Bitchin' Blog Posts
: Dear Author
April 16, 2012 | Monday | 56 Comments
On the airport shuttle from the Hyatt Regency O'Hare yesterday, I met a young woman who was traveling home to North Carolina. I didn't get a chance to get her name and write it down (it was an airport hotel after all, and we were too busy talking about books during the 8 minute ride) but she told me a very lovely story. She traveled to Romantic Times to meet friends she knew only online, and she came only for the Saturday Book Fair. Her home is in North Carolina, so she flew to Atlanta, then to Chicago, just for…
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March 07, 2012 | Wednesday | 4 Comments
The nomination slate is ready and seven out of eight books have been listed at the DABWAHA site. Why is one missing? Because it's time for you to nominate the book you think should be included that isn't listed right now. Which book were we insane to leave off? Fire up your browser and head on over to fill out the form to enter your nominations. A few words of caution: please make sure that the book is published in 2011 - but not late December 2011. Anything published the last week of December 2011 is counted as a 2012…
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March 02, 2012 | Friday | 76 Comments
As Jane and I have been discussing, and as she noted at DA, 50 Shades of Grey has been collecting the type of media exposure that publicists have fever dreams about. From HuffPo to the Today Show website and television broadcast, to the NY Post and various Fox affiliates in New York and San Diego, the story boils down to: women are reading this book, it's become exceedingly popular, it's a sexually-focused romance, and the women featured share a few things in common, most notably that it's a wonderfully arousing book for them. I didn't like the book myself, but if you…
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September 22, 2011 | Thursday | 0 Comments
It’s podcast time! This week we are talking about what I call “romangst:” angst romance at its finest and most emotional. Jane and I have an intense discussion of romangst and what makes it good & believable, from historicals to Harlequin Presents. We talk about whether the angsty character be healed, and if we can believe that someone who is that fucked up will have a happy ending as functioning or mostly functioning adult. Also: you may notice that at recording time, I had a cold. Enjoy Stuffy Sarah. I even edited out two sniffles, a sneeze, and the possible…
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September 18, 2011 | Sunday | 5 Comments
This week’s list, culled from the secret depths of our affiliate orders report for the past week, is super fantastic. I fully admit, I really really like #3. Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered the book to the point where it landed on our bestseller list. That’s just awesome. You rule. Conor’s Way by Laura Lee Guhrke [Kindle | BN ] Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep [Kindle | Kobo | BN | WORD Brooklyn] Everything I Know about Love I Learned from Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell [Amazon | BN | Kobo | WORD Brooklyn] Baby, I’m Yours by Susan…
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September 14, 2011 | Wednesday | 8 Comments
It’s podcast time! This week, we’re talking about old skool romances, digital backlists and the prices we are willing to pay. We also talk about how readers value books, and the possibilities of collectible books.
Readers have asked that we list the books we talk about, so here you go: all the titles we talk about in this episode:
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September 06, 2011 | Tuesday | 0 Comments
We have a special podcast this week: both of us had the opportunity to interview Stephanie Laurens as part of her media tour for Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue, and to raise awareness for Avon’s KISS and Teal program. Avon has made a $25,000.00 donation to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, and will donate .25 for each book, digital or print, purchased as part of the KISS and Teal promotion. Books marked with the teal ribbon are part of the promotion. Our interviews were recorded by phone in two parts, so we sound a little muffled, and each one of…
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August 31, 2011 | Wednesday | 12 Comments
We’re back with a new - and longer! - episode. This time around we’re talking about popular series in romance, specifically small town community romances which Jane has a particular name for. Just wait. It’s awesome. If you’ve ever wondered why it is that we so seldom choose a Save the Contemporary title, you’ll learn in this episode. We’ll also talk about streak reading, what we’re reading that’s awesome, and we’ll discuss some books that are coming out this fall. Plus, there’s special extra awesome erotica excerpt reading. Mwaaahahaha. You can subscribe to our feed at Feedburner or at iTunes.…
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July 24, 2011 | Sunday | 20 Comments
We’re back! It’s the list with no name, and the proof that when books are on sale, you all buy them, especially when they’re GOOD books on sale! A View to a Kiss by Caroline Linden Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holquist Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Moonstruck by Susan Grant Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Bewitching by Jill Barnett Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo The Duke And I with Bonus…
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July 10, 2011 | Sunday | 31 Comments
Time again for the List with No Name, calculating the top sellers per the affiliate data from Dear Author and Smart Bitches. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase Amazon nook Kobo Sony A View to a Kiss by Caroline Linden Amazon nook Kobo Sony The Duke And I with Bonus Material by Julia Quinn Amazon nook Kobo Sony Duchess in Love with Bonus Material by Eloisa James Amazon nook Kobo Sony The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot Amazon nook Kobo Sony Unlocked by Courtney Milan Amazon nook Kobo Sony How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holquist Amazon nook…
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June 06, 2011 | Monday | 12 Comments
This week’s bestseller list from DA/SBTB is not a surprise to anyone, least of all Jane or myself. I was asked recently at BEA if I thought that digital short fiction had an audience in the romance community. I believe my response was a nearly immediate: “Duh.” I am totally a novella fan now that I can download and read them anywhere I have a signal. Unlocked by Courtney Milan Captives of the Night by Loretta Chase Before the Witches: An Original Novella by Karina Cooper Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer The Countess’s Client…
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May 31, 2011 | Tuesday | 21 Comments
I missed my chance to post last week’s list, but fresh off the snazzy calculating spreadsheet is this week’s list of bestsellers, as calculated by the affiliate code sales from Dear Author and myself. Mmmm, sweet, delicious data! The power of the Chase autobuy is something to behold, y’all, if this week’s list is any indication. Captives of the Night by Loretta Chase Before the Witches: An Original Novella by Karina Bliss The Wind & the Sea by Marsha Canham Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison Christmas Magic on the Mountain by Melissa McClone The…
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April 01, 2011 | Friday | 18 Comments
If you didn’t see our new Digital Publishing Venture, have a look. The TBR Press is only the finest digital books we can forcibly acquire. And seriously, there is so much damn money to be made in digital books right now, why NOT enter the fracas? Heh. Do you love April Fools? I do. Here’s a collection of all the April Madness over the years. I love tradition! Thanks to all the authors who willingly had their books acquired by us - including those who never responded to our email messages, since we acquired your books anyway. April Fools 2011:…
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June 28, 2010 | Monday | 0 Comments
One of my favorite things that the Harlequin Digital Team has created is the Blogger Bundles. Different romance bloggers put together bundles of books from the past and present, and they’re great for discovering great reads from back then and right now. Today, three new ones went on pre-sale. Chosen by you, the readers, as the Harlequin books that hooked you on romance, this bundle features Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie, Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann, The Millionaire’s Indecent Proposal by Emilie Rose, An Officer and a Gentleman by Rachel Lee and Keeping Annie Safe by Beverly Barton. There’s…
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January 25, 2010 | Monday | 0 Comments
Last call for applications for the Dear Author/Smart Bitches internship opportunity. Applications are due by tomorrow, midnight EST. You can read the entire entry there, but the pertinent application details are below. This internship is unpaid and is for 10-15 hours per week of work, schedule to be determined by mutual agreement. The busiest time for the task schedule will be late February and March, when extra hours may be possible, though never more than 20. Dear Author and SBTB will work with university to establish college credit for work performed, but we make no guarantees. Open to students in…
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