Have We Got a Question for YOU!
Yes, it’s happened. We’re blank for our Saturday blog. Well, not really. We just decided that there are things we’d like to know from you, our visitors/readers. So each of us monkeys will ask you a question we’d like your thoughts on. (minus Janelle who is on a mini honeymoon … er … vacation. Have fun, Janelle! Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do! 
)
QUESTIONS:
CP: I want to know if you have already bought CROSS MY HEART in hardcover … or if you haven’t (and are hopefully waiting for CMH in paperback June 26). And following up on that, if you do already own the hardcover, are you still planning to pick up the paperback version so you can have a matching set with SEALED WITH A KISS paperback in October. (And really this isn’t a “I can’t afford hardcover discussion because as I said, that’s over and done with. Your pocketbooks will now be lighter when you buy my books!) I’m just curious what to expect for CROSS MY HEART sales in July.
LK: I want to know what makes you really chomp at the bit to buy a book before it’s released? Excerpts? Contests? Reviews? Buzz? Word of mouth? This matters because, as you know, I’ve got a lot riding on this next contemporary single title coming out in July, and I want to do absolutely anything within my power to make sure it does well so that hopefully I might someday get the chance to write the last of the Trouble books! So…any tips?
JEL: I want to question our aspiring writers…first, a public service announcement. My local RWA chapter, with which I’m very involved, has a writing contest coming up with a deadline of May 1. The contest rocks. I train the judges every year and have for the last six years at least. I highly recommend it. Joanne Rock sold her first book because of our contest. Or was it Julie Kenner? I can’t remember. It was someone who I’m a fan of! Anyway…here’s my question…are there any craft issues you’d like the plotmonkeys to discuss. If we set a few Saturdays aside for craft questions, would you participate? And readers…would this bore you to tears?
Check out the TARA contest here.
Carly, I bought “Cross my Heart” in hardback and am patiently waiting for “Sealed with a kiss”. I don’t normally worry about if the book is hardback or paperback, just if I can get one faster than the other.
Leslie, a lot of things get me wanting to buy a book. Contests are good, blogs, page a day/month teasers are good. Promotional items in the mail are pretty good too.
Julie, I am very interested in the TARA Contest. I would love to see a blog all about how to do dialougue in book. Question about the TARA Contest.. on the website it says that the chapter has to be double spaced. I have my chapter ready, but I needed to know. Can you seperate paragraphs and the dialougue between people? If all of it is double spaced it kind of runs together. Can you put more then double spaces between the paragraphs? Thanks!
Comment by Shannon Upright — April 14, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Wow good questions.
Carly, I will definitely get both.
Leslie I think it is a combination of all three, plus if you can make a trailer. Those are really good and you can put it on your myspace page.
Julie sounds like an awesome contest and I know someone that should enter it.
hehe
Comment by BadBarb — April 14, 2007 @ 8:38 am
Shannon, standard manuscript formatting is just like you see in a book–with a new paragraph for every characters line of dialogue, then paragraphing as needed for exposition and narrative. Do it just like a book…and then double space it. That’s all it is. Double spacing simply is to give the judges room to write comments on your manuscript!
Barb…tell everyone! The TARA contest rocks!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 14, 2007 @ 8:49 am
Carly- I did buy Cross My Heart in hardback. I am very excited for the release of Sealed with a Kiss.
Leslie- I love to read exerpts of books. A lot of the time they have really played a big part in wether I buy a book or just wait for it to be available in the library. I like to hear about the main characters and get an idea of who they are ahead of time too. Some background information that may not be in the book. I loved your first Trouble book and was very sad:cry: to hear that for now this will be the last. I hope that things go great for this book so that we will be able to hear more from Trouble in the future.
Comment by Jennifer C — April 14, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Carly - Didn’t but the HC but will be on line for the PB.
Lesile: Other than any sites I visit I’m more of a wander around the bookstore - see a nice cover and read the back blurb. Sometimes amazon will give me a good recommendation based on what I previously bought.
Julie: Some writing stuff would be great. And my# 1 item is… PLOTTING!
and #2 would be description.
Thanks for Listening - Liz
Comment by Liz — April 14, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Why is everyone up so early this morning?!?
Carly - I’m waiting for paperback and I’ll be at the bookstore Tues. morning of release date.
Leslie - excerpts always get me hooked! Someone mentioned “myspace”, do you have a site? I’ve just gotten mine up and am starting to add “friends” so I wondered. I have all the Plotmonkeys listed as my must reads - not that anyone other than my sons visit it, but someday they might!
Also, I was driving this week and had a lot of time to think. I don’t know why it popped into my mind but I first found this blog through something Carly did on Amazon. I went there one morning and had this nice little note from Carly talking about this blog and some of her books (can’t remember which one it was). I know tracking that kind of thing is important to knowing what works so I wanted to make sure to mention that.
Julie - I’m wondering how little sleep I can function on between now and May 1st.
IMO, any information you guys are willing to share is appreciated! I’m a member of RWA but have to drive 2 hours for a meeting (not gonna happen, at least not regularly enough to count). That’s why I love your “advice” articles on your website and I go to RWA web and read all the articles listed there that I can find.
Personally, I’m a sponge trying to learn and take it all in, so anything you guys share (even on the daily posts) is greatly appreciated!!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Comment by Jodie — April 14, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Hi, all. Good morning!
Jodie, Amazon Connect lets authors create a page and contact readers via their bookpages. It’s cool. And that SASE thing I did where I offered goodies? Well, I had over a dozen people send SASEs through Amazon Connect. It’s really good to know what works!
Comment by Carly — April 14, 2007 @ 9:25 am
HOT DOG! Just went to the TARA site. I was thinking I needed to have complete manuscript. Yippeee!!
Comment by Jodie — April 14, 2007 @ 9:25 am
In my past life as a media buyer in an advertising agency that was always the most difficult and frustrating part of my job, tracking inquiries and figuring out what was working and what needed to be changed.
Comment by Jodie — April 14, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Carly,
I do have “Cross My Heart ” in hard cover.
I am patiently waiting for “Sealed With a Kiss”
I used to wait for the soft covers and their are very few authors I need
I usually donate my books to a nursing home with the exception
of a few favorite authors I call my top dozen. Yes you are!
Heck I rarely buy the hardcover.
I guess in my house that makes you special.
Comment by jeannie — April 14, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Carly-I have Cross my Heart in hard back and can’t wait for Sealed with a Kiss. I’m love hard back books but will buy the paperback just the same.
Leslie-The one thing that captures my interest in a book is first the author and the then the cover. I’m a sucker for great covers!
Comment by Carol — April 14, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Okay, first question, Carly I bought Cross My Heart in hardcover, but do plan on buying the paperback version so that I have a complete set when Sealed With a Kiss comes out.
Second question, Leslie normally an excerpt will get me hooked, but most of the time if a book is coming out by a favorite author (you for example) it is already on my TBB list. I normally also forward reminders to any friends that I think may enjoy a book.
And last, but not least, Julie’s question, as a hope to be published author one day, I would like any help that I can get. I just found out that I will be getting an appointment with an editor at Lori Foster’s Reader/Writer Get Together in early June and have a major case of the nerves. I would love to have some advice or just your wisdom on how to handle myself and sell my book during this meeting. So I guess the simple answer is any mini workshops or blogs that you all would like to have on this subject would be most helpful.
Have a great weekend.
Comment by Patty L. — April 14, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Carly- I read CMH in HC from the library and will be waiting to unpack the sucker in PB so I can grab my copy right away. I don’t have room for all the HC’s so I do PB. Now I get to “borrow” from the store too. :thumbsup2:
Leslie- I love almost any type of promotion. I usually subscribe to any news letters I have found on my fav author sites, so I get those notices too. I loved Carly’s SASE thing, but I still haven’t sent one. Sometimes I am very lazy or just have so much going on. From Katie MacAllister I usually get a link to pre-buy her next book and I always get goodies with it. (Not my store discount, but then, we don’t give out goodies either.) I love it when you guys promote another author that i can find and add to my list.
Julie- I will admit that I am NOT a frustrated writer in any way, other than those god awful papers for college I used to do. But i also think it would make for an interesting topic on here. If the topic of any of the blogs doesn’t interest me, I just read and post a short comment or just don’t comment. I can’t imagine that all of us are interested in all the same things all the time. That is what makes it so much fun to come and visit. It’s like Xmas- you never know what is under the tree until you open the column up!!!
Comment by ev — April 14, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Leslie,
I am so hoping for another “Trouble” book.
I love the new Trailers. I only ddo contests with my favorite authors.
I am not much of a surfer or contest person.
How about doing a personal video promoting your new book.
Your know like the sledding one, only a personal book promo.
Why do I buy books? I buy first by Author.
Second by word of mouth/blog/plotmonkeys.
Now when in a book store I look in this order:
Romance section, Author, New Author, title, cover,
then I read the back of the cover.
With my top 12 authors I go to their sites monthly
and buy every new book they release.
So the contest ther always makes me smile.
Julie,
I’m gonna leave the writing to the plotmonkeys.
But I read all the posts and you are all always interesting and fun.
Never boring!
Comment by jeannie — April 14, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Carly, I loved, :love2:loved, :love2:loved,:love2: Cross My Heart, and will buy the soft cover so that it can go on the shelf next to Sealed with a Kiss, which I’m desperately waiting for, notice I didn’t say patiently…lol I don’t do patiently well.
Leslie, It doesn’t take much for me to chomp at the bit for a book…lol Usually just a little teaser and I’m sold, also must have all my favorite authors books, they’re a given. I shop alot on Amazon so they suggest authors to me based on books I’ve ordered so this usually works well for me.
Julie, I’d like to call myself an aspiring author, when in truth I’m just a chicken…lol but I love your idea of some blogs devoted to writing. I think it would be very insiteful and I would be grateful to any help and advice you could give.
Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 14, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
P.S. Janelle, I hope your having fun on your honeymoon/vacation:cocktail:
Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 14, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Carly, I think I have read ALL your other books and plan on buying CMH on June 26th! And I’ll definitely follow with Sealed With A Kiss.
Leslie, for me, the biggest selling point regarding books is the presentation in the book store. First and foremost I always look for my favortie authors to see if there’s anything new or anything I’ve missed. I always check out New Releases and if a cover or title catches my eye I’ll read the back to see if I want it. Word of mouth is good and I appreciate the Plot Monkey’s and bloggers recommendations. I can’t wait for your next release this summer and will do my best to spread the word to my friends. And I really hope you get to write another Trouble book!
Julie, I’m hoping to be published one day and would love and appreciate any advice and information you guys could give! I’ve completed two manuscripts and for me the hardest thing has been the darn synopsis. I would be grateful for some insight on how to best write those. Thanks for the info on the TARA contest - I will definitely enter! It will be my first contest. Quick question - what is the difference between long and short contemporary?
Thanks so much Plot Monkeys - not only for your awesome books but for your thoughtfulness where we readers/writers are concerned!
Comment by Robin — April 14, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Good questions for us to answer!
I do like some promotions, bookmarks, emails/newsletters from the author. My reading habit is voracious so I don’t have to have much of a push to buy a book! Reading about a book that some one else commented on leads me to discover another author or read a book. I participate in eHarlequin’s 10,000 Books Challenge & reading the blogs challenges my book buying/spending!! It is really dangerous. 
Carly, I did not buy CMH in hardcover as I rarely buy any hardcover book. I am looking forward to the paperback it will be a definite buy for me as will Sealed with a Kiss.
Leslie, excerpts from books tease me to read the whole book, also I have an ever growing list of favorite authors & I can hardly wait for their next book to come out–Plotmonkeys included of course!
Julie, I do not aspire to write books but I still think it would be interesting if you post craft questions/answers here on Saturday’s sometimes. The process you all go through writing books make me appreciate those books even more. Good luck to everyone trying to sell that first book. :thumbsup2:
Have a great Saturday & weekend everyone.
Comment by Donna M — April 14, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
PS: Janelle & Don I hope you are enjoying your vaction/honeymoon. Enjoy! :love2:
Comment by Donna M — April 14, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Carly - I plan to buy both in trade paperback.
Leslie - I buy books based on these criteria: 1) author; 2) excerpt; and 3) any review I may have seen. I rarely rely on the latter though. I have discovered that many critics don’t have a clue what I would like to read.
Julie - Thanks for the heads up about the contest. I am finally getting brave enough to attempt one of these, so I think this may be my first submission.
Janelle - hope your “vacation” is wonderful.
Comment by Lynn Matherly — April 14, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
I didn’t buy the hardcover, but will do the paperback of both.
The author is the main thing and excerpts. I like to know a little something about the story.
I’m not an aspiring writer. Just love to read.
Comment by Stacy S — April 14, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
Carly, I have Cross my Heart in Hardcover but honestly am not planning on buying a second copy in paper back.
I hope you don’t mind my honesty. I am however waiting impatiently I might add for Sealed With A Kiss.
Leslie, to keep me chomping at the bit for a book, definately some well thought out “teasers” leave them wanting to read more without giving away the whole story in the excerpt. Something that will grab their attention and keep within the first paragraph.
Julie, Can anyone EVER be bored visiting this site??
I know I can’t, no matter what the topic of the day is.
Comment by Kelly F. — April 14, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Morning Plotmonkeys and friends
1. Carly, I’ll wait til pb. I only buy one author in hc - Suzanne Brockmann - and that was an agonizing decision to make because it’s difficult have some books in pb and others in hc. Can’t wait til June though.
2. Lots of different things make me want a book - strong reader reviews and word of mouth are the two biggest. Contests and stuff like that don’t necessarily encourage me to buy a book though, but winning the book is always fun LOL.
3. I’d never be bored either - I think it’s good to learn things, even if they don’t pertain to me. Plus, deep down I’m a frustrated, undisciplined writer, so who knows….
OH if anyone wants to know (or cares *g*) myspace link is:
http://www.myspace.com/trelainastarblazer
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 14, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Carly, I have a bunch of your books in HC. I’m waiting (insert foot-tapping here) for SWAK. When in October is the release?
Leslie, I buy books first & foremost based on the author. I’ll pick up a book (if I’m not familiar with the author) based on the cover, too. Word of mouth from my girlfriends always works, too, but when one of use buys a book we alert the others so they don’t buy it. We pass them all around. I love ALL the plotmonkeys, plus a few others. Doesn’t matter if it’s PB, HC or on audio. I must have been a librarian in a previous life…I can’t let go of my favorites. And I’m known to re-read them every now and then while waiting for new works to release.
Julie, like someone else said, I’ll leave the writing to the ‘Monkeys. I can dream, visualize and plot in my head but putting it down on paper drives me CrAzY.
Comment by ~ Leslie in GA~ — April 14, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Leslie, the release is Sept. 25 (SWAK)
that’s why I asked, b/c I wanted to know … No worries! 
and
Kelly, no need to
Comment by Carly — April 14, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Julie, like Jeannine, I am leaving the writing to you guys. Although, if you four EVER need a vacation, I have a great topic or two I would LOVE to share as a guest blogger! I think I will leave the book writing to you all!
Janelle, wave to my sister in law at UCSB. Hopefully, you are having fun
Comment by katie — April 14, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
CP: Do not have book in HC, but will look for the PB.
LK: I’m not sure what I’m going to say will help you at this point, but here goes… Excerpts for a future book at the end of the book I’m reading will get me to buy a book and look out for its release. Excerpts on a website don’t generally do it for me because I usually don’t read them — I don’t like reading fiction off the computer. ::shrug:: But what really has me running to the store for a book are connected characters and esp. series. For example, Julie Kenner’s series with The Givenchy Code, The Manolo Matrix and now The Prada Paradox — absolutely ran out to buy the third book last week. I love trilogies. Love connected characters. I think it’s the whole bit of wanting to spend more time with characters I fell in love with or wanting the story of a secondary character who piqued my interest. But knowing when I finish reading a book that there is going to be a follow up book is what has me making a mental note to look for the next book. Reviews & Contests don’t really translate into purchases for me. Word of mouth is more likely to make me buy a book.
JEL: Would love, love, love to see the plot monkeys do some craft blogs. Would especially be interested in hearing about how you to draw out or insert emotion (yes, I write screenplays the first go around). Also, how you deal with description, what’s enough, what’s too much, how to layer it in.
Comment by Kelly R. — April 14, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
did read your book carly
i get most books from library
and buy some if the reveiws are good and from sites
Comment by kim h — April 14, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Carly: I have the hardcover “Cross My Heart” am waiting for “Sealed With A Kiss” I will probably end up with a paperback version of “CMH” as someone nameless in my house obsconded with it.
Leslie: I’m a mixed bag. If there’s a writer who I follow religiously (and there are many!) I know when their next book is coming out either from e-mail alerts from the author or bn.com. Even if they are trying something new, etc. Once that Tuesday comes or within that weekend, I rush out and get it. Of course, more often than not the UPS man has already dropped it off since I preordered it. This is why there is no end in sight to my TBR pile.
However, I’ve discovered some great new writers through blogs - either theirs or through guest blogs, reviews, excerpts and contests.
Julie: Would love to see tips, etc. on writing. I’ve heard wonderful things about the TARA contest and your chapter down in Fl. Looking forward to entering.
Happy weekend!
Comment by Yolanda — April 14, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
CP) I have read CMH. I am waiting for both books in pb
LK)I look for author then read excerpts. contests are added bonus
JL) Sounds great!
JD) Hope you have a wonderful time! You deserve a break.
Jenn
Comment by Jennifer Pace — April 14, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Wow, thank you SO much for all these fabulous answers! Obviously, there were no wrong answers…lolol…and I feel pretty good about the things I’ve been doing given what you guys talked about.
It is so wonderful of all of you to put so much thought & effort into really helping us with these answers. So here’s to all of YOU! :cocktail:
Comment by Leslie — April 14, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Carly-I actually read Cross My Heart from the library and can’t wait for the paperback. I get some in hardback, but mostly for space reasons try to wait for the paperback(I rent a pretty small apartment).
Leslie- I usually pick up new author’s books by word of mouth or seeing reviews. I do love the teaser ads too. I always buy my fav authors the day their books come out and add them to my tbr pile.
Julie- the contest sounds awesome and I wish all the writers with books ready good luck.
Janelle- Have an awesome weekend!!!
Comment by Liza — April 14, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
Carly - I bought the hard cover but will buy it soft cover when it comes out as well (I’ll need a matching set
) I can’t wait for SWAK to come out though…I’m dying to read it.
Leslie - excerpts (especially the extra ones here on the plotmonkey blog), book trailers, contest,
Julie - I love the idea of crafting with the plotmonkeys.
Comment by Vicki — April 14, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
CP: I have read CMH & will buy it & SWAK when they are released. (Don’t like HCs due to space & price.)
LK: I always buy by author or a friend’s recommendation (but do read the excerpts on the author’s site, the selection of which I think is very important–my opinion, a romantic scene works very well with me). I always buy new PBs by a fave author, unless she moves to a different genre which I don’t enjoy. (Even then, I’ll usually try the first one.) For the most part, I don’t even participate in contests, wanting to support an author’s sales so she’ll continue to write. I’m not fond of TPs, because of space & I feel robbed by the price, & never will buy another Brava due to an anthology that had one character call another “retard”.
JEL: While I’m not a writer, I love to read the way books are constructed, so, would read your “writer’s advice” Q&As if you go in that direction. Frankly, nothing ever bores me on this site–it’s lots of fun.
JD: Have a great time with your hero of 20 years!
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — April 14, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Carly - I honestly haven’t read too many of your novels but I am anticipating this one. Why? The blurb really hooked me, so much so that I went looking for it in the bookstore and when I couldn’t find it, actually went back online to discover it wasn’t out yet. So I am eagerly awaiting its release.
Leslie - A little bit of everything - blurbs and excerpts definitely help, loyalty for sure - if I’ve read other things an author has written and enjoyed them I tend to remember the name and will either seek them out or quickly check them out if I see a new one in the bookstore - plot for sure - I tend to shy away from historical romances but also find that the plot really has to hook me if it’s cowboy or a single Mom/Dad story - not sure why, just not my thing. I’m also shying away from the Desire line these days - dunno, just seems to be overly successful men towering over submissive women type (maybe I’m wrong…just seems to be the case for the ones my friends exchange with me) And, I also find loyalty in series/linked novels and the Blaze line (sure do miss the Temptation line…
Julie - I’m very interested in craft stories/sessions. How to, How not to, tips, tricks, personal experiences, everything. I’d really like some suggestions on how to find time to write, be a good wife and parent while working full-time. I’d really, really like to write full-time but unfortunately my current job pays better…
Comment by Dayle — April 15, 2007 @ 12:11 am
Oh, I forgot to mention, I do have a trailer of She’s No Angel up both at my website and on YouTube and MySpace!
Comment by Leslie — April 15, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
IF ANYONE POPS ON AND SEES THIS, even if you answer here, answer me privately too it’s urgent: carlyphillips@mac.com
what are examples of your favorite book teasers/trailers on line?
Thanks!
Comment by Carly — April 15, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
Hi Plot Monkeys:
Carly: I rarely buy hardcover - mostly because of the price and space. If I buy hardcovers, I have to leave behind several other book I would really like to read. Also hardcovers don’t fit on the shelf with paperbacks and I also hate those new “tall” paperbacks for the same reason. However if the series is really good, I might buy the hardcover. But it would have to be something like the last Harry Potter book.
I’m probably not a good person to comment on trailers and teasers as I usually focus on the technology used to produce them than their actual content (In real life I’m even nerdier than most of the nerds in VLT’s books
). Leslie’s trailer is better than most I’ve seen, but I can’t help but wonder what you could create if you threw some serious reasources at it. 
Though I wonder if that wouldn’t price it beyond the reach of the average author, since I doubt that the publishers would subsidize the cost.
Leslie: I buy books based mainly on the author or publisher/line (and you and the rest of the Plot Monkeys are at the top of the list
). While occasionally I’ll pick up a book based on its cover and title, it’s more likely to happen if I don’t have a lot of other books in the pile. When I buy a huge pile, those books tend to saved for my next trip to the store. Also, I try not to read the back cover too much as I want to be surprised by the story.
Julie: Hmm…Your contest sounds interesting and I might submit a story or two just to get the feedback on my writing. I’d love to learn more about the craft of writing, especially as I have a someone unique view point when comared to the average reader.
Take care…………Wayne
Comment by Wayne (aka Trybble) — April 16, 2007 @ 1:56 pm