Jane and Sarah talk with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones about her self publishing experience, her career, and her perspective on marketing and promoting books directly to readers. We also talk about where will the market may go next, and what the next big trends may be in romance fiction.
Here are the books we discuss:
You can find more information about the television series development based on the Inside Out series or about Lisa's books on her website.
This podcast is brought to you by Signet Eclipse, publisher of Jo Davis’s Hot Pursuit, the hot new novel in the Sugarland Blue romantic suspense series!
In Sugarland, Detective Taylor Kayne is always ready with a quick wit and an even quicker smile. But he’s about to meet a woman who will make him want to take his sweet time.
Taylor is a laid-back, smart-aleck kind of lawman. He’s also a man’s man, as well as every woman’s private fantasy. But years ago, he was part of a botched hostage situation that ended with him being hailed as a tough-as-nails hero—even though the pain, fear, and shame from that terrible day still haunt his every moment.
Cara Evans couldn’t care less about Taylor’s pain. In the moment he became a so-called hero, she lost someone she dearly loved. Yet neither of them is prepared for the instant, undeniable attraction that flares between them—or the danger that’s soon hot on their heels.
Don’t miss Hot Pursuit, available wherever books are sold!
Our music is provided by Sassy Outwater.
This podcast features “Three Ships” by a UK duo called Deviations Project, which features producer Dave Williams and violinist Oliver Lewis – they have their own Wikipedia page. This song is from their Christmas album Adeste Fiddles.
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Romantic comedy is the next big genre? Well, it would be nice to have some fun and lighten up – I’m sick of the “dark and gritty”.
Thoroughly enjoyed this podcast, as I have all the podcasts. As a reader it was interesting to really learn about the business side of the books. So often I just want a good story.
And I admit to being one that for a while was buying many books at 99 cents and have never read many of them. It was the “bargain” of the deal.
I also hope romantic comedy is the next thing, or at least some much less angsty books.
Great interview!
Very Interesting.
As a reader, one thing I think authors could do (and do better) in the current volatile market is to make sure their blurbs are accurate and forthcoming. SBSarah has written at some length about knowing (as a reader) one’s favored and disfavored tropes. And what you all were saying about the Harlequin “formula” (those readers look for that, not for the author) is true more generally of genre fiction readers; there’s a more or less narrow thing we’re looking for and we want it, and we really don’t want the things we don’t want. For example, I strongly prefer regencies and Georgians, and while I read and adore some Victorians, it is unbelievably irritating to me to pick up a book thinking it’s regency only to find myself in a Victorian (whether it’s because the cover is generic pre-twentieth century—or just wrong—or because it’s impossible until some way into the book to figure out what the temporal setting is). I can be pulled out of my “comfort zone” by knowing enough about a book to see its appeal (thank heaven for good reviewers: SBs). But mostly I just don’t look in areas where I don’t expect to find what I’m looking for. Authors should also, when looking for readers, keep in mind not just how they are like the authors they are similar to in sub-genre, etc. but how they are different from them. For example, Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter seem to be regarded as appealing to the same readers (and no doubt they often do), but I really like Cole and cannot read Showalter. These kinds of (advertising) links between authors can be double-edged swords.
@Carol: You are not alone in that! Amanda has written an entry that I’m posting soon about how much she wishes she could get into Showalter’s books because she loves Cole’s novels, but alas, she cannot.
It was interesting to me to hear Lisa Renee Jones talk about the business side of the business and the need to make money. I think all of the cheap pricing has changed reader expectations. I now expect more when I pay full price for a book (electronically) and can be very disappointed when my expectations aren’t met even in a minor way. I paid $10.99 for If I Were You and became crazily bitter even though I really enjoyed the book because I didn’t realize the book was part of a series. Once I climbed down from the ledge, I was able to see that my reaction was overly dramatic.
I must admit, I have seen quite a learning curve on self-pubbing myself. The first year, I self-pubbed a Dark Fantasy (Dead Man’s Hand). Granted, I started in September, but I made (drumroll) $23. Yup. Fortunately, I have a day job so I still eat and all that. Last year, I self-pubbed a Fluffy Little Regency (A Brilliant Marriage), most of which had been written the previous NaNoWriMo. The glorious 1099 said, $320. Ok, fine, not what I want to retire on, but it helps pay for covers for more books and all that. This year…I self-pubbed a Young Man Discovers Life, the Universe, and Possibly Dragons fantasy (Hatchling) on Jan. 1st and…I’ve sold nearly 200 copies. Already. This Year. Ok, still not blow the day job time, but I’m liking the curve so far. Plus, later on this year (already have the cover, and it’s pretty!) there will be a fantasy romance called PHOENIX IN SHADOW go up (lots of magic and smut, whee!).
Oh, and did I mention that all but the Regency were the first book of Series To Be?
But one thing I don’t like about Amazon, and it’s people returning electronic books. Look, I put free samples up for everything for a *reason*. And there are people who brag of doing all their reading for free because they can suck down a book within seven days quite easily.
Really?
But I agree on pricing. If I pay over $10, it’d better be Lindsay Davis or JD Robb, or someone who I know writes the crack I like bets.
I do agree about writing accurate synopses. I was slapped down for not letting one reader know that one book was the first of a series, and rightly so (I even wrote a thank you note for the Not So Favorable Review, the poor guy/gal probably fainted). And I fixed my synopsis to let people know, hey, there’s a lot more to this poor guy’s story…
So unpleasant reviews can actually be very helpful. Even if I don’t like them.
Sarah,
I kept re-listening at the 35 min mark to hear the full name of the referenced comedy author with the last name of Kennedy. Then I clicked on this page – duh – and saw the cover for the Elle Kennedy book. When I look at her books on Amazon they appear to be romantic suspense/military etc.
Is this the right author? I need some good romcoms for my bedside table.
Best to you and hope you’re surviving the weather, it’s a balmy 88 degrees here,
Tara Simone in Tucson