Official Website Launch
Welcome to my new home. For the next month I will be enticing you to visit my website, blog, and any other pages here that catch your eye. Leave comments, browse, and give feedback galore. I’ve decided if my birthday can last a month- so can my website launch. I only get one right? Or maybe I’ll be like those stores that have ten Grand Openings five years after they open? hahaha You must be a member of Kissa’s Karma Korner to win prizes during the launch. The following prizes will be given away before the end of May:
- One Kissa Starling t-shirt- Jambrea, May 2nd
- Chocolate Kissa lips- RLee1950, May 31st
- Truth or Dare magnets- Barbara Huffert, May 12th
- One autographed print copy of ‘My Funny Valentine’ - Savannah, May 2nd
- One Pink Sleeping Mask- RLee1950, May 31st
- Silver plated heart-hoop earrings- Linda, May 5th
- Butterfly Bookmark (metal)- Justmeplease, May 6th
- All female desktop calendar- RLee1950, May 31st
- Voodoo Love Doll- Tina, May 4th
- Signed ‘My Funny Valentine’ Bookplate- Laura, Kim, Bridget, & Deb, May 6th
- Banner Donated by Haven Rich Designs- Jambrea, May 16th
I may try to post pictures of these things one day this month but I haven’t gotten the gist of inserting photos here yet. I can’t wait to start giving things away- I may add to this list as we go along…
Interview with Mary Winter, owner of Pink Petal Books
I am so happy to be able to introduce Mary Winter, owner of Pink Petal Books.
Your website is so pretty. I really like it a lot. Who designed it for you?
Thank you so much. Actually, I mostly designed the website myself. I made all the graphics (though Celia Kyle of LS Designs tweaked some of the accents like the stars and the background color). I love working with websites and graphics. I’m so glad you liked it. I think flowers are so romantic and really wanted my design to focus on the romance.
Mary, you’ve been an author for a while now. What made you decide to open an e-publishing company when so many other companies are folding all around us?
Actually, I started Pink Petal Books for a number of reasons. First of all, I love discovering authors and helping them realize their dreams. I believe that there is a need for a publisher to be author-friendly. I think a lot of publishers have forgotten that they wouldn’t be where they are without their authors. Even as a seasoned writer, I’ve experienced editors who can’t be bothered to answer emails or a company that provides little information on its plans. Neither situation is beneficial to anyone. I will also say that there are some excellent publishers, as well, and we’re a little fish diving into a big pond.
However, I think it can also be said that since my first electronic book was published in December 2002, this little fish has been around the pond many times. As an author, I know what I need and want from a publisher, and what doesn’t work for me. I know how I want to be treated, and that’s exactly how I’ll treat my authors—with courtesy, respect, and honesty.
Your website says that you want novels that focus on the relationship. Must all books submitted have a happily ever after ending?
Yes. I know what happens in reality, but as a romance reader, I’m all about that fantasy. I want the music to swell, the characters to kiss, and to know that no matter what happens to them, that together they will get through it and be sitting on their porch in sixty years, watching the sun set as a “happy old married” couple. Marriage, of course, is not required.
What kind of relationship do you hope to build with future authors?
I want to have a good, solid business relationship with my authors, knowing that they can come to me with suggestions, insight, or just questions, and that I’ll answer in an honest, forthright manner. The key word is “relationship”. That implies that there is a give and take, a back and forth that happens. I want to share what I know with authors, and I’m hoping they’ll share new things with me, too. Most of all, I’m looking for a professional relationship where integrity and courtesy win the day.
I am quite impressed that your company believes that love is a beautiful thing regardless of the makeup of the couple. Do you believe that Pink Petal Press will have a story for every reader because of this?
I sure hope so. Personally, I write M/M, traditional M/F, and ménages. As a BBW, I’d love to see a lot more BBW romances, and I know readers are clamoring for I/R romances, too. I have lesbian friends, and would love for them to find romances at Pink Petals, right along with my gay friends. As a pagan, I believe that “all acts of love and pleasure are her rituals” and I truly mean that.
I see that you take previously published works. Is this work treated the same as new submissions?
Yes. I initially read all submissions and will treat each one equally. I just know that sometimes it’s easier to take a chance on a new publisher with a re-release, because in a sense, it’s “found” money, versus something brand new. At least, that’s how I view my rereleases.
What would an author have to do to dazzle you from the get go?
That one is easy. All I need to be dazzled is to have an author follow my guidelines, send me a nice, professional cover letter, and send his/her best work.
According to the site you won’t have books available until October. Do you still have openings for books in this calendar year?
Yes, we definitely have openings for books this calendar year, and I am not ruling out opening earlier with releases. Our plan is to release 2-4 books a month in the beginning. I don’t ever want to churn out books, but I also suspect that by mid-late 2009 we will be increasing our releases to bi-weekly.
You make mention of a marketing plan. Would you care to share the part that Pink Petals will take in promoting an author’s work?
I’d be happy to. First off, I believe that the only person who can effectively promote an author is the author. As the owner of Pink Petals, I do want all my authors to succeed, but I also need to look at promoting our name, too. Basically the marketing plan is designed for me to see where an author is at, and then for me to provide information. For example… “have you thought about advertising here?” or “what about this?”
I am not a big believer in print ads, especially for ebooks. Personally, I haven’t seen them make that much difference. But we will be doing ads around the internet and on various sites as well as joint promotion with our parent company, Jupiter Gardens.
I’m assuming you have your own cover artists. How much input are authors allowed to give for their book covers? Do you ever let authors bring their own artwork to the table?
Authors are allowed to give a lot of input into covers. I have seen so many covers where the names and titles are barely legible, even on large graphics, so that’s going to be my main focus. Can a reader see your name and the title? Frankly, I think putting the publisher’s name front and center on a cover looks tacky. (If you go to your local bookstore do you see this on anything outside of category romances (which I do like to read) and electronic publishers? Didn’t think so.)
And yes, I’d love to let authors bring their own work, provided it meets our quality guidelines. There are some talented authors out there, and I’d love to have them join us.
Could you clarify the relationship between your company and Jupiter Gardens?
Jupiter Gardens is the parent company, with two branches, a metaphysical retailer and Jupiter Gardens Press (http://www.jupitergardenspress.com/ ) , which has several imprints. Jupiter Gardens Press publishes alternative spirituality fiction (all genres except erotic romance/erotica) and nonfiction. One imprint, Jupiter Gardens Thebe, publishes science fiction/fantasy, and Pink Petal Books, is the romance imprint. We also will be selectively publishing nonfiction relating to pet care and animals as Kittyhorse Publishing.
What’s the criteria for a book to go into print? Does the author pay any fees for this service?
An author never pays any fees for his or her book to go into print. A book over 50,000 words, with sales of 300 electronic copies, will go into print approximately 90 days after it reaches the sales threshold.
Where do you see this company in five years?
In five years, I see Pink Petal Books as a strong contender in the romance field. We’re a boutique publisher, offering a unique, close relationship with our authors, and I never want us to become so big that we lose sight of that.
Will you be publishing your own personal books at Pink Petal Books?
Yes, I will. I still have quite a few titles to which I hold the rights and I never could find the right home for them. I see Pink Petal Books as that home, and I will be producing new work for Pink Petal Books and Jupiter Gardens Press.
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today. I’ll post this on my blog so that authors and readers alike can ask their own questions. If you’d like more information about Pink Petals Books visit their website: Pink Petal Books If you have a specific question for Mary please leave it in the comments section and she will respond as quickly as possible.
Contest Winner
I offered up a Kissa Starling 2008 wall calendar to a lucky reader who emailed me a few lines about his/her own erotic outside adventure at the Coffee Time Romance chat on Friday. Since Saroya was one of the many who stepped up to the plate I’ll have to share one of my own public adventures with her. I’ve decided her creativity should be rewarded with this gorgeous black and white nature calendar. Enjoy it, Saroya, and come back next weekend to try to win more prizes…
