HOLIDAY SALE

Now through New Year's Day 2010, when you shop directly from Mundania lines (including Phaze Books and Awe Struck), take 20% off your total order, including ebook and print titles! Enter discount code: SANTA at checkout to enjoy the savings!

the new RWA black eye

I have to ask it. What do you think of the new RWA black eye brewing over not allowing Jane from Dear Author to remain an associate member?

For those who've missed it...and I don't usually read DA, but this one caught my eye. National sent an e-mail to Jane Little at DA, stating that her "general" membership would not be continued (she's not a general member...she's an associate member), since she has no intentions of writing. She never did, which was why she was an associate member, to begin with. They further stated that, while they would typically extend an invitation to become an associate member (what she actually is), since she's been critical of RWA on her blog and fosters the #romfail, she obviously supports neither RWA nor romance authors. Therefore, she is not welcome to be an associate member.

This has many connotations that interest me.

If you're critical of RWA, you don't support them? The RWChange list and movement belies that fact. People who don't believe RWA has value aren't wasting their time suggesting how it can be improved. Why would they bother? Member or not, a lot of people want RWA to change with the times and improve. There's something wrong with that?

And secondarily... I'm not the biggest supporter of DA. I don't appreciate #romfail. But, 99% of the time, I'd have to say DA MEANS well, in its attempts to cover industry news. Are they perfect? Far from. But they do support the industry, though they also tear down individuals. Saying any one of the Janes/Jaynes doesn't support the romance industry is rather ridiculous.

NEW RELEASES in Nov!

VERIEL'S TALES II: LOSING REGANA- Century after century, Jörg searches for Regana, finds her, and loses her again.
HEA-atypical, VIOLENCE-high, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX- erotic

Cover art created by Kendra Egert

To purchase VERIEL'S TALES II: LOSING REGANA from Phaze...in e-book...

Includes:

Feirce Ilona- She's a human Warrior in her own right, hunted by an army of her enemies. She's of his blood but far removed, but despite his best intentions not to lay claim to her as his mate, Ilona has other thoughts on the matter.

HEA-no, VIOLENCE-high, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-lightly erotic

FAIR CAITRINA- Once upon a time, Veriel turned a woman he loved to save her life. What was life like for the Fair Caitrina?

HEA-no, VIOLENCE-high, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-erotic

SWEET JACQUINE- She was left behind, at the mercy of the Warriors after Caitrina went beast. The reality of what Jörg der Schmeidt was left her open to nearly any possibility, but could she trust the rough men who told tales of the demons that would now pursue her?

HEA-yes, VIOLENCE-low, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-lightly sensual

REMEMBER ME- In "Fair Caitrina," you were introduced to Jörg and his quest to safeguard his mate. In "Remember Me," Jörg has another chance at that goal. Yzabeau de Cambion is as bold as any of Regana's souls, but Jörg has made an awful musing that the Stone decides to take him up on. What if Regana's newest soul came to him with full knowledge of him sexually and nothing more? Could she survive the madness such a situation would drive her to? When Jörg saves Yzabeau from a brutal attack by her brother's enemies, he finds himself caught in a firestorm of passion with Regana's newest soul. Taking her in that condition is wrong, and he knows it, but Jörg has never been able to boast self-control where Regana is concerned.

HEA-no, VIOLENCE-graphic, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-lightly erotic

FREEDOM- The original epilogue to CROSSBEARER TURNED... See what happens to Veriel at his death.

HEA-atypical, VIOLENCE-moderate, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-none

EPIC's e-Book Award Finalist 2010!

MATCHMAKER'S MISERY- Eve wants a man who is seen by Keen nobility as unsuitable as a mate for a re-bred. Pilar is pursued by a man who wants position -- until he meets her. After her near-brush with death at her first mating, Eve doesn't ever want a man in her life. Will these three women find what they really need in life?

HEA-yes, VIOLENCE-moderate, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-erotic
To purchase MATCHMAKER'S MISERY from Phaze...in e-book or print...

CLAIMING A LADY- From my Night Warriors series... In Crossbearer turned, I talked about the first cursed lords taking their mates, but I didn't go into detail on them. In fact, aside from Gawen talking about how crazy he was for Bavin, the only comment I made about it was: "The other warriors were called forth one by one and chose their mates with no interference from another. Predictably, all announced that they were content to wait for the joining to take their chosen wives into their homes. By the sixth, they stood hand in hand with their mates: Gawen with Bavin, Ditrich with Anabilia, Cunczel with Lela, Ger with Ingela, Wil with Evfemia, and Olbrecht with Lenne. Regana had been right on every match. [snip] Six amulets appeared in unison. Six men placed them lovingly over the heads of their chosen women, gave their blessings, and sealed the match. Some sealed it passionately, some in a chaste exchange. The one who worried Gawen was the one who sealed no one to himself that night."

It is time to see the stories of the six lords besides Pauwel (the one who sealed no one to himself that night), starting with Gawen and Bavin.

To read CLAIMING A LADY in e-book, download it from Phaze today!

EPIC e-Book Award Finalists Announced!

^{Poetry Non Fiction/Fiction}

^{#A Dash of Expectation: Poems of the Classroom}

^{Written by Russel J Fee}

^{Published by SynergEbooks}

^{#Coming Together: Pondering the Indelible}

^{Written by Leftee McGee}

^{Self Published by Lulu}

^{Children’s and Young Adult (Non Fiction/ Fiction)}

^{#A Talent for Quiet}

^{Written by Kim Chatel}

^{Published by Guardian Angel Publishing}

^{#Cowgirl Dreams}

^{Written by Heidi M. Thomas}

^{Published by Treble Heart Books}

^{#Dead End Street}

^{Written by Rick R. Reed}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC}

^{Non Fiction}

^{#Parris Island: A Woman’s Memoir}

^{Written by Lisa Cordeiro}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press}

^{#Promises Kept}

^{Written by Leonard and Luanna Rugh}

^{Published by I Universe}

^{Anthology Fiction and Contributors}

^{#Bizarre Bipeds}

^{Written by Dr. Bob Rich}

^{Published by Anina’s Book Company}

^{#The Meruk: Episodes I-V}

^{Written by Michelle Levigne}

^{Published by Writers Exchange}

^{#Vampires, Zombies, Ghosts and Other Things}

^{Published by Drollery Press}

^{Contributors: Connie Neil, John Hornor Jacobs, Heather S. Ingemar, Jason Bickerstaff, Nick Santa Rosa, Tim Mulcahy, Joely Sue Burkhart, Quinn Zukas Belhorn, Glynn Custred, Kathryn Magendie, Olga Zilberbourg, Skadi meic Beorh, Eric R. Lowther, and, Berrien C. Henderson,}

^{Anthology Romance and Contributors}

^{#Magical Kisses}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press}

^{Contributors: Dee Lloyd, Carrie S. Masek, Nancy Pirri, Jane Toombs, Karen Wiesner, and Karen Woods}

^{#Men of Moonstone}

^{Written by Christine DeSmet}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press}

^{Anthology Erotic Romance/ Erotica and Contributors}

^{#Bittersweet: Stories of Tainted Erotica}

^{Published by Logical-Lust Publications}

^{All works written by Amber Hipple}

^{#Coming Together: Against the Odds}

^{Edited by Alessia Brio}

^{Contributors: Maxim Jakubowski, Giselle Renarde, Angela Caperton, Ella Regina, Alessia Brio, Andrea Dale, Gregory L. Norris, Kathleen Bradean, Alicia Night Orchid, G.S. Wiley, Jasmine Black, Brenna Lyons, Moondancer Drake, Eva Batonne, and Teresa Noelle Roberts}

^{Published by Phaze Books}

^{#Sapphistocated}

^{Edited by Kathryn Lively}

^{Contributors: Alessia Brio, Jolie du Pre, Yeva Wiest, and Beth Wylde}

^{Published by Phaze Books}

^{Adventure Fiction}

^{#On the Good Ship Caligula}

^{Written by Teel James Glenn}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press}

^#Quanty

^{Written by Darrell Bain}

^{Published by Double Dragon Publishing Co.}

^Erotica

^{#Butterfly Unpinned}

^{Written by Bonnie Dee and Laura Bacchi}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#Ravished by the Pirates}

^{Written by Powerone}

^{Published by Fiction4All}

^#Sinful

^{Written by Raina James}

^{Published by Siren Publishing Inc.}

^{Fantasy and/or Paranormal Fiction}

^{#By Darkness Hid}

^{Written by Jill Williamson}

^{Published by Marcher Lord Press}

^{#Mudflat Toy Boy}

^{Written by Phoebe Matthews}

^{Published by BookStrand}

^{#The Dragons of Hazlett}

^{Written by Michelle Scott}

^{Published by Mundania Press LLC}

^{#When Lightning Flashed}

^{Written by Jeanne Allen}

^{Published by Double Dragon Publishing Co.}

^{Historical Fiction}

^{#Missing Sticks}

^{Written by J.M. Taylor}

^{Published by Screaming Eagle Press}

^{#The Flame}

^{Written by Jane Toombs}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC}

^{#The Portrait}

^{Written by Judith B. Glad}

^{Published by Uncial Press}

^{Horror Fiction}

^{#Out of the Darkness}

^{Written by Lesli Richardson}

^{Published by Lyrical Press, LLC}

^{#Scars on the Face of God: The Devil’s Bible}

^{Written by C G Bauer}

^{Published by Drollerie Press}

^{Mystery and/or Suspense Fiction}

^#Killerbyte

^{Written by Cat Connor}

^{Published by Rebel e Publishers}

^{#No Sanctuary}

^{Written by F. M. Meredith}

^{Published by Oak Tree Press}

^{#Second Time Around}

^{Written by Linda M Faulkner}

^{Published by ePress Online, Inc.}

^{#The Pot Thief}

^{Written by J. Michael Orenduff}

^{Published by Oak Tree Books}

^{Science Fiction}

^#Starfire

^{Written by Stuart Vaughn Stockton}

^{Published by Marcher Lord Press}

^{#Sunrise Destiny}

^{Written by Mark Terence Chapman}

^{Published by Red Rose Publishing}

^{#The Y Factor}

^{Written by Darrell Bain and Stephanie Osborn}

^{Published by Twilight Times}

^{Spiritual and/or Metaphysical Fiction and Romance}

^{#Preacher Man}

^{Written by Laurie Larsen}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^#Prognosis

^{Written by T.D. McKinney}

^{Published by Devine Destinies}

^Mainstream

^{#Finding Hope}

^{Written by Linda Rettstatt}

^{Published by Wings ePress, Inc.}

^{#The Proviso}

^{Written by Moriah Jovan}

^{Published by B10 Mediaworx}

^{#When Women Were Warriors (Book 1)}

^{Written by Catherine M. Wilson}

^{Published by Shield Maiden Press}

^{Contemporary Romance}

^{#Butterfly Tattoo}

^{Written by Deidre Knight}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#Cross Country Chaos}

^{Written by Lesli Richardson}

^{Published by BookStrand}

^{#Movin’ Up With J.J.}

^{Written by Kim Sheard}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#Murphy’s Law}

^{Written by Sandy James}

^{Published by BookStrand}

^{#The Truth About Fairy Tales}

^{Written by J. A. Clarke}

^{Published by Uncial Press}

^{#Venus in Blue Jeans}

^{Written by Meg Benjamin}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#VGL Male Seeks Same}

^{Written by Rick R. Reed}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC (Amber Allure Division)}

^{Fantasy Romance}

^#Duality

^{Written by Renee Wildes}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#Hedda’s Sword}

^{Written by Renee Wildes}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#Ilfayne’s Bane}

^{Written by Julia Knight}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{Historical Romance}

^{#More Than a Wife}

^{Written by Donna McAteer and Catherine Stang}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press}

^{#Paging Miss Galloway}

^{Written by Susanne Marie Knight}

^{Published by Awe-Struck Publishing}

^{#Shadows of a Southern Moon}

^{Written by Meg Hennessy}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#The Substitute Bride}

^{Written by Margaret Blake}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press}

^{Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Romance}

^{#Cast A Pale Shadow}

^{Written by Barbara Scott}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#Chasing Secrets}

^{Written by Christy Tillery French}

^{Published by L&L Dreamspell}

^{#Deadly Secrets}

^{Leeann Burke}

^{Published by LBF Books}

^{#Free Falling}

^{Written by Sandy James}

^{Published by BookStrand}

^{Paranormal Romance}

^{#Dark Immortal}

^{Written by J.K. Coi}

^{Published by Linden Bay Romance}

^{#Do You Hear What I Hear? Book 1, Hoofbeats and Heartstrings}

^{Written by Teri Wilson}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#Out of Her Dreams}

^{Written by Dee Lloyd}

^{Published by Awe-Struck Publishing}

^{#Secret Wishes}

^{Written by Catherine Stang}

^{Published by Cobblestone Press}

^{#The Ghost Downstairs}

^{Written by Molly Ringle}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#They Call Me Death}

^{Written by Missy Jane}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{Science Fiction Romance}

^#Endurance

^{Written by J L Wilson}

^{Published by Cerridwen Press}

^#Immersed

^{Written by Liz Craven}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#Lady of the Stars}

^{Written by Linda Banche}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{Western Romance and Erotic Romance}

^{#Fire Eyes}

^{Written by Cheryl Pierson}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#Intimate Strangers}

^{Written by Gem Sivad}

^{Published by Liquid Silver Books}

^{#Paxton’s Winter}

^{Written by T D McKinney}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC}

^{Contemporary Erotic Romance}

^{#Club Shadowlands}

^{Written by Cherise Sinclair}

^{Published by Loose Id, LCC}

^{#David’s Dilemma}

^{Written by Lynn Lorenz}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC}

^{#Liberating Lacey}

^{Written by Anne Calhoun}

^{Published by Ellora’s Cave Publishing}

^{#Nameless Surrender}

^{Written by Kristin Daniels}

^{Published by Red Sage Publishing}

^{#St. Nacho’s}

^{Written by Z.A. Maxfield}

^{Published by Loose Id, LLC}

^{#The Reluctant Dom}

^{Written by Tymber Dalton}

^{Published by Lyrical Press, LLC}

^{#Tigers and Devils}

^{Written by Sean Kennedy}

^{Published by Dreamspinner Press}

^{Fantasy Erotic Romance}

^{#Matchmaker’s Misery}

^{Written by Brenna Lyons}

^{Published by Phaze Books}

^{#The Real Mother Goose}

^{Written by Selena Kitt}

^{Published by Excessica Publishing}

^{#Time Currents}

^{Written by Brenna Lyons}

^{Published by Logical Lust Publications}

^{#Zoe’s Gift}

^{Written by Jory Strong}

^{Published by Ellora’s Cave Publishing}

^{Historical Erotic Romance}

^{#Command the Wind}

^{Written by Elaine Lowe}

^{Published by Ellora’s Cave Publishing}

^{#Seeking Truth}

^{Written by Francesca Hawley}

^{Published by Ellora’s Cave Publishing}

^{Horror Erotic Romance}

^{#Angels of the Deep}

^{Written by Kirby Crow}

^{Published by MLR Press}

^{#Sacrificial Sex}

^{Written by Laura Tolomei}

^{Published by eXtasy Books}

^{Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Erotic Romance}

^{#Do You Trust Me}

^{Written by Desiree Holt}

^{Published by The Wild Rose Press}

^{#Mexican Heat}

^{Written by Laura Baumbach and Josh Lanyon}

^{Published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.}

^{#The Pleasure of Sin}

^{Written by Shauna Hart}

^{Published by Whiskey Creek Press (Torrid Division)}

^{Paranormal Erotic Romance}

^{#Being Familiar With A Witch}

^{Written by Sapphire Phelan}

^{Published by Phaze Books}

^#Crave

^{Written by Vivien Dean}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC}

^{#Desert Fever}

^{Written by Adele Dubois}

^{Published by Ellora’s Cave Publishing}

^{#October: Trick of Silver}

^{Written by Jamie Craig}

^{Published by Amber Quill Press, LLC}

^{#Three Wishes}

^{Written by Brenna Lyons}

^{Published by Under The Moon Press}

^{#Warriors At Heart}

^{Written by Lynn Lorenz}

^{Published by Loose Id, LLC}

^{Science Fiction Erotic Romance}

^{#Belle Starr}

^{Written by Belinda McBride}

^{Published by Loose Id, LLC}

^{#Pandora Project: Runaway Star}

^{Written by Anah Crow and Dianne Fox}

^{Published by Torquere Press}

^{#Surrender Love}

^{Written by Kayelle Allen}

^{Published by Loose Id, LLC}

^{#The Sarran Plague}

^{Written by A.C. Katt}

^{Published by Eternal Press}

FINALISTS!

Just got the word. I finaled three books this year, from three different publishers, in EPIC's e-book contest. The letters are going out to finalists, but I don't know how early or late in the process mine was, though. That means we'll probably see the full list early this coming week, I'd guess.

My finalists?

Matchmaker's Misery (Kegin series) from Phaze in E-2 (Fantasy Erotic Romance)
Time Currents (Kielan series, a Kegin spin-off world) from Logical-Lust in E-2 (Fantasy Erotic Romance)...my first time finaling two in the same category
Three Wishes (Urban Grimms) from Under The Moon in E-6 (Paranormal Erotic Romance)

UPDATE!

Make that FOUR, not three. I'm also in Coming Together: Against the Odds, and that finaled in Erotic Romance/Erotica Anthology!

Brenna

Extension in the contest...

NOTICE: EPIC's cover art contest has been extended to the 30th! You have two more weeks to enter.

Friday the 13th Sale!

Phaze has a Friday the 13th sale today. 13% off everything you buy at Phaze! Just use the code FRIDAY13 at checkout.

Explain to me...

Explain to me...

Let me preface this by saying that my husband is a Vet. He spent more than 13 years in the Navy, and I was a Navy wife for all that time. He's highly decorated, including a commendation that specifically recognizes him for saving the sub he was stationed on at the time. Every man on that sub owes my husband his life and knows it.

I also worked for the Navy and for the Air Force, as a civilian. Our children were Navy brats. Our family has nothing but respect for the military, and we deplore people who disrespect military members, because they don't agree with the war being fought. I don't agree with the war either, but it's not the military grunts' fault. Both sides of the family are full of people currently in or formerly in the military...in all four major branches and even a guy from the Coast Guard in the mix.

But being former military gives us a rather unique perspective on the subject of Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. My daughter summed up that perspective rather nicely in history class the other day, and her teacher had to break up a rather unruly group of high school kids who felt her opinion is "unpatriotic" and "disrespectful." IOW, they took it upon themselves to be offended FOR people like us.

So read her comment and explain to me why anyone in their right minds would find this either unpatriotic or disrespectful...

"People in the military deserve respect all the time, when they are in and when they aren't. It's an insult to designate a single day or two during the year to remember and respect the military members. We have people in a war now. Know how they're treated? Like crap. When my father was in the Navy, he was treated like crap. If you want to respect military members, start with the ones in the military who are being treated bad. (Disregard her poor grammar.) Don't tell me to spend one day a year respecting someone who fought and died fifty years ago."

I'm proud of her. This is an incredibly ADULT take on the subject, IMO. She's not saying to disrespect someone who fought and died fifty years ago, but she rightfully feels the people in the military now should be treated better.

AT LAST! NY is embracing the revolution!

Once upon a time in e-publishing, there were the indies. Well, they still exist, and they rock. These people came in and did it right. They turn on a dime, adapting to the freshest voices and subgenres of work available, work that scares the marketing folks in NY to death and back. They offered no advances but much higher royalty rates than the conglomerates did. They created the markets, and the structure rose around it...distribution channels, resellers, buzz, sales, acceptance... Once upon a time...an industry that has passed 15 years, in comparison to print publishing, which has been around since Gutenberg.

The NY conglomerates made several stabs into the market. The first was abysmal. The second looked promising. They even used indie-e as their test market and adopted their versions of what they thought was working in indie, but that's not what I'm talking about today. It's the new revolution out of NY that I'm talking about.

So what is this new revolution? A true clone of the indie-es being carried out by a NY conglomerate publisher. AT LAST! I've been saying they need to do this for years.

What's the deal with Harlequin's Carina Press? It's fixing everything NY conglomerates have done wrong in the past. They've eliminated DRM, which a lot of readers will avoid like the plague. They've eliminated advances, which indie-e authors have long said are not necessary with a higher royalty rate and good distribution (both of which Carina claims). According to some sources, Carina will be offering 30% of net, which is the lower end of the indie-e sliding scale of royalties.

They're branching out into almost all manner of commercial fiction and not limiting themselves to one subset of romance, sensual romance, or erotic romance. They'll be taking everything from straight-genre horror and science fiction through romance of all heat levels and types to erotica for women. The line seems to be drawn at non-fiction, poetry, and YA. Keeping YA and erotic work separate is a good idea, so I'm not complaining, though they may later branch out into a sister line that handles YA, as many indie-es have branched out to include disparate genres in sister lines.

In addition, they've signed on Angela James. She's one of the biggest names in indie-e erotic romance editing. She was with Ellora's Cave, then with Samhain. Both, as you probably know, are wildly successful. the woman knows her stuff, and with Angela on board, chances are, she'll be offering her input into NOT messing with what works in indie-e (another mistake the NY conglomerates often make). I'm hoping she'll be signing on the fresh voices and subgenres, going as edgy as indie-e allows, and turning on a dime. It seems Harlequin wishes to push those limits with Carina, and as such, I'm hopeful that is the literal truth this time and not the lip service we've seen on the subject before.

It's new territory for the NY conglomerates. It probably scares the marketing guys to death, but it is a huge step forward for the industry that has been a long time coming. It's the first big shot in the arm the industry has had in a while, and it comes at a time when the market is exploding with new choices in handheld reading devices.

Kudos to Harlequin on this bold initiative, and kudos to Angela James for being part of it!

New updates from Carina press's blog (11/12).

Their lower limit is 15K, and they will take long books. They will also take series.

They are looking closely at authors who engage in digital/online marketing. So, the more you have going, the better.

There's no boilerplate contract to look at, at this time. Apparently, the legal eagles are still working with it, and they expect negotiations. Looks like they will be asking for print rights, though there are no plans (CURRENTLY, they stress) for print.

They are looking at cover artists. Send a resume and link to work to pr(at)carinapress.com

The 30% royalty rate on site sales will be regardless of any promotions they run...good news. I'm waiting to hear about third party sales. I would assume net on those, but I'll see how they word the response before saying that's a given.

They are hiring copy editors soon. There is a test for editors. If you're interested in taking the test, send a letter of interest that includes your experience to angela_james(at)carinapress.com

This is still looking really good.

Brenna