Blog
Meet me in Seattle
This weekend, Greater Seattle RWA is hosting the Emerald City Writers’ Conference. Held every fall, this is the largest romance writing conference on the west coast. Three hundred attendees are expected, including leading industry editors and agents, phenomenal speakers. I’ll be presenting two workshops at the conference. Maria Connor of My Author Concierge is my co-presenter for “I’ll Take Care of That For You: Working with Author Assistants” and narrator Pearl Hewitt is my co-presenter for “How to Find and Audition a Narrator for Your Audiobook.”
One of the conference highlights is the the reader appreciation event, Passport to Romance.
Where: Bellevue Westin Hotel
When: Saturday October 15th 6pm-8pm
Free and open to the public, this two-hour event provides an opportunity for fans of the romance genre to meet their favorite authors and discover new-to-them authors. All subgenres are represented, including historical, contemporary, women’s fiction, sci-fi romance and paranormal. Many authors will be giving away swag and free books as a way of saying THANK YOU to dedicated romance fans.
More than 50 authors–including me–will be participating in this event. If you live in the Seattle area, make plans to join us. You can pose with a sexy male cover model, mix and mingle with fans and authors alike, and celebrate romance! I hope to see you there!
Indie Author Day 2016
I am pleased to be part of the special Indie Author Day event being hosted by the King County Library System on Saturday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the KCLS Service Center in Issaquah. Readers and authors are encouraged to attend the free event, which will include workshops and panel discussions on a variety of topics, including:
- Pathways to publication
- Book marketing
- Industry information and resources
- Accessing Amazon services
- Self-e, a platform that connects libraries and indie authors
Several notable industry leaders will be participating in the event: Jon Fine, Robin Cutler, Kiera Parrott, Jim Blanton and L. Penelope.
There will also be 25 authors on hand to share their books and personal experiences: Ksenia Anske, Rachel Barnard, D.K. Cassidy, Kristine Cayne, Jennifer Conner, Deborah O’Neill Cordes, Jacki Delecki, Emily Dietrich, Toddie Downs, Susan Griner, Julianna Hinckley, SaraLynn Hoyt, Claire Luana, Sonya Rhen, Rebecca Ross, Sandy McCormack, Sibelle Stone, Susan Schreyer, Neal Starkman, Marcella Van Oel, Shawna Walls, Lisa Earl Wilson, Allen Wolf, Amy Wolf, Sabrina York.
If you’ve ever considered writing a book or simply enjoy meeting local authors, don’t miss Indie Author Day 2016. This is a great opportunity to mix and mingle with authors from all genres while learning about the exciting innovations in today’s publishing industry. Be sure to look for me and say hello!
A Cantata of Love now available on audio, as well as print and ebook
A Cantata of Love is now available on audio. Enjoy Chapter One, narrated by Pearl Hewitt, the talented voice actor who narrated the other three titles in the series. Click HERE to listen now.
Not an audiobook fan? Do you prefer print books while everyone else seems to have made the jump to ereaders? Have you ever wondered why you prefer one book format over another? Believe it or not, your format preference is motivated by a number of interesting factors. Here’s what research and scientific theory have to say about why readers prefer different book formats.
A 2011 survey revealed different buy vs. borrow rates for book formats. Between 54% and 61% of print and ebook readers preferred to own copies of books, compared to just a third of audiobook listeners. Of the 61 percent of audiobook borrowers, those with library cards were more likely to borrow instead of buy copies.
Many people assume that young readers prefer ebooks, which can be accessed on digital devices, but research contradicts this assumption. A survey of 16-24-year-old readers indicated more than 60% preferred print books, most who said they liked holding a book in their hands.
Ebooks don’t offer a sensory reading experience, but they deliver a wealth of practical advantages that appeal to readers:
- Cheaper than print books
- Instant access/immediate gratification
- Convenience
- Storage space is not an issue
- Less conspicuous
- Portability
People process information differently Educators recognize seven learning styles. A person’s (combined) learning style can influence which book format they prefer.
- Visual (spatial): Preference for pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
- Aural (auditory-musical): Preference for sound and music.
- Verbal (linguistic): Preference for words, both in speech and writing.
- Physical (kinesthetic): Preference for body, hands and sense of touch.
- Logical (mathematical): Preference for logic, reasoning and systems.
- Social (interpersonal): Preference for groups or with other people.
- Solitary (intrapersonal): Preference for being alone and self-study.
Some research has been conducted on how personality traits impact entertainment preferences. The theory is that different types of content fulfill different psychological needs, such as mood, attitude and disposition.
Lifestyle undoubtedly influences what format readers prefer. One Reddit discussion thread demonstrates this in an example provided by WoodensBeard who wrote about having time in his late teens to “read books ad nauseum,” but later in life did not have space for storing books nor time to read them so he’d turned to audiobooks, listening while cooking, cleaning, traveling and using his computer.
So why do different people prefer different formats? Here are my unscientific, unproven theories:
People who prefer print books like the tactile sensation of reading, such as the weight of the book, the sound and sensation of flipping pages and the scent of books. They also enjoy the visual component of full bookshelves, catching sight of favorite titles/authors and the imagery of covers.
People who prefer ebooks are motivated by practical concerns such as cost and convenience.
People who prefer audiobooks like the convenience and accessibility, as well as the auditory “storytelling” component.
Authors know readers have difference preferences, which is why so many deliver their books in all three formats. When one of our primary goals is to connect with new readers, offering print, ebook and audiobooks amplifies our opportunities to do so.
If you would like to receive the audio version of A Cantata of Love in exchange for an honest review on Audible, please email me at Jacki@JackiDelecki.com.
Kick off autumn with these fun giveaways
Tis the lucky season for romantic fiction readers! Many authors are participating in fall giveaways, including me! I love to reward my readers with gifts to show how much I appreciate their support, enthusiasm and loyalty. Giveaways are also a chance to meet new readers by providing an opportunity to sample my books when they win free copies.
Please take a moment to enter these two giveaways. It would be fantastic to learn one of my readers won, and you know, you can’t win if you don’t play! Be sure to tell your book besties about these giveaway opportunities. What a terrific way to welcome autumn!
Are you SWEET or SPICY? Win Up To 40 Romance Novels!
(2) Grand Prize Kindle “Gift Baskets” of ALL eBooks (sweet or spicy!)!
+ Winners of Individual eBooks (randomly selected titles)!
Sept. 19-Sept. 25
From September 30 – October 2 everyone has an opportunity to FALL FOR SUSPENSE on JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE!
Thirty of your favorite Romantic Suspense authors have pitched in with their print or digital books to make your fall a special one.
On October 3rd, one grand prize winner will be able to select 10 titles of their choice from the big pile of books. Two lucky runner-ups will receive half each of what is left in the pot! (10 books each!)
DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte
If you follow social media, you may have noticed that Pumpkin Spice Latte has become synonymous with autumn. Starbucks may have started the trend, but several other chains have jumped on the #PSL bandwagon, including McDonalds and Dunkin’ Donuts. There are even memes poking fun at the seasonal phenomenon.
While the chain drinks are delicious, they are also expensive and tend to be high in sugar and calories. Here’s a quick and easy recipe to whip up your own Pumpkin Spice Latte…and this one has real pumpkin in it!
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup hot espresso or strong brewed coffee
Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
Combine the first five ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until hot. You can also use a small saucepan. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is foamy. Pour coffee or espresso in large mug and add the milk mixture. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.
Click here for a Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy pumpkin? Share your suggestions and recipes with other #PSL fans.