Sheryl Connelly of Eternal Press Marketing Interviewed

Okay so I have the Marketing Manager for Eternal Press Sheryl Connelly here in the Backseat sipping her dark chocolate hot cocoa with marshmallows and NOT sharing. Well not sharing the cocoa anyway.

Sheryl Connelly: lol. Sorry- it doesn't travel well along the fiber optic lines--- or so Google tells me.

Terry Kate: Excuses, excuses. I will have to make you dish some yummy details about Eternal Press instead. -Sigh-

SC: OOOOOOOO-- and do I have some dirt to shovel!

TK: Good I love to play in the mud so tell me what is going down inside the walls of your independent Press?

SC: Lots of stuff, but the latest being our merger with Damnation Books.

TK: Well damn what does that mean for you both?

SC: It means some pretty awesome stuff, actually. Damnation is a niche market publisher. Paranormal is their specialty. Eternal Press publishes all genres, but our Erotica/Fever lines are the most popular, so this aquisition allows us to focus on where we are really strong. Damnation also brings with them outlets for sales that we don't have and visa versa. And the marketing! Whew wee! Be able to combine efforts and budgets will really help us get a solid ROI for our advertising dollar.

TK: Oh are you each keeping your names or will it be Eternal Damnation Press!

SC: LOL  I kind of wondered that myself... Eternal Damnation... Catchy, isn't it? But no, for now we are keeping both company names and lines separate. Pooling resources if you will.

TK: might carry some unwanted connotations, attention grabbing though. Never know when the combo name might come in handy.

SC: Absolutely.

TK: So what is it a Marketing Manager does?

SC: Everything.... including the kitchen sink...lol My job is to not only promote our authors, but Eternal Press. To create a long term advertising/mareting strategy for the company that will help us grow and sustain that growth. The challenge in that is finding new and creative ways to promote in a down economy.

TK: Times and promotion is changing as with everything else. How much responsibility does the author have in promoting their book?

SC: At Eternal Press, we expect the author to be very involved in the promotion process. With 6-8 new release authors very month, the marketing department has a very small window of opportunity (30 days) to get the word out and generate excitement. When offering a contract to the author, we are very clear that they MUST be involved in the promotion of their work. If they choose not to, it will be a consideration in future submissions.

TK: I know authors hate to hear this, but they need to be promoting all year too. If the book is available PROMOTE.

SC: We have lots of opportunities that we offer and online workshops teaching them HOW. Some authors are very promo savvy Others aren't. We address the gammet so long as they are willing We are a two man marketing crew at EP... we'd LOVE to do it all, but it's impossible. So we've learned to work SMARTER, not harder. And encourage our authors to do the same.

TK: What is a smart way to promote?

SC: Social Networking It is low cost, yet effective when done the right way.

TK: Are you telling me to Twitter, Yahoo Group? Where do we go? Besides my fabulous site...

SC: I think the Yahoo group is dying. I've found more authors promoting there than readers... and an author NEEDS readers. I've heard the addage- "But author's also read." My answer: Sure they do, but when you are faced with the choice of buying a new book or buying promo materials for YOUR book, which one would you choose?

TK: So where do you see Eternal Press and Damnation going in 2010. What can readers look for from you guys?

SC: Over the next 12 months you'll see more print advertising from us.  RWA  RT We will probably go down to 4-6 new releases per month on the EP side too. Since Damnation will be handling the paranormal market.

TK: Well, I suppose you shared enough info to make up for the hot cocoa. Sheryl thank you so much for talking with me. Please learn more about Eternal Press at their SITE

Lyrical Press Publisher Renee Rocco Interviewed

Lyrical Press: I'm all ready. Give me your best (worst. lol).

TK: Oh do not tempt me. I was planning on being nice! So Renee Rocco Publisher of Lyrical Press, welcome to the Backseat.

Renee: Thank you for having me, Terry.

TK: Well since you invited me to do my worst we shall see if you are still saying that at the end of the interview. Here goes... There are a lot of Presses out there today, what makes Lyrical stand out?

Renee: Frank and I are extremely on-hand publishers. We are right there in the fire with our authors and editors. I’m also an author, so I know firsthand what a fellow writer is looking for in a publisher and I work every day to live up to their expectations.

TK: As an author what made you decide to start a publishing house?

Renee: Having been in the industry for years, I wanted to do my part to give other authors the opportunity I was given. The idea of helping other authors made everything else I was doing pale in comparison. Sitting where I am now, I know Frank and I couldn’t have made a better decision.

TK: Is it hard to give up time writing? Even if you are helping others.

Renee: Not really. I still write occasionally and that’s okay. I love Lyrical Press so much that when I’m not writing I rarely miss it.

TK: How are you working to get Lyrical out to readers? Is the competition out there for the same readers or is the interest in small presses that seems to be growing a benefit to all?

Renee: With all the fantastic publishers out there, large and small, readers have an abundance of books to choose from – and we’re all definitely fighting for the same readers for the most part. Lyrical’s authors have been amazing at helping put Lyrical on the map, so to speak. Their enthusiasm constantly feeds my own, especially on those overwhelming days. And we all have them! As a unit, we all put in the elbow grease to continue to grab the attention of readers. And most importantly, we all work hard to produce quality books, which is the best advertisement of all!

TK: What do you think will be the big sellers in 2010? What are you aquiring?

Renee: Erotica will always sell well digitally, so that’s the genre we’re going to focus the most on. Since Lyrical also favors paranormal stories, we’re actively seeking that genre with an erotica splash to them.

TK: Paranormal comes in many yummy lollipop flavors, what are your favorites?

Renee: Anything dark and gothic. I would absolutely love to see more of that type of story come to us.

TK: I hear whispers of Horror and Erotic Romance meeting, any thoughts?

Renee: I would stand up and cheer if we were lucky enough to nab that blend.

TK: Interesting. So what has been the most effective means of getting the word out about your books? Paranormal is a saturated market in many ways.

Renee: I would have to say word of mouth about our books. You can take out a million ads, advertise on every website – but if the quality of a publisher’s books is lacking readers won’t continue to buy. Of course, we did see a nice increase in sales each time we took out an ad in Romantic Times magazine. But again, if our books were lacking we’d have lost those readers after the first book they'd purchased. And we didn’t! Our sales have been steady since our first ad in that magazine.

TK: Quality is key.

Renee: Yes, it is.

TK: So one last question, perhaps the hardest one of all. If Lyrical Press was itself a lollipop what flavor would you be?

Renee: Cherry. Without a doubt.

TK: That is what a think Romance in the Backseat is too - bright, red, with a bit of bite.

Renee: Exactly.

TK: Renee thank you so much for your time and insight!

Renee Rocco: Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. It was so much fun talking with you, Terry.

Terry Kate: Oh you can join me in the Backseat any time! - Find out about more about Lyrical Press on their site - http://lyricalpress.com/

Hear more from Lyrical Press and its Authors this Week - Live Chat Room Wed. 8:30-10:30pm EST

Wild Horse Press Authors Tell Tales

Who knows a house better then the authors writing for it? So I got myself three of WHP's authors and here is what happened. TL Mitchell, Paige Warren, and Jessica Coulter-Smith sat down with me for a little girl talk.

Terry Kate: So what makes Wild Horse Press a good match for you and your books?

TL Mitchell: The professional quality of their work. The one on one attention you receive from the publisher and editor. As an author you have to feel confident in your publisher. WHP stands behind the work they publish and their authors. This is why I believe they are a good match for me and my books.

Jessica: I like the one on one attention I get from my editor. She makes it a pleasant experience regardless of what news she has to impart. I feel like there's a personal touch that doesn't exist at some of the larger companies.


TK: What attracted you guys initially to WHP?

Jessica: The fact that they were new ... I felt that a small, new company would be able to focus more attention on my books.

Paige Warren: I went to The Passionate Pen and looked over the information they had available. I went to probably 20 publisher sites. In the end, a friend recommended Wild Horse Press to me. As a new author, starting out with a small company held a lot of appeal. I felt like I would be treated more as a person than just another author.

TLM: Wild Horse Press came highly recommended to me by a friend. As a new author, I needed a company who would help guide me and work with me for a long term career in writing. I have found WHP not only to be helpful, but go the extra mile when it comes to their authors.

TK: As an author what do you feel the publisher's duty is?

TLM: First and far most, a publisher's main duty is provide quality work into book format. By quality, I mean specifically reviewing for content, providing stories of excellent quality to readers, providing excellent editing and over all quality of book covers, formats and printing. It is an added plus to have a publisher who is easy to contact and actually works with their authors. I have found all these qualities within the walls of Wild Horse Press.

TK: So new was not scary? What if they had gone under? What convinced you to take the chance with Wild Horse Publishing?

Jessica: If they had gone under, then the rights would have reverted to me and I would have sent my books elsewhere. New was actually exciting. I got a chance to grow with the company.

Paige: It definitely gave me a chance to grow with the company, but I figured they were taking just as much of a chance on me as I was with them. I was an unknown author who hadn't been previously published.

TK: Any final statements ladies?

Paige: I have been highly satisfied with my decision to publish with Wild Horse Press.  They've paid for advertising, paid for promo items, and have given examples of how to best market myself.  Overall, I've been very comfortable with them and haven't at any time felt they weren't giving me 110%.  If I had it all to do over again, I'd still choose them as my publisher.

TLM: I have been extremely happy with my choice to publish my new series with Wild Horse Press. The professional quality of their books is surprising for a new company. I look forward to working with them for many years to come. My only regret, I wish I could have found them when I first started looking for a publisher.

RITBS's Interview with Senior Editor Charlene Kyle-Davis - HERE

Don't miss RITBS's interview with WildHorse Press Publisher J.M. Smith - HERE

Interview with Senior Editor Charlene Kyle-Davis

Okay, I do not want to show favoritism to any one press but I do love to interview people from the Wild Horse Press, because instead of getting to say I am in the Backseat I get to say I am seated on the back or my buckskin mustang.  So much more fun and my trail riding partner today is the Senior Editor for the Wild Horse Press Charlene Kyle-Davis.   Lets jump on in then - what made you decide to become an editor?

Charlene: A very dear friend of mine was writing her first novel and asked me to review her manuscript.  So, one novel turned into two, three & four novels.

TK: What really catches your eye as an editor? What makes an author a good match for WHP?

CKD: I look for unique qualities and originality in a novel. That's what makes WHP so special to me. You never know what's going to come next.  I grew up reading all types of romance novels. The one pet peeve I have is when I can predict the events of a story. I found myself skipping ahead or starting in the middle of a book. WHP broke me of this habit.

TK: So predictable bad, interesting and unpredictable good?

CKD: Oh Yes!

TK: How much of your time is spent looking through new submissions and is there something that immediately catches your eye?

CKD: About 15% of my time. I am not the only editor that reviews our new submissions. Lately, most of our submissions have been from current authors. I first review for a solid and interesting story line with good character development.

TK: What themes interest you? I mean other then love - Romance has a love story.

CKD: Paranormal filled with action and suspense. If a bit of sci-fi is thrown in on the side, I'm great!  One of our newer novels, Dark of kNight has a hint of sci-fi.

TK: Why do you think the paranormal is so popular? Is it just a great escape?

CKD: Actually, paranormal has always been popular. So, I don't believe this is a trend. You're also talking with a woman who grew up in Sleepy Hollow. LOL. I'm not sure if it's the whole bad boy with a good side fixation that we can sometimes find ourselves looking for in our own lives. Or maybe it's more a thirst and our hearts desire for adventure.

Personally, the thrill of a new adventure is what drives me.   It is definitely an escape for so many.   I'm finding that so many people are under various kinds of stress, from health problems, relationship issues to financial burdens. Everyone needs a get away from time to time.

TK: I have heard rumors of the rise of Sci-fi, any thoughts?

CKD: The whole Sci-fi/Fantasy interest has been around for a few generations and started when we were just children.  Then we grow up and the fasination with Sci-fi and Fantasy remained.  So, supply and demand calls for a shift.  Look at some of the popular movies that have come out over the years. I've been a Sci-fi buff since I was a little girl, when I was introduced to "The Crystal Singer" by Anne McCaffrey.

TK: ah the good old days, reading fantasy - till I realized there just was not enough sex in them and I jumped ship.

CKD: FOFLOL   I love it! I know and now we can have both! Victory!

TK: Well Charlene - Thank you so much for the company and info on this
morning ride! It has been a blast!

Charlene: Thank you. Have a good day and I hope we will speak again soon.

Don't miss RITBS's interview with WildHorse Press Publisher J.M. Smith - HERE

Visit the Wild Horse Press Website to Find Out More

Feature on The Wild Horse Press with J.M. Smith

Terry Kate: Okay readers, writers, and anyone else interested. Today I get to invite you to get ON the back and take a seat in the saddle for my interview with the owner of Wild Horse Press, J.M. Smith. I know, horseback interviewing is new to me too, but no cars today.

J.M. Smith: :) Cute... as an avid horse fan, I love the intro. But then if I weren't crazy about horses I wouldn't have named my company Wild Horse Press.

TK: That is what my beautiful buckskin mustang and I thought. So tell us a little about Wild Horse Press. What is 2010 looking like for you guys?

WHP: 2010 is looking fantastic so far! :) We have submissions coming in weekly and already have releases set up through the end of March, as well as one or two parts of a series scheduled through the end of the year. We're actually celebrating our anniversary this month and are offering all of our titles at 30% off over at All Romance Ebooks for the two weeks of the month. (check it out here - http://allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=publisher&qString=Wild+Horse+Press)

 
Oh Sales! I love sales.So tell all the little shoppers out there what kind of books can we find being released with your house, and how many purchasing opportunities do we get a month?

WHP: Most of our titles are split between paranormal romance and contemporary romance, ranging from sweet to erotic. Our titles are available at All Romance Ebooks, Amazon Kindle, our website, and Coffee Time Romance. The sale, however, is only at All Romance Ebooks. We also offer titles in paperback through Amazon and Target websites. As part of our anniversary celebration, we're giving away a tote bag of goodies, including a 10% coupon for any of our paperback titles. To enter, all you need to do is email wildhorsepress@gmail.com with the subject ANNIVERSARY DRAWING with your info. A name will be drawn on January 15th.

TK: So how many titles do you put out a month?

WHP: We typically release two titles per month. Every now and then we schedule a 3rd title. It really just depends on how long the titles are. Since we release everything from short stories to full length novels, there may be times when we release two short stories and a full-length just because we had more time to edit them.

TK: How many editors do you have reading submissions?

WHP: We have two editors, but I also edit on occasion. If we have a lot of titles that need a little more work (rewrites), then I usually help out so the editors can focus on getting the books ready for publication.

 TK: You mentioned moving into the Young Adult or YA market can you share a little more about that?

WHP: We released two YA paranormal romances in 2009 from Linda Palmer, a previous Silhouette writer. In 2010 we will be adding another author, Jessica Coulter Smith, to our YA line with another paranormal romance. The YA books have done well and we look forward to future YA submissions for 2010.

TK: What are you doing to reach out to teen readers?

WHP: We have requested reviews from sites that lean more to the YA audience as well as joining group chats for that particular genre. As the YA area is new to us, we're kind of learning as we go. We also get input on our YA titles from YA readers to see which parts work for them and which ones don't.

TK: What is the appeal, I read YA myself and enjoy it greatly, why do you think so many are getting on the bandwagon?

   WHP: Well, for me, it allows me to relive my teen years without actually having to go through it all again. And I think alot of the adult books are starting to sound the same. There are a lot of new YA authors out there giving the genre a new feel to it. They also seem to do well blending humor, suspense, and teen angst all into one book.

TK: Not sure teen angst is something I miss myself.

WHP: :) Well, I wouldn't say I miss the angst part, but I guess it's nice to read it from another perspective. Not to mention it always turns out okay in the end. Plus I think a lot of teen readers can connect better with the today's YA books than they have in the past. Even teens who have claimed to not like reading are now flocking to the bookstores.

TK: Yes they do tend to run in herds. :)    J, I can not thank you enough for your time and the look at Wild Horse Publishing

WHP: Thank you for having me. :) It's been a pleasure chatting with you.

Visit The Wild Horse Press http://www.the-wild-horse-press.com/