Heroes, Sidekicks and Mobsters by Nancy Brophy

When I was a child, I thought the sun, the moon and the stars rose and set around me. And while I have friends who would assure you that I still think that. I don’t. Not really. Well, maybe a little.

In reality none of us are sidekicks. Everyone has her own life, but not every story is interesting. But sometimes it’s the quiet, over-looked ones who really should have center stage.

Like many people, I’m fascinated by the Mafia. Not the Soprano brand of mobster. Too new. Too crass. Give me the romance of an earlier generation complete with a bootlegging, snappy dressing murderer and I’m hooked.

New York was a tough neighborhood if you were an immigrant. Maybe still is. Lots of us know the story of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Al Capone and Bugsy Segal, but the one I really admire was Meyer Lansky. He was a Polish Jew, not Italian. Should never have fit in, but he was tough enough to hold his own in a room filled with tough guys and smart enough to be the hand behind the throne.

Bugsy Segal died from five gunshot wounds to the head at forty-one. Lucky Luciano was indicted on numerous crimes and deported. Al Capone was arrested for tax evasion and prostitute and suffered from syphilis.

But Meyer Lansky died a rich, old man in his bed at the age of eighty. The rich part has been disputed and according to rumor the money has never been found. I can’t help but think that everybody in the room should have their eyebrows raised and a smirk across their face at that statement.

Heroes in our stories are always larger than life characters. The nebbish accountant may be the nicest guy in the world, but one can afford to be a nice if he’s got nothing else going for him. The people who never step out of line don’t have a story either, unless something happens to force them into another path.

It’s hard to write the hero. Let’s face it, we love the silent, brooding alpha type – the man who thinks he’s in charge and sometimes really is. But his lack of words can give way to shallow POV so that we don’t really know the character,  only the external mask he’s chosen. Sadly it’s the twisted angst and conflict that make a good story work.

A writer is like the sun, moon and stars as she shines her beam on her characters uncovering their secrets. I want to know the hero inside and out, but I also would like a tip on where Meyer Lansky’s money is.

Your Story’s Setting by Kim Wollenburg

 Let’s talk your story setting. As a writer, do you write about settings you are comfortable with or do you reach for the stars?

Setting has always been an interesting quandary for me. Just how important is setting? I think the answer to that is – it depends. (Isn’t it odd how many questions can be answered that way?) I think the reader determines how important the setting is. Some just want to know where without being bogged down by elaborate or flowery descriptions of everything the characters’ see. Others will want that. It’s a tough balance to strike for us authors.

Most of my story settings are in places I’ve never been before. There is one setting that I’d love to write more of, and definitely like to read, and that’s futuristic settings. Yes, the ones set in space on faraway planets. Some of my favorite movies/shows happened in space – Star Trek (Next Generation), Star Wars and Firefly. Same thing with books. I love to be drawn into fantastic settings that are beyond anything I can dream of. The imagination of the writers who come up with these places is amazing.

While I love Key of Solomon and am having fun writing book 2 (The Death Skull releases in August 2012), my first love is futuristic, or science fiction (as they are now known) romances. Why? In large part, because of the setting.

Exploring new places on Earth is fun, and I enjoy writing about Egypt and other exotic locales. However, I’m happiest when I’m on another planet. Or in a star cruiser dancing among the stars. It feeds something in me I have been unable to define. It could be the love of space was impressed on me from childhood but I don’t think too long on that. I just know that I love stories set in space.

The first book I sold was a futuristic romance called Hit Me With Your Best Shot. It wasn’t set in space but what I enjoyed most about that, besides Sidra, the heroine and her mysterious hero, Gideon, is creating a future world. Set on Earth in the far future, I got to take some of the familiar and twist it. Including playing with human/animal genetic crossings. Not shape-shifters. Actually crosses. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to revisit this world as I’m re-releasing it with Lyrical Press on February 27, 2012 (love my shiny new cover!!). Same title, new sexy cover and, with the help of my fantastic editor, fixed some of the flaws. I’m excited about it re-releasing but more than that, I loved revisiting that world so much so that I’m going to write another in the same future setting. I’d forgotten how much I liked to make things up

You see, that’s the freedom of writing futuristic settings. And maybe that’s why I like to do them so much. With these, I’m only limited by my imagination and common sense (as to how things work). It’s been fun discovering what my imagination can come up with when I let it go. Sometimes, I amaze myself.

How about you, the readers? What are you favorite settings?

How Lyrical is Your Romance? Writing Contest

Hi there!

Coming in the day after Christmas (hope yours was merry!) to post an announcement about the Lyrical Press writing contest. You got a little taste of it from the December 21st blog post (wow, that feels like it was so long ago) but here are some more details.

Contest opens on the 16th of January. This means you have 3 weeks to polish your manuscript to submit to Lyrical. Please make sure to follow the contest guidelines (you are all pros so I know that goes without saying but just in case you’ve had too much celebration ).

Feel free to post questions in the comments below.  And please feel free to spread the word. Is a new contract in your new year?

Fowarding permission granted

Contest opens on Monday, January 16^th. This contest is open to both published and unpublished authors.

Entries must be complete works, ranging in word count between 15,000-100,000 words, any heat level, and fit into one of the following subgenre categories:

• Contemporary romance
• Historical romance
• Paranormal or urban fantasy romance
• Romantic steampunk
• Romantic Suspense

Prizes:

1^st Place: $200 advance and digital publishing contract (advance payable as $100 upon finalized contract and $100 upon publication).

2^nd Place: $100 advance and digital publishing contract (advance payable as $50 upon finalized contract and $50 upon publication).

3^rd Place: Top-scoring contestant in each genre category will receive an acquiring editor’s critique of synopsis and first 50 pages of manuscript.

Guidelines:

• File type: .rtf, .doc, or .docx only
• 12pt black font (Times New Roman, Cambria, Courier or Georgia preferred)
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 1″ all
• Page-breaks between chapters

Please include a title page listing the following information:

• Legal name
• Pen name
• Email address
• Contact phone
• Working title (include series name and details if applicable)
• Word count
• Genre/category

Entries will be accepted from January 16, 2012 through February 5, 2012, and must be emailed to contest@lyricalpress.com.

Entries sent to an email other than the aforementioned will be ignored.

Please include book title and contest in subject line thusly:  Booktitle – How Lyrical Is Your Romance?.

Attach full manuscript, and 2-5 page synopsis in .rtf, .doc, or .docx format (Booktitle_MS and Booktitle_SYN as file names–your book title replaces “Booktitle”).

After February 5, the contest will close, but we’ll still be accepting submissions as always at our submissions@lyricalpress.com address.

No entry fee required. Judges reserve the right to Decline to Judge any entry if it does not fit our lines, level of writing is not acceptable, or submission guidelines are not followed.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria: Hook, Pacing/Plot, Characterization, Dialogue, Mechanics, and Author Voice.

Winners will be announced on March 12, 2012 via our blog http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com/ and direct emails to winners.

Dancing Sugar Plums… by Nancy Brophy

My friend, Jessie, isn’t like me; she still believes in Christmas. Her family has not reached the cynical point where everyone’s agreed not to get gifts for the other because Christmas is for children. When Jessie’s grandmother was still alive, the two women, one in Oregon, one in Ohio, started a competition to see who could send out the most cards and who got the most back. When Jessie tells this story, she laughs, because the competition wasn’t about the Christmas spirit, it was sharing something special with a family member two generations removed.

Jessie and her grandmother decorated their walls with cards and sent competitive photos to show the outcome. The last year of her grandmother’s life, when she was too sick to send her own cards, Jessie sent not only her cards but her grandmother’s as well (over 700 cards) with a note telling recipients that her grandmother was not doing well. An aunt hung them on the wall of the nursing home making her grandmother’s last Christmas a memorable one.

As frequently happens with good deeds, at the funeral, a cousin got the credit for it. As I watched as Jessie wrapped presents and addressed cards for people across the country, I found myself envious that Jessie’s family traditions mean she still gets excited about the holiday.

I grew up in a small oil-rich town that didn’t have much else going for it. I have no idea if this story is true or not, but it’s one I remember hearing when I was a child.

Back in the day when banks were owned by real men and women, First Wichita National Bank loaned big bucks to an oil speculator named LD Burns and, in return, suffered dry well after dry well. (The phrase ‘throwing good money after bad’ may have started here.) The bank loaned more and more until the Board of Directors met late one Saturday evening in December to vote on whether the bank could even open its doors the following Monday. LD Burns entered the room long after the meeting had started soaked in oil.

By the time I was a child, the Burns family had cemented their fortune. They lived on a large corner lot in the Country Club section of town and every year they put on a Christmas fantasy. The Burns Display. Every year it got bigger, tighter and more crowded. And better, because one quick look wouldn’t take it all in.

Santa rocked in a house soaking his feet. A manger scene complete with a choir of life size manikin angels sang under a huge star. A Ferris wheel at least ten feet tall carried Snow White and the seven dwarfs around and around. Frosty tipped his hat, bowed at the waist and blew bubbles from his corncob pipe. An ice skating rink with finished toys circled in and out of Santa’s workshop.

And every year we inched our red and black 1955 Lincoln in bumper-to-bumper traffic around the corner of the house to view it. Three kids in the back seat with noses pressed to the window starring in awe. “Look. They moved the sleigh and reindeer to the back.” “Is the Gingerbread house new?”

Mr. and Mrs. Burns eventually died and the display was stored until the local college, Midwestern State University, agreed to display it on the lawn of their administration building. It is now called The Fantasy of Lights. There is plenty of room. Crowding is no longer an issue. One can walk on the curved paths and see each display up close. Maybe I’ve gotten older, but it’s not the same.

Christmas is a time of too much, but big city opulence has never competed with the memories of my youth. What is your favorite Christmas memory?

May you and yours have a happy holiday and blessed New Year.

Industry Interview: Lyrical Press & a Contest!!!

Here’s another interview from the small press/digital world. This one is from my other publisher, Lyrical Press. This is one heck of a good group, and I’m so proud to be one of their authors. The interview is of Renee Rocco, publisher, author and cover-art genius. Seriously. I wanted to be published by Lyrical just so I could get her to do a cover and luckily, I did. Isn’t it great? It releases on February 20, 2012.

I loved this insight into Renee. And believe me, she’s everything she says she is. My editor, Carin Brumal has been wonderful and they truly take good care of their authors. And they are growing. They’ve just added two new acquiring editors, Abby Rose and Ann-Marie Smith. Check out their wishes on the site – www.lyricalpress.com.

I hope you enjoy this look into this wonderful publisher. Oh, and make sure to read to the bottom. Lyrical is hosting a contest where the winners receive a contract! Yep, you heard me right. A contract and even better, an advance! Have I whet your appetite? Good. Read, enjoy and check out the details on the contest below. Readers of this blog get first peek as the contest won’t be officially open until after Christmas. Keep your eye on Lyrical’s blog and my tweets for developing information.

Without further ado (I’ve always wanted to say that), here’s the interview.

What made you decide to become a publisher?

I’ve always loved books. Always. I’ve had my nose in a book for as long as I could remember – or more recently, in a digital reader. My dream had been to join the ranks of the authors I’d been reading for decades. So, with the support of my husband, I wrote and submitted four books, which were all published. Once my toe was in the door, so to speak, I realized there was this whole other world of publishing that I found fascinating – the behind the scenes stuff that authors rarely think about. I saw some things happening behind those scenes that, as an author, I didn’t like – and of course, things that I loved and excited me about this industry. Because I’m the sort of person who is never content with not knowing something, I decided I had to learn as much about publishing as possible. First, I studied cover art until I had a fairly good idea of what worked and what a made a cover look…not good. From there, I moved on to editing. I researched digital formatting and took note of what readers – and authors – wanted. Frank and I talked at length about pressing on to the next level of this industry, which for us, was publishing. We launched Lyrical in December 2007. Our goal has always been to give authors a safe house where they could publish their work and be treated with the respect they deserve. I know every Lyrical author by name and know every book they have published (or will publish) through the house. I know that’s a big deal to our authors, since they know, with me, they aren’t just a book. They’re a person on the other side of that computer, and while I might have to make unpopular business decisions for the good of the house as a whole, they’re confident that every choice I make, I make with each of them as an individual, in mind.    

Tell us about your name/logo. Where did you come up with it? What’s the significance?

I love words, and just thought Lyrical looked – and sounded – pretty. As for the logo, an artist allowed Frank and I to use her amazing design of the intertwined dragons, which to us, are representations of Frank and I.

Could you please tell us specifically what types of books Lyrical Press publishes?

Currently, we’re only accepting erotica, romance and some urban fantasy.

If you could get your hands on more stories in a certain genre – or with certain characters – what would it be?

Anything erotica. BDSM is a Lyrical fan favorite. We’ve also put out a call for dystopian erotica, something I haven’t seen much of but would love to get my hands on.

What are you absolutely not looking for?

Inspirational. Our readers seem to come to us for the more hardcore erotica – and we’re just fine with that! (smile)

Will you be doing both e-books and print books? Where can you find Lyrical Press books?

I’m proud to say our readers come to us for our digital books, which is an awesome thing. As to where you can find Lyrical’s books, they’re everywhere! You can find us on Amazon, Sony, Fictionwise, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks, OmniLit, BooksOnBoard, just to name a few major retailers. We distribute our digital books through both Lightning Source and OverDrive.

Most new writers have visions of agents and New York publishing houses dancing in their heads. Can you tell us some of the advantages of signing with a digital/small press publisher over a New York publisher?

With a small press, you have a better chance of getting a personal touch. You have a small-town feel, so to speak…a more intimate house with a hands-on publisher. To me, that’s important. When I was actively writing, the last thing I wanted to feel like was just a commodity. Yes, publishing is a business and everyone should want to be paid for their work, but the bottom line is, I wanted to be a person to my publisher. With a smaller press, you’re not merely a dollar sign. You’re a vital gear in the company’s machine, and to some authors (like me!), that’s very important – and it was one of the guiding factors in the establishment of Lyrical Press.

What do you look for in a prospective writer?

Without a doubt, we’re always looking for writers who embrace the fact that being an author is a business. We love authors who take an active role in their career. They understand their words – and their books – are tools for a successful career. They know how to cultivate a readership. They know how to utilize social networking. They appreciate the work of the publisher and editor to help move their career forward and take an active hand in polishing their manuscript so that when it’s presented to the public, it’s in the best condition possible – and that includes editing, cover art, formatting and marketing. Reputable publishers do their part, and I look for authors who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get dirty for the sake of giving their readers their very best. 

After you receive a query/synopsis – approximately how long does it take you to reply to the author?

Lyrical has a fairly good turnaround time. It usually takes about 2 – 4 weeks to evaluate and reply to a submission.

Most authors seem to feel it’s the publisher’s responsibility to do the marketing – that all an author should do is write. In your opinion, how important is marketing and what’s the writer’s responsibility in this area?

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, sitting back and just writing might have been the norm. Not in today’s publishing world. It doesn’t work that way with small publishers, and it’s not how the big publishers are doing things either anymore – unless, of course, you’re a ‘name’. Yes, publisher must do their part in marketing, but so too, does the author. Most publishers promote the house as a whole, while authors push their book individually. The problem some authors run into, however, are publishers who do nothing by way of promotional work. That’s a problem. Publishers and authors, these days, must work side by side to get the books out in front of readers. I mean, just look how flooded the current market is. Both parties must work in unison to achieve maximum success.

Across the Internet, the most common expressed concern is the perceived lack of quality control in eBooks. Would you like to comment on where Lyrical Press is with respect to performance in this area?

Lyrical is extremely selective with who we hire to edit for our authors. The last thing we want is to be the house with books riddled with errors. Do some slip through the cracks? Yes, as much as we hate to admit it. No one here is a machine. We’re all human, and human error can be an ugly thing when it comes to literary errors. I love when Lyrical’s books are reviewed and the reader comments on how well the book is edited – which we get quite often, actually.

As a publisher, what is the best advice you can offer a writer on how to be successful in the business?

Here are some random bits of advice…Learn your craft. Understand publishing is a business. Your books are not your babies; they are the tools you use to gain success with your career. It’s an editor’s job to help you make your book the best it can possibly be, so don’t look at him/her as the enemy who wants to rip your work to shreds. You aren’t a victim if you sign a contract you haven’t read or fail to fully understand – it’s your job to know what you’re signing before you sign it because your contract is a legally binding agreement and you will be held to every word of it. Be the author your publisher fights for, not the one they can’t wait to be rid of. Don’t be a diva.

Please tell us in one sentence – why we should read Lyrical Press books/authors.

Because Lyrical’s books rock!

Anything else you’d like to say?

I really need to thank our readers, who have all been so very supportive over the years. We work harder than you can imagine ensuring we give you enjoyable books, written by amazing authors. Keep an eye out…2012 s going to be an awesome year!

Renee, thanks so much for joining us on See Jane Publish! What a great look into Lyrical Press. I wish you much success! And not only because you are my fantastic publisher.

Now, for the contest!!!

Lyrical is ringing in the new year with a contest! Beginning January 15, Lyrical is accepting submissions (synopsis and full manuscript – following usual submissions criteria found on the website). The editorial department will review the entrants and choose the winners. Entries accepted until February 5 and winners announced around March 12.

Prizes are:

 1st prize—a contract and $200 advance (100 payable on contract and 100 payable upon publication)

 2nd prize—contract and $100 advance (50 payable on contract and 50 upon publication)

 3rd prize – likely multiple – critiques of partial manuscript and synopsis by Lyrical editors.

Categories:  Contemporary Romance; Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Romance, Historical Romance, Steampunk with Romantic Elements and Erotica (all genres). They are looking for all heat levels and romance with the exception of Steampunk (romantic elements) and Erotica.

Entries should be sent to contests@lyricalpress.com

There is NO entry fee!!! It does mean that Lyrical can choose not to read/judge an entry based on whether it fits Lyrical’s lines and level of writing. Obviously, you want to check out what Lyrical acquires and make sure you submit the perfect manuscript.

Got questions? Post here, and I’ll get them answered for you. Hope you enjoyed the interview and are excited about this amazing opportunity!

Happy Holidays!

Down The Rabbit Hole by Susan Lute

I love the Matrix trilogy (films). They are stories about how things aren’t always what they seem on the surface, and if you tumble down the rabbit hole, you’re likely to discover a reality that is vastly different from the mask we live with every day.

That’s what has happened since I became an indie author. While being wildly exciting (now – I was more cautious when I published my first book), it’s also been wildly challenging to adapt to this new world of publishing. Today, my third indie novel, The Return Of Benjamin Quincy is in production (I like the sound of that), and with any kind of luck will be on sale before the end of December. By then I’ll also, hopefully, have started the next project.

So here I am, “taking a break”. What does an author do on their ‘break’? I usually limit my breaks to one week, but this one has stretched into two, and I hate to say it, could end up being three. Since all my deadlines are self-imposed, this isn’t a big problem, except that nagging need inside my chest to stop piddling around and get back to writing. But ignoring that, I’m wrapping presents, thinking about when I can dangle tinsel on the tree while watching my favorite Christmas movie, hanging stockings and wreaths. Family is in town for an early holiday week, so I’m spending as much time as possible with them. I’m sightseeing, reading (Kerrelyn Sparks’ Sexiest Vampire Alive), taking pictures, editing them, and kind of cleaning off the desk (a day in a writer’s life, right?)

In the midst of all this, I came across these notes, which was the real stimulus for this post. I believe I was listening to Michael Hauge when I took them. He talks a lot about stripping away a character’s mask to find their essence. So here are my notes:

Identity: tough girl

• If her identity is stripped away, what’s left? Courage.

• Who is she really? Who would she become if she had the courage to go fully into her essence?

• Identities protect us because we believe that’s who we really are.

• Going from living fully in an identity to living completely in essence means going from fear to having the courage to discover true self.

Obviously this note is the rambling of a writer’s mind who is trying to understand her character. It’s that tumble down the rabbit hole in search of truth, and for me, courage. Standing at the bottom of the rabbit hole with a whole other world in front of me, looking up at the only way out, I begin to wonder (as Mr. Hauge does)…are these notes about my characters? Or, are they really about me, the writer?

What do you think? Have you tumbled down the rabbit hole? If you have, what something new did you discover?

Take Me To Bed or Lose Me Forever…. by Nancy Brophy

Meg Ryan appeared on my radar screen of actresses when she yelled the line in my post’s title in the movie Top Gun. Certain lines from movies are forever embedded in our brains. And while you may associate her more with the climax scene in When Harry Met Sally, the Top Gun line was the sentence that made me watch for her name in trailers of up-coming movies.

Whether the story is about a woman’s journey to fame, “Hello gorgeous,” or a woman’s failure to grasp the direction her life has taken, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” well-written dialogue plays a major role in viewers’ connection with those on the screen.

Villains intimidate through words. “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!” made most of us quake in our boots when we were nine. Or thirty-five. “No wire hangers, ever!”

Dialogue, even without tags, says everything about your characters. A man who says  “You’re quite the little bitch,” is a different, calmer character from the one who screams, “You bitch!” And yet, the words are almost the same.

Without dialogue, where would we be in the art of flirting? That fluttering fan-thing would get old quickly. But a woman who says, “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow” wants exactly the same thing as the woman who says “La-dee-da, la-dee-da.” They just represent different characters.

And we wonder why men are confused.

I’ve started a new story, sequel to Hell On The Heart. The working title is Some Men Deserve Killing. As I stumble though the initial dance of flirting between the hero and heroine, it is clever dialogue that will determine if she agrees to go to bed with him or not.

Would you say yes to a man who says, “Your eyes are as blue as my toilet water at home.” No?

Neither would my character, even if she saw herself as a Mae West type woman, “I used to be snow white, but I drifted.”

No, my guy is going to have to work for this. After all, isn’t that why we read romance?

Industry Interview: Soul Mate Publishing

Today is the launch of my bi-weekly interviews with publishers, editors and agents. This week, I’d like to welcome Deborah Gilbert, owner and publisher of Soul Mate Publishing whose tagline is “Where Two Hearts Become One.”  Isn’t that terrific?

From the moment I learned about Soul Mate Publishing, I knew this house has great things coming its way. Led by an engaging and enthusiastic industry professional who is already gathering a terrific line-up of authors and books. And, I have to say, I judge houses a lot by the professionalism of the covers and SMP’s covers are quite lovely.

Please help me welcome Debby to See Jane Publish. Welcome!

What made you decide to become a publisher?

I’ve been paying attention to the evolving e-book market for about six years now. In fact, I purchased our domain name in 2006. I guess you could say I was waiting for the right time to start the company. I taught high school English for 16 years, so I have the editing skills necessary to be effective. I’ve also been reading and critiquing romances for the last 10 years and have been a member of RWA since 2001, so I have the necessary skill set for success.

Tell us about your name/logo. Where did you come up with it? What’s the significance?

Deciding on a company name took months of brainstorming. What they say about brainstorming is so true. Usually the first ideas that come to mind are the easy ones. I thought about what I wanted the name to portray, and I think Soul Mate Publishing encompasses the type of books we’re trying to sell, romances where the hero and heroine belong together. The tagline took a bit more time. “Where two become one” fits with the name of the company, and again portrays the type of book we’re publishing.

Could you please tell us specifically what types of books Soul Mate Publishing publishes?

We publish stories with rich characters, interesting plots, and, of course, have an emotionally satisfying ending. We also like books that blend genres.

If you could get your hands on more stories in a certain genre – or with certain characters – what would it be?

We’re new, so we’re looking for every genre. I haven’t seen many sci-fi or futuristic submissions, and I enjoy the genre, so if I had to pick one, that would be it.

What are you absolutely not looking for?

We publish every genre of romance except YA.

Will you be doing both e-books and print books? Where can you find Soul Mate Publishing books?

We will be publishing both e-books and print books. Soul Mate Publishing books can be found at www.SoulMatePublishing.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. Soon we’ll be available at boutique houses around the world.

Most new writers have visions of agents and New York publishing houses dancing in their heads. Can you tell us some of the advantages of signing with a digital/small press publisher over a New York publisher?

One of the main advantages of a digital/small press over a New York publisher is the personal attention. I read each submission and provide a personal response in a timely fashion. I also work with authors on improving their craft. I think there’s a closeness that develops between the editors and authors and the authors themselves when working with a smaller press rather than a larger one, simply due to the numbers involved.

What do you look for in a prospective writer?

I look for the ability to tell a story. If a writer has an excellent voice and lacks in grammar, I know I can help them with the grammar piece. It’s the storytelling that’s more difficult to teach.

After you receive a query/synopsis – approximately how long does it take you to reply to the author?

I strive for a 4 – 6 week personal response for queries and partials.

Most authors seem to feel it’s the publisher’s responsibility to do the marketing – that all an author should do is write. In your opinion, how important is marketing and what’s the writer’s responsibility in this area?

Marketing is key for e-book success. I think both the author and publishing house have an equal responsibility to market the books.

Across the Internet, the most common expressed concern is the perceived lack of quality control in eBooks. Would you like to comment on where Soul Mate Publishing is with respect to performance in this area?

I only take on books that I would like to read myself. Our goal is to produce quality stories that readers can depend on.

As a publisher, what is the best advice you can offer a writer on how to be successful in the business?

Write, write, write. Name recognition is huge, and the more books you have out there, the more readers will follow you.

Please tell us in one sentence – why we should read Soul Mate Publishing books/authors.

Soul Mate Publishing e-books are well-written and engaging, a bargain at $4.99 for full-length novels and even less for our novellas.

Anything else you’d like to say?

While the latest report puts e-book sales at 7% of the market, I predict there will be a significant shift in the next few years to make e-books the majority of market sales.

You can find more information about Soul Mate Publishing and their Submission Guidelines here:  http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/pages/Submission-Guidelines.html

And while you are there, check out their books and authors. You are sure to find something you must have.

Thanks, Debby, for taking time out of your busy schedule and being on See Jane Publish!

Clear The Decks, I Feel More Than One Project Coming On by Susan Lute

Part of the journey goes like this…send TDT to editor. Check. Finish BQ. Check. Do cover. Check. Publish. Within next two weeks! Make a publishing schedule for 2012. Check. Cancel all conferences for next year…

Wait. What? Cancel? All conferences? You’re kidding, right? My local writing chapter does a Spring Intensive every year. I’m giving a workshop! Whew! I’m going to that one.

Let’s talk. Do you have your morning coffee or tea at your elbow? Mine’s right here. Yes, for the next leg of my writing journey, it appears I’m staying home this next year in favor of following my own advice to write…write…write. I’d like to publish four new novels, and maybe a novelette or two – an ambitious schedule, especially for me.

What brought on this moment of clarity (some would call it insanity)? My mom moved to Hawaii. On the surface, that doesn’t mean much to most. It’s Hawaii for Pete’s sake. But for me came the realization of how quickly life can change. She’s seventy-seven, has a health issue or two, and is living the life she wants. I’m…not seventy-seven…have a health issue or two, and almost living the life I want.

How do you decide what you want your life to look like? I don’t know, but I do know I want time to read and more time to write. In equal parts. Probably. I want to look out the window with my fingers on the keyboard and see the sun shining. And I want to see streams and streams of sunlight falling across my desk.

Are you living the life you want? I’m always a little unsettled when these epiphanies come. Isn’t everyone? But I also know they must be dealt with or else they keep nagging. One of the ways I deal is to have a reading marathon. Since I believe you can see an author’s take on life from the stories they tell, I think you can also learn from them by reading their work.

I just finished a fabulous novel by Meljean Brook, Heart Of Steel. My favorite line is…God, he wished he’d kissed her properly first. He wished he’d made love to her as she’d wanted. Hard, fast, angry, slow…it didn’t matter now. Alright, I have two favorite lines. The second is…I’m coming back for you.

I don’t want to look back and wish I’d written that story. You know the one I mean. The one readers will pick up and be able to open to their favorite line. The one that will stay in their hearts and minds long after they finish. So the decks are cleared – at least for now. Check-

I know this is probably too philosophical, but I’m wondering… What is your favorite line from an awesome book? What thing would you clear the decks for?

Everything Has A Cost by Nancy Brophy

We delude ourselves about privacy on-line, ignore every indication that no matter how much we follow the cautionary rules, facts are against us. A few weeks ago I wrote a blog on murdering your husband. My email is now filled with information from divorce attorneys. Maybe murder your husband is a trigger for lawyers like certain bombsites attract the Government.

I also get nefarious emails entitled ‘where black people meet’. Does the Internet think I’m a spy? Black people, rest assured, your secret meeting places are safe with me.

While I haven’t been single for years over-fifty dating site invitations find their way into my in-box with a smiling man who winks at me. Is it cheating if the guy is pixel-manufactured?

Because I once expressed an interest, every site I now visit, even cremation of a love one, has an ad for wall beds. Stoves and lighting fixtures follow me from my house remodel month ago. Opportunity knocks only once, but if you are in the market for a larger body part, that offer is never-ending. And while I’m sure they know more than I do, I don’t really think I need a bigger penis.

For certain sites an Internet connection is not really required. I’m sure Amazon and Ebay will allow you to make purchases whether you are on-line or not. With the constant technological changes happening exponentially, it will only be a question of time before visualization shopping is a reality.

Someone in my writing group asked how one could search for erotic photos for book covers without having porn sites stalk you. I don’t know the answer.  According to television, women who offer themselves as an “escort service” have websites. I assume men do, too.  How would one find a website without loading their computer with porn-esque material. If I were a public official, how would I keep my computer clean? Does anybody oversee downloads? Is that how the lawyer at SEC got away with hours of viewing porn?

Other countries aren’t like this. I met an American woman who lived in Vietnam and worked for a culinary company that purchased Asian equipment for stores like Sur La Table. The initials of the company were CIA. She cautioned us to not make jokes in her email about the CIA because the Vietnamese government read everyone of the emails. Believe me, I’m not advocating a different government system.

Occasionally I stumble upon a site that I really don’t want to see (and I’m not that squeamish). One of the local radio station’s call sign is KINK. I was looking for tickets for some event the station was sponsoring. The Internet took me to Torture.com. I had to blind myself with hot coals to get the images out of my mind. There is a chasm of difference between erotica and porn. No matter how few clothes you have on, torture is not a turn-on to me.

And yet without the Internet I wouldn’t be published. I wouldn’t be blogging and trying to establish that I’m an author worth reading. But with every undertaking I let another piece of my soul escape into cyberspace and understand exactly why certain primitive cultures refused to have their picture taken.

How have you solved this problem?