This is the first of several urban fantasies we’ve acquired. Amethyst Bound by L. Shannon is the first of a planned trilogy of novellas and we’re excited to show you the cover, also by Frauke of CrocoDesigns. For more information on Amethyst Bound, you can see my previous post here.
This was actually our first ever completed cover (I love how soft and feminine it is) and was created by Croco Designs, though it’s the third I’m showing you. This is Carrie Lofty’s historical romance, Song of Seduction, and you can read more about both the book and Carrie here. Look for Song of Seduction in June 2010!
The next cover art I’m going to share is Criminal Instinct, a romantic suspense by Kelly Lynn Parra. Here’s an unofficial blurb. Look for this book in June 2010 and the official cover copy coming soon!
(apologies that I’m struggling with connection and time and still can’t provide the cover artist, maybe they’ll shout out in the comments)
Here is is, the first official cover art reveal! I have more to share, but I’m going to share them individually, on a daily basis. I gave you some information about Shannon’s book here and you’ll be able to purchase it from Carina in June! Click on the cover to see a larger version. You may notice the C in the upper right corner. Look for that brand on all Carina covers!
(Psst, today’s a holiday day for both Canada and the US Harlequin offices. I’m not really here writing this. Okay, I am, but I’ll try to keep it brief).
Last week was the week of submissions here on the blog, and I’m so glad that many of you found the posts, especially the post on reasons for rejection helpful. The response to that was much greater than I anticipated and many of you said you were going to be sharing it and passing it on. I have no problem with that at all, as the post was written with the intent to help, but I hope you’ll credit Carina Press when you share it and provide a link back when appropriate. I’m not quite done with my series on submissions. Still to come this week is a post on what worked in the books we’ve acquired, and I’ll be including snippets from the editors’ acquisition recommendations again. I’ll also be doing a post on what the editors have told me they secretly long for in a submissions as far as theme/topic/genre.
The other exciting thing I did last week was finish putting all of our acquisitions into the contract system. We now have many, many acquisitions you haven’t heard about and I need to come up with a way to remedy that. I know some of you have asked about this website, and how author driven it appears to be. Beginning later this spring, most likely in April, we’ll start focusing more on reader-centric topics. the website itself won’t change over to the commerce site until the day of launch, for a variety of technical reasons. Yes, the website will allow you to see the books, see what’s coming soon, read excerpts and pre-order books. That will all occur in the future, so no worries that it will be just me blathering on forever.
Speaking of the site, I want to direct your attention to our newly updated “About Us” page. It’s on this page that you’ll be able to find information on Carina Press appearances at workshops and conventions, as well as links to media articles and video about Carina. Eleanor and Tara worked to get that page updated and I think it looks fabulous. There are appearances missing from that page that we’ve added just recently to the schedule (I’ll be presenting a workshop at RWA Nationals and will also be doing an online self-editing workshop in March) or are in the process of adding, so check back periodically to see the updates. And if you have a local chapter or online forum, keep in mind I’m available for workshops and appearances.
Last, this week is exciting for us at Carina because we’re going to be revealing our first finalized covers here on the blog. Look for those, as well as the submissions posts I spoke of earlier, and a podcast from Malle, Aideen and Eleanor talking about Carina promotion and marketing.
Two weeks ago we held a poll for Carrie Lofty’s upcoming historical romance and I promised to announce the results. I apologize for the delay, but Carrie and I were also talking behind the scenes about the final title result and an idea she had and we needed a little extra time to get the details of that in place so we could share them at the same time.
On that note (ha ha, play on words purely unintentional), I’m thrilled to announce that Song of Seduction was the winning title in the poll, with 42% of well over two hundred votes. And I’m also thrilled to announce that the new title inspired Carrie to brainstorm an idea for a follow-up book, Portrait of Seduction, which she has also contracted with Carina Press!
Portrait of Seduction
Gifted painter Gretchen Zweig earns her keep by forging masterpieces, whereby wealthy families can hide the priceless originals from Napoleon’s advancing armies. She yearns to be known for her own work, but her uncle, a destitute marquis, exploits her desire for an advantageous marriage. Oliver Doerger, a German duke’s bastard and former soldier, poses as a valet in order to further his aristocratic half-brother’s political career. He, too, longs to emerge from the shadows—to be regarded not as a spy but as a respected member of society.
When someone begins marketing Gretchen’s forgeries as originals, Oliver is drawn into her world of art and subterfuge. She will do anything to shield her family from scandal, even if that means resisting her improper attraction to the intense, surprising valet. But the appearance of a charismatic grifter threatens to reveal a shameful debt from Oliver’s past. Caught between love and duty, he must choose between honoring his loyalties and indulging in a passionate affair with Gretchen that could expose them both.
Thank you to everyone who voted! The runner-up title was Heart Strings, with 26% of the votes. An interesting tidbit for you: no matter how many votes the poll had, from the beginning, Song of Seduction always held around 40% of the votes and Heart Strings around 25%. The percentages never varied more than two points in either direction.
Song of Seduction will be available for purchase in June 2010 and we’ll be revealing the (beautiful) cover soon!
Andrea Kerr, Producer, eHarlequin.com
I have a confession to make. I don’t own a dedicated eReader. I know you’re wondering, how can that be possible for a member of the Carina Press acquisition team? Well, as Producer of the Online Reads program on eHarlequin.com, I can tell you that a good story is a good story in any format, and strong writing compels me to turn the page, whether it be printed or digital.
In my day job, I’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of authors who write everything from inspirational romance to erotica. It’s given me an appreciation for a variety of genres, even ones I might not normally read outside of work. In addition, I like to think of the online reads as the “original” ebooks. So, despite the current lack of an eReader device in my life, being part of the acquisition team is a natural fit for me. I am beyond excited to be on the front lines of Carina Press, searching for fresh voices and unique stories!
So what are we looking for at Carina? Speaking on behalf of the entire team, we want a good story, well-told. We are readers, after all, even those members of the team who don’t spend their days editing. I think it’s fair to say that the love of the written word is what brought most of us to this line of work in the first place. Every time we read a new submission, we’re excited about the possibilities. We WANT to love your story and we’re on your side, really! Yes, rejections happen, but trust me, it’s not something any of us enjoys doing. After all, our reason for being is to put stories into the hands of readers, and to do that, we need to acquire books! The cool thing about Carina Press is, we’re open to submissions that might not fit into one of the print programs Harlequin currently publishes.
And what about me–what am I looking for personally, as an editor? I have a penchant for well-drawn characters, characters that are believeable and relatable and layered (everyone has flaws, right?) I love witnessing the development of the characters over the course of the book, seeing how they react to what happens to them, being convinced that they are changed by their experiences (or not).
That’s not very specific, is it? That’s because I learned long ago that fascinating characters and compelling stories can be found in any genre, and I’m open to just about anything. As long as it’s well-written.
As for that dedicated eReader? It’s on my wish list! Now, if only I could claim it as a business expense…
Andrea Kerr is the Producer on eHarlequin.com, which is a fancy way of saying web content editor. She also works on the acquisitions team for Carina Press. She has a particular fondness for historical romance, and must admit she often checks that particular Carina Press folder first. Andrea is happy that she finally has something to watch on TV now that Lost has returned! A mother of two young boys, she gets far too little sleep, and thrives on unconditional love and coffee instead. A dedicated eReader device IS in her future.
Carrie Lofty’s historical romance needs a title. We’ve been brainstorming for weeks, but the acquisitions team can’t come to an agreement because some of us like one title, some like the other. So we’re turning to our blog readers for help in choosing a title for Carrie’s book. We’ve narrowed our choices down to the four you see below. These four are all favorites of Carrie and the Carina Press acquisitions team. Please choose and vote for the one you like best. The poll closes Sunday night and I’ll announce the new title of Carrie’s book the week of January 25th!
Here’s a short description:
Untitled Historical Romance by Carrie Lofty
Salzburg, Austria 1804
After claiming his late mentor’s symphony for himself, Dutch composer Arie De Voss became wildly famous across Europe. But the undue praise twists his conscience. Arie’s fear of discovery poisons any attempt to write a redemptive masterpiece, until the adoration of his newest student inspires him.
Hoping a quiet life will diminish the scandal of her birth, widowed violin prodigy Mathilda Heidel hides her musical gifts. But a chance introduction to Arie De Voss, the composer she’s idolized for years, dares her to heed the lure of the stage. In the face of public scrutiny and Arie’s fraud, can she sustain her new identity and salvage their love? And how will Arie choose between Mathilda, his career, and the truth?
You can also read chapter one at Carrie’s website to get a further sense of the book before you make your decision.
Note: This book and I have a bit of a history. I first saw it years ago, when I was putting together an anthology of dragon novellas. At that time, I really loved the voice and the writing, but felt the book was too short and needed to be bulked up. So I sent it back to the author with some notes and a request for fleshing out the story and a resubmission. I didn’t see it again for over two years, the author having put it away for a bit. Then, this fall, the author submitted it to me at the now defunct Quartet Press. She’d done exactly what I asked in my original revisions letter, and the book was now longer and even stronger. She doesn’t know, but I would have acquired it then, but I didn’t get the chance. I was glad to see it come through the Carina Press submissions inbox, and I would have happily been the acquiring editor but, it turns out, I didn’t need to be. Another editor saw the exact same things in it that I did.
L. Shannon, the author, came into existence in 2004. Shannon’s always been a reader and lover of books, but never considered writing until one night when she ran out of books to read… She began writing that very night as the first line of defense in a battle against insomnia. Her writing has steadily grown into a full-out war against reality. Her friends kindly say reality never stood a chance. The L. Shannon novels have expanded to fill an entire world with paranormal wonders including Valàfrn werewolves, Tascryn demons, blood-sucking vampires, sexy selkies and many, many more. Be careful if you choose to enter Shannon’s hunk-filled world. You may never wish to leave…
Born and raised in the hills of Western Pennsylvania, Shannon still calls the family farm home. In the time Shannon doesn’t spend writing, she’s kept busy by bothering her super supportive husband, showing dogs, gardening and watching over her Butterfly Koi ponds. You can learn more about her writing and her life at www.lshannon.net or stay in touch through http://twitter.com/L_Shannon
Amethyst Bound by L. Shannon
Toni is in the high risk recovery business. Because of her unique camouflaging ability, she steals what others say is unstealable. The current theft proves suspiciously easy until the item in question comes to life. The stone amulet draws her into an ancient prophecy and binds her soul to the spirit of a dragon named Amethyst.
As if having an amulet stuck to her chest and a dragon in her head weren’t enough, she soon finds herself on the run from a nasty group of vampire henchmen intent on taking her back to their master. More than her freedom is at stake. The one behind the attacks intends to force Amethyst to fulfill the prophecy and become one of the nine dragons destined to end the world.
Toni’s dark past drove her to total independence but in this battle will she alone be enough? As she battles to hold on to herself and accept Amethyst as part of her life, she learns how to trust others. She still has a chance to come out on top with the help of a sexy archeologist named Wilson who just happens to specialize in dragons. He won’t leave her alone. But is it love or his lifelong obsession that keeps him at her side?
Toni is in the high risk recovery business. Because of her unique camouflaging ability, she steals what others say is unstealable. The current theft proves suspiciously easy until the item in question comes to life. The stone amulet draws her into an ancient prophecy and binds her soul to the spirit of a dragon named Amethyst.
As if having an amulet stuck to her chest and a dragon in her head weren’t enough, she soon finds herself on the run from a nasty group of vampire henchmen intent on taking her back to their master. More than her freedom is at stake. The one behind the attacks intends to force Amethyst to fulfill the prophecy and become one of the nine dragons destined to end the world.
Toni’s dark past drove her to total independence but in this battle will she alone be enough? As she battles to hold on to herself and accept Amethyst as part of her life, she learns how to trust others. She still has a chance to come out on top with the help of a sexy archeologist named Wilson who just happens to specialize in dragons. He won’t leave her alone. But is it love or his lifelong obsession that keeps him at her side?
Coming from Carina Press in 2010
Toni Anderson was born and raised in the UK, and now lives in the harsh, but beautiful Canadian prairies.
Formerly a marine and fish biologist, she (unfortunately) lives about as far from the ocean as physically possible. In an effort to recapture her love affair with the sea, she writes dark, contemporary, Romantic Suspense stories set in the beautiful, ancient, cobbled streets of Scotland, where she lived for many years. Crumbling sea walls and windswept beaches provide the backdrop for tangled romance and treacherous murder.
When she’s not writing, or traveling the world, she’s out walking, cycling and generally looking for plot ideas about how to kill people without the law catching up with her. Nothing like murder to get the brain working and nothing like true love to nourish the soul.
Visit Toni at her blog and Facebook. Or follow her on Twitter.
Out of Tears by Toni Anderson
Detective Inspector Nick Archer has a dark past and hides a terrible secret. He’s spent the last decade putting Britain’s most notorious criminals behind bars, but hasn’t forgot the vow he made to the wife he lost to infidelity and murder.
American marine biology profession Dr. Susie Cooper has just started her dream job and wants to settle down. Unfortunately, she’s attracted to men like Nick Archer, whose idea of commitment is staying the whole night.
For the first time in decades Nick’s actually falling for someone, the only problem is he’s using Susie to get closer to the man he believes murdered his first wife. Another student is murdered outside the marine lab and Nick thinks he’s got a chance to nail his wife’s killer.
Betrayal and madness put Susie in danger and a tangled web closes around her until she finds herself fighting for her life. Nick has to put aside preconceived ideas and prejudice if he is to figure out exactly who is threatening to destroy the woman he loves.
Coming in 2010 from Carina Press
