Genre News, Articles, and Author Promotions
Read the news! No more Kindle Owner’s Lending Library
“When I (Digital Reader) reported several months ago that Amazon had shut down the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library, several commenters argued I was wrong because they knew a loophole (find a book which is in Kindle Unlimited, and then borrow it using KOLL).
Source: Amazon is Killing Kindle Owner’s Lending Library on 4 January | The Digital Reader
During the second world war, people found solace in the formulaic narratives of historical romances and during the pandemic they could once again provide readers comfort.
Source: Five historical romances to escape into during a pandemic
Christmas Day
Netflix has set the premiere date for its new Shonda Rhimes series ‘Bridgerton’ and released a number of first-look photos for the drama.
Source: Shonda Rhimes’ ‘Bridgerton’ Gets Netflix Release Date And First-Look Photos – Deadline
As if Shonda Rhimes’s empire wasn’t big enough, it’s now spread to Netflix with her debut show, Bridgerton. This is coming at just the right time for those who can’t get enough historical period dramas – and for those who will have a missing piece in their heart once The Crown ends.
Looking for another historical period drama after ‘The Crown’ ends? The new Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’ could be the one.
Source: Netflix’s new series ‘Bridgerton’: Can it fill the hole ‘The Crown’ will leave? – Film Daily
Take this Georgette Heyer quiz to discover which of the author’s 32 historical romance novels you should pick up as your next comfort read. From the 1920s to the 1970s, she wrote 32 historical romances. The British Regency period is ubiquitous within historical romance because of her almost single-handed work.
Source: Georgette Heyer Quiz: Which Regency Romance Should You Read Next?
Read More at the Source: Authors In Conversation: Vivienne Lorret and Lorraine Heath | The Nerd Daily
Reposting a review on Lenora Bell’s new book Love Is a Rogue: Wallflowers vs. Rogues (Wallflowers Vs Rogues) coming out October 27, 2020. Read the review here at the Source: Review: Love Is A Rogue by Lenora Bell | The Nerd Daily “Basically, Love is a Rogue has it all with laughter, romance, and all the emotions. Whether this is your first venture into historical romance or you’re a long-time fan of Lenora Bell, this book will make your heart flutter!”
Read more about the new Netflix Bridgerton series coming later this year based on Julia Quinn’s series. Here are the cast and an interesting article, commenting on the casting versus reality in the historical romance genre. Talia Hibbert makes a good point. Read below.
“No-one cares that the historical romance genre is built on a throne of lies, because it’s bloody romance! The clue is in the name! These! Stories! Are! Romanticised! They are, like all fiction, mere constructs of reality based on the author’s perception of their audience’s desires. And that’s okay! Except, apparently, when it comes to people of colour.”
Source: Race and Historical Romance, or: The Duke is Black, Now Deal With It. – Talia Hibbert
This year on the popular book section of YouTube, known to many loyal viewers as BookTube, there has been a resurgence of historical romance novels – the very same romance novels with the covers people would make fun of because of their dramatic stepbacks and titles.
Read More – Source: The resurgence of historical romance novels — The Hofstra Chronicle
Breaking news!
Audible will no longer offer the Audible Escape subscription as of November 1, 2020, which provided romance fans with access to hours of romance. Of course, the titles will still be available to listeners through Audible subscriptions.
The reason for the change – unknown. I surmise it may be because of Audible Plus, which allows members to listen to anything in the catalog “as much as they want, whenever they want,” which would include romance. The two packages are probably considered rolled into one now.
Head on over to Jane Austen’s World for another informative blog post.
I find Jane Austen’s daily routines inspiring, don’t you? She was well-rounded and enjoyed a variety of activities to keep her body, mind, and spirit healthy and balanced. She wrote newsy let…
Source: Jane Austen’s Regency Women: A Day in the Life, Part 1 | Jane Austen’s World
Recently while researching for my next novel, I did a little searching about the use of handkerchiefs. Apparently, they had a language of their own just like fans. This is definitely another interesting tidbit to add to your reality shelves while reading historical romance. Have you found any books referencing the handkerchief flirt? Enjoy.
Flirting or coquetry remained an art form throughout the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian Eras, and handkerchiefs and flirting language became all the rage.
Reposting – worth the read if you love Georgette Heyer.
Inquiring Readers, I discovered that Susanna Fullerton, President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia and Austen author, is as much of a fan of Georgette Heyer as I am, perhaps more. This delightful article compares and contrasts the writings of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer.
Source: Jane Austen’s Influence on Georgette Heyer by Susannah Fullerton | Jane Austen’s World
Okay, love the series or hate the series, I’ll be the first to say it. If it hasn’t happened yet, it probably never will. A small group of fans wishes it to be so, but I don’t see the cast or producers pushing for any second season. It is what it is. A sad and unnecessary ending to a love story that left audiences blubbering tears, stammering mad, and downright depressed for months afterward. It’s time to move on remembering Jane Austen’s words below.
Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. Pride and Prejudice
READ MORE HERE:
Writer Andrew Davies has ended speculation that new episodes are in development.
Source: Sanditon season 2 not in the works at Amazon, confirms Andrew Davies – Radio Times
If you haven’t read the book, it is pretty much word for word to the script of the series. Perhaps Kate Riordan, who finished Jane Austen’s manuscript, will write a sequel to heal the mourners.
Oh, my gosh. Quite hilarious. This is why as historical romance authors we do not get too detailed with the beauty routine of ages past. Hold onto your bonnets, ladies, while reading this article. Priceless.
Don’t forget your false teeth!
Source: My Beauty Routine: Jane Austen Edition | by Kalea Martin | Life is Lit. | Aug, 2020 | Medium
Read about the pandemic-driven industry publishing woes. “Books that were bumped from spring and early summer are landing all at once, colliding with long-planned fall releases and making this one of the most crowded fall publishing seasons ever.” You thought the market was crowded before? As authors, visibility is a challenge that is even greater.
Capacity issues at the two largest printing companies are among the factors creating havoc for authors and publishers.
Source: Printer Jam: Serious Supply Issues Disrupt the Book Industry’s Fall Season – The New York Times
Here is another article released as well. 590 new releases coming your way in various genres.
Source: 590 books will be released on a single day next week — have publishers lost the plot?
Amazon is at it again. Great for consumers! Terrible royalties for authors. They are launching a new “unlimited subscription.”
No doubt this is going to push up the price of production for audiobooks for everyone, while Amazon pockets more money. I should attempt to get a piece of the pie and buy a few shares of their stock. However, it’s priced at $3,307 for one share as of the close of the market today. Oh, well. If we’d only known how far Amazon would reach to the sky, we could have all retired having purchased stock when it was $18 a share. Who knew?
Anyway, check it out! Follow the link below. You can listen to more books every month if you’re tired of screens and paper for a mere $7.95.
A Glimpse Behind the Veil for Readers
Oh, by the way, the most expensive audiobook that I commissioned cost me $3,000 to produce using a talented narrator who charged $300 per finished hour. That price includes narration for seven-plus hours (for a book approximately 70,000+ words), studio production, and final audio uploaded to Audible. Hmm, do you think I made the investment back? No. Audiobooks are an expensive side for many independent authors. Not all of my books are on audio, only a few, and my return has been minimal.
Source: Audible Cheaper Plan Announced
Latest recommendations floating around the web for historical romance books.
Grab these Fall historical romance books and read enchanting stories of love and desire set in charming historical settings.
Source: Fall’s historical romance picks – She Reads
Beyond these recommendations, I’m sure I’m NOT into these new type of covers for historical romance. They incite no character imagination as far as I’m concerned, and I wonder if it’s a new trend. Give me the bodice ripper covers any day.
As a note, these are all coming from traditional publishing houses such as Berkley, Kensington, Hachette, and Zebra. Is this an attempt to save money in some fashion? Is it a conspiracy to do away with cover art? They remind me of contemporary books along the line of cozy mysteries.
I hope this trend dies because half of the joy of historical romance novels are the gorgeous covers that inspire. They are art forms. Jon Paul Studios has been the go-to for many of these publishers in the past. Check out his website and the pictures you can purchase.
What are your thoughts on this new trend? Yea or nay?
You may be asking yourself, so what’s the big deal? As a reader, you should be informed on how Amazon works with publishers and independent authors. One of the biggest complaints about their “domination” in the industry is Kindle Unlimited. As an author, if we enroll our books into the KU program, it means that we cannot sell our eBook versions on any other platform as long as we maintain our enrollment. What does that mean? You won’t find our novels on iBooks, Google Play, and Nook due to exclusivity provisions authors must agree to while in KU.
If that wasn’t bad enough to stiffle our sales, while readers pay a flat fee per month to read unlimited books, authors only get paid each time a reader flips a page on their Kindle device. For example, today I had a reader flip 27 pages, which equated to $0.12 in royalties. I can’t even buy a cup of coffee for what I make off of each book in KU.
It is no wonder that complaints are being filed by the industry against Amazon. It’s only a matter of time before their strong-arm tactics of industry domination will be challenged. They are effectively killing off the bookselling industry in many markets. Yes, they are convenient, I give them that much. Nevertheless, do they always have to be the only place we shop? Of course, shame on my for advertising Kindle Unlimited on this website!
Three of publishing’s most important organizations have teamed up to write a letter to the chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee investigating the market power of Big Tech to press their case that, over the last several years, Amazon’s growing dominance over book publishing and bookselling has fundamentally altered the competitive framework of the industry. If Amazon’s power is left unchecked, the letter continues, competition within publishing could diminish even more.
Source: Publishing Leaders Issuing Warning over Amazon’s Market Power
How about a little psychology behind your historical romance needs? This is an interesting article about a bookstore with titles piled neatly at the end of a major bookstore chain’s aisle with the sign “Realistic Romance” placed above them. What does that mean?
The first book that I wrote had too much realism, as one reviewer pointed out. Some wanted to throw it against the wall. Others said it was a downer. Yeah, I get it. We don’t like to write about the tough places in life that may have romance. It’s escapism at the core to fall in love with a titled English aristocrat. Nevertheless, if you know me, I say let’s fall in love with a few others like brickmakers, watchmakers, and regular men who can love just as passionately as the duke living in the grand estate on the hill.
Read what Psychology Today has to say on the subject.
Can the categories of “romance” and “realism” overlap in meaningful ways? Historical romance? Otherwise known as “bodice-rippers,” these books can be recognized immediately by the young woman with a tangle of long hair whose dress—with its mandatory poufy-sleeves and lace—is off one shoulder, indicating both defiance and availability
