Today we have fellow RWA Paranormal member, our lady in red Denise Rossetti as my special guest on Eleni-fest. Denise writes hawwt erotic fantasy romances. Thief of Light, the second book of her Four-Sided Pentacle series is due out next month.
Welcome Denise to Eleni’s Taverna and Eleni-fest!
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Thief of Light! Can you tell us a little about this book?
My pleasure! First of all I should say that although this is the second in the Four-Sided Pentacle series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Here’s bit more about it - Some desires are impossible to resist...
In the elegant, subtropical city of Caracole, Erik the Golden is widely known as irresistible; his Voice an instrument of incredible pleasure, the stroke of velvet on bare skin. But the Voice is a curse as much as a blessing, for once Erik used it to steal a soul, and now he must pay.
Prue McGuire is the business manager for the beautiful courtesans of the Garden of Nocturnal Delights. She deals in numbers, not Magick, and when Erik turns his charms in her direction, she sees only vanity, not a golden gift. If Erik cannot use his power to win Prue's heart, how can he truly possess her? How is it she can resist what others can't? He’s baffled, then fascinated. She's either a torment devised by the gods to drive him mad — or Erik's last hope of salvation.
And all the while, a far darker power corrupts the foundations of Caracole - the Necromancer, who feasts on souls. When the Necromancer's hired assassin kidnaps Prue, Erik must harness his air Magick to recover the woman he has come to love more than life itself...
The cover is fantastic with a very hunky blonde man. Is this how you pictured Erik? Do you get much say in the input of the covers of your books? All of them are amazing but I’m particularly partial to Gift of the Goddess (aka The Mr Gorgeous book) and The Flame & the Shadow.
Writers get very little say in their book covers, and I’m no exception. But I’ve been incredibly lucky. I must have been positively saintly in a former life. *grin* I use Mr Gorgeous from Gift of the Goddess as my screensaver to this very day. Not only is he, well, gorgeous, but I’m beyond grateful for that cover. I was a newbie and it gave me the most wonderful start. Put your coffee down first and go to http://www.deniserossetti.com/gift.html Click the cover for a larger version. (You can read the first chapter too.)
As for The Flame and the Shadow and Thief of Light, I was very fortunate. The publisher engaged a well-known cover artist named James Griffin, and I was able to send him the first three chapters of each book. Not only did he actually read my words, he created images of Cenda and Erik almost exactly like the ones I had in my head. Erik has Viking ancestry, way back, as you can probably tell. *smile* What’s more, Jim told me that the cover model is real. Just think, he’s walking around somewhere, stepping over the women who throw themselves at his feet. *sigh*(EK: LOL!)
Jim’s uncanny. He was also obliging enough to visit my blog for an interview in which he explained his process, step by step, and answered questions. It’s fascinating stuff. Jim has done so many fantastic covers, including those of Christine Wells. I bet you own at least one!
Your books should have the label ‘hawwt hawwt hawwt’ on them. You come up with very interesting erotic scenes – I mean you give new meaning to the term ‘me and my shadow’ in The Flame and the Shadow (R rating ). How do you tackle these scenes while at the same time conveying so much about the characters?
I’m always conscious that sex scenes are not a literary “get out of jail” card for shallow characterisation or lazy writing in general. Who cares what cardboard cutout people do to each other? In bed, or out of it.
I try to make each love scene, each sex scene, pivotal to character development in some way. What’s done and not done, said and not said, it’s all revealing. I’ve always enjoyed writing about sex, for any number of reasons. It’s not only a turn-on, but the sexual act can be used as a lens to focus on raw emotion. The reader sees the characters naked and not only physically. All the masks are stripped away and the soul is bared, whether the character knows it or not. It’s enormously powerful.
Whether I’m writing a chaste peck on the cheek or a full-on orgy is immaterial, I strive for deep Point of View. I want the reader to experience events in the most vivid way possible - via the character’s emotions as well as their physical senses. What’s going on inside people’s heads are more important than events outside. After all, don’t they say the most important erogenous zone is the one the between the ears?
Erotic romance is popular with readers because the relationship between the hero and heroine gives the sex meaning, and therefore greater intensity. Page after page of docking procedure leaves me cold. If the sex isn’t an integral part of character development, it’s not erotic romance, just gratuitous copulation.
You have two more books in the Four-Sided Pentacle series – do you have release dates for these? Are you working on anything else right now? And what’s in the near future for Denise Rossetti?
I’m putting the finishing touches to the proposal for Book #3 right now. The hero is the swordmaster, Walker, an earth shaman who appears in Thief of Light as a secondary character. He’s all dark and brooding and deadly.
His heroine may well be the most unusual character I’ve ever written. Deprived of touch and affection from babyhood, she has never learned about normal human relationships, so she’s essentially ‘empty’. She cannot interpret facial expressions and body language, has no idea of what empathy means, let alone sympathy, and little understanding of conventional morality. Yet she has a childlike innocence and curiosity that’s extraordinarily endearing. Put her together with the deeply reserved Walker and the sparks are going to fly. I can’t wait to dig in! All being well, it’s slated for release about this time next year.
As for Book #4, I have the basic concept, but I’m waiting for the Muse to come to the party. No doubt she’ll zoom in at the last possible minute.
The Laced with Desire anthology (Jaci Burton, Jasmine Haynes, Joey W. Hill and myself) will be released in February next year. My novella, Rhio’s Dancer, follows chronologically after Thief of Light, though it can be read as a stand-alone. It’s the story of Rhiomard, the gruff Guard who appears as a secondary character in Rubies and Black Lace (Unlaced anthology) and Thief of Light.
I’ve just completed the final page proofs. Here’s a little bit about it –
Rhio’s a battle-scarred veteran of both love and war, a soldier right down to his bootstraps. But he’s never met a woman as fierce, as fascinating—as dangerous--as Dancer. And she’s up to her pretty neck in political intrigue. She just might kill him before they’re through, but what a glorious way to go!
In between all this, I’m doing a proposal for the next in my Phoenix Rising Series for my long-suffering Ellora’s Cave editor.
I also have an entire Kaminski Family story in my head kicking and screaming to get out. *sigh* Shame about the day job. As always, I write a monthly newsletter. Contests, giveaways, updates – and a very naughty, very silly serial, Rackety Kate and the Pirates. Yo-ho-ho! I like to be funny on occasion and Rackety Kate is my light relief. Readers get to choose what happens next. My newsletter folk are very special to me, like a worldwide family. They hear everything first. Everyone is welcome!
(EK: To subscribe to the newsletter click here.)
Love the aspect of both technology and science in The Flame & the Shadow. How do you tackle world building and research?
I get quite a few compliments on my worldbuilding, which is wonderful for my fragile writer’s ego. So thanks for that! On the other hand, it just, um, happens as I go along, like a movie unrolling in my head. When I go walking with My Beloved and the dog, I often lose track of the conversation. He’ll chuckle and ask, “What world are you on now?” because I sure ain’t on this one, Dorothy!
Um, would you believe I do almost no research? Which is weird, because research is an essential part of my day job. I’m too impatient to get to the good bit, the story. It’s one of the reasons I write fantasy – as long as I’m consistent, I can build a whole universe with nothing but my imagination and a keyboard.
That said, I do like to dabble and I’ve found some fascinating facts. For example, did you know that in order for a human being to be able to use wings to fly, his or her chest would have to be six feet thick with muscle? It’s plain physics, but when I wrote Tailspin, I simply ignored that inconvenient fact and created two drop-dead gorgeous heroes with magnificent wings and wicked feathery tails. Gotta love fantasy! You can meet them here.
I’ve also done some reading about Near Death Experiences (NDEs) for the Four-Sided Pentacle series. What’s fascinating is the consistency of the reports – the sensation of hovering near the ceiling, the bright tunnel, the presence of another loving Being. I also keep one of those “work out your best colours” books handy, so I can dress my characters in the right colours. I only know what suits me!(EK: red, definitely. Check out Denise's hawt red shoes!)
Overall, my resources are pretty simple. People are good. I’ll ask anyone almost anything. Information books written for kids are excellent because they have simple explanations and clear illustrations. Naturally, I’m a great believer in libraries. And, of course, the Internet.
You’re a wife, mum, work part-time, and are a writer. You also have a very bubbly personality – do you think you will ever stop your part-time work? How do you fit it all in? Do you have a set routine?
Oh, how I wish I actually had a routine – any routine! *sigh* I often say I'm the Queen of Procrastination ruling over the Land of Clutter. I’ve given up trying to tidy my desk before I begin. I’d never get anything written.
When I have a writing day, I fluff around until lunchtime at least, doing emails, surfing and stuff. I don't even know what it is that I do, except waste time. I usually start writing after lunch. I have a study and from the desk I look straight out the window in the canopy of a big old Poinciana tree, but I often take the laptop into the bedroom. I sit on the bed with one of those tray table things over my legs. The dog lies on the floor and the cat lies on me. Everyone's happy.
Funnily enough, despite the fact that I'm so careless with physical objects, I'm a very slow, very deliberate writer. I don't often get carried away and have words simply flow out of my fingers. I have to dig for every single one, which means I need to concentrate. I have a timer on the computer and I turn it for 45 minutes. When it goes off, I'm allowed to check my email. (Did I say I need a 12 step program?) It's amazing how little I can write in that time. Around 5pm I have this incredible desire to doze off, but the cat comes and head-butts me until I fix his dinner. The dog just grumbles. So I yawn and go on. By 8pm, I'm firing on all cylinders and if I'm on a roll, sometimes I go 'til after midnight.
On work days, I get up and go to work. I work and then I come home again. Not very interesting. Our kids are pretty well grown-up. My Beloved cooks the evening meal. I do the clean-up. And no, he’s mine.
I often think about giving up my day job, but it provides a lovely balance for me. As you pointed out so tactfully, Eleni, I’m an extroverted person – or did you just mean LOUD? Heh heh. I’m not sure how I’d cope with writing on a full-time basis. It’s such a solitary activity and I definitely need people. I’d wither up and die on a desert island, no matter how many books I took with me.(EK: LOL! No bubbly/extroverted is different to loud, believe me!)
What do you love about being a writer?
So many things! The wonderful friends I’ve made for a start. Romance writers are a real community, supportive, generous – and oh-so-talkative! I love it!
Dorothy Parker said she hated writing, but loved having written. Me too. There are times I actually enjoy re-reading my own work, especially after the passage of time. Occasionally, I’m even impressed. I like that I get to play god(ess) in my own world. If I want to throw someone off a cliff, so be it. Whoosh! Scream! Kind of goes to my head, you know?
I truly adore receiving fanmail. It never ceases to thrill me that a complete stranger should take the time out their busy day to tell me I made them sigh or cry or jump their husband’s bones. It’s even better if I’ve helped them forget their troubles for a while.
And while I’ll never make a fortune out of it, it’s been delightful to have enough money to travel last year to the US and Canada and to buy shiny things. I have a bowerbird’s fascination for jewellery and geeky gadgets.
What was it like winning the Passionate Plume Award for Tailspin? And then another win with Strongman in the following year?!
For those who don’t know, the Passionate Plume Awards are sponsored by Passionate Ink, the RWA chapter for erotic romance writers. I was thrilled to bits to even be a finalist with Tailspin. As you can imagine, the competition is very keen. I was even more delighted to be at RWA Nationals in San Francisco when my name was called. The prize is a tiny silver ink pot and quill, which I wear on my charm bracelet.
When Strongman was announced as a finalist I was astonished. Not only was my second year, but Strongman is a male/male romance and the Passionate Plume contest is an open field. When it won the fantasy category, I was absolutely floored. I think this is a first. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be at the award ceremony, but I’m waiting impatiently for my second silver charm!
What is the reality of being a published author – for those of us still pre-published?
Honestly? It can be pretty stressful at times. I don’t deal well with uninformed criticism or deadlines and find it difficult to be creative under pressure. Publishing is big business. There’s very little about it that is actually under a writer’s direct control. I do recognize that and try not to fret.
I make an effort to concentrate on what I am able to do – which is to write the best books I possibly can. I write first and foremost for my most committed reader – myself. Because not everyone will like what I do. I relish every single fanmail I receive, reply graciously and keep them in a special ‘gloat’ file.
Reviews, good, bad and indifferent, have very little influence on how well you sell. I celebrate the good ones and forget the rest. Promotion is demanding too, and I wish I were better at it. Hence this interview! LOL
How long does it take you to write one of your books?
Nine months, give or take, for a full length novel - just like having a baby. Heh heh. I’m sure I should be able to write faster, but the Muse and I need time to mull.
I’ve heard you say you have love for words and I believe this love is seen through the poetic language in your books. How important is it to you to use the right word?
Incredibly, crucially, essentially, unbelievably important.
That important enough? LOL
Seriously, it’s worth devoting time to your choice of words, especially verbs. Verbs are the most powerful weapons in your arsenal. For example, consider all the different ways a human can move from Point A to Point B using their legs. Yes, of course, they can walk, but they can also trudge, saunter, stalk, trot, hurtle, slither and so on ad infinitum. Think of the unconscious associations you make with the verb slither. Having Joe slither up to Mary is nothing like having him trudge to her side.
I also fall in love with certain words, not that they’re necessarily suitable for a romance. ;-) I’m particularly fond of discombobulate and transmogrify at the moment.
Love the monthly story on your blog/newsletter....and giving the readers a poll to vote in which directions the story goes. How did this all come about? How hard is it to do once a month?
Do you know you’re the first person to ask that? Yes, it is difficult because it’s a monthly deadline and I loathe deadlines. I know it’s only for fun and I don’t edit or overthink it, but I don’t want anything I write to be rubbish so I have to concentrate. I haven’t missed a newsletter yet, but I’m often late. (I’m up to Number 41 – wow!) In another way though, writing Rackety Kate is relaxing because I have no clue which way the story will go which relieves me of the necessity to plot. Pantser’s paradise! *grin* I can be funny if I feel like it as well. In fact, I make myself the butt of my own jokes which amuses me no end.
It started because there was a lead-up time of five months to the publication of Gift of the Goddess, but I’d been told it would be much shorter so I in great excitement, I launched a newsletter. Hmm. And having launched the boat I couldn’t scuttle it straightaway, now could I? So I started the story and the monthly vote. Like Choose Your Own Adventure, but with a very naughty twist!
Older chapters go up on my website and those pages are among the most popular so it certainly attracts readers. The jury is still out on the Return on Investment though.
Everyone is welcome, remember!
Thanks Denise for joining us at the fest! Denise has kindly offered a copy of a title from her backlist as a give away.
For your chance to win, comment below. You must be 18 and over to enter. Comments will be open until 2nd November.Comments for the prize has now closed. Congratulations Mitz!
Good luck and thanks Denise for your generosity!
Remember to check out Denise’s website, her books, her blog, and newsgroup.
Remember to check out Denise’s website, her books, her blog, and newsgroup.
Denise can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
~yia~
44 comments:
Hi Denise!
I love the sound of your newest heroine and look forward to reading her. As soon as you described her background I thought of orangutans...very few facial expressions because they don't need/use them. No giveaways, no cues.... Infuriating! Especially in a world as rich as yours....
Anyway, just wanted to say 'great post' and a great perspective on working p/time to maintain social connections. Otherwise we might all lose our facial expressions :)
Hi Eleni & Denise :)
This was an excellent indepth interview. I loved learning more about Denise.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
Hi, Denise, what inspired you to write a m/m romance with STRONGMAN? Do you have others planned or is it a one off?
I "discovered" you during conference this year and haven't looked back - I've devoured all your print books , can't get them on my shelves fast enough :-)
If you haven't read Denise Rossetti then what are you waiting for?
Great interview! I loved learning more about you and your writing process.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Hi Denise and Eleni,
Denise you have been blessed by the cover gods - all your covers are gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing some of your writing process with us. Must be tough juggling different publishers, deadlines and anthologies.
Hi Denise & Eleni. Another great interview & you got the red shoes in!
Denise was very interesting to read about your process & book creating. I love learning how others go about the creation of their stories (& the where/how of it all). Was also interesting to read of someone else who wonders about the social quiet on leaving the work world (my other half has suggested doing a volunteer type gig for myself - get me out & about etc).
Your covers have been awesome & the artwork amazing.
Hi Denise!
Mega-congrats on your fabbo career, which is going nice and strong! I loved Goddess so much I went out and bought my own hardcopy, but keep forgetting to bring it with me for you to sign :-)
Nikki, interesting you thought of orangutans! My first thought was "oh my goodness, she's writing an Asperger heroine!" Aspies lack many social skills, are very logical and often off-the-charts smart (Einstein was one!) can't read facial expressions or body language and generally find the world with its contrary words-versus-actions very frustrating. Depending on their level of ASD, they can be taught a lot of it but they never quite understand 'why' (which is extremely important to them!)
Sorry, got off on a tangent - my boy is ASD and it's such a fascinating (and challenging!) topic...
Hi Denise,
I enjoyed the interview so much. It's great to know another new Author for me.
Uniquas at ymail dot com
Hi Denise and Eleni!
What a great interview! I can't wait to track down your books and have a read (and Eleni will tell you these are not my normal type) but they sound fantastic... and I love the sound of the heroine in your upcoming book ... I, too, feel abit out of step with the rest of the world at times. And I adore your cover art. How lucky are you to have an artist who can get in your head (so to speak) so completely. Thank you again ladies.
Alison
Hi everyone! Thanks for making Denise welcome in the taverna!
Renovations mean no power right now. Thank goodness for iPhone. Let's see how long this battery lasts!
Nikki - I'm fascinated by Denise's next heroine too. didn't know that about orangs. Aren't they the primate that washed potatoes in the sea to salten them up so very logical. My tangent ;)
RK - Denise is indeed a fascinating person and a hoot to be around.
Kylie - so glad you discovered Denise's work at the conference.
Joder - I'm always fascinated by reading about other writer's processes too.
Anna - so true about the cover gods (all hail). And the juggling act is indeed impressive.
Nicky - heehee - yes I had to sneak those rocking shoes somewhere! And volunteering sounds like a way to go - it's on your terms too.
Paula - oooh a hard copy of Mr Gorgeous! Noice!! Thanks for letting us know about Aspergers. I can imagine it being both interesting & challenging.
Mariska - glad to have introduced you to a new to you author!
Alison - yay on wanting to read Denise's work! I know what you mean about feeling out of step- I went to the shopping centre quickly yesterday and my brain & mouth wouldn't cooperate!
Hi Nikki!
Orangutans you say? Well, that's food for thought. But I guess other orangutans know what their best mates are on about - otherwise there wouldn't be any little orange hairy babies, would there? LOL
And yes, sometimes I think half writing and half day job is the way to go. Other times, I the day job is a king size pain in the rear. Like today, when I have to go soon. Would much rather play in Eleni's taverna. *sigh*
Hi there, RK, good to meet you too! Eleni's done a brilliant job, like she always does. I love a woman who's thorough. Heh heh. Look at all the great images she went and got and the way she laid it all out. Great stuff!
Hi there, Kylie!
Why did I write Strongman? Griff and Fort's story was just something I had to get off my chest. I felt positively driven and even now, long afterward, those two really linger in my mind.
As you know, (seeing you've read all my print books, you sweetheart, you) I've written menages, with one woman and two men. I couldn't imagine how such a three-way relationship had a chance of working for real unless the men were in love with each other too. Strongman was an extension of that idea and something I really wanted to explore.
Writing about the emotional relationship between two men was fascinating and the physical stuff pushes all my hot buttons. And yes, I do know m/m is not for everyone.
I'd love to write another, but it's on the back-burner at the moment. Will be interesting to see how NY handles this new subgenre, because it's exploding in Ebook Land.
How inconsiderate of the day job Denise...don't they know there is partying in the taverna? LOL! Hope you have a good day.
And thanks for the compliment re setting out the blog. I mean how could I not showcase your covers (Mr Viking, & Mr Gorgeous!!) and those wonderful red shoes :)) Yes, I may have stopped being a librarian but it still lingers in my blood (getting info) ;))
I've noticed on e-book sites how much the m/m market has exploded. Might take awhile for NY to catch on though.
Hi Joder! Great to meet you int he taverna and thanks for dropping by. :-)
Hi there, Anna!
Oh yes, the Cover Gods have been good to me. I really appreciate it.
The novellas I don't find so hard, though short is not my natural tendency. I think maybe it's good for me to be forced to compress a story. I tend to overcomplicate things sometimes!
I've read a couple but I gotta get my hands on more of these books. Walker's heroine sounds intriguing.
Gift of the Goddess was the very first erotic romance I ever read. It left a big impression on me!!!! And Mr Gorgeous (postcard, not the real thing *sigh*) is stuck on the edge of my bookcase for inspiration!
Love your gorgeous Berkley covers, Denise, and can't wait to read The Flame and the Shadow!
Paula - yes, I do too - I don't have the Kaminski Family stories at all :(
Christina - what a debut to erotic romance with Mr Gorgeous to boot. ;))
Best of luck with the release of 'Thief of Light' Denise.
I'm really looking forward to reading it and I'm sure it will be successful.
I just wish the "Laced" anthologies were available as ebooks in Australia. The US Canada geographic restriction is very frustrating.
Congrats on a great interview too Eleni.
Hi Nicky,
Ah yes, the red hooker heels reign supreme! *grin* *ouch!*
The volunteer idea is a great one. I can't imagine doing nothing BUT write, I'd go a bit nuts I think. One point about volunteering that people tend to forget is that you need to have a bit of money yourself to be able to do it.
Amber - yes, restrictions can be hard to get what you want in cyberspace.
Denise - good point about volunteering.
And yes, my feet are getting blisters just thinking about those shoes!!
Hi Denise and Eleni
Fab interview! It's great to read about your writing day, Denise. I really identify with that saying by Dorothy Parker, too, about "loving having written"! One of the hardest things in the world is to make myself sit down at blank piece of paper - but seeing a stack of paper covered in words after I have done some work is just such a wonderful feeling.
I love your book covers - the art departments have done you proud. I'm looking forward to the next stories in your Four-sided Pentacle series.
:)
Sharon
I nearly missed you Denise!!
So nice to hear someone admit that every word is dragged out of them, that you're not typing a dozen pages a day! Clearly though, the care you've taken is reflected in your writing =)
Sharon - yes a blank screen or paper can be quite intimidating.
Mel - agree about that care. It really shines through.
Hi Paula,
Thanks for the compliments on Gift of the Goddess, you lovely woman. Send me your snail mail and I'll post you a signed bookplate.
Actually...very long pause...I am trying to write a heroine with something very like Asperger's. Of course, she will "recover" as she learns about life and love with her dark n brooding hero. I wouldn't presume to write a real Asperger's character because I don't know enough about it, though I've been doing some reading. I'm also very interested in facial recognition science, the sort of thing in Tell Me Lies, though they make it look like magic there.
It's a fascinating topic, how we humans communicate non-verbally.
Hi Mariska, Thanks for popping over. Great to meet you!
Hi Alison,
I'm honoured that you think my books might be worth a try. Let me know how you go, all feedback is welcome.
And yes, my poor heroine. I feel so bad for her, because she has an inkling of what's she's missing, butno clue how to get it. As if she lives inside a crystal bubble.
I'm going to enjoy making her happy! *grin*
Hullo Paula, I'm delighted to hear you've read something of mine. *smile* Hope you enjoyed them.
And yes, my new heroine is really interesting. I think she's a great idea. Remains to be seen if I can pull it off... *fingers crossed*
Hi Christina! Yes, I remember when I first started reading erotic romance and my eyes got wider and wider. *grin*
Delighted to be your 'defowerer' so to speak. Perhaps I should twirl my mo? Heh heh I'd love to know what you think of TFATS when you get around to it.
Hi there, Amber. Thanks for the good wishes. *smile*
Do you mean you can't get UNLACED on a Kindle? I must admit I haven't actually checked the formats properly. Naughty me.
Hi Sharon,
Ah, a fellow-sufferer from 'blank page syndrome'! Honestly, there are days it really gets me down. But deadlines are wonderfully motivating, I find!
Hope you're writing up a storm!
Hullo Mel, my firend.
Better late than never. Well, that's my motto. Because I'm always late.
And yes, I'm incredibly slow and painful. It takes me pretty well a whole day to write 1k. My alltime record was 3K and that took me literally from monring to midnight! I wish with all my heart I was faster. *sigh*
Hi Denise
The problem isn't the format. It's that sales of it as an ebook are limited to US and Canadian customers.
How do they know where you live? They look at your credit card. If I had a credit card with a US bank, I could buy books no problem that are geographically restricted*.
I have a feeling it's linked to protecting the sales of their hard copy version. The "big name" authors new books are often restricted in this way. ('Flame and the Shadow' and 'Thief of Light' are OK by the way.
*There is a way to get around it, so feel free to contact me anyone who wants to know.
To quote Fictionwise:
Why do publishers make these kinds of restrictions? Don't they want to sell eBooks?
The paper book business has always had the notion of being able to sell the rights of a particular book to different publishers by geographic region. Although we would tend to agree that this notion is outdated in the world of the Internet and eBooks, the fact is those contracts are still in force. If publishers do not take steps to ensure their eBook sales are adhering to the terms of those contracts, they are subject to legal action from whatever other publisher has licensed the rights to the eBook in other countries. Effectively, the publisher's hands are tied. As such, they require us to enforce these restrictions. If we did not obey the publisher's wishes, the publisher would withdraw the eBooks from sale on our web site for all customers.
Aren't you discriminating against certain countries by doing this?
We are legally bound to restrict sale of titles that have these limitations to the allowed countries. If we did not, we would lose the eBooks and nobody would be able to buy them from us. We don't like it any more than you do, believe us when we tell you that. It causes us not only to lose sales, but also to get complaints from customers, and we like to keep our customers happy.
Should I complain to the Publisher of the eBook?
No. The problem is that the rights to these eBooks is not held by a single publisher. In some countries it might be one publisher, in another country a completely different publisher. The publisher who gives us the right to sell the eBook only has the right to grant us that for customers who live in the geographic region their contract covers.
LOL Denise. I do remember blushing quite a lot during the first reading!!!
Denise, hey there..the topic of how humans communicate is fascinating.
LOL about being the one to 'deflower' Christina.
It's a blush worthy book Christina ;)) But what a book!
Great interview Denise & Eleni.
Denise your books are excellent, hot, can't put me down type of books I love it. Thief of Light sounds great gonna have to get a copy.
mistyt_labean@yahoo.com
Sorry to be running late here. Seems to be the story of my life lately. Anyway, great Q&A blog Denise & Eleni.
Of course I'm now wondering how many sex scenes I've used as 'get out of jail' or as the dekightful Rachel Bailey said to me once an easy 'conflict builder'. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of re-writing. LOL.
Thanks ladies.
Sandie
Mitz - Indeed it's hard to put one of Denise's books down. I had The Flame & The Shadow as a reward book - which meant I could only read a chapter once I had edited a chapter. As you can imagine it was hard to put down at the end of the chapter, but I did savour those pages.
Sandie - you do so much and you're not late. Still partying here in this room. Sometimes we just get those lightbulb moments of why something is not working in our MS. Happy re-writing.
Hi Eleni,
Am continuing to love the work you're doing with the Eleni-fest! You've had the BEST stuff...
Hi Denise,
I have Flame on my Fictionwise list, I heard Eleni talking about it and the deal was clinched by the stunning cover - you have very gorgeous book fronts!
A great post - I loved hearing about writers' processes. I'm hoping, as I read, that some of the writerly vibe rubs off on me... :)
Thanks, ladies, Emily.
Thanks Emily. I've been lucky that Aussie authors are so generous.
And yes, I remember blogging about Denise's Flame after I read it for my reward book.
I'm hoping the same thing (writerly vibe rubs off) - LOL!!
Thanks everyone for your comments and making Denise feel at home.
The winner is Mitz. Congratulations! you have the choice of a backlist title.
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