Rather than write a proper post today, I’m going to lead you on a bit of a journey around the internet, to some posts and information about Carina Press that I wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to share here.
First, I attended Emerald City Writer’s Conference in Seattle this past weekend. It’s really a fabulous conference. If you ever get a chance to attend, as an editor, agent or author, you should. I did two sessions, one on the future of publishing and one on branding and website, and both were extremely well attended. In fact, the branding/website session ended up having people turned away because the room was stuffed full. Very flattering! You can find a few recounts on the branding session on the blogs of Jenna Bayley-Burke and Terri Odell (whose title: Branding is For More Than Cattle I’ve already asked permission to steal). On Jenna’s blog, you can also find a recap of my future of publishing workshop (as well as a picture of the blue Italian leather cowboy boots I brought back as souvenir from Australia in August!) Make sure you scroll through the last week of Jenna’s other blog posts, for more recaps from the conference.
We don’t currently have a lot of Carina Press books in print, but a new one is for sale now. You can buy Angela Henry’s romantic suspense The Paris Secret in print via Harlequin.com. It was part of the Suspense Reader subscription program, so readers who subscribe to that program received The Paris Secret as part of their November shipment.
Also, don’t forget that Audible.com adds new Carina Press titles in audio book quite frequently. This week’s new releases: Behind the Scenes, Cry Wolf and Dangerous Magic are all already available in audio. You can see a more comprehensive list of our audiobook titles here.
If you don’t follow me on Twitter, you may have missed a few topics I discussed this past week, so I’ve put them into Storify accounts. The first is some posts I did on promo items, using examples I got from the Emerald City conference. The second is a Q&A chat Kensington editor Megan Records and I did on the #askeditor hashtag yesterday. You can see the full account of that here. Last, every month I do an #editreport on Twitter, as I go through the editors’ reports to me of the submissions they’ve read. It’s a good insight into what an editor thinks as they’re reading submissions.
As always, you can follow Carina Press on Twitter and on Facebook. Today on Facebook, you’ll get a sneak peek of upcoming covers. Starting in November, we’ll also be doing a Facebook contest, and offering extended excerpts of upcoming books.
That’s it for today’s tour of the internet. Hey! If you know of something Carina Press related around the ‘net that people should check out, please leave it in the comments.
Last week was RWA 2011 in New York City (was it just last week? It already feels like a lifetime ago!) So of course photo Friday has to be a pic from RWA. To see more pictures of Carina Press authors and Harlequin fun, visit the Carina Press Flickr group. As of this morning, there are over 100 photos added, and more coming every day!
This is a picture of the big screen at the Harlequin party, taken by Carina Press author Shelli Stevens. As you go in, you can get your picture taken (more than once!) and it gets flashed on these screens, which are on either side of the dance floor. It’s a lot of fun. And to all of you who asked, yes, if you write for Carina, you get an invite to the Harlequin party. Even if you’ve written just a novella
Pictured here from left to right: Spice Briefs author Crystal Jordan, and Carina Press authors Shelli Stevens and Karen Erickson. Aren’t they pretty?
(This could be you next year in Anaheim, start writing and get those books submitted to Carina for your invite to the Harlequin party. Heh.)
For most of my romance-writing career, I have focused on writing historical stories. I’ve written about the Victorian and Georgian periods, and loved every minute of it. I’ll come right out and admit that I’m a research geek. Maybe it’s the former academic in me, but there’s something very exciting about chasing down facts and tidbits about eras and places I could never go. I love learning a new detail and then having that detail influence the narrative, and I also love having a specific plot in mind, and finding the exact historical information I need to shore up that plot’s demands. It’s a thrill! Some people base jump or swim with sharks for thrills. I go to the library.
So, what’s an admitted history nerd doing writing a science fiction space opera romance?
The truth is that science fiction and futuristics are actually historicals. Just like in historical fiction, science fiction takes place in eras different from our own. Instead of requiring research at the library or online, sci-fi writers have to do extensive world-building. We actually need to write a different world’s history, and make it just as rich and full of unique detail as our own history. We must invent customs, legends, figures of speech, rules of conduct and laws, clothing, vehicles, taboos, spiritual beliefs—in short, we have to create whole cultures and make them relatable so that readers aren’t completely alienated (heh) from the story.
When I decided to write COLLISION COURSE, I took everything I learned from writing historical romance and applied that to realms beyond the stars. Give detail, but not so much that it overwhelms the narrative or the characters. Remember that the world exists to support the romance, not the other way around. Unlike with historical romance, however, I couldn’t hope that my reader already knew certain facts about a time period or place, so I had to integrate details in such a way that made sense but also didn’t grind the action to a halt.
Ultimately, I wanted to tell a story with a ton of action, some very steamy scenes, a very sexy hero, and a heroine who unapologetically kicks ass. It doesn’t matter what era in which I set my romances, it’s all about having a good time.
So tell me, do you think science fiction is the other historical? What are your favorite time periods to read about? Leave a comment, and I’ll pick a commenter at random and send them a print copy from my backlist! (US and Canada)
For more information about COLLISION COURSE, including an excerpt, visit my website. You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.
This past spring, I was asked about pen names by someone writing an article for the RWR (the magazine all RWA–Romance Writers of America–members get monthly). The question was whether it was okay for authors to choose their own pen names, or if publishers and agents were going to want to have a say in the name. Then, a few months ago, I was writing a quick email to someone and realized their pen name was, I’m sorry to say, so ridiculous I could not ever imagine addressing them by it. So I thought we should talk a little about pen names. For some of you, it may be too late, but for the rest, read on and let’s discuss things to consider when choosing a pen name.
Does it sound like a porn star?
You want people to take your writing seriously, start by giving them a name that says you take your writing seriously.
Would you be comfortable sharing the name with your family and friends?
If you think you might be embarrassed to have your mom, dad, old high school acquaintance, or how about your current boss, find out your name, it might not be the right one.
Can you answer to that name for years to come and feel comfortable with it?
Your plan is to grow your writing career, I assume. Will you still want to be called by that pen name twenty years from now? Is that the pen name one they can share in the history books without blushing?
Will people feel foolish or awkward calling you by name in person?
Remember, it’s different to have someone speak the name than to write it. Try having people close to you call you by that name.
How difficult is it to sign?
Think positive. Someday, 500 fans are going to be waiting in a line for your autograph, will you be able to sign that name smoothly 500 times?
Does anyone else have a name so similar you may be mistaken for them?
Unless, of course, you don’t mind being mistaken for Jenna Jameson. Many of us wouldn’t, just as long as it was someone saying they thought we looked like her
Will readers be able to read or spell–or most important remember–your name?
Things that can make this more difficult include long, complicated names, names with apostrophes (those can also mess up coding in html/metadata) and names that are so unique/unusual, most people haven’t seen them before.
Can you purchase the domain for the name you’re considering?
Not only the domain, but the Twitter and Facebook names? If you haven’t settled on a pen name, lack of availability of any of this may be a reason to choose a different name.
*Word of caution: if you search for a domain name and it’s available, be prepared to buy it, even if you haven’t settled on that name. It’s worth the $7 to $10 investment per domain to reserve a few options. There are people who watch sites like GoDaddy, to see what people search for, and then buy it, hoping you’ll come back and decide you want it and pay a higher price for it.
Other things I’ve heard should possibly be considered: where will you be shelved (in a digital world, this probably won’t matter), how common is the last name and who will you sit near at booksignings (I often joke I’m going to write a book so I can sit next to Julie James at a booksigning, but I’d probably have to change my first name to Jenny because there are other James between us. Jenny James. And now I’m probably getting dangerously close to Jenna Jameson).
At the end of the day, a pen name may be one you use for years. Yes, you may have the opportunity to use more than one (not always a good thing) but it’s still important to be careful in your selection. As your career grows, in addition to the name on the cover of your book, it’s a name you’ll use on the internet, on forums, on social media, in interviews, at conferences, at dinners and drinks and casual meetings with readers. It’s the name that may become as much *you* as your real name, so make it one you can wear proudly.
I didn’t get a chance to do an RWA recap, and the weeks are getting away from me, but I thought I could share a few of the pictures from our time there.
First, here’s a picture of me at a character breakfast (remember, we were in DisneyWorld for RWA this year!) hosted by 3 Seas Literary Agency. It was a fantastic breakfast and I’m glad I could attend.I’m in the front right, in the turquoise dress, kneeling in front of editor Heather Osborn from Tor.
Next up are a few pictures from the Harlequin Party on Friday night. Harlequin always throws THE party of the conference, and this year was no exception. The theme was “Picture Perfect” and, as such, there were photographers there to take photos, both staged and candid. It was fantastic!
This picture, from left to right: Rosie from Nobody Asked Me, Malle Vallik and new Carina Press author LB Gregg.
In this picture we have two Carina Press authors. On the left is Susanna Fraser, and in the middle is Marie Force.
On the left is eHarlequin Community Manager Jayne Hoogenberk and with her is Danica, one of the eHarlequin community hosts
I hope Jenny can forgive me for posting this picture, but we had FUN and here’s where you see it.
I also have a few pictures from the Ritas.
From left to right: aspiring author Kat Crouch, me, and author Dawn Chartier (they said I inspired them and wanted their picture with me. I was so flattered!)
Three of the most gorgeous editors you’ve ever seen, from the London Mills & Boon offices. And so nice you can’t hate them. I’ve warned them I’ll be visiting them in London someday soon:
I have more pictures from RWA, so I’ll try to be back with a few more on Monday!
Next week is the national Romance Writer’s of America convention in Orlando, Florida. To kick off that convention, there’s a signing on Wednesday evening. Proceeds from the signing always go to a local-to-the-convention-town literacy program. The signing is huge, hosting hundreds of authors and it’s a booklover’s dream! Carina Press is offering you the opportunity to share in a small part of the fun.
Beginning today, Wednesday July 21st and running through Tuesday, July 27th, you can enter the contest–via Twitter only–to win a signed book from an author of your choice. Yes, that’s ANY author who’s attending the RWA literacy signing. They don’t have to be a Carina or Harlequin author! Any author. Choose your favorite!
You can get two entries per day, starting today and ending Tuesday the 27th. Winners will be contacted Wednesday, July 28th, the day of the signing!
You must be following @CarinaPress to be eligible to win so we can contact you via DM about your prize and to get your contact information
To enter:
1) Tweet this once per day: Win a signed book from 1 of 500 authors at RWA from @CarinaPress. Visit http://bit.ly/cipaCo #CarinaRWA
2) Tweet this once per day: Hey @CarinaPress I want to win a signed book from [author name) http://bit.ly/cipaCo #CarinaRWA
example: Hey @CarinaPress I want to win a signed book from Jaci Burton http://bit.ly/cipaCo #CarinaRWA
–in each tweet you must remember to include both the hashtag #CarinaRWA so we can track your entry, as well as the link to this post http://bit.ly/cipaCo so your tweet is eligible! Any entries that don’t contain both of these two elements will be disqualified. Anyone not following @CarinaPress will be disqualified (this happened in the spring contest, two winners who were randomly drawn were not following us and I could not DM them so they were disqualified)
There will be hundreds of authors attending, so browse the list and choose just one! In addition to the signed book, you’ll also win your choice of one of the Carina Press titles in digital format. Two prizes per winner, an old favorite and a potential new favorite! We’ll choose five winners. Contest is open internationally.
Just to be clear, the only way to join in this contest is via Twitter. This blog post is only intended as an explanation and to provide rules for those following along on Twitter. Commenting on this post will not enter you into the contest, you must participate on Twitter. Other legal terms/rules can be found here if you have some extra time on your hands.
(psst, there will also be a secondary contest running on our Facebook page at some point during the next week. You might want to become a fan if you’re not already)
I’ve been working on another post I thought I’d be putting up today, but it’s taken on a bit of a life of its own so I need more time to get it done! Hopefully by next week I’ll be able to share it.
In the meantime, I know some of you will be at RWA Nationals and I wanted to share with you the Carina Press schedule, so if you’d like to meet up with either me, or other Carina Press team members (both Malle Vallik and Jenny Bullough will be in attendance as well) you have a fair shot of hunting us down!
Wednesday July 28:
Digital Clinic–this is for Harlequin and Carina Press authors only. But it doesn’t hurt to let you all know what future authors have to look forward to. We’ll be holding an all-day drop-in clinic on topics like social media, websites, digital reading devices, and other topics.
Thursday July 29:
PRO Retreat panel–Time: 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Title: PRO Retreat – Small, Independent and New Presses
Angela James joins other small press executives for discussion and Q&A
Friday July 30:
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM in Americas Seminar Room: Angela James workshop with author Jaci Burton. Q&A: Inside Digital Publishing–we’ll do a candid Q&A about all things publishing digitally–both small and large press
2:00-3:30: Carina Press Cocktail Party in Europe 8
Come and enjoy wine, cocktails and snacks while meeting the Carina Press team members. Enter to win a doorprize of a Sony Pocket Reader!
3:30-5:00: ESPAN tea
Angela James will be guest speaking
Saturday July 31:
2:00-3:00 Carina Press Spotlight
Come and find out more about Carina’s current books, what we’re looking for and some behind-the-scenes marketing info!
Aideen and I attended Romantic Times at the end of April and really had an amazing experience. The staff of RT was wonderfully supportive of us and excited about the launch of Carina Press. Everyone from Kathryn Falk and Ken Rubin to Carol Stacy, Jo Carol, Liz French, Morgan Doremus, Elissa Petruzzi, Faygie, Whitney and all of the other staff members and volunteers we spoke with over the course of the week were enthusiastic about this new venture. Every time I turned around, there was another RT staff member telling us they couldn’t wait to read the Carina books.
And not only were they graciously enthusiastic about Carina, but they put together a fantastic conference. This was my fifth RT and by far the best I’ve ever attended. The Hyatt Regency Columbus was the perfect conference hotel–the staff there was ultra-efficient and the hotel itself has a very savvy person behind the @HyattColumbus Twitter feed, so huge kudos to them. Beyond that, Jo and Carol have much to be proud of in all the hard work they put into bringing this conference together. I know Jo didn’t get much sleep for many, many days but from my end, she made it look effortless at times.
So what about our conference experience itself? Poor Aideen spent much of her time at Club RT manning the Carina Press and Harlequin tables, sneaking out when she could to attend workshops (next year we’re bringing extra staff so she has help!) She was the friendly redhead many of you met, and the whiz behind organizing the Carina presence at RT, including the brochures, the awesome portfolios that were in the registration bags, the banners, and last, but not least, the Carina luncheon. Compared to that, my part was easy!
I arrived early in the week and, as I have for the last four years, gave the closing session at Judi McCoy and Bobbi Smith’s pre-conference writer’s workshops on Tuesday afternoon. I love closing their workshop off, because they have so many enthusiastic new writers with questions to ask. Right after this, I ran up to registration where I got my badge and a copy of the June RT magazine. And this is what I saw when I flipped to page 12:
Of course I knew there was going to be an article, because I’d done the interview with the fabulous Elissa Petruzzi, but I had no idea I was going to have my picture front and center–and in a Kindle no less! I immediately danced around the registration area announcing that I had “arrived” (pictorial proof of that can be found via this tweet). Thanks so much to Elissa for an incredibly flattering article about both me and Carina.
On Wednesday I did a two-hour session with very business-smart author Lauren Dane. We ran a workshop on being an author in the digital publishing age. If ever you’re an author with questions, wondering what it’s like to write for both a digital-first press and a traditional press, Lauren’s a fantastic person to ask. For those who are interested in that workshop, I’ll be doing a similar version (though only one hour) at RWA Nationals with the also smart Jaci Burton.
On Thursday, I sat on the editor panel. That’s always an interesting experience because there’s a short amount of time (an hour), a lot of editors (at least 12?) and everyone wants to speak up and get the word out about the fabulosity (yes, I made that word up) of their publisher. I didn’t speak much because others had more to say, but I hope that didn’t lead any authors in the audience to believe I wasn’t interested in their questions. Also, anyone in the audience will probably tell you my sense of humor is fully intact. Editor panels tend to bring out my wicked humor for some reason!
Friday was a busy day for us. First, Aideen and I ran the Carina Press spotlight. We were thrilled to have two guests in the audience to support us: Harlequin CEO & Publisher Donna Hayes and Loriana Sacilotto, Executive Vice President of Global Publishing and Strategy (no, no I wasn’t nervous about that, why do you ask? Heh). We had a full room and a lot of fantastic questions.
From there I was off to a one hour session with Jane Litte of Dear Author and Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. We did a session on reading digital that included an eight-question process to buying an ereader, as well as an opportunity for everyone in the audience to get their hands on the Kobo Reader, a Sony Pocket Reader and Sony Touch, an iPad, a nook, a Kindle, an iPhone and a netbook. And I need to give special thanks to both Kobo and Sony, who sent me devices so I would have demo models for not only RT (where Aideen was also able to demo them at Club RT), but at future conferences. Up next, I’ll have them at the Lori Foster Get Together and my Birmingham RWA Chapter appearance! We were also fortunate to have a Sony Touch to give away, compliments of All Romance eBooks/OmniLit (they also had some of the coolest stickers as swag that said “ebook addict”). I tell you, we have some very generous partners in the digital space and we’re grateful to them for helping us spread the digital love (or, as I always say, drag people to the digital dark side). If you’re interested in more about that session, Jane did a blog post based on some of our information here.
After this session was what Aideen has been working up to for month’s: the Carina Press launch lunch. Our goal for this lunch was always to use it as an introduction to Carina Press without doing a hard sell. We know that people like free food (and goodies) but also appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the free food without listening to a lengthy speech. Especially when they’ve already been attending workshops all morning and would be going back to them again. Thanks to the people at Barnes and Noble, we had a nook to give away at the luncheon. The winner was actually a bookseller (who assured me she planned to use it and had plans for what books she’d be buying–I hope she meant Carina books! ) In addition to the nook giveaway, and keeping in mind our goal of not holding people hostage with a long speech, I gave a short welcome speech:
At the end of the speech we introduce a video. Rather than watching it on the blurry, bouncy (I swear Aideen wasn’t drinking) video, you can view it here:
Whew! It was pretty thrilling to get to introduce Carina Press to the RT attendees, and I’m still coming down off that high!
Friday, as I said, was a busy day for me and I left the luncheon and ran over to take pitches for a few hours before the digital book fair began. I was able to end my conference with a day of “rest” on Saturday, and enjoy both the book fair and time spent with readers, authors and other industry professionals. I gathered a metric ton of swag, which will be part of the Carina Press Countdown giveaway (participate on Twitter, Facebook and here on the blog to win!) and also got a huge bag of signed books from authors, which I’ll be giving away on my personal blog in honor of Carina’s launch at the beginning of June.
Overall, though I had to spend quite a few hours in my hotel room working in order to get the Countdown going and to meet production deadlines for the books, I had a terrific time. As I said, I thought this was the best RT yet, both in terms of my experience, the hotel and the RT staff’s energy and dedication to making it the best. I appreciate everyone who showed us support, stopped me to tell me how excited they are about the launch of Carina and that they can’t wait to read the books. I can’t wait for you to read them either!
I’ll be attending the Romantic Times Convention in Columbus, Ohio next week as will Aideen O’Leary-Chung, who will be there on behalf of both Carina Press and Harlequin. Below is a list of places you’ll be able to catch up with us. Even if you don’t attend any of the workshops I’m giving, I hope you’ll attend the Carina luncheon on Friday (there will be goodies!) where I’ll be giving an introduction speech. And please do find me and say hello!
Wednesday April 26th 10am-12:15pm, Everything Digital Publishing(that’s not actually the title but I don’t remember what RT thought sounded like a good idea for a title), presenting with author Lauren Dane. During this workshop, Lauren and I will present you with information about publishing in both the traditional and digital-first world. We’ll have a candid conversation with you about the pros and cons of digital publishing, and we’ll give you honest answers to your questions. Come prepared to have us talk with you, not to you!
Thursday April 27th 2:45-3:45pm Editor Panel
Moderated by author Judi McCoy, I join a long list of other editors on a panel to answer questions about our presses and what we’re looking for
Friday April 28th
10am: Carina Press Spotlight. Join Aideen and I in a conversation about Carina Press, our upcoming launch, our acquisitions, submissions process and any questions you might have!
11:15-12:15pm: Reading Digital (pay special attention to this one)
Along with Jane Litte of Dear Author and Sarah Wendell of SmartBitches, we’ll present a large variety of digital reading devices, discuss with you how to choose which device to buy, what online retailers are available for you to shop at, how DRM can impact your shopping and what formats you should look for. Basically, we’re going to talk everything necessary to read digitally and give you the opportunity to see the devices up close and personal. Not only that, but I’ve heard a rumor that there’s going to be a device for giveaway AND a coupon code to an online bookstore. This might be one you don’t want to miss!
12:30 Carina Press luncheon
Join us for martini mashed potatoes, cupcakes and a celebration of the Carina Press launch. There will be goodies and cover art and Carina Press authors!
Sometime Friday afternoon…editor appointments. I’m taking pitches Friday afternoon. Are you signed up?
In addition to all of that, we’ll also have a table at Club RT. Aideen will have a variety of devices for you to handle (nook, a couple of Sonys, Kindle, etc) and there will be a sign up for a drawing for a nook, to be given away during the Carina Press luncheon on Friday (must be present to win!) as well as sign up for 2 winners to receive all of our launch titles (and that might just be more books than you suspect!). Visit Aideen at Club RT Thursday and Friday for your chance to win, check out the devices and get some Carina promo goodness!
First I need to apologize. I had promised a submissions update and there wasn’t one. The honest truth is because I only got through submissions as far as putting them into the spreadsheet and getting them to editors. That might not sound like a lot, but trust me, it was a full day of work plus some. Submissions are very time consuming and I look forward to the day when I have someone who can help me with them, or when I have more time to devote to them (hahaha!).But this does have to be done this week, so you WILL get one this week. As an apology, I’ve worked up two posts on queries that will appear tomorrow and Wednesday. I hope you find them useful.
Second, we are in a big push now as far as our production schedule, in order to meet a June launch with X number of titles and that means my to-do list makes me hyperventilate just a little. This morning, I stared at my computer for a good fifteen minutes while I sorted out my brain and tried to decide what needed to be done first. I hope by the end of the day to be in a place where I don’t feel guilty about having so much needing to be done! But in the meantime, a quick recap for you…
“It’s the cost of being a pioneer.”
This past weekend I attended the Liberty State Fiction Writer’s conference. If you’ve been interested in joining a writer’s group, you might consider this one. It’s for writers of ALL genres of fiction and, even if you’re not close, you can still get benefit from it because they do something totally cool: they podcast all of their meetings. They were also discussing, while I was there, other neat ways of getting info to distance members (videocast, I think?) and that they really want to be all inclusive not just for people in the area, but also for distance members. They have 157 members currently and they’re a combination of published and aspiring authors in a variety of genres. I hope you’ll check them out!
Anyway, an interesting thing happened at that conference. For years, I’ve been attending conferences, doing pitches and sitting on editor panels. The level of interest in me/my company has always varied based on where I am and what conference I’m attending, but when I first started, interest was limited for the most part, because authors wanted to meet the editors from the traditional publishers, pitch to them and ask them questions on the panel. After my first conference, I quickly grew used to this and, if you know me at all, you know I have a very well-developed sense of humor and the ability to not take myself too seriously. I was later telling my workshop attendees about this and the best, and most accurate response came from author Rosemary DiBattista and she said,” That’s the cost of being a pioneer.” It was like a lightbulb, she was so right. I’m a pioneer, wheee! Anyway, over all these years I haven’t been offended by this attitude, it just made me so much more determined to be knowledgeable, grow the business and reputation of digital publishing and educate people because I knew there would come a day when digital publishing would be recognized (you’d better recognize!) So for the past five years, that’s what I’ve done: kept up my knowledge, grown the business of digital publishing (hi, Carina Press!) and worked to educate anyone who wants to listen about digital publishing.
Well, at this particular conference, which wasn’t huge but a nice size of about 130 people, the editor panel was split pretty evenly between those editors from digital-first publishers and those from traditional publishers. And unlike previous years, at previous conferences, the questions were also split if not evenly then actually weighted towards digital publishing. Not just digital-first publishing, but digital publishing in general. No surprise to most of you, I’m sure, but those authors were very interested to hear about digital publishing, digital-first publishing and would the iPad be a game changer? I walked away from that panel realizing that it’s a whole new ballgame now, because authors want to know about my company, and other digital-first publishers, they want to hear what I have to say about digital publishing and many, many authors are paying attention to what they ignored or thought irrelevant 4, 5 and even 2 years ago. It’s a fascinating time to be in publishing, isn’t it?
