The Janes of Romance

Below is an introduction to my newest endeavor. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in participating. Thank you.

Introduction The Janes of Romance - A New Website for Authors & Readers

I am an author who released my first historical novel in 2009. After publication, I started actively marketing my book and looked at many romance sites for advertising. Unfortunately, I found nothing that offered a sanctuary for the type of genre I preferred.

From website to website, I was bombarded with scenes of sex advertising romance. Most covers were focused on naked chests, six-pack abs, and bulging breasts at every glance. If that wasn't bad enough, words of romance were teamed with scenes of bondage and demons. For some reason I think Jane Austen would shudder at the sight.

I began to think that I had no place to showcase my book with so many body parts screaming for attention next to my classy cover. In addition my advertisng lacked words such as hot, steamy, sizzling, wicked, and sexy - just to name a few.

So I thought why not make a place for authors like myself who want to publicize their work in a site not filled with exposed bodies? As a result, The Janes of Romance was born.

As most of you know, Jane Austen was a wonderful author who penned some of the most romantic stories of all time in pure tastefulness. This site is dedicated to her honor and ability to tell pure romance. It welcomes authors and readers of like-minded hearts looking for something different.

Who Are the Janes?

The Janes of Romance are published and aspiring authors who stay true to romance stories filled with heart and not heat.

Our site was created to bring reader and authors together, while promoting romance novels tasteful in content and cover.

All authors are welcome - both traditional and self-published. If you are an aspiring author with a book in progress, join us and build a platform before release.

Become one of our Janes and enjoy a place to showcase and promote your work in a different environment.

Feel free to visit our site and look around: The Janes of Romance If you like the idea, we'd appreciate you spreading the word. If you're a reader, with a heart of Jane, feel free to use our badge below.

It's Released!

My book is officially for sale at Xlibris Corporation. After distribution, you'll be able to find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and 2,200 other online retailers within the next 30-60 days.

Here are a few kind pre-release reviews. I promise you, I didn't pay them a penny to say these things!

"I'm fighting back tears. You are an amazing writer and words cannot adequately express how talented I think you are. You have a gift and I am so thankful that you shared the manuscript with me. I am forever touched."

"WHAT A GREAT READ! I think this book was a great romance, and a tasteful one with a truly historical flavor. Thanks for letting me edit it!"

"Just finished reading a draft of my friend's first novel: The Price of Innocence. I didn't get anything done today because I could not put it down. She is so talented. I can't wait to buy my own copy once she gets it published."

"I really love your book. I look forward to the sequel. I'm excited to know as to what will happen between Robert and his son. I'm thrilled to know (deleted spoiler!).... I also love the cover image. It really fits the story. Congratulations in advance." A. Aborque, Xlibris Rep.

Now that it's said and done, whew! On to book two - The Price of Deception. My brain is already plotting, along with my heart wildly beating in my chest. Thanks to all for walking this journey with me.

Hugs,
Vicki

In Production

Wow, what a weekend! I finalized the manuscript and it's in the hands of Xlibris for the cover, galley proof, and final steps to print. Gosh, I'm exhausted! Self-publishing is work, let me tell you. I think it deserves more kudos than the industry gives, frankly.

If you're a perfectionist, like myself, and care about quality, you want to make a good impression. As a self-published author, the task weighs entirely on my shoulders. I don't have a million dollar publishing house behind me to make my writing look good. Frankly, I'm on a mission to prove decent work and a good story can be offered through "vanity" and still sell.

This morning I got up early, cleaned the last bit of the manuscript, checked my author bio, short book bio, long book description, dedication, and reviewed my artwork. Then I packed them all up in multiple emails and shipped them to my representative. A few hours later, I received a call from her, and she was excited as this crazy author. I was driving down the road when the phone call came in, so like a good citizen I pulled over. Frankly, I didn't want to risk an accident. It was too pumped to talk and drive!

She loved the cover, gave me some tips on interior design, and off it went to production. Within the next week, I will have my first galley proof.

It's only taken me 40 years to get here. That's right 40 years of dreaming, screaming, and scheming. I finally made it. My first fiction novel. My friends at work who have read it already are crying SEQUEL now! Gosh, I have no idea where to go from here, but if this keeps up, I guess I'll need to write one.

Thanks to everyone who has read my blog and walked my journey with me. I also sent off the manuscript via "snail mail" to the chief editor who requested to read the book. It will be four to six months before that answer comes back, but in the meantime, my book will be ready to buy within the next month.

What will I do if they offer to buy it? Frankly, I don't know. If they plan on butchering my book, I just may say no. Should they ask for erotic sex scenes, I will say no. I've written a tasteful, historical fiction novel, and I intend to keep it that way.

In the meantime - How sweet it is!!!!!

CHEERS!!!
Vicki

Guinea Pigs and Editors

I have four Guinea Pigs – Jenny, Natasha, Loretta, and Annie. They are a wide variety of readers I am using as test subjects before I send off my book. What a hoot!

Jenny was the first to devour my book. She’s a typical romance reader, who is a starry-eyed weeper overly in love with Collin Firth-type characters. Though she was a bit disappointed that my Englishman frequented a brothel, she did fall in love and is begging for a sequel NOW! Test subject one – approved manuscript.

Natasha is currently in the middle of the book. She has no qualms reading about a struggling woman faced with difficult decisions. Her feedback has been positive, and she really loves the story. Test subject two – approval in progress.

Loretta and Annie heard all the buzz over my manuscript out to Jenny and Natasha, and felt slighted they weren't in the loop. I’ve since printed it off for their eager eyes and they are devouring it as well giving me great kudos.

Yesterday, my book came back from line and copy editing. Here is what she said, “WHAT A GREAT READ!” (And she did capitalize that statement.) Whoa! Didn’t expect that, but then she added, “I think this book was a great romance, and a tasteful one with a truly historical flavor. Thanks for letting me edit it!” Those few words brought a huge smile to my face. I guess I’m not as bad as I thought.

Now, I’m frantically sitting in front of the computer accepting suggested changes, reading it through once more, and finalizing the manuscript to send off to Xlibris. I’ll do one more read after that, and if there’ s a typo left, too bad! Ugh, I’m going cross-eyed.

Afterward, I’ll print it out and ship it off to Kensington Publishers for fun.

This book has physically drained me, caused me to shed copious amounts of tears, given me joy, and excited my already irregular heartbeat. However, this is my dream! My first fiction novel, and I’m not going to let anyone or anything rain on my parade. This is my finest hour in life – bet on it!

Cheers,
Vicki

Book Trailer

I hope you like my book trailer. Poured my heart into this story. Thanks to PhotoShop and their slide presentation feature, trailers are easy to make and you don't need to pay a fortune to have someone do it for you. The music was purchased from iStockPhoto, and the interior pictures are public domain.

Testing the Waters

Well, I've been sorely judged by a few that I'm not good enough as a writer, because I haven't been accepted by a traditional publisher. Out of a fluke, I actually emailed a query the other day to a pretty solid publishing company, who prints historical romances.

To my surprise, they answered me the following day (even though they said it takes weeks to get responses) and have requested to see my full manuscript of The Price of Innocence. I was told not to expect an answer for 3-4 months after receipt whether they are interested in publishing.

Okay, so my toe is dipped in the water. As soon as my nifty editor sends my manuscript back, I'll print the tale off and send it snail mail, as requested. In the meantime, I will go ahead and self-publish the book first, and I have full rights to sell it to a publisher, if I choose to do so later.

Can a publisher give me a better deal? Will their name on the back sell more books? Will I make more money? Will I finally receive the respect from fellow authors, because I've published the traditional route?

My biggest fear is they will take my tastefully written novel and turn it into something I don't wish it to represent. Franky, I believe you can write something tasteful, even if it includes scenes in a brothel, without being crass or explicit. Will they want it to sell sex or will they want it to tell my story? That's the key.

After reading the going royalty rate for this fairly well-known publisher, I can tell you with honestly my royalties are higher if I self-publish. The critics say, ah, but you've paid to publish! Frankly, it was hardly enough to blink and eye and it's tax deductible.

The turnaround time to publication with Xlibris averages three months. By January, my book will be available worldwide. If the publisher accepts my manuscript in the next four months, it will get to print anywhere from eight to eighteen months! I don't see the advantage here! Am I missing something folks?

All I can do is sigh. Sigh... There I did it.

I will let you know in the next four months if I receive a rejection letter or an offer. In the meantime, my book will be available on Amazon before they let me know the outcome, and I will be happy that I get to keep the story intact with its purpose and intent. I'm not out to make a publisher rich by selling sex. I'm out to touch hearts by penning a story.

Cheers!
Vicki

Second Round Of Edits

Well, it's finished. 80,000 plus words, 254 pages, and I'm doing my second round of edits. The first 70 pages - six chapters is out for professional editing right now.

However, this morning over my bowl of Cheerios, I did a bit of rethinking to increase the conflict at the end, so a few more tweaks are required. Why do our muses come at the strangest times? Mine seems to show up in the car, on a walk, over food, laying in bed, which is usually anywhere where I'm not near my computer or a pen! I've learned to keep a pen laying around everywhere I go these days and pieces of paper to jot down notes. You can be assured, as soon as I turn my computer off, the voices start speaking. LOL

Feels really surreal getting this far. It feels good actually. I've proven a few wrong that I do have it in me to finish a novel, and I've already started my second. I'm still not convinced after a year of listening to the "traditional route" versus the "self-published" route that I've made a horrible mistake in my choice. The more I speak with other authors from both sides of the fence, the more I'm convinced the face of publishing is changing and I'm just rolling with the tide.

Do I like my book? Funny you should ask. The idea was born during a time when I fooled around with roleplay, but I've changed the story quite a bit. I stared it a year ago June, and now it's October over a year later. I've loved it, hated it, got bored with it, been excited over it, worried about it, neglected it, and just about everything else possible. It's almost like a child or a husband....takes a lot out of you.

Well, I will keep you advised as I get closer to publication. I'm shooting for a January 2010 release, which means I need to get my rear in gear and get it to the publisher in the next month or two. Wish me luck! My 60th Birthday is January 25, and I can't think of a better release date frankly.

Cheerfully yours,
Vicki

PS...My only problem right now is a suitable cover and writing a synopsis. I guess I'll agonize over that later.

Recommended Interview

Most of you may not know, but besides writing I host an Internet Talk Radio Show entitled, "All Things Phantom."

This past week we had an author as our guest, who I highly admire and respect. Her insight into the changing publishing industry is wonderful.

Anstance Tamplin is her pen name for her work, "My Phantom: The Memoirs of Christine Daae," which is a book she actually self-published. However, she is not a new author. She has written seven other novels in her career that were published the traditional method and translated around the world.

If you get a chance, I encourage you to listen to her advice and wonderful insight into the publishing industry. She is a seasoned professional and wonderful mentor.

Anstance Tamplin on BlogTalkRadio