Author: Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent. Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

How did the pandemic change the way we read?

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Since the pandemic began, we’ve been hearing about “getting back to normal” and adjusting to “the new normal,” but the truth is that the social changes resulting from the pandemic are still fresh and sweeping. We asked our team: how has the pandemic changed the way we read and interact with books?

In 2021, are we buying more ebooks and audiobooks? Are we reading more? Reading less? Happily attending virtual events, or eager for that fresh in-person bookstore experience?

Our team discusses all of that in more below. And we want to hear from you–how has the pandemic affected the way you read?

“When the pandemic emerged last March, I thought for sure my reading would slow down as life got more complicated, but instead the opposite has been true. I’ve never read more than I have over the past few years, and books have been a welcome escape. Some days, they’re the only thing that doesn’t feel turned upside down! And my end-of-the-day reading time has never been more sacred to me.”

–Ellen Whitfield, Publicity Director

“Before the pandemic, I was strictly a print reader, but when local bookstores and the library shut their doors, I turned to audiobooks to fill the literary void in my life. I still love the feeling of holding a physical book and flipping through the pages, but I gained a new appreciation for audiobooks. I always have a pair of headphones on me now.”

–Angelle Barbazon, Lead Publicist

“I used to be really into literary fiction, but during the pandemic I saw myself entertaining fantasy and romance novels – which were two of my least favorites prior. I picked fantasy because I wanted to escape reality, and romance because I wanted a happy ending.

Regarding events – I prefer physical, but living in Dayton, OH – there aren’t many. I typically have to travel to a bigger city for events. The pandemic uniquely allowed for me to attend more events, though in a virtual format. But hey, to me, that’s better than nothing! I very much hope that bookstores continue to do hybrid events for the sake of someone like me!”

–Elysse Wagner, Campaign Strategist and Publicist

“I’ve always been a fan of romance, but I’ve started reading a lot more romance and just general books that I know will have happy endings and make me feel good. I have to space out books that I know will be mentally draining or make me think because I want to give them the attention they deserve, but I also need to be in the right headspace for them.

I’ve only been to a physical bookstore a couple of times since the beginning of 2020, and that’s one of the things I miss the most. Getting bookmail is great, but nothing can compete with walking in a bookstore and browsing the stacks. Though I am actually very fond of virtual events and I hope we continue to see those for years to come. They allow me to hear from authors I’d otherwise never get the chance to see (and also getting to wear sweatpants during a virtual event is a plus).”

–Jennifer Vance, Publicist & Digital Marketing Strategist

“My book habits haven’t changed too much! I’m really picky about book formats (I only read trade paper; I hate hardcover books and mass market, lol) and I have no attention span for audiobooks. So I haven’t branched out into new formats. I do think the amount of books I read/buy has increased over the course of the pandemic, though.

With so much downtime on my hands, it’s been a fun project to create a home library and fill up the space I have with books I’m excited about. I did buy a lot of books from Bookshop.org during the pandemic (when my local bookshop was closed) and since they’ve re-opened, I’ve been shopping in person and online, sort of in a 50/50 split. As for events, I prefer in-person events, and I haven’t been to any book events (virtual or otherwise) since the start of the pandemic. I’m hoping in-person events may be safe and more common in 2022, and if they are, I might attend again!”

–Jackie Karneth, Publicist

“Before the pandemic, if I was reading it was from a paperback. But when the pandemic hit it seemed like everyone was giving each other advice on ‘life hacks’ of any kind. I remember hearing people talk about how they read so many books a year, and it was because of audiobooks. I don’t know if it’s just because I started working in the book industry right at the beginning of the pandemic, or if it was because of COVID that people seemed to be talking about audiobooks more, and how convenient they were.
Before the pandemic I definitely would basically only buy books from Barnes and Noble or Amazon. I am not proud of it! But when the pandemic hit, people were posting about their local indie stores so often, and it reminded me how important it is to shop from and support local businesses. Now, if I have a book in mind that I want to read, I always check an Indie bookstore first to see if they carry it.
Virtual events were convenient and fun when we didn’t have any other choice, but nothing beats in person events. I also engage with books through Booktok and through Bookstagram now. I didn’t even know these platforms existed before the pandemic.”

–Corrine Pritchett, Publicist & Digital Marketing Strategist

Three Ways the Pandemic Has Changed Book Publicity (For Good)

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed industries across the world, and book publishing and promotion are no exception. When the U.S. government declared a national emergency in March 2020, our literary publicity team at Books Forward began to work through the rapid, sweeping changes that would define our lives and work until this moment (and for the foreseeable future).

We’ve seen plenty of changes in the book publishing and PR industry during our more than 20 years in business, always adapting to stay ahead of the trends. This time, we—as well as countless authors, booksellers, and publishers—have had to adapt like never before. In some ways, the publishing world will never be the same—and we are working hard to stay three steps ahead of the challenges, opportunities, and innovations the pandemic has presented.

Here are three ways the pandemic has changed the book industry, most likely for good:

Virtual events are here to stay.

We’ve known for a long time that book tours aren’t always the splashy money-makers they used to be. But the pandemic has simultaneously a). put the nail in the coffin of traditional book tours and b). resurrected book tours from the dead—still benefitting our beloved indie bookstores.

Virtual events have undeniable perks, not least of which is the fact that authors and audiences are no longer inhibited by physical distance to the store.

Tweet

With facades shuttered to the public, many bookstores underwent a crash course in rapidly transitioning to virtual programming, from experimenting with various video chat and streaming platforms to finding fresh ways to reach audiences on social media. Virtual events have undeniable perks, not least of which is the fact that authors and audiences are no longer inhibited by physical distance to the store. In fact, bookstores reported significant increases in virtual attendance vs. in-person attendance. In August 2020, Third Place Books’ events manager, Sam Kaas, told our staff that their event attendance was higher than average (70-80 online, vs. 20 in-store), although sales were lower. Over time, Kaas said attendance “settled into a more normal pattern” and sales increased, with variation from event to event.

Françoise Brodsky, Director of Community Outreach and Events at Shakespeare & Co also confirmed sales have varied, but “participation has increased, because it is not linked geographically anymore.” Doloris Vest at Book No Further confirmed that although attendance fluctuates, their event pre-sales have been comparable to sales at in-store events.

All three stores confirmed that they intend to host virtual events long term and will most likely offer “hybrid” virtual/in-person programming into the future. At the start of the pandemic, Books Forward introduced a Virtual Learning Author Program that successfully connected our authors with homebound teachers, parents, librarians and booksellers in new ways. We feel confident and excited about the opportunities that virtual events present, and we are happy to digitally connect our authors with readers around the globe.

Audiobooks and ebooks are on the rise.

It should surprise no one that the demand for audiobooks and ebooks keeps growing. During the pandemic, downloadable book sales increased across retailers. According to Good E-Reader, in the U.S. during January to September 2020, ebooks sales increased by 15.8%, (with revenues for the children’s and YA genres in particular up by 69.7%). Downloadable audiobook sales increased by 15.0% during that time, finishing 2020 with an approximate 17.6% boost for the year as a whole.

Recognizing the need for downloadable books early on, our firm launched the #BooksForwardHelpline in March 2020 to help readers and authors support indie bookstores and libraries, troubleshoot their reading or listening devices, and connect with great new book recommendations.

This year we’re thrilled to launch specialized Audiobook Production and Promotion services to help our clients connect with ever-expanding audiences of readers in new ways, and get a share of what has become a billion-dollar industry.

Paying attention to the news cycle is more important than ever.

In the second quarter of 2020, Covid-19 dominated the headlines. Getting media attention for new book releases is always challenging in this competitive environment. Getting media attention during an unprecedented worldwide pandemic? We all remember the news cycle being 24/7 coronavirus.

But our authors never cease to amaze us with the variety of perspectives and stories they have, and our publicists were able to help our authors share constructive insights with the media during such an unprecedented time. Bryan E. Robinson, Ph.D., author of #Chill: Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life, helped Forbes readers cope with pandemic anxiety (an article that has been viewed over 147,000 times). Professor Peter Ward explained the evolution of handwashing with Vox, based on his book The Clean Body: A Modern History. Novelist Christine Meade (The Way You Burn) shared a poignant personal story about her pregnancy fears during the pandemic with HuffPost. And gardening expert Monique Allen contributed to Good Housekeeping’s advice on isolation gardening and victory vegetables patches thanks to her book, Stop Landscaping, Start Lifescaping.

You never know when you can contribute in a meaningful and authentic way to a journalist’s story.

Tweet

Now that a measure of “pandemic fatigue” has set in and the news cycle is more varied, our media outreach has become a bit more normalized. Nevertheless, we’re always working to stay on top of the rapidly changing headlines, and we would encourage all authors to do the same. You never know when you can contribute in a meaningful and authentic way to a journalist’s story.

Marissa DeCuir is the president and partner of Books Forward publicity and Books Fluent publishing. As a former journalist with stories published in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications, she’s always looking for the best hooks to utilize in author publicity and book marketing. She values fostering the relationship between writer and reader in an organic way, and believes in taking a personal and strategic can-do approach to help authors reach their goals. Under the 21-year-old JKS Communications brand, Books Forward and Books Fluent are committed to elevating voices, breaking barriers and promoting books that empower, inspire and move the world forward.

This article originally appeared on Killer Nashville.

Coffee with Gilmore Girls character book pairings

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Fall is here, the leaves are changing colors, the pumpkin spice latte is back at Starbucks… you know what that means: it’s time to rewatch Gilmore girls. Get that flannel and backwards baseball hat out of storage and live your best life!

To celebrate this momentous time of year, we’re featuring our favorite Stars Hollow residents paired with a good book and their ideal cup of coffee coffee coffee!

Lorelai Gilmore

Book: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry 

Coffee Order: Black

Would you really expect any less? She doesn’t want to dilute the coffee with any cream or sugar, she just wants it as strong as possible. And naturally she would pair it with a fan favorite, because she wants all of the romcom feels.

Rory Gilmore

Book: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

Coffee Order: Vanilla latte with almond milk and an extra shot of espresso

Ok hear me out, I know she drank a LOT of black coffee in the series, but there WERE times where she ordered a little something different at the coffee cart: proof that people can change! I believe fully that Rory 2.0 from A Year in the Life has evolved to arguably the MOST basic of coffee orders with the vanilla latte, almond milk because again, basic, and the extra shot as a homage to her roots in caffeine. While her order is basic, her reading is anything but. Rory would only pick the most stunning of novels and memoirs to line her bookshelf. And, of course it has to be current: she’s already read everything else!

Emily Gilmore

Book: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Coffee: No coffee for the queen, just Abigail’s Blend black tea from the finest tea emporium, Elmwood Fine Teas. A splash of cream and sugar; no more than necessary, but just enough to be high maintenance. 

Just because it’s National Coffee Day does NOT mean everyone on this roster subscribes to coffee… and Emily Gilmore certainly does not. She is a class act that drinks out of vintage tea cups, and nothing less. She’s sophisticated, but also tries to stay current with literature, which leads her to reading a classic author like Ann Patchett. She even ordered a signed copy from Parnassus Books, Ann’s bookstore.

Richard Gilmore

Queue the tears. I refuse not to include the patriarch of the Gilmore family. Though he is no longer with us, I believe he’s somewhere drinking scotch and reading yet another classic, Proust perhaps? All the love to our fallen friend.

Luke Danes

Book: Arriving Today by Christopher Mims

We all know this guy isn’t drinking coffee, but you better believe he’s making his signature Luke’s coffee for his customers. No pumpkin spice, maple harvest blends here, folks. Taylor Doose already tried, and failed at that. It’s more likely that after hours, Luke is having nitwit juice (a beer) and reading a book about consumerism and online shopping, and likely is getting pretty heated about it.

Lane Kim

Book: The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

Coffee: Red Eye (brewed coffee with a shot of espresso) 

In classic Lane fashion, she’s drinking all of the caffeine to keep her energy up for that gig with the band later tonight. And, of course, what pairs better with a coffee buzz than the haunting jitters you feel when reading Lisa Jewell thrillers?! Lane reads EVERY novel from Lisa Jewell, and is obsessed with the twists and turns in each one. 

Paris Geller

Book: Reading? Paris isn’t reading. She’s writing her own biography. Not autobiography, no, a biography that she plans to publish under a pen name.
Coffee: Triple espresso

Even in her early days at Yale, Paris loved starting her mornings with a triple espresso. You will never find her having anything different.

Sookie St. James

Book: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Coffee: FINALLY, our pumpkin spice latte QUEEN! And you KNOW she can make the best ones herself. They are likely a fall favorite at the Dragonfly for all but Michel, who can only have milk with the blue cap.

Sookie wants to read all the steamy romance while drinking her PSL, and who can blame her? She loves a Reese’s Book Club pick, and she loves anything spicy. She’s heard a LOT of great things about it, and couldn’t wait to go buy a copy at the bookstore from Andrew. 

Kirk

Book: No books, just the Stars Hollow Gazette. He’s got to stay up on the town.

Coffee: Decaf only. The whole town is in on it. Anywhere he goes, no matter what blend he orders, Kirk is only given decaf.

book publicity firm

How does a book publicity firm decide which authors to represent?

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir | 2 Comments on How does a book publicity firm decide which authors to represent?

Many writers dream of publishing a book, but few realize that publishing is just the first step in a dynamic journey of getting your book in front of–and loved by–readers. Our book publicity firm Books Forward has represented more than 700 amazing authors during our 20 plus years in business, and a question I hear frequently is “How do you decide which authors you represent?”.

We are so lucky to hear from incredible authors every day interested in using our services. While we wish we could help everyone (seriously, I’d love to help every writer fulfill their biggest book dreams!), we have to be selective about the authors we represent for a number of reasons. And with thousands of books launching daily in the U.S. alone, I want to share our selection process with writers so they can make the smartest, best choices before querying publicists for representation.

Our team at Books Forward choose the authors we represent by asking ourselves the following questions:

First and foremost, are we excited about the book? As avid readers ourselves, we love great books, and we read a lot of them! Our team has diverse reading tastes, so we embrace a variety of genres and content, but across the board we are looking for books that pull us in and keep us hooked.

Do we see specific ways to promote this book to its target audience, and help it stand out among the competition? We want to help our authors reach as wide an audience as possible, but we also want to help them reach their specific target audiences–aka the readers who gravitate towards (and are engaged enough to buy) this specific type of literature. The better we understand a book’s target audience, the better we are able to help get that book into the hands of fans.

Does our team have experience in this genre? Can we bring our A-level expertise to this project? We always want to bring our best to every project. We’ve worked with all kinds of authors in almost every genre, and our publicists and digital strategists each specialize in different areas. We always consider if we are a strong match for a campaign, and if we’re not, we may refer authors to another firm. We’re always transparent about the best options for them and their books!

Will the author be a partner in publicity? We bring a vast amount of work and expertise to every campaign; however, publicity is a partnership. We are looking for authors who will be available for interviews, open to writing guest articles, active on social media and willing to promote the book to their own networks. We want our books to succeed, and author participation is essential for establishing a brand and a loyal readership.

Will the author have awesome goals, but also realistic expectations? After more than two decades in the publishing industry, we have seen (and continue to see!) publishing evolve constantly. The industry is more competitive than ever, and we seek to partner with authors who understand that the promotional tactics that worked even just 1-3 years ago may no longer be as effective. Our best clients are those who are open to trying promotional strategies that are innovative and out-of-the-box, as well as tried-and-tested publicity tactics.

Is there a budget in place for publicity and marketing? If they are indie publishing, are they willing to work with a book-specific editor and designer to get the book into the best shape possible? While we always seek to find promotional solutions that work within an author’s specific budget, quality publishing and promotion requires both time and money. A book is, in many ways, a product–and cutting corners reduces the quality of the product, as well as its ability to reach its target market. We look for authors willing to invest time and resources to publish and promote their book, so that together we can give each title its best chance of success.

And lastly, does this book help move the world forward? Here at Books Forward, we want to represent books that elevate voices from a diverse group of authors, break barriers in the publishing industry and convey a story that will resonate with readers. We’ve been fortunate to work with so many authors who are doing just that–and we are thrilled and grateful to continue representing incredible, innovative authors for years to come.

I hope this helps you on your journey to publishing and planning promotion for your book!

This post originally appeared on https://www.teenink.com/ in July 2021.

Marissa DeCuir is the president and partner of Books Forward publicity and Books Fluent publishing. As a former journalist, she’s always looking for the best hooks to utilize in author publicity and book marketing and believes in taking a personal and strategic can-do approach to help authors reach their goals.

How Competing Titles Help Sell Your Book

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Competition in the publishing industry is a good thing, if you use it to your advantage. You’d never launch a product without first identifying the competition and how they’re reaching their (aka, your) target audience. Likewise, you should never launch a book without a thorough understanding of your competing titles.

I actually cringe every time an author says, “My book is totally unique! There’s nothing else like it on the market!” Here’s a hard (but helpful) truth: If you think your story is wholly original, you are either not consuming enough narrative media (books, plays, films, TV shows), or you’re deliberately ignoring similarities between your ideas and every other story that exists. What’s worse, you’re actively obstructing your own book marketing and sales.

Competing titles (also called comparative titles, or “comp titles,”) are one of the most powerful sales and marketing strategies you can use for your book. Competing titles help you sell your work to readers and book industry insiders. Let me explain.

What are “comp titles?”
Comp titles are books (or other forms of media) that are similar in content and/or style to your book. Comp titles are often, but not always, in the same genre as yours. Comparative titles can occasionally encompass media like popular TV shows or films, but the term most typically refers to books that resemble yours in one or more ways (plot, characters, setting, tone, etc.).

  • Why are competing titles important?
    Competing titles are important because they help readers and publishing industry professionals instantly:
    Understand what your book is about and why it’s appealing, by identifying which popular stories your work resembles
  • Identify who the target audience is for your book (and by extension, how to reach them) by understanding the already-established market for similar, popular titles
  • Recognize your work as unique. It may sound counterintuitive, but blending two or more comp titles can both help people understand what your book is like (“Hey, I like [Comp Title 1] and [Comp Title 2]!”) while also appealing to their sense of novelty (“And this new book combines the best of both! I haven’t seen that done before!”).

How do you identify “good” comparative titles for your book?

  • Select competitive titles that have been released in the last two years. The entertainment and publishing industries are flooded with new releases each year. If the property you’re comparing yourself to is more than two years old, it’s no longer considered “current” — and if it’s not “current,” it’s no longer guaranteed to be marketable to your target audience. While there’s some leeway to the two-year rule, this is the best practice to follow to make sure your comparison is as strong as possible.
  • Choose comp titles that are recognizable — but not too popular. If you’re a debut or relatively unknown author, comparing yourself to Stephen King, Elizabeth Gilbert, or J.K. Rowling will get you nowhere: These are established “franchise” authors with countless marketing dollars, fans and fame at their disposal. Sure, they had to start somewhere — but the publishing world they started in is not the one you’re starting in. Shoot for properties that were recognizable successes without being billion-dollar blockbusters. If you’re a YA debut author, select a fellow YA debut in the same genre, with similar themes, that became a bestseller. If you’re writing your third book in your WWII thriller series, select a recent, successful (more reviews, sales, popularity, etc.) WWII / war series to compare yourself to.
  • Use comparative titles that are as similar as possible to your work. You can combine genres and titles, but there should be distinct, easy-to-identify similarities between your book and your comp titles, whether in terms of genre, themes, characters, plot, tone, style, and even author background.

Red white and blue book covers to read for Flag Day

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

In the vein of Naomi Novik’s New York Times bestseller Spinning Silver and Katherine Arden’s national bestseller The Bear and the Nightingale, this unforgettable debut— inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology—follows a young pagan woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a tyrant.

Other People’s Children by R.J. Hoffmann

In Other People’s Children, three mothers make excruciating choices to protect their families and their dreams—choices that put them at decided odds against one another. You will root for each one of them and wonder just how far you’d go in the same situation. This riveting debut is a thoughtful exploration of love and family, and a heart-pounding page-turner you’ll find impossible to put down. 

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

In the vein of Mary Beth Keane’s Ask Again, Yes and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s The Nest, Tracey Lange’s We Are the Brennans explores the staying power of shame—and the redemptive power of love—in an Irish Catholic family torn apart by secrets.

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and rich with historical detail, Kaitlyn Greenidge’s new novel resonates in our times and is perfect for readers of Brit Bennett, Min Jin Lee, and Yaa Gyasi. 

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton

An electrifying novel about the meteoric rise of an iconic interracial rock duo in the 1970s, their sensational breakup, and the dark secrets unearthed when they try to reunite decades later for one last tour.

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise. Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect “Dick and Jane” house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life. But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women’s lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after?

Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce

A disturbing, toxic and compelling novel that explores the power of fear and desire, jealousy and betrayal, love and hate, BLOOD ORANGE introduces a stunning new voice in psychological suspense.

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

Cora hasn’t spoken to her best friend, Quinn, in a year. Despite living next door to each other, they exist in separate worlds of grief. Cora is still grappling with the death of her beloved sister in a school shooting, and Quinn is carrying the guilt of what her brother did. On the day of Cora’s twelfth birthday, Quinn leaves a box on her doorstep with a note. She has decided that the only way to fix things is to go back in time to the moment before her brother changed all their lives forever—and stop him.

Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins

The author of the “suspenseful, atmospheric, and completely riveting” (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author) debut The Winter Sister returns with a darkly thrilling novel about a woman who comes to believe that she has a connection to a decades old kidnapping and now that the victim has gone missing again, begins a frantic search to learn what happened in the past.

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland.

Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Philippe

In the biting, hilarious vein of What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life—comes Ben Philippe’s candid memoir-in-essays, chronicling a lifetime of being the Black friend (see also: foreign kid, boyfriend, coworker, student, teacher, roommate, enemy) in predominantly white spaces.

Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist–the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity… and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.

Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen

Meet Majella O’Neill, a heroine like no other, in this captivating Irish debut that has been called Milkman meets Derry Girls.

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

This debut novel by an Arab-American voice,takes us inside the lives of conservative Arab women living in America.

The Break Up Book Club by Wendy Wax

Breakups, like book clubs, come in many shapes and sizes and can take us on unexpected journeys as four women discover in this funny and heartwarming exploration of friendship from the USA Today bestselling author of Ten Beach Road and My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding.

A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams

When Derek begins to fall for the lovely Maya, he knows there’s no future. But destiny has its own plans, and these two lonely people with big hearts discover that coming home to love is the best gift life can give. 

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

Nghi Vo’s debut novel The Chosen and the Beautiful reinvents this classic of the American canon as a coming-of-age story full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess, and introduces a major new literary voice.

Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey

Like satellites trapped in orbit around each other, Thora and Santi are destined to meet again: as a teacher and prodigy student; a caretaker and dying patient; a cynic and a believer. In numerous lives they become friends, colleagues, lovers, and enemies. But as blurred memories and strange patterns compound, Thora and Santi come to a shocking revelation—they must discover the truth of their mysterious attachment before their many lives come to one, final end. 

Oligarchy by Scarlett Thomas

Hilariously dark, Oligarchy is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie for the digital age. Scarlett Thomas captures the lives of privileged teenage girls seeking to be loved and accepted in all their triviality and magnitude. With the help of her diet-obsessed classmates, Tash must try to stay alive―and sane―while she uncovers what’s really going on.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

For readers of Valeria Luiselli and Edwidge Danticat, an urgent and lyrical novel about a Colombian family fractured by deportation, offering an intimate perspective on an experience that so many have endured—and are enduring right now.

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld

From the New York Times bestselling author of American Wife and Eligible, a novel that imagines a deeply compelling what-might-have-been: What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton?

A heart-wrenching story of two lovers, torn apart by war, and their boundless journey back to one another

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

How long would you wait to reunite with the love of your life?

JACKSON, Miss. – Lovers spend decades hoping to reunite in Alfred Nicols’ debut novel, “Lost Love’s Return” (June 8, 2021, Books Fluent). A historical romance entwined with military and Southern elements tempts readers to hold out hope for a lost love in the midst of unparalleled tragedy.

When Elizabeth, a young English nurse, falls in love with one of her American patients, her whole world changes. When Peter, the American soldier, is suddenly shipped home to the U.S. at the end of WWI, he does his best to alert Elizabeth to what’s happening but fails, leaving her with no idea where he is and no way to contact him — now oceans away.

For 27 years, Peter yearns for Elizabeth, regretting the actions that led him into a long-drawn-out loveless marriage. But now, with the help of his son, he locates the only woman he’s ever loved. The question is, will she give him a second chance?

“Lost Love’s Return”
Alfred Nicols | June 8, 2021 |
Books Fluent | Historical Romance
Paperback | 978-1-953865-16-8 | $15.99
Ebook | 978-1-953865-17-5 | $9.99
Hardcover | 978-1-953865-28-1 | $21.99

ALFRED NICOLS received undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. Following military service, he had a career as a lawyer, a state trial judge, and a federal judge. He and his wife, Mary, live on rural acreage in Mississippi.

“Lost Love’s Return” was written as an effort to leave his children and grandchildren, perhaps others, insight into issues in life and the value of family ties, even to imperfect people.

In an interview, Alfred Nicols can discuss:

  • Crafting a novel that combines aspects of historical fiction, military fiction, romance and southern literature
  • His personal journey from busy lawyer to judge to artist and finally author
  • His experience in the military and how it influenced writing the book
  • The extensive southern cultural and historical research he conducted to help write the book
  • How his love for his family inspired him to write this particular story for them and the messages he hopes they and readers will take from it

An interview with Alfred Nicols

1. You’ve had successful careers in both law and art, so what inspired you to turn to writing?

I have written in some form for most of my life. In high school, I wrote a poem that won a national award and several other writing contests. As an undergraduate in college, I always excelled in the courses that required long narrative answers, courses in history and literature for instance. In law school, I wrote for the law journal. As a lawyer, in every group I practiced with, I was usually the one called upon to write the briefs on the most important case in the office. As a judge, I wrote extensively, not just opinions, but creative things. For instance, I was asked by the state bar to help write a jury orientation video, with me as the judge actor, which has been in use statewide for over 30 years.

But I always wanted to write creative fiction. I have started more novels than I own pairs of footwear, my first one almost 60 years ago when I was in Korea on active duty with the Army. Something always intervened and I never finished one. I was a young lawyer trying to get established, working 70-80 hours a week; I was a father with young children who had scout projects, sports events to attend. Then I started painting southern landscapes. It wasn’t long before my paintings were selling, and I soon had more demand for my paintings than I could fill. Requests came for one-man shows, needing 50 or more original paintings, two years or more of work with a full-time day job.

Finally, about six years ago, a close friend, who had pushed me for decades to write creative fiction, got on a hard sell and wouldn’t let up until I agreed to try. There was no turning back. He would push me for the next chapter to review and edit. I challenged myself to see that he got it. Once he had invested his time in the project, I felt some obligation to complete it.

2. How has your own military experience helped you with writing those aspects of the book?

Through an advanced ROTC program in college, I was commissioned an officer in the Army, with a two-year commitment to active-duty military service. Part of the program was six weeks of basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia. With this training, I got to experience crawling beneath barbed wire under simulated live fire, the deafening sounds of artillery fire, being put in a chamber full of tear gas (where I better have my face mask right) and whatever else the Army could come up with to acclimate the trainee to the battlefield environment. I got orders to Vietnam with my unit in the middle of the conflict in 1966 but was pulled from the unit at the last minute because of a serious kidney problem. Reassigned to Korea, my kidney was operated on, and I spent time in a Quonset Hut military ward somewhat like the one my character Peter Montgomery was in. I’m sure these experiences gave me perspective on the battlefield and military hospital aspects of the novel.

3. You’ve said you wrote this novel to pass down to your sons and grandchildren. Can you explain?

With a long and blessed life, in my law office, in the courtroom, in social settings, family environments, I have experienced constant opportunity to observe humanity, in all its dimensions: love and hate; good and evil; faith and doubt; pain and pleasure; wealth and poverty; our potential for jealousy, selfishness, resentment and oppression, as well as all our potential for selflessness, concern, support and love. Approaching 80, I felt I had learned much about the choices we make in life and their consequences. Jesus taught us so well with his parables. Perhaps I could create a novel with a plot, characters and scenes that could pass what I’ve learned on to my children and grandchildren — and maybe even to others — to read when they were old enough.

4. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced writing the book?

There were essentially four. The first was creating a plot, characters and scenes to fulfill my purposes and then weaving them together in a compelling read. It was also important for me to write the dialogue in a way that the characters came alive on the page without at the same time making the reading hard.
There was also writing the three sex scenes that were necessary to carry the plot in a way that was graphic enough to bring home the messages I wanted to convey about that part of life — but no more so than necessary. And finally, doing all the tedious, time-consuming historical and cultural research necessary to write a novel covering two cultures, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and an almost three-decade time span. And, of course, the discipline and stamina it takes to write a 90,000-word novel — and hopefully do it well.

5. What do you hope readers gain from “Lost Love’s Return”?

Every scene in the novel was created from the inside out, so to speak. I had some lessons about life I wanted to convey. How can I create a scene with characters, plot and action to make that point? There are so many “life lessons” along the way, chapter by chapter. And I end the novel with a biggie: There is power in faith. Much of our achievement and happiness depends on faith: faith in ourselves; faith in others; faith that somehow our nation can overcome its problems; faith that the world can overcome climate change; faith that we can avoid nuclear disaster; and, perhaps, faith that there is a deity who can save us from our greatest fear of all — our mortality.

NetGalley community

What is Netgalley and why should I use it?

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

NetGalley helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Publishers make digital review copies and audiobooks available for the NetGalley community to discover, request, read, and review.

We’ve put together some tips and tricks for anyone who is interested in reading books on Netgalley, so that you all can utilize this platform to its full potential, and of course to get as many approvals as possible!

  1. Fill out your profile completely
    Netgalley asks specific questions for your profile, and it’s of the utmost importance that you review and answer all of them. This will help publishers to notice you when they are reviewing your requests, and to make sure you are a legitimate reviewer.
  2. Provide links to your preferred platforms
    Some of us thrive on Instagram, others on TikTok. It’s important to share your preferred platforms with Netgalley so that no one has to do any guessing! If you were to look me up right now, you’d see a great following on Instagram, but my TikTok game is WEAK! What if that’s all they thought that I had for social media? I’d be doomed!
  3. Be sure to share your reading preferences!
    There are a lot of times that I receive emails based on my preferences, which is a great way for me to find books I hadn’t yet heard of, and even receive download links! If there’s a genre you know that you love, I highly recommend sharing that with the team at Netgalley – you might just get a sweet surprise!
  4. Check out each publisher’s approval preferences
    Each publisher is different! Some require a specific number of followers on social media, while others may prefer a high review percentage. Either way, it’s good to know so that you can increase your chances of being approved for books from your favorite publishing house.
  5. Keep up that review percentage!
    But really… my current percentage is… not ideal, and it shows in how many books I get approval for. Don’t be like me! Keep that review up to 80%, which is the recommendation of Netgalley. It DEFINITELY makes a difference. I know I’ve missed out on a number of books because of my low rate, and once you get stuck in the hole, it’s hard to dig your way out!
  6. “Read Now” books are especially great for beginners!
    If you are just starting out on Netgalley, the “read now” titles are a great way to get access to books, as well as to boost that review percentage!
  7. Don’t request too many books at once!
    It’s easy to get excited and request every book you see… and trust me, I’ve been there! But, it’s best to try and only request books you know you can prioritize on that never-ending TBR of yours…
  8. Keep your profile updated
    Make sure to update your stats as you have more followers or your reading preferences change! If you mark the date you last updated your numbers, it will let publishers know that you’re staying current.
  9. HAVE FUN!
    Netgalley is such a great opportunity for book lovers and educators alike – enjoy your access! 🙂
romance novels

Why are romance novels most commonly published in paperback?

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Ever wonder why romance novels are always published in paperback? During quarantine, I’ve been reading a LOT of romance, and every time I get a new romance novel from the bookstore or a publisher, I noticed they’re always published as paperback. Typically, when a book is first published, they’re produced as hardcover. Hardcover books are more expensive, and can drive a higher profit for publishers in the first six months to a year of a book’s life. It’s after that point that publishers will continue printing the book, but in paperback.

But why is romance different? Why do these books begin their careers as paperback books as opposed to the more expensive and higher quality hardcover?

The short answer is DEMAND. Historically, romance has been the best-selling genre of books in existence. Of course, this fluctuates and changes, and in recent years, we’ve seen an increase in true crime and thriller genres — but from a standpoint of how the industry started, romance was always the highest in demand. Paperbacks are not only cheaper to produce, but they are also easier. So when romance novels were flying off of the shelves, it made sense to get them into the hands of readers as quickly (and cheaply) as possible.

Mass-market paperback novels are also extremely popular in the romance genre. Mass-market paperback novels are the kind you can find for $5 to $10 at airport, grocery stores, etc. They’re often much smaller and more compact than the average paperback. Perfect for tossing in your purse or on-the-go reading! I’ve bought them before simply because they’re the biggest bang for my buck, though admittedly they hurt my eyes!

Notice where they are sold … they’re sold in places that are most convenient to their target audience; middle-aged women. They’re also sold at an affordable price that can act as an add on to any order. I’ve personally been guilty of adding one to my cart at Target simply because it didn’t make that big of a dent in the grocery list, and I doubted that my husband would even notice.

So there you have it; our consistent and constant demand of these spicy, salacious stories are what make them produced at such an affordable price, even right out of the gate. A huge thanks to the publishers for giving us fresh, affordable titles — we see you, and appreciate you for looking out for us and our grocery shopping!

book publicist

What you should know about hiring a book publicist

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

You’ve spent years creating storylines, developing characters and polishing your book. Now you want it to have the best chance of success and the widest possible readership. But with millions of books published in the U.S. alone each year (including more than one million self-published books languishing on Amazon), how do you make your book stand out so that people actually see it, let alone read it? 

That’s where a book publicist comes in: a publicist connects an author to the media who will boost the book’s visibility, the event venues where connections are made, and, ultimately, to the readers you want to reach. That’s why you published a book, right?

Whether you’re a traditionally published author who needs more publicity support, an indie-published author eager to rise above the competition, or a first-time writer wanting to establish a brand presence, having your own publicist can make the difference in whether or not your book gets the buzz it deserves. 

Here are five reasons why hiring a book publicist may be your secret weapon to publishing success:

They already know the media gatekeepers, event coordinators and other literary tastemakers you’re trying to reach — and they introduce you in the right way.

Launching a book is kind of like going to a crowded party where you don’t know anyone: It’s exciting to be invited, but it’s so much better when you go with a friend who knows everybody and introduces you to all the right people! That’s what your publicist does: Cultivate connections with reviewers, media outlets, bookstores, event venues and other tastemakers you need to reach as well as cutting through the media “vetting” process for you, and introducing you in a professional and effective way that makes the best possible impression. 

They are your insider experts within the publishing industry.

Have questions about publishing technicalities, processes or lingo? Need to bounce new ideas off someone who actually understands the complex publishing world? Your publicist is your resource for getting your questions answered. They actually have the industry experience and behind-the-scenes expertise you’ve been seeking, and they want to help you as true bibliophiles! 

They free up your time and resources by doing the heavy PR lifting for you, so you can focus on what you do best.

Life is busy whether you’re a full-time writer or not. It’s hard enough to write a book, but having time to pursue and coordinate PR opportunities, juggle interviews and event appearances, and continue writing (on top of other work, family or social commitments) can be even more challenging! A publicist arranges promotion for your book and author brand, so you can spend your time doing the fun stuff (such as interviewing with the media, participating in an event, working on a guest article or writing your next book)! 

They can generate new creative ideas and opportunities you never knew existed.

When you think of PR, you might imagine things already mentioned above: media interviews and events. But what about hosting a scavenger hunt in a public library based on your book? Or organizing “the world’s longest book tour?” How about creating a scholarship contest for indie bookstores to get booksellers excited about your title? Or reaching out to #bookstagrammers or YouTube book vloggers? Maybe creating an interactive white box mailing to key influencers? Publicists can guide you in new promotional directions that you might not have considered or be able to access on your own. And they can help implement those creative initiatives to get your book on the map in new, innovative ways. 

They’re your biggest cheerleader and publishing support system — really! 

Let’s face it, being an author can be a pretty lonely job, but it doesn’t have to be! A publicist is your book’s champion, and your biggest fan. Some writers are introverts and don’t feel confident “promoting” their own work. When you find a publicist who genuinely enjoys and believes in your book, you finally have someone in your corner who is ready to tell the world how great you are! They give you support, enthusiasm and encouragement so you don’t have to go it alone. 

To recap

Authors should consider hiring a publicist if they want more effort and expertise put into promoting their work than a). their traditional publisher is able to provide, or b). they have time, energy and industry knowledge to handle personally. By teaming up with your own publicist, you’ll give your book it’s best opportunity to succeed, and you’ll give yourself the opportunity to have some fun along the way!

*This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Writer’s Life Magazine.