Plot Monkeys

Preview

Because you’re all so wonderful and loyal and visit us here every day or close to it, I decided to give you an explanation of the news you read in my latest newsletter which dealt with the scheduling of my books.

You all know (or maybe you don’t and if not you’re going to learn) that authors aren’t solely responsible for their book schedules. Of course the first criteria for a publisher is to have a book in hand and so it depends on how fast an author can write. Once authors have established themselves with their publisher, they have multibook contracts and deadlines which the publisher relies on so that we can tell our readers in 2006 when our books will be out in 2007 or 2008 even if the books aren’t yet completed. Then the publisher can determine what works best for them and within these parameters, they figure out which other books they are putting out each month, which authors they can slot in the same month, etc.

I’m going to finally walk you through how my book schedule has worked because a lot of you have wondered and written in to ask why so long between books … and then I am going to fill you in on what my schedule looks like going forward (sort of – I’m thinking this is the way it will work beyond 2007 but I can at least give you 2007 right now).

As you all know, when I wrote for Harlequin Temptation and/or Blaze, what are commonly called “short” or “long” contemporary category romances, you often got 2 – 4 books a year out from me, including an occasional anthology (short story). Why then were you recently only getting two books a year? Because the single title books, (i.e. any of the HOT Zone books or hardcovers) are longer titles that take longer to write. Page count-wise, you are getting essentially the same work from me per year, FYI. Many people wonder about this so I hope this helps.

More recently, we (myself and my publisher) were giving you two DIFFERENT story lines/series a year. For example in 2006 there was CROSS MY HEART and HOT ITEM. CMH was hardcover and Hot Item was paperback (this is a publisher driven decision). What this meant was that you’d wait a year between HOT books, and a year for the publication of the sequel to CMH which is called SEALED WITH A KISS. And for those of you who don’t buy hardcovers, you also had to wait an extra year for the hardcover to come out in paperback. (I hope I haven’t lost you yet …)

In between you’d also get reprints of hard to find books that were originally published as Temptations and Blazes and so you’re able to finally read those with new fun covers. However, they are reprints and not new stories, so this didn’t solve the problem of the time lag between series stories.

The good news is THINGS ARE CHANGING. As you all know, I signed a new contract for 3 paperbacks last year and I recently negotiated yet another new contract for another 3 paperbacks this year. Why? Because HQN and I hear you and we understand the frustration inherent in this wait.

Note, before I explain changes, reprint wise, things stay the same as I’ve said: January will give you the SIMPLY reprints and BRAZEN at a great $4.99 price each – because these have already been reissued once, now they’re out with great new matching covers; and SIMPLY SEXY will be reissued for the first time, and this is a story you’ve all been asking for. (Again I hope no one is confused!)

THE SOLUTION

July 2007 – CROSS MY HEART – out in paperback (with a new cover so don’t be confused if you already read it!)

October 2007 – SEALED WITH A KISS – out for the FIRST TIME in paperback! That’s right, SWAK will NOT be out in hardcover and so you can read both books in the series back to back.

THEN IN 2008 you will get two NEW Carly Phillips (probably) HOT ZONE titles (possibly just one, HOT PROPERTY, Roper and Amy’s story) and then maybe begin a whole new series. As of now we are looking at continuing the July and October dates for NEW Carly Phillips books for consistency from year to year. The dates may not be firm for 2008 and beyond but at least I can tell you that you’ll be getting TWO NEW paperbacks a year, without lag time waiting for the next book in a series.

The little problem is that you’ll FEEL like you’ve waited a long time for the HOT BOOKS since we’re talking 2008 but that is because of the order in which the books were written. Let’s not make things more confusing, let’s just know we’re getting onto a REGULAR schedule that you can COUNT ON and as soon as I have those 2008 dates for the next Hot Zone book, HOT PROPERTY, you will too.

For now, you’ve got 2007:
January - first-time reissue of Simply Sexy; and $4.99 reprints with matching new covers of Simply Sinful, Simply Scandalous, Simply Sensual and Brazen!
July - Cross My Heart (paperback reprint, new cover)
October - Sealed with a Kiss – CMH sequel – first time in print in paperback!

Clear as Mud?

What are your thoughts? I can’t wait to hear.