 |
It's official! Summer is here, and the rising temperature and humidity definitely reflect the new season. We're ready to grab our summer reading picks and head off to the nearby pool for a little relaxation. The newsletter took a hiatus last month, and we're planning to do it again in July. So this is our farewell until August (how else are we supposed to find time to take our annual company vacation in Barbados, just kidding!).
In this month's edition, Lucienne Diver breaks down the agency versus wholesale ebook model debate, our agents share their summer reading wishlists and Deidre Knight slips on her author hat to talk about her new release, RED DEMON. Deidre will be chatting about her Gods of Midnight series and writing life TONIGHT in TKA's chat room, so be sure to clear |
your calendars for 8pm ET. We hear there are two surprise guests planned...
Before you dive into the newsletter, we want to take a moment to congratulate Gena Showalter and Rachel Caine for their recent New York Times bestseller hits! Gena's INTO THE DARK anthology debuted at #9 in May, and her latest Lords of the Underworld book, THE DARKEST PASSION, premiered at #9 last week and is holding strong at #16 in its second week on the list. Also, Rachel's Caine's Morganville Vampires series hit the children's list at #5 last month. Congrats to both of these awesome authors! |
 |
 |
 |
As both an agent and author, Deidre Knight has a knack for discovering and writing unforgettable stories. This June, the author released, RED DEMON, the third book in her Savannah, Ga.-based paranormal romance series.
Proving that writers get inspiration in the most random places, Deidre was getting out of a taxi cab at the Denver airport when the heroine of the first book in the Gods of Midnight series, RED FIRE, popped into her head. By the time she got through ticketing, security and onto the plane her heroine, Shay Angel, had met her perfect match -- an immortal Spartan warrior. In a world heavily populated with vampires and werewolves, Deidre's series has been embraced by readers for its unique characters and daring storylines.
TKA: What do you do for fun to make sure you have work/life balance?
|
DEIDRE: I’ve definitely worked hard in this arena in the past year or so. I’ve taken up crocheting, which is a huge stress reliever—and fun to boot! My biggest new interest, though, is gardening! My daughters and I planted a bunch of seeds in early spring—for squash, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, beans—and now we have an abundant, thriving veggie garden! Tons of fun!
TKA: Why do you think all authors should be on Twitter as part of their publicity strategy? What are the pros and cons newbies should know before jumping into the deep end with the Twitter whale?
DEIDRE: I think the way to make Twitter really work is to realize you need to be interactive. You need to comment, follow others, add value as it were to Tweetville. It’s an incredible tool for all writers and authors, whether looking for an agent and publisher, or promoting a new book or series that’s on the shelves. The sense of community among the writers and publishing folks there is unparalleled, and we all help and support each other. I always learn a lot about latest industry news there. I recommend downloading Tweetdeck, though, to make it a worthwhile and profitable experience. If someone comments to you, try your best to comment back. You don’t need to follow every single person who follows you, but be aware of following back when it makes sense.
|
 |
TKA: How do you choose the settings for your stories?
DEIDRE: Often times the story itself shapes the setting. For instance, the setting of the Gods of Midnight series is mostly Savannah, although there are some happenings on Olympus and the series began in Europe prior to the Spartans’ destiny leading them to Savannah. I chose that city because as a native Georgian I am well aware of how creepy-cool and beautiful the town is, and there really haven’t been many stories set in that locale. I knew it had the kind of mystery and atmosphere that I wanted for the book.
TKA: What is the best piece of writing advice that you have ever received?
DEIDRE: A writer friend once told me that if a scene was speaking loudly to me, to write it, even if it wasn’t “time” for it in writing the book. That’s definitely proved true, and if I don’t write ahead that way, when I DO get to that key scene, it can lack the power I’ve been visualizing for weeks/months. A long ago English teacher in high school also told me to write every day. I believe in that (even if I don’t always practice it!) |
|
|
The Gods of Midnight series book list includes: RED FIRE, Book One; RED KISS, Book Two; RED DEMON, Book Three; and the digital-only novella, RED BLOODED.
Deidre will be signing her latest release at Dog Ear Books in Madison, Ga., on Saturday, June 19th at 4pm. 270 South Main. For more information about this event, please email admin@deidreknight.com.
For more information about Deidre's Gods of Midnight series, visit www.DeidreKnight.com or follow her on Twitter: @DeidreKnight. |
|
 |
Tonight Deidre Knight is celebrating the release of her latest novel, RED DEMON, with a chat party blowout @ 8pm ET, in the Knight Agency chat room. Two BIG surprise guests will be dropping by, and several awesome prizes will be given out. Make sure to clear your schedule!
When: TONIGHT!!! Thursday, June 10th @ 8pm ET
Where: TKA's chat room**: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545
How To Chat: Enter any combination of username and password. Login.
**Your computer must be Java enabled to chat. |
 |
|
Several years ago, the iPod was the talk of the town. Now, eBook readers have become must-have items for the tech-savvy set, and are quickly making their way into the hands of mainstream users. No longer are consumers kept at bay by exorbitant pricing, and book buyers at large are finding the convenience eReaders offer makes it a snap to increase their reading collection, and thus consumption, with ease. However, have you stopped to think about who is supplying these new-fangled digital books and how the authors are getting paid? Lucienne Diver gives us the skinny on how to navigate the eBook pricing model minefield.
|
Agency versus Wholesale e-Book Models
There are so many things to consider when talking about the agency versus wholesale e-book models that I hardly know where to start. (Okay, I started with a bag of tortilla chips…multi-grain, so that I can convince myself they’re healthy…but that didn’t get the article written so much as make it more attractive to sit and stare blankly at my screen.)
Let’s begin with defining the models. The wholesale model that the major publishers (Macmillan, Harper/Morrow, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Putnam, Random House, etc.) initially used with companies like Amazon and Sony for e-book sales made those companies the seller and placed decisions about price, etc. firmly in their hands. In other words, Amazon, Sony and the like would buy the e-books at wholesale from the publisher (let’s say at a 50% discount off the price the publisher had set) and then resell the books to their consumers at whatever price they chose. Not a bad system. Not unlike what’s in place with the brick and mortar stores for the print counterparts. However, it allowed the seller to set the prices to the consumer and concern was that the prices were being set unnaturally low and that e-books were frequently being used as loss leaders. (Loss leaders: merchandise sold at a loss to draw in customers to a site or store.) Many publishers, authors and agents were concerned that consumers would come to expect a certain price for e-books, even when that price wasn’t feasible or competitive with print prices and that this might not, long-term, be a sustainable system. Others argued that e-books shouldn’t, in fact, be priced the same way as their print counterparts. One way publishers tried to deal with this was to “window” books, where the more expensive format, say hardcover, would come out months in advance of the less expensive e-books. However, many consumers weren’t happy about the delayed gratification. Under this system, the standard contractual e-book royalty to authors was 15% of the retail price (which again, the publisher set, even though this wasn’t necessarily the price passed along to consumers).
In an effort to regain control over pricing, many publishers have now moved to the agency model for e-book sales. By the agency model, the publisher is the seller and Apple, Amazon, Sony, etc. receive a commission, much like an agent would, on the sale of each unit. The percentage that’s been quoted in trade magazines is 30%, which would mean that 70% would be received by the publisher. Under this new system, contract boilerplates are undergoing a change, and authors are being offered 25% of net receipts. Aye, herein lies the rub with this system…defining net, which is always tricky. Retail price is crystal clear, but new boilerplates are not as clear on what exactly will be accounted against the gross to get net. Possibilities listed are taxes, insurance, shipping, returns and other things that, in my book (electronic or otherwise) shouldn’t be accountable against an author’s share and often don’t apply to e-book editions in any case. Without transparency in accounting, it will be very hard for authors’ advocates to keep watch on e-book royalties. As an additional wrinkle, this new system seems to make the publisher, as “seller,” responsible for collecting sales tax as opposed to the “agency” (Apple, Amazon...). This wasn’t entirely anticipated, and it’s one more hurdle to jump.
In other words, neither system is perfect. Both have kinks, and authors and their agents/advocates are closely analyzing the ramifications and dealing on a daily basis with new contract language and accounting. It’s certainly keeping us all on our toes. |
 |
| Melissa Jeglinski sold Sheila Turnage's MOVING WITH THE SUN, about a tenacious 11 year-old who, as a baby, washed ashore in a small Southern town during a hurricane and is seeking answers about her parentage, to Alisha Niehaus at Dial Children's, in a pre-empt, two-book deal. |
Gena Showalter's THE DARKEST PASSION is in its second week on the New York Times list at #16. The book debuted at #9. Showalter also attained bestselling status in May with the release of her anthology, INTO THE DARK, which premiered at the #9 spot. |
In May, Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires hit the New York Times children's' bestseller list, and KISS OF DEATH debuted at #61 on the USA Today bestseller list. |
At the Romantic Times BookLOVERS Convention, several Knight Agency authors took home awards, including: Leslie Kelly, who won the Career Achievement Award in Series Romance; Shannon K. Butcher in the Paranormal Action Adventure Romance category for BURNING ALIVE; Dakota Cassidy in the Paranormal Fiction category for KISS & HELL; Nalini Singh in the Urban Fantasy Protagonist category for ANGELS' BLOOD; and Abby Gaines in the Harlequin Superromance category for HER SO-CALLED FIANCEE. |
| Leslie Parrish FADE TO BLACK, PITCH BLACK AND BLACK AT HEART all finaled for the Colorado Award of Excellence. FADE TO BLACK and PITCH BLACK also finaled it the National Reader's Choice Awards. Parrish was also nominated in the Wisconsin Write Touch Awards for PITCH BLACK. |
| A HIGHLANDER OF HER OWN by Melissa Mayhue made the finals of The Prism contest in the Time Travel/SteamPunk category. |
| ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Brant is a Golden Quill finalist for "Best First Book" and it's also a double finalist in the Booksellers' Best Awards for "Best Single Title/Mainstream Novel" and "Best First Book." |
| Katherine Garbera's THE PIRATE will be excerpted in Cosmopolitan this August as their Red Hot Read. |
| In May, 60 SECONDS TO GREATNESS was #10 on the Evangelical Christian Publishers’ Association bestseller list. |
In July, the first ever RomCon event will take place in Denver, Co. The prize for winning the Readers Crown Contest includes end-cap placement for a limited time at all U.S. Borders stores. Nominated Knight Agency clients include:
- Erotica: Joey W. Hill, BELOVED VAMPIRE
- Novella: Jade Lee, "Weekend Tigress" in WINTER HEAT anthology
- Paranormal: Shannon K. Butcher, BURNING ALIVE and FINDING THE LOST
- Short Contemporary: Abby Gaines, HER SO-CALLED FIANCE and THE GROOM CAME BACK
-Sci-fi/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time-Travel: Melissa Mayhue, A HIGHLANDER OF HER OWN |
 |
 |
What new releases are at the top of your summer beach reads list?
PAMELA HARTY: I'm looking forward to checking out HEART OF THE MATTER by Emily Giffen, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST by Steigg Larsson, THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett, SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana De Rosnay and Nelson DeMilles newest, THE LION.
LUCIENNE DIVER: Wow, tough question, because I have so little time to read for pleasure anymore! Aside from the awesome summer releases from my own authors Rachel Caine, Marjorie M. Liu, Chloe Neill, etc., I’m looking forward to Joshilyn Jackson’s BACKSEAT SAINTS, Janet Evanovich’s SIZZLING SIXTEEN and a middle-grade/YA book my son recommended: THE
|
SOCIETY OF UNRELENTING VIGILANCE by Glenn Dakin.
NEPHELE TEMPEST: Some are less “new” than others…
THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE by Aimee Bender
THE CITY AND THE CITY by China Mieville
THE SWAN THIEVES by Elizabeth Kostova
CATCHING FIRE and MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins
Jacqueline Winspear’s MAISIE DOBBS books—I’ve only read the first one and want to catch up
ELAINE SPENCER: Last weekend when I was at the beach I bought BEST FRIENDS FOREVER by Jennifer Weiner. As soon as I finish that I’m going to jump into either THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Steig Larsson, THE CARRIE DIARIES by Candace Bushnell, or BED OF ROSES, the second book in the Nora Roberts Bride Quartet.
MELISSA JEGLINSKI: I am making it my mission to devour one Little House on the Prairie star's autobiography each month: PRAIRIE TALE: A MEMOIR by Melissa Gilbert in June; THE WAY I SEE IT: A LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE ON LITTLE HOUSE by Melissa Sue Anderson in July; and CONFESSIONS OF A PRAIRIE BITCH: HOW I SURVIVED NELLIE OLESON AND LEARNED TO LOVE BEING HATED by Alison Arngrim in August. |
 |
 |
In our "Off the Record" feature, you get to learn more about the TKA agents behind the wheeling and dealing in Publishers Marketplace. Personal news, hobbies or even little known factoids about a member of our team will be included. This month, Elaine Spencer, steps into the spotlight.
Elaine Spencer is taking the plunge in more ways than one this summer. Before her upcoming August wedding, the crackerjack agent and her fiancée are channeling their inner daredevil in a dual tandem skydiving jump. This will be the first time either of the lovebirds have attempted such a feat. Wish them luck! |
 |
 |
|
ASSASSIN'S HONOR
Monica Burns | Penguin
Archeologist Emma Zale sees the past when she touches relics. It's how she uncovered evidence of an ancient order of assassins-the Sicari. When a sinfully dark stranger shows up on her Chicago doorstep demanding an artifact she doesn't have, he drags her into a world where telekinesis and empaths-someone who can sense the emotions of others- are the norm. Now someone wants her dead, and her only hope of survival is an assassin who's every bit as dangerous to her body as he is to her heart.
|
 |
 |
|
THE WOLF NEXT DOOR
Lydia Dare| Sourcebooks
They can't even be in the same room together... Ever since their failed elopement years ago, Prisca Hawthorne has taunted, insulted, and in every way tried to push him away. If only her heart didn't break every time Lord William Westfield left her... But staying apart is even worse... Lord William throws himself into drinking, gambling, and debauchery and pretends not to care about Prisca at all. But when he returns to find a rival werewolf vying for her hand, he'll stop at nothing to claim the woman who should have been his all along. Can Prisca forgive the unforgivable, or are the moon-crossed lovers going to be forced into a battle of wills that could be fatal? |
|
 |
|
THE MEMORY OF A KISS: LONG GONE/CHASING THE DREAM
Abby Gaines and Wendy Etherington | Harlequin
In "Long Gone," a veteran NASCAR crew chief looks for a second chance with his hometown sweetheart. And in "Chasing the Dream," a star NASCAR driver is determined to woo the one who got away--and he's playing to win.
|
|
 |
|
THE WHITE ROAD
Lynn Flewelling | Random House
Dissolute nobles, master spies, and the unlikeliest of heroes, Alec and Seregil have survived exile, treachery, and black magic. But the road that lies ahead is the most hazardous they've ever traveled. For with enemies on all sides, they must walk a narrow path between good and evil where one misstep might be their last. Having escaped death and slavery in Plenimar, Alec and Seregil want nothing more than to go back to their nightrunning life in Rhiacute. Instead they find themselves saddled with Sebrahn, a strange, alchemically created creature-the prophesied "child of no woman." Its moon-white skin and frightening powers make Sebrahn a danger to all whom Alec and Seregil come into contact with, leaving them no choice but to learn more about Sebrahn's true nature. With the help of trusted friends and Seregilr's clan, the duo set out to discover the truth about this living homunculus-a journey that can lead only to danger or death. For Seregil's old nemesis Ulan, Sathil of Viregrave and Alecrsquo's own long-lost kin are after them, intent on possessing both Alec and Sebrahn. On the run and hunted, Alec and his comrades must fight against time to accomplish their most personal mission ever.
|
|
 |
|
RUSH
Jonathan Friesen | Penguin
Equal parts romance and heart-pounding action, this novel will leave you absolutely breathless. Join teen Jake King, an adrenaline junkie turned hotshot firefighter, as he struggles with the one risk he cannot take: losing his best friend and secret love, the beautiful Salome Lee. But to Jake, firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn't stop soon, they could all get burned.... |
|
 |
|
SECRETS, LIES...AND SEDUCTION: CEO'S SUMMER SEDUCTION/MAGNATE'S MISTRESS-FOR-A-MONTH
Katherine Garbera (TKA), along with Yvonne Lindsay | Harlequin
"CEO's Summer Seduction"
Meet the billionaire boss: Sebastian Hughes has taken his secretary for granted one too many times. To keep her from walking out he must show her what she's really worth…fast! But she's seen all of his usual seduction ploys…and she'll only settle for the real thing.
"Magnate's Mistress-for-a-Month"
Watch out for the jaded businessman: Richard Wells has had it with romance…and marriage. Then he spies a woman on horseback and vows to bed her. But the object of his seduction is no privileged female. She's the hired help with a heart bound to make even this disillusioned bachelor crumble.
|
|
 |
|
NATURALLY NAUGHTY & WICKED AND WILLING
Leslie Kelly | Harlequin
"Naturally Naughty"
Kate Jones, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, is home—and she's got an agenda. To get revenge on the man who humiliated her mother, Kate's going to seduce that man's son—the town's golden boy, John Winfield Jr.—and then leave him drooling in a puddle of lust. Little does she guess when she finds herself seduced by a sexy stranger named Jack that the tables have just been turned….
"Wicked & Willing"
Venus Messina has seen it all. Growing up in the foster care system, she's learned how to take care of herself. So when she's approached by a stranger who claims she's the long-lost granddaughter of a millionaire, she's wary. Especially when she meets her "grandfather's" new business partner, sexy Troy Langtree, and falls in lust at first sight. Troy is starting over—in a new city, in a new job. But once he meets Venus, all he wants is to have his wicked way with her—again and again! And if he's lucky, Venus will be as bad as she looks…. |
|
 |
|
RED DEMON
Deidre Knight | Penguin
After assuming the power of life and death for the immortal Spartan brotherhood, Aristos Petrakos still hasn’t mastered his unpredictable, newfound abilities. And now a medium brings him a message from the other side—a romantic message Ari doesn’t want to hear…
A century ago, the love of Ari’s immortal life, Juliana Tiades, drowned herself in the Savannah River—after she learned about Ari’s shapeshifting abilities. Desperate to reveal the truth about her death, Juliana makes a bargain with a Djinn demon, who offers to give her physical form. But as Juliana and Ari are reunited in passion, the debt must be paid—in souls and spirits… |
 |
|
HOPE AND COMFORT FOR EVERY SEASON
Cecil Murphey & Nancy J. Locke (photography) | Harvest House Publishers
Cecil Murphey, bestselling co-author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, shares messages of encouragement and hope alongside beautiful photographs of the changing seasons captured by Nancy Locke.
|
 |
|
TEMPTING A PROPER LADY
Debra Mullins | HarperCollins
Mullins delivers the first novel in an all-new Victorian-set series about the chaos that can ensue when a governess and a dashing gentleman join forces to stop the wedding of the year. |
 |
|
THE HOLLOW CROWN: NOVELS OF CROSSPOINTE
Diana Pharoah Francis | Penguin
After the murders of the king and queen, the island empire of Crosspointe is on the verge of chaos. In order to save the country they love, the king's heirs are determined to rally whatever allies they have left and overthrow the Lord Chancellor--before the Jutras invade.
|
|
 |
|
THE DARKEST LIE
Gena Showalter | Harlequin
In this riveting new installment of The Lords of the Underworld series, Gideon, keeper of the Demon of Lies, fights to uncover the truth. Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie - until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn't remember the beautiful female, much less wedding - or bedding - her. But he wants to...almost as much as he wants her. But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free. A future with her might mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon's enemies draw closer - and the truth threatens to destroy all he's come to love.
|
|
 |
|
CHIMERA
Rob Thurman | Penguin
A sci-fi thriller that asks the questions... What makes us human... What makes us unique... And what makes us kill? Ten years ago, Stefan Korsak's younger brother was kidnapped. Not a day has passed that Stefan hasn't thought about him. As a rising figure in the Russian mafia, he has finally found him. But when he rescues Lukas, he must confront a terrible truth-his brother is no longer his brother. He is a trained, genetically-altered killer. Now, those who created him will do anything to reclaim him. And the closer Stefan grows to his brother, the more he realizes that saving Lukas may be easier than surviving him...
|
| Want to know what The Knight Agency is up to right now? Click Here to check us out on Twitter! |
|
|
|
