Publisher Showcase ~ Liquid Silver Books

Good afternoon, Brigaders.

Please help me give a big welcome to Maria Rogers and Liquid Silver Books.

Who are they, those behind the scenes gods and goddesses of the literary industry? They take great novels and help their authors to make them better. They inspire and sometimes smack authors upside the head when they need it. Most of all, they keep the gears of the publishing industry well oiled and turning.

They’re editors.


So, you’ve been pitching, querying and submitting your manuscript. Sometimes you get a letter that gives you a brief glimpse about what you’re doing right or wrong and sometimes it’s the dreaded form letter, the same one your writer buddy got last week. It tells you nothing. It drives you crazy. What did I do wrong? What are they looking for? Why isn’t it right for them?


Authors talk with each other. It’s a given. We talk about our rejections. We talk about what we could do better and we scratch our heads and wonder what the person on the other side of that letter was thinking. How do we get their attention? How do we get that yes? Here’s a chance to find out.


Maria worked with me on two of my novels, Slipping the Past and Last Flight of the Ark. She was amazing, challenged me to expand my horizons and she helped me to carve my novels into better books. She’s offered to give us a little insight into what Liquid Silver is looking for. So let’s get started and get a behind the scenes peek.

Maria, please tell us a little bit about the publisher you work for. When was Liquid Silver Books founded and by who? How many E-books do they publish annually and do have they any awards?

Liquid Silver Books is an imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing founded in 2000 by owners Raven Moore and Mike Feury. Seeing the potential for erotic romance books to flourish in the ePublishing industry, Raven and Mike opened Liquid Silver Books in 2003.


We're currently publishing about 200 books a year with a stable of over 100 plus authors, many of whom are award winning recipients of Eppies, Best of at many review sites, and award winning covers.

What are the most common reasons a novel is rejected?

A lot of time an author has the heart for writing, but his or her talent still needs honing. Storylines that aren’t ready for the primetime are often the biggest reason a book is rejected. Another one is passive writing, as that keeps the readers from really being drawn into the characters personalities and the story. Another reason for rejection is that it doesn’t appeal to our target audience. We publish romance and erotic romance in several genres, but if your novel isn’t something we think our readers will fall in love with then we might not be the right fit for you. Nothing personal!

What are the biggest mistakes new authors make?

Lack of self-editing. Double-check your grammar, your spelling, your punctuation and paragraph structure. Not that you have to hand in a perfect manuscript, but showing that you can produce a polished product says a lot about your dedication to your craft and your professionalism. It also means that there will be less for your editor to tackle in revisions, and thus less time to your release date.

What kind of things do you look for in a submission?

I like a good story arc, with plenty of emotional development in the beginning and middle, and hopefully some tension between the hero and heroine too. I like to see emotions coming from the characters, even if they are not aware of it on the surface. Vibrant scenes and concrete detailing is very desirable as well.

What grabs your attention, makes you sit up and want to read more?

In a word, atmosphere. For me, this encompasses a lot—the setting, the details, the world-building, even the language and speech style of the characters. The overall feeling the book gives you is, to me, just as important as the plot.


How far do you read into a submission before you know if the novel is right for you?


I usually know within a few chapters if the author’s talent and voice is a good fit for us, but sometimes I have to read an entire submission before I can really know whether or not the whole story will be a Liquid Silver release.

Tell me about a few of your favorite Liquid Silver science fiction romances and what they’re about. What really stood out in these stories that made them unique?

Well, you can accuse me of playing favorites, but Slipping the Past blew me away. That book is chock full of tension, atmosphere, excitement and romance. I really loved how much thought you had put into really creating a unique and original plot, and characters that the reader could both be surprised by and identify with. It’s not an easy thing, and you pulled it off beautifully.

I also love Loribelle Hunt’s entire Delroi series, which yes, I am the editor for as well. She has a great grasp of emotional tension and the way reluctant lovers can ignite when they are together. Her heroes and heroines are truly kick-ass and she’s always got loads of action that keeps your heart racing.

What is Liquid Silver looking for now? What kinds of submissions would you like to see pop up in your e-queries? Anything you’re dying to see more of? Steampunk? Futuristic? Space Opera? Any dream novels?

Our Acquisitions Director Tracey West has put out several submission calls, including “Geeks Need Love Too,” “Villain Romances” and Holiday-Themed Stories (Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukah are still open). I’m a Trekkie at heart, so I love stuff that is set on spaceships and other worlds. I enjoy just about every variety of sci-fi there is, whether it is post-apocalyptic futureworld, deep space adventures, or alien invasion. The authors’ unique vision brought to life is always a pleasure and an adventure to behold.

Last but not least, how do we submit?

New authors should submit the first 3 chapters of their work in the required format to submissions@liquidsilverbooks.com; authors who already have contracted/published stories with LSB can submit their full manuscripts, same format standards, same email address. For our submission guidelines, please check out our website: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/guidelines.htm

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule and welcome to the Brigade, Maria. We’re thrilled to have you in our group.


D L Jackson.

Please welcome Raelene Gorlinsky of Ellora's Cave to the Brigade!

Would you like to share a little history about Ellora’s Cave ?
Who are your key personnel?

EC was launched in November 2000 by Tina Engler (author Jaid Black). Her erotic romances had been rejected by all the big NY publishers because they said women did not want to read romances with explicit sex. Well, Tina knew she and her friends loved to read them – and write them. So she decided to start her own publishing company specifically for this genre. Doing ebooks was the most financially feasible way for that. Five years later, NY pubs took note of EC’s success and realized that gee, some women did like lust along with the love.

Publisher Raelene Gorlinsky, Editor-in-Chief Kelli Collins . CEO is Patty Marks , COO is Susan Edwards .

What are the biggest mistakes new authors make?

By new authors, do you mean aspiring authors? The most common mistakes that keep them from moving from ‘aspiring’ to ‘published’ are failing to read and follow publisher submission guidelines and failing to submit an absolutely clean (proofed, self-edited, critiqued) manuscript.

For new authors, meaning those on their first or second published book, they often suffer from lack of knowledge of the publishing industry and the book production process. Learn the industry! Do research, belong to professional writer organizations, ask lots of questions of your peers, published authors, and people at your publishing house.

What are the most common reasons a novel (especially a Science Fiction Romance novel) is rejected?

Most common – and unfortunately VERY common – is lack of consistent, detailed and believable (logical) world building. World building is important in any book, but absolutely critical in science fiction or fantasy. >

What do you look for in a Science Fiction Romance submission?

All the normal things of any genre submission--clean ms, distinctive voice, interesting setting, great characters.

Can you say what proportion of novels you publish are sci fi romances?

Our Aeon line encompasses science fiction and futuristic erotic romance. It accounts for about 16% of our books.

What grabs your attention, makes you sit up and want to read more?

A unique or very uncommon premise and setting (world). A heroine I admire, who behaves intelligently and believably.

How far do you read into a submission before you know if the novel is right for you?

I can usually tell if it isn’t right within the first three pages. If I keep reading past that, more will be eliminated by the first three chapters. If it still looks good by that point, I read the whole thing—too many stories go downhill after Chapter 3, or fall apart at the end.

Do you have recommendations or requirements regarding "heat levels" of submissions?

Since we are an erotic romance/erotica publisher, all our books must be super hot. Per our submission guidelines:

~ The sexual relationship must be integral to and an important element of the storyline and the character development. Sex scenes should contribute to furthering the plot or affecting the development of the romantic relationship or the growth of the characters.

~ The story must include abundant and explicit sex and sexual tension, starting early and continuing throughout. Sex scenes must be described in graphic detail and explicit wording, not delicate euphemisms or purple prose.

~ The story must meet the definition of a romance novel: the primary focus must be on the development of a romantic relationship, and there must be an emotionally satisfying committed ending for the main characters.

Tell me about a few of your favorite/best-selling Science Fiction Romances novels. What really stood out in these stories that made them unique?

I enjoy great cover art, but it doesn’t really affect my decision to buy/read a book. That is solely based on the story, which I glean from the blurb and reviews.

My favorites? – These are stories that have uncommon plots and characters, rather than the standard clichés or tropes of the genre. I especially love the strong heroines; I can’t stand a wimpy or TSTL character.

Linnea Sinclair’s An Accidental Goddess – I adore this.

Susan Grant’s The Star King

All the books in Judy Mays’ Celestial Passions series! (http://www.jasminejade.com/s-30-celestial-passions.aspx)

Beast of Dreams by Cynthia Williams (http://www.jasminejade.com/p-4740-beast-of-dreams.aspx)

Kate Douglas’ Starquest series (http://www.jasminejade.com/s-116-starquest.aspx) – although that’s more futuristic, not really science fiction.

The Sailmaster’s Woman by Annie Windsor (http://www.jasminejade.com/p-4690-the-sailmasters-woman.aspx)

I just ordered Close Encounters by Katherine Allred, and am looking forward to reading it. Also on my TBR list is the steampunk Mechanical Rose by Nathalie Gray (http://www.jasminejade.com/p-5657-mechanical-rose.aspx). >

What are you looking for right now? What kinds of submissions would you like to see pop up in your e-queries? Anything you’re dying to see more of? Steampunk? Futuristic? Space Opera? Any dream novels?

I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see erotic steampunk. Steampunk romance is one of my favorite subgenres for my personal reading. (I’d pay big bribes to get an early copy of Blameless, the next in the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carringer.) An author who can combine incredible world building in a steampunk setting with a super-steamy sexual and romantic relationship will be a hit with me and with EC.

Hmm, any of you SFR writers also do urban fantasy romance? That’s another favorite subgenre of mine – contemporary or slightly future set. (Nalini Singh’s Angel series !! Okay, I’d pay HUGE bribes for a chance to read the draft of the next book in that.) EC would love to get erotic urban fantasy submissions.

Oh, and note that I always mention the “romance” part. I personally prefer romance in my science fiction, steampunk, or UF. For EC, we accept sexy stories with romance (Romantica®) or without romance (erotica). Futuristic erotic romances also generally do quite well at EC.

We have editors who love science fiction romance in all forms, so if you write a great book, one of our staff may be able to fall in love with it.

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us!!

Publisher Showcase: An Interview with Carina Press Editor Deborah Nemeth

In the previous post, we learned about the philosophy behind the brand-new Carina Press (Harlequin’s digital-first imprint) and why it should be on every science fiction romance author’s submission list. Now it’s time to sharpen the focus.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Carina Press editor Deborah Nemeth to learn more about what she’s specifically seeking, especially in science fiction and science fiction romance submissions.

Here’s what she had to say:

In a recent interview, you expressed interest in acquiring space operas and steampunk, as well as “an anti-war sex-strike comedy (an updated Lysistrata) set aboard a closed community like a spaceship.” Please tell us more about your interests. What other kinds of space opera and steampunk settings and stories would excite you?

I read widely and acquire in most genres, including genre hybrids such as SF thrillers, futuristic romantic comedy and m/m space opera romance. I like superheroes, characters with psychic powers, and stories that mix elements of fantasy and SF. I’d love to acquire a SF mystery or romantic suspense in a galactic, futuristic, or Victorian/Edwardian setting that features a really cool sleuth, a character the author could base a series on. Bottom line, I’m looking for good stories. While a great premise will wow me, it’s often the simple, easy-to-grasp ones that will grab me, rather than ones requiring elaborate scientific explanations. Think of the simple premise of the TV show FlashForward—what if everyone passes out for a few minutes and gets a vision of themselves in the future?

For science fiction romance, are you interested in any particular types of heroes and heroines (e.g., cyborgs, space pirates, scientists, airship captains)?

I adore a rogue who redeems himself/herself, so rebels, smugglers & pirates operating outside of the law appeal to me, yet I’m also attracted to uber-honorable law enforcers, detectives, warriors and military servicemen (love those sexy men in uniform!) but I’m actually open to any protagonist who has strong passions. Kickass heroines appeal to me, but I can fall for quiet, thoughtful heroines and beta heroes if their goals are compelling enough. For me, that’s key—the characters must want something fiercely enough to make me care about their goal, so that I make an emotional investment in their story. Scientist protagonists are fine—provided the story doesn’t get lost beneath of the weight of the science. And it’s important that an action-filled romance contain conflict between the h/h—and not rely solely on the conflict resulting from them facing the same danger, so that we get romantic/internal conflict as well.

Do you prefer lighthearted/action/adventure stories or more literate SF? Or something else? What about heat level?

I like both lighthearted action romps as well as darker or more thoughtful works. I’m looking for richly textured world-building that doesn’t overwhelm the storyline. In general, I’m more interested in characters’ goals and journeys and the story’s conflict than I am in how the technology works. I’m not fussy about heat level, either (at least not when the beings having sex are human—I’m much pickier about explicit alien sex involving non-humanlike sexual organs), so I’m open to anything from sweet to blazing hot.

When reading submissions, what grabs your attention? What makes you sit up and want to read more?

Strong conflict. Passionate, flawed heroes and heroines. Unusual premises. A well-paced read that grabs me by the throat from the first scene and keeps me turning the pages with tension that builds to a powerful climax. And I’m a sucker for emotion. If you can make my throat tighten at the resolution of the story, you’ve probably got me.

What can authors do to maximize the chances of their stories being accepted?

Make sure the conflict and stakes are strong enough to carry the story, that it doesn’t turn on a simple misunderstanding that some honest communication wouldn’t straighten out. Make sure you’re showing, not telling, enough of the story so that you’re drawing your readers into the experience, thereby engaging their emotions on a deeper level. Make your characters suffer. Make sure things get worse for them as the story progresses. Put your characters into a corner so tight that your readers can’t figure out how they will overcome their obstacles. Allow your heroes and heroines to change and grow over the course of the story.

Beyond that, it’s a question of honing your craft. I’m looking for tight writing. Polish, tighten, polish some more. Begin/end each scene with hooks, cut unnecessary exposition, be ruthless about eliminating repetition. Every word must carry its weight. It’s helpful if authors have crit partners and/or beta readers who aren’t afraid to give them honest feedback.

What elements do you feel makes a science fiction/science fiction romance story derivative?

Sometime I’ll read a manuscript and it just feels as if I’ve read the story too many times before. And I’m not interested in regurgitations of Star Wars or Star Trek—thinly disguised Vulcan or Jedi stories set in a rebels vs. galactic empire settings start to read too much like fan fic.

How far do you read into a submission before you know if the novel is right for you?

That rather depends…I may read around thirty pages, double spaced, before deciding whether to continue reading, pass it to another editor or reject. But I’ll give up sooner if warranted. Occasionally we’ll get a submission from a brand new author whose writing is so choppy or incoherent or dry that a page or two is enough for me to know that it’s not right for Carina Press. If the writing flows well but there’s no sign of conflict in the first ten pages, I’ll stop. Most of the time, if a manuscript is one I end up offering for, I’ll be excited from the first page. When I get those prickles of excitement, I always hope they’ll carry me through the full ms. Sometimes a manuscript starts slowly then gallops, or has a promising beginning but lacks a big enough climax, so I may offer a revision letter and end up acquiring it later. I never offer a revision letter unless I’m seriously interested, so it’s always disappointing when authors don’t follow through.

Tell us about a few of your favorite SF/SFR novels. What elements in those stories made them unique?

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenager is brilliantly structured and has a great premise. I love The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell, a first-contact story, and its sequel, Children of God, a series which explores philosophical questions of theology and morality as well as being exciting, complex novels. At the erotic end of the spectrum, I love the futuristic romance With a Touch by Rhiannon Leith for its wonderful prose and its ability to engage my emotions and make me believe that the psychic heroine and her two rebel heroes will indeed have a happy-ever-after together.

Is there anything else you’d like to share either about your interest in acquiring SF/SFR or forthcoming titles you’ve edited?

I accept direct submissions. I prefer to receive the full manuscript, rather than a partial or a query, and I’m looking for stories in all lengths from 15k to over 100k words. Authors may email me at deborahnemetheditor @ gmail.com with a query letter pasted in the email and a synopsis and the full ms attached in .rtf or .doc format.

I’m very excited to announce my most recent acquisition for Carina Press: Gambit, a super-sexy, fast-paced SF romance novel by Brigade member Kim Knox. This is one of those stories that pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let you go until long after you’ve closed the book:

Captain Haf Beyon ferries cargo for whoever stumps up the credit and has no qualms about fleecing the unsuspecting rich. When she’s kidnapped and offered unimaginable wealth to deliver Daned Traern—disguised as a near-naked flesh-pet—to his home system, she has no idea how dangerous the mission will prove. Haf is dragged into a world of insane princes, mercenaries, hidebound tradition and sentient stones. A world her mother did everything in her power to protect her from. A world made so much more dangerous by the man at her side.

Another one of my recent acquisitions is an as-yet-untitled novel by m/m romance author Christine Price. Combining SF and paranormal elements, it’s about a rogue researcher who imprisons psychics at a derelict institution, the paranormal element coming into play with the introduction of a vampire hero.

My first Carina Press science fiction romance project will release on June 21. Hunters, by Michelle Marquis and Lindsey Bayer, is an erotic space opera romance about a bounty hunter who will do anything to bring in her skip.

****

About Deborah:

Since Deborah Nemeth began reading before her fourth birthday and stops only when she absolutely has to, it was probably inevitable that she would major in English literature and eventually become an editor. As an utter bookslut, she loves to read all sorts of things, from SFF to mysteries to historical romance. Over the years she’s lived in Ohio, Michigan, Chicago and Puerto Rico, although she spends most of her time in places such as Arrakis, Bath or Middle-earth. Currently she lives in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband (a candidate for sainthood) and two beautiful daughters. You may follow her on Twitter at @DebNemeth.

Publisher Showcase: Carina Press

Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint, welcomes a wide-range of adult genres with open arms. This means niche stories as well: Carina is actively seeking science fiction romance of all heat levels. They will also consider romantic SF and even SF with very little romance.

What exactly constitutes a “digital-first” publisher? It means that “the contract and distribution channels are very different.” There’s no advance, but there’s no Digital Rights Management (DRM), either. A lack of DRM translates to a consumer friendly e-reading experience.

As is the case with many digital publishers, authors “…are compensated with a higher royalty.” Additionally, “Carina Press titles will be sold direct to consumers through the Carina Press website, and we’ll be securing 3rd party distribution with retailers such as Books On Board, Fictionwise and Amazon.” While this means there is no guarantee of series distribution, the potential payoff for promotion savvy authors could be potentially higher than going with a traditional publishing model.

In a word: progressive.

Another factor distinguishing Carina Press is that its staff is actively involved in social networking, which makes it a very transparent publisher in the sense that authors and readers can obtain progress updates and learn about new releases by reading its blog or following it on Twitter or Facebook. Carina Press is invested in reaching out to readers, and this sentiment is underscored by the fact that Executive Editor Angela James and her editorial staff are fans of science fiction & fantasy stories. They’re not just editors—they’re also customers.

What makes Carina Press different?

*As stated in the FAQ section, Carina Press views the publishing of its books as a “joint effort” between your art and Carina’s marketing and editorial expertise.

*Carina can adapt to new book trends faster (a definite advantage for niche subgenres like SFR).

*Carina’s flexibility means it’s “not limited by print bookstore shelf space.”

*Carina authors will have more control of their brands, and can expect the publisher to “provide new authors with the tools to get started self-promoting in the digital space.”

*Longevity of sales.

See the Carina Press FAQ for more detailed information.

What kind of stories will Carina Press consider?

According to the submission guidelines,

Carina Press will consider shorter length stories between 15,000 to 50,000 words, genre novels between 50,000 to 100,000 words and longer and complex narratives of over 100,000 words. We expect to publish a majority of romance and erotic romance but are also very interested in women’s fiction, science fiction, fantasy, futuristic, mystery, thrillers, horror, and niches.

As far as editing, “Carina Press goes through the same rigorous acquisition and editorial development processes as traditional print publishers.”

Here is a complete list of genres Carina will consider:

• Romance
• Science Fiction, Fantasy, Futuristic
• Erotica
• Mystery
• Thrillers
• Horror
• Family Saga
• Women’s Fiction
• Interactive Fiction with Multiple/Alternate Endings
• Previously Released Material

Plus, Carina Press considers simultaneous submissions.

Stay tuned, because next we’re featuring an exclusive interview with Carina Press editor Deborah Nemeth!