Which means we need YOU to make it complete.

I was thrilled to be invited to her blog for this interview and I know we’re going to have all kinds of fun! E.J.’s a poet and paranormal author in her own right (She Smells The Dead) releases….TODAY!!! Naturally, we’re celebrating all over the place!

Plus, we’re giving away a copy of Veil of Justice! Yup, that’s right! You could win your very own, signed copy of the third book in the Shadows of Justice series! But only if you come visit From the Shadows – you can do it, just click on over…right…now! See you there!

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Now, without further ado…Heeere’s Monica!

Hi everyone, I’m happy to be here chatting books on Regan’s blog. Regan and I met in St. Louis several years ago at an RT convention. We sat across the aisle from each other at the book signing, throwing candy back and forth at each other. Or maybe it was one way with me feeding Regan because she hadn’t eaten, I think! LOL Anyway, so when she invited me to blog I thrilled and honored by her request. So thanks to her for the invite as I’m really happy to be posting on her blog about my newest release in the Order of the Sicari series, Assassin’s Heart.

I didn’t want to do just another blog about Assassin’s Heart or why I’d like you to buy the book. I thought it might be fun to talk titles, covers, and blurbs. These are three of the most powerful marketing tools publishers and authors have when it comes to selling a book. Each one is designed to entice a reader into buying the book. More specifically, a book by an author the reader is unfamiliar with. If a reader isn’t intrigued by all three of these tools to at least pick up the book and skim the first few pages (OR for those of you naughty enough – the last few pages), then the moment of opportunity has passed, and it’s doubtful the book will sell to readers who aren’t familiar with the author.

So let’s take a look at what goes into those three elements. First the cover—note the cover of Assassin’s Heart here. It’s got a hot looking hero, wearing a seductive red shirt, and in the background you’ve got an ancient temple and a stormy looking background. This cover says I’ve got a hot hero, pick me up, and read my back cover. The cover also hints at the ancient Rome theme running through in the book as the richness of the red is like the color the ancient Roman soldiers used for their ceremonial dress uniforms. It’s subtle, but these things connect with the brain whether we realize it or not.

Now the title—Assassin’s Heart. It says Hot hero who’s a bad boy (Assassin) who has a heart and because it’s a romance, he’s going to lose his heart and be redeemed. The title also draws in the reader because heart equates to love, and even if the book looks unlike a typical romance, it still conveys the message that this is gonna be hot and romantic.

What about the back cover blurb— this is where the reader is supposed to be sucked in enough to either put the book in her TBB stack she’s carrying or at the very least convince the reader to open up the book and read the first few pages of the book. Below is the blurb for Assassin’s Heart.

The truth of the soul.

Lysander Condellarie never understood why he had telepathic and telekinetic powers until the night his Praetorian father tortured him and left him for dead. Now, the half-angelic, half-demonic face he sees in the mirror is a reminder of the monster he must keep hidden or face expulsion from the order of assassins know as the Sicari. But his dreams of Ancient Rome hint at a destiny he finds hard to accept, especially when it involves the woman he loves, but can never have.

The consequences of desire.

A gifted healer in the Order, Phaedra DeLuca witnessed her mother’s murder when she was just a little girl. The haunting memory makes her loathe everything Praetorian. When she travels to Rome in search of an ancient artifact, she must work alongside a man who once cruelly rejected her love and healing touch. But her dreams of Ancient Rome tell of an irreversible and possibly dangerous future. For the distant past and present are about to collide–with the one man she is destined to love.

The blurb above is designed to intrigue the reader, make the potential buyer ask questions, pique their interest so they have to know more. I generally write my own blurbs, and then Berkley’s marketing department modifies them slightly. They do those bolded tags though, I’m lousy at those. However, my blurbs are pretty tight and concise. In other words, what you read in the blurb is pretty much exactly what you’re going to get in the book.

The interesting thing is, most authors generally have little involvement with the creation of these marketing tools (although more and more authors do seem to be writing the blurb copy. We know the book well, so that makes sense). With all of my publishers I’ve provided some form of an art sheet that outlines physical details for the characters and maybe a scene from the book to give the art department something to use for the actual setting. I get the cover sometime later with just that input. Personally, I believe I’ve been blessed with great covers starting with my very first cover at New Concepts Publishing. My Berkley covers are do die for. They just keep getting better and better.

The NCP cover for Obsession is has always been one of my all-time favorite covers, it’s hot, sexy and yet tasteful. But it’s now been supplanted by Pleasure Me, the cover for my February historical. The whole mood of that cover screams sinful, delicious, and promises a hero who is eager to please and yet isn’t going to let the heroine get away with controlling him (note how he’s holding her down with one hand??? OMG – LOVE IT!)

With my titles I’ve had full control of what to name my stories until Berkley. Kismet is the only one so far that I came up with on my own and they used. For all my other books, I’ve submitted a slew suggestions to my wonderful editor, and she’ll pick out a few that might work, which we then chat about in emails back and forth. She’s got a terrific feel for what works best with my books, and I love the way every title meshes well with the book.

When it comes to my book blurbs, I tend to have a knack for cover blurbs. When I create a proposal, I build the cover blurb first and then expand on that blurb in my synopsis and then I write the book. The cover blurb is pretty strong, and to date, Berkley has used every one I’ve written with some minor changes to a couple of lines in the copy. But as I said before the tag lines they develop. I do tend to be the exception to the rule when it comes to cover blurbs as most authors I know offer up something, but the copy edit department rewrites what they submit.

So this is the pretty much the way authors are involved in the creation of titles, blurbs, and covers. It will depend on the publisher, the author and a host of other factors as to how much, if any, input an author has on their book’s marketing. I will say that the marketing departments generally know what works in terms of readers tastes. When I first saw the cover to Assassin’s Heart I hated it. I thought the green was a terrible color, and they didn’t show any of Lysander’s scars. Not even his eye patch!!! The cover didn’t look like I’d envisioned Lysander at all. Then I showed the cover to a few readers and they went ga-ga over the cover. They thought it incredibly hot. Clearly I didn’t know as much as I thought when it comes to marketing a book. I’m looking forward to seeing how well Assassin’s Heart flies off the shelves.

What prompts you to pull a book off the shelf at the store? What generally convinces you to buy the book if you’ve never read the author before?

Leave your answer or comment (with your email address) for a chance to win a copy of Assassin’s Heart!

p.s. Don’t miss this fabulous book trailer for Assassin’s Heart!

And buy your copy of Assassin’s Heart from your favorite outlet:  Amazon | B&N | Borders | Powell’s

I’m tickled to be one of the stops on Monica’s blog tour for her September paranormal romance novel release, Assassin’s Heart!

Plus  Monica and Berkley Sensation are giving away a copy of the book to one lucky blog reader who leaves a comment on 9/2!!!

Then Tanya Michaels joins the fun here on September 7th with tips from her wonderful world building workshop, “World-Building for your Werewolf, Duke, or Small-Town Doctor”.

For romance writers (or others) looking to improve their world-building skills, you’ll appreciate the advice and insight Tanya has to share.

And there’s great news for readers too: Tanya’s September release of Texas Baby marks a return to the world she built for The Best Man in Texas.

Both of these talented authors are inspired, informative, and fun. Personally, I enjoy their books for the delightful stories and adventures as well as the clever and three dimensional worlds they’ve built for their characters and their readers. If you haven’t read any of their work yet, get busy! You won’t be disappointed! Buy books by Monica or Tanya at your favorite book retailer.

Live the adventure!

And just to add to your calendar notations, E.J. Stevens is hosting me at From the Shadows on September 9th, so be sure to drop by and comment – we’re giving away a copy of Veil of Justice!

For today, I’d planned on blogging about the emotional elements of paranormal romance novels, but my heart just isn’t in it.

Just kidding. Sort of.

Not that my heart isn’t in the blog, because I love connecting here with readers and paranormal romance writers! But I’ve just finished a book (that shall remain nameless) that I’d been eagerly anticipating because the author has such talent for writing sweeping, vivid adventures that have me laughing out loud and reaching for tissues (no, I don’t read this author just during allergy season).

But when I completed the story, I sat back and said, Huh.

Naturally (as a paranormal romance writer living with three engineer types) I started to analyze what didn’t work (for me). Eventually I concluded the ‘heart’ was the element of the paranormal romance novel that had gone missing. The plot was solid, the adventures intense and well-paced. The elements of romance (and physical intimacy) were all there – but I didn’t feel it – or rather I didn’t feel like the characters really had their heart in it.

Jenny Crusie once said, “A book isn’t finished until the reader reads it.”

So very true! As a paranormal romance reader, I know we all bring our own baggage to a story, even when we’re reading for escape.

I’m well aware that even my favorite authors will occasionally deliver a book that doesn’t resonate with me. (it’s one of those rather impossible goals to please everyone with every title). But I’d had such high hopes for this one. Will I read the next release from this paranormal romance writer? Of course! And while I’m waiting, I’ll probably reread a favorite book or two from the series – I’m a reader (and a genre fan) for life, even when one element of the paranormal romance novel goes missing once in awhile.

Live the adventure!

Don’t forget to tune in on September 2 for Monica and her book giveaway!!!

Then life intervened. Sales were slower than we expected (considering the amount of time I was putting into marketing and events). My dad died and my husband was deployed for 18 months.  As a suddenly single mom, I struggled (and failed) to keep promoting and writing the rather dark world of my 2096 novels.

My publisher (Echelon Press) understood, keeping me engaged as a paranormal romance writer with a couple of anthology projects (set in 2096 Chicago) and further supporting my choice to delve into a more lighthearted YA fantasy eBook series. Initially designed to release every 8-12 weeks, there are just five stories out at the moment, but the Hobbitville saga is gaining steam.

As a paranormal romance writer (who learned the hard way to follow my ‘voice’) the YA shorts let me explore a fun landscape and feel as if I can ‘finish’ a project in a timely manner. While my life slowly settled, I played with other ideas running around in my head and eventually finished Veil of Justice to my satisfaction.

But the timing was off, my momentum was gone. Here I was, a paranormal romance writer, but my audience had moved on.  Then my rights reverted on the anthologies. It was time to adapt and develop a better plan.

Looking at the new landscape of publishing, I took these titles (From the Ashes, Dream Works, Breaking New Ground, and Veil of Justice) straight to the reader via Kindle and Smashwords. So far, I’ve been pleased with the results. I’ve even got a giveaway going on Goodreads. Yup, that’s it right there. –>

As much as I resist change, even as a paranormal romance writer, adapting is the only way forward. And it’s worked beautifully. I’ve learned to blog, present workshops, and interact with peers and readers on social media. I’ve even managed a You Tube search story!

So I encourage you as a reader or writer, don’t be afraid of what’s looming on the publishing horizon for paranormal romance or any other genre. Do your research, learn the new advantages and keep your mind open to the next great book you can sample on your computer, ereader, tablet, or phone.

Live the adventure!

Visit her dynamic website, From the Shadows for information and details on FIVE (yes 5!!!) different prize packages for readers.

Just to tempt you…in addition to a copy of my very own Invasion of Justice paperback included in Paranormal Prize Pack 2 you’ll find giveaways from authors like Jeaniene Frost, Meg Cabot, Jocelyn Drake, and Vicki Petterson – just to name a few. (Yes, I am excited to be included in such company!)

Any one of these prize packages is an excellent way to build your library of paranormal romance novels and delve into paranormal worlds built by some of the best authors in the business.

From the Shadows has all the details on how you can win one of these great packages of paranormal romance novels.  E.J. has even created delightful bonus entries! This is a website worth checking out and a definite site you’ll want to follow if you’re a fan of panormal romance novels.

Live the adventure!

Most people wouldn’t label Nora Roberts specifically as a paranormal romance writer, but she frequently adds elements of the paranormal to her romance novels. She’s done specific trilogies with witches (Donovan family and Three Sisters Island) as well as vampires, but she also adds elements of fae to novels like Jewels of the Sun and ghosts frequently factor in her books.

Nora’s elements of paranormal romance novels run the gamut from intense and dark to lighter and only slightly less threatening (who really wants to mess with the prince of fae who’s been denied his true love for a few centuries?)

Kresley Cole and Sherrilyn Kenyon are paranormal romance writers who tend to focus on the more intense and darker, edgier elements of paranormal romance novels. But both authors cast light into those dark shadows with wit and humor and characters we love to go adventuring with through the myriad challenges they face.

Even Karen Hawkins, historical and contemporary author, weaves a paranormal element of magic into her romance novels, with a mystic ring, weather related ‘curses’ and such.

Paranormal romance novels can be light or dark, funny or intense, and yes, wild or mild. It all depends on where the paranormal romance writer puts the spotlight. The elements of paranormal romance novels that get spotlighted depends entirely on how the author wants to tell the story!

My Shadows of Justice novels are fast-paced adventures with both paranormal and romantic elements. Read them at killer prices on Kindle today!

Live the adventure!

Like many of my peers, I’m always doing more and learning more about online promotion, specifically for paranormal romance authors.

And this paranormal romance author is happy to share the latest trend direct from YouTube SearchStories!

Live the adventure!

Read a couple of my stories for free through July 31 at Smashwords! And buy the rest of my books (paperback or ebook) at Amazon or OmniLit today!

The current releases in this series are available at OmniLit and Kindle for only 99 cents! This is awesome news if you (or your favorite young reader)  need a fun short story with a  paranormal twist.

The series begins with The Pixie Chicks and moves forward with Hot Spots. The Shadow Stone and Snow Covered Resolutions are special holiday adventures for Halloween and New Year’s Eve respectively.

This fabulous news is timed perfectly as the next Hobbitville story, Breaking New Ground, is now available!

Breaking New Ground picks up where Hot Spots left off:

Will Brie Fairchild pass Chemistry? Not until fellow Pixie Chick, Claire, returns. The problem is no one knows exactly where Claire went, only that she was last seen headed to the Hobbitville garden with the Scottish boyfriend she’d failed to mention. To anyone. Intent to find her friend and unravel the secret of jumping to a particular destination, Brie visits Hobbitville alone, only to find the garden in turmoil. In an effort to hide, she throws herself through a statue and unleashes a whole new level of Hobbitville mysteries.

Here’s a taste of Breaking New Ground:

“Mom, can Troy come for dinner tonight?” Brianna Fairchild asked. “We’ve got some geography project.” She kept the phone loosely covered and applied her best puppy eyes. It was last minute and that was always a hard sell with her mom.

Mom dodged the puppy eyes, looking instead at the clock. “Make it six-thirty.”

Brie smiled and relayed the info to Troy, then ended the call. “Thanks, Mom.” She rushed over to give Mom a hug, then searched her pockets for a scrunchie. Drawing her hair up into a ponytail, she volunteered, “How can I help?”

“First tell me what this is all about.”

“It’s just Troy.” Brie offered a casual shrug, Troy had been part of her world since third grade, but a glance proved Mom wasn’t buying the simple answer. “Well. Um. He asked me out,” she admitted.

“Wow.” Mom walked back to the fridge and opened the freezer. “That requires more than mac and cheese.”

Brie rolled her eyes. “Why?”

Mom rifled through the pantry, then the fridge, and now peeked out from behind the freezer door. “Dinner with a boyfriend sounds like I should step it up.”

“You’re wrong. He won’t be happy if you start treating him differently. We’re still friends at the heart of it.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Brie hated that particular sound from her mom. “What?” She leaned forward, elbows on the counter and did her best to look interested. No, fascinated.

Breaking New Ground is FREE at Smashwords through July 31! And get caught up on rest of the the series at OmniLit or Amazon.

Live the adventure!

I’ve always subscribed to the theory that you should ‘do’ what you’re good at (and ‘do’ the things you enjoy being good at) This is a theory I grew up with, first presented by my father as: Do what you love and the money will follow.

Exception to the rule of this theory: I used to be pretty good at sleeping, but no one will pay me for that, unless you count the story ideas that occur to me during REM sleep.

Applying that theory to the elements of paranormal romance novels, I believe it’s vital for authors to deliver elements they’re good at – the elements they enjoy. If vampires aren’t your thing – don’t chase the market – just write the werewolves you love (if you love werewolves). I happen to enjoy writing the mental ’super power type’ elements of paranormal romance. (you can read excerpts and reviews)

One simple exercise to highlight the elements of paranormal romance you enjoy writing is to set a timer (ten minutes or so) and let yourself do a free-thought sort of scene. Try it again with a different element.

Keep going until you find the element of paranormal romance that absolutely captivates you as a writer. Not only can this spark some great story ideas, but if you really let yourself go, you’ll be able to apply that insight to your craft and enjoy your process even more.

Live the adventure!