HelenKay Dimon

I keep seeing publishers and authors offering up free backlist books and short stories. It’s an interesting promo trend. It strikes me as a possible way to hook readers with a free taste of an author’s writing. Not a guarantee and risky in some ways, but potentially a good thing. There’s also the idea of rewarding existing fans with something extra.

I’ve been thinking about this because the third novella I initially wrote for VIVA LAS BAD BOYS did not make it into the book. My editor and I decided the tone didn’t match the tone of the other two, so I wrote a whole new novella. Since that original novella has a pretty specific backdrop – a blackout at a Las Vegas casino – I can’t really put it anywhere else. Offering it up for free here is a possibility.

One of the things stopping me is laziness…well, that and time constraints. Due to both, I would’t be able to (or feel like) revising the novella before posting it. I have no idea what shape it’s in. For all I know, it could scare readers.

So…I was wondering: do you guys take advantage of these free books offers? If so, have you bought other books from the author(s) after taking advantage of the free read? Any chance the free read turned you off to the author?

*TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT is shipping from B&N online – wahoo!!!! [That is a subtle hint that you should go order many copies.] To persuade you, fabulous reviews are showing up on the internet. Check out the one at Wild On Books and another at Dina’s blog. Thank you!!

“As usual, Ms. Dimon gives readers a treat to excite their romantic hearts. This author can always be depended on for a story that is as simultaneously witty, sweet, and sexy. Her characters engage readers from the first page, and soon feel as if they are people you might know in real life.” -Jennifer, Wild On Books

“Sweet romance, charm and humor fills these pages. Each story holds its own, but you will not want to stop til you have finished and you will want more. I just loved each and every word and think Christmas should come sooner.” -Dina’s Thoughts

*Joysann spotlighted RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW in a Book Club Blurb on Barbara Vey’s PW Blog, Beyond the Book. She says:

The characters develop rapidly in the fast, snappy dialogue HelenKay Dimon uses in this contemporary romance. Right Here, Right Now packs a lot of light, fun entertainment in a few short hours of reading, so you’ll be able to enjoy it even with a busy schedule.

*And…the mass market version of YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY is listed for pre-order on Amazon. It comes out in March 2009 but, really, it’s never too early to reserve your copies (note the use of the plural there).

I’m at Access Romance today, blogging about the background for my novella in Christmas anthology TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT. Stop by and say hello.

I am now on twitter. I barely know what this is and absolutely do not need one more way to waste time. I only signed up because my dear friend Alison Kent lives in Houston and Hurricane Ike is smacking the crap out of her part of Texas. I wanted to be able to check in with her and just have this feeling she’s going to lose electricity. So, I twitter…

Everyone stay safe.

According to this sale announcement from Publishers Marketplace, reality television and book publishing officially have collided:

CHILDREN’S: YOUNG ADULT
Star of MTV’s reality show The Hills, Lauren Conrad’s three-book YA series LA CANDY, loosely inspired by her own transformation from ordinary teen to reality TV darling and fashion designer, about a girl who moves to LA and unexpectedly stars in a reality show, finding wealth, famous friends, fabulous clothes, and romance — as well as the darker realization that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it appears to be, to Adam Korn and Lisa Sharkey for Harper Children’s, for publication beginning in summer 2009, by Matthew Elblonk at The Creative Culture with Max Stubblefield at UTA (world).

Enough said on that…

Robin wrote a fabulous review for TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT on her blog. She says:

Passion sizzles in all three stories, and each one is so captivating you’ll want to read the book in one sitting. You’ll want the heroines as friends and the the heroes as, well, whatever you want them to be. TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT is a wonderful romantic read that I highly recommend you treat yourself to!

Huge thanks to Robin!

And look at the guy on the cover…well, the parts of him you can see.

I just got the title for my October ‘09 single title…HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO. It’s perfect for the book. And I can’t think of it without hearing that song from Footloose in my head.

So, for those who have been asking for more Hawaii-based books, you’re in luck. My 2009 is all Hawaii-based books at the moment. The release schedule (so far) looks like this:

March ‘09 – YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY (mass market re-release)
April ‘09 – IT’S HOTTER IN HAWAII (new single title)
October ‘09 – HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO (new single title – Josh’s story)

Wahoo!

I’m always intrigued about how people spend their book money. There is a copy of YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY on ebay for $8.00 + $3.00 in shipping. This is for a used copy. Isn’t that a lot of money for a used copy when you can buy a new copy online at B&N or Amazon for about the same amount if you have a membership?

Better yet, if money is an issue then wait for the mass market version. It’s coming in March ‘09 (in publishing time that means late February ‘09) and is less expensive than the used one. And you get this cool new cover, which is even prettier in person:

I’ve been reading some books from the Silhouette Romantic Suspense line. I’ve enjoyed all but one. One of the ones I enjoyed did have a plot point that still nags at me. See what you think…

The backstory goes like this: The heroine and hero dated in law school. They slept together, visited families and spent all of their free time together for about six months. They are supposed to go on Spring Break but the heroine gets sick and the hero goes alone. He finds another woman, falls in love and comes back from Spring Break telling the heroine he is in love with someone else and getting married. He walks away from the heroine as if it’s no big deal.

Today (years later): The heroine has moved to the hero’s hometown. The hero and the woman he married are divorced – a very bad divorce – and the heroine represented the hero’s wife (ignore for the moment the ethical questions that generates). Hero got trounced in the divorce and is angry. Heroine feels bad for representing the nasty wife. Unrelated to the divorce, a stalker is after the heroine. Hero reluctantly comes to the heroine’s aid.

My problem: The heroine explains to the hero that he broke her heart in law school. The hero takes the position that his previous relationship with the heroine was just as “friends with benefits” and wasn’t serious. Here’s the nagging part: the hero never really apologizes for his previous behavior and for what was really infidelity on his part. Further, the heroine forgives him without a real apology. Maybe love does mean never having to say you’re sorry…*

Am I the only one who wants to smack the hero?

*Always thought that was the dumbest line in Love Story.

I’m not making a public political statement here. Just commenting on how silly the political debate can get during election time…

I grew up in a small town. Despite that, I have no idea what “small town values” are as opposed to values outside of small towns. Only people who grew up near farmland love America? Oh, come on. The good news is that I’m not alone in my confusion: