What do I write and who with.

I've had 2 reader emails this week that asked why I don't write for someone like Harlequin? Well the answer is simple and complicated at the same time.

 
This isn't the first time this has come up. The two books in question are usually The Millionaire's Fake Fiancée  and Tempted By The Tycoon.

The simple answer is because I chose other venues. Was this a good choice? I think it was I've learned a lot about the publishing business since The Millionaire's Fake Fiancée came out in 2009. I'm still learning.

The complicated answer comes in a few parts.

Part 1: Publishers have to decide what's right for their lines. You may not have the voice or style of writing that they are looking for. If something's not good for them that doesn't mean you just give up. What I mean is just because you write the same types of stories they publish that doesn't mean they are your only option for publishing. You can try somewhere else.

Which brings me to
Part 2: Publishers decide what to do with your book once they accept it. They choose the category and how to market your books. I write contemporary romance, but that term seems pretty broad at times. One of my publishers had decided that a few of my stories were Romantic Comedies, another decided they were Erotic Romances. Why?




Jump to 

Part 3: I'm what I like to think of as an author walking a line (or bouncing on a trampoline). My erotic romances The Brazen Sister Series or What Are Friends For Series have fallen into that category, but I'm the first to admit they just barely made it. In my opinion Tempted By The Tycoon and Love Me Or Lose Me are more traditional romances and stay on the other side of the line in Mainstream romance, since they are written in the same voice and heat level. How do publishers decide where a book should go?

Heat level or intesity of the sex scenes is a major factor. Also (this is something that I didn't catch right away) swearing, foul language, using descriptive words for body parts can push you in a certain direction with some publishers.
 
My books range from steamy to sizzling(though hubby would like me to try my hand at something really raunchy)
I would like my books to all be considered fun hot contemporary romances. Why can't that be a category at the online book vendors?

Okay so since I've figured out a few things doing this post I'm off to get some work done.
 

 

Rita Sawyer

Giving You It All

Romance Passion Laughter

http://www.RitaSawyer.com

 

Last Friday of 2011

Sitting here going over plans for the next year and wondering if I have totally lost all sense of reality. For comparision I looked back over my goals for 2011 and found that I accompished quite a few of them, but far from all.

If I had to choose something that surprised me this year it would be my novells A Damsel Without A Dress winning a Bookie Award at Author's After Dark Conference in Philly. 

I'm also happy to say that in December I had my 15th title released. It only took 3 years to reach that goal. I also managed to master Facebok and Twitter. Maybe I'll get this blog under control by the end of 2012.



Vanessa "The Jeep Diva"



Joy from Joyfully Reviewed



I attended 2 reader conferences giving me the honor of meeting some amazing authors, and wonderful bloggers.





Matt and Rebecca Sawyer
at
Author's After Dark in Philly



Some Siren Publishing Authors at
Lori Foster Reader Get Together



I had so much fun. The different parties, events, and panels were amazing.



Over the last twelve months a read some great books too.

                                               Melissa Schroeder's A Little Harmeless Sex,

Karen Hawkins  Scandal In Scotland,

Sabrina Jeffries How To Woo A Reluctant Lady,

and Erin Kellison's Shadow Bound were just a few of my favorites.

Next years schedule is jam packed full of work, fun (I hope), and lots of reading. Here's hoping everyone accomplishes everything they want in the next year.

Christmas Contest

The holidays are here. To celebrate I'm doing a little giveaway, well two actually.

Are you spoiling everyone else this season ? Why not spoil yourself.

Enjoy this bounty of bath supplies and a bottle of bubbly.

Or how about a cozy cup of cocoa for two?

In this basket you'll get to have your choice of peppermint cocoa, pumpkin spice latte, vanilla latte, peppermint mocha, cocoa supreme, carmel cocoa, mint cocoa, and french vanilla cocoa in to fun holiday mugs. Oh and the little visitor is going along for the ride.

How do you win? It's easy. Like my fan page on facebook then comment here so I can verify and you'll be entered. The contest will run until December 25th with the winners being drawn, announced and notified on the 26th.  

My New Release: Sacrifice Turned Seduction

     I happy to announce my newest release with Siren Publishing is out now. This is book 2 in my What Are Friends For Series

   Dianne Killbrew made a deal with Gage Dillinger. He did his part, and now she has to spend a week being wined and dined by him. She’ll have to make sure his smooth sexy ways don’t get under her skin and hope he doesn't see past her sparkle and glitz to the shy girl hiding beneath. There is a lot at risk, but she’s made a deal, and she’s going to stick to it.

        Gage can't ignore how much he wants Dianne. It is more than physical desire. He wants to get to know everything about her. The problem is she avoids him whenever possible. So when he is given the chance to put her in a position where she owes him something, he chooses her. Now he’s going to do whatever it takes to get her to see he’s not the player everyone thinks he is.

You can read more HERE or buy HERE

And if you missed book 1: Doing Her Way now is the perfect time to pick it up because Siren Publishing is offering it for 15 % off this week.

Lainey Miles wants nothing more than to marry her sexy fiancé Jace Cannon. She’s been putting off setting a date because she doesn’t want the big white wedding her mother’s counting on. Jace isn’t hiding the fact he’s getting antsy either. She knows something has to be done and fast. So she recruits her friends to plan a surprise wedding that Jace will never forget.

Jace doesn’t understand why Lainey won’t even talk about setting a date for their wedding. If she changed her mind, he wished she’d just say so, but with the way they were burning up the sheets he didn’t think that was the problem. He was determined that as soon as he got back from his business trip they were going to sit down and work things out. One way or another he is going to get an answer out of her.

Want to read more go HERE or BUY

New Review

Emily at SensualReads.com gave 8 Ways Onto The Naughty List 4.5 stars.

"A sweet story, it was very amusing how Patsy decides she is going to get Dexter to fire her without jeopardizing his clients of course, she comes up with some very creative ways to drive him crazy."



You can read the entire review at SensualReads.com
 
 

And just in case you missed it

 

 Monica at Happily Ever After Reviews gave Uncommonly Brazen book 4 in my Brazen Sister Series 4.5 tea cups.
 
"This book is just amazing...You will not regret reading this book not even for a minute."
 
You can read the entire review at Happily Ever After Reviews

4 out of 5 Cherries

Whipped Cream reviews gave A Brazen Love Worth Fighting For 4 Cherries.


Jasmine said, "Would I recommend this book to a friend? Definitely! In fact, I can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on the next story. Not only am I hooked, but I’m also not ashamed to admit that I need to know what happens with the next Brazen sister, which I’m hoping is going to be Samantha’s story."

Read the full review here: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2009/11/brazen-love-worth-fighting-for-by-rita.html

and be sure to stop by http://www.ritasawyer.com/ and see what's happening.