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NYT bestselling author Jamie McGuire started her career as a self-published author.

Her fourth book Beautiful Disaster was picked up by Simon & Schuster’s Atria imprint and became an international bestseller. Yet after her contract ran out, she’s decided to go back to self-publishing. In an interview on Smashwords, she explains why. Check it out:

The deciding factor though was realizing that I had signed foreign book deals for five to seven years on average, and my domestic deals were indefinite.  That made sense before ebooks, but because the overhead for digital books is negligible, publishers can make them available indefinitely. Before, authors might have once been able to see rights returned to find new ways to revive their backlists, but now, signing is permanent. Going forward, I knew I could potentially make more money holding on to my digital rights because ebooks are forever.

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Sony eBookstore singled out the new adult fiction genre with a special section today, running a sale on many of the authors who once topped our Self-Published Bestsellers List.

The sale includes books by J. A. Redmerski, Tammara Webber, Jamie McGuire and Colleen Hoover. We published a handy primer about the genre, What Is New Adult Fiction? Here is an excerpt:

The label was first used in 2009 when St. Martin’s Press hosted a contest looking for stories that could be marketed to both YA readers and adult readers. The contest described for new adult fiction as books “with protagonists who are slightly older than YA and can appeal to an adult audience.”

(Via Jane L)

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Reading Level: Mature Young Adult Format: EBook Publisher: Atria 8/14/12 Paperback  Parasols: 4

You can say I became addicted to the story. I've heard a lot of people hemming and hawing because of the theme of the book. But you know what to me it was like a fantasy. As much as women are independent and strive to be their own person, there is one tiny bit of us that wants to be wholly encompassed (or consumed in every way possible) by a guy. We want that bad boy with the tats who has his own fight club and is successful at it. There's something incredibly sexy with having a guy want to own you body and soul and isn't afraid to let everyone around them know it. Lot's of people will say that isn't a healthy relationship. Then again, what constitutes a healthy relationship? A peck on the cheek in the morning after coffee? Reading the newspaper with your partner before you both head off to work? Sometimes I think women want that tempestuous relationship (I know I did as teen, early 20s Had a very similar albeit dangerous relationship). Why is Twilight, 50 Shades, Bared to you so popular? I'm not a psychologist at all, but I think reading these books unleashes an inner fantasy. Women for some reason want to be taken cared of and in return wants to do the taking care of. Whether it's cleaning, cooking, or doing whatever needs to be done in the bedroom. Travis and Abby may not have the healthiest of relationships, but what they did have was fantastic.

Abby Abernathy is attending Eastern University to get away from her drunk mother and her down-on-his luck father. Who blames her for all the bad things that has happened to him. She attends with her best friend, America, who she hopes will keep her in line and away from the bad boys that she seems to attract. This Abby is turning a new page and will be a good girl. That is until she meets Travis "Mad Dog" Maddox. Who just so happens to be America's boyfriend's cousin. He's also a ragtag fighter in an underground fight club that he seems to be the king of. Once Travis has taken a liking to Abby it's no holds barred for him. That is until Abby finds herself attracted to Travis' fellow frat boy, Parker. A nice boy from a nice family who is looking to head to Harvard for medical school. Parker is everything that Travis isn't.

However, Abby has lost a bet to Travis and has agreed to stay with Travis for one month in his apartment. She agrees, but it becomes plain that Travis cooked up this bet as a way to keep Abby around (originally the hot water heater in her dorm broke so staying at Shep's and Travis' was a good idea). Abby finds her feelings conflicted for Parker and Travis. He dates with Parker have ended poorly because of Travis, so the two decide to wait until she is back in her dorm before going out again.

The beginning of the book is like a slow burn. You know that Abby is instantly and instinctively attracted to Travis, but she doesn't want someone like him. Once you figure out who Abby is and why this is no good for her you understand, but Travis' determination and stubbornness makes you root for him as well. I liked Parker, but I knew right off that he wasn't right for Abby.

One of my favorite parts of this book is Travis' nickname for Abby, Pigeon or Pidge. It just seemed natural and it was only for her. There are a ton of ups and downs and you wonder if these two are really made for each other. They both seem to enjoy drama and pain. Travis gets beat for a living and Abby is trying to escape her past which has to do with Vegas, mobsters and her sick father. (He's a former gambling legend.)

Another heart palpitating story. Some may not enjoy this book as much as I did, but like I stated in the beginning. It's a fantasy. Who doesn't want that bad boy who loves us with everything he has?

I'm definitely looking forward to Travis' version of the story. It'll be interesting to hear his take on things and now there is a movie in the works. I just hope they get the casting down. I have an idea as to how Travis looks, but it's not like any star, it's just something that I thought up in my own head.

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After dominating our Self-Published Bestsellers List for weeks, Colleen Hoover has published her romance novels Slammed and Point of Retreat with Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books imprint.

Earlier this year, we wrote about how Avett Brothers’ music filled her book and fans of the indie rock band kindled her sales.  In July, Atria scooped up Jamie McGuire‘s self-published bestseller, Beautiful Disaster. Here’s more from the author:

Let me tell you, it’s been a crazy busy week for me, but I can’t imagine how crazy it’s been at the Simon & Schuster offices.  I’ve discovered the reason behind the New York saying, “The City that Never Sleeps.” It’s because it’s true.  They never sleep!  They work, work, work all hours of the day and night, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the beautiful things they have done to my books in such a short amount of time.  Not only have they updated the covers to form a more cohesive look, but now I’m lucky enough to have quotes on the front from two of my favorite authors, Tammara Webber and Jamie McGuire!  OMG!  How butterflying cool is that?

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I know I haven't been blogging much lately, but boy, have I been reading up a storm. I've found some new authors that I have become addicted to and I just cannot stop reading this genre! I guess you can call it mature young adult because the characters are older than your typical 17. They're either in college or have a job, and they have sex. The language can be harsh, but you know what? I'm okay with that. Some might even call it New Adult. There really isn't a genre for those between the ages of 18-26 (the college age years).

The first book I read in that genre was BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. You can say I became addicted to the story. I've heard a lot of people hemming and hawing because of the theme of the book. But you know what to me it was like a fantasy. As much as women are independent and strive to be their own person, there is one tiny bit of us that wants to be wholly encompassed by a guy. We want that bad boy with the tats who has his own fight club and is successful at it. There's something incredibly sexy with having a guy want to own you body and soul and isn't afraid to let everyone around them know it. Lot's of people will say that isn't a healthy relationship. Then again, what constitutes a healthy relationship? A peck on the cheek in the morning after coffee? Reading the newspaper with your partner before you both head off to work? Sometimes I think women want that tempestuous relationship. Why is Twilight, 50 Shades, Bared to you so popular? I'm not a psychologist at all, but I think reading these books unleashes an inner fantasy. Women for some reason want to be taken of and in return wants to do the taking of. Whether it's cleaning, cooking, or doing whatever needs to be done in the bedroom. Travis and Abby may not have the healthiest of relationships, but what they did have was fantastic.

After reading Jamie McGuire's book, I was recommended Tammara Webber by Andrea Thompson (Bookish Andrea). I'm still thanking her a thousand times over for that. Although, Tammara's book was a bit light and frothy compared to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. It was still something that tempted me and I found myself looking forward to the next in the series. Her latest book EASY delves into a bit of a darker topic. Date rape at college. But also finding yourself as well. It amazes me how many girls will follow their high school boyfriends to college to be with them. But because they're getting older and needs are changing, they find themselves suddenly alone at a school they really didn't want to attend, trying to fend off a would-be-rapist. But with all that happening, falling in love with the right guy is something could possibly happen. Especially when that guy is everywhere.

The next series I read was from Elizabeth Reyes. THE MORENO BROTHER'S. Um, yeah, talk about alpha males to the max. First up in the series is the story of the youngest brother, Angel. He comes from a long line of sexy Moreno's. His older brothers are in college and he's still in high school. He's popular, the girls love him and he's very approachable. But the

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Self-published novelist Jamie McGuire has inked a deal with Simon & Schuster’s Atria imprint to publish her bestselling romance, Beautiful Disaster.

That book is currently ranked No.1 on our Self-Published Bestsellers List and has sold more than 200,000 copies. Atria will publish the eBook now with a trade paperback coming out in August. In addition, Atria bought the rights to Walking Disaster, the sequel to her novel.

Rebecca Watson from Valerie Hoskins Associates (the same agency that represented E. L. James for Fifty Shades of Grey) negotiated the deal with Atria editor Amy Tannenbaum. McGuire self-published her fourth novel last May.

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Author Colleen Hoover launched her career with the help of Avett Brothers fans. This week, two of her novels rose up our self-published bestseller list.

To help GalleyCat readers discover self-published authors, we have compiled lists of the top eBooks in three major marketplaces for self-published digital books: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

We will update these lists every week, tracking how writers perform inside these booming marketplaces. You can read all the lists below, complete with links to each book. If you are an author, check out our Free Sites to Promote Your eBook post and our How To Sell Your Self-Published Book in Bookstores post.

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Following a 99-cent Kindle Gold Box Daily Deal sale, thriller novelist CJ Lyons swept five spots on our self-published bestseller list.

To help GalleyCat readers discover self-published authors, we have compiled lists of the top eBooks in three major marketplaces for self-published digital books: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

We will update these lists every week, tracking how writers perform inside these booming marketplaces. You can read all the lists below, complete with links to each book. If you are an author, check out our Free Sites to Promote Your eBook post and our How To Sell Your Self-Published Book in Bookstores post.

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For the second week in a row, Beautiful Disaster author Jamie McGuire leads our Self-Published Best Sellers list.

To help GalleyCat readers discover self-published authors, we have compiled lists of the top eBooks in three major marketplaces for self-published digital books: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

We will update these lists every week, tracking how writers perform inside these booming marketplaces. You can read all the lists below, complete with links to each book. If you are an author, check out our Free Sites to Promote Your eBook post and our How To Sell Your Self-Published Book in Bookstores post.

continued…

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The massive scale of the self-publishing world can easily overwhelm readers, writers and publishing professionals.

To help GalleyCat readers discover self-published authors, we have compiled lists of the top eBooks in three major marketplaces for self-published digital books: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. We will update these lists every week, tracking how writers perform inside these booming marketplaces.

Amazon Self-Published Bestsellers

1. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
2. Easy by Tammara Webber
3. Weekends Required by Sydney Landon
4. Whispers from the Ashes by Patricia Hester
5. Not Planning on You by Sydney Landon
6. Big Girls Don’t Cry by Taylor Lee
7. Trial Junkies by Robert Gregory Browne
8. Lord of Vengeance by Lara Adrian
9. Wool Omnibus Edition by Hugh Howey
10. The Lion, the Lamb, the Hunted by Andrew E. Kaufman

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