Readers on the Romance Business

I hesitated to add anything to the Harlequin, RWA thang, as I’m not associated with either of those institutions. RWA doesn’t recognize my publisher, and HQN doesn’t recognize my extraordinary talent ;o).

I’m not so puzzled over Harlequin’s vanity publishing venture, just assuming their parent company is looking for cash. A wee bit surprised that RWA acted quickly. I’m really glad that authors are concerned that new writers might be taken for a ride, but frankly, I haven’t seen a great outflowing of support from NY-published authors for small press authors. They’ve worked hard to get where they are, dang it all, and the rest of us just haven’t made the grade. I suppose that’s true. What I’d really like to ask a few of those who have posted is whether or not they’d sacrifice their values if it meant their pub company would stay afloat.

So, instead, I went out to my Yahoo group to ask readers a few questions. I thought I’d share their answers here. I know this isn’t statistically relevant and that I could have asked better questions, but the answers are food for thought, at least to me. Oh, and I’m fully aware that this is an unusual subset of readers–as they are online already and are part of a small press writer’s newsletter group.

1. Do you know what RWA is and do you care? Would anything they do influence your decision to buy or not buy a book?

My dad

My parents were part of that so-called greatest generation. My mom’s yearbook said “definitely for the Navy.” And Andy was the reason. He served in North Africa and the Pacific, where he was the lone survivor of a plane shot down. He never talked much about the war, like many veterans. But at the end of his life, he said “I’m not sure those guys were my personal enemies.” As a German American with some Jewish heritage, things were complex for the family. Dad said that one of the prisoners they took had our surname, and he always wondered how they were related.

I don’t have any profound things to say about war. I just want my dad, who’s no longer with us, to know that I remember his service.

It’s alchemy! My book is for sale!

What a lovely day. The Yankees win. Love’s Alchemy is for sale. So, I had something to do with one of those things

I’m back from my little rest and am busy writing an will be a good blogger )
Oh, and by the way, thanks to everyone who entered to win a copy of Love’s Alchemy. The winners are “Buzzy” and Fedora Chen. Congrats!

She holds the key to unlock his past—or unleash hell.

Sidra Patmos has the ability to see the real underbelly of lower Manhattan—a horrifying world where wraiths, demons and a few quirky mortals battle for supremacy. Desperate, she seeks out a paranormal researcher to tell her why her life is a waking nightmare.

Instead of answers, her meeting with the dark and irresistible Van Barlowe unleashes a chain of events far more dangerous than her blackest visions. And a desire she can barely manage to hold at arm’s length.

After three desperate centuries, Van has finally found the Alchemist—Sidra. Somewhere locked deep inside her lies the knowledge that will rescue his family from ruin. The only way to reawaken her abilities is to hold his enemies at bay long enough to convince her to step through the mists of time.

Redemption waits there, and a timeless bond ignited by the undeniable pull between them. The missing ingredient: Sidra’s willingness to risk that Van’s attraction runs deeper than sexual chemistry…