing jealousy. He hates watching Linus disappear from balls to dally with other men. Women are lovely, but Linus rouses feelings he’s never felt with another. Unwilling to share his gorgeous friend another night, Robert has a proposition for Linus.

A proposition Linus flatly refuses—but not for the reasons Robert thinks. Still, Robert won’t take no for an answer. He sets out to prove a thing or two to his best friend—yet will learn something about the heart himself.

Buy Link: Brook Street: Rogues

Brook Street: Thief (#1) – get the first book in the trilogy for $0.99 during May
Brook Street: Fortune Hunter (#2)

Ava March is an author of smoking hot M/M historical erotic romances. She loves writing in the Regency time period, where proper decorum is of the utmost importance, but where anything can happen behind closed doors.

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