GINA GORDON: My Wicked Ride to Publishing

My journey to being published has been paved with dirty talk, sex and an overwhelming use of the word “thrust.” To put it in plainly, wicked.

As a child, I never would have guessed that my journey would lead me to the world of erotic romance. Writing happily ever afters, yes. Writing happily ever afters in between sweaty sheets, never.  

Friends and family ask how? How do you come up with the words on the page? How are you able to write sex scenes? In my opinion the desire to write, the need to put the words on the page is something that you are born with. But to be good at it takes time, practice and patience. Oh, and maybe a twisted imagination.

Every day I exercise my brain creating new characters and stories. I try to think outside the box and push my own limits, teetering on the thin line of what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour. For me, that’s what being a writer is all about, pushing myself to create and try new things. In the end, it always leads to the same conclusion. My characters always have a good time!

I often say that writing erotic romance is meant to be and that my choice to seriously pursue my dream at this specific time in my life wasn’t a coincidence. Will my journey always be wicked? I don’t know but I do know that I am having a blast.

Gina Gordon is an erotica and romance writer living in Ontario, Canada. To learn more about Gina and her newest release, Wicked Ride, visit her website at http://www.ginagordon.net

Rules of the Game

Along with your characters' strengths, they need to have weaknesses as well. An omniscient character who can remove all obstacles in the blink of an eye is not a very interesting subject. Sure, many people might wish they could be that character, but the story will lack excitement. Don't get me wrong, I encourage you to try, but somewhere along the way said character will encounter a problem he or she can't solve with the snap of his fingers. A book, essentially, is the solving of such problems, overcoming obstacles whether they be natural, supernatural, social, or personal. 

To help you with this aspect of writing, let me give you a few pointers:

1) Balance things. 

If you give your character a dominance over the night, make them vulnerable to light. If your character controls fire, maybe water or ice will harm him or render his power useless. If he is long-lived, maybe a crucial wound (decapitation, stabbing in the heart) or a certain kind of metal will kill him. 

2) Energy.

Don't let your character's power be limitless. The most common way to limit it, especially for magic-wielders, is in terms of energy. If the wielder casts a large spell, it is common sense that he or she will not be able to cast another of the same magnitude until he or she recovers. Same as you or I get tired after running a mile, your characters' energy can be sapped with feats of strength, speed, or magic. 

3) Limitations.

Aside from limitations of energy, your characters need other limitations for your story to be compelling and believable. Even the gods written about in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter and Dream Hunter series and Alicia Fields' Goddesses series are not omniscient. While some may have special abilities, they are otherwise like normal men and women. 

It makes for an interesting story. 

Clara.

Up next: Gina Gordon dishes about her wicked thoughts in honour of her new release from Breathless Press, Wicked Ride!

Incorporating Mythical Events

Sometimes, history or mythology provides fodder for story ideas. I'm sure you've come across an example or two before. Especially if one (or both) of your main characters is a god or historical figure.

If that is the case, mythological and/or historical events will have a bearing on your character, but they do not necessarily need to be worked into the story. Things in the past can be mentioned casually, discussed at length, or shown in a prologue or flashback.

But when is it necessary to include a mythical event?

In my opinion, there are two reasons to do this:

1) It develops the character

This is the way most commonly seen. Again, this can be done in two ways—through the prologue, and through a flashback. Significant scenes in the character's past, usually revolving around the main plot or a difficult moment which shaped the character into who he or she is, are shown through these methods. An example is in Kresley Cole's book Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night. Because Bowen believed his past mate to be dead, falling to her death when running away from him on a full moon, Cole replayed that scene to showcase Bowen's anguish. The scenes can be used to show the death of a loved one, the betrayal of your main character by someone close or unexpected, or an event which prompted the character to follow the path he or she is currently on.

2) It is a part of a curse, prophecy, etc.

Like in The Curse of Nefertiti by Charline Ratcliff, which we visited last week in a review, another reason to include a mythical event would be because your character is either cursed, or the hero of a prophecy. In that specific example, Kayla was the latter; the responsibility of going back in time and saving the Egyptian people rested on her shoulders.

However, for this reasoning, the mythical event does not necessarily have to take place in the past. If your character is under a curse or the hero of a prophecy yet to come true, you could easily work those events into modern day. Let's take Norse mythology for instance. Ragnarok, the end of the world brought upon by the trickster god Loki, could easily take place in modern day if you so desire, instead of in the past.

Clara.

Interview: Charline Ratcliff, Author of The Curse Of Nefertiti

It is my great pleasure to be able to sit down with the author of The Curse of Nefertiti, Charline Ratcliff! If you recall last week's post, I gave the book a stunning review. Now I am proud to have the chance to pick her brilliant mind!

Clara: What spurred you to write the book?

Charline: I had a very lifelike dream the night of November 14th, 2006. While these vivid dreams are not unusual for me, I never wrote them down prior to this one. In all honesty if my dream had not centered around Nefertiti I probably would not have written this one down either and my book The Curse of Nefertiti would never have come to be.

Clara: Fortunately for us you did!

Tell us a bit about the history you used in the book. 

Charline: As far as the history I used in The Curse of Nefertiti. Hmmm… That’s a little challenging to answer! 

For starters, I have always seemed to have an innate knowledge regarding all things Egyptian. Consequently, I didn’t really do much in the way of research for my novel. It was also important to me to merge real Egyptian history with Egyptian mythology in order to make the story seem more factual than not.

For example, it is true that Nefertiti was married to Akhenaten and that her step-son was Tutankhamen. It is also true that Egyptians were polytheists; meaning they worshipped multiple deities. However, all that changed during Akhenaten’s reign when he introduced monotheism — the worship of a single god or deity. Shortly after Akhenaten’s death, Egypt reverted back to Polytheism. 

I based part of The Curse of Nefertiti around the myth of Sekhmet nearly destroying Egypt in its entirety during an annual festival held in her honor. The Nile was turned red, the color of blood, in order to trick Sekhmet into drinking from it. In the legend it was beer colored with pomegranate juice to make the river red and she drank it all, passed out, and Egypt was saved from her blood-lust.

As far as the history of Nefertiti; not much is known about her. I imagine she was a powerful and commanding woman and I portrayed her as such throughout the book. Historical accounts recall her as an extremely beautiful woman and her name literally means “the beautiful one has come.” Neither her tomb nor her body was ever unearthed and I feel this adds even more mystique and mystery to who she was. Burial was one of the most sacred things to an Egyptian and a proper burial was required so that after death one could successfully move into the next realm. One can only wonder just how much power and influence she actually wielded that she would have been denied entrance to the afterlife by those who handled her lifeless body…

Clara: How much time did you spend researching? 

Charline: I really didn’t spend much time researching. The words flowed out as if they had a mind of their own and I allowed the story to shape itself. As far as the rest of the locations visited within the book, I have been to them all and could call upon memory to write knowledgeably about them.

Clara: Did you find the historical events in this novel to be an inspiration or something you needed to work into the story in order for it to be accurate / believable?

Charline: *chuckle* I would say I found the historical events to be inspirational and truthfully it was much easier for me to write about ancient Egypt than it was for me to write about the present day.


Clara: How much time did it take you to write and edit the novel to perfection? 

Charline: Honestly, it took me almost six months non-stop to write The Curse of Nefertiti. Mind you, only about half of that was dedicated to the actual writing of the story; the remainder of the time was because, never having written a novel before, I had no idea what I was doing.

Perfection? *snicker* I think “perfection” is an unattainable goal and writers strive for “as good as it gets.” What I mean by that is this: I can write a chapter, read through, edit and tweak the chapter. The next day I will read the same chapter and decide there are things I MUST change. Sometimes we writers are our own worst enemies…

Clara: Oh, certainly. That is a challenge for everyone, I think.

How did you work around your hectic lifestyle in order to get this done?

Charline: When I was writing The Curse of Nefertiti it was pretty much all-consuming. If I had to leave the house I did so only under duress and I came back as quickly as I could. There was no setting it aside to do other things. The story floated through my head continuously with no “stop” or “pause” button. Thankfully I have since learned to juggle life with writing which makes it much easier on me and wow! I even have a tan now!

Clara: What do you think was the one moment in the whole process which means the most to you? 

Charline: The moment that meant the most to me? May 17th, 2008. I was on the 202 driving east. It was a beautiful morning; the sun was shining; the temperature was just right, and a slight breeze was blowing. I had the sun-roof open and the windows were down. I remember looking out my driver’s door window to the north as the freeway curved around to the left. At that precise moment the knowledge that I had actually written a book truly hit me. I experienced the most amazing feeling of accomplishment and I remember feeling so proud of myself. (Tears even welled up in my eyes.) That was also when I realized writing is my passion and it’s what I want to do the rest of my life.

Clara: And of course, the all-consuming question in everyone's mind: Do you plan on writing a sequel?

Charline: Yes, I am planning to write a sequel to The Curse of Nefertiti. Originally, I didn’t plan to. However, the last nine paragraphs of the book came to me after I thought I had finished writing the book and the myth within that last story along with Kayla’s final words left the door wide open for a sequel.

Clara: Well, Charline, thank you so much for sitting down with me. For those of you out there whose curiosities were piqued by the review or interview, you can buy the book here or take a look at Charline's website!

Clara.

Review: The Curse of Nefertiti by Charline Ratciff

I read the short synopsis, also posted on Charline Ratcliff's website, and my interest was immediately piqued. From the moment I picked up this book, the pages seemed to fly by.

Kayla is plagued by visions of a past life, one in which she is an Egyptian queen. As she meets Paolo, the passion between them sizzles and the connection between them flares. Deep down in her heart, she recognizes him as her reincarnated husband. Shortly after she realizes this, she recalls her true purpose: to save Egypt from the peril that happened in the past. However, if she returns to the past to fulfill her destiny, there is no guarantee that she will be able to return to a life with Paolo.

The Curse of Nefertiti is definitely a must-read. Let me tell you why:

Written in first person, present tense, it might be jarring for some people to get into. For me, from the moment Kayla stepped into the ironically named Club Destiny on page 32, I knew that something momentous was about to occur. I was addicted, and I couldn't seem to put it down. The sparks between Kayla and Paolo seemed to fly off the page. From that first amazing kiss in the grocery store to the moment they succumb to their passion, the tension between them is all-consuming. Paolo is the sort of man any woman could fall in love with. With every word he spoke, I could almost hear his accent tinge the words. Their chemistry and connection is more than enough to fill the pages of your typical romance novel. When I learned that he was her reincarnated love, that knowledge took the book to a completely new level for me.

I don't normally read first person narratives, but this one really drew me in. Not only did Ratcliff do an amazing job of sticking to the characters viewpoint, but this book was amazingly realistic. It has a factor that I have never seen in any of the other paranormal romances that I've read. Up until the point where Kayla actually went back in time, the book read like something that could actually happen to someone, despite its fantasy elements. Ratcliff made me believe that something like this could actually happen, and that is what set this book apart for me. Some books stick with you for days, some for months or years, but somehow I know I'll be thinking of this book for much, much longer than that.

If you want to buy this book for yourself and see what all the fuss is about, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Clara.

Mythical Creatures in Historical Settings

If you've thought about your mythical creatures, read up on them, you've likely taken a peek at what they would be like in the past. I've said it before and I'll say it again: most paranormal romances take place in the present, with flashbacks of the past at most. Why? Of course, I can't tell you for sure. I do have theories, though. I think it's a mixture: one part the excitement—with guns, gadgets, etc. paranormal romance mirrors urban fantasy in a lot of ways; there's the this could happen! factor that runs through our veins as we read it—and one part historical accuracy. Let's face it. It's a lot harder to tie in a real historical atmosphere on top of writing your mythical creatures. Therefore, many authors don't do it.

Two successful authors do immediately come to mind, however. Kathryn Smith's Brotherhood of the Blood series takes place in the past, as does Teresa Medeiros's After Midnight and The Vampire Who Loved Me.

If you're thinking of writing a paranormal historical, keep yourself in a historical mindframe. Read Bram Stoker's Dracula or Lord Byron's The Giaour. Remember that religion was a big part of people's lives in the past—much more so than today. A vampire might be called a demon by some, instead of a vampire. The person who saw it (and definitely anyone seen with it) would be named a witch. People who wanted to cleanse their lives turned to prayer. Of course, the degree of this increases the closer your story is set to the middle ages, when science barely existed at all. The more science in your world, the more logic abounds, and the more people search for explanations other than the extraordinary. Remember to keep your characters historically-minded and historically correct.

If you're having trouble wondering where to start, take a look at this previous post on research!

Clara.

Marketing Madness, Part 3: Review Sites

Last but not least, one of the easiest and most popular ways to promote your book is to have it reviewed, particularly if it is a good review (although, in my opinion, it works just as well if the reviewer says your book is terrible. If the synopsis sparks my interest, I would likely buy the book anyway, just to see what they were talking about). But where are you supposed to have your book reviewed?

Well, on sites like this one. No, this is not strictly a review site, but I do accept short stories, novellas, and full-length novels for review if they fall under the paranormal romance, fantasy romance, or sci-fi romance subgenres. But every site is different. Most have a rating, five stars or five cherries or what have you. Others, like mine, speak their mind without adding the rating to it. It depends on the site.

While I by no means know all the review sites out there, let me list some of the ones I do know to get you on the right track. If you know or own a review site which isn't included in this list, feel free to comment below or email me at c.hanoux@hotmail.com with a link to it, and I'd be happy to add it on.

Review sites:

• A Novel Romance - all subgenres
  
  
• A Romance Review - all subgenres
  
  
• Amberkatze's Book Blog - paranormal
  
  
• Bitten By Books - paranormal
  
  
• Book Binge - all subgenres
  
  
• Book Chick City - speculative fiction (sci-fi, paranormal, fantasy)
  
  
• Book Lovers Inc. - romance, especially paranormal
  
  
• Buckeye Girl Reads - historical, contemporary, chick lit, erotica, urban fantasy erotica, paranormal, time travel (please note no westerns)
  
  
• Fiction Vixen Book Reviews - historical, paranormal, contemporary, GLBT
  
  
• Got Romance! Reviews - all subgenres
  
  
• Joyfully Reviewed - all subgenres
  
  
• Leontine's Book Realm - all subgenres
  
  
• Lurv a la Mode - historical, paranormal
  
  
• Lynette's Two Cents - historical, romantic suspense, erotica, contemporary, inspirational, time travel, futuristic, and paranormal (note: is very critical about paranormals)
  
  
• Marissa's Booklair - historical, paranormal, contemporary, erotica
  
  
• Parajunkee's View - paranormal romance
  
  
• Pearl's World of Romance - contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, paranormal
  
  
• Quick N' Dirty Romance Reviews - all subgenres
  
  
• Ramblings of a Book Bitch - all subgenres
  
  
• Romance Book Wyrm - all subgenres
  
  
• Romance Novel News - historical, contemporary, paranormal, erotica
  
  
• Romance Reviews Today - all subgenres
  
  
• Romance Rookie - all subgenres
  
  
• Royal Reviews - all subgenres
  
  
• Sapphire Romance Realms - all subgenres (no GBLT, menage, heavy BDSM - light OK - or books with main characters as witches or demons - secondary characters OK)
  
  
• Sensual Reads - erotic romance, erotica
  
  
• Seriously Reviewed -romance, all subgenres
  
  
• Smexy Books - paranormal, historical, contemporary, GBLT
  
  
• Smokin' Hot Books - all subgenres
  
  
• The Book Smugglers - historical, paranormal, contemporary
  
  
• The Good, The Bad, And The Unread - all subgenres
  
  
• The Happily Ever After - all subgenres
  
  
• The Raving Readers - all subgenres
  
  
• The Romance Dish - all subgenres
  
  
• Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books - all subgenres
  
  
• Try Reading My Mind - Paranormal, historical
  
  
• You Gotta Read Reviews - all subgenres
  

And, of course, my site here! I take paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi romance books for review.

Clara.

Marketing Madness, Part 2: Promotion

Here comes the nasty part of publishing. Don't get me wrong, some authors thrive when dealing with marketing. Others (including myself and most I know) would rather the process was much more simple. Let me pare it down to some simple tricks that I have learned:

1) Join the social networking craze.

My friend L. K. Below suggested this, and I have to admit, it has certainly broadened my sphere. Her three main tips were: get a fan Facebook page, join Twitter (and I certainly recommend joining a Twibe or two while you're at it), and start a blog. Your blog doesn't necessarily have to be about writing, like mine. When searching for something to blog, I decided to take my friend's advice and share my wisdom concerning paranormal romance over babbling about myself. But guaranteed, you're a more interesting person than I am. For most authors, their blog tends to be an eclectic mash of factors in their lives.

2) Network with others in the publishing industry.

This doesn't necessarily have to be through the RWA or another romance writers' organization. If you're tightfisted or, like me, live too far out of driving distance to benefit from in-person meetings and the like, there are other ways to network. Joining a twibe is one. Taking an online or in-person writer's workshop is another. Or, another fantastic way to get your name out is to guest blog, even if it's only on the publisher's website.

In a bout of shameless promotion for this site, let me inform you that if you're interested in guest blogging for me, I accept queries about your idea (which must pertain to writing) at c.hanoux@hotmail.com. Please put the words "GUEST BLOG" in the subject of the email, and be sure to list any publishing credits, past or forthcoming, in the body of the email. I like to respond as soon as I can, but it may take 1-2 weeks before you get a reply.

With that splurge of self-promotion over with, let me continue with my previous train of thought.

3) Do a book trailer.

Yes, it is completely corny. Yes, you'll probably look at it and cringe for years to come. But do you know how many people look at YouTube? Any additional hits will be additional promotion for your book.

4) Advertise.

This can sometimes be pricy, if you aren't completely sure you'll make money, but it can sometimes pay off. Make flyers to put up on bulletin boards, take out space in a local newspaper (or if you can swing it, feature in the paper yourself as a local spotlight). Let everyone know when the big day is—and don't let them forget it!

There are also a couple sites where (for a fee) you can stick your ad up for a fee. Perhaps the biggest one I've found can be seen here. Not just for paranormal romance writers, for a fee you are featured on fifteen different sites. Since I have not partaken in it, I can't say for sure if it helps, but it's certainly something to think about.

And finally,

5) Hype it up locally.

People in your neighbourhood will buy it because they know you. Their closest friends will buy it because they recommend it. Talk to all those old acquaintances you haven't made the time for, even if it's just a word or two in passing. Do book signings, giveaways, a book launch party. Get your name out there—and make sure your book is linked to it!


If you still feel lost, author Lisa Pietsch has some other great advice in this field! Tune in next week for the conclusion to this three-part series. Reviews!

Clara.

Marketing Madness, Part 1: Publishers

Let's face it, writers become writers because they like to write. When you create glorius, action-packed or touching stories, does it even once occur to you where you're going to sell it? For some, it does. But in case you need a little help, below are a list of publishers* that you might want to consider. Because many authors (myself included) don't have an agent, I have listed only romance publishers which accept non-agented submissions. If I have overlooked a publisher which you feel should be included, feel free to let me know via email at c.hanoux@hotmail.com, or by commenting below.

E-Book Publishers:

• The Amber Quill - While this small press does not accept unsolicited submissions (either by an author, or by an agent), they do have ongoing calls for submissions, as linked above. They publish homosexual (M/M) erotic romances.
  
  
• Amira Press - While this ebook publisher occasionally puts out select works in print format, these are works over 55,000 words, and open to authors who have already had a work published with the press. They take all genres of romance and erotic except M/M, and are especially looking for:
  -Captive romance
  -Interracial romance
  -Fantasy romance
  -Science-fiction romance
  -Paranormal romance
  -Erotica of all genres
  They accept works from 20,000-85,000 words.
  
  
• Asylett Press - This publisher accepts works from 50,000-150,000 words, as specified for the specific line. Subgenres include: contemporary, fantasy, futuristic, historical, gothic, mystery, paranormal, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, science fiction, time travel, western.
  
  
• Aspen Mountain Romance - This ebook publisher accepts manuscripts ranging from 20,000-90,000 words. They accept historical (regency), contemporary, M/M, erotica stories, and paranormal stories which are set in the Del Fantasma bar in Vista Loma, California.
  
  
• Blade Publishing - This ebook publisher accepts stories in all subgenres from 15,000 words and up.
  
  
• Breathless Press - This ebook publisher accepts romance works of all heat levels in all subgenres. They publish stort stories "Temptations" as well as longer works. Word count lengths range from 1,500-100,000 words.
  
  
• Carnal Desires Publishing - They accept erotic works from 20,000-90,000 words. They encourage works in all subgenres, so long as they remain erotic. They caution against writing pornography, which they classify as "writing comprised of a pointless set of graphic portrayals of steamy sex intended solely to initiate arousal."
  
  
• Cerridwen Press - Although they are under a temporary hiatus, this sister to Ellora's Cave publishes more sensual romances as opposed to the erotic undercurrent which is in each of Ellora's Cave's books.
  
  
• Changeling Press - This ebook publisher of erotica accepts hot works in the subgenres of sci-fi, futuristic, cyber-punk, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, action/adventure, time travel, BDSM, and fetish club. They accept stories ranging in length from 10,000-28,000 words. Any serials must be submitted as a complete set.
  
  
• Cobblestone - This ebook publisher accepts erotic works from 10,000-65,000 words, and sometimes puts its books into print. Subgenres include: action/adventure, African-American, contemporary, fantasy, futuristic/sci-fi, M/M, historical, interracial, menage, paranormal, romantic comedy, time travel, thriller/suspense, urban fantasy.
  
  
• Ellora's Cave - This popular ebook publisher also puts some of its books into print. They accept erotic romances in all subgenres ranging from 10,000-120,000 words.
  
  
• Extasy Books - This ebook publisher, open to works from 16,000 words and up, in all subgenres and all heat levels.
  
  
• Imajinn Books - This ebook publisher specializes in the unusual. They have specific guidelines for erotica (15,000-90,000 words in all subgenres) regency (50,000-90,000 words), and paranormal (70,000-90,000 words) subgenres.
  
  
• Liquid Silver Books - This ebook publisher accepts stories of 15,000 words and up, in all erotic romance subgenres.
  
  
• Loose-Id - This ebook publisher accepts works from 20,000-120,000 words, in the following subgenres: contemporary, historical, pararnormal, sci-fi, fantasy, suspense, M/M, menage, BDSM.
  
  
• Mundania Press - This press takes stories ranging from 30,000-120,000 words, although they prefer books around 80,000 words. All books over 60,000 words will also be released in print format. Currently, in the romance genre they are only seeking paranormal romance. They have a reading period, which will open in June.
  
  
• Red Rose Publishing - They are currently open only to submissions which are holiday themed, gothic/horror, and interracial/multicultural books, of any heat level. They put many of their ebook titles into print.
  
  
• Resplendence Publishing - This ebook press focuses on: historical, paranormal, contemporary, romantic suspense, and erotic romance. It seeks unusual tales, especially for their historicals -- while they accept regency stories, they prefer romances set in other time periods, up to WWII. They accept stories from 12,000-90,000 words.
  
  
• Samhain - This major ebook publisher often has submission calls for anthologies. Besides those calls, they accept romance of all subgenres in all heat levels. Wordcount ranges from 12,000-120,000 words.
  
  
• Torquere Books - They accept M/M romance in all subgenres, ranging from novella-length to novel length, as well as collections of short stories.
  
  
• Total E-Bound - This ebook publisher accepts works up to 100,000 words in the following subgenres: action/adventure, BDSM, romantic comedy, contemporary, western, fantasy/fairytale, futuristic/sci-fi, M/M, historical, menage, paranormal, timetravel, thrillers, shapeshifters, vampires/werewolves.
  
  
• Wild Rose Publishing - This ebook publisher accepts works from 7,500-100,000 words. Works over 65,000 words will be considered for print. Subgenres include: romantic suspense, erotica, paranormal, historical, western, contemporary, and vintage (1900-1990).
  

Print Publishers:

• Avalon Books - This small publisher publishes hardcover books only. They accept contemporary and historical romances ranging from 50,000-70,000 words.
  
  
• Avon Romance - Currently one of the leaders in romance, they accept manuscripts from unagented authors as well as agented ones. They actively seek romance in the following subgenres: historical (90,000-100,000 words, primarily set in Great Britain before 1900), contemporary (90,000-100,000 words), paranormal (90,000-100,000 words), African-American (90,000 words), inspirational (60,000-90,000 words).
  
  
• Barbour Books - The Heartsong line is open to submissions from historical (prior to WWII) and contemporary subgenres. They want sweet romances, and specify no erotica, paranormal, timetraveling, or sci-fi. Word length is 45,000-50,000 words.
  
  
• Black Lyon Publishing - This small press publishes print and ebook romances in the following genres: contemporary (45,000-60,000 words), paranormal (60,000-80,000 words), historical (no wordcount specified), and literary romantic fiction (65,000-85,000 words). They prefer historicals set between 1000-1600AD, although they also have a line of works from "Ancient Times" which should be set before 1000AD.
  
  
• Black Velvet Seductions - This small press publishes in both print and ebook format. They have four lines: Tender Destinations (Sweet romance), Sensuous Journeys (Sensual romance), Forbidden Experiences (Erotic romance, especially seeking BDSM, erotic historicals, especially westerns, and erotic suspense), and Amorous Adventures (romantic suspense). They note that any romantic suspense submissions might take longer to review due to the overwhelming volume they receive.
  
  
• Dangerous Curves Books - This imprint from Draumr Publishing accepts works over 45,000 words in length featuring only big-hearted and -bodied heroines. They publish in both print and ebook format.
  
  
• Dorchester Publishing - This print publisher includes the Leisure and Love Spell imprints. They accept historical (set before 1900), futuristic, time travel, paranormal, contemporary, fantasy, and romantic suspense romances between 75,000-90,000 words.
  
  
• Harlequin - Perhaps the biggest romance publisher, Harlequin has several different lines. American Romance (55,000-60,000 words), Blaze (55,000-60,000 words), Historical (70,000-75,000 words), Historical Undone (10,000-15,000 words, released in ebook form), Intrigue (55,000-60,000 words), Medical Romance (50,000-55,000 words), Presents - Modern Romance (50,000 words), Presents - Modern Heat (50,000 words), Romance (50,000 words) and Superromance (60,000-65,000 words).
  
  
• HQN - While this imprint of Harlequin primarily takes agented submissions of around 90,000 words, they do accept queries from unagented authors to see if your story fits their needs.
  
  
• Kensington Books (Zebra) - This print publisher accepts historical, paranormal, contemporary, fantasy, erotica, multicultural, and romantic suspense. They do not list wordcount requirements. They ask that queries/submissions be sent to a specific editor.
  
  
• Kimani Press - This imprint of Harlequin focuses on African-American love stories. They have a contemporary line (50,000-60,000 words) and an Arabesque Romance line (75,000-85,000 words).
  
  
• LUNA - If your romance contains just as much fantasy as romance (if not more), and falls between the wordcount of 100,000-120,000 words, you might want to take a peek at this imprint of Harlequin.
  
  
• Parker Publishing, LLC - This small press is the publisher of Noire Romances, a line of African-American and interracial romance. The lines include: Noire Entice (interracial romance), Lotus Blossom (focusing on the largely ignored ethnicities in the romance field), and Noire Fever (erotica). They publish in print and ebook format.
  
  
• Silhouette - This imprint of Harlequin has a variety of lines as well, including: Silhouette Desire (50,000-55,000 words), Silhouette Romantic Suspense (55,000-60,000 words), Silhouette Nocturne (70,000-75,000 words), Nocturne Bites (10,000-15,000 words, released in ebook format), Special Edition (55,000-60,000).
  
  
• Spice Books - This imprint of Harlequin publishes erotica of 90,000-120,000 words. Spice Briefs publishes an ebook component of short erotic stories 5,000-15,000 words.
  
  
• Steeple Hill - This imprint of Harlequin publishes Christian romances. Along with contemporary, they publish historical and suspense. Wordcounts range from 55,000-60,000 words.
  
  
• Sugar and Spice - This new press accepts stories 20,000 words and up, although any books shorter than 45,000 will not be published in print. They accept works in all romance subgenres and welcome erotica and interracial romance.
  
  
• TOR (Tom Doherty Associates) - Aside from science fiction and fantasy, this major speculative fiction publisher also accepts paranormal romance. Guidelines are listed at the link above.
  

Another brilliant site is Brenda Hiatt's Show Me the Money, an article letting you know what sort of money you can expect to make per book with various publishers. But choosing a publisher and being accepted is only half the battle. Check in later this week for resources to help you promote your book!

Clara.

*Please note: this information is current only as of May 2nd, 2010. I strongly recommend you study the publisher's guidelines before you submit.