FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dorchester Publishing Launches New E-Commerce Web Site

NEW YORK, New York (March 4, 2011) – Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc., founded in 1971, and what was until this year the oldest independent mass-market publisher in the U.S., has launched a new e-commerce Webs site to showcase the new Trade books, Audio titles and the explosive growth of e-books.

In addition to print and audio books, the new site enables Dorchester to sell e-books direct from the publisher for the first time. Partnering with Ingram Digital for e-book fulfillment, the Dorchester Web site offers EPUB e-books to customers, a format compatible with all major e-reader devices on the market today with the exception of Kindle. Rather listen to the book? Dorchester will also offer value priced audio books of many of its titles on the site through its partner Audio Realms.

“The direct to consumer sale of audio and e-books is an opportunity for Dorchester to achieve real growth in the digital marketplace. At the same time it will put us in more direct contact with the fans of the genres and help us find new trends and new lines that the consumer wants.  We can do this while still showcasing the original genre fiction that Dorchester has discovered and published for over 40 years. We seek to become THE online site for romance, horror and the best that genre fiction has to offer.” stated Tim DeYoung, Senior VP Sales Marketing Distribution.

The new Web site is part of the growing Dorchester Community—an online environment aimed at providing readers an informational and entertaining experience while making their opinions known and helping influence Dorchester publishing plans for the future.

With the new Web site, equipped with multiple interactive features including message boards, blogs, Facebook, Twitter and others, the Community will always be up to date on new releases, author appearances, and industry news while fostering author/reader interactions and previewing content from upcoming releases. Contests, giveaways and a direct from the publisher discount of 10% on all purchases will help make Dorchester a destination for genre fiction.

About Dorchester Publishing

Founded in 1971, Dorchester became the oldest independent mass-market publisher in the U.S., and the only mass-market house with dedicated lines for Westerns and horror. Dorchester has always been a company that’s willing to take risks. Recently they’ve made the exciting transition from mass-market to trade paperback and e-book formats. Dorchester is proud to be at the forefront of the change in the industry to a more digital base readership while we continue to publish our signature genre fiction. For almost 40 years Dorchester’s dedicated staff has worked tirelessly to discover and promote new talent. The romance line has built such stars as Christine Feehan, Katie MacAlister, Connie Mason, Lynsay Sands, and numerous others. Dorchester books have won awards for every category in which they’re eligible and have been featured in The New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, Redbook, Time, CNN, The Los Angeles Times and many more.

We’ve snagged three wonderful visiting professors for today’s lecture. Please welcome New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox, best known for her Accidental Demon Slayer series, and debut author Erin Kellison! Dorchester editor Leah Hultenschmidt will also stop by throughout the day to respond to comments and questions. RU crew, you’re in for a treat!

Kelsey: Ladies, what’s your opinion of the state of paranormal romance today?

Angie: Paranormal romance is hot, hot, hot. I keep hearing that it will slow down, but I haven’t personally seen that yet. As a writer, I just sold a new paranormal romance series. As a reader, I’m having a great time finding new authors and keeping up with favorites I’ve been following for years. There are so many authors out there creating fantastic new worlds. You have your authors who write darker, like: JR Ward, Laurell K Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon. As well as those of us who pepper our stories with lighter moments and humor, like Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister and MaryJanice Davidson. My books are more in that vein as well.

The wonderful thing about paranormals is that there aren’t any limits as to the kinds of characters and worlds a writer wishes to create. As long as you make me believe, as a reader, that something is possible, I’m on board.

Erin: A stroll past the romance section at Wal-Mart will tell you paranormal romance is doing great. The genre is explosive. Why? Paranormals, to me, have it all. The subgenre allows for new world building limited only by the imagination, while tapping into and heightening basic human concerns and fantasies. Tone varies hugely as well, from light, comedic turns to dark fantasy, and everything in between. Even time period varies. Further, paranormals have a cross-genre appeal, even hopping the aisle at the book store. For example, my debut Shadow Bound is shelved in the Barnes and Noble fantasy and sci-fi section, while elsewhere it’s romance. Go figure. I don’t think demand is going to ebb any time soon. The main concern, I think, is how to stand out in a market where there is an abundance of fantastic authors.  

Kelsey: Why do you write paranormals, and do you write in other sub-genres?

Angie: I had someone ask me the other day if I ever planned to write about good ole humans and I had to think. Humans? Hmm…wait. There have to be a few humans in my books somewhere. The biker witches are human. They might count if you forget about their spell work. Seriously, though, I’m having too much fun with the paranormal right now. I love creating entire worlds where I get to make up the rules.

There are so many interesting things you can do. For example, when I sat down to write the Accidental Demon Slayer series, I had no notes about a sidekick for my heroine. But in the first book, when Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer and there are some very scary, very angry creatures on her tail, she takes comfort in her dog. As I was writing, I thought, ‘This is a sweet moment. Now how do I throw her off?’

I made the dog say something to her. Nothing big. After all, he’s only after the fettuccine from last week. And he knows exactly where Lizzie can find it (back of the fridge, to the left of the lettuce crisper, behind the mustard). It amused me, so I did it. Thanks to her unholy powers, Lizzie can now understand her smart-mouthed Jack Russell Terrier. I had fun with it. Pirate can say and do things that Lizzie can’t. He’s such a kick to write. And that’s the beauty of a paranormal.

Erin: I love and have always loved fantasy and sci-fi.  I grew up on Tolkien and Star Trek. Then, in the sixth grade, I read my first gothic romance, Jane Eyre, and I was changed forever. Combine the two and I am in heaven. Right now I just write paranormals, but I can see myself doing romantic suspense because I love danger and have a murderous streak J. Eventually, I’d also like to try my hand at YA.

Kelsey: Angie, how do you think this sub-genre has changed in the last five years?

Angie: Paranormal romance has expanded with the imagination of its authors. I’m convinced vampires will never go out of style, no matter how much readers enjoy delving into other things. It seems like fresh, different takes on vampires will always sell well. In addition, authors are writing some great books about werewolves and other types of shifters, mermaids, Greek gods, witches and even fallen angels. I think the genre will continue to grow and change and become even more interesting.

Kelsey: Erin, we’re hearing that even paranormals are becoming a harder sell to editors. What do you think made your writing stand out and ultimately sell?

Erin: When I started Shadow Bound, I was looking for a mythological figure with the same kind of pathos so popular in vampires, but with opportunities for fresh world-building. I found it in a banshee, who became my heroine. (Banshees are heralds of death.) She let me have fun playing around with the concepts of life, death, and immortality. My best guess is that the premise resonated with what was already selling, yet offered a different take and a new world to explore.

I sold out of an RWA contest. I’ve heard people praise them and dismiss them. I’m in the first group. I received hugely varying scores for the exact same submission. In fact, the day I got The Call, I got some first-round scores back, too. One judge had given me a don’t-quit-your-day-job kind of score, so I understand the frustrations of contests. However, they are a viable way to get your work in front of and read by an agent or editor. I was fortunate enough to find myself on the desk of an editor at Dorchester.

Kelsey: Angie, what do readers tell you they love about your paranormals?

Angie: The characters. I write about a reluctant demon slayer, a gang of geriatric biker witches and a talking dog – and I let them do what they want.

Like in A Tale of Two Demon Slayers when Pirate the dog finds a dragon egg. The thing hatches and he decides he has a pet. I mean, how fun for a pet – to own a pet. Lizzie the demon slayer is not happy about that. She has enough going on and doesn’t think her dog needs to own a pet.

So she tells Pirate to find a new home for Flappy the dragon (Pirate named him, not Lizzie). So Lizzie is battling evil people and losing track of what Pirate is doing. He keeps promising to find a new home for the dragon, but instead Pirate is hiding the dragon, and loving the dragon and teaching him tricks. Every time Lizzie realizes the dragon is still there, it’s gotten bigger and bigger and, well, it’s just one more thing she can’t quite control.

Kelsey: What do you think it takes to be a NYT bestselling author of paranormal romances?

Angie: Make the story big. I had an agent tell me that if I wanted to sell, my characters had to take bigger chances, have more to risk and lose. It’s easy to say, but a hard thing for a writer to do. It’s a vulnerable, risky place to be. I knew my first book was big enough when instead of ending my writing sessions thinking, “I hope that’s good enough to impress an editor.” I ended them thinking, “No. I didn’t not just write that. I did not just make my character defend herself with a toilet brush and a can of Purple Prairie Clover air freshener.”

Also, you want to have a plan going in, but also be willing to let the story take you where it wants to go. When I began the Accidental Demon Slayer series, I started with a kernel of an idea that amused me. What if a straight laced preschool teacher suddenly learns she’s a demon slayer? And what if she has to learn about her powers while on the run from a fifth level demon? And wouldn’t it be interesting if she’s running with her long-lost Grandma’s gang of geriatric biker witches?

I started writing and let the story evolve based on the characters and that central issue of what happens when a reluctant heroine is thrust into a series of extraordinary situations. And I knew the story was working when I couldn’t wait to get back to the keyboard every day.

Kelsey: What advice do you have for writers who want to break into this sub-genre?

Angie: The key ingredients are: a love of books, a dedication to telling the best story possible and lots of determination and drive to keep writing, writing, writing.

I wrote three books that didn’t sell before I wrote The Accidental Demon Slayer. Those three books were rejected by everybody in town, with everything from written notes saying things like, “your death scenes are too funny,” to “not for us” rubber stamped on my original query. But if I’d have quit after any one of those three books, I never would have written my fourth book, which sold and ended up hitting the New York Times list.

Erin: Go for it. Trust your voice. Understand the basic elements of your subgenre and the industry. Write your heart out. Pursue every avenue to get your work on an agent or editor’s desk. When you finish one book, begin another. And most importantly, protect and nurture the joy of writing.

Kelsey: Angie, what are your predictions for paranormal romance in the next one to three years?

Angie: I think it will continue to grow. There are a lot of people writing paranormal romance right now, so the stories that sell will be the ones that are fresh and different. And that is great news for paranormal readers.

Kelsey: Erin, please feel free to share any other comments on paranormal romance or publishing in general.

Erin: I recommend to authors on the verge (who have a complete manuscript, are actively sending it out to agents/contests and pitching at conferences) to be already working on acquiring information on the business side of publishing. For example, I had begun a messy file of marketing tips. When I was putting together my marketing plan, I was so glad that I had amassed that information. Similarly, I had an idea about the process the manuscript would go through to publication and was basically familiar with each phase. There are so many firsts and so much to learn that having a little background is vital. 

Also, paranormals often sell as a series. I recommend having a good plan for the scope of any following books, with blurbs and/or outlines prepared. One of the first questions asked by my agent and editor was, Do you see this as a series? Do you have plans for subsequent books? My agent requested blurbs on the next two books immediately. It was a tremendous relief to go into this situation at least somewhat prepared and with a basic working knowledge of what to expect.

Strong plots are a necessary part of a good novel, but I think it is the characters and the fun things we discover with them that keep readers coming back.

***

RU Crew, now it’s your chance to ask questions about paranormal romance or anything else the strikes your fancy. Erin and Angie will pop in to chat. Also – don’t forget to grill Leah Hultenschmidt from Dorchester!

Come back on Monday when writer Sally Bayless will continue her series on Confessions of a new writer.

Angie Fox is the New York Times bestselling author of the Accidental Demon Slayer series. She claims that researching her books can be just as much fun as writing them. In the name of fact-finding, Angie has ridden with Harley biker gangs, explored the tunnels underneath Hoover Dam and found an interesting recipe for Mamma Coalpot’s Southern Skunk Surprise (she’s still trying to get her courage up to try it).

Angie earned a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. She worked in television news and then in advertising before beginning her career as an author.

Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com. You’ll find freebies galore and answers to burning questions, like What is Your Biker Witch name?

Erin Kellison is the author of the Shadow Series, which includes Shadow Bound and Shadow Fall.  Stories have always been a central part of Erin Kellison’s life. She attempted her first book in sixth grade, a dark fantasy adventure, and still has those early hand-written chapters. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Language and Literature, and went on for a masters in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on oral storytelling. When she had children, nothing scared her anymore, so her focus shifted to writing fiction. She lives in Arizona with her two beautiful daughters and husband, and she will have a dog (breed undetermined) when her youngest turns five.

You can contact Erin though her website, www.ErinKellison.com, where you can also sign up to receive her newsletter.

Dorchester Announces Its New Pledge

Publisher Promises Fulfilling Reader Experience & Guarantees Satisfaction

New York, NY—Dorchester Publishing is proud to introduce its Publisher’s Pledge program, a bold, new marketing initiative created to launch the careers of the next generation of genre superstars.  A privately owned publisher of mass-market original fiction, Dorchester has a long, storied history of discovering the most exciting names in genre fiction, including Victoria Alexander, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Katie MacAlister and Lynsay Sands. 

Next year marks the firm’s 40^th anniversary, which prompted the company to redouble its commitment to the discovery and nurturing of the needs of new authors, thus reinforcing its founding philosophy.

“Publisher’s Pledge is a reaffirmation of the business model Dorchester has always prided itself on,” stated Brooke Borneman, Director of Sales and Marketing.  “Our strength has been identifying emerging voices and trends in the industry rather than chasing bestsellers.  Our intent is to reestablish ourselves in the market as the publisher authors and agents turn to first to introduce new talent.  Dorchester has proven countless times—through our innovative marketing, tireless dedication and willingness to take chances—that we are uniquely qualified for this special and vital niche.  This program represents our commitment—our pledge, if you will—to everyone in the book publishing community.”      

Launching in April 2010, the Publisher’s Pledge program will be supported by online and national print advertising; bookstore mailings; press release and ARC campaigns to media, reviewers, bloggers, retailers, libraries and consumers; lead features in bookseller, library and consumer e-newsletters; consumer contests and buzz campaigns through social networking sites; and a money-back guarantee for readers.

The first Publisher’s Pledge title will be Barbara Monajem’s Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil (April 2010), an erotically charged urban fantasy in the same vein as Charlaine Harris.  Additional titles include Elisabeth Naughton’s Marked (May 2010), a darkly sensual paranormal romance inspired by Greek mythology that will appeal to fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon; Christie Craig’s Shut Up and Kiss Me (June 2010), a delightfully quirky romantic mystery that will appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich; and Erin Kellison’s back-to-back debuts Shadow Bound (July 2010) and Shadow Fall (August 2010), the first two releases in a riveting post-apocalyptic series that fuses dark fantasy, science fiction, horror and romantic suspense. 

Additional information about the books selected for Dorchester’s Publisher’s Pledge program will be available on www.dorchesterpub.com in March 2010.

About Dorchester Publishing:

Dorchester Publishing has published mass-market books since 1971, making it the oldest independent mass market publisher in America.   Dorchester has nurtured the careers of  RITA Award winners Jennifer Ashley, Susan Grant and Lori Handeland;  MWA Grand Masters Lawrence Block, Marcia Muller and Donald Westlake; HWA Lifetime Achievement Award winners J.N. Williamson and Hugh B. Cave; and Spur Award winners Johnny D. Boggs, Jane Candia Coleman and John D. Nesbitt.

Kelsey: Hi Brooke! We’re delighted to have you join us and talk about Dorchester’s exciting new contest. Can you share with us the number of writers you have registered for the contest currently and also the total number you hope will participate?

Brooke: Thank you.  I am delighted to be here as well.

There are over 70 entries to date.  We expect that this number will grow considerably in the coming months as more and more people learn about the contest and polish their stories for entry.    

One interesting characteristic of this contest-as opposed to traditional writing contests-is that its success is not simply based on the number of entries Dorchester receives.  Its success is also determined by the number of followers each story has.  It’s a different contest model with entries being read and voted on by the public long before the publisher has reviewed them.  The sales potential for the winning novel-due to prepublication grass roots support and viral marketing-is significantly larger than it would be otherwise. 

Kelsey: Does this contest replace the “Title” contest Dorchester has sponsored for the past few years?

Brooke: America’s Best Celler is not a “replacement” for American Title, but we decided to explore alternate markets in 2009 with the hope of tapping into a different universe of writers and readers.  We’re thrilled with our relationship with Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine and will continue to develop new marketing campaigns and promotions with them. 

Kelsey: Could you explain the difference between a traditional novel and a “serialized” novel?

Brooke: I am so glad that you asked this question as many people probably don’t realize that many of the most beloved and renowned works of classic literature were, at one time, serial novels. 

When one reads a book today, most likely it was packaged by a publisher in its entirety, from beginning to end, and bound between a front and back cover.  A publisher designs various marketing strategies to promote consumer awareness of both the book and the author, including book reviews, print ads, book signings and selling serial rights.  For anyone unfamiliar with this term, serial rights (in today’s vernacular) are print excerpts of a book prior to publication.   

The serial novel, which traces its roots to Victorian era novelists Charles Dickens, George Elliott and William Makepeace Thackeray, was written and published in installments in popular magazines of the day.  The individual serials were ultimately collected and published as one epic story.  Serials were, for all intents and purposes, the equivalent of today’s television sitcom or soap opera.  Readers became emotionally invested in the stories and the characters, returning week after week to find out what happened next.  A few examples of serials that eventually became classic literature include Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield. 

Kelsey: What prompted Dorchester to team up with Textnovel on this contest?

Brooke: The fundamentals of the publishing industry are continually evolving.  While the traditional model is still healthy, we must continue to grow in order to compete with the emerging media.  A new generation of writers and readers-raised during the internet/cell phone/iPod era-has come of age.  As a direct result of the technologies they were exposed to at very young ages, they accumulate and assimilate information differently than those, like me, born in the early 1970s and before.  It is essential that we-as an industry-adapt to meet their needs rather than dictate to them how stories should be disseminated and shared.  Publishers are being challenged, in a positive way, to creatively explore ways to satisfy the needs of both their core audience as well as the “text generation.” 

Textnovel is using today’s most ubiquitous social networking tools to engage this audience and instill a passion for reading.  The model, as previously acknowledged in my response to your first question, provides unique marketing opportunities that benefit both publishers and authors.  In my opinion, Textnovel is a perfect example of how publishers can marry emerging technologies with traditional storytelling.  People always have and always will love great storytelling.  It’s simply the media that changes.

Kelsey: The rules state each “chapter” should be approximately 500 words. With 20 chapters, that’s approximately 6000 words. Should we assume these should be the first 6000 words of the manuscript?

Brooke: That is correct.  The first 20 chapters/6000 words should be the beginning of the manuscript.   

We felt that a guideline of 20 chapters/6000 words would allow readers ample opportunity to determine their favorite serial(s).  Please note that the 500 words per installment suggestion is also a guideline, not a requirement. 

Entrants should use their best judgment to determine the exact number of words for their story, but we encourage participants to come as close to our estimates as possible to ensure that their stories receive the kind of evaluation they deserve.       

Kelsey: Do you have any suggestions on how to make the most of the 500 words?

Brooke: I spoke to Leah Hultenschmidt, an editor who will be involved in selection of the winning entry, and she said “Pacing will be key.  Entrants want to give readers something that will keep them riveted and end at place that leaves them wanting more.  Maybe it will be a little more than 500 words, maybe a little less.  The readers need to be hooked into the story in an easily digestible chunk-something they could read on their Blackberry while waiting in line at the grocery store.”  

Kelsey: Would you suggest that writers have the entire manuscript completed before they begin submitting chapters?

Brooke: A complete manuscript is not required at this stage.  That said, I strongly encourage entrants to consider where their story is headed because of the due dates.  The ten final entrants will have to submit their full-length manuscript (50,000-75,000 words) to Dorchester by December 31, 2009.  That’s less than six months away….  

Kelsey: When chapters are published, who receives them? And are the chapters accessible only via cell phone? How does one register to receive the serialized chapters?

Brooke:  Anyone who has “subscribed” to a story receives an email or text with a link to the new chapter. They can read each installment/serial either on their cell phone or online.

To subscribe, one has to first join/become a member of Textnovel and then simply click on the phone icon next to the story name for any stories s/he wants to read.

Kelsey: Are there any risks inherent in writers sending out their work this way?

Brooke: No, not at all.  In Textnovel’s FAQs, there is a section specifically devoted to copyright issues:

In the U.S., under the 1976 Copyright Act, a copyright is automatically created when the work is created. A work is “created” when it is fixed in a copy or recorded for the first time (e.g., the instant you lift pen from paper or your word processing software saves to disk). That may be the date you publish it on textnovel, if that is the date you create the story. However, publication is no longer the key to obtaining federal copyright. When a work is prepared over a period of time, the part of the work that is fixed on a particular date constitutes the created work as of that date. This means that if you create your story over time and add chapters as you go, each chapter may have a different copyright date. That doesn’t really matter though; however you do it, you still own the copyright. Keep in mind, however, there may be some benefits to copyright registration. Visit the copyright section of www.uspto.gov for more info.

Kelsey: Does Dorchester currently publish any serialized novels? If so, how do consumers purchase them?

Brooke: This is our second experiment with serial novels.  

In 1999, Dorchester sponsored an e-serial titled Naomi by New York Times bestseller Douglas Clegg.  We disseminated it free via email over the course of a two month period.  In total, there were fourteen installments, and we eventually published the serial in mass market in 2000. 

Kelsey: We know serialized novels have become popular in countries like Japan. What’s the prevailing thought about how they will fare in the United States?

Brooke: The popularity of serial novels in Japan has been astonishing…. While we recognize that Japanese society is considered to be more technologically advanced than most, the actual U.S. population is estimated to be 58% larger than Japan’s.  That, coupled with the increasing popularity of e-books (which can now be read on iPhones, BlackBerries and other PDAs) makes us incredibly optimistic about this form of storytelling.

Please join me again on Wednesday when my friend, Evan, visits RU to discuss a gay man’s perspective on women, sex and straight relationships.