Hello Readers,
I've got nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero, zilch. The Occupy jackasses stole it. In light of that, I'm doing a blatant promo post for the book just released last week at Amazon! Bound for Love is an anthology consisting of ten authors each giving us stories of love, lust, bondage and hopefully, a happily ever after.
Authors ask me a lot why they should submit to anthologies when they're only getting a flat rate for a story. My answer is usually this: "Are you a big enough name that you can live off your royalties currently?" They usually say no.
"Are you okay with your current audience?" I then ask.
Again, no. They'd like to reach more people.
So why not give me a story?
They're looking only at the money. The big picture is not being factored into their career. Author and editor M. Christian started out editing anthologies and because he started out with those credits, he's able to speak anywhere (which means prospect of being paid to talk as an "expert" increases" because he'd edited and been in several anthologies.
I've been in fewer anthologies for a variety of reasons but creating them with publisher Jean Marie Stine at Sizzler Editions has given me an opportunity to correct that and show for the record that I'm a beast when it comes to writing hot erotica and erotic romance.
Coming up with the ideas for anthologies does several things for my platform, but for authors the bigger picture is exposure. Bound for Love contains ten stories by eleven authors (Margie split her personality with a guy named KB Cutter) and if you're a fan of Margie's work, you'll likely read her story and skim through to the other stories to see if there is something you'd like. Gianna Simone
has a certain flair for the realist in BDSM as does Marianne LaCroix. In fact, having Marianne in the anthology serves more than one purpose. She's old guard, she's Lifestyle, she's a friend, she's run a publishing house, she's a damn clean writer and the story is HILARIOUS, if not arousing for those who like her version of reality.The fact that authors get in through the front gate (editor) of an anthology and may end up paired in a book with bigger names is really the point I believe, of anthologies. Sure someone will take a chance on you as a new author but if you're good enough to be in the same book as Angela Knight or Rebecca York, your chances of being read increase THAT much. It means the editor in charge of the anthology liked your work enough for it to stand next to a big name and that they believed in you. You can have one without the other but let's be honest, this is a tough business and you'll need all the friends you can get.
Pick up BOUND FOR LOVE at Sizzler Editions
Buy SURRENDER TO LOVE from Decadent Publishing
I would love to submit something to an anthology. I'm going to look around for something that might fit what I like to write
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteYes, an anthology can be a good opportunity for writers to gain exposure and if it is an audition; it can add valuable experience in learning how to work with an editor.
ReplyDeleteI would add: do your research. Make sure the anthology is being put out by a publishing outfit you feel comfortable with and never be afraid to ask about their sales record.