EREC: erotic romance
Friday, December 14, 2007
Updated Category K EPPIE Finalists--veinglory
The Lost Temple of Karttikeya
Laura Baumbach
Loose Id
Phaze Fantasies III
James Buchanan,
Jade Falconer, Eliza Gayle, Jamie Hill, Selah March, Yeva Wiest
Mundania Press/Imprint - Phaze Books
Chiaroscuro
Jenna Jones
Torquere Press Publishers
Finding Jason
Lyndi Lamont
Amber Quill Press
Ghosts
Olivia Lorenz
Torquere Press Publishers/Imprint TOP SHELF
For Better or Worse
Jodi Payne
Torquere Press Publishers
Hearts & Bones
M. L. Rhodes
Amber Quill Press
Persistence of Memory
J. M. Snyder
Amber Quill Press
Laura Baumbach
Loose Id
Phaze Fantasies III
James Buchanan,
Jade Falconer, Eliza Gayle, Jamie Hill, Selah March, Yeva Wiest
Mundania Press/Imprint - Phaze Books
Chiaroscuro
Jenna Jones
Torquere Press Publishers
Finding Jason
Lyndi Lamont
Amber Quill Press
Ghosts
Olivia Lorenz
Torquere Press Publishers/Imprint TOP SHELF
For Better or Worse
Jodi Payne
Torquere Press Publishers
Hearts & Bones
M. L. Rhodes
Amber Quill Press
Persistence of Memory
J. M. Snyder
Amber Quill Press
Labels: EPIC
¶ posted at 11:32 AM by Emily Veinglory 0 Comments
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Shelving Niches, Shelving Ghettos
Publishers Weekly quotes Borders spokesperson Ann Binkley as saying the chain does not put restrictions on covers and shelves the books according to content. Erotic romance is shelved with the rest of the romance titles, while "erotic literature" (such as The Almond), goes in the "Sex & Intimacy" section.
But when I looked up "Dream and Desires", an anthology in which all the stories are romance and only 2/19 are erotic, I found it under: Psychology > Sex/Recovery > Erotica. This does not thrill me as I am willing to bet far fewer customers will find a predominantly sweet romance anthology on the erotica shelf in the non-fiction psychology section. Novels by many of the contributing authors are to be found in romance, but the anthology seems to have been deemed, for some reason, not romance.
This got me thinking. Now I do not see all labelling as bad. If being on the erotica shelf will actually increase sales. I will be all for it. But honestly, even with a group like us--how many of you know there is an erotica section in Borders non-fiction area, and if you do do you check it as often as the romance area?
The same thing applies to their shelving of gay fiction and African-American fiction. If books get doubled shelved in both places, great. If they get shelved in the non-fiction area and sell more books there, great. But is this true? If it is not, is Borders institutionally saying somethings about what is and isn't romance--or at the very least it is saying: if you are not in a certain group, this book is not for you.
And I would not be so skeptical of Borders' competence in sectioning their stock if I was not already buying most of my magazines from a section called "Mens Interest".
[NEWS]
Red Sage has recently opened their ebook imprint.
EPIC members are voting on the inclusion of authors and publishers of short works, and giving voting rights to publishers.
Author Michael Dibdin died on March 30th after a short illness. He was best known for the Aurelio Zen mysteries but my favorite Dibdin work was the fabulous parody "The Last Sherlock Holmes Story". ¶ posted at 11:40 AM by Emily Veinglory 4 Comments
But when I looked up "Dream and Desires", an anthology in which all the stories are romance and only 2/19 are erotic, I found it under: Psychology > Sex/Recovery > Erotica. This does not thrill me as I am willing to bet far fewer customers will find a predominantly sweet romance anthology on the erotica shelf in the non-fiction psychology section. Novels by many of the contributing authors are to be found in romance, but the anthology seems to have been deemed, for some reason, not romance.
This got me thinking. Now I do not see all labelling as bad. If being on the erotica shelf will actually increase sales. I will be all for it. But honestly, even with a group like us--how many of you know there is an erotica section in Borders non-fiction area, and if you do do you check it as often as the romance area?
The same thing applies to their shelving of gay fiction and African-American fiction. If books get doubled shelved in both places, great. If they get shelved in the non-fiction area and sell more books there, great. But is this true? If it is not, is Borders institutionally saying somethings about what is and isn't romance--or at the very least it is saying: if you are not in a certain group, this book is not for you.
And I would not be so skeptical of Borders' competence in sectioning their stock if I was not already buying most of my magazines from a section called "Mens Interest".
[NEWS]
Red Sage has recently opened their ebook imprint.
EPIC members are voting on the inclusion of authors and publishers of short works, and giving voting rights to publishers.
Author Michael Dibdin died on March 30th after a short illness. He was best known for the Aurelio Zen mysteries but my favorite Dibdin work was the fabulous parody "The Last Sherlock Holmes Story". ¶ posted at 11:40 AM by Emily Veinglory 4 Comments
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Am I a Chicken Writer?
At EPICon, Sherrilon Kenyon gave a great keynote speech. I cannot recreate her perspective or tone but the gist of it is to strive and persist and not give up. There was mention of having over 150 rejection in one year, years between contracts and not enough money for a stamp. A repeated refrain was that we all need to believe: "I am the best writer in the world and I deserve my dream."
I do wonder though. When a professional author, an Olympic athlete or a rock star says that all you have to do it persist--does it occur to you that for every person who finally succeeds there must be a great many who never give up and are buried with three tonnes of rejection letters and no contract? Effort is a key part of success, but it I really think we must appreciate that the best-selling author knows what got success for them--and may be overgeneralising a little in suggesting a room full of 100 people should necessarily follow in their footsteps? Sometimes, dare I say it, often--there is a time to give up. There really is. I could train day and night but I will never win a marathon, become a supermodel or fly to the moon.
I admire writers who starve and slave for their art but I wonder at that being presented as the only path for an "real" author to take. If the day ever came when I could not even afford a stamp I would put the laptop aside and go to work--as, indeed, I do. Does this make me less of a writer? Well, compared to Sherrilon, certainly a "lesser" one. It makes me a part-time writer, a person with things in their life other than being a writer, a person who requires the comforts of food and shelter even if I pay for it in other ways. But isn't this one of the things epublishing is there to provide? Writing for epubs can provide a steady, if modest, income for many part time writers--a compliment to the stress and strains of the day job and an outlet for creativity--a modest alternative to the hobby-slash-lottery path of submitting to the big New York presses.
I am not sure I truly say that being on a best-seller list is even one of my dreams at this point. I write, I sell what I write and I will always be able to afford a square meal, a warm coat... and a book of stamps. I am not the greatest writer in the world, but the world is a large place and I really do not think I need to accept hardship and ridicule to find my place in it.
At EPICon, Sherrilon Kenyon gave a great keynote speech. I cannot recreate her perspective or tone but the gist of it is to strive and persist and not give up. There was mention of having over 150 rejection in one year, years between contracts and not enough money for a stamp. A repeated refrain was that we all need to believe: "I am the best writer in the world and I deserve my dream."I do wonder though. When a professional author, an Olympic athlete or a rock star says that all you have to do it persist--does it occur to you that for every person who finally succeeds there must be a great many who never give up and are buried with three tonnes of rejection letters and no contract? Effort is a key part of success, but it I really think we must appreciate that the best-selling author knows what got success for them--and may be overgeneralising a little in suggesting a room full of 100 people should necessarily follow in their footsteps? Sometimes, dare I say it, often--there is a time to give up. There really is. I could train day and night but I will never win a marathon, become a supermodel or fly to the moon.
I admire writers who starve and slave for their art but I wonder at that being presented as the only path for an "real" author to take. If the day ever came when I could not even afford a stamp I would put the laptop aside and go to work--as, indeed, I do. Does this make me less of a writer? Well, compared to Sherrilon, certainly a "lesser" one. It makes me a part-time writer, a person with things in their life other than being a writer, a person who requires the comforts of food and shelter even if I pay for it in other ways. But isn't this one of the things epublishing is there to provide? Writing for epubs can provide a steady, if modest, income for many part time writers--a compliment to the stress and strains of the day job and an outlet for creativity--a modest alternative to the hobby-slash-lottery path of submitting to the big New York presses.
I am not sure I truly say that being on a best-seller list is even one of my dreams at this point. I write, I sell what I write and I will always be able to afford a square meal, a warm coat... and a book of stamps. I am not the greatest writer in the world, but the world is a large place and I really do not think I need to accept hardship and ridicule to find my place in it.
Labels: EPIC
¶ posted at 4:13 PM by Emily Veinglory 2 Comments
Monday, March 12, 2007
EPICon Epilogue: Favorite Promo Items :)
1) After hours on a plane and several nights in a hotel that took dehumidifying very seriously I was pleased to find that Jay Lygon had provided the one thing I really needed--and all I got her was this lousy link.
2) I love Loose Id's Loowis, and now I can have him on my fridge and my skin (as a temporary tattoo).
3) Resplendence is a new outfit and their promo bookmark is distinctly classy.
4) What better item for a Con at the beach than a cherry-red water bottle from Torquere Press.
and 5) my top favorite from Mojo Castle, a little idea in a box--a friendly muse for any author in need of one. Of course I must admit this is my second as I lost the first one before the end of the weekend :(
So, what did the rest of you hunter-gatherers who were there spot that I missed?
p.s. Here is some proof I was there, presenting the non-fic self-help Eppie :)
1) After hours on a plane and several nights in a hotel that took dehumidifying very seriously I was pleased to find that Jay Lygon had provided the one thing I really needed--and all I got her was this lousy link. 2) I love Loose Id's Loowis, and now I can have him on my fridge and my skin (as a temporary tattoo).
3) Resplendence is a new outfit and their promo bookmark is distinctly classy.
4) What better item for a Con at the beach than a cherry-red water bottle from Torquere Press.
and 5) my top favorite from Mojo Castle, a little idea in a box--a friendly muse for any author in need of one. Of course I must admit this is my second as I lost the first one before the end of the weekend :(So, what did the rest of you hunter-gatherers who were there spot that I missed?
p.s. Here is some proof I was there, presenting the non-fic self-help Eppie :)
Labels: EPIC, Loose Id, Mojo Castle, promotion, Resplendence, torquere
¶ posted at 6:26 PM by Emily Veinglory 1 Comments
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Epicon
As I type I am still at Virginia Beach one day after the Epicon (a meeting for writers of ebooks). I couldn't get a reasonably priced flight back until Monday so I stayed over for another day and spent it wandering the beach and having my picture taken in a cowgirl costume ;)
I have met so may people and discussed so many ideas that I will have to sit down and break them into separate topics to blog about. I would love to hear from some of you others who were there, to hear what you learned at this year's Con.
For me the single best thing was to simply put some faces to names. It is a perculiar feeling to meet for the first time people that, in a digital fashion, I already know so well. I was sometimes asked if people were like I expected--and I realized I didn't really have any expectations. Interacting with people online is great but it is only every one dimension of the whole person and you never get much of a handle on what they will be like face to face. However I must say that everyone I met was so friendly, interesting and... willing to buy me drinks. So, a good time was had by all.
So next week will be EPICon themed. I encourage others to blog on that subject and anyone with photos to share can send them to ERECmail at gmail.com :)
As I type I am still at Virginia Beach one day after the Epicon (a meeting for writers of ebooks). I couldn't get a reasonably priced flight back until Monday so I stayed over for another day and spent it wandering the beach and having my picture taken in a cowgirl costume ;)I have met so may people and discussed so many ideas that I will have to sit down and break them into separate topics to blog about. I would love to hear from some of you others who were there, to hear what you learned at this year's Con.
For me the single best thing was to simply put some faces to names. It is a perculiar feeling to meet for the first time people that, in a digital fashion, I already know so well. I was sometimes asked if people were like I expected--and I realized I didn't really have any expectations. Interacting with people online is great but it is only every one dimension of the whole person and you never get much of a handle on what they will be like face to face. However I must say that everyone I met was so friendly, interesting and... willing to buy me drinks. So, a good time was had by all.
So next week will be EPICon themed. I encourage others to blog on that subject and anyone with photos to share can send them to ERECmail at gmail.com :)
Labels: EPIC
¶ posted at 7:00 PM by Emily Veinglory 4 Comments