Ryan Field's Blog, page 565
April 5, 2011
New Release: The Virgin Billionaire: Revenge
Here's the fourth book in the Virgin Billionaire series, THE VIRGIN BILLIONAIRE: REVENGE. More to follow, with unpublished excerpts soon.
April 4, 2011
More Changes in Publishing...
I saw this on facebook and wanted to share. Interesting how sometimes things change so fast.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/...
Amazon.com pushes into book publishing
The online retailer recently participated in the auction for best-selling novelist Amanda Hocking, making its most aggressive move yet into traditional publishing territory.
SharePrint Email Comment By Matthew Flamm Amazon.com, the online bookselling behemoth that has sometimes rubbed publishers the wrong way, has just put its big foot someplace new.
In its most aggressive move yet into territory traditionally occupied by the major New York houses, the Seattle-based e-retailer took part last week in a heated auction for four books by self-published bestselling novelist Amanda Hocking. Executives at several houses said they knew of no other instance in which the company had competed with major publishers for a high profile commercial author.
Amazon has done deals directly with authors and agents in the past, but usually for backlist titles or specialty projects. It has used those exclusive offerings to distinguish its Kindle e-bookstore in an increasingly competitive digital market.
It's believed that Amazon would have seen Ms. Hocking as a natural fit because of her roots in the e-publishing world, where she has sold more than a million copies of her nine titles in the category of young adult paranormal romance.
An Amazon spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
To beef up its offer, Amazon brought in Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which would have published the print editions of Ms. Hocking's books, according to insiders. Part of a company that has gone through two debt restructurings in recent years, the venerable trade house would also have lent Amazon the aura of a traditional house.
A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt spokesman was not available to comment.
St. Martin's Press ended up winning the auction, paying $2 million for the series of four novels, but Amazon actually made the highest offer of the six bidders, according to insiders. Its failure to acquire the titles demonstrates some of the difficulties the company may have if it continues to pursue potential blockbusters as part of a strategy to maintain its Kindle store's dominance.
Amazon had insisted on exclusivity for the e-book edition, said a high level publishing executive familiar with the deal. That made the offer less attractive to the author and her literary agent.
"[Amazon] has less than 65% share of the e-book market and dropping, and 20% to 30% of the print market," the executive said. "[The author and agent] would have anticipated significant lost sales."
Steven Axelrod, Ms. Hocking's agent, declined to comment. Amazon would also have been at a disadvantage to the other publishers when it came to the print edition, the executive said.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was brought in with the aim of ensuring that Ms. Hocking's books would be carried by Barnes & Noble, the No. 1 brick-and-mortar retailer. But there was a question whether the bookstore chain would stock a book published by its biggest rival, even if the title carried the logo of a respected trade house.
"I'm not sure that head fake would have been enough," the executive said. Referring to the rough tactics that Amazon has employed in its battles with publishers, he added, "Barnes & Noble plays hardball, too."
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/...
Amazon.com pushes into book publishing
The online retailer recently participated in the auction for best-selling novelist Amanda Hocking, making its most aggressive move yet into traditional publishing territory.
SharePrint Email Comment By Matthew Flamm Amazon.com, the online bookselling behemoth that has sometimes rubbed publishers the wrong way, has just put its big foot someplace new.
In its most aggressive move yet into territory traditionally occupied by the major New York houses, the Seattle-based e-retailer took part last week in a heated auction for four books by self-published bestselling novelist Amanda Hocking. Executives at several houses said they knew of no other instance in which the company had competed with major publishers for a high profile commercial author.
Amazon has done deals directly with authors and agents in the past, but usually for backlist titles or specialty projects. It has used those exclusive offerings to distinguish its Kindle e-bookstore in an increasingly competitive digital market.
It's believed that Amazon would have seen Ms. Hocking as a natural fit because of her roots in the e-publishing world, where she has sold more than a million copies of her nine titles in the category of young adult paranormal romance.
An Amazon spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
To beef up its offer, Amazon brought in Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which would have published the print editions of Ms. Hocking's books, according to insiders. Part of a company that has gone through two debt restructurings in recent years, the venerable trade house would also have lent Amazon the aura of a traditional house.
A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt spokesman was not available to comment.
St. Martin's Press ended up winning the auction, paying $2 million for the series of four novels, but Amazon actually made the highest offer of the six bidders, according to insiders. Its failure to acquire the titles demonstrates some of the difficulties the company may have if it continues to pursue potential blockbusters as part of a strategy to maintain its Kindle store's dominance.
Amazon had insisted on exclusivity for the e-book edition, said a high level publishing executive familiar with the deal. That made the offer less attractive to the author and her literary agent.
"[Amazon] has less than 65% share of the e-book market and dropping, and 20% to 30% of the print market," the executive said. "[The author and agent] would have anticipated significant lost sales."
Steven Axelrod, Ms. Hocking's agent, declined to comment. Amazon would also have been at a disadvantage to the other publishers when it came to the print edition, the executive said.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was brought in with the aim of ensuring that Ms. Hocking's books would be carried by Barnes & Noble, the No. 1 brick-and-mortar retailer. But there was a question whether the bookstore chain would stock a book published by its biggest rival, even if the title carried the logo of a respected trade house.
"I'm not sure that head fake would have been enough," the executive said. Referring to the rough tactics that Amazon has employed in its battles with publishers, he added, "Barnes & Noble plays hardball, too."
April 3, 2011
This Thing About Authors Going After Reviewers
I've been reading this one particular blog post and comment thread about an author who didn't like a review and the author, whom I don't know and haven't read, decided to confront the reviewer, in public, on the reviewer's blog.
I haven't read the book in question, and I doubt I will. I'm up to my neck with deadlines for publishers and I'm now beginning to read books for the 2011 Rainbow Awards, which leaves very little time for pleasure reading right now.
I have almost twenty years of experience in dealing with certain aspects of publishing. Rejection is one of them. I've learned how not to take it personally and I've learned to keep moving forward. Most rejection is subjective and there's nothing an author can do about that. It is, in fact, nothing personal. But it took years to reach that point...YEARS.
I've also had twenty years of experience in dealing with reviews, both good and bad. Frankly, if all my books received three star reviews and nice, quiet comments, I'd be very worried. I'd also be worried if they all received five star reviews. Odd as this may sound, one star reviews aren't always the worst thing that can happen to an author or a book. It falls under the category of you just can't please everyone no matter how hard you try...LIFE. And if you're not pissing someone off, you're doing something wrong.
When I do receive one star reviews, I never confront a reviewer about it, not in private or in public. First, there's nothing I can do to change it. Second, it's just someone's opinion and I honestly do respect that. And third, it's all about freedom of speech and everyone has the right to express his or her opinion (I wish they would all stand behind their names when they review, not as anons, but I don't get to decide that).
I would, however, go after a reviewer for knocking something in a book I wrote that has a social impact. I did it here, in this post. In other words, if I'm writing about an experience as a gay man, and I'm taking this information from my own personal experience and journey as a gay man and a reviewer questions this (or blasts it), I'm not going to sit back and take it. I've already done this a few times, and I have no regrets.
But I wouldn't (never, never) confront a reviewer for simply not liking one of my books. And that's because I have enough experience to know it's not the end of my life or the end of my career. And, like I said above, I do respect everyone's opinion whether they like me or not. I've experienced negative reviews from one person on goodreads about one book, and then the same reviewer has given me stellar reviews on goodreads for another book. Again, this falls into the category of subjectivity and there's nothing an author can do about this but smile and move forward.
There is one thing in particular that I didn't like about this entire author blasting the reviewer situation...in a general sense. After I finished reading the blog post and the comment thread, where the author in question blasted people on the comment thread, I checked out the author's reviews on amazon for the book in question. And I was extremely disturbed by what I saw. I saw almost 100 one star, negative reviews. And they all seemed to be based on the author blasting the reviewer in public, not on the author's book itself. This is scary because it suggests that most of the amazon reviews I read were not based on the fact that these people actually bought the book and read the book. The one star reviews were based on how the author behaved in public when the author went after the reviewer and the people on the comment thread.
I could be wrong about this. I hope I'm wrong about it. Maybe they did all read the book. But if I'm not wrong, it certainly does suggest there might be something wrong with the way people are reviewing books, and ALL products, on web sites like amazon. As far as I know, book reviews on amazon are supposed to be written by people who have bought and read the book, not by people who aren't happy with how an author deals with a bad review.
I haven't read the book in question, and I doubt I will. I'm up to my neck with deadlines for publishers and I'm now beginning to read books for the 2011 Rainbow Awards, which leaves very little time for pleasure reading right now.
I have almost twenty years of experience in dealing with certain aspects of publishing. Rejection is one of them. I've learned how not to take it personally and I've learned to keep moving forward. Most rejection is subjective and there's nothing an author can do about that. It is, in fact, nothing personal. But it took years to reach that point...YEARS.
I've also had twenty years of experience in dealing with reviews, both good and bad. Frankly, if all my books received three star reviews and nice, quiet comments, I'd be very worried. I'd also be worried if they all received five star reviews. Odd as this may sound, one star reviews aren't always the worst thing that can happen to an author or a book. It falls under the category of you just can't please everyone no matter how hard you try...LIFE. And if you're not pissing someone off, you're doing something wrong.
When I do receive one star reviews, I never confront a reviewer about it, not in private or in public. First, there's nothing I can do to change it. Second, it's just someone's opinion and I honestly do respect that. And third, it's all about freedom of speech and everyone has the right to express his or her opinion (I wish they would all stand behind their names when they review, not as anons, but I don't get to decide that).
I would, however, go after a reviewer for knocking something in a book I wrote that has a social impact. I did it here, in this post. In other words, if I'm writing about an experience as a gay man, and I'm taking this information from my own personal experience and journey as a gay man and a reviewer questions this (or blasts it), I'm not going to sit back and take it. I've already done this a few times, and I have no regrets.
But I wouldn't (never, never) confront a reviewer for simply not liking one of my books. And that's because I have enough experience to know it's not the end of my life or the end of my career. And, like I said above, I do respect everyone's opinion whether they like me or not. I've experienced negative reviews from one person on goodreads about one book, and then the same reviewer has given me stellar reviews on goodreads for another book. Again, this falls into the category of subjectivity and there's nothing an author can do about this but smile and move forward.
There is one thing in particular that I didn't like about this entire author blasting the reviewer situation...in a general sense. After I finished reading the blog post and the comment thread, where the author in question blasted people on the comment thread, I checked out the author's reviews on amazon for the book in question. And I was extremely disturbed by what I saw. I saw almost 100 one star, negative reviews. And they all seemed to be based on the author blasting the reviewer in public, not on the author's book itself. This is scary because it suggests that most of the amazon reviews I read were not based on the fact that these people actually bought the book and read the book. The one star reviews were based on how the author behaved in public when the author went after the reviewer and the people on the comment thread.
I could be wrong about this. I hope I'm wrong about it. Maybe they did all read the book. But if I'm not wrong, it certainly does suggest there might be something wrong with the way people are reviewing books, and ALL products, on web sites like amazon. As far as I know, book reviews on amazon are supposed to be written by people who have bought and read the book, not by people who aren't happy with how an author deals with a bad review.
Perez Hilton Publishing a Children's Book...Huh?
Not a big post today. Just a little mention that I saw celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton, is now publishing a children's book. The link is here, and below is a copy of the piece.
No comment from me on this one. Who knows, maybe it might even be good. But I think I'll wait for the reviews. (Smile)
Hilton himself, who has often switched up his style, had pink hair on the cover of his 2009 book, "Red Carpet Suicide." That book can now be gotten in hardcover, new, for as little as $2.11 on Amazon. In paperback, it's one penny. More than once I've heard people in publishing grumble about the glut of celebrity books, which often get large advances yet fail to enthuse readers. They wind up remaindered, or being sold brand new for pocket change. But this is a little much. Perez Hilton isn't a celebrity, he's a blogger (not that there's anything wrong with that) who writes about celebrities. He's got an amusingly snarky sense of humor and a clumsy talent with MSpaint. What can we expect of the book? Penguin writes: "The Boy With Pink Hair" is the story of a child born with a shock of fabulous hair that sets him apart from his peers. While some find this difference hard to accept or understand, "The Boy With Pink Hair" uses the opportunity to find what makes him special and share it with the world. The children's book is illustrated with vibrant retro-feeling art by first-time illustrator Jen Hill, putting into pictures the fun that comes with embracing individuality. Hilton, whose given name is Mario Lavandeira, told The Times in 2008, "I want my own little empire." He has a syndicated radio show, but his clothing line with Hot Topic, which was rumored to have fizzled at its launch, is no longer stocked by the stores. Hilton still has his popular website, though -- where he promised, last fall, he'd start being nice. http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1931061438098&sk=messages#!/rfieldj
No comment from me on this one. Who knows, maybe it might even be good. But I think I'll wait for the reviews. (Smile)
Hilton himself, who has often switched up his style, had pink hair on the cover of his 2009 book, "Red Carpet Suicide." That book can now be gotten in hardcover, new, for as little as $2.11 on Amazon. In paperback, it's one penny. More than once I've heard people in publishing grumble about the glut of celebrity books, which often get large advances yet fail to enthuse readers. They wind up remaindered, or being sold brand new for pocket change. But this is a little much. Perez Hilton isn't a celebrity, he's a blogger (not that there's anything wrong with that) who writes about celebrities. He's got an amusingly snarky sense of humor and a clumsy talent with MSpaint. What can we expect of the book? Penguin writes: "The Boy With Pink Hair" is the story of a child born with a shock of fabulous hair that sets him apart from his peers. While some find this difference hard to accept or understand, "The Boy With Pink Hair" uses the opportunity to find what makes him special and share it with the world. The children's book is illustrated with vibrant retro-feeling art by first-time illustrator Jen Hill, putting into pictures the fun that comes with embracing individuality. Hilton, whose given name is Mario Lavandeira, told The Times in 2008, "I want my own little empire." He has a syndicated radio show, but his clothing line with Hot Topic, which was rumored to have fizzled at its launch, is no longer stocked by the stores. Hilton still has his popular website, though -- where he promised, last fall, he'd start being nice. http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1931061438098&sk=messages#!/rfieldj
March 31, 2011
TRS Treasure Hunt...#TRStreasurehunt
This is the event I've been talking about all week in several previous posts. It starts tomorrow but I'm posting early. So here's the answer, below, to the clue I provided for the event. (When you go to the TRS web site, click the "Treasure Hunt" map at the top left, which will take you to the page that describes the contest and where there's a form to enter the contest.) Good luck!!
I'm also offering a free e-book to the first person who comments here. And you don't have to sign in to google if you don't have an account. You can even post anonymously or with a fake name. I know how important discretion is when it comes to erotic romance and I respect everyone's privacy. Just send me an e-mail, let me know you were the first one to comment, and I'll send you an e-book.
Clue: What two very important topics does Jase want to discuss with Luis in the beginning of the book, The Virgin Billionaire: Revenge?
Topic #1 Luis wanted to talk about two things that night, and he knew both topics had the potential to raise Jase's eyebrows. So he decided to start with the lighter of the two subjects and brace himself for Jase's reaction. "I've been thinking about hiring a live-in nanny for Hunter."
Topic #2 Luis turned and looked into Jase's eyes. "I've been asked to pose in the nude for Romantic Tidbits and Treasures."
TRS Treasure Hunt...
This is the event I've been talking about all week in several previous posts. It starts tomorrow but I'm posting early. So here's the answer to the clue I provided for the event. Good luck!!
I'm also offering a free e-book to the first person who comments here. And you don't have to sign in to google if you don't have an account. You can even post anonymously or with a fake name. I know how important discretion is when it comes to erotic romance and I respect everyone's privacy. Just send me an e-mail, let me know you were the first one to comment, and I'll send you an e-book.
Clue: What two very important topics does Jase want to discuss with Luis in the beginning of the book, The Virgin Billionaire: Revenge?
Topic #1 Luis wanted to talk about two things that night, and he knew both topics had the potential to raise Jase's eyebrows. So he decided to start with the lighter of the two subjects and brace himself for Jase's reaction. "I've been thinking about hiring a live-in nanny for Hunter."
Topic #2 Luis turned and looked into Jase's eyes. "I've been asked to pose in the nude for Romantic Tidbits and Treasures."
Speaking of Events, Check Out What Book Cover Artist Paul Richmond Is Doing Right Now
Paul Richmond is having an event over at his blog. You can get there and vote by checking out Elisa Rolle's blog first, here. I'm a huge fan of all his work, including all his book covers. And though I've never been fortunate enough to have Paul do any of my book covers, I did win one of Paul's signed prints last year and it's one of the most cherished works of art I own.
And I owned an operated my own art gallery in New Hope, PA for ten years. It was a successful gallery and the only reason I stopped was because I wanted to write full time instead of part time. And if Paul had been around when I owned my gallery, I would have begged to represent him. And I have a feeling I would have sold tons of his work.
So check out Elisa's blog and enter Paul's contest. I'm not going to say which cover I voted for, because it wasn't easy to choose.
And I owned an operated my own art gallery in New Hope, PA for ten years. It was a successful gallery and the only reason I stopped was because I wanted to write full time instead of part time. And if Paul had been around when I owned my gallery, I would have begged to represent him. And I have a feeling I would have sold tons of his work.
So check out Elisa's blog and enter Paul's contest. I'm not going to say which cover I voted for, because it wasn't easy to choose.
March 30, 2011
The Event Is Moving Forward...
The event I posted about earlier this week is, in fact, moving forward.
I'll post more in the next few days, with details about how readers can participate and have a chance to win not only a great prize, but also a free e-book.
Glad this is moving forward. I've started a new book and I'm still getting into the characters myself. The book I submitted to the publisher last week, tentatively titled, Gone With a Wink, was something I really felt close to. And I'm not even sure why. But I'm having empty book-nest syndrome for the first time in twenty years.
I'll post more in the next few days, with details about how readers can participate and have a chance to win not only a great prize, but also a free e-book.
Glad this is moving forward. I've started a new book and I'm still getting into the characters myself. The book I submitted to the publisher last week, tentatively titled, Gone With a Wink, was something I really felt close to. And I'm not even sure why. But I'm having empty book-nest syndrome for the first time in twenty years.
If You Write LGBT Fiction, Please Don't Do This
I'm reading a book right now I thought was almost perfect. It's a YA novel, written by a fairly well known author who has been on the NYT bestseller list, published by a large publisher. And it's about a troubled teenage girl who starts a friendship with a sensitive Female To Male transgender, but doesn't know this in the beginning and has to learn how to cope with it. All good stuff!!
The book is well-written. It deals with a difficult subject that isn't often written about. But last night while I was reading and getting close to the end, one line ruined the entire book for me. And this one line was spoken by a throw-away character who means nothing to the storyline and the entire thing could have been avoided if the author had known what he/she was doing. I'm not mentioning names or titles with this post. I may in the future. But not now. Mainly because I see this happen so often.
In one scene, the teenage girl is hiding out in a hospital room because her transgender friend is in serious condition and she wants to make sure nothing bad happens to him in the hospital because he's a transgender. I had a small problem with this part because hospitals are professional places and I find it hard to believe anyone working in a hospital would do anything to harm a patient on purpose. But it could happen. Anything could happen. And this isn't what ruined the book for me.
What ruined the book was when a male nurse disovered the teenage girl hiding behind a chair and the male nurse said something to the effect of, "Hey, girlfriend. What are you doing there?" Of course I've paraphrased this. But he did refer to the teenage girl as girlfriend, as if he were about to double snap his fingers. Evidently, the author was trying to show us the male nurse is gay in a way that is far too obvious, often insulting, and way off base when it comes to what most gay men are like in real life. Especially professionals, like male nurses. And I can promise you without a doubt, you'll never hear me refer to anyone as girlfriend, babydoll, sweetie, or hon.
Now, I know there are gay men who double snap their fingers and refer to everyone as girlfriend, babydoll, and sweetie with a strong lisp and a limp wrist. We all know them. Carson Kressley does it all the time. And there's nothing wrong with this. I have good friends who are effeminate. But what I don't know are any gay male nurses who refer to people as girlfriend and double snap their fingers. I don't know any professional gay men who speak this way, not in the public or private sector. If anything, most of the gay male nurses I know work hard to fight against this stereotype every day of their lives.
In other words, writing about effeminate gay men works if it's relevent to the storyline. The effeminate male nurse in this book would have worked if the author had explained he was one of those atypical effeminate gay nurses. And it could have been done well, too. But if it comes out of nowhere, just for the sake of showing that a character is gay with an effeminate stereotype, I have a problem with this in LGBT fiction. It tells me the author is faking it, it tells me the author doesn't have much personal experience with professional gay men, and it tells me the stereotypes are still there and well known authors and large publishers don't give a damn what the LGBT community thinks.
So whatever you do, if you are a new author writing LGBT fiction, please don't make all your professional gay male characters effeminate unless they are supposed to be that way and it's within the context of the storyline. We (gay men) aren't all this way, especially male nurses, male teachers, and gay men working in corporate America. The fact that the gay dollar is so strong is proof that most gay men are, in fact, dignified professionals who are nothing like what we see on TV sitcoms or read about in novels like the one I'm talking about right now. And authors have a responsibility to get this right, especially when they've had a NYT bestseller and have a large publisher backing them.
The book is well-written. It deals with a difficult subject that isn't often written about. But last night while I was reading and getting close to the end, one line ruined the entire book for me. And this one line was spoken by a throw-away character who means nothing to the storyline and the entire thing could have been avoided if the author had known what he/she was doing. I'm not mentioning names or titles with this post. I may in the future. But not now. Mainly because I see this happen so often.
In one scene, the teenage girl is hiding out in a hospital room because her transgender friend is in serious condition and she wants to make sure nothing bad happens to him in the hospital because he's a transgender. I had a small problem with this part because hospitals are professional places and I find it hard to believe anyone working in a hospital would do anything to harm a patient on purpose. But it could happen. Anything could happen. And this isn't what ruined the book for me.
What ruined the book was when a male nurse disovered the teenage girl hiding behind a chair and the male nurse said something to the effect of, "Hey, girlfriend. What are you doing there?" Of course I've paraphrased this. But he did refer to the teenage girl as girlfriend, as if he were about to double snap his fingers. Evidently, the author was trying to show us the male nurse is gay in a way that is far too obvious, often insulting, and way off base when it comes to what most gay men are like in real life. Especially professionals, like male nurses. And I can promise you without a doubt, you'll never hear me refer to anyone as girlfriend, babydoll, sweetie, or hon.
Now, I know there are gay men who double snap their fingers and refer to everyone as girlfriend, babydoll, and sweetie with a strong lisp and a limp wrist. We all know them. Carson Kressley does it all the time. And there's nothing wrong with this. I have good friends who are effeminate. But what I don't know are any gay male nurses who refer to people as girlfriend and double snap their fingers. I don't know any professional gay men who speak this way, not in the public or private sector. If anything, most of the gay male nurses I know work hard to fight against this stereotype every day of their lives.
In other words, writing about effeminate gay men works if it's relevent to the storyline. The effeminate male nurse in this book would have worked if the author had explained he was one of those atypical effeminate gay nurses. And it could have been done well, too. But if it comes out of nowhere, just for the sake of showing that a character is gay with an effeminate stereotype, I have a problem with this in LGBT fiction. It tells me the author is faking it, it tells me the author doesn't have much personal experience with professional gay men, and it tells me the stereotypes are still there and well known authors and large publishers don't give a damn what the LGBT community thinks.
So whatever you do, if you are a new author writing LGBT fiction, please don't make all your professional gay male characters effeminate unless they are supposed to be that way and it's within the context of the storyline. We (gay men) aren't all this way, especially male nurses, male teachers, and gay men working in corporate America. The fact that the gay dollar is so strong is proof that most gay men are, in fact, dignified professionals who are nothing like what we see on TV sitcoms or read about in novels like the one I'm talking about right now. And authors have a responsibility to get this right, especially when they've had a NYT bestseller and have a large publisher backing them.
March 29, 2011
Authors Spending Money on Promotion and Marketing
I've always been in business for myself. I owned an art gallery for ten years and another small business I sold in 2006. I learned a lot about running a business from the art gallery because it was in the tourist town of New Hope, PA and surrounded by other small businesses that catered to tourists, too. I also learned what not to do when running a small business.
Unfortunately, in the ten years I owned my gallery I saw dozens of small businesses come and go, and usually within the first year. People thought it would be fun to open their own business without taking into consideration you have to be there seven days a week, hold on to your money as if you're holding on to you life, and carry merchandise that people want to buy not just merchandise they love. Yet people with no business experience would invest their nest eggs (or their mid-life crisis divorce settlements) into a small business that was their dream. Unfortunately, again, this dream wasn't shared by their customers and they wound up going out of business in less than a year's time.
It reached a point where I stopped getting too friendly with new business owners I knew weren't going to make it (you can always tell). Especially when they started asking me to spend money on group efforts to advertise and market, sometimes a lot of money for TV commercials and magazine ads I knew were a complete waste of time. I always refused. I knew it would be a waste of money for everyone concerned. I was in a tourist town, filled with thousands of people from Monday to Monday, and I didn't see the need to advertise anything other than my gallery, the merchandise I sold in my gallery, and how I presented my gallery to the public and treated my clients.
And I feel the same way about my work as a writer. I'm not against all marketing and promotion. I think on a grand scale, if you have thousands of dollars to invest in an ad in People Magazine it certainly can't hurt. But if you don't have that kind of money to invest on a grand scale, the good thing is there are plenty of ways to promote books on the Internet without investing any money at all.
In other words, if someone starts up a m/m romance blog, for reviews or just to promote m/m romances and authors, I will support them completely. I'll contribute my time, I'll write blog posts, and I'll shout about them all over the web. But I won't invest any money unless I'm absolutely certain I'm going to see excellent results. And most of the time I don't think I'll see excellent results. Most of the time I see a nice effort by nice people with good intentions who don't know what they are doing. But that's not what business is all about. And, in many ways, authors are business people whether they like it or not.
I will get involved in author events and donate time and money, where there's a give-a-way to readers, like an e-reader or free books. I donate free pdf files all the time to these things. I believe in these types of promotions strongly. And I think it's a nice gesture to offer free give-a-ways to readers as a show of appreciation. I don't even care about the promotional aspects. I like doing this because it's fun.
But when it comes to joining a group effort where I have to pay monthly or yearly fees (no matter how small they are), I usually pass. I know these things are done with good intentions and I know the people doing them are working hard. But I also believe I can market and promote in other ways that aren't going to cost anything. Authors can pull together and come up with tons of ideas that don't cost a cent. The Rainbow Awards is a wonderful example of this. Authors promote together all the time. And whether the promotional effort works or not, at least they had fun doing it. And, most of all, they didn't have to take any money out of their pockets.
Unfortunately, in the ten years I owned my gallery I saw dozens of small businesses come and go, and usually within the first year. People thought it would be fun to open their own business without taking into consideration you have to be there seven days a week, hold on to your money as if you're holding on to you life, and carry merchandise that people want to buy not just merchandise they love. Yet people with no business experience would invest their nest eggs (or their mid-life crisis divorce settlements) into a small business that was their dream. Unfortunately, again, this dream wasn't shared by their customers and they wound up going out of business in less than a year's time.
It reached a point where I stopped getting too friendly with new business owners I knew weren't going to make it (you can always tell). Especially when they started asking me to spend money on group efforts to advertise and market, sometimes a lot of money for TV commercials and magazine ads I knew were a complete waste of time. I always refused. I knew it would be a waste of money for everyone concerned. I was in a tourist town, filled with thousands of people from Monday to Monday, and I didn't see the need to advertise anything other than my gallery, the merchandise I sold in my gallery, and how I presented my gallery to the public and treated my clients.
And I feel the same way about my work as a writer. I'm not against all marketing and promotion. I think on a grand scale, if you have thousands of dollars to invest in an ad in People Magazine it certainly can't hurt. But if you don't have that kind of money to invest on a grand scale, the good thing is there are plenty of ways to promote books on the Internet without investing any money at all.
In other words, if someone starts up a m/m romance blog, for reviews or just to promote m/m romances and authors, I will support them completely. I'll contribute my time, I'll write blog posts, and I'll shout about them all over the web. But I won't invest any money unless I'm absolutely certain I'm going to see excellent results. And most of the time I don't think I'll see excellent results. Most of the time I see a nice effort by nice people with good intentions who don't know what they are doing. But that's not what business is all about. And, in many ways, authors are business people whether they like it or not.
I will get involved in author events and donate time and money, where there's a give-a-way to readers, like an e-reader or free books. I donate free pdf files all the time to these things. I believe in these types of promotions strongly. And I think it's a nice gesture to offer free give-a-ways to readers as a show of appreciation. I don't even care about the promotional aspects. I like doing this because it's fun.
But when it comes to joining a group effort where I have to pay monthly or yearly fees (no matter how small they are), I usually pass. I know these things are done with good intentions and I know the people doing them are working hard. But I also believe I can market and promote in other ways that aren't going to cost anything. Authors can pull together and come up with tons of ideas that don't cost a cent. The Rainbow Awards is a wonderful example of this. Authors promote together all the time. And whether the promotional effort works or not, at least they had fun doing it. And, most of all, they didn't have to take any money out of their pockets.
