Romance Novels
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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!
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.
5 Ways to celebrate Romance Awareness Month, including 5 romantic reads
Did you know August is Romance Awareness Month? I love the idea of “raising awareness” about romance. I don’t think people intentionally become lackadaisical about romance, but life gets busy. Between work, family and other obligations, it’s easy for romance to get bumped to the bottom of the list.
Everyone needs a little romance in their lives. Your marital status doesn’t matter. Whether you are single, married or it’s complicated, you can celebrate Romance Awareness Month.
If you aren’t sure what I mean by romance, let’s look at the definition for a moment:
Here are five ways to infuse excitement, glamour, mystery, passion, love and romance in your life. Feel free to share your own ideas by comment on this blog post or visiting on Facebook.
Flirt a little.
Buy something silky, slinky, sensuous or sexy. It could be a new pair of shoes, lounging pajamas or lingerie.
Say I Love You to everyone you love, including your furry friends.
Indulge in a decadent treat, something that will make your palate say “OMG”. Luscious chocolates, a gooey dessert, a bottle of wine or a meal at your favorite “special occasion” restaurant.
Curl up with a romance novel.
Chill out with a cool read during the dog days of summer
The Dog Days of Summer run from July 3 to August 11 and refer to the sultriest days of summer. Early observers in the Mediterranean region discovered this period coincided with the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun.
In honor of the Dog Days of Summer, I’m featuring some of my author friends, their canine companions and a favorite summer read.
Callie Hutton‘s four-legged friend Daisy. The Highlander’s Choice is a Scottish Regency historical.
Gunny, Chris Keniston‘s pooch pal, is also an aspiring author. If you like contemporary romance with military heroes, check out Aloha Texas.
Ava Branson‘s four-legged friend Cosmo is decidedly more feline than canine. Fiery Seas, a contemporary romance, makes a great beach read.
C.B. Williams is bound and determined to fit her Golden Doodle Miki in one of those designer handbags. Champion of Entean is science fiction romance with a splash of fantasy.
Sugar keeps Teri Riggs company while working on contemporary stories like her recent release, Sunsets and New Beginnings.
My two Golden Labs, Gus and Talley, provided inspiration for the canine characters in my contemporary romantic suspense books, such as Men Under Fire, from the Grayce Walters series.
Who’s keeping you company during these steamy Dog Days of Summer?
Make a date with a cover model
Okay, you can’t really make a date with a cover model, but you can enjoy some delicious male eye candy at the 2016 Passport to Romance. This reader appreciation event, held in conjunction with the Emerald City Writers’ Conference, will be held Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 6-8 p.m. at the Bellevue Westin Hotel. Admission is free.
The cover model line-up includes Scott Nova, Derek Hutchins, Wayne Adams and Jacob Rodney.
You can also meet and mingle with more than 40 romance authors, including me. I hope to see you there!
- Courtney Milan
- Roxanne St. Claire
- Cherry Adair
- Allie K Adams
- Anna Alexander
- Diana Ballew
- Beth Barany
- Pam Binder
- Jennifer Blackwood
- Julie Brannagh
- Kristine Cayne
- Wendy Lynn Clark
- Carmen Cook
- Malena Crockett
- Kate Curran
- Jami Davenport
- Jillian David
- Dana Delamar
- Jacki Delecki
- Tammy Dennings Maggy/Stephanie Ryan
- Saranna DeWylde
- LC Giroux
- KP Haigh
- JC Hay
- Joanne Jaytanie
- Joleen James
- Darynda Jones
- Shannon Kennedy
- Jennifer Kohout
- Athena Lawson/Anthea Sharp
- Eva Leigh
- Lori Lyn
- Jerica MacMillan
- Margaret Mallory
- Lauren Marie
- Clare Mckay
- Danielle Monsch
- Moxie North
- Shirley Penick
- Nico Rosso
- EL Roux
- Gerri Russell
- Samantha Saxon
- Deborah Schneider
- Alex Strong
- Marie Tuhart
- Olivia Waite
- LE Wilson
- Danica Winters