At the same Passionate Ink Luncheon, Sue Grimshaw, Romance Buyer from the Borders Group addressed the group. Here’s a few tidbits I picked up from her speech:
Borders is currently allocating more space to the romance genre.
In Spring of 2008, Borders will also be launching a new website with special attention to the romance category.
A great program to join is the Borders Rewards Program. http://www.bordersrewards.com/landing.aspx The program is free to join.
Borders also has an email romance newsletter. This is part of the My Borders monthly newsletter grouping. Sign up here: http://reg.cheetahmail.com/regp?aid=266588556&n=100
Generating the highest click-thru in the romance newsletter are:
1) Dollar off coupons
2) Links to author newsletters or other newsletters
3) Special author click-thrus such as book trailers
Promotion in Borders stores include:
1) Top picks
2) Shelf talkers
3) Samplers
Book-signings are welcomed at Borders. Erotic Romance group signings have been successful. Signing in a group can generate a bigger crowd and can be better for the authors and the store.
Romance is ever-evolving, and Erotic Romance has now come into its own.
Reader favorites overall in Romance are books with steamy sex and sexy covers. Quote “A good torso goes a long way!”
Anthologies are popular with Erotic Romance readers. Anthologies are a great way to introduce readers to the genre and are sometimes all the reader needs/is looking for.
Also popular in all areas of Romance are paranormals. Studies show readers love paranormals because of:
- the strong tortured heroes
- alpha males
- uniqueness of the stories
- hero is invincible
- attraction is unbreakable and almost supernatural
Overall, a great story with great characters sell books.
Borders is here to support, and proud to support the romance and erotic romance industry.
More information about Borders Stores may be found at http://www.bordersstores.com/index.jsp?tt=gn
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Showing posts with label Erotic Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erotic Romance. Show all posts
RWA Nationals - Bookends LLC/ Jessica Faust
Here’s a few tidbits I picked up from a speech delivered by Jessica Faust, co-founder/agent of Bookends LLC. at the Passionate Ink Chapter Luncheon:
Jessica Faust primarily reps Erotic Romance, Mystery, Self-help Nonfiction, and Romance.
With Erotica booming in the publishing industry, it has changed the landscape via allowing editors and agents to push the boundaries in everything they do.
Romance everywhere is getting hotter.
Now that Erotica is more mainstream, the industry is looking for new and different styles. Think outside the box. Blend genres within the Erotic Romance.
Quote: “As long as it’s not illegal in all states- go for it!”
Paranormals: Vampires, Werewolves, etc. are all selling well in the Erotic Romance genre, as well as in mainstream Romance.
Urban Romance is a new trend that is becoming more popular in all areas of Romance.
Throughout the industry, each publisher has variant needs for their Erotic Lines. For example, Avon Red is tamer than the other Erotic Romance lines, calling more for very, very sexy romance. Kensington’s Aphrodisia line is much hotter. Read what the publisher is publishing to see if your book is a good fit.
Bookends LLC website: http://www.bookends-inc.com/
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Jessica Faust primarily reps Erotic Romance, Mystery, Self-help Nonfiction, and Romance.
With Erotica booming in the publishing industry, it has changed the landscape via allowing editors and agents to push the boundaries in everything they do.
Romance everywhere is getting hotter.
Now that Erotica is more mainstream, the industry is looking for new and different styles. Think outside the box. Blend genres within the Erotic Romance.
Quote: “As long as it’s not illegal in all states- go for it!”
Paranormals: Vampires, Werewolves, etc. are all selling well in the Erotic Romance genre, as well as in mainstream Romance.
Urban Romance is a new trend that is becoming more popular in all areas of Romance.
Throughout the industry, each publisher has variant needs for their Erotic Lines. For example, Avon Red is tamer than the other Erotic Romance lines, calling more for very, very sexy romance. Kensington’s Aphrodisia line is much hotter. Read what the publisher is publishing to see if your book is a good fit.
Bookends LLC website: http://www.bookends-inc.com/
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Speech on Erotic Romance Genre
To the best of my ability, I have pieced together my speech for those of you who have requested it. I'm pretty sure I've very close to being spot on with what I said. I apologize for the delay, some of my notes were on route to my home last week via UPS :)
Addressed to the RWA Board of Directors on July 12, 2006 at the RWA General Meeting.
Barb Webb, Region 3, President of From The Heart Romance Writers, Chapter 177, and general member of Passionate Ink, Chapter 207.
First, I would like to thank the board for all your hard work. Please know that we appreciate all you do, and realize that you do not often get enough “thanks.” Particularly, I’d like to thank you for your ability to listen, and take into consideration the needs of the general membership, as you appear have done on a number of issues recently.
Second, I’d like to call for you to listen a little bit more, and to bear with me as I call upon you to re-evaluate your stance on the following topic:
In the RWA Hot Sheet distributed on July 11, 2006, regarding decisions made during the RWA Board of Directors July Meeting, I quote “After extensive discussion, the Board decided not to add an erotic romance category to the contests due in part to the inherently indefinable nature of erotic romance.”
You can imagine my surprise to find out that one of my chosen genres is now deemed indefinable.
I’m not exactly sure what to tell my readers.
Nor the editor who is currently reviewing my entry that finaled in a recent erotic romance contest.
In the spirit of our Dallas setting- I say, bull! I respectfully disagree with your statement.
Erotic romance is a category.
It is definable.
It does have different characteristics.
It is a style of writing that differs from contemporary romance. (or historical, for that matter.)
I’d like to read you a definition from the Merriam Webster Dictionary, if I may:
“Erotic. (noun) Of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire. Strongly marked or affected by sexual desire.”
The erotic writer writes in accordance to the definition.
Yes ladies… it is about the sex.
To take it a step further, erotic romance is about the sexual journey, not only for the characters, but for the reader, too.
A pretty definition for erotic romance might read, “A sexual journey between adults where romance is present, and the words are written to entice the reader to enjoy a sexual journey of their own.”
We won’t stop there, though. I did a little research to determine how “indefinable” this genre truly is.
I didn’t have to search very long. Publisher’s Weekly dedicated their most recent edition entirely to “Erotica.”
Included in this edition are a number of articles. I’d like to read a quote from one, if I may, right now:
Cindy Hwang, executive editor at Berkley is quoted as saying, “we’ve really seen the erotic romance take off. This isn’t to say these books aren’t as sexy as other erotica—just that there’s an emphasis on the character development and emotional connection between characters.”
Berkley, Kensington, Ellora’s Cave, Harlequin, NAL, Pocket Books- to name a few- book stores, readers, and writers have the ability to define and distinguish what erotica and erotic romances are.
Why can’t we?
To say there is no definable nature of erotic romance that separates it from a traditional romance is no different than suggesting that there is no need for a Romantic Suspense category.
Give us the opportunity to directly compete with our peers.
Give us a recognized voice.
We are not indefinable.
Erotice Romance pre-dates RWA and now we are here in a BIG way.
I ask you, as a board to revisit this topic, and to educate yourselves on the erotic romance romance genre, before making a concrete decision on this matter.
Thank you.
Well, folks, that was my speech and I’d like to thank:
- those who graciously applauded my efforts to be heard on this subject
- those who offered me such great support and kind words
- and those who offered debates in response too, for it is always enlightening to "see" the full spectrum of an issue.
I would also like to take a moment to address a few common comments that I did not allow for in my response for the board:
Erotic Romance varies by Publisher, so how can it be defined?
Publishers may prefer different heat levels, story length, or packaging, but in the end, in erotic romance – the story centers on the sexual journey with the intent to arouse the reader. I would hedge a bet that the editors of the publishing houses know exactly what they are publishing and why it falls in the erotic romance category.
Erotic Romance writers say it’s not about the sex.
I heard this from a few people, though, when I asked them, they admitted they do not write or read erotic romance and had heard this from a friend/critique partner/etc.
One thought I had was that perhaps they or their friend/critique partner/etc. possibly thought erotic romance was simple a romance with a few hot sex scenes to spice it up. (A common misconception.) I encouraged them to experiment a little and to read an erotic romance or two, then get back to me on whether their opinion is still the same… and of course, I gave them a list of some of my favorite erotic romance authors.
In closing of this post, I’d like to ask the same thing I asked of the group at nationals attending the meeting:
If you are a member of RWA, and you would like to see the erotic romance category added to the Golden Heart or RITA competition, please take the step to petition the board to re-address this matter.
A full list of board members and email address may be found here http://www.rwanational.org/cs/about_rwa/board_of_directors
Best Regards,
Barb
.
Addressed to the RWA Board of Directors on July 12, 2006 at the RWA General Meeting.
Barb Webb, Region 3, President of From The Heart Romance Writers, Chapter 177, and general member of Passionate Ink, Chapter 207.
First, I would like to thank the board for all your hard work. Please know that we appreciate all you do, and realize that you do not often get enough “thanks.” Particularly, I’d like to thank you for your ability to listen, and take into consideration the needs of the general membership, as you appear have done on a number of issues recently.
Second, I’d like to call for you to listen a little bit more, and to bear with me as I call upon you to re-evaluate your stance on the following topic:
In the RWA Hot Sheet distributed on July 11, 2006, regarding decisions made during the RWA Board of Directors July Meeting, I quote “After extensive discussion, the Board decided not to add an erotic romance category to the contests due in part to the inherently indefinable nature of erotic romance.”
You can imagine my surprise to find out that one of my chosen genres is now deemed indefinable.
I’m not exactly sure what to tell my readers.
Nor the editor who is currently reviewing my entry that finaled in a recent erotic romance contest.
In the spirit of our Dallas setting- I say, bull! I respectfully disagree with your statement.
Erotic romance is a category.
It is definable.
It does have different characteristics.
It is a style of writing that differs from contemporary romance. (or historical, for that matter.)
I’d like to read you a definition from the Merriam Webster Dictionary, if I may:
“Erotic. (noun) Of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire. Strongly marked or affected by sexual desire.”
The erotic writer writes in accordance to the definition.
Yes ladies… it is about the sex.
To take it a step further, erotic romance is about the sexual journey, not only for the characters, but for the reader, too.
A pretty definition for erotic romance might read, “A sexual journey between adults where romance is present, and the words are written to entice the reader to enjoy a sexual journey of their own.”
We won’t stop there, though. I did a little research to determine how “indefinable” this genre truly is.
I didn’t have to search very long. Publisher’s Weekly dedicated their most recent edition entirely to “Erotica.”
Included in this edition are a number of articles. I’d like to read a quote from one, if I may, right now:
Cindy Hwang, executive editor at Berkley is quoted as saying, “we’ve really seen the erotic romance take off. This isn’t to say these books aren’t as sexy as other erotica—just that there’s an emphasis on the character development and emotional connection between characters.”
Berkley, Kensington, Ellora’s Cave, Harlequin, NAL, Pocket Books- to name a few- book stores, readers, and writers have the ability to define and distinguish what erotica and erotic romances are.
Why can’t we?
To say there is no definable nature of erotic romance that separates it from a traditional romance is no different than suggesting that there is no need for a Romantic Suspense category.
Give us the opportunity to directly compete with our peers.
Give us a recognized voice.
We are not indefinable.
Erotice Romance pre-dates RWA and now we are here in a BIG way.
I ask you, as a board to revisit this topic, and to educate yourselves on the erotic romance romance genre, before making a concrete decision on this matter.
Thank you.
Well, folks, that was my speech and I’d like to thank:
- those who graciously applauded my efforts to be heard on this subject
- those who offered me such great support and kind words
- and those who offered debates in response too, for it is always enlightening to "see" the full spectrum of an issue.
I would also like to take a moment to address a few common comments that I did not allow for in my response for the board:
Erotic Romance varies by Publisher, so how can it be defined?
Publishers may prefer different heat levels, story length, or packaging, but in the end, in erotic romance – the story centers on the sexual journey with the intent to arouse the reader. I would hedge a bet that the editors of the publishing houses know exactly what they are publishing and why it falls in the erotic romance category.
Erotic Romance writers say it’s not about the sex.
I heard this from a few people, though, when I asked them, they admitted they do not write or read erotic romance and had heard this from a friend/critique partner/etc.
One thought I had was that perhaps they or their friend/critique partner/etc. possibly thought erotic romance was simple a romance with a few hot sex scenes to spice it up. (A common misconception.) I encouraged them to experiment a little and to read an erotic romance or two, then get back to me on whether their opinion is still the same… and of course, I gave them a list of some of my favorite erotic romance authors.
In closing of this post, I’d like to ask the same thing I asked of the group at nationals attending the meeting:
If you are a member of RWA, and you would like to see the erotic romance category added to the Golden Heart or RITA competition, please take the step to petition the board to re-address this matter.
A full list of board members and email address may be found here http://www.rwanational.org/cs/about_rwa/board_of_directors
Best Regards,
Barb
.
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