Monday, November 16, 2015

Reading Romance: Making the Right Selections by Jacqueline Seewald


Although I’m a writer, I’m also a reader. In fact, I was a reader long before I became a writer. Reading inspired me to write. I would rather read fiction than nonfiction, although I do read both. I also enjoy reading and writing poetry. I love theatre and read and write plays and screenplays. My tastes are eclectic. But this blog isn’t about me, it’s about you the reader. So let’s get to it!

I’m discussing romance fiction. I admit it’s my secret love as a reader. I’m assuming you too like to read romance. Today more romance novels are being published than ever before. It’s a virtual deluge! At one time, if you were a fan of romance fiction, you borrowed hardcover or paperback books from the library. But libraries are feeling the pinch due to a poor economy and not buying as many titles as before. One solution is to go to a bookstore and buy paperbacks. But brick and mortar bookstores are going out of business. Part of this is due to online bookstores such as Amazon, now a giant in the industry. Digital books sold there and on other sites offer free and sale books constantly.

The big six of publishing have publicized and provided us with some outstanding romance writers such as Jane Ann Krentz, Nora Roberts, Mary Balogh, Robin Carr, Carla Neggers etc. Truthfully, it’s a long, long list including branded, certified writers that almost always provide good reads.

Currently, I am finding good reads among independent publishers. These are small presses that are particular about the books they accept. They provide professional editing and cover art. Their prices for digital and paperbacks are kept low in order to attract readers. The big problem is that the writers get virtually no promotion or publicity so that you the reader don’t get to know who they are or if their novels are a good fit for you. Self-published authors are in a similar predicament. Many of them write quality fiction, but finding a readership proves difficult.

With this in mind, I’m inviting writers to post in the comments to this blog. Tell readers a little about your current romance novel. Give us a brief blurb and a buy or site reference.
Readers, please discuss the type of romances you like to read.

I’ll get this started by mentioning two of my own romances.
DARK MOON RISING, adult Gothic paranormal romance from Luminosity, is available in All e-book formats and now in print. Check out the Five Star reviews on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/

YA romance STACY’S SONG has been released in a new rewritten re-edited digital edition by Clean Reads Press which published THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER. Both novels are selling at bargain prices.  
Excellent editorial reviews on Amazon:


Okay, now it’s your turn to communicate!



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20 comments:

  1. Susan CoryellNovember 16, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    Thanks for the opportunity to share. I like romance when combined with mystery or suspense only--pure romance is not my fave. My latest is a sequel, so I will post info for both cozy mystery/Southern Gothics---mystery, history, romance and ghosts: A RED, RED ROSE: http://amzn.com/B0145P8K16 and BENEATH THE STONES: http://amzn.com/B00UF1YM6M . Happy reading to all!

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  2. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 16, 2015 at 6:32 AM

    Thanks for posting, Susan. As it happens, I've read your novels and enjoyed them. You can see I both like to read and write Gothic romance. DARK MOON RISING, my latest adult romance, is also a mystery suspense thriller.

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  3. Sheila YorkNovember 16, 2015 at 8:08 AM

    Thanks! (First, the cover of Stacy's Song is amazing) My series blends whodunit with romance in the evolving relationship between my heroine, Lauren Atwill, a feisty female screenwriter in post-war Hollywood, and a tough PI named Peter Winslow. The latest is No Broken Hearts, praised by Charles Todd as "a must-read". Lauren finds a beautiful young actress brutally murdered. Then she discovers just how far the studio and even the police will go to cover up a crime if a famous star is implicated. Lauren risks her life and her career to find the real killer. In Hollywood, telling the truth is the most dangerous thing a woman can do. http://amzn.to/20WW4j7 www.sheilayork.com

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 16, 2015 at 1:17 PM

      I love the combination of mystery and romance, especially in glamorous post-war Hollywood!

      Delete
  4. LEBNovember 16, 2015 at 8:09 AM

    Thanks so much for this opportunity! My favorite genre to read and to write is historical romance. Preferably clean. Mine is a series loosely based on my parents' romance in the 1930's and 40's. The first, ONCE IN A WHILE, won the 2014 Lyra Independent Fiction Contest in the Romance Category. http://goo.gl/3z6HNc and the 2nd is THE BOLD VENTURE, which continues where the first leaves off. http://goo.gl/pLQ7qG Happy reading!

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 16, 2015 at 1:19 PM

      Sounds like a wonderful novel! I do love historical romance.

      Delete
  5. Pamela S ThibodeauxNovember 16, 2015 at 10:10 AM

    Thanks for the opportunity Jacqueline .. what a great post!

    My women's fiction novel The Visionary has three active romances in it although 'romance' is not the main plot line. The Visionary is set in my home town and deals with the healing process adult survivors of child abuse go through. It has received several great reviews. Find it at the following places:
    Amazon Hardcover http://amzn.to/n8as1b
    Paperback: http://amzn.to/1uROE2o
    Kindle http://amzn.to/1s23QYv
    Print @Create Space: http://bit.ly/1lNvyWD
    B&N Print: http://bit.ly/1h9Yhlw
    Nook http://bit.ly/1CyPt1c
    Smashwords http://bit.ly/167J9So
    Deeper Shopping http://bit.ly/19lw1Kc

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 16, 2015 at 1:20 PM

      I've read The Visionary and know it to be a fine novel.

      Delete
  6. LorraineNovember 16, 2015 at 1:36 PM

    Jacqueline, I love the cover of Stacy's Song...a perfect choice of color to accent the black and white background. :)
    As for my books, I write mostly romantic suspense, some clean some not. My most recent is this year's 99 cent novella, Once Upon a Christmas Wish. It's a sweet romance about second chance love and available on Amazon. myBook.to/OUACWish

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  7. LorraineNovember 16, 2015 at 1:38 PM

    BTW, I have 30 titles available and they're all listed on Amazon. Author.to/LN-AuthorpgAmazon
    Allora's Valentine is free this week. Warning: sexual content. myBook.to/Allora

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 16, 2015 at 2:54 PM

      Very impressive, Lorraine! And it's great that you have a perfect book for Christmas.

      Delete
    2. Mary F. Schoenecker WritesDecember 20, 2015 at 2:20 PM

      I mentioned Stacy's Song in a note included with my great granddaughter's Christmas gift. I hope she can find it on Amazon CA(they live in Canada). Your blog became a very interesting interview.

      Delete
  8. Sharon ErvinNovember 16, 2015 at 4:15 PM

    Promotions are both time-consuming and distracting. A writer friend years ago suggested that to keep one's mind on the task, I select a time to do marketing and promotions. Her habit was to "market on Mondays." Adopting that idea has helped me. I don't feel guilty about not writing on Monday because it is designated as the day I blog, promote, market unpublished manuscripts, etc.

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  9. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 17, 2015 at 2:32 AM

    Hi, Sharon,

    "Marketing on Monday" does seem like good advice.

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  10. AnonymousNovember 17, 2015 at 4:35 AM

    Jacqueline: I like romance when it is part of another genre: suspense, psychological thriller, police procedural, cozy mystery, gothic mystery. I love these types of novels, and they become more appealing if there is an undercurrent of love or the possibility or a relationship.

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  11. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 17, 2015 at 4:49 AM

    It happens that I agree with you. I've never written straight romance. I also like romance combined with mystery, suspense or thriller genre. With YA novels, I like those that have a coming of age theme as well as a romance. I think the reason we prefer this is because the novels are exciting and not predictable. Romance helps provide the reader with well-rounded characters, but too much of a good thing is just excess--like getting diabetes from overdoing sugar.

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  12. chrisNovember 18, 2015 at 5:59 PM

    Well, I kind of hate to admit it, but romance does rule the roost. I think it keeps the industry going strong and attracts more readers than any other genre. Although I'm not a romance write,r I have very strong romantic relationships in every one of my books. I love HEA endings, usually resulting in marriage, but not always. My latest book is called The Girl They Sold to the Moon, and I'm very proud of it.

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  13. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 19, 2015 at 4:33 AM

    Chris, first thanks for stopping by and commenting. I love the title of your novel. It's very intriguing.

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  14. UnknownNovember 19, 2015 at 7:25 AM

    I'm not a huge fan of romance, although I do occasionally get the urge to read one. I prefer male/male, and I also prefer romance with a strong secondary plot. I do like series romances, except when the author decides to hand the characters the "idiot ball" and have stupid conflict just to have conflict. I like characters with mature relationships. Yes, relationships have conflict, and that needs to be a part of the plot, but they need to advance the plot, not irritate and distract from it. *climbing down off soapbox now*

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldNovember 19, 2015 at 7:41 AM

      Hi Juli,

      I agree with you regarding conflict. A plot needs to be meaningful. Action just for the sake of it isn't acceptable. Conflict needs to be organic to the plot and that comes from well-developed characters that have different goals and values.

      Delete

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