What happens in the SUV when we're alllllll together for a 30 minute trip.

I have recently discovered that what I like on a cover is not what the majority of readers look for.  What's a writer to do?  I designed my covers and had them done based on what I wanted, what I'm drawn to.  I am starting to think my covers are holding back my sales instead of inspiring them.

I started a discussion thread on The Romance Troupe's Goodreads page titled 'COVERS!'  The consensus there was that readers want bright vibrant colors and a passionate embrace (that's not too sexual) or a half naked man (abs and chest seem to be important - face, not so much).


I am with you on the colors.  Green has always been my favorite but pinks and purples seem to be the industry standard.  

I have always bought a book IN SPITE OF, not because of a sweaty ripped hunk of man.  I prefer covers with women.  These pull me in.  I want to read more about these strong women.  I want to read about women I can relate to and I am a leading lady type, not the wall flower.  On the left, I put one of mine and on the right one from my favorite author.  Both are colorful with strong women.

Rather than the embrace, I like the almost embrace.  This is one of my own favorites.  It shows the story at a glance.  A man (clearly dominant) and small woman (clearly submissive - not looking into his eyes) are coming together under the gaze of a masculine, though not entirely human, being.  

Photo vs. Painting vs. Cartoon
I prefer paintings.  Sites where photography can be purchased are filled with unsexy photos so the good ones are snatched up and used by dozens of authors.  I don't want my cover image to be seen on twenty other books and the same goes for books that I read - I don't want the same image for several books in my library.  I won't give any examples because I don't want to hurt any feelings or call anyone out, but you all know what I am talking about.  The same kiss is on a dozen books.  This is why I steer clear of photography.  The book on the right here is a colorful painting, with sexy men but not photo realistic pecks and abs.

<--Now, cartoons...they work fine for more lighthearted contemporary romance.  HP Mallory has some very successful books that I have read and enjoyed with this cartoon-like theme.  
 Again, I choose these books in spite of their covers rather than because of.  I almost didn't read the Sookie Stackhouse books because the covers are so ridiculous.  They remind me of Napoleon Dynamite's drawing of a liger. 


There is another new cover type that I greatly dislike - the single item on a plain background that only vaguely refers to the story in some symbolic way.  Here are some very successful books that have this.






















These repel me.  I have to overcome a great deal to purchase these.  It is very similar to my feelings about the still life type of old.  I have never purchased one of these and don't think I ever will.  It makes me think of my grandmother's romance novels.  It's awesome she read dirty books but her selection options were atrocious.  I am glad I am searching the current shelves and not those of 20 years ago.




















What do you like on a romance cover? What makes you pause and think 'Oh,man, I gotta check this one out! Look at the _______ on the cover.'?  Leave a comment and let me know.








These are my erotic short stories, all contemporary.  I like that they are alike enough that you can tell they go together at a glance.
















                                                 




Hateful Burden is my only non-romance.  It is a gaslight era horror and I think the cover says it all.

Description is necessary for great writing, right? Well, let's not get too hasty here. What's important is the type of description. Plain old throwing of adverbs, adjectives, colors, and senses at readers is not what an author wants to do.

The cardinal rule of description is simple. Unless it furthers the story, don't include it. Really. It's that easy. So, for example, say you're writing an historical romance and the overwhelming urge to describe the draperies in the Duke's drawing room comes over you. You're feeling great and you're going to describe the dickens right out of those draperies. Readers are going to love how detailed you get.

Whoa, Dickens. Slow down with those fantabulous adjectives. First, ask yourself if the draperies and their length, their color, their fabric and everything else you want to describe further the story. Unless you plan to use those draperies for something in the story, they don't need to be described.

At this point, your muse protests. This Gabrielle woman just doesn't love our style, she whispers in your ear. She's obviously anti-drapery and anti-adjectives. (Not true. I am pro both. In fact, you won't find a bigger lover of draperies.)

Calm your muse with a drink and hear me out. Those draperies have to be integral to the story if you describe them. For example, they can be important to show how wealthy the Duke is, so you can give some meaty description of the fine fabric that hangs in that drawing room. That's useful description as it helps to show the reader something important about the character. Or maybe they're tattered. Describing them as moth-eaten and frayed after you've described him as finely dressed gives the reader the subtle indication that something is amiss. Why does a wealthy man have such shabby draperies in his expensive home? (This works especially well if the story is about the Duke posing as a man of wealth but actually being dirt broke and in desperate need of a wealthy bride.)

Or perhaps you plan to have one of your characters hiding behind those draperies later in the story as they spy on the Duke. Okay. Feel free to give some description of those long, red velvet draperies that block out all the light and make the room feel warm and cozy.

Look at the last word in that line. Cozy. It's a small descriptor but very powerful. Now change that last word to tomb-like. Just one word changed and the entire feel of the room has been drastically altered. That's what great description can do, and it often doesn't take dozens of adjectives and adverbs to do it.

But let's say you have no plans to use those draperies as a prop in future events and they really don't say much about any of the characters in the story. Then there's no reason to describe them. If they're just attractive draperies that hang nicely but don't do anything more for your story, skip the description.

I had a professor who used to always say that every word must pull its own weight when you write. Any that don't pull their own weight need to be cut out. (In my mind, I always called them slacker words. They lay on my manuscript's couch eating all the food and never doing anything useful.) When it comes to description, slacker words don't do enough. Always be on the lookout for that one word that can describe something or someone so perfectly as opposed to lines of description that simply make your story longer and bloated.

So description is part of great writing, but make sure it's useful and powerful and makes your story better.

Happy writing!

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Got a question for you today....or maybe just a comment about being a writer.

As most know, I have only published the one book, The Couple.  It released on December 26, 2012 and for all purposes, it wasn't a best seller.  Well it was to me because some people actually bought it but no it didn't make the NYT best seller lists or even rank in the 5's on Amazon.  I think the highest it ever got was maybe #112,XXX at Amazon.  I was and still am proud of that book.  Today's post isn't to talk about the success or failure of my first book.  I want to talk about getting that second book out there.

As most know, I pitched my second book to a well know e-pub in March and have yet to send it off.  Why you ask?  Life got in the way.  Also, my review blog blow up, in a good way, and trying to reviewers on board so I could write.  Fast forward to the month of May and I made a life altering decision and that was to step down from my review blog as a reviewer until further notice.  Yes, I'm still committed to books that are on the calendar through the month of June and a couple in July/August but after that, Harlie the reviewer will go silent.  It honestly wasn't that hard of a decisions for me to make.  I need a break from reviewing and shoot, I haven't read a book for pleasure in over a year.  I've got a great assistant that helps me and the reviewers so I don't have any worries about the site at all.

Will I miss it?  No not really.  Reviewing is hard work and time consuming.  Especially when you are reading at least 6 books a week.  Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment but I did it and I'm proud of the reviews that I have posted.  So where is the question Harlie? 

My question or rather admittance is that I still haven't finished the book yet so it can be subbed out.  I truly thought being a stay at home mom would leave me plenty of time to write but alas, that is a big negative at my house.  I don't see how writers find the time to write when they have full time jobs/kids/families.  I mean seriously...am I to believe that they can write 5k a day?  I guess they don't sleep.  Trust me, I like my sleep and I don't get up at 3am to write because the house is quiet.  I need my sleep to face the day. 

Does this make me a lazy writer?  A writer that is only in the business so I can bitch and moan about not being able to write?  Jealousy, perhaps?  No, I'm in it because I love to write.  Writing this blog is easy and the words just flow out of my fingers.  I'm one of the best bloggers out there.  So, what's the hold up on the book?  When I write, I need complete silence and I don't get that at my house.  Some thing is always happening.  I'm also a slow writer.  I tend to self edit as I go along and I need to unlearn how to do that.  :)  I've also heard this from authors that to be a writer that I need to make writing my #1 priority.  Sorry, folks but my family is my #1 priority, not writing.  Doesn't that make me a bad writer because of it?  I don't think so.  I don't eat, sleep and breath writing.  I eat, sleep and breath my husband and son. 

Plus, I don't have anyone pushing me.  Yes, I have an AWESOME CP and I would cry if she ever left me but I don't have that one person that pushes me to write like a lot of writers have.  I can think of some awesome writing duos and threesomes that when the aren't writing together, they are pushing the others to finish.  Brainstorming with each other and meeting up together for writing weekends. 

Again, am I jealous?  Not in the least now, but I used to be.  But I figured that that way works for them in getting it done.  I still haven't figured out how it will work for me in the long run but I will get the book finished and send it off.  Wish me luck.

It doesn't matter if a student looks as sour as a lemon. You get lemonade by squeezing them--Antti Allén

All writers are students, right? We study craft while reading novels, we learn from our critique partners, we gather information at conferences (yes, even in the bar talking to other writers...). We are constantly learning more tips and techniques to help us tell OUR story. 

So why does the idea of formal education scare the heck out of me?

I'm heading off to my first residency at Seton Hill in a couple weeks, and I am seriously worrying over it. The program sounds awesome: MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. Yeah, that means SF, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, YA--all the good stuff. No stuffy literature classes (though I did enjoy some of those in undergrad). Camping out with a bunch of like-minded writers for a week in June and a week in July (and reading and writing for online classes in between)--sounds fun, huh?

Still, I am nervous. I've taken online writing classes and learned a lot. Fast-drafting, Deep POV, How not to kill your characters... Heck, I've taught fiction writing classes for fifteen years at a local college. Why am I so nervous?

I think writers are generally, by nature, cowards. Ha. We like to think we are brave and bold and strong, but let's face it--anything to do with hanging our babies out on a clothesline for all to see...well, that is scary!

Do I think writers should take classes? Absolutely! Even when you don't learn a lot of new stuff, you get to be around other creative jellyfish. That's a great thing. You feed off each other. You leave the classroom, invigorated and ready to tackle that story. Right?

The following short story was written to demonstrate the love between the head of a household. Not the one you may think between a father and his children but about the only man left behind once that father passes.  I enjoyed writing this story solely because it reminds me of my very own brother.  He has been the one constant man in my life and I very much look up to and turn to him first whenever I need to.  A relationship this deep between siblings is not only amazing but so beneficial to every sibling relationship. 

I know I am not the first or last to say I have an amazing brother but I am so very blessed that I am and I so hope you like the following story.  Feedback and all sweet comments about your sibling whether brother or sister are appreciated
so please do not hesitate.

Eric's Girls 

It's out today! Yippee!
Yea!
YAY YAY YAY!!

Together in Cyn releases today at Ellora's Cave!!
You can buy it here - http://www.ellorascave.com/together-in-cyn.html
 It'll be on Amazon and lots of other e-tailers in the coming weeks.

Thanks everybody for all of your good wishes and love during this crazy rewarding book!
Smooches to every one!!


Excerpt


“You still have half a beer on the table, Blondie.” Yeah I heard him and completely ignored the obvious as I fled…er…ah…made my way across the empty dance floor. I didn’t have to glance back to know Jared stared at my backside. I could feel it, and it kicked my arousal into a level I’d never imagined was out there and made me want to pant. I was so damn close to begging. Not oh please Jared, but for the love of all that is holy Sir take me and make me yours and let me pleasure your brother, too.