Here’s the thing, friends. Some of you read The Talents (or maybe you read it when it was called The Candidates). Some of you (a strong but mighty few) read The Marked (or maybe you read the ARC, when it was called The Watchers). And an even smaller, lovely, loyal, wonderful group of you have even asked me (more than once) where the last book in the series, The Chosen, had gone.

And I’ve been putting you off. For years. So I’m going to tell you exactly what happened, but because I’m a real human being and not just a bot, it would be awesome if you’d be nice to me about it, K? Because it’s story of missteps, failures, redirections, insecurity, and laziness. If you share any of these things with me, then please, read on. If not, please continue with your life and pretend you never saw this.

Part one: I write The Candidates (Taking Sides)

In this part, I wrote the book, never intending it to be a series. My lovely agent convinced me to pitch it as a series, which I did. I had one VERY IMPORTANT plot thread that I always intended to be a part of the story that I moved to the third book. This plot thread, you will learn if you read The Chosen, is not pretty. But it’s important. And it was a central part of the story from the beginning. It’s why the school is called Delcroix. It’s why Cam’s role in the book (is he good or bad?) was always intended to be a little bit ambiguous. It’s why I wrote the damn book, to explain something I was thinking about a lot in those days.

Ahem. I can’t explain any of that until you read the third book. So there.

Oh, and my lovely agent got a two book deal for The Candidates. Though it was now intended to be a three-book series.

First lesson for new writers: don’t agree to a two book deal if you’re planning three books. Three book series always lose market share as the series progresses. It’s just the way the market works. So unless the first book is a huge success, you probably won’t sell the third. And that will break your heart in many ways. 

Part two: The Candidates flops 

In this part, despite paying me a large advance and me working with an amazing editor, The Candidates is not a NY Times bestseller. It doesn’t come close to being the kind of success Disney had hoped. My chance of selling a third book becomes very very slim. Book Two of the series is put off, the series is rebranded, we move forward. I cry a lot.

Part three: The Marked flops even harder

Say no more. I cried a lot more. No one wanted to buy the third book in a series that wasn’t a hit. I wrote another YA, which I loved, but didn’t sell. My heart broke in a thousand little pieces.

But sometime during this period of heartache, my adult romance novels (I started writing adult romance first; YA grew out of that) began doing surprisingly well. I didn’t hit any big lists, but I was way more successful with my adult romance than with my YA. Meanwhile, I quit my job as a lawyer (which I didn’t love) and got a new job as a professor (which I did).

Second lesson for new writers: keep writing. You never know what will stick. Also, in all things, follow your heart. That path may occasionally leave you unemployed and desperate, but it may also bring you to the thing you always wanted but never thought you could have. 

Part four: I tried to write The Chosen

Somewhere in here I got about halfway through writing The Chosen. I was going to self-publish it or publish it with Entangled (the publisher of my adult romance) which had offered to bring it out. But I didn’t want to commit to writing it for Entangled because I wasn’t sure if I could keep the deadline. I was starting a new job and also writing my adult stuff. I figured I could just self-publish.

Reality was, I didn’t ever finish. I had a new job that–go figure–I loved. I mean really loved (and still love). The YA that didn’t sell back in part three? I self published it and it didn’t exactly hit any lists. I lost my heart for throwing myself into projects that people didn’t really want to read.

Third lesson for new writers: I regret not signing that contract with Entangled and having a hard deadline to write the book. I was emotionally beat-up after releasing first two Delcroix books, and I let that push me away from committing to write the third, even though I really wanted to tell that last part of the story. I don’t advocate getting in over your head with deadlines you can’t meet, but sometimes it’s important to have someone (an editor, a publisher), telling you to write the story, especially if you’re feeling insecure or unsure if you can finish it. 

Part four: in which my life changes

This July, my family moved to be closer to my new job. I continue to love it. I do a LOT of writing, but it’s academic stuff. I write about climate change, and corporate social responsibility, and renewable energy. I am working with undergraduate students who want to make a difference in the world. They inspire me and make me want to be a part of making a better world.

I’m not trying to make a living writing anymore. I love my job way too much. And that means I get to do what I really want. Write books that thrill me and make me fall in love. Have fun. Not care if I don’t sell many copies.

GIVE MY BOOKS TO THE 10 PEOPLE WHO WILL LOVE THEM AND FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T.

It’s been eight years since I wrote The Candidates. That’s a long time. Though Dancia and Jack are still very real in my mind, the story is dim. I want to move forward, and honestly, I wish I could have said two years ago that Delcroix was done and I could move on. But there’s one thing that really holds me back: remember that thing I moved into book three? That was an important part of the story? I needed to write it. I needed to share it.

Which brings us to…

Part five: in which I put my heart in your hands

So here’s the honest truth. I’m not going to make this into a pretty, polished, finished story. I’m not. But I’ve got about 5/6 of the book written, including The Thing I wanted to share with you. So I’ve decided to put that up on Wattpad and let you all read it. I haven’t edited it. Other than a basic spell check, it’s not copy edited. There’s stuff in it that doesn’t make sense. But if you really really want to know what happens to Dancia, Cam, Jack, and the rest of the gang…well, read it, and you’ll know as much as I do.

I don’t know anything about Wattpad. But I’ve heard it’s a great place for people to post their work and share it (free!) with others. Tonight, I posted The Chosen there. The part I’ve written. It’s not finished. But the important stuff is out there. I’m totally okay with you deciding for yourself what happens next.

Check out Wattpad.com. There’s apps and whatnot, or you can visit on the interweb. Just search for Inara Scott and you’ll find it.

So that’s my story. I’m glad I finally get to share it with you.

Now, I’ve got some Christmas cookies to make.

Inara, over and out

It’s here! Simon and Jenna’s love story, Seducing the Girl Next Door, has finally arrived. And with it, I have an announcement.

First, let’s just take a moment to enjoy Simon’s gorgeous, thoughtful, passionate face.

Yep. He’s a keeper.

Seducing the Girl Next Door is a Bencher Family novella, and with my usual crackerjack sense of the romance market, it’s about a divorced, 30 year-old mother of three who rediscovers her self and a lost love while on a business trip in Beijing.

(Ha! If you think there’s a big market for romance novels about a divorced mother of three, you’ve got about as much sense of what sells as I do!)

This novella, as usual, speaks to my core optimism about love, rebirth, and second chances. There’s also some naughty bits that are definitely not child-appropriate. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway in the midst of a busy holiday season that celebrates finding yourself (and you’re over 18) this may be the book for you.

You can find all the links and publication info here: http://www.inarascott.com/adult-books/seducing-the-girl-next-door/

And now the announcement.

I’m taking a break from writing.

I’ve debated how to say this, and finally decided simple is best. It’s been an amazing four years: ten releases, five languages, twenty incredible covers, and thousands of readers. I love and adore all of you, my friends, and I appreciate your support more than I can say. I definitely won’t say I’m never coming back to writing. I love it too much. But I need a little break from the mountain of time, energy, and heart that publishing demands. I just wanted you to know.

What about Delcroix III?

Some of you might have seen my post on Facebook a few weeks ago about releasing an unfinished version of The Chosen on my website. I will probably do that soon. But I don’t plan on selling it, and you won’t be seeing a polished, published version of it.

Wait, for reals? You’re going away?

Not completely! I just need to step away from the romance/writing party for a while to recharge my batteries and focus on my family. While I won’t be tweeting or Facebooking much on my author page, please feel free to friend my real self on Facebook, or email me at inara.scott at gmail.com.

You can also find me at my website www.inarascott.com, which should remain active for some time. If and when I do put The Chosen up somewhere, I will link to it there.

Love to you all,

Inara

Hey everyone,

What a great day! I’m thrilled to let you all know that Winter Rain is here. Winter Rain is book 2 of the Love in the Rain series, and is an anthology of short stories by a group of fabulous writers. I feel incredibly lucky to have been asked to join in. And the best part? All the proceeds go to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States. So this project is truly a labor of love for all who were involved, and I’d love to share with you our stories.

My story is called “Sales Tax Not Included,” and besides being an honor to be asked to join in with such an amazing, talented group of writers & editors, it was an absolute blast to write. It’s a sweet, quirky glimpse into the lives of two people I would love to get to know better. They aren’t picture perfect romance hero and heroine, but I think they will touch your heart.

Winter Rain is available for an introductory price of only $.99 (digital). It will be available in print in a few days.

Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!
Inara

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PPC8F8M
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PPC8F8M
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id941882008
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winter-rain-delp…/1120788608
kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/winter-rain-1

Much has been written about the death of traditional publishing, the rise of self-publishing, and the steep road ahead for the Big Six-Five-Whatever the Number is Now (Are We Down To Two Yet? Amazon v. Everyoneelse?). There is much talk of the finances of self-publishing, and whether authors can be more successful holding out for a traditional contract with an advance or publishing themselves with no advance but much higher royalties. One thing that isn’t talked about is the emotional aspect of this–specifically, how the advance system can be devastating to the soul (and career) of young writers.

A few days ago, young adult author Jessica Spotswood wrote a heartfelt and emotional post about managing expectations and rising above the feeling of failure when you don’t meet a publisher’s expectations. In short, Jessica got a major deal for her debut series. The books did well, but not well enough to meet her publisher’s HUGE expectations (which were reflected in the big advance she was given). Jessica saw her promotional opportunities set up by her publisher decline, even as she went through rebranding and efforts to bump up sales. She then had to struggle with the feeling of failure for not living up to her publisher’s expectations, and the sad reality of not getting the same level of promotion for future books.

What she hasn’t yet experienced is what will happen with her next series. Several authors in comments mentioned moving publishers or self-publishing after a similar experience. The reality is that bookstores stock books according to prior sales. If you didn’t sell according to expectations, the numbers follow you. Jessica is a top-notch writer and will have a long and successful career, I have no doubt. But the legacy of the overshot expectations will follow her, and her writing will have to carry her over an additional (and entirely unfair) obstacle in the future. From the comments, it’s clear Jessica isn’t the only one to have faced this. Add me to that list. My Delcroix Academy series (now The Talents–rebranding anyone?) went through a similar (heartbreaking) series of events.

But here’s what makes me angry about Jessica’s story: the current publishing system makes it inevitable. Traditional publishers don’t know which books will be huge hits, which will be moderate sized hits, and which will flop. They really don’t. No one does. They have good, educated guesses, which turn out to be wrong 70% of the time. So the system works this way: as a publisher, you identify a handful of books that might be big hits and throw the authors big money to get them to sign with you (aka, gambling). You know most won’t meet your expectations: 7 out of 10 books don’t earn out advances. It’s part of the game.

The system continues because every now and then publishers get it right and someone makes it big. This is how they survive. They give the other, less successful books a good old college try, and then quietly disentangle themselves from the authors.

It’s all well and good for the publisher, who writes off the losses and starts gambling on the next crop of debut authors. But the emotional legacy for the author is huge. How can an author not feel like a failure when her book fails to earn out that advance? When, despite all the promotion, it doesn’t hit a list? When she is faced with the uphill climb of finding a new publisher and a new deal, after not earning out the last one?

The really sad thing is, this experience isn’t limited to authors who get major advances. It’s heightened for those authors who get the big advance and attention paid to them, but there are hundreds of authors getting smaller advances who experience the same failure to meet expectations, the same loss of confidence and crushing doubt. As a lawyer, I can’t help but wonder if we should include a new clause in the publishing contract boilerplate:

DISCLAIMER: In accepting this advance, I acknowledge that my book has a 70% chance of not meeting expectations. I acknowledge that this may result in significant emotional turmoil and distress (for me). I acknowledge that my publisher has the right to drop me like a hot potato if a new and shiny debut author comes along who has a similar 70% chance of failing, but a 30% chance of being the Next Big Thing.

Is it fun to be on the right side of the publishing gamble? Well, duh…of course it is. If you think staying at the Four Seasons, being jetted around the country on a rock star book tour, and seeing your book front and center at a bookstore is fun. But that’s not really a fair question. I’m sure meth is fun too, until you get ulcers on your face.

But here’s the thing–there are ways to avoid the advance-expectation-failure trap. Writing for a boutique publisher is one, where advances are low and quality and artistic expression are high. Self-publishing is another. Taking a lower advance with a guarantee of on-going promotion is another. And of course, 30% of writers will actually earn out those advances. So there’s always that route!

The publisher I write for now, Entangled Publishing, doesn’t give rock star advances. They give higher royalties instead. Promotion is lesser, but more equivalent across authors. Though no one would claim all books are treated equally, no one (as far as I know!) is staying at the Four Seasons. Of course, this is still a business, and we all want to earn our living. But these days when I write a book I can ask myself–did I write the best book I could write? Did I love the process of writing it? Did I make some readers happy? Did I give them the take-me-away experience that we all need?

If so, then hell yes, it was a success.

Are there things you miss by turning away from the Big Advance? Yes, absolutely. See above. But can we please start telling debut authors that chances are they’re walking into a trap when they accept that big advance? That they’re taking a huge gamble that will most likely result in heartache and disappointment, and possibly do long term damage to their careers? Can we (established) authors start telling everyone that there are other ways to success, and start seeing it in our own careers?

Publishing is a hard, hard business. My husband often shakes his head in wonder that anyone makes it through the gauntlet of negative reviews, rejection, and uneven or non-existent paychecks. My advice to young writers: do this because you love it. For all that is good and holy don’t do this for the money. Find joy in the process. When the bad reviews come (and they will!) focus on the good ones. And most of all, don’t live by someone else’s expectations.

With love,

Inara

IMPORTANT UPDATE! First of all, let me say that I am overwhelmed at the response this weekend to my Bencher Family, especially Melissa and Garth! The Boss’s Fake Fiancee spent time in the top ten on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble bookstores, which is just unbelievable! And then just a few minutes ago, review #100 came in, which means it’s time to give things away.

First, a $25 gift card goes to ESTHER!!!! I’ll be emailing you this afternoon with your prize!

Because I am so excited, I am also going to give away THREE copies of book 3 in the Bencher family series, Falling for Mr. Wrong, to Claudia De La Fuente, Rosangela Jones and @Dandelionns!

Thank you times 100 everyone!!!

********
I was surprised and incredibly touched when The Boss’s Fake Fiancee first released a year ago, and we found that it really struck a chord with a lot of people. The hero, Garth Solen, is not the traditional romance novel alpha male. He’s a sexy billionaire, the head of his own company, and firmly and deliberately single–that’s all pretty standard. But when you start to get to know him, you realize there’s more under the surface. Garth loves deeply and fiercely, but he doesn’t open up easily.

He can’t. It’s far too frightening a prospect.

You see, Garth is on the autism spectrum. He finds social situations painful, and after some tough childhood experiences, has a very hard time trusting. He’s one of the most complex characters I’ve written, and one of the most dear.

He’s also hot. Let’s just be upfront about that. Here’s how Melissa, our heroine, describes him:

**
In person, of course, the first thing you noticed wasn’t his mind: it was the sexy curve of his mouth, his broad, rangy shoulders, and thick black hair. Right now, he was clean shaven, but by the end of a long day he would have an astonishingly sexy five o’clock shadow that only seemed to accentuate his piercing gray eyes.

Not that she looked.

Okay, she looked.
**

Yeah, she’s got a little crush, and by the end of the book, I hope you will too.

The Boss’s Fake Fiancee is currently on sale for only $.99. It’s also got 94 really lovely reviews from people who were touched by Melissa and Garth’s story. Frankly, I wasn’t sure it was such a good idea to write this book. I worried that readers wouldn’t understand Garth, or his journey to love. I can’t believe how wrong I was.

Now, I’d like to give something back. If we can get to 100 reviews (it’s a nice round number; I think Garth would appreciate that) I’ll give a $25 Amazon gift card to a reader. Just let me know you want in on the contest by either:

1) Posting a link to this blog on your Facebook page (or sharing the post from my FB page announcing the contest: Facebook.com/inarawrites)

2) Tweet this: Love Garth? Review The Boss’s Fake Fiancee http://amzn.to/18G9x6Z! If @inarascott gets 100 reviews, she’s giving away $25 Amazon gift card!

3) Comment on this blog–make sure to leave your email address so I can get a hold of you if you win!

And thanks. (Garth says thanks too.)

Winners of the newsletter contest have been notified! Prizes went out today, so check your email!

Wait, you didn’t know about the newsletter contests? You must not be subscribed to my newsletter. You can sign up on my website homepage: go back to www.inarascott.com!

xoxo,
Inara

Today is the day! Falling for Mr. Wrong, book three in the Bencher Family series is OUT. It’s live. It’s on your screen, in your e-reader, and ready to be read.

One more time…here’s that gorgeous cover:

And here’s the book! Falling for Mr. Wrong is available at: Kobo, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBookstore

Oh, and the added bonus? Book One in the Bencher Family series, Rules of Negotiation, is on sale to celebrate the release. You can buy it for only $.99 at Amazon , Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iBookstore.

As impossible as it may seem, I’ve got another new book coming out…in just a few days! Falling for Mr. Wrong is a contemporary romance that’s the third in the Bencher Family series. You can find out all about the book, including buy links to all major retailers, here: http://www.inarascott.com/falling-for-mr-wrong/.

Here’s the back cover copy to get you started!!

Looking for Mrs. Right…

Single father of three Ross Bencher knows the kind of woman he wants: someone predictable, reliable, and safe, who can give his kids the security they deserve. Someone entirely different from high-altitude mountaineer Kelsey Hanson, who bewitches him with her long legs and wild passion. Kelsey’s about as far from his ideal as a woman can get, but try telling that to his body. Or his heart…

Falling for Mr. Wrong…

When Kelsey agreed to fill in as a temporary nanny for her best friend’s agency, she had no idea she’d be working for drop-dead sexy Ross Bencher, a man she can’t seem to keep her hands off. Kelsey knows if she wants to bring herself—and her father—back alive from the Himalayan Mountains, she can’t afford second-guessing or attachments. But Ross’s blue eyes and strong hands leave her gasping…and questioning everything she’s ever known about love…

For Halloween, I thought it would be fun to post a little excerpt from A Sleep So Dark. In this scene, Cade has just been pulled into Tandy’s dream. Normally when this happens, he is invisible to the dreamer, but with Tandy, everything is different…

***

When he became lucid in the dream, he was in a forest, dark and thick with trees. It was not a Colorado forest. There were no evergreens rising straight and tall against the sky, no carpet of needles to cushion their feet. This was a forest of naked, curving branches. The trees had thick, gnarled trunks and a faint air of menace. Moonlight drifted through the canopy of leafless limbs.

He scanned the area quickly, trying not to panic when he didn’t see her.

He ran a few yards ahead on a narrow path that meandered through the trees. When he came around a sharp corner he saw the pale, silvery glow of a person moving through the colorless forest.

“Tandy?” he called.

The body came closer. Took form. The shape was familiar—small enough to fit in the crook of his arm but strong and graceful, long hair reflecting the moon. She assumed a crouch, tense and ready to run. “Who’s there?

He waved. “Over here. It’s me. Cade.”

“Cade?” She stopped, oddly unsurprised to find him there. “Are you coming with me?”

She could see him. His pulse began to race. They were in a dream together, and she could see him and hear him. Anything could happen now.

They met on the path. He slid his hand down her arm. He felt the firm, sculpted muscles of her shoulder, the soft skin on the back of her wrist, and the calluses on her palm. It didn’t matter anymore, he thought giddily, if he touched her. They were already intertwined. He could take her in his arms and pick up where they left off before they fell asleep. They could lose all control and no one would ever know…

I’m not a usually fan of scary movies. Nor am I a fan of scary books. Cause here’s the thing: THEY’RE SCARY. And I don’t like the feeling of being scared. So it’s a little odd that I actually sat down and thought to myself, “Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to write a scary, suspenseful, young adult thriller?”

But I’m like that. Unpredictable. Perhaps even a little crazy. And at the time, I thought I’d be writing the book for teens, and would be able keep the scary to a minimum and really focus on the characters and romance.

But as I was writing that book, which became A Sleep So Dark, the need to make it more suspenseful–and more scary–grew. And as the book got more and more scary, I started to freak myself out.

Seriously.

A Sleep So Dark is about dreams. Nightmares, to be precise. And becoming lucid in dreams and nightmares so you can control their outcome. This is a real therapy technique they are using with veterans and other people suffering from PTSD. Teach them to become lucid in their dreams, so instead of it suffering from nightmares, they can turn their dreams into something positive.

Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, all the research I did on becoming lucid in dreams just freaked me out more. I started to get scared to fall asleep, because I worried that I would become lucid but not be able to wake up. And what could be more awful than being trapped in a lucid dream?

Suffice to say, this book was tough to write. But it was incredibly fun to write something totally different than I ever have before. And in doing so, I discovered that I do enjoy scaring myself–I just happen to do it by sending myself headlong into new projects, pushing my boundaries, and forcing myself to grow as an artist. And this was definitely a book that did all of those things.

(And, to be honest, I threw in some romance, a hot guy, and kissing. Because those are my favorite parts.)

So here’s the really amazing thing. I assumed no one would actually be scared by my book. But according to the reviews, A Sleep So Dark is “weird but wonderful…full of chills, thrills, and suspense…” And “a scary nightmare of a story with murder, mayhem, and a unique element of the supernatural…”

Which makes me glow with pride–I did it! I managed to not only get over my fear of writing about scary stuff, I managed to create something new and suspenseful along the way! Whee!

To celebrate this accomplishment, and with Halloween just a few days away, I’m giving away a signed printed copy of A Sleep So Dark. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what scares you!

UPDATE: We have a winner! Ruthi Kight, congratulations!You’ll be hearing from me via email. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing your darkest fears with me. I hope you all had a happy Halloween!

In five days, A Sleep So Dark goes live!! I’ve been posting pictures and snippets of it on my Facebook fan page, but here’s a longer excerpt to get you in the mood for the book that early reviewers are calling a “perfect read for Halloween“!

They spooned together, Tandy’s back pressed into Cade’s chest. His legs scooped under hers, surrounding her with the heat from his body. He held her tightly, as if he planned to never let her go.

“I don’t want to fall asleep,” she whispered, a fresh wave of fear bringing tears to her eyes. “I don’t want to dream. I don’t want to die.”

“Whatever happens, you have to trust me,” he whispered into her ear, his face resting in the curve of her neck. “Watch for me in your dream. I’ll be there for you.”

Impossible as it seemed, his words didn’t shock or alarm her. Sleep was coming for her, dragging down her lashes and filling her brain. She fought to keep her eyes open and watch the flickering shapes on the ceiling, but Cade’s embrace slipped around her like a cocoon. His body poured over her fear and doubt and enveloped her in a honeyed warmth.

She didn’t know how long she could last. She fought to remain conscious.

The darkness was coming.

BIG NEWS!!

I know many of you found me from my latest books (Rules of Negotiation, The Boss’s Fake Fiancee), which are adult romances, but I actually started publishing with a little young adult series called The Talents (a.k.a. Delcroix Academy, but we won’t get into all that…). I love writing both adult and young adult, but my schedule over the past couple of years forced me to focus on one, which means that I haven’t released a YA for over a year.

Well, young adult fans, I have great news! In October, just two months from now, I will be releasing a new young adult novel! It’s a paranormal YA thriller, called A Sleep So Dark. It’s a new style for me, and I’m incredibly excited about sharing it with you. Here’s the blurb:

Haunted…

After watching her mother die in a car accident, sixteen year-old Tandy McIntyre is plagued by violent dreams. Terrified to sleep and losing her grip on reality, she agrees to attend an experimental group retreat with Dr. Robert Gillman, an expert in lucid dreaming.

Trapped…

In the bitter cold of a Colorado winter, Tandy follows Dr. Gillman and his enigmatic son Cade as they lead a group of troubled teens into the wilderness. There, Dr. Gillman claims he will teach them to control their unconscious minds and master their dreams. But when the dreaming and the waking collide, will Tandy ever be safe again?

Don’t Fall Asleep…

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be announcing spots for a review team (yay for free books!), blog tour, and cover reveal. If you know you want to get in on the fun, just email me at [email protected], or stay tuned for the announcements!

This is a fun thing to say while shaking your head at the rampant stupidity of…well…someone else. One likes to think that you will never have the occasion to say, “What was I thinking?” with such mystification (though anyone who was a teenager in the 80s likely says that when perusing their high school yearbook). But today, I’m wondering if this is what everyone will be saying, some day in the future, about romance writers circa 2013.

I say this after hearing and reading about the dominant theme at the 2013 RWA National Conference, which seems to be, “write more, publish more, and then when you’re done with that, write another one.” One month is the optimal time to wait between new releases. Two months, max. Keep the machine pumping. Publish everywhere you can. If you can’t crank out a novel every month, publish a novella. Can’t produce five books a year? Wait to publish until you have a big backlist, then push them out every couple of months (where you go from there, I’m not sure, unless you’ve been writing a solid decade and have enough titles to last you for a few years).

Now I’ve been a romance reader for almost thirty years. I’ve read and loved a lot of books. But even just a few years ago, no one expected their favorite author to give them something new every two months. You got a book a year from your favorite author, and you were a happy camper. Today, expectations have changed. We get one book in a series and we want the next. Immediately. We tweet/Facebook/email our favorite authors and tell them we want more. Authors feel the pressure from fans, editors, and peers to publish more more more. Classes in “fast drafting” are everywhere. Check Twitter at any given moment and I guarantee there’s an author out there cranking out 1,000 words an hour on a 1k1hr challenge.

Seriously, people, what the hell are we thinking?

I know. You’re feeding your family. You’re pleasing the fans. You’re struggling to make a living. This is what the audience wants. This is what readers demand. It’s exciting. You love to write. I get that. I do.

But really? I mean, really? Can we step back and take a little gut check here? Does anyone really believe that the quality of a book written in a month is anything comparable to the book written over six months? Does any author really think they can push out ten books a year FOR TEN YEARS and keep each one of them creative, fresh, and different?

I’m not saying I’m not falling prey to this epic “quantity is everything” push. I wrote a book in the month of July, and honestly, it was fun. I enjoyed forcing my brain to work all day long and going with the flow of the story instead of endlessly rethinking and revising as I went. And I’m not sure that story completely sucks, either (at least, my darling critique partner says it doesn’t, and that’s good enough for me). But I’m lucky enough to have a day job to go back to in the fall that will exercise another part of my brain and give the romantic trope/sex scene/plot point/witty dialog/big black moment/happily ever after part of my brain a rest. I can’t imagine doing that every month, or every two months, for the rest of my writing career.

I know some Harlequin authors have been working like this for many years. But as an industry trend, I think this five-books-a-year thing is new. And I think in ten years, when we look back on the books we’ve been churning out like magazine articles, we’re going to regret it. I just don’t believe quality is going to keep pace with quantity, and even worse, I think as authors we are going to burn ourselves out at a record pace.

I see this as a sort of grand experiment. How many books can a romance author write in a year before she is plum out of new words? Before she uses the exact same phrase to describe an orgasm that she’s used in five previous books? Before she realizes that this hero is saying/doing/thinking the same things the last hero did?

I hope we don’t get there. I hope we realize how crazy this is before we’ve exhausted ourselves and our creative juices.

Before we end up disappointing our readers by giving them less than what they deserve.

Hello Friends!

Many of you know that I am a frequent sufferer of migraines. In my fight against headaches I have done acupuncture, practiced yoga, suffered through massages (haha), gotten cranial sacral therapy, and experimented with many more treatments that we don’t need to discuss on the internet.

About fifteen years ago, my migraines were totally out of control, and I had a pretty much constant headache. Today, I only have headaches about once a week, and they are well treated by prescription medications. (Thank you, Maxalt!)

Getting my headaches under control was a multi-year battle that took a lot of work. I’ve learned that I need to get regular sleep, can’t watch movies in theaters because of the lighting, and definitely can’t watch fireworks. One of the most important things I learned is the value of a migraine-friendly diet. I’m always amazed when I talk to people who suffer from migraines when I learn that they don’t know how significant food triggers can be, and how much of a reduction in their headaches they might be able to achieve by eliminating certain foods.

Given that I’ve been living with this for so long, and so many fellow writers are sufferer of migraines, I thought maybe it would be worthwhile for me to share some of my food suggestions and tips, and maybe even a few recipes.

So, this will be the first of other blogs, maybe with some regularity if you all find them helpful.

I’ll start with the basics: food can trigger migraines. The trigger mechanisms vary enormously, so I’ll just summarize some of the most common triggers for migraine sufferers:

-red wine
-MSG
-aged cheeses (basically anything other than cream cheese, ricotta, and fresh mozzarella)
-citrus fruits
-ripe bananas
-processed meats (particularly those containing nitrates or nitrites)
-nuts
-chocolate

Basically, if it’s fun, it’s on the list! Ha! Seriously, if you want a comprehensive list of potential triggers, this list from the University of California at Berkeley was my Bible when I first started trying to identify my own triggers. Be aware that triggers are different for each person. My biggest triggers (that I’ve identified) are LIMES, PASSION FRUIT, AGED CHEESE, WINE, and PEANUTS. You may find that you are particularly sensitive to certain foods at certain times–triggers work in combination with each other, so peanuts may be a trigger for you on a day when you haven’t gotten enough sleep, or are at the wrong point in your monthly hormonal cycle, or also have a chocolate bar. This sucks, because it makes it harder to identify your triggers.

But if you’re a migraine sufferer, like me, you’ll probably find it’s worth eliminating ripe bananas rather than suffer a migraine.

I hope this was helpful–look for more recipes and tips in the future!

For those of you who are “skip to the back of the book” kind of folks, I’ll cut right to the chase:

More.

That’s what most of us really want, isn’t it? That’s the monster we’re fighting. The “more” monster. The drive that says when you finally get exactly what you wanted it isn’t enough. And really, that’s the demon that remains to be slain at the heart of our lives–and our publishing careers. The drive for more that makes it impossible for us to enjoy our success and figure out what will really make us happy.

Let me slow down and start from the beginning. I started writing in 2005. My goal at first was simple: to write a book. But then I wrote the book and realized that writing the book wasn’t really what I wanted. I wanted to get published.

Back then, publishing meant Big 6, which meant I needed an agent. So threw my heart and soul into getting an agent. Eventually, after a whole lot of rejections, I got an agent. Then I got The Call–from Disney-Hyperion. I was to be published. Twice.

So I got what I wanted, right? I should have been done? Happy?

Ha! Now that I achieved that goal, I wanted something new: to quit my day job. (Did that.) To make money. (Got a nice advance.) To sell more books. (Yep.) To hit a list. (Oops, not there yet!)

Get the idea? Like many of you, I’m sure, I have this constant drive to set new goals and achieve new things. Write more, different, better books. Hit some milestone in sales. Save for retirement. There are things about that drive that are wonderful. It keeps me working hard, writing more books, and constantly striving to make myself a better author, publicist, and businesswoman.

But what about the happy part? What about the content? See, this drive also brings the worry. The disappointment. The “I’m not there yet”. The feeling that I haven’t quite succeeded. The belief that “if only I get this one thing I’ll be done”–but then, of course, the one thing changes.

A blogger once asked me about an award I’d won, saying, “was that when you knew you’d made it?” I laughed and responded flippantly, “Have I made it yet?” But the flippant response wasn’t flippant at all. I really don’t feel like I’ve made it. Because there’s always a new goal on the horizon that I haven’t quite achieved.

For authors, I think this “more” drive is particularly destructive because it gets in the way of understanding–or even asking–what will truly make us content and happy. Once we get published, we need the next contract. If we get a good review, we need 10 more. If we are in e-book, we want mass market. If we are mass market, we need Walmart. If we sell 10,000 books, we need 100,000. But each of these new goals comes with a price, and we never really ask if the price is worth it. What do we leave behind when we change publishers for the next big deal? What relationship with an editor is sacrificed to get our books in Walmart? Why does it matter if we’re in the supermarket? Who the hell really cares if the Big Six ever really know your name?

The other day, I read this lovely quote from the Dalai Lama:

When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need.’”

Publishing today offers too many option to keep running on someone else’s hamster wheel. My challenge to myself–and all the other writers out there–is to figure out what you really want. The next time you look at your Goodreads page, or stalk yourself on Amazon, or push your agent for a new contract, or kill yourself trying to figure out what you need to do to hit a list, ask yourself, “Why do I want this? When will I be content?” If the answer is more, go back to the drawing board. Because more isn’t a way to joy. Find your path to joy, and then follow it with all your heart.

Last week, I made a dream come true. Some of you might recognize this dream. It isn’t about publishing, or finding this love of my life, or having incredible kids, or even fitting into a size 6. I’ve done all those. (Okay, maybe not the six 6 thing.) They were awesome. They were life-changing.

But this is even better.

This is…paying off my student loans.

© Mike Watson | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Most of you know I’m a lawyer, so you can probably guess that I’ve been carrying around some massive loans from law school. Fewer of you know I’ve got a Master’s in Recreation and Leisure Students (very useful) so there were loans for that. And of course, I took out the maximum loans I could (as did my poor parents) to fund my undergraduate education at Duke University. When I graduated from law school, out of necessity I consolidated all my nasty loans together and got on a 30 year payback plan. At a rate of interest that students today can hardly even imagine.

I realize this is more insight into my finances that you had ever hoped or wanted to get. But hey, this is building up to a big thank you, so hang in there, okay?

Because I was on the 30 year plan, I wasn’t supposed to pay off these loans until 2030. (Yes, I am that old.) But in fact, I paid them off on Thursday.

It was terrifying. It was exciting. It was a little anti-climactic. And the reason I was able to do it? Publishing with Entangled. If it hadn’t been for Liz and Heather and Libby, Rules of Negotiation would still be under my bed. The Boss’s Fake Fiancee would never have been written. And these books made my dream of paying off my loans come true.

So now for the thank you part. As a thanks to all the readers who helped make this crazy thing a reality, I’m making Exposing Alix, my contemporary full-length super sexy adult romance, free. Just for a few days (my keeper Amazon won’t let me do more than 5 days). A thank you to all the readers who love romance.

Here’s a little about Alix:

Under the name Alix Z, Daisy Zahn was once a wildly successful director of romantic, erotic movies. But when her pursuit of love left her with nothing but heartache, Daisy left Hollywood for a small-town in Oregon, and closed off her heart for good.

Bad boy actor-director Ryker wants nothing to do with love or romance, but when critics complain his love scenes are too cold, he seeks out the mysterious Alix Z to add her sexy spin to his latest film. Ryker quickly becomes fascinated by the reclusive beauty and determined to show her that sex doesn’t have to be cluttered with emotion. But in the heat of their passion, can he keep his own heart out of the shot?

Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/Exposing-Alix-ebook/dp/B00AI68N32

I’d love for you to download and share the news!

All my best,
Inara

The voting is closed, and the results are….

Oh wait, this is a blog tour, not a results show. Whoops!

A couple of weeks ago I put out a call for people to sign up for a blog tour to celebrate the release of the late Bridget Zinn’s debut YA novel POISON, which releases on March 12. I was stunned and thrilled by the result. The tour now includes over 100 participants, many of whom knew Bridget personally, many of whom did not but want to be a part of this wonderful event.

Below is a list of the participants and the day they will be blogging. Please help support Bridget and these kind folks by visiting their blogs and commenting their posts, tweeting, Facebooking, and doing whatever you can to spread the word. Use the hashtag #POISON on Twitter and maybe we can get it trending on March 12. Wouldn’t that be grand?

MARCH 12
E.M. Kokie
Nyrae Dawn
Julie “Manga Maniac Cafe”
Abby Niles
Pam “Bookalicious” van Hylckama
Jennifer McAndrews “Honestly YA”

MARCH 13
Kate Treadway “Verb Vixen”
Martha Brockenbrough
Cameron Y. – What the Cat Read
Bobbie Gould
Molly “Wrapped Up in Books”
Eileen Li

MARCH 14
Ashley Walsh “The Quiet Concert”
Jennifer Rummel “YA Book Nerd”
Tammy Hall
Laura Kaye
Melissa Simmons
Shelley Bunnell
Kate Bourne “The Book Monsters”
Taneesha “A Diary of a Book Addict”

MARCH 15
Caroline Starr Rose
Lindsey Loucks
Amy Alessio
Elyana Noreme
Rachel Patrick “Beauty and the Bookshelf”
Sonya “Sony the Book Lover”
Elizabeth Seckman

MARCH 16
Sara Bennett Wealer
Amy Plum
Betty G. Birney
Elizabeth Otto
Ellen Faith
Celeste Holloway

MARCH 17
Janet Fox
Erica “The Book Cellarx”
Amy Stewart “Simple Love of Reading”
Libby Fischer Hellmann
Melody May
Rebekah Faubion

MARCH 18
Jon Goldhirsch
MaryAnn Oprea @ Chapter by Chapter
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Brenna from Esther’s Ever After
Lauren Thoman “The Housework Can Wait”
Annabelle Hammond “Read Write and Read Some More

MARCH 19
Lucia “The Loyal Book”
Jessica Miller “I Read to Relax”
Melissa de la Cruz
Sara Hayet “The Page Sage”
Tara Hudson
Rebecca Lamb

MARCH 20
Johanna Wright
Tara @ Shhh… Not While I’m Reading
Michelle “Much Loved Books”
Kristina Snyder
Zoe Dawson
Peter Salomon

MARCH 21
Gwenyth Love “Rants n Scribbles”
Sarah Evans
Robin Bielman
Mundie Moms (Katie)
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Tamson Weston

MARCH 22
Lucy “The Reading Date”
Carrie Ardoin “Sweet Southern Home”
Tracy James Jones
Nikki Wang “Fiction Freak”

MARCH 23
Amy Thau “Tripping Over Books”
Ashley G. “Wholly-books”
jone “Maclibrary”
Jaime @ Twisting the Lens
Crystal “Winterhaven Books”
Allison Kirk
Jess “Book Rook Reviews”

MARCH 24
Lucy Softich “Adventures in Bookland”
Stephanie “Poetry to Prose”
Caren Crane “Romance Bandits”
Lori Degman
Beth Saxton
DJ

MARCH 25
Michael Gettel-Gilmartin “Middle Grade Mafioso”
Ruth Tenzer Feldman “Blue Thread”
Lynne Kelly
Hafsah “Icey Books”
Samanthe Beck

MARCH 26
Becca “I’m Lost in Books”
Brook Gideon “Dead Gideons”
Natalie J. Damschroder, for Everybody Needs a Little Romance
Beth Revis
Damaris “Good Choice Reading”

MARCH 27
Amy G. (Kissed by Ink)
Stephanie Ruble
Angie Manfredi “Fat Girl Reading”
Rachel Coyne
Chris Miller

MARCH 28
Natalie J. Damschroder
Sara Shafer
Audra “The Society”
Laura Hernandez: Snorkle “My Sentiments Exactly!”
Stephanie “Love Life Read”

Could you do something sweet for Poison?

In the summer of 2010, I met Bridget Zinn for the first time. We were at a gathering of local young adult authors. The group, which still meets, was small but warm, and I was welcomed immediately. People were sharing updates on their work and life. Bridget, despite the presence of a virtual stranger, was laughing about the way her cancer treatment had made her boobs bigger and how she needed to special order a new bra. She was beautiful, with a round, sweet face and eyes that laughed just as loudly as her voice. I discovered we shared a publisher, as well as the frustration of wanting desperately to see our book hit the shelf, only to have it pushed out and delayed.

I found it hard to believe such a young, vibrant woman had cancer.

I assumed Bridget’s cancer was one of those weird, treatable types that you looked back on with amazement when you were fifty. I didn’t appreciate how serious it was for a few months. But over the next year there were more treatments, and more stories. Bridget married her boyfriend Barrett, and he started to accompany her to our gatherings. Not to participate, just to get her there. He would wait in a booth across the restaurant, giving Bridget time to be with us. I loved him for that. Throughout it all, Bridget maintained the same air of sunny optimism that she had when I met her.

Bridget died in May, 2011.

Bridget’s first YA novel, Poison, is being released by Hyperion on March 12, 2013. Being published was Bridget’s dream. Now, nearly four years to the day from her diagnosis, her novel is at last reaching readers. On her behalf, her friends and family want to celebrate her accomplishment and help get her book into the hands of readers.

Poison’s first review just came in, a near-rave from Kirkus Reviews, who write, “Don’t let the title or cover fool you! No grimdark teen fantasy or angst-y heroines here; just a frothy confection of a fairy tale featuring poisoners, princesses, perfumers and pigs, none of whom are exactly what they appear (except maybe the pigs)…. Good silly fun—a refreshing antidote to a genre overflowing with grit and gloom.” We’re sure this is the first of many happy reviews to come for Bridget’s debut.

Since Bridget isn’t here to share her novel, people are pulling together to help get the word out about this former librarian’s sweet, hilarious debut.

How you can help

If you’re a blogger
I’m helping coordinate a massive blog tour for Poison. During the week of March 11, we’re hoping to get everyone in the blogosphere to write about their own firsts. It could be the release of your first novel (if you’re an author), or first blog (if you’re a blogger), or any other momentous first (if you’re human).

If you’re interested in participating in the blog tour, follow the link and sign up. We will send you information about Poison to add to your blog. You’ll send a link to your blog to: Barrett Dowell, [email protected] (Bridget’s husband) and he’ll put it on this web page. As well, her agent will post it and tweet it every day for a solid week.

If you have a Twitter account

During the week of March 11, tweet about #Poison.

Tweet a photo of you holding the book. You could also tweet a link to this web page, part of a review, or a link to your blog post. Just use the hashtag #Poison.

If you’re on Facebook

During the week of March 11, post a picture of you holding Poison, and/or a link to her web page.

If you knew Bridget, write about her. If you didn’t, write about how a librarian helped kindle your love of reading. Or how your favorite young fantasy lit a fire in you as a reader that opened up the full world of literature.

If you’re an author

Consider mentioning Poison during the week of March 11.

You’ll remember how exciting it was to have your first book published. If you’re doing an event, or talking to librarians, consider giving a piece of your time to the story of Bridget and Poison. If you use social media, anything you can do during that week to help get the word out would be welcome.

If you’re a librarian

During the week of March 11, help spread the word.

Bridget was a YA librarian, first in Wisconsin, then in Oregon. Spread the word about Poison on any listservs you’re on. Post a review on Goodreads or LibraryThing. Help raise awareness and get the book into the hands of readers.

If you’re a reader who loves Poison

Please post a review—if not during the week of March 11, then as soon as you can.

And consider reposting your review from Goodreads on Powells.com, Amazon.com, BN.com, and wherever readers look for ideas about what books to read next.

If you’re the parent of a teen who might like Poison

Take them to the library to check it out/put it hold, or buy them a copy. On Facebook, share a photo of your teen holding the book or ask them to put in on their own Facebook page.

If you’d like to support the book and your local school or library

Purchase a copy and donate it to a library’s shelves.

We will be setting up a tumblr of donations and photos of readers with the book.

Thank you so much! We all loved Bridget and her novel, and since she cannot be here to promote it, we are trying to do that for her. We, her family and friends, are so grateful for the kindness of readers to help share her work with the world. She was a writer and a reader but above all a true friend of good books and readers everywhere.

If you’re interested in helping, please let us know so that we can add you to the reminder list. And thank you in advance.

About the novel

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

About Bridget Zinn

Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the “summer of love” and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was “Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect.”

Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers’ copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.

Links about Bridget

(If you post something, don’t forget to post a link to this page: http://bridgetzinn.com/help/index.php)

Everything you need to know about helping spread the word (with lots of info and links)

A remembrance of Bridget written by her agent (with a video of Bridget that shows how vibrant and funny she was)

Bridget’s path to publication – in her own words.

A post in which Bridget shares her Sneaky Tips for writing (which also has an audio file of her reading this post)

Click here to check out what the other authors are giving away during the Entangled In Love blog hop!

And now for a super easy giveaway! All you have to do to be entered to win is head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment on my wall. In your comment, tell me if you’re a Valentine’s Day lover or scrooge. (I’ve been both at various times in my life!) If you’re in the mood, you can like my page so you get all my latest book news. One random commentor will receive a rare PRINT copy of The Boss’s Fake Fiancee!

All the participants in the blog hop will be accepting entries through February 16th–so play on and have fun! Also, join us for a Valentine’s Day Twitter party! Here’s the deets:

Date : February 8th, 2013
Time : 9pm EST
Hashtag : #EntangledInLove
What : We’ll be asking Valentine’s day related questions and each question has prizes to be won! Answer right for a chance to win some of the many awesome prizes
Where : Follow the instructions below
1. Go to http://tweetgrid.com/party
2. Fill in the hash-tag as #EntangledInLove
3. Fill in the hosts
@entangledpub
@totalbookaholic
@babsbookbistro
@anjanavasan
4. Enter your twitter handle, follow the tweets, answer the questions and you may just get lucky
Don’t forget to mention the #EntangledInLove hashtag in your replies!

Crazy, hun? The Indulgence imprint turns one on February 12th, and since Rules of Negotiation was one of the launch books for the line, that means Brit, Tori, and all their friends are turning 1 too!

To celebrate, Entangled Books is going all out with the celebration!
We have a ton of fun stuff planned for everyone, including numerous chances to get your hands on all of our Indulgence books and interact with the authors.

Join the Indulgence Party on Facebook to talk to the authors, answer questions and win some pretty cool prizes! The schedule is as follows (Links & Prizes will be updated soon!):

Time: Noon – 4pm EST.

February 5th
Inara Scott & Ros Clarke *** THAT’S ME!

February 7th
Nicole Helm, Nina Croft, & Rachel Lyndhurst

February 11th
Barbara DeLeo & Michele de Winton

February 13th
Amy Andrews, Stephanie Draven, & Annie Seaton

February 19th
Addison Fox, Victoria James, & Nicola Marsh

February 21st

Christine Bell & Bronwen Evans

February 26th
Marisa Cleveland, Robin Covington, & Robyn Thomas

February 28th
Diane Alberts & Jennifer Probst

Want to get your hands on ALL of our Indulgence books? Well, this month you can!

When : February 4th – February 28th (Weekdays)
Time : 9pm – 10pm EST.
Where : Twitter! If you’re not following us yet, follow now at @indulgencebooks !
Hashtag : #IndulgeYourself
How : Starting February 4th, follow the #IndulgeYourself hashtag on Twitter! We’ll be tweeting clues, you need to figure out which Indulgence book the clues refer to and a random winner gets a copy of the book!
These clues will be related to any of the following:
Book Cover
Blurb
Quotes
For reference, you can find a list of all our Indulgence titles here! You can refer to this list when we give out the clues.

Sounds fun, right? We hope you join us!
Wait, there’s more!
On February 12th, Entangled will be hosting a Grand Prize Giveaway full of Indulgent Goodies, on their blog! So make sure you check back!

If you’ve read any of my category romance, you know I’m not good at following the rules. Career heroine? Got one. Hero that speaks Klingon? Check.

So what’s your take on non-traditional heroes/heroines? Do the “rules” for category romance still apply in today’s world? I’m chatting about breaking the rules of category romance on the Entangled Indulgence blog. Swing by and say hello!

http://www.indulgencebooks.com/2013/02/01/living-in-mistake-land/

I was nervous about self-publishing. I was worried about the time it would take, the response to the book, and whether it might somehow damage my “brand” (God help me if I really have a brand!). I invested a bunch of money in editing and a little on advertising, and wondered if it would be well spent. I hemmed and hawed. Finally, I hit the publish button.

The result was Exposing Alix. And it’s been totally worth it. Maybe not financially–it’s early, and while I haven’t made back my investment yet, sales are pretty good and I’m hopeful that I will. But more importantly, I am getting the opportunity to try things in real time, and see how they affect readers.

This is something traditionally published authors don’t get a chance to do–try things out. You’d be surprised how divorced authors are from the business end of things. Agents negotiate contracts. Editors and marketing people make covers and titles. Someone writes the back cover blurb. Sometimes, sometimes the author gets input. Usually, they do not. And forget about sales. That data belongs to the publishing house and they HATE sharing it. (Again, I’m talking traditional publishing.) People used to ask me how my first book, The Candidates, was selling. I didn’t have any idea what sales were until I got my first royalty statement–eight months after publication. Writing for Entangled I get information more often (quarterly) but it’s still hard to get real time data.

But with self publishing you are in control. I write the blurbs. I make the ads. I choose the cover. And I can check my Amazon dashboard any time and see how many copies have sold. By the day. Twice a day if I want (I try not to. That sort of thing can make you crazy.) Which means I can change all those things I created and see if it affects sales. I can even do something drastic–change the whole darn cover, for example–and watch the response.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. Tweaking. Watching. Changing. Experimenting.

And damn, is this FUN!

Apparently, you all like this ad:

He won’t let her hold anything back…but can he keep his own heart locked away forever?

better than this ad:

She won’t settle for anything less than love….He won’t let her hold anything back.

Interesting, right?

And now here’s the big question. Which cover do you like better?

The old one is at the top. Here’s the new one:

Very different, right? I can’t wait to see how the response differs between the two. And I’d love to hear from you all on this one.

Which cover do you like better? Which makes you more likely to buy the book?

To entice you to give me your feedback, I’m offering a copy of any of my e-books to one commenter–Rules of Negotiation, The Boss’s Fake Fiancee, or Exposing Alix!

If you don’t happen to follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, or subscribe to my newsletter (what? you don’t do all three? I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you!), you may not be aware that I have a new book out! It’s a steamy contemporary romance about a bad boy Hollywood director who doesn’t believe in love, and the erotic filmmaker who is determine to show him that it does.

Here’s the fabulous, sexy cover:

The idea for this book was simple: take a woman who has been hurt time and again, who desperately wants to believe in love and becomes convinced that she sees it in the eyes of people making love. Take a man who is surrounded by love but refuses to be vulnerable to its power. Add a dash of Hollywood, a few cameras, some complex family drama, and turn up the heat. In the end, you’ve got EXPOSING ALIX:

Does love exist on the other side of the lens?

As far as Hollywood bad boy director Ryker Valentine is concerned, love is a dangerous fantasy—one he doesn’t want in his movies any more than he wants it in his life. When critics complain his love scenes lack emotion, he reluctantly agrees to let renowned erotic filmmaker Alix Z put her romantic, sexy spin on his latest flick. Still, on the other side of the camera, Ryker is determined to stay in control. He’ll show Alix that sex doesn’t have to be cluttered with love—if only he can keep his own heart out of the shot.

Just because life has sent more heartbreak than love Alix’s way doesn’t mean she doubts its existence. After all, she’s seen it over and over through the lens of her camera. So when Ryker turns on the heat, she’s determined to keep things purely professional. Ryker doesn’t do love and Alix won’t settle for anything less—even if it means giving up a passion unlike anything she’s experienced before…

Available now on Amazon!

I hope you’ll enjoy taking time out of your holidays to enjoy a little relaxation with a good book!

Cheers!

No, that’s not a typo. I know everyone out there talks about writing the book of your heart. This is about something different. This is about finding the heart of your book–and using that heart to strengthen, deepen, and ultimately sell the book.

Thanks to NaNo, many of you out there have just finished writing a book. Maybe your first. Maybe your 10th. In either case, you probably didn’t write that book just for yourself. You probably wrote it because you wanted to share it with readers. Which probably has you thinking, what do I have to do now to get this thing published?

Good question. There are lots of steps along the way (revising, getting an agent, submitting, making the decision about the type of publishing you want to do). This isn’t about those steps. This is about the step before that. This is about figuring out the heart of your story.

What is the heart of a story? For me, it’s the emotional core. It’s the essential idea or concept that readers will connect with as they read the story. This isn’t a big, generic theme, like redemption or happily ever after. It isn’t a trope or a plot. As a romance writer, it is personal and vulnerable to your characters. It’s the thing they most fear, or most desire. And the crazy thing is, you may not know what it is until you finish writing the story.

Let me give you an example. I started writing my most recent release, The Boss’s Fake Fiancee, in early 2012, knowing only that the trope would be a fake engagement and that it would feature characters from Rules of Negotiation. I came up with a plot, some conflict, and a story arc. I knew that my hero was a recluse, and that my heroine would have trust issues after being cheated on by her boyfriend. I got half-way through a first draft before I realized that my hero’s secrecy was motivated by more than a bad relationship or the death of his parents when he was young.

I realized that my hero was different than any other hero I’d written before.

I realized that he was…SPOILER ALERT!!!…on the autism spectrum. It was mild, but it was there.

This was a big deal.

This changed everything.

Still, I actually sort of ignored this revelation. I continued writing my draft. I downplayed my discovery. I didn’t think readers would connect with a hero with Asperger Syndrome. I didn’t want to say it outloud. I knew it, the hero knew it, and even the heroine figured it out. But I was reluctant to trust readers with this information.

So I sent the book to my editor, Libby, who is a goddess. She (and the other goddesses at Entangled who read the first draft) loved the book. They loved Garth. But they thought I needed to be clear about his autism. It’s mild enough that readers who aren’t familiar with spectrum disorders might not understand him, they said. I needed to give it a name. I needed to own it.

To say I fretted about this is a HUGE understatement. I really, really feared that readers wouldn’t enjoy the book if I did this. I feared that they wouldn’t be comfortable rooting for a hero who wasn’t like everyone else. Who had a different sort of reason for his inability to navigate social situations and his fear of relationships.

Libby was confident. She knew what I didn’t: that this was the heart of the book, and hiding it would do the book, and its hero, a disservice.

So back to the topic of this blog. Finding the heart of the book. Garth, and his autism, was the heart of The Boss’s Fake Fiancee. But until I recognized that fact, and more importantly, before I revised the book around that heart, the story was only half told. It lacked the core to guide it. The spark to set it apart.

So, with Libby’s support, and the support of the amazing team at Entangled Publishing, I revised the book (twice) to focus more on the heart of Garth’s struggle. And you want to know the really amazing thing? The Boss’s Fake Fiancee sold over 6,000 copies in its first month. This book exceeded my expectations on a grand scale. I have been overwhelmed by the love people have shown it, and Garth.

So, as you pull out that NaNo book, or whatever you’re working on, I have this advice. Find the heart of the book. Find the emotional, driving core that sets this book apart from every other book out there and celebrate it. Trust your readers and trust the story.

You owe it to your characters–and yourself.

Dear Friends~~

I love you all. I really do. You’ve made this year incredibly special, from your enthusiastic response to my lawyer-in-love Tori Anderson (and they say career women don’t sell!) to your over-the-moon YES to my tortured hero Garth Solen, who I worried endlessly that readers would have a hard time connecting with. You showed me that you are people who love romance in all forms, and you want me to take chances and write the kind of unique, sexy, emotional books I want to write. So thank you!

Now, as many of you know, I like to give away books. I also like to hear from readers. Occasionally, I need people to ask for advice, or opinions. As I have a new book releasing VERY SOON, I also want to know what you think about it, and if you might be willing to help spread the word about it.

Sound interesting?

I hope so! Here’s what I’m thinking. You tell me if you want to be a part of my Romance Reader Posse. Those who join in the fun will get an advance copy of EXPOSING ALIX, the book I’ll be releasing just in time for the holidays. (NOTE: EXPOSING ALIX is definitely not YA! This is an adult Romance Reader Posse. I’ll make a separate announcement for Delcroix fans who want more YA.) You’ll then be on my list for advance copies of future romance releases. I’ll also come to you from time to time asking questions. For example: do you want swag? If so, what kind of swag? -OR- Which cover do you like better? -OR- Where should I go on tour?

You get the idea!

If you were so inclined, I’d be terribly grateful if you would post a review of EXPOSING ALIX on Amazon, B&N, or Goodreads. (These reviews make a huge difference to the success of the book. Never doubt that YOU MATTER to me!)

Sound easy?

Sweet. Send an email to inara.scott at gmail dot com if you want to join in the fun. Space will be limited to 15, so email me quickly! And until then, here’s the blurb for EXPOSING ALIX:

Does love exist on the other side of the lens?

As far as Hollywood bad boy Ryker Valentine is concerned, love is a dangerous fantasy—one he doesn’t want in his movies any more than he wants it in his life. But when critics complain that his work is too cold, he reluctantly agrees to let renowned erotic filmmaker Alix Z put her romantic, sexy spin on his latest movie. Still, on the other side of the camera, Ryker is determined to stay in control. He’s determined to show Alix that sex doesn’t have to be cluttered with love—but can he keep his own heart out of the shot?

Just because life has sent more heartbreak than love Alix’s way doesn’t mean she doubts its existence. After all, she’s seen it over and over through the lens of her camera. So when Ryker turns on the heat, she’s determined to keep things purely professional. Ryker doesn’t do love and Alix won’t settle for anything less—even if it means giving up a passion unlike anything she’s experienced before…