Market News
Welcome everyone, especially my new subscribers. I'm back after an enjoyable (but somewhat soggy) vacation with more news for you all.
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Last time I reported on Avon Books' Spotlight from RWA's national convention. Now I've learned that editor Kelly Harms is leaving Avon. No word on who will fill her position.
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This week, I have the scoop on NAL's Spotlight at the RWA Convention. Editorial Director Claire Zion, Executive Editor Ellen Edwards and Editor Anne Bohner spoke at the spotlight. NAL publishes a wide range of women's fiction and romance, as well as Young Adult books. The NAL Eclipse program publishes three mass-market paper romances a month. This is where most of the romances are placed at NAL. They also have the Signet/Onyx imprint, home to some romance, mostly NYT authors.
NAL publishes both historical and contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and paranormal romance. They are open to innovation, such as historical romantic mysteries or paranormal historical. They also publish trade paper and women’s fiction.
The Signet Regency program publishes 1-2 titles a month. The market for traditional regencies continues to shrink, with the loss of such traditional retailers as Kmart.
NAL has a well-established list of best selling historical authors. New writers can break in with a strong hook or premise and a strong voice. They already publish quite a few western historical authors but will consider new submissions in this area. NAL is also publishing straight historical fiction. Here, the protagonist is a real person or someone close to a real historical figure
On the contemporary side, NAL publishes straight-forward contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and vampire romance. They’re looked for new voices in romantic suspense.
They’re doing several Chick Lit mystery series. They’re also venturing into historical mysteries.
On the trade paper side, their erotica has been selling well. They’d like to publish more erotica. Stories here need strong, fresh hooks and a high concept. NAL also publishes trade paper chick lit novels. The market here is very competitive. They want books with meatier plot lines, complex characters and a strong voice. A third area of trade paper originals is Lady Lit, for women 30 and older. They are open to new authors and new ideas here
The NAL Accent program is four years old now. These are books by and for women “Fiction for the way we live.” The stories are realistic and thought-provoking but hopeful. They published 8 to 10 books a year in trade paper. They are very selective, but they’re always looking for new talent.
NAL Jam is a line of Chick Lit for teens and women in their early 20's. They are actively acquiring books for this line and would like some really fresh stories with attitude.
Ellen Edwards acquires Lady Lit, books for the Accent program, contemporary and historical romance, chick lit mystery, historical mystery and historical novels.
Anne Bohner is looking for YA books for NAL Jam, Chick Lit, erotic romance and contemporary romance.
Claire Zion likes historical novels and romantic suspense.
Editor Laura Cifelli did not attend the conference, but she acquires both contemporary and historical romance and paranormal romance. She’s actively acquiring.
Kara Cesar is looking for vampire romance, chick lit and straight suspense novels.
NAL will consider both agented and unagented novels, but authors are warned it can take six months or more for unagented material to be read. They are open to submissions from both new and previously published authors. The Eclipse program has many new authors.
Send your queries to New American Library, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
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New Age Dimensions Publishing is launching two new psychic fiction series and is open to submissions. From their website: "Psychic fiction is a novel whose characters have intuitive psychic abilities. Psychic fiction does not just contain psychic elements in the storyline; instead, being psychic is an integral part of the character’s makeup." Editor Melissa Alvarez is interested in both novels and short stories. The website, http://newagedimensionspublishing.com/ has submissions details and some great articles as well.
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My newest release, My Backwards Life, should be in bookstores by the end of next week. If you've been flipping through a woman's magazine recently, you may have seen the ads for the Next Novel, including info about My Backwards Life. This is my first woman's fiction novel, told in first person. If you haven't already done so, you can read a free excerpt on my website. http://www.cindimyers.com
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While you're at my website, check out the contest I'm holding for preorders of my October book, Learning Curves. I had these very cool tape measures made up to distribute to booksellers and media. I have 40 left, so the first 40 people who send me a copy of their email confirmation showing they've ordered the book from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or any other bookseller, will receive one of these tape measures. Forward the confirmation (or cut and paste into a new email) to me at cindi@cindimyers.com. You can see pictures of the prize, find out more about the book, and click-through to order, at http://www.cindimyers.com
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Feel free to pass along this newsletter and to encourage others to sign up to receive it. If you reprint or forward the newsletter, all I ask is that I be given credit for it. Anyone can sign up by sending a blank email to cynthiasterling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Cindi
Marketing News is courtesy of:
Cindi Myers
My Backwards Life , Next, September 2005
Learning Curves , Signature Select, October 2005
www.CindiMyers.com
You can subscribe to her newsletter by sending a blank email to subscribe-cynthiasterling@yahoogroups.com or an email to me at cindi@cindimyers.com