Adele Dubois Blog

For the first time in years, I’m not psyched for the Super Bowl. Not even attending a Super Bowl XLIII party. <Sigh> Since the Eagles were robbed of knocked out of the NFC Championship by the Arizona Cardinals, my enthusiasm for the game seeped out like a leaking balloon.

However, since I live in Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh is a rockin’ good city, my support will go to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Philly can’t play, I’ll be glad to see another Pennsylvania team win. New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, playing the half-time concert, is a cool regional bonus. Oh, and I got those geeky, tinted paper glasses for the 3-D Super Bowl commercials planned this year.

If you’re a woman dreading football widowhood on Super Bowl Sunday, here’s a link to Harlequin’s 60th Anniversary celebration, where they’re offering FREE BOOKS. Download one or all sixteen books of your choice. I found a couple gems I look forward to reading.

http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/

Best–Adele Dubois

My social network has clogged to the point of collapse. The demands of author promotion on Twitter, Face Book, My Space, Good Reads, my blog, website, group blogs and Yahoo groups have forced my extroverted cyber-self to retreat in utter panic.

Since I joined social networking sites to promote my books, my email box is filled to bursting each day with invitations to join other authors’ fan clubs and chat groups, pass cyber drinks, give to endless charities, peek at pictures of pirates, fairies, pixies and witches, and write on hundreds of ‘walls’. I rate books, hop from blog to blog to leave comments, reply to messages on chat loops, and ‘friend’ hundreds of strangers. I ask myself–have any of these ‘friends’ read my books?

How much networking can one author do? After weeks of trying to keep up with social networking, I think I’ve found the answer—very little. That is, if you want to get your writing done. Over the past few months I’ve completed two major projects. The first was the sequel to my newest release DESERT FEVER for Ellora’s Cave, and the other—well, I’ll tell you all about that when the deal is done.

I won’t be able to finish another book if I keep sending cyber-margaritas to my ‘friends’ on cool Internet sites. So, please–forgive me if I retreat from social networking and return to my quiet office to do what I love best—write. Despite my introversion, I really do enjoy your company.

Best—Adele Dubois  

I’m thrilled that my newest book DESERT FEVER has rated a Night Owl Romance TOP PICK review, a Fallen Angels Reviews FIVE ANGELS review, and a new FIVE HEARTS review from The Romance Studio! TRS called the book… ”Exceedingly erotic and beautifully written.”

Thank you!  

http://www.jasminejade.com/pc-6598-101-desert-fever.aspx

Adrian Paul Hewett was born in London, England on May 29, 1959–the son of an Italian mother and English father. Adrian is fluent in three languages; English, Italian and French and has enjoyed a career in modeling, dance, choreography and acting in both Europe and the USA.

His guest appearances on American television began with hit shows The Colby’s; Beauty and the Beast; Murder, She Wrote, Tarzan and others in the late eighties and early nineties.

Adrian Paul is most famous for his role as 400 year-old Immortal Duncan MacLeod in the television series Highlander.  The show ran from 1992-1998 with 119 episodes. The movie Highlander: Endgame was released in 2000 and Highlander: The Source in 2007.

People Magazine named Adrian Paul ”Sexiest Action Star” in 1999.

Romance novel fans have admired Adrian Paul as a cover model, and enjoyed his guest appearance at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in 2008.

Adrian Paul founded The Peace Fund charitable organization in 1998. (Protect Educate Aid Children Everywhere.) 

http://www.thepeacefund.org

“The PEACE Fund focuses on small, under-funded and hard-working charities who are determined to make a positive difference to the lives of children living in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.” (Source: Adrian Paul Official Website)

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Many thanks to Adrian Paul fan Gail D. for her helpful information and photos. Gail reminded me that Paul is much more than a handsome face, but a humanitarian and a truly nice guy. These qualities make Adrian Paul the perfect CLASSIC HUNK. Don’t you agree?

If you are an Adrian Paul fan and have more information to add, please do so in the comments section. Thanks for visiting!

How much excitement can one woman take in a day? Between my home team, The Philadelphia Eagles, winning a huge playoff game 23-11 against the New York Giants, and tonight’s Season Premiere of my all-time fave show, “24″, starring Kiefer Sutherland, I think I’m gonna’ pop! 

I need a testosterone break. Time to take off my McNabb #5 NFL jersey and relax in my comfy sweater with a golden margarita and some re-runs of Lipstick Jungle before the next jolt of sports and action heroes. Go EAGLES!

A Visit to the Mother Ship

I’ve been writing for Leisure Books since May 2006, but last October I made my first trip to Dorchester Publishing’s office in New York. In the heart of Manhattan, the throbbing heart of this wonderful company is housed in a classically beautiful building with historic literary ties. Penguin was there at one time and the suite of offices Dorchester occupies now used to be home to Atlantic Monthly.

I got to meet the office staff and it’s always a treat to see my editor, Leah Hultenschmidt and marketing guru, Erin Galloway. I first met Leah at RWA National in Reno right after she made an offer on my debut title (Maidensong written as Diana Groe).  She’s very good at her job and our collaboration always sharpens my writing and challenges me to stretch. Erin is brimming with fresh ideas and encouragement. Usually, I connect with them at national conferences. This was my first chance to see them in their natural element.

Dorchester is a privately held publisher, which makes for much more of a family atmosphere. Everyone knew my name. Even the office staff. And everyone reads voraciously. My kind of people.  

Much is made of the dreaded “slush pile,” the place where unsolicited manuscripts languish in obscurity. Leah’s pile is small and well-managed. She obviously works through hers, makes her decisions and moves on. (Her husband, who is a horror/thriller/western editor for Dorchester is another subject altogether. His slush pile is the stuff of nightmares! Chest-high stacks of manuscripts ring his office. It looks like the place where manuscripts go to die. Leah assures me he doesn’t get away with stuff like that at home!)

The staff is working half a year or more ahead. My next release VEXING THE VISCOUNT (March 2009) is already off the schedule board because it’s “in the can.” The life cycle of a book is a long one. Vexing the Viscount was due to Leah last July. Once I turn in the manuscript, Leah goes through it, making notes and putting questions in the margins. Then we negotiate revisions. Most of the time, she wins, but occasionally, I bring her around to my way of thinking. Then the copy editor goes through it, correcting spelling and grammar. The galley comes back to me for one more pass. This is my last chance to get things right.

I can’t rewrite at this point, but I can make sure there are no glaring errors. And once I send the galley back, my part for Vexing the Viscount is finished.  However, the Christmas anthology (October 2009) I’m doing with Jennifer Ashley and Alissa Johnson is still in full swing. Which means I’d better get busy and finish writing my portion!

If there are any aspiring writers reading this, let me invite you to check out my Write Stuff pages on my website. http://www.emilybryan.com/Writers’%20Corner.htm. I have several pages dedicated just to you! 

Thanks for letting me visit with your readers, Adele. I’m thrilled to be able to offer a FREE copy of VEXING THE VISCOUNT to one lucky commenter. Just post a comment or question to be entered in the daily drawing. Be sure to check back tomorrow because I’ll post the winner in the comment section!

Good luck!

Emily Bryan

In 2008 I presented a workshop for Romance Writers of America chapter Valley Forge Romance Writers called POWER TITLES. A short article based on the workshop followed and was published in several RWA chapter publications.

Since writers seem to find the POWER TITLES information helpful, I’m posting the article here. Please give proper credit when referencing this article.

POWER TITLES by Adele Dubois

Your book title is a powerful marketing tool. Whether your romance novel sits on a bookstore shelf, is listed on an e-publisher site, or is yet an unpublished manuscript, your title makes a critical first impression on readers and editors.  Does your title have that wow factor that hooks your target readership and makes them want to know more? Is your ‘working title’ so powerful your publisher will approve it?

Here are tips on how to write a ‘working title’ that will increase your chances of publisher acceptance when your contract is signed.

• Keep it short. A great title should be read at a glance. Four words are the maximum recommended length, but three words or less is best.

• Encapsulate your genre. Your title should offer a snapshot of your story genre (Romance) and sub-genre (Paranormal, erotic, suspense, comedy, science fiction, fantasy, inspirational, historical, etc.).

• Use compelling key words that evoke vivid mental pictures. A strong visual of your story concept creates the emotional response needed to produce sales.

• Make it original. Use ‘power words’ in combination that are fresh and memorable. Be unique.

• Be cool and current. Avoid old-fashioned expressions, cliché, glib, pretentious or trite language.

• Use active, not passive, phrases. DESERT FEVER is active. “Fever in the Desert” is passive and packs less punch.

Editor Advice:

Raelene Gorlinksy, Publisher, Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publishing, says, “Have a focus word. Make it grab the reader—it should be interesting or intriguing or suggestive.”

Hilary Sares, Editor, Kensington Publishing Corp., says, “Long, Latinate, erudite titles seem to be a particular weakness of newbie historical authors…ditto legal thriller writers. The contemps, anything goes—but authors often get too ‘telly’ or too trite. I wish I had a nickel for every contemp romance I saw that was called Second Chances. If you want your manuscript to be remembered, try to do better than that.”

Rhonda Penders, Editor-In-Chief of The Wild Rose Press, says, “Titles with double meanings are always fun for the erotic reads. Something different, unusual.  If you have the same title as a dozen other books it doesn’t work.  You want to be unique and original without being too strange. Titles, like covers, are big marketing pieces, and sometimes it’s best to let the marketing department help the editor and author choose what would work best for a story… The best advice I can give is to make it catchy, cute if it fits the story, and make it grab the reader.”  

© Adele Dubois 2008

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Adele Dubois is the author of DESERT FEVER, INTIMATE ART, DREAM TRAVELER, and MOTORCYCLE HEAT– titles Adele created that were approved by her publishers at Ellora’s Cave and Loose Id. POWER TITLES Workshop available upon request. Visit Adele’s website and blog at www.adeledubois.com/