Crimson Ink and Caviar Dreams

'Tall' books

2005-08-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

I recently had an opportunity to check out these taller mass market books. Since I have a rather strict book budget, I was skeptical of these books and the increased prices.

Many eloquent people have jumped in on the debate, so I'm not going to discuss price points, or the way the darn things will look on bookshelves. Reading comfort is what concerns me.

Like many people working with computers all day, my hands ache on occasion. When I held one of these books and read it for awhile, it was very comfortable, much more comfortable than a mass market paperback. My hands didn't ache as much as they do when reading a mass market or even a trade paperback.

I'm not sure I will be won over to the tall paperbacks format, but this is a start.

The appeal of "real women"

2005-08-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

You may have seen the Dove or Nike ads. These ads feature so called 'real women', people who are not model thin or devoid of blemishes. Advertising seems to be celebrating women of all shapes and sizes in recent years and this has crossed over to fiction.

Books with physically challenged heroines are now mainstream, romances featuring women with life experience sit beside coming-of-age chick lit book and big CAN be beautiful in the romance realm.

For so long, heroines were the model of physical perfection, cute, dainty, gorgeous. I wanted to hate them but there were so few reading options out there so I gritted my teeth and read about these perfect examples of womanhood wondering all the while where the average looking heroines lurked. They certainly weren't found often on bookshelves in past years!

Thankfully, the publishing realm has widened to include romances that typify the struggles of 'real women'. I couldn't be happier with all these exciting reading options.

Do you like the idealized perfection of a heroine or do you find yourself drawn to the non-traditional heroines?

And finally, do you have any book recommendations for me?

Marianne Mancusi

2005-08-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

As you may know, author Marianne Mancusi lost her home to a fire recently. Thankfully, she and her dog are okay but she lost all her possessions.

Fundraisers are being organized, including both direct contributions and auctions.

Please check http://www.literarychicks.com/ for the latest information and please consider helping out in some way.

Marianne, you're in all of our thoughts and prayers.

blending genres

2005-08-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

As a reader, I love the blending of genres. I'll take a bit of romance with my mystery or science fiction. I'll take a lyrical fantasy action-adventure romance. I have wide reading tastes and the blending of genres is a way for me to feed different interests at once.

I am particularly interested in the way some of the Luna books blend romance and fantasy and the way some of the new Downtown Press books add paranormal threads to their contemporaries. My day job keeps me too busy to read everything I'd like, but I'm hearing wonderful things about recent releases from both of these lines.

When I first began reading romance, there were two choices. I read some series romance but really devoured historical romances. In the early '90s, I developed a love for all things paranormal and would stalk bookstores for the latest and greatest. As the years have progressed, romance has become even more dimensional and I couldn't be happier!

What about you? Are you excited about the different facets of modern romance?

Welcome back!

2005-08-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome back, old friends. I was locked out of my blog nearly a month ago, but things seem to be fixed now.

My draft post is gone, so I'll have to whip up something coherent and post it soon. I have missed you all!

Research redux and keeping it real

2005-06-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

I've been following all the discussions of the last few weeks with interest. I work with erotic romances every day and I've given the subject a lot of thought while blog hopping. I'll refrain from making my opinion known, as so many have said it better than I could. Remember, I'm just the editor!

Instead, I wanted to blog about keeping it real, especially as it pertains to contemporary romance. I have intended to do this post for nearly a week now, but my job has kept me quite busy and now my post has mutated a bit.

Like many of you, I cut my romance teeth on sweeping historicals that made me suspend my belief at every turn. Did I really think that the handsome knight's teeth were so pearly white and his clothes so impeccably laundered? Did I really think that everything smelled rosy in Elizabethan England? Did I really think that the Revolutionary soldier, the pirate, or the Civil War veteran returned to their loves looking hale and hearty, with meticulously styled flowing locks and Doublemint Gum breath? Does that sexy vampire really feel warm and muscular or is he looking a little peaked? And his breath! I bet it smells like death!

Contemporary romances are a different story. I've always expected them to be more real. Even though I expected the history to be well-researched or the world-building to be complete in other romance genres, contemporaries are the ones that I hold to the highest standard. I find I'm even more aware of this currently since the Internet gives you the world at your fingertips.

I may have mentioned that I read a wallbanger a few years ago that used a modern trademarked name instead of a generic bandage. Recently, I've read a few more books with those sorts of errors and in every case I've stopped taking the book or author seriously.

And now that I'm sort of on the subject, how does an author 'keep it real'? How does an author make their characters come to life. How does the author bring the reader in.

Characterization is the first step. The reader has to feel that the characters are living and breathing people. Give them personality, give them annoying faults, give them vulnerabilities. You'll soon find that their humanity is a great part of what makes them appealing. Who wants to read about the perfect person. I don't! I want to read about a person who is growing and learning, who is markedly different at the last page of the book. I want to read about someone I can identify with in some small way, someone I can root for.

Romance is the second step. The reader wants to see the romance develop. This means that the sexual tension has to sizzle. The reader should be flipping pages as fast as she can because she's so invested in the sexual tension you've created. Don't have your characters just fall into bed. Play the sexual tension out. Make the reader desire it just as much as your characters.

Pacing is the third step. This goes almost hand in hand with the above points. You want to establish the characters, the plot, and the sexual tension at an even pace. Build the plot to a natural climax. You don't want to rush the climax or conflict resolution between the characters. What do you have left execpt the words 'the end'?

Sexual scenes is the fourth step. In erotic romance, the sexual scenes build the relationship and add to the pacing, but be wary of gratuitous sex. Each scene needs to mean something to the characters or advance the plot in some small way or your pacing will suffer. Use the sexual scenes as a way for the characters and relationship to grow.

Bring all of the elements together with the strong framework of your plot and the supporting truss of your research and you'll be keeping it real!

Recognition

2005-06-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

As many in 'Blogland' no doubt know, there are plans afoot for a RWA chapter devoted to the needs of erotic romance authors. If you're interested in participating in the business-only list, it can be found here

It is a very exciting time to be working with authors of erotic romances. At the same time, the rise of erotic romance is bringing forth some very disturbing comments and trends.

I know it is trite, but 'Can't we all just get along.' is starting to resonate.

Erotic romance is here to stay

2005-05-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Recent events have me very frustrated about the industry's reaction to erotic romance. There have been several disturbing trends in one of the industry's leading professional organizations in the last month and now there are online attacks against the genre.

Let's remember that there is a huge difference between pornography, erotica, and erotic romance.

What is erotic romance? These romantic happily ever after stories present a very frank and open discussion of sexuality. Gone is the purple prose, gone is the closed bedroom door. Some of the books explore themes such as ménages and BDSM in a romantic setting. Emotion is always the heart and soul of these books. Remove the sexual scenes and you still have a romance.

Erotica needs to be plot driven but doesn't necessarily need to be relationship driven. There isn't a need for a happily ever after or even any sort of commitment between characters.

Pornography is just sex for sex sake. I've heard it called 'titillation without plot' or 'plot, what plot'.

There is a huge difference between these three genres.

At RT, erotic romance (specifically Romantica, produced by one of the leading publishers) was partially responsible in reversing sales trends in a major retail bookselling chain.

Why are some in the industry running around in a blind panic now? The barn has been open and the cart has been bouncing along the road for some years now. At this rate, you'll catch it in the next country!

Red Sage Publishing has been releasing the Secrets books for at least seven or eight years now.

Black Lace books have been found in the USA and abroad for nearly ten years.

Ellora's Cave has been in business since the beginning of this century.

You can walk into any chain bookstore and see books by Angela Knight, Jaid Black, and Emma Holly gracing the shelves right alongside authors like Virginia Henley, Susan Johnson, Thea Devine, and Bertrice Small, considered by some to be the most explicit romance authors of the '90s. Erotic romance isn't new. The only thing new about it is that the genre is becoming more mainstream.

Many popular New York publishers have announced their intent to cultivate an erotica or erotic romance audience with new and edgy publishing imprints. I applaud them for doing this. There is obviously an audience out there who wants erotic fiction and erotic romance to read. I'll be one of the first in line to buy samplings from all of these new imprints.

For some reason, it has been hotwired into some romance readers that the upsurge in erotic romance means that non-erotic romance is in danger of dying and there are all sorts of 'definitions' of what romance is and a lot of defensiveness going on by those worried about the longevity of romance.

This simply is not the case. The romance genre is not dying! In fact, it is more vibrant and dynamic now than ever. Inspirationals are on the rise, paranormal romance and cross-genre books are making a comeback. Romantic science fiction can be found more easily than ever.

Poll ten erotic romance readers about their favorite authors and books and I guarantee that there will be a good representation of both erotic and non-erotic authors. Erotic romance readers don't ONLY read erotic romance.

We're all romance fans at heart and these two types of romance aren't mutually exclusive. I wish more people understood this.

I am Crimson Ink and I am a *romance* reader.

RT Bookclub Convention

2005-05-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

I have returned from the convention and have been faced with the unenviable task of catching up on all the work that was shuffled aside in the days before the convention as well as the work that has mounded over my desk in my absence.

It was a great convention, the best RT I've attended. There were so many readers and publishers there and the readers, booksellers and publishers from as far away as Europe, South Africa and Australia seemed to find the trip very worthwhile. It was a delight for me to find out the popular trends in romance across the world.

The Millennium hotel was situation just across the street from the historic St. Louis Arch, but the rest of the neighborhood was less than desirable.

The Mezzanine-level Grill had good food and prices but the servers were overwhelmed.

The service at the hotel varied depending on floor and tower. Some conventioneers had terrible maid service or none at all, while others had stellar service. Some attendees lost items and had their rooms and security violated while others had a safe time and returned home with everything they brought and purchased.

The lobby level bar (Martinis) was a brilliant gathering place and I understand that conventioneers congregated there well into the wee hours of the morning.

This convention was a bit wilder and freer than I'd ever seen. Authors, cover models and readers seemed eager to let their hair down in both tame and eye-raising ways. There were a few situations that led to gossip spreading like wildfire.

Advance Reading Copies seem to be making a comeback. Susan Squires' new vampire (The Companion), Kim Harrison's new witch book (Every Which Way But Dead) and Kerrelyn Sparks' humorous vampire (How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire) were free for the taking and these authors graciously signed copies.

Theresa Medeiros could not attend the convention, but her publisher kindly produced ARCs of her September release, After Midnight.

Small press publishers were well represented and I was particularly glad to see some authors published in other genres participating in RT. Humor/fantasy author John Moore was a delight and seeing L.A. Banks was a pleasure.

At the bookseller luncheon, we were informed that Borders Group has seen a sharp turn upward in sales in the last nine months. They cited "Romantica" and paranormal romance as two genres responsible for the growth in sales.

Personally, I loved seeing my colleagues and hearing the exciting projects and lines forthcoming. I am a book lover and voracious reader first and foremost. After leaving this convention, I have an overwhelming urge to glom books and lock myself away for days, until the need for survival forces me out of my reading coma. I have not been able to indulge in this yet, but the weekend beckons.

And with that, I bid you adieu and happy reading!

See you at the RT Bookclub convention!

2005-04-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

I've been getting ready for the Romantic Times convention in St. Louis next week so I haven't been posting much.

I'm really looking forward to the conference. It will be wonderful to meet many of my authors and I never turn down an opportunity to spend time with my coworkers!

See you in St. Louis!

Research

2005-03-30T09:01:00.000-08:00

The "R" word can be quite a daunting thought for authors, but it is absolutely essential. Don't expect your editor to catch everything. Be prepared to answer questions about these research items if asked.

I have recently been editing a spate of books that demanded a great deal of research questions. These questions ranged from language and wording that may not have been appropriate for the historical time to differences in spelling and phrasing between the American and English language.

It may be obvious that your hero's career needs to be researched or that you may want to incorporate vampire lore into your current WIP, but I want to focus on historical novels.

A few years ago, I read a time travel set in the Colonial era. The heroine was a modern woman and the hero was an Indian from a tribe in New York. She injures herself and he produces a Band Aid. Not a bandage, not a wrap--a Band Aid! In Colonial New York.

I threw the book aside and never read anything else from this author.

When I am editing a historical, I am very aware of this fact and try my hardest to keep my authors from any gaffes like this one. My authors would probably tell you that they're shocked when I ask for clarification on a word or an item.I have learned the most fascinating trivia from authors who have refuted a point of contention.
Drudgery has become an interesting intellectual exercise.

Be aware of your research at all times and be prepared to back it up to your editor.

Professionalism

2005-03-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

This post goes somewhat hand in hand with the one on enthusiasm and is derived partially from the experiences and blogs of some over the month. Professionalism has become an increasingly popular discussion topic of late and I wanted to weigh in with some thoughts.

I'm going to make this as plain as possible. A lack of professionalism is career suicide. This industry is small and unprofessional behavior is noted and commented upon more than you'd ever imagine.

If you are rejected by a publisher or agent, NEVER send a snarky, nasty or sarcastic note in reply. This could very likely get you blacklisted. It is sad to say this, but respectful thank you letters are not as well remembered as nasty comebacks. An impulsive gesture many have long-term ramifications.

Don't spend quality time in the company of authors bitter about the industry or those who are very negative about a publisher. You could be viewed by outsiders as agreeing with them. Plus, their negativity will just bring you down. There is no earthly way that you can know the intricacies of an author's personal gripes, so it is better to maintain a safe distance.

When attending conferences, put your best foot forward. Do not overindulge and make sure to get a full night of sleep. You will be rubbing elbows with others in the industry and rumors do fly at these conferences. I cringe when I hear stories about cover models being (wo) manhandled, of drunken behavior in bars and the ever popular 'TMI' and of authors who come to editor or agent appointments wholly unprepared and uninterested because they overindulged the evening before.

When you attend a conference as a published author, you represent the publisher and their work in some way, no matter how small. Hold your head up high and be proud. Show everyone that you are an asset to the publisher instead of a liability.

When you have a relationship with an agent or editor, conduct business in the most positive ways possible. Don't assume the worst if your editor or agent doesn't answer your questions immediately. Try not to be demanding or exhibit divalike tendencies. Be persistent but not paranoid. Treat every communication in a friendly manner, no matter how bad your day or week have gone.

Live by the old adage 'You get more flies with honey than with vinegar.'

I can tell you from personal experience that I am much happier answering friendly questions rather than demands or angry letters from authors who have complaints about items not even within my scope of work.

Don't ever put personal gripes on blogs or on websites or even email loops. These could come back to haunt you and be a serious misstep in your career longevity. Many people get sublime pleasure from spreading hurtful gossip. Don't allow them the opportunity to hurt you or your career.

You ARE a professional and you need to be professional in all your dealings.

Enthusiasm

2005-03-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

When I read various blogs, I have to smile at the enthusiasm of so many of the newly contracted and published. The longer I work in this industry, the more I miss that enthusiasm. There is something so real and so pure about it.

It is very easy to get jaded and bitter in this industry. I've seen it over and over again. Author A. is tiumphant when signed to a multi-book contract but soon issues come forth and her career is in jeopardy, due to circumstances wholly beyond her control. Her rising star has turned into one tumbling at breakneck speed toward Earth and the fallout won't be pretty.

What can you do to protect yourself from this fallout?

Be informed. Do a lot of research about your chosen publisher. Do they shuffle lines often? Do they seem interested in the lines or interested in building careers? Make sure that you're with the right publisher for you and your work. Build a great relationship with your agent and trust him to do the best for you.

Be positive. You are the first line of defense. You need to continually motivate yourself and try not to let the bitterness take hold. Surround yourself with positive people. Be enthusiastic about your work and your career and let it show! Be an inspiration to others.

The perils of an erotic romance editor

2005-02-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

Some time ago, I was heavily quoted in an article that found its way to my elderly parents. I have been working in the romance industry for a number of years. My family has a few books that I've edited on their bokshelves and my mother has been going into bookstores for a few years now and scouring the books from my publisher, trying to remember names of authors I've mentioned working with.

It was a complete surprise when the conversation with Mom and Dad went like this.

Mom: I read the article. I never knew that some of the romances you edited were erotic.

This last word was spoken in a scadalized whisper that I hadn't heard since I was in High School and got caught in the park with my boyfriend.

Me: You didn't? But you have Men Behaving Badly and Adventures of a Sex And The City Wannabe on your bookshelf.

Dad: Well, yes, dear but you don't expect us to read that rubbish!

At this point, I was torn between shock and a little annoyance.

Mom: Hold hands with us. We need to pray for your blackened soul.

Chanting and the burning of insense ensued to my everlasting horror.

I think it would have been better if they had never found out. My blackened soul and I thanked my parents profusely and ended the conversation, all of us a little wiser for the experience.

Inspiration. Motivation. Dedication.

2005-02-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

I hear time-management issues from my authors all the time. It is absolutely vital to make the time to write. When I would attend RWA discussions in my former life, I would always hear that an author MUST treat writing as a job, scheduling time and planning that career.

These three words can make your best laid plans a challenge at best.

Inspiration

Writing is a creative exercise but you have to find a way to move through your muse's whims. If you can't write, try plotting another book, or working on promo. Puzzle out why you've stalled and consider ways to write through. Write short character studies or play with a potential sequel. Brainstorm with critique partners or your editor. Just keep working toward that end and the words will come. You may have to revise them significantly, but the 'two step forward, one step back' approach still does mean progress.

Motivation

Nobody is as invested in your career as you are. Nobody understands just how it feels to channel words from brain to paper. You are your own best advocate and must motivate yourself. Set a writing time and stick with it. Spend your spare minutes of inspiration jotting down notes for books or characters. Always take a notebook or PDA along. Gently push family responsibilities aside in your prescheduled writing time and make sure that your family understands that you are working and not playing with the computer. Keep focusing on your long-term goals and set short-term rewards for yourself.

Dedication

It may sound trite, but the only way to become a published author is to write. Dedicate time and energy to the writing process. Channel that inspiration and motivation into energy and results. Don't allow anything short of a family emergency to distract you. Don't allow a bad day to derail you.

Keep working toward the goal of finishing a book and starting the next!

Travis Tea

2005-02-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

I read a very interesting article yesterday concerning a 'character' called Travis Tea.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb202277.htm

Read it. It is quite interesting! There have been a few articles concerning Publish America in the past, but this one is by far the most intriguing. I've downloaded the free copy of the book. It should make for interesting reading!

You can be your own worst enemy

2005-02-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

Creative people are often the most sensitive and the most passionate. As a result, they can also let emotions get the better of them in their profesional lives. I have seen this situation again and again in our industry.

Some of the situations go something like this. These examples are not from specific authors.

Author A got a bad review. This review is less than a hundred words in length and is riddled with typos. The review is not accurate in describing the plot--even the character names are spelled incorrectly. The author takes this review to heart and lets it impact her writing schedule instead of brushing it off. I understand that negative or inaccurate reviews hurt, but as a professional author, you must work through them. Reviews are just opinions. Don't give them the power to derail your work.

Author B sees that there is a buzz associated with New York Times best selling Author Z. She vows that she will write 'Just like Author Z' to hit the best seller lists and is surprised when her efforts don't produce the perfect Author Z clone. Author B is a fine author to begin with and there is no need to try force her work and voice into Author Z's mold. Author B does herself and her work a disservice by trying to imitate Author Z. In a year or two, Author B's book of the heart may have crested the best seller lists as well.

Author C lets professional molehills become mountains and upsets herself so much that writing isn't an option, sometimes for multiple years! Author C is a fine writer and these issues can be easily put to bed, if only she can let go of them and put fingers to keyboard or pen to paper. Author C may know this, but she cannot always seem to let go of the newly built mountains. More than a few promising writing careers have ended this way.

Author D surrounds herself with negative people who may be furthering their own agenda. She becomes convinced that the world--everyone from her dog walker, her children's teachers, everyone in the industry-- is out to get her. She isolates herself and her entire professional scope shrinks to this small and not so trusted group of 'friends'. She lashes out at bookstore personnel, readers and everyone from the newest Intern to the most Senior Editor at her publisher. She sends nasty letters and sometimes insulting gifts to review publications in a sarcastic thanks for less than perfect reviews. She threatens lawsuits. Her friends encourage and fuel her negativity. I'll let you guess if they're around when Author D has alienated industry professionals and done significant damage to her career. Author D may take multiple years to rebuild the reputation she had and she may very well never be able to turn the tide.

These examples may be extreme, but they do happen. Keep positive and keep writing!

Critique Groups

2005-02-05T23:02:00.000-08:00

The responder in my previous post asked a great question about critique groups. I thought I would expand and make this point its own post.

NEVER send a submission to an editor or agent unless someone else has read it. There is no guarantee that you're objective enough to see plot holes in your book and you can't possibly see typos or punctuation issues. Trust me, when you read a book multiple times, your eyes can and will trick you.

Defining 'someone else' is another issue. The best 'someone else' to use isn't a family member or a friend who is not in the industry. No matter how well meaning these people are, they are not the most qualified people to give you a thorough critique.

What is left? A critique group or partnership with another author. However, as I posted below, be aware and very careful about who you choose. Sharing your words, your characters and your worlds is one of the most intimate kinds of sharing and this leaves you vulnerable.

Do not jump into just any critique group out of desperation to send your book to an editor or agent quickly. Approach it slowly and methodically. Make informed decisions.

Most of us have cultivated relationships with others in the Industry on the Internet. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Internet is the best or safest place to find a crit partner. Be aware of the anonymous nature of the 'net.

Also, be very aware that the Internet offers almost unlimited archiving. That chapter of your latest WIP that you sent to a newsgroup a year ago? It may still be searchable. Your words may be out there for anyone to see or adapt as their own.

Never post your uncontracted work in these venues.

To a mailing list with an open archive.
On a message board that has an open subscribership.
To a casual friend.
To a fair-weather critique partner.

Finding a crit partner

Industry mailing lists and author related message boards are an excellent place to start the process. Many authors post their need for a crit partner. Look for posters who seem to have the same outlook as you. Look for someone who has a positive email or posting voice. Read their archived posts and try to get a feel for them. Don't pick anyone too thin-skinned.

Compatibility

This is vital! If you are an author who has the time, energy and creativity to produce a book every other month and your crit partner only has the time to write a book a year, the relationship is bound to be uneven. Make up a short Q&A sheet. Fill these out together and discover if you'll be a good match. Define what you are looking for. Do you want what amounts to a content crit or an unofficial line edit? How many pages, on average, would you like to crit at one time? Do you want to crit by chapter or as the entire book?

Responsibility

A critique partnership is a relationship and requires responsibility from all involved. Do unto others and you'd have done to yourself and your work. Don't share details, emails or an author's work with anyone. Give the author a well-rounded critique. 'Great work' may sound good, but this sort of comment will rarely help an author grow. Return critiques in a timely manner and gently explain what doesn't work for you.

A good critique partnership is invaluable!

T.M.I. When is too much info more than enough?

2005-01-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

T.M.I.

Too much information.

When should you hold back and when should you share information?

The culture of the writing community is as intertwined as any I have ever seen. With the advent of the Internet and search engines, off the cuff comments made ages ago can come back to haunt you. Information shared a decade ago can lead to a breach of privacy in modern times. That crit group you joined years ago? One of the members may have borrowed your ideas.

How do you protect yourself?

First and foremost, limit the information you share. If you have a career or a home life that could be made uncomfortable by the news that you are a romance writer, choose a persona or pen name now. It doesn't matter if you sign your first contract ten years from now under an entirely different name. This persona will keep your private and writing lives apart.

Don't share home phone numbers, addresses, etc. with large groups of people. It is probably common sense to say never post this information on a website or message board, but I had to say it anyway. Get a Po Box, an unlisted number. These ARE legitimate busines expenses.

Be careful when being critical of a publisher or an author. The Internet and web engines allow for endless archiving. Do you really want a submissions editor to read how much you hate her publisher's work? That's a career limiting move!

Guard your work. Don't be too eager to share the fruits of your labor with every crit group around. Find a trusted group of friends and form an intimate professional partnership. You'll be able to find people who will focus on the strengths of your work and create a relationship with them.

Make sure that you're very clear when being sarcastic or funny online. The powers that be haven't invented a sarcasm of humor filter yet and the meaning behind typed words can sometimes be misread.

When on public mailing lists or blogs, be aware that people (fans and potentially industry professionals) are reading. Nothing turns an editor off more than reading a gleeful post about what copyright infringement Author A has engaged in, or, God forbid, the personal foibles of Author B's intimate sex life.

If Author A and B can't comport themselves as professionals when they've got everything to lose, why should an editor take a chance that these authors will be a professional match for the publishing company?

Protect yourself from the T.M.I. disease and strive for success!

The dreaded editor/author appointment

2005-01-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

Many of us have been there. The dreaded editor/author appointment is looming. I'd like to shed some light on how it is from our side of the table.

Some conferences are bare bones. These are the challenging ones. They often offer us water and show us to a table, giving us a pen and a pad of paper. We sometimes get a list of names and times of appointments. These are literally the only tools we have.

Some conferences offer more in the way of information, which really does make a difference. A sheet of paper with your name, email address, the title of your book and a two paragraph synopsis does wonders for the editor.

However, this is just the beginning, the pregame, if you like. We're as informed as we can be. Now, the rest is up to you.

Be Prompt. Make sure that you arrive at the appointment at least ten minutes before your scheduled time. So what if you're early! Take this time to center and ground yourself. Try to relax and breathe deeply. If for some reason you can not make your scheduled appointment, please try to get a note to the convention staff or the editor.

Be Prepared. Make sure you've done some homework on the publishing company. Be aware of their market needs and be prepared to list some of your favorite of that publishers' authors. A blank look or a mumbled 'I never heard of you before today' is not a strategic career move. Bring notes, if you need them. Business cards are always good, as well.

Be Professional. Walk into that room with your head held high. Project as much confidence and professionalism as you possibly can. First impressions are very important. Invest in a nice leather business binder and leave the crumpled notebook in your hotel room.

Project. You have a very finite amount of time in which to grab and hold the editor's attention. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most nervous times in your life, but you must get beyond those nerves for the few minutes you're pitching your book. Meet the editor's eye and shake hands firmly. Don't stare down at your notes and mumble your proposal. Take your time, take some deep breaths and explain your story, in a consise but not emotionless way. I want to feel your excitement about you work and there is no way to judge that if you're focused on your notes. You aren't getting your message through to me if I'm concentrating on straining to hear your whispers.

Trust in yourself and your inner strength as a storyteller. The words will flow from your mouth to the editor's ears, despite your nerves.

Seeing such nervousness across the table makes us feel helpless. If we engage you in a little small talk, we're just trying to put you at ease. This doesn't necessarily mean that we don't want to hear your pitch.

Some tips to remember for your next appointment.
Create a short typed sheet with your name, email address, title, length and synopsis. If the convention staff has offered these to the editor, you can always keep it. What have you lost? Just a sheet of paper.

Project professionalism, from head to toe.

The editor is just another person across that table. Try not to be too nervous.

Project calmly. Let the editor know why your story is special.

Some examples of what not to do at your appointment. All of these are true stories.

An author approached me at a conference when I had escaped for a short restroom break. He stood outside my cubicle in the women's rest room, trying to convince me that I had to read his book. Needless to say, I avoided him for the rest of the conference. Something can be said for picking your moments!

I was taking appointments at a conference and we were focusing exclusively on erotic romance. An author approached me, dressed very casually in torn jeans and a tube top and pitched her story, which included many of our 'ick factors', including the murder of children. I found myself annoyed that she had taken time away from an author much more suited to my company's needs.

An author sat down at an appointment and I asked her which of our authors she most enjoyed. She wrinkled her nose and said she didn't read those books. I asked her why she was targeting my publisher and she eagerly explained that she was willing to lower herself for the money.

An author team took three appointment slots under their individual names and their joint pen name. They weren't interested in talking to me but agressively speaking to me in a near-shout, then they followed me around for the rest of the conference. If I don't feel respected, I'm not going to expend the energy on reading your book.

Good luck on that next appointment.

I've joined the blog revolution.

2005-01-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

After reading the posts at Romancing The Blog, and more specifically The Red Pen Diaries, I have decided to join you all.

I'm young-ish, married with children and have been working in the publishing industry for several years.

Like "Red Pen", I am an editor for a well known publisher. I primarily edit erotic/spicy romance, though I have recently branched out into projects in other genres. I'm also remaining anonymous at this point in time.

Editing is a big passion for me. I greet every workday with smiles and feel very fortunate to be working at a job I adore and for a company I thoroughly admire and respect.

I intend to post here frequently. We'll see how that goes!