For a "niche market," there sure seems to be an awful lot going on in the SFR universe. Well far be it from me to complain! This week I’ve collected a number of links to keep you busy while The Galaxy Express rumbles toward its next destination.
First, keep your eyes peeled for aspiring SFR author Mftz who operates Flying Whale Productions. There, she dishes on her trip to the 66th World Science Fiction Convention at Denvention 3.
"I Learned About (Writing) Conflict From That" is a recent post at the HEA café by Linnea Sinclair. If you’re an aspiring SFR author, she offers great tips about upping the ante in your writing. If you’re an SFR reader, you’ll learn about what you’re entitled to experience in great fiction. (And speaking of, Ms. Sinclair’s latest release SHADES OF DARK is out this month. Stay tuned for her upcoming Author Supernova right here at The Galaxy Express.)
Also Happening in the Space Lanes:
* Go check out the cover for Susan Grant’s THE WARLORD’S DAUGHTER, posted on her blog. She’d love to hear your feedback.
* RomVets author Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter is the facilitator for Midwestern Dreams on October 18, 2008. It’s the “First Annual Mid-Ohio Writers Association Conference.” Go forth and network, all ye heartland Skiffy Rommers!
* The Galaxy Express extends a hearty congratulations to author Robin D. Owens for scoring a starred review in Library Journal for HEART FATE!
* Paperback writer offers up Ten Things For The SF/Fanatics.
* Author Patti O’Shea discusses her Pre-Book Time.
* Author Colby Hodge updates fans on her recent trip to New York with promises of more to come. (And who’s the mystery “scifi romance writer” Leanna Renee Hibler?! Inquiring minds want to know.)
* Finally, congratulations also to Sandra McDonald for this achievement: “the paperback version of THE OUTBACK STARS is on the Locus Top 10 Bestselling Paperbacks for February and April.”
But, ye dare not click away just yet. There’s more--and what fun it is!
Joseph Mallozzi facilitates a discussion about Lois McMaster Bujold’s CORDELIA’S HONOR. There’s a lot to read including a Q&A with the author. (Thanks to Lisa Paitz Spindler for the link.)
Speaking of Lisa Paitz Spindler, she profiles Captain Cordelia Naismith from CORDELIA’S HONOR in her current Danger Gal Friday feature.
Now’s a fab time to pick up a copy of Michelle Maddox’s COUNTDOWN. It’s a release from Dorchester’s SHOMI line, out this month. (Didn’t I say it was a fab time?!)
More congratulations are in order! Jordan Summers nabbed a positive review for her upcoming RED. She also posted an update from RWA that all of you aspiring SFR writers won’t want to miss.
Have some SFR news of your own? Post it in the comments section!
Joyfully yours,
Heather
17 comments:
Let's see...
Love Convention Reports. The funny thing is they really don't make me want to attend, unless I get to dress as a Klingon female.
Read Linnea's article. Can't wait for her Supernova!
The cover of Susan's new book gives me such bad case of wicked whiplash. You know, it really should care a warning label. "If you have a thing for finely sculpted male buttocks, view at your own risk." Nevertheless, I wish these covers would feature more than half-naked men; like maybe something reflecting the story inside? Do you suppose they do the basic hot guy because they think potential readers will be turned off by Sci-Fi-looking cover art?
Woo-hoo for Sandra McDonald. OUTBACK STARS is one of those books I just know I would dearly love, but have never had the time to read.
Lois McMaster Bujold is on my list for books to review by those who paved the way for SFR.
I don't know about any of that other stuff, so thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the plug! I feel so big time now :-)
You have so many great links on this post I don't know how I'll find time to update the blog!
>Do you suppose they do the basic hot guy because they think potential readers will be turned off by Sci-Fi-looking cover art?
I think they do the basic hot guy because they think it will gain potential readers who have a thing for finely sculpted male buttocks.
To me, a book is a whole package, and regardless of the product, I become very disappointed when the packaging doesn't reflect what's inside. To me, man titty/buttocks is such an obvious marketing tool.
I guess either the targeted readers for those covers either want that and just go along for the ride or are thoroughly hoodwinked.
I would love to know the stats on how many readers are going to buy WARLORD'S DAUGHTER based on the story vs. the cover alone. I want to believe the cover art alone won't be responsible for book sales, because that's a disservice to Susan's hard work.
But reality is something different altogether, and I don't see this trend changing anytime soon. I guess another way of looking at it is that Susan might gain more readers because of the cover art.
mftz, it was my pleasure! I hear you on the time factor--the links kept adding up. It's been a busy week, in part because of Denvention 3.
Forgetting how Science Fiction romantics might feel about it, if the average Romance reader steps into the aisle and sees THE WARLORD'S DAUGHTER cover on the shelf I predict she will do one of three things-
1) "Woooh! What a butt!" She picks it up, flips it over, reads the blurb, maybe speed-reads the first page or two, and buys.
2) Same as one, but groans after reading the blurb, mumbling, "This isn't a hot contemporary!" She shoves it back and walks away.
3) Groans and walks away because most of the Romance novels have half-naked men and nothing else on the covers. She doesn't have time to read the blurbs for all of them trying to find out what the stories are really about. At least, WARLORD'S DAUGHTER is one of the few in which the half-naked man is turned around. All the other ones have browned-hair guys with washerboard abs facing out. This reader will most likely make her choice based on reviewers' and friends' recommendations. She's probably also the kind to latch on to favorite authors and scan the aisles for their names. Make authors' names big!
Anyway, that's my take on it. We should all bear in mind that authors do NOT get to choose cover art. Also, publishers are probably still trying to figure out what works for SFR.
More than that man tittie/ tight butt thing the tend to book covers with hot bodies and the faces cropped off, in more than just the Romance isle, really bothers me. I know sex sells and I have no real problem with using sex to sell a book, but most of these headless torso covers have nothing at all to do with the book inside. Also the dismembered hot bod seems really dysfunctional sex-object-as-thing-not-person too me, I find them almost always
distasteful.
Plus, don't almost all marketing studies show that women are more attacted to products sold my beautiful women models, than by men, no matter the state of undress. I see that slowing mained, smooth oiled skinned, over-pumped bodies on Romance covers and thing seriously gay, not sexy myself.
Rats I should have spell checked that should have been
I see that flowing maned, oil smooth skinned, over-pumped bodies on Romance covers and think seriously gay, not sexy, myself.
>Also, publishers are probably still trying to figure out what works for SFR.
Exactly. However without more books on the shelves to serve as a proper sample, how will they know what really works? I'm also wondering if as you said it's a huge risk to publishers to release an SF-looking book in the romance section. Short-term decisions will be based on what's selling elsewhere, e.g., man titty covers. Long-term based decisions (e.g., building loyalty with more books and collectible covers) will involve more risk.
Until a certain kind(s) of SFR starts selling regardless of cover, publishers will hold back from taking those risks.
>Also the dismembered hot bod seems really dysfunctional sex-object-as-thing-not-person too me, I find them almost always
distasteful.
And it turns bookshelves into a meat market. Publishers are barely being selective about it. For some genres/books it's totally appropriate and in fact it would be counter-intuitive *not* to sell certain books that way. But nearly across the board? *Shakes head in puzzlement*
Either readers are reinforcing publishers to release the sexed up covers through their purchases or as Kimber An has pointed out, it's a reflection of what publishers *think* readers want.
Or even somewhere in-between.
mftz, I knew what you meant!
I guess that's part of what bothers me. There are people who's books I know I'll enjoy, Like Susan Grant, who get bublished with covers I think are off the mark, or even semi distasteful.
Do I not get the book, and not support a writer I enjoy because of a marketing department decision she as little control over?
Do I buy the book and write a complaint letter to the publisher about the cover? How much good does something like that do? I be curious to know, if anyone involved in the industry could speak to that.
mfitz said:
"Do I not get the book, and not support a writer I enjoy because of a marketing department decision she as little control over?"
-I think this is why The Galaxy Express and the SFR Shelfari is so important. We can spread the word about the really great SFR and support the writers, hoping the publishers will figure it out.
"Do I buy the book and write a complaint letter to the publisher about the cover? How much good does something like that do?"
-I'd be curious to know too. If publishers only pay attention to the sale of new books, I think not.
Trends come and go as well, so perhaps we'll see a rise of something different when either sales dip for books with these covers, or...when sales dip. Or maybe a different artistic sensibility will arise in marketing departments. Or a bunch of people say, enough already.
Another reason I don't take too much stock in covers is that some I've seen in the genre market are downright ugly. Yet the author and story are great! Word of mouth had already sold me on one particular SFR book so it was just a matter of getting over that initial shudder when I actually picked it up in my hands.
Thanks for the links, Heather. I had a fun time clicking around.
I actually quite like the Susan Grant cover. I like the colors and it's a good picture. I thought the guy on the front must be the Warlord of the title, but after reading the blurb I changed my mind. I wonder why there isn't a woman anywhere on the cover? Again, from the blurb, it seemed to be more the heroine's story.
Linnea's workshop on conflict is now bookmarked for further study.
I've never been to a convention, and I'm obviously missing out.
LBM's recent speech has had quite an impact. I've seen it mentioned and blogged about in several places. Can you believe I've never read any of her stuff? I'll be correcting that very soon. Well, as soon as I get over my current CJ Cherryh obsession.
Just popping in for two seconds to say thanks for another fabulous post full of great links, Heather.
I was so jazzed to hear Sandra McDonald's THE OUTBACK STARS made the top 10 list. I've been telling every skiffy rommer fan I know they really should read this one. :)
Yes, Laurie did an excellent review of THE OUTBACK STARS. Sorry I didn't think to add it to the round-up; that would have been a good link to include.
Z, there are so many good books out there it's a challenge to find the time. You're forgiven. This time.
Thanks for the congrats. Yes, I was very jazzed when I was given LJ and saw the starred review! But folks have been waiting for this story...and my Mom, the ex-librarian, was thrilled, too. Good reviews Publisher's weekly and Romantic Times are all well and good, but it's LJ that makes her smile.
Thanks again,
Robin
Oh, and Heart Fate has ABs that I'm not too fond of, and a guy who looks like old Chuck Norris when Tinne Holly is 23...but I like the eye's peering through the lettering on my name.
Robin
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