Moving Up the Rejection Food Chain and Perceptions of Women by Jannine Gallant

So, I had an interesting phone call the other day. First of all, I always thought getting a call from a publisher was supposed to be good news. I must be special because I've had not one, but TWO rejection phone calls from editors in the last couple of months. Honestly, I felt pretty good about it. Used to be, I received a rejection form letter email saying "Sorry (insert author name), but your book (insert title) isn't right for us. Good luck." I bet you can all relate. But this time the editorial director of the romance division of a large publishing house picked up the phone and apologized for not getting back to me sooner! She also said she was very interested in me, BUT (you knew there was going to be a BUT, right?) she wasn't thrilled about my proposed series. She didn't think it would sell well. And that isn't a risk a publisher wants to take with a print series.

So, let's talk about what sells in today's market because I honestly found our conversation fascinating. It also made me lose sleep over what market perception says about society (and women) in general. First, I write romantic suspense. Maybe other sub-genres have different requirements, but I'm guessing a lot of this crosses over from one to the next. I (in my infinite ignorance) decided to change things up a little (okay, a LOT) when I wrote the first book in this new series. You may remember COUNTERSTRIKE is a series about a black ops type group that rescues kidnapped victims. She really liked that idea, by the way. BUT (that word again) I did not create a band of brothers headlining the group. I have both men and women working together.

The heroine of book one, Deadly Encounter, is a bad-ass sniper who kills bad guys and saves people. She quits the team, but danger follows her, and she continues to be a bad-ass throughout the book. The hero, an author of thrillers, sort of comes along for the ride. He pulls her but out of trouble a few times, and he offers moral support. He is very self-confident and successful in his own right, and he doesn't feel threatened by her bad-ass-ness. Okay, maybe he does a little, but he works through it. And he does save her butt in the end! Apparently strong, kick-ass women who used to be snipers aren't relateable. And that is key in the romance market. What sells in romantic suspense is Alpha males who save every-day, relateable women. I turned the trope on its head. I thought I was being original. Turns out, the editor was very clear in saying publishers don't want original. They want what sells. She wants heroes who are military or cops and other similar hero-ish professions. She wants heroines who have spunk and personality but have careers women can relate to.

So, then we talked about book two. My heroine is a professor and a scientist who has discovered a cure for dementia. Until she loses her memory after she's kidnapped and takes a blow to the head. The editor was not a fan of that trope, even though I use it as an ironic foil to her life's work, and she does get her memory back, and the story isn't about how she forgot she loved the hero or anyone else, for that matter. The hero is the team medic who saves her and continues to protect her as trouble stalks her throughout the book. The editor didn't think a scientist, super-smart woman was very relateable, either. She's not every-woman.

So, I have to ask myself, do women who read romance really only want to read about strong men and unexceptional women who need to be saved? My oldest daughter read Deadly Encounter and said it was her favorite book of mine. She loved that my heroine was a bad-ass woman sniper. But then Tara is a super smart, bad-ass woman who races triathlons and kicks most boys' butts. She could relate. Apparently Tara isn't my target market. The editor said, as a woman, she isn't thrilled about the stereotype, but as an editor, she has to buy what sells. So, do publishers assume women who read romance can only identify with heroines who are average (not scientific geniuses) and need a man to save them? Or is that what most women truly relate to? I always assumed romance readers came from all demographics, but perhaps I was wrong. So, chew on this, each of you lovely ladies who believes in strong women... If I had reversed the rolls of my main characters in Deadly Encounter and made the man the sniper and the woman the author, I'd probably be signing a contract right now.

As it is, I've decided this series isn't the right vehicle to pitch to an agent or attempt to sell to a different big publisher. I'm going to self-publish it and HOPE that there are romantic suspense readers out there who CAN identify with a bad-ass heroine. I guess we'll find out. I won't release this series until 2019 since I still have my final Siren Cove book coming out in November about a very relateable heroine who sells antiques! The editor I talked to did say she would happily read another submission from me in the future. As long as I make my heroines more womanly and my heroes more Alpha. I've done it before. I may even do it again.

In the meantime, my entire BORN TO BE WILDE series and BURIED TRUTH are still on sale for .99 cents for the rest of the month. Give them a try. And if you like them, leave me a review. I swear, most of these heroines are relateable! Happy reading!

The Ups and Downs of Publishing by Jannine Gallant

I think all authors go through different stages in their careers--ups and downs, hanging in limbo, bouts of self-doubt, wondering what to do next... I've probably been luckier than most because I was given the opportunity to see my books on actual bookstore shelves. Getting a 3 book, mass market contract was a dream come true. But I knew there was a risk involved. If they didn't sell well enough, I'd be cut loose. Well, people, that's what happened this week. I was not offered a contract for my new series.

All is not horrible, however. My editor said the quality of my writing has not diminished as it does with some prolific writers. He thought my series concept was a good one. They didn't reject me because they didn't like my book. More pluses--the second book in the series, LOST INNOCENCE, had far more pre-orders than the first due to the fact that it was picked up by Walmart. The first book, BURIED TRUTH, was only in Barnes & Noble and a few other oddball places. Still, I apparently earned back my advance on BT and am in the black after 6 months. I should double my sales on the second book if they don't get a ton of returns from stores that stocked it. It's too early to know how the third book, HIDDEN SECRETS, will fare in getting placed in stores. I'm hoping for the best.

The bad news is that my digital sales were not good. Paperback store sales were a whole lot better, so apparently I didn't have the visibility I needed in the online market. Also, contemporary romance (including romantic suspense) is not selling as well as it used to. Regency romance is hot. Erotica is dead. We've seen these cycles before. The big names in romance are still selling books, but romance sales in general are down. Publishers are adjusting their lists accordingly and tightening their lines. If sales for LI and HS drastically exceed expectations, Kensington will reconsider my proposal sometime after the first of the year, but I'm not holding my breath.

So, I've had the good news and the bad. I am not, however, doubting the quality of my writing. Publishing is a business, and the strength of a book is only one component to sales. Marketing matters. Reading trends play a huge role. Now I need to decide what I want to do next. My editor thinks I could easily acquire an agent, but I'm not sure I want one. Without one, it's hard to get in front of the big publishers. And if I do get in front of them, there are no guarantees. My track record is not the best, but at least I have one. I don't want to go the small press route again. There are positives to self-publishing, but marketing yourself is an uphill battle. I may have to mull this over for a while.

I'm not despondent. I was kind of expecting this. I hope I don't sound too whiny because I really hate that. I just wanted to let everyone who has supported me know that I'll be following a new path in the future, wherever that may lead. And in the meantime, I still have one more mass market book releasing in late November. I hope people will buy it and enjoy it. I'm looking forward to seeing it on shelves when I'm Christmas shopping!

For info on all my books, check out my WEBSITE. Happy reading!

A New Series by Jannine Gallant

Starting a new series is always fun. A whole new group of characters. A new setting. A new adventure in writing... The downside is wondering if people will like the concept. I'm currently waiting to hear if my publisher will contract my new three (possibly four) book romantic suspense series. If they don't, I'll have to decide what my next move will be. My COUNTERSTRIKE series is edgier than my other books. More danger and violence, but the romance is still strong. The first book is titled DEADLY ENCOUNTER. I'm posting the prologue below and I'd love to hear what you think. First, a little bit about the series.

Counterstrike is a small agency of hand-picked, dedicated, exceptionally skilled men and women whose mission is to rescue kidnap victims both domestically and abroad. The company is top secret, existing far below any official radar, although high-level government representatives use them on occasion in an unsanctioned capacity. The goal of the team is to fade in and out of any situation without detection, rescue innocents, and eliminate targets with no one the wiser. Danger is ever-present, and the operatives have nothing and no one to rely on but their expertise and each other.

Each book in the series will feature a different member of the Counterstrike team who is fighting to overcome a personal crisis. Some will leave the agency after a traumatic event, only to be thrust into a new pressure-cooker situation. The team is always a trusted resource when past or present members reach out for help. Missions, per se, will not be the central focus of the stories, but a launching point that takes each protagonist on an individual journey where they find love while triumphing over circumstances beyond their control.

DEADLY ENCOUNTER PROLOGUE

The mission had disintegrated into a shitstorm of epic proportions.

Jaimee Fleming gripped the rough trunk of the palm tree with her cleated boots while sighting down the barrel of her rifle through the infrared scope. Slowly she squeezed the trigger. With the silencer, only a muffled piffft sounded before she moved to the next target. A bullet whizzed past her cheek. Without flinching, she adjusted her aim to take out the source. Piffft.

There were more heavily-armed combatants in the compound than the team had anticipated. Hence, the current cluster. Either the intel had been wrong, or the kidnappers were tipped off. Either way, quietly rescuing the vice president’s godson from the encampment where he was being held had evolved into a herculean effort.

Not that anyone on the taskforce would turn tail and run. Counterstrike got the job done. Period.

Her nose twitched from the earthy scent of rotting vegetation, while sweat dampened her back as the extreme humidity made drawing each breath difficult. She ignored all the distractions and squeezed the trigger again. Piffft.

“You got us covered, Scarlet?” The calm voice came through her earpiece. Wolf was always cool under pressure.

“Working on it.”

“That’ll have to be good enough,” he responded. Gunfire erupted over the receiver. “We’re on our way out.”

“Copy that.”

Across the clearing, the exterior metal door of the building swung open, crashing against the corrugated wall. Patch appeared first, identifiable by his thinner build and fluid movements in the greenish light of her infrared scope. The team’s medic lobbed an explosive toward a collection of oil drums.

From her perch, Jaimee scanned the perimeter for marks as the device detonated in a fireball of flames and smoke. Piffft.

Following close behind Patch, Coffee took advantage of the distraction and ran full out in a zig-zag pattern, despite the deadweight of the man slung over his shoulder. Wolf exited the building last, covering their rear with a burst of shots as two more guerrilla soldiers raced out of the hanger.

They had a hundred yards of open ground to traverse before reaching the protection of the trees, then another quarter mile on a narrow path through dense vegetation to the pick-up point on the landing strip. Over a sudden blast of gunfire from the rooftop, Jaimee detected the faint drone of the chopper, even as her heartbeat slowed and her hands steadied. She picked off another target. Piffft.

Did I get them all?

A flash to her left caught her eye as a shot echoed. Below her, Coffee went down only a few yards from relative safety.

Noooooooo. The silent scream reverberated in her head as she sighted and pulled the trigger. Piffft. She didn’t need the thud of a body hitting the jungle floor below to confirm the kill. She never missed.

Barely slowing his stride, Wolf bent to heave the man they’d come to rescue over his shoulder before motioning to Patch. The medic ran back to lift Coffee into his arms while Jaimee shimmied down the palm to the ground. Seconds later, she reached the rest of her team.

“Go, Scarlet. I’ve got him.”

After a brief hesitation, her training kicked in, and she followed orders. With a nod, she sprinted after Wolf toward the chopper hovering above the landing strip. The Huey lowered to the stretch of packed earth hacked out of the jungle. Palm fronds whipped back and forth in the powerful draft but couldn’t begin to compete with the storm raging inside her.

Covering the final distance at a pace that would have thrilled her old track coach, Jaimee clambered aboard the craft and turned to help ease Coffee into the open interior. Patch had just hoisted himself up onto the metal floor beside her when the chopper lifted off.

She forced out words that nearly choked her. “Is he . . .”

The medic ripped open his patient’s jacket. “He’s in bad shape. Toss me that bag behind you. I need to get pressure on this wound.”

Jaimee handed him the first aid kit, knowing Patch would ask for additional help if he needed it. Needing to do something—anything but vainly sit there—she reached out to hold her unconscious colleague’s hand. Calloused fingers that could deftly stroke the strings of a guitar—and on one occasion the side of her breast—were limp within her grasp. In the dim glow from the interior lights, she locked gazes with Wolf. Their team leader’s rugged face beneath black paint looked like it was carved from stone. Neither spoke as Patch worked frantically to save the man they all loved.

Only Jaimee’s feelings went far deeper than brotherhood and camaraderie.

A minute later, the doc sat back on his heels and shook his head.

Jaimee suppressed a cry as she tightened her grip on Coffee’s hand. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the side of the vibrating beast carrying them high over the jungle. Her chest ached with a pain so intense breathing became a challenge. She wouldn’t let the tears fall, wouldn’t give in to the anguish tearing her apart. She wouldn’t show she was soft. Weak.

“You’d better see what you can do for Boylston, Patch. It looks like they roughed him up pretty badly.” Wolf’s voice was even gruffer than usual.

Patch bumped against her feet in the tight quarters as he shifted position to reach the man they’d rescued at the cost of losing one of their own.

A life saved, and a life gone. When she opened eyes burning with unshed tears, her gaze came to rest on Coffee’s still face. He’d never smile at her again or laugh at one of their inside jokes. He’d never show her with a single glance how special she was to him. A shudder racked her body as she struggled to keep her emotions under control. She’d allowed herself to care about him more than she should have, and now she’d pay the price.

Not the first time she’d lost someone she loved. But this time would be the last.

No more letting fear eat at her soul, worrying another mission might end in disaster. No more putting her heart on the line. The risk wasn’t worth the reward.

She was finished. With all of it.

So, there you have it! Keep your fingers crossed for me. And if you liked the excerpt, check out my current SIREN COVE series, available at all retail sites. Links are on my WEBSITE. Happy reading!

Things Are Looking Up! by Jannine Gallant

As you read this, I'll be hip-deep in workshops and book signings at the 2018 RT Booklovers Convention. My very first convention ever! I promise a full report on what I learned for my June 2nd post. In the meantime, this one will be a mishmash of recent book-related news and possibly a photo from the convention if I can find time to download one.

Me right before the Kensington party ready to sign.

So, we've discussed in the past the importance of reviews and the magic BookBub has on sales if only we could get accepted by them! I've been busting my butt to get more reviews on WILDE ONE, the first book in my BORN TO BE WILDE series, but I've stalled at 19. Despite the high average rating, BookBub rejected my publisher's request, and I was seriously bummed. I've also been nagging everyone I know to review BURIED TRUTH, the first book in my SIREN COVE series. That one has 26 reviews, but after being hit by NetGalley trolls, my average is below 4, so not a contender until it gets a little higher. Thinking all had failed, I was amazed and delighted when the editorial assistant at Kensington emailed to tell me I got a BookBub deal for EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES! That book released three years ago and had two BookBub deals way back then. As a result, it has lots of reviews and a high average. Hey, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I'm simply going to cheer! I know from past experience that ALL my suspense books will see sales from one ad! I pretty much happy danced around my house. Anyway, the ad will come out on June 26th, release day for LOST INNOCENCE. How fortuitous! I'm hoping for a big boost in release sales!

AND, as if that wasn't enough good news, my buddy James the editorial assistant just sent me the marketing plan for LOST INNOCENCE. What do you know, it's been reviewed by both Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly--a first for me! More happy dancing, this time around the boat ramp booth. Check out my WEBSITE for the quotes!

The moral of this story is to keep at it and don't give up. Good things will happen! Now we'll wait for the end of June to see if those good things result in actual sales. Happy reading everyone, and if you're at RT, please say hello to me. I'd love to meet both authors and readers!

The Recipe for Success by Jannine Gallant

Those of us in the book writing business are constantly looking for success, searching for ways to sell more books and earn a little recognition for what we do. It occurred to me this past weekend that the elements to achieve success are the same, no matter what it is you want to do. Many of you know my older daughter has always been a runner. I'm going to use Tara as an example of what it takes to succeed, and how we can apply the same strategy to our writing (or any other) pursuits.

Element #1: Talent
I don't care what people say, if you don't have a certain natural talent for whatever it is you're doing, you aren't going to succeed at it. You can always fix problem areas and improve your craft, but if you're a writer, you'd better be able to string together words in a coherent manner and tell an interesting story. For Tara, she was always naturally good at running and biking. She inherited her talent from my husband who is extremely athletic and good at every sport he's ever done. She blames me for passing along inferior athletic genes, but I tell her she got her brains from me, so she shouldn't complain. LOL

Element #2: Hard Work
This is what you have to do to improve on the natural talent you were given. You have to work your butt off. I don't care how good you are, if you don't put in the time, you aren't going to reach your goal. If you're a writer, that means actually writing. Book after book after book. Chances are you aren't going to produce the Great American Novel on your first try. With every book I write, I get better. I learn what works and what doesn't to improve my craft. You aren't going to produce a better book if you don't work hard at honing your skills, and that takes practice. Butt in the chair and fingers on the keyboards, people! For Tara, it meant running and biking and swimming ALL THE TIME. Training is a lifestyle for her. Her cross country coach in high school gave her the "Hardest Working Athlete of All Time" award. Now in college on the Cal Triathlon team, she never lets up. She works to improve all the time.

Element #3: Persistence
Sometimes it's hard to keep trying when we face failures. In writing it can be rejections, no sales, no notice. We ask ourselves why we bother. Well, the simple truth is you won't succeed if you give up. Tara went from being a powerhouse at a small school to not being good enough to make a varsity running team at a top school. She put education over sports when she chose to go to Berkeley because she knew she wasn't good enough to run for them. After a miserable freshman year, she discovered the Triathlon team. But just being on the team wasn't enough, and the Cal team was large and strong. She wanted to be one of their top girls. She had to learn to swim properly since she had zero experience, and she honed her biking skills and went back to her passion for running. She persisted, and she worked her way up to getting noticed by the coach and kept at it until she was included in the elite group training. That's what we have to do if we want to succeed--persist until we get noticed.

Element #4: Luck
Yes, luck. I swear no matter how talented and hard working and persistent we are, we can all benefit from an element of luck. That publisher who finally notices you. The Bookbub ad that bumps up your sales. BUT, if you haven't put in the other 3 elements when luck finally happens, you won't be ready to take advantage of it. Make luck work for you instead of having it pass you by with little or no benefit. For Tara, luck had a hand in her recent success at the Collegiate Club National Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama over the weekend. She'd worked her butt off to hone her talent and be ready to go, and she expected to do well. Then rain happened, lots of rain that required opening flood gates on the river the kids were to swim in for the first leg of the triathlon. For safety, they had to change the format to run/bike/run. Tara took full advantage and finished 10th out of 482 girls. By the way, 4 of the Cal girls finished in the top 10, and they won the National championship, so I wasn't kidding when I said their team was strong. I'd call that a success story for both my daughter and the team!

So, for those of you who lack motivation to sit down and write, keep the faith. Use your talent and boost your skill with a lot of hard work. Persist, and maybe luck will happen to you. It certainly won't do you any good if you quit trying and don't have that book ready to go! That's my pep talk for the day. If you haven't read BURIED TRUTH yet, now's the time. LOST INNOCENCE will be out before you know it!

What Do Writing and the Weather Have in Common? by Jannine Gallant

I took this video in the meadow a couple of days ago on a walk with Ginger. The sun was shining, the snow was melting, and the frogs were croaking. Spring had arrived!

Today is the first day of my "summer" job at the boat ramp. This is the current view outside my booth where I have two heaters cranked up to combat the 24 degree temperature. If a boater shows up, I'll probably faint from shock. LOL Not that I'm complaining, mind you, since I have a ten hour shift and nothing to distract me from writing.

April is one of those months where you never know what will happen. Kind of like my WIP (work in progress). Without a signed contract for this book/series, I've been struggling to stay focused and on track. My personal deadline (complete a book every five months) will be up in June, and I'm only a little over the half-way mark. I've come to the conclusion I won't be finished by then, and I honestly am not freaking out about that. I put a lot of pressure on myself to produce, and I need to ease up! My publisher is waiting to see how well my current series sells before offering a new contract, so I can adjust the timeline accordingly at that stage. If I get a new contract... But let's not go there and just assume I will.

I wrote in another post that I was going to put together an outline to better stay on track. I actually did! I know, shocking, right? I have a few rough notes scribbled in a binder, plot points that need to happen in the next quarter of the book. I even put together a romance arc to keep that part of the story moving forward. I was pretty pleased with myself...until I actually started writing. Just like the erroneous assumption that spring had arrived and it would be smooth sailing (get it--boat ramp LOL), those clouds rolled in and snowed on my parade. (Sorry about the mixed metaphors.) My characters got off track immediately. I tried to drag them, kicking and screaming, back to my outline, but they're stubborn. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow. Maybe they'll work their way toward my plot points in good time. Or not. I've come to the conclusion some things can't be forced. My hope is my characters know what they're doing. I guess we'll find out.

In the meantime, pick up a copy of BURIED TRUTH. I need sales to get that next contract. Help a paranoid author out, and happy reading!

Obsessing Over Numbers by Jannine Gallant

I've been wondering what to write about for a few days now as the 18th drew closer and closer. While I stared at the blank page, my nimble fingers opened other tabs to check numbers. Yes numbers! I'm obsessed, so I thought I'd share. Maybe you can become addicted, too!

First of all, I should be writing. Instead, I'm constantly checking statistics to see if there's an actual reason for me to put words on the page. These are the sites I use to feed my addiction. If you're an author, they're pretty darn useful for a number junkie like me...

Amazon Sales: Did you know you don't actually have to go to the Amazon site to see how well you're selling. Sales Rank Express has all those fun facts and figures for every one of your books on a single page. Just pop in your name under author, and you can get your ranking for not only the good old USA, but for all the other countries, too. Info included is a graph with blips for each sale. If the graph isn't there, click on the rank tracker by NovelRank to start tracking. It also tells you how many customer reviews you have. With this handy-dandy feature, I can obsess over not just my sales rank but also my reviews, all on the same site!

Before we leave the subject of sales, I discovered another incredibly fascinating feature on Author Central to gobble up my time. Just when I thought there was no way to know if my print books in stores were actually selling, I discovered Nielsen BookScan under the Sales Info tab. This tells me how many copies of BURIED TRUTH I sold each week in physical stores. It also has a handy geography feature to tell me where I sold them. I was pretty darn worried I'd sold about 10. I was actually kind of freaking out over this. Turns out, I did sell a few. The current count stands at 832, but my graph formed a pyramid point at week three and is currently on the downhill slide. I'm afraid there isn't a long shelf-life for newbie authors in print. But, the geographic map gave me another boost. I sold books in 95 out of the 100 regions! The largest was "combined areas," an amorphous blob made up of all rural/smaller town areas. Coming in at the top of the pack of cities was New York. Go, me! So, while I'm not exactly selling in the millions, it's a start. My editor actually said I did pretty well in Barnes & Noble before he ruined my glow by adding that was only a small part of the overall picture. He said I definitely had room for growth. I'd laugh at that if it wasn't so damn depressing!

Also on Author Central, try clicking on Author Rank under the Sales Info tab. This will give you a graph of how you rank compared to other authors. Talk about a wake-up call. I have a feeling my growth potential in that category is also unlimited.

Moving right along... Sales, rankings, and reviews aren't the only numbers I obsess over. I also check the posts on my Facebook Author Page to see if anyone besides me is looking at them. Then I compare posts that do well to ones that don't. Somehow, I should be able to use this info to reach a broader audience. Unfortunately, I have yet to crack the secret code. I'll let you know if I do.

And since I don't seem to have enough numbers to make me crazy, I finally got my act together and put one of my old, self-published books, WE'LL NEVER TELL, on an Amazon Sponsored Products Ad Campaign. I tried this before and failed. This time I put in way more key words, added a catchier tagline, reduced the price to .99 cents, and am using the awesome new cover Alison made. We'll see if any of that helps. In the meantime, I have all those beautiful impressions and click numbers to feed my addiction. If you're interested in trying Amazon Ads, get started at the Amazon Marketing Dashboard.

Since I'm sure your head is spinning by now, I'll leave you with pictures of my dog in the snow. March came in like a lion and is still roaring! We've had our entire winter in one month. Happy reading! I think I'll go shovel the deck... Ginger likes to help.

Romantic Suspense Defined--Or Not by Jannine Gallant

I always thought I wrote romantic suspense. However, after a few reviews for BURIED TRUTH from NetGalley and Amazon Vine Customers (both groups get a free ARC in exchange for a review of the book), I'm beginning to wonder what exactly I do write. First of all, I fully believe most people who get a book for free will find something wrong with it. Sad but true. Readers seem to put less value on a product they didn't have to pay for. But, there were a few comments that made me think about the importance of portraying the genre or sub-genre of our books accurately and to the expectations of our readers.

Romantic Suspense. To me, that says the book should have both romance and suspense. I think mine do. But I'm beginning to believe others don't see the genre in the same light. I had several reviewers complain there wasn't enough suspense, that the romance dominated the book. They thought (based on the blurb) that the book would be more of a straight up thriller. Interesting. I don't get much say in my final blurb, and my publisher is pushing me in the suspense direction with my covers. Maybe they want something I'm not delivering.

So, let's talk about the romance part of the equation. I had several comments that the hero and heroine hooked up too soon. My brain nearly exploded at that one. Do you remember when publishers had a breakdown if there was no sex by chapter four? I think my first love scene was in chapter seven, and my characters had a history together. It wasn't like they'd just met. So, I ask you--is sex no longer in vogue? Or is this just a new romantic suspense thing? Used to be I focused so strongly on the suspense plot, I didn't put enough twists and turns into the romance arc and was chastised for it. I've really tried to give my characters more emotional relationship angst as they battle the villains. Maybe I've gone too far in the opposite direction. I thought I'd finally struck a nice balance. Shows what I know...

Okay, how about the suspense angle? Does romantic suspense now mean non-stop action with the bad guys shooting at the good guys? I took my time in this series, building the suspense before any real danger enters the picture. Little things happen to put the heroine on edge, the sort of things that make her look over her shoulder and wonder what's next. I think it builds at a steady pace toward a pretty suspenseful conclusion. But maybe suspense books need less subtlety and more in your face danger. Am I writing for the wrong sub-genre?

In short, I'm not too sure I know what readers want when they're promised romantic suspense. How about you? If you read romantic suspense, what do you expect? If you'd like to jump on the bandwagon and critique my interpretation of the genre, please pick up a copy of BURIED TRUTH. I welcome your input and would love to receive your review!

As for my next series, I may have a little more in your face danger coming your way... For information on my other books, please visit my WEBSITE. Happy reading!

Where Book Ideas Come From by Jannine Gallant

Vonnie recently posted an entertaining story about a dream bear that sparked her Bear Shifter series. Alas, I've never had characters appear in my dreams to demand their tales be told. That got me to thinking about what does inspire my stories. First of all, my stories begin with a plot not a character. When I'm pondering a new series, my mind turns to that all important question: What if this happened? But how does an author get to this? For me, real life events can trigger that question. A couple of years ago, I was walking Ginger in the spring when the snow was starting to melt out of the woods. She took off as she likes to do and was digging furiously some distance off the trail. I yelled for her, and she finally came back with a long stick in her mouth. At least I thought it was a stick...until I noticed the hoof on the end of it! EWWWW doesn't begin to reflect my thoughts as I screamed at her to drop it. Some poor deer had been eaten by something (probably a mountain lion), and the remains had been buried by snow all winter. Of course my writer mind clicked into motion, and I couldn't help thinking: What if it was a human femur instead of a deer? Out of that notion, a scene from BURIED TRUTH was born along with the gruesome reason a person had been buried in the woods.

But that was only part of the plot--a crime that had happened in the past. Why would there be danger in the present for my hero and heroine to contend with unless the perpetrators of the old crime felt threatened? How could something that happened years before pose an immediate threat? Those were the questions I asked myself as I mulled possibilities. Something incriminating had to be found, something the guilty party wanted back. My mind did a few mental gymnastics, and I came up with the idea of a time capsule. What better hiding place for a roll of film with incriminating photos than in a time capsule that would be safely buried for the next hundred years? Except my heroine and her classmates decide to unearth their fifth grade time capsule after only twenty years and have a reunion party to reminisce over the contents. The plot to BURIED TRUTH was born.

I believe all authors have their own unique process for coming up with book ideas. Our minds work differently, after all. My characters evolve from my plots as I decide "who" would best fit into the suspense scenario. The "who" determines the romance plot to go with the suspense, and putting together the two in a meaningful way is how I form my books. So now you have it, a look into the scary place that is my mind! LOL

If you want to see what happens after that time capsule is dug up, pick up a paperback copy of BURIED TRUTH at your local Barnes & Noble or download the digital version at Amazon or Apple iBooks. For an exclusive prologue that shows the origins of the twenty year old crime, pick up a copy at KOBO. All links are also on my WEBSITE. Happy reading!

My Book Is Out...Now What? by Jannine Gallant

BURIED TRUTH is now available for the world to read!!

That's what I feel like I've been doing for the last day or so... shouting BUY MY BOOK. I swear, it seems like we wait forever for each new release to hit the shelves, virtual or otherwise. I've been talking about my latest baby for months now, until I fear everyone is sick to death of hearing about it. The big day finally arrives and I make the announcement on social media with as much hoopla as I can muster. My friends congratulate me, and I feel special... accomplished. Heck, my husband even suggested we go out to dinner to celebrate. Then what? Day two rolls around, and I'm feeling a little anticlimactic.

Part of the problem is nerves, wondering if my book will sell and if people will like it. As I stalk my rankings every hour or so on Amazon, hoping for a dip to indicate a sale, I feel like I should be doing more. More to get reviews. More to spread the word. More to generate those sales. Except I'm tired of shouting BUY MY BOOK. I feel like I've told everyone it's available, and now it's a waiting game to see what happens. I also feel like I know what doesn't work. Blog tours. Even my publisher has given up arranging them. They cost money and produce zero results, so why bother? I post here and on Just Romantic Suspense (my post will be up there tomorrow with a prize). They do get decent traffic, so I feel like that's enough blogging.

That leaves social media, and I feel like I've beaten that horse to death... at least for the moment. So, I'll try to give my friends on Facebook a short break. My plan is to sit back and take a breather to see what my publisher does to spark interest. BURIED TRUTH will be included in a Kensington roundup of suspense/thriller authors, most of whom are far better known than me, in February on their social media sites. I'll jump back on the bandwagon to do my part when they start promoting.

So, if you're an author, what do you do after a new book releases? Do you run around shouting BUY MY BOOK, or do you sit back and let nature take its course? Have you had success with a particular venue? If you're a reader, where do you find out about new releases? We want your insights!

In case you still haven't picked up your copy of BURIED TRUTH, here are the links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo. Or visit my WEBSITE. Happy reading!

How do you like your #Books? by Jannine Gallant

#Paperback or #eBook? That's the big question for authors. How do you most enjoy reading? I know a lot of people who prefer to hold a book in their hands. But someone is buying all those eBooks! Reports show far more digital books are sold than paperbacks in adult fiction. My guess is lower prices and convenience drive these sales.

Traditional publishers still make more off paperback sales than digital, although that percentage has shrunk in recent years. It's the indie authors pushing the eBook numbers over the top.

Paperback sales have increased in some markets, however. Just not in physical bookstore. Amazon increased their market share in print sales in 2016. Whether this trend will continue into 2018 remains to be seen. Read the article I linked above. It made my head spin with all the facts and figures.

How does all this effect me and other authors? Up to now, I've pushed my digital sales because that's where my profits were. No one but my mom was willing to pay $15 for a POD book. But with the release of BURIED TRUTH at the end of this month, I'll have my very first mass market paperback available. The price is an extremely reasonable $4.99 vs. the $3.99 price for a digital copy. For an extra buck, readers can hold it in their hands. I actually make far more off digital sales, but there's the potential to actually see my book on a bookstore shelf. That counts for something, right?

The thing is, I'm learning that mass market doesn't necessarily mean bookstore shelf space. Publishers produced more inventory each month than stores can carry. Individual stores actually have to order your book. BURIED TRUTH won't automatically go out to every Walmart, Target, and Barnes & Noble in the country. Stores tend to order books from big name authors because their goal is to actually sell those copies, not ship them back. I have a feeling I might not make the cut!

So, we're back to the question posed at the top...digital or paperback? How do you prefer to read? Would you spend $4.99 on a paperback in a genre you enjoy with a cool cover (I have that going for me!) from an author you aren't familiar with? What if you had to order that book from Amazon, not impulsively pick it up off the shelf while you're buying dog food and paper towels or browsing in B&N? Stats show that is happening. If you're shopping for books on Amazon, do you always go for the instant gratification of downloading it onto your Kindle or will you order the paperback version?

There's a catch to the excitement of having a mass market contract. Sure, there's the potential my book could reach a whole new market and sell very well. That's what I'm hoping, of course. But if it doesn't sell well, this series will be the last one I have in print. My pub is waiting to see how BURIED TRUTH does before considering my next project. That's kind of scary, but I get that they're in the business to make money.

So, when BURIED TRUTH releases on January 30th, make my day by showing my publisher I'm a good risk. Buy my book if you see it on a bookstore shelf, or order a copy online. Pre-order your PRINT or DIGITAL copy now. Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment. How do you like your books?

Let's Talk Newsletters by Jannine Gallant

After listening to authors talk about their takeaways from various conventions, classes, etc., the one common theme I've noticed is everyone who's an authority on marketing recommends having a newsletter. Do I have one? Uh, no. I've failed miserably at this piece of the promo puzzle. However, that's all about to change. I'm taking the plunge.

Step One: The Mailing List. Here's what I do know...and it isn't a heck of a lot. You need to start with a mailing list. There are several online sites that allow you to collect addresses for free--up to a certain limit. I chose Mailchimp and created an account. Then I followed the helpful instructions they provided to set up the basic form to collect information, complete with double opt-out so you don't get into trouble for coercing people into signing up by mistake. I took the link they provided and added it to the front page of my website. Not so very hard, even for an old dog! I signed myself up, just to make sure it worked. Amazingly (at least to me), it did. I now had one person (me) on my mailing list. And as the weeks passed and I did nothing, that's the only address I did have. (sigh)

Step Two: How to get people to sign up for your newsletter. Obviously doing nothing has no effect...kind of like how your book doesn't sell itself. I decided to offer a reward to get people to sign up. I have a box of beautiful ARCs (advanced reader copies marketing teams send out to reviewers--not the final, final version, but pretty darn close) of BURIED TRUTH. This is the first book in my new series that will release on January 30, 2018. Marketing had leftovers, so my editor sent me a box. (I was thrilled!) Last week I posted on Facebook that I would draw one lucky winner from the pool of people who signed up for my newsletter, to receive an autographed copy. Proud of my cleverness, I sat back and waited for the signups to roll in. Let's just say I was underwhelmed by the results. I now have ten people on my list, and several are fellow Roses who were being nice! (double sigh) Alrighty, then. Obviously, my minimal efforts weren't producing results, so I contacted the marketing people at Kensington and asked them to spread the word through their social media channels about my bribe...er, I mean prize. They were happy to oblige, so maybe I'll get a little more interest. At any rate, now is your chance. Click on this LINK to sign up for my newsletter if you'd like to get into the drawing. As of now, your chances of winning that ARC are pretty darn good! Contest ends on Sunday, Oct. 22nd, and the winner will be notified by email on Monday, Oct. 23rd. Sorry, but you must live in the US to win since I don't do foreign postage. 😞

Step Three: What to put into the newsletter. So, let's assume I'll have a few interested readers eagerly awaiting my first newsletter. Or to be realistic, I'm hoping readers will at least be motivated to open it before chucking it into their cyber trash. That means exciting content to draw their interest. Obviously, I'll tell them about new releases, any books I might have on sale, and any contests my publisher is running. The basic stuff. (yawn) Since I'm a decent cook and make up my own recipes, I'll also be posting an original recipe or two in each letter. But what else? What do you like to see in newsletters? For those authors who already send one out, what do you do to catch your readers' interest? I'm open to suggestions, and I think this is a great forum to share information. Also, if you have some brilliant ideas to build mailing lists, please share. I know people have sign-up sheets at conventions and book signings, but what about online? Any helpful tips?

For more information on my books, check out my WEBSITE. Happy reading!

Let's Talk Swag by Jannine Gallant

Well, I did it. I signed up for my very first romance writers convention. I'll be attending the 2018 RT Booklovers Convention in Reno next May. Sure, I could have started out with a smaller venue...but none of them were only an hour from home. LOL So, my new motto is go BIG! This one sounds huge. I'm getting nervous just thinking about trying to stand out in the crowd.

Since this convention is not just for writers, but for readers, too, I know I'll have the opportunity to meet lots of readers who love romance books. I secured a spot at the Giant Book Fair, and I'll also be signing BURIED TRUTH at the Kensington party. That seems like more than enough official promo opportunities. I'm pretty sure putting myself out there twice will be all my introverted heart can handle!

The next question is how do you make people remember you? For those readers who don't walk away from the event with one of my books, how can I still leave an impression? This is where swag comes in. I'm looking for advice now so I can start planning ahead. What is the best swag to give away that people won't toss straight into the trash? I assume business cards and bookmarks won't make a lasting impression. My only thought is magnetic business cards. I have a bunch of those babies holding things up on my refrigerator. Good or bad idea? Am I the only one who sticks photos and miscellaneous crap on the fridge? How about something more creative that doesn't cost a fortune? My budget is limited. Tote bags seem like a great item, but you have to buy hundreds of them, and they aren't cheap! I was also considering creating a custom label that I could stick on something like little notebooks. As an author, I want to know what you've used that was a hit at past conventions and book signings. As a reader, I want to know what you brought home and actually used.

And finally, where is the best place to get customized swag at a reasonable price? I've never bought swag before...I know, pathetic. Is it easy to personalize these things, or do you need a degree in artistic design to produce something fun and professional looking? I need all the help I can get, and I figured there are other authors who will benefit from any advice we share in comments.

And while we're on the subject of the RT Convention, who else is going? Seeing a familiar face or two would be nice.

Visit my WEBSITE for more information on all my books, or pre-order a paperback copy of BURIED TRUTH for only $4.99! Happy reading!

New Book Covers and Branding by Jannine Gallant

A few months ago, I received the cover for the first book in my new SIREN COVE series, releasing in 2018. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I got the cover for the second book. They're all scenery and have a suspenseful vibe. I've been given permission to share, so...tada!!

What do you think? I love them! Not long after the first cover was finished, my editor emailed me to say they were giving my BORN TO BE WILDE series a new look. Everyone at Kensington loved the cover for BURIED TRUTH so much, they wanted a do-over for the current series.

I know lots of self-published authors who've gone through multiple incarnations of a book cover, making it more professional and going for a different look. But usually with a publisher, we only get one shot at a cover. So, why is my series being repackaged? The original covers are professional and eye-catching. They feature an attractive couple. They're upbeat. Romantic. Cheerful! I always thought they better suited contemporary romance than romantic suspense, even though they accurately reflect the story. They capture the content but not the mood.

I think there's more to this than going for a suspenseful look. I've always wondered about the mystery of author branding. I never could quite grasp the concept, but with these new covers, I'm beginning to see the light. Kensington is feeling their way with me, finding my specific niche in their company. My brand. I write suspenseful stories where rugged, outdoor settings are a focus of the plot. They're repackaging my books to give me an identifiable look. Currently, only the first two covers are finished. Until all four are available, the old covers remain up on retail sites. I'm giving you all a sneak peek to make my point!

I love this new look, this brand they're giving me. So here they are, the old...

And the new...

What do you think? For those of you who read my books, does this look more like me? I hope one day readers will pick up my books and identify me by the covers the way we do authors who have a brand we know well. For now, I feel like I've found my niche in the world of romantic suspense.

The final two books will get their face lift soon. Stay tuned... And if you haven't started this series yet, read WILDE ONE...with the old cover. Get your copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, or KOBO now. Or, pre-order BURIED TRUTH. The buy link is on my website. Happy reading!