2010 February | Brava Authors | Sensual Romance Fiction

Archive for February 2010

A couple dry facts, a bit of gossip and a hot tip

By Alicia Condon · Comments (4)

Friday, February 26th, 2010

This week I heard that after launching the Nook eReader, Barnes & Noble.com’s sales increased 32 percent to $210 million. Tommy Dreiling, who was the romance buyer for B & N until last Friday (he’s just been replaced by Jules Herbert), reported that 30% of those ebook sales were in the romance category. So it’s more important than ever for every romance writer to have a strong online presence.

I’ve already noticed that Brava authors are a particularly web savvy group, with your own websites, blogs and Twitter followings, but did you know that one of the best ways to reach your readers is through a fan page on Facebook? Alexandra Nicolajsen, our Digital Content/Marketing Manager, explains:

“Fan pages come up at the top of searches. They can also be linked to other fan pages, thereby cross-promoting. Also, all content is automatically public, and Facebook members can easily suggest them to friends. Some of our biggest authors are using them, and have switched from traditional Facebook pages to the fan page, which is more advantageous.”

Alex’s position was just created so we can be sure Kensington is taking full advantage of all the marketing opportunities presented by the internet, and she’s wonderfully enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She and the rest of our sales and marketing staff would love to know about any signings, book trailers, blog appearances or other promotional plans you’re making. When you let us know in advance what you’re up to, we can include you on the Kensington website and coordinate our efforts with yours. If you send me a quick monthly update, I’ll be happy to forward it to everyone here.

Next week is a meeting to finalize our plans for the upcoming Romantic Times convention. I’m hoping to put together a contest in conjunction with RT, and we’ve got some fun ideas that will involve many of you. I’ll keep you posted!

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Categories : Alicia Condon

Vampires, angels, and demons–oh, my!

By Cynthia Eden · Comments (3)

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

I like to write about paranormal characters. Okay, correction–I LOVE to write about them. And since signing on with Kensington, I’ve been able to write about some of my all-time favorite paranormals:

Vampires (I love strong, kick-ass female vamps)
Shifters (wolf, white tiger, and, yes, a dragon)
Demons (the badder, the better!)
Witches
A soul-eater (Yes, I said soul-eater! Luis was featured in the EVERLASTING BAD BOYS anthology)
Charmers

And now…I’m writing about an angel. Or, rather, a fallen angel. When angels fall, they can become very bad. (Yes, bad in a good way–hopefully!)

It is so much fun for me to create paranormal characters. With supernaturals, you can imagine anything. No limits.

I read and write paranormals because I truly enjoy that “no limits” aspect. With paranormals, there is always more to the world that meets the eye. As a kid, I was afraid of the monsters in the dark. As an adult? Well, I can’t wait to write about them!

But what about you? What’s your take on the paranormals?

Happy reading!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
ETERNAL HUNTER–Available now from Kensington Brava
I’LL BE SLAYING YOU–Available 06/29/2010 from Kensington Brava

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Categories : Cynthia Eden

Tags : Cynthia Eden

Finishing a series

By Emma Lang · Comments (5)

Monday, February 15th, 2010

One of the things I enjoy as a reader is a series of books. Nothing fills me with glee to get my hands on the next book in a series I enjoy.

As a writer, the same holds true. I love to write a series, to get comfortable with characters and revisit them with each subsequent book. I get many questions from readers as well, asking me when I will write so-and-so’s book.

I’ve even been asked if I’m going to write second generation stories! It’s a compliment, believe me, to have readers identify so much with my characters that they want to find out what happens next.

Now, my first two Emma Lang Brava books are in a series beginning with Ruthless Heart in late June, then the second book Restless Heart in February 2011. There is a character in Restless Heart, Lettie, who deserves her own story (Reckless Heart) and I so want to write it. I’m hoping I will publish it with Kensington in 2011 (stay tuned!).

I know there are writers who truly intend on finishing a series (like me!) who just don’t get the opportunity to do so because of one reason or another. I would hope no one actually abandons a series intentionally, not after involving their readers. I’m worried if I don’t get Lettie’s story written, there will be readers who are in the annoyed category. The last thing I want to do is alienate my readers – after all, we’re not writers without readers. It’s a partnership!

Now for those of you who read series books, tell me, if you wait for a final book in a series for a long time, does it annoy you? Or possibly even push you away from reading it once it finally arrives?

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Categories : Beth Williamson

The Birth of Susan Fox

By Susan Fox · Comments (8)

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

This is my very first public appearance under my new pen name, Susan Fox. After writing short stories, novellas, and single titles under the name Susan Lyons for Kensington Aphrodisia, Berkley Heat, Harlequin Spice Briefs, The Wild Rose Press, Freya’s Bower, New Love Stories Magazine, and Woman’s World (shall I go on? – no, you get the picture), it’s going to take some adjusting to being Susan Fox.

But I like her. She gets to write for Brava! When Kensington moved the second book in my Wild Ride to Love series from Aphrodisia to Brava, they asked me to come up with a pen name. I wanted to remain Susan because I couldn’t imagine getting used to answering to a different first name. So, because it’s fun and easy to remember and I have a fondness for the animal kingdom, I suggested Fox, and Kensington agreed. So, please join in christening the brand new writer, Susan Fox (yes, she does accept presents – LOL).

(By the way, I hold in reserve Susan Wolfe and Susan Tyger just in case I have to come up with more new names in the future. So no-one else claim them, okay? Susan Cougar is up for grabs, though!)

In case you’re wondering, my first Brava, Love Unexpectedly, comes out in April, so I’ll tell you all about it next month. I’ve staked myself a blog spot on the second Wednesday of each month.

For now, I’m interested in people’s thoughts about pen names. Is it just me who gets confused easily? Personally, I’d rather all writers stuck to one name and the book covers gave the flavor of the story, rather than writers using different names for different types of books. But I think I may be in the minority. How about you?

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Categories : Susan Fox

Tags : pen names, Susan Lyons

Reading is All Sorts of Good For You

By Lucy Monroe · Comments (3)

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

We, who are dedicated romance fans, are firmly aware of the benefits to reading. We’ve heard the study results that show reading and doing things like crossword puzzles helps to maintain healthy brain activity as we grow older. We’ve each experienced in our own ways the life changing power of the written word.

Now one of my favorite fashion magazines even recognizes the benefits of reading:

Read the article here.

Your turn: post your favorite link to an article about reading or romance, or share your favorite story about how reading has impacted your life in some specific instance or way.

Please don’t be bothered if it takes me a bit to reply to your comments as I’m working on a book that was due much too long ago and trying very hard to come back from a nasty flu turned bronchitis.

Hugs to all,
Lucy

Comments (3)

Categories : Lucy Monroe

Superbowl Sunday

By Karen Kelley · Comments (4)

Monday, February 8th, 2010

I don’t watch the football. I don’t understand how my husband can get so excited about a silly game—but I did want to watch the commercials.

How was I to know New Orleans was playing? I love New Orleans. I’ve set books in New Orleans. Gone there for research. I figured I might as well watch since I’m working on a proposal that’s set in New Orleans. You know, kind of set the mood or something.

By half-time I was getting up during the commercials so I didn’t miss the game. I had a Budlight in one hand and Doritos in the other. A couple of times my husband and I bumped knuckles. We yelled, we jumped up from our seats—we bonded.

That’s what love is all about. It’s the moments we share with that special person in our lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s a football game or a romantic movie (and yes, he watches them with me). Wow, I’m a football wife and didn’t even know it. Next year I’m adding fritos and chili to the menu!

In other news, The Jaguar Prince (April), The Falcon Prince (August), and The Wolf Prince (Nov) are available for pre order. The first two covers are up on my website—verrry sexy! Check them out at www.authorkarenkelley.com

Hugs,

Karen

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Categories : Karen Kelley

A Touch Of Reality

By HelenKay Dimon · Comments (5)

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

By the time this blog entry posts, I’ll be recuperating from sinus surgery (not serious but it is a 6 week recuperation period that takes me away from the computer due to dizziness and headaches and other not-so-fun stuff). I’m writing this blog now, before sugery D-Day, thinking I might be down and out for a little bit. So, when you read this, imagine me knocked out from pain pills.

The idea of being in the hospital got me thinking about what we authors do to our heroes and heroines. They get bitten (hopefully that’s just in paranormals), stabbed, shot, chased, attacked and are subjected to a whole host of other awful things. Yet in the span of 300 pages, we have them bounce back, fight the bad guys, accomplish their assigned tasks and fall in love. That’s kind of asking a lot, if you think about it. These poor folks never get a day or two of rest. Half the time, they don’t get a morphine drip or even an aspirin.

Of course, I’m not convinced readers want that much reality. After all, how interesting is it to read about a hero sprawled in a hospital bed, mumbling while under the influence of anesthesia? Doesn’t sound all that sexy to me. Kind of tough to track the villian while in a cast, right? And a coma kind of cuts down on the chance of that HEA.

So, bottom line? Maybe too much reality is a bad thing in romance. Do you agree?