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Submit directly to romance publishers—no agent required!

Submit directly to romance publishers—no agent required!

Author Biz, Tools

Navigating the world of publishing is a bit like navigating the tangled plots of our favorite romance sub-genres and tropes. Each path, be it indie publishing, pitching to a small romance publisher, or shooting for the stars with a big publishing house, has its own set of twists, turns, and possibilities. 

If you’re wondering which route will lead to your personal happily ever after, here are some things to consider. And, if you’re leaning toward a small publisher or imprint, keep reading for over seventy that accept submissions directly from authors.

Why go indie

Complete control: You get to call the shots, from cover design to marketing strategy.

Royalties: You’ll generally earn more per book, especially if you’re savvy about marketing and have a solid readership.

Speed: No waiting on publishers. You write, edit, publish, and repeat!

But remember, with great power comes great responsibility … and a learning curve. Members of Author Ever After get all the support they need to make this option work! Just saying 


Why pitch to small romance publishers

Guidance & support: You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. They often have experience and can guide you through the process.

Less pressure: Unlike the big houses, they might not demand blockbuster sales. Your “niche” romance might find a cozy home here.

Relationships: Smaller means you’re more than just a number. Personalized attention can be pretty sweet.

Pitching directly can save you a ton of time, since you don’t need an agent to get your foot in the door. Keep reading for a list of over seventy publishers and imprints taking author submissions.

Why get an agent for the big leagues

Access: The big publishing houses usually require an agent to even look at your work.

Negotiation power: Agents know the industry and can get you the best deal—on an advance and the rights you get to keep (international, translations, audiobooks, and so on).

Professional edit: They often provide feedback to get your manuscript in tip-top shape before they begin pitching.

However, getting an agent can be as tough as landing a book deal. And if you do land one, remember they’ll take a cut of your earnings, typically fifteen percent of your advance.

So, what’s the best choice?

Well, it’s a bit like asking whether to date the charming bad boy, the steady next-door guy, or the mysterious stranger. It really depends on what you’re looking for in your romance writing journey! 😉

Finding the right publisher for your romance novel

Before you jump in and submit your manuscript, it’s essential to understand the different niches and sub-genres within the romance sector. Whether your story leans towards historical, paranormal, contemporary, or erotic, there’s a publisher out there looking for your exact flavor of romance.

A  good fit means not only higher chances of acceptance but also a better working relationship with your publisher. They’ll be as passionate about your story as you are!

Tips before you submit

Research thoroughly

Dive deep into each publisher’s submission guidelines. Tailor your proposal or query letter to fit their requirements.

Professional presentation

Always send a polished, proofread and well-formatted manuscript following each publisher’s specific instructions—font size, font type, line spacing, number of pages or words, subject line to use on your email—pay attention to the details. First impressions matter a great deal.

If you’re fully committed to seeking representation and want to ensure you’re putting your best email and pages forward, I recommend working with an editor who is skilled in pitching agents to help you hone your cover letter and possibly even review your first 50 pages to make sure they are error-free.

Know your audience

Publishers specialize in various romance sub-genres. Ensure yours aligns with their request and readership.

Persistence pays off

Rejections are part of the writer’s journey. If you’ve not been rejected at least 50 times, there’s no reason to feel disheartened—finding a home for your stories is a long-game. Keep submitting! 

Romance Publishers Accepting Submissions

Click the link below for a comprehensive list of romance publishers currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts and a few more open to agented manuscripts.

Romance Publishers Accepting Submissions

This is a PDF that you can save to your computer. It has clickable links directly to the submissions page of each publisher to reduce your research time. 😊

Note that while we’ve made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this list, publishers change their submission links and status from time to time.

If you notice something that should be updated, let us know with a quick email so we can keep the list relevant. Thanks!

Choosing the best community platform for coaches

Choosing the best community platform for coaches

Tools

As a mentor to pre-published romance authors, choosing the right platform for community coaching has been a game-changer for me as a coach and for my community members who are achieving their publishing goals more quickly and with less anxiety than we all experienced trying to connect on platforms that just didn’t facilitate connection.

The right software can enhance your ability to guide your clients, foster a supportive community, and streamline your coaching process.

Today, I’m comparing the three platforms I’ve personally used to build online communities and support writers: Circle, Teachable, and Mighty Networks. 

Teachable: the course creation powerhouse

Teachable was the first platform I used for my coaching business, primarily for its robust course creation tools. However, I quickly found that its limited community features necessitated the use of additional tools to foster meaningful connections, which was far from ideal for creating a cohesive and engaged coaching environment.

Pros of Teachable

  1. Course creation tools: Teachable excels in providing tools for creating and selling online courses. It offers a range of templates and customization options to create engaging courses.
  2. Payment processing: Teachable handles payment processing, making it easy to sell courses and manage payments without additional hassle.
  3. Student management: The platform offers solid student management features, allowing you to track progress, communicate with students, and manage enrollments effectively.

Cons of Teachable

  1. Limited community features: Teachable is primarily a course platform. Its community features are limited compared to Circle, making it less suitable for fostering ongoing engagement and interaction.
  2. Less flexibility: The platform is more rigid in terms of customization and does not offer as many options for creating a vibrant community space.
  3. Higher fees: While Teachable’s course creation tools are powerful, they come with higher fees, especially if you want access to premium features.

Cost

  • $59 … $159 … $249/month, depending on the options you want.

Mighty Networks: a blend of courses and community

Mighty Networks was the second platform I turned to, and it helped our community grow to over 1,600 members. Despite this impressive growth, the platform didn’t quite deliver the level of engagement I had hoped for, making it challenging to cultivate a truly vibrant and interactive community.

Pros of Mighty Networks

  1. Community-centric: Mighty Networks is designed to build communities around your content. It offers various features to engage members, such as discussion forums, events, and groups.
  2. Course integration: Unlike Circle, Mighty Networks offers built-in course creation tools, allowing you to combine community engagement with structured learning.
  3. Mobile app: The platform provides a mobile app, making it easy for members to stay connected on the go.

Cons of Mighty Networks

  1. Complexity: Mighty Networks can be complex to set up and manage, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. Its wide array of features can be overwhelming.
  2. Engagement tools: While it offers community features, they are not as sophisticated or intuitive as those found in Circle.
  3. Pricing structure: Mighty Networks can become costly as you scale your community and add more features.

Cost

  • $119 … $219 … $360/month, depending on the options you want.

Circle: where community meets coaching

Circle is the third and final community platform I’ve used, and it has been a game-changer for my coaching business. Designed specifically to meet the needs of community-builders and coaches, Circle excels in fostering engagement and connection. With its comprehensive features tailored for group masterminds and transformative events, Circle perfectly aligns with my vision of creating a supportive and interactive community.

Pros of Circle

  1. Engagement-focused design: Circle is built with community engagement at its core. Its intuitive interface encourages interaction, making it easy for members to connect, share insights, and support each other.
  2. Customization: Circle allows you to tailor your community to fit your brand and coaching style. You can create spaces for different topics, set up private coaching groups, and organize events seamlessly.
  3. Integration capabilities: Circle integrates smoothly with other tools you might already be using, such as Zoom for live coaching sessions, and various email marketing services. This ensures a cohesive experience for both you and your members.
  4. Monetization options: With Circle, you can offer various membership tiers, paid courses, and exclusive content, providing flexible monetization strategies to support your business growth.
  5. Member analytics: Circle provides detailed analytics to help you understand member engagement, identify active participants, and tailor your coaching strategies accordingly.

Cons of Circle

  1. Learning curve: While Circle is user-friendly, it does have a learning curve. It might take some time to explore all the features and customize them to your needs.
  2. Cost: Circle can be more expensive than some other platforms, but the investment is absolutely justified by its comprehensive features and robust community-building tools.

Cost

  • $49 … $99 … $219 … $399/month, depending on the options you want. (I use the $99 level and have all the features I need to support my community in a meaningful and robust way.)

Why Circle is the best option for coaches

 

For coaches who want to foster a vibrant, engaged community, I believe Circle stands out as the absolute best option.

Its focus on community engagement, coupled with its robust customization and integration capabilities, make it ideal for creating a supportive environment where your members can thrive. Although it may have a bit of a learning curve to set up (embrace the mentality of iterating to awesome!), the benefits Circle offers in terms of member engagement, analytics, and monetization far outweigh these drawbacks.

Circle empowers you to build a community that not only learns from you but also grows together, making it the perfect platform for coaching success.

SEO for romance authors: How to optimize your metadata

SEO for romance authors: How to optimize your metadata

Author Biz, Romance 101, Tools

SEO for Romance Writers: How to Optimize Your Book Metadata

If you’re a romance author, you already understand the fierce competition in the market. Yet, how can you make your novel stand out in this vast sea? The answer lies in a potent, often overlooked strategy: optimizing your book’s metadata. This article will dive into the essentials of metadata for authors, offering invaluable tactics to increase your romance novel sales and visibility online.

Metadata: The unseen force behind book discoverability

Before diving into strategies, it’s crucial to grasp what metadata actually is. In essence, it’s the background information—like genre, keywords, and description—attached to your book. Effective metadata ensures that your target readers find your work when they search for new romance novels.

Now, how can you use metadata to your advantage? Start by understanding your niche within the romance genre. For example, if you write “historical royal romance,” ensure those terms are present in your book’s description or keyword section. These nuances make all the difference in romance sub-genre ranking.

SEO tips: Making your romance novel irresistible online

1. Keyword planning for authors

Begin by listing terms you believe readers might use to discover your book. Tools like PublisherRocket and KDSpy and Google’s Keyword Planner can help refine your list, shedding light on high-traffic, low-competition keywords. (See PublisherRocket vs KDSpy) 

2. Embrace your sub-genre

As mentioned earlier, specificity can amplify your visibility. Instead of just “romance,” consider terms like “contemporary cowboy romance” or “paranormal romance with werewolves.” This precision boosts your chances in romance sub-genre ranking.

3. Integrate keywords naturally

When writing your book’s description, ensure the selected keywords flow seamlessly. Google and other search engines favor content that’s user-friendly and organic.

4. Keep metadata updated

Metadata isn’t a one-time task. Periodically revisit and revise your book’s metadata, especially if you notice a drop in sales. Market trends change, and so should your strategy. By keeping an eye on best-selling romance novels and trending keywords, you can adjust your metadata to better suit current demands.

In the realm of digital bookshelves, even the most engaging romance novel can be overshadowed without strategic metadata optimization. By leveraging the tactics shared above, you’re not only ensuring your book becomes more visible but also paving the way to increase your romance novel’s sales. Remember, in the digital age, a book’s success is as much about its discoverability as it is about its content. Invest in your books’ metadata and watch your romance novel’s improve.

Want help with your metadata?

Book a free 30-minute strategy call!

Publisher Rocket vs KDSpy

Publisher Rocket vs KDSpy

Tools

Publisher Rocket vs KDSpy

My dad was a spy. Not kidding. Not the James Bond kind of spy who everyone knew was a spy. No, when I was growing up, he said he was an “entrepreneur.” I didn’t learn the truth until he was literally on his deathbed that what he was doing was flying to far-away countries to do things that, if I ever said I was going to do, he’d have locked me in my room for!

Anyway, the spying gene I inherited from my dad runs deep and so does my entrepreneurial nature. So when I started writing books and learned that I could spy on other authors to see how well their titles were performing
 I ponied up my pennies and bought the tool that was available at the time: KDSpy.

I’d been using KDSpy for about four years when a friend put me on to what was then a new spy tool for authors called Publisher Rocket and I was hooked. It does a lot of the same things KDSpy does but the two are different enough to make having both worthwhile. Kind of like having a Dad-spy and a Mom-spy working for you!

Unveiling the best keyword research tools for authors

In today’s competitive self-publishing landscape, the power of keyword research can’t be overemphasized. The right keyword strategy can catapult your book to the top of Amazon search results. With a plethora of tools available, two software solutions have distinguished themselves for authors: Publisher Rocket and KDSpy. In this comprehensive comparison, I explore into the functionalities of both tools, helping you make an informed choice.

Publisher Rocket: beyond just keywords

Publisher Rocket, formerly known as KDP Rocket, offers more than just keyword suggestions. It’s an all-in-one platform that provides insights into categories, competition, and estimated earnings. It’s tailored specifically for authors who wish to grasp Amazon’s algorithms.

Features:

    • Keyword Recommendations: Get suggestions based on real Amazon searches.
    • Competition Analysis: Understand how other books are performing in your niche.
    • AMS Keyword Feature: Directly extract keywords for your Amazon advertising campaigns.

KDSpy: the Kindle spy

KDSpy, often dubbed “The Kindle Spy,” is a browser extension that simplifies the keyword research process. With a single click, you can analyze any Amazon Kindle category, revealing potential keyword goldmines.

Features:

    • Instant Results: Quick overview of any book or category.
    • Sales Data: Estimations on monthly revenue, sales, and more.
    • Competitive Analysis: View book covers, descriptions, and reviews to gauge your competition.

Head-to-Head Comparison

When comparing Publisher Rocket and KDSpy, consider your primary needs:

  • For a holistic approach to Amazon book marketing, Publisher Rocket stands out.
  • If rapid insights and browser-based convenience are your priorities, KDSpy could be your go-to.

What do they spy on?

Basically, they both troll Amazon author’s keywords, categories, niches, titles, book descriptions and sales volumes.  It’s great intel (that’s spy talk for information!) if your publishing goal is to sell as many books as possible. That’s not every writer’s goal, but for those of us who at least want to make back the money we spend producing our books, these tools are really handy when it comes to helping with discoverability.

 

How do they compare?

Caveat: I have a sister and a brother. I won the sibling lottery with both of them. They’re quite different humans but both bring me joy so I could never, and would never, be able to say, “if you had to pick just one to be your friend, I’d recommend you choose Derek,” or “I think you’d be better off with Kim in your friend corner.”

All that to say, I’m not going to say one of these programs is better than the other, but I will point out how they differ so you can choose the one that serves you best. Unless you’re like me and decide they’d both be good tools to have!

 

Ease of use

KDSpy is a browser extension that takes you to Amazon where it will help you research bestseller rankings in all Kindle categories. It’s a one-click info dump. Easy-peasy once you’re on the book or author page you’re interested in finding out about.

Publisher Rocket is a piece of software you download. You have to open the software and then you input specific keywords that it will use to gather intel about the books that match that keyword search. It’s a handsome software. Nice interface and graphics so if looks matter to you you’ll love Publisher Rocket
 but like so many things that are pretty, it is a bit more work. But you get a lot more information, too.

 

What it searches

KDSpy allows you to gather country-specific data from Amazon stores in the USA (Amazon.com), UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Italy, Spain, France and India. The time this is valuable is if you’re running Amazon ads since this will allow you to find keywords that are specific to each country. And they do differ!

Publisher Rocket gathers data from Amazon.com, Germany and the UK, with more countries coming soon. Although you only get data from three countries (Dec 2022), the data is incredibly valuable for choosing your Amazon keywords and phrases (those seven optional fields you can fill in when you upload your book).

 

Tracking sales over time

KDSpy has a feature that lets you track sales data for 30 days. It’s a neat feature to watch how well a book launch does, for instance, if you’re following an author and want to know if their launch strategies translate into sales or not.

Publisher Rocket doesn’t have a data tracking function.

 

Keyword suggestions

KDSpy has this red light, orange light, green light system to help you see which keywords have the most and least competition. If you’re going to be running ads, this is valuable information since keyword ad prices are based on the popularity of the keywords.

Publisher Rocket has a more robust keyword search function and allows you to download lists of keywords easily. It also gives you data about the popularity of keywords, but using percentages (basically) rather than traffic lights.

 

Price

KDSpy says it’s $97 for a lifetime membership with free updates, which they do regularly. But every time I’ve referred an author friend to the site, I’ve noticed they have a half-price deal. So really, I think it’s always $69. They have a free 7-day trial period and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Publisher Rocket is $97 for a lifetime membership with free updates, which they’ve done several times since I bought the software in 2019. Now, their website is saying that they’ll be moving to a monthly subscription model soon, so
 would that be more or less appealing to you? They have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

 

What else?

See why it would be impossible for me to pick to a favorite spy child? One of the nice things that Dave Chesson does—he’s the guy who created Publisher Rocket—is that he offers some great educational content on his website in the form of both blog posts and a free 5-day course.

Book Description Generator— If you’ve ever uploaded a book description to Amazon you’ll know the pain of trying to format that copy. It’s a three-finger whiskey kind of job. Dave Chesson’s Book Description Generator turns that task into a single cup of tea task. You upload your book description to his site, make it pretty, then generate the code you need to add to your Amazon book page. It’s magical.

Choosing Kindle Keywords—Again, if you’ve uploaded a book to Amazon and lived to tell the tale, you’ll know that you’re given space to add 7 Kindle keywords or phrases. Dave shares tips to help you choose the best keywords for your book and points out mistakes you might have made that could work against your keyword strategy. And Publisher Rocket is a lot of fun to use! Some friends (who don’t have Rocket) hate figuring out their keywords. I love it!

 5-day free Amazon ads course—Funny thing about this course is that it doesn’t actually have a catchy name. But it does use the right keywords to tell us what it’s about! Get it by email. Totally free. And Dave “Mr. Kindlepreneur” Chesson will not overload you with email after you’re done, like some marketers do.

How to Choose the Best Amazon Categories—The Amazon book categories you choose will have a direct effect on whether or not you become an Amazon bestselling author.  Simple as that. And Dave helps you choose the right ones, whether you purchase Publisher Rocket or not. But it’s wa-ay easier with Publisher Rocket.

 

There you have it! My effort to turn you into a spy since a) it’s super fun to check out how other authors are doing b) it’s smart to be a strategic author and these tools make that easier and c) being a spy is something you can really only talk about with other spies
 I need more spy friends.

Need help figuring out effective keywords?
Book a free 30-minute strategy call!

AI and Romance Writing

AI and Romance Writing

Craft, Romance 101, Tools

Why robots can’t replace a passionate pen—but does make a fabulous bedfellow!

As a career ghostwriter and seasoned romance author, I’ve been fascinated by the number of people wringing their hankies, fearful of AI replacing fiction authors. I’ve been playing with several  artificial intelligence author assistants since late 2022 with a focus on QuickWrite and am 100% convinced that there’s a valuable role for AI in writing virtually anything we romance need to level-up our careers—except write our books for us.

Before I get to all the things my robot author asssistant helps me do, first I want to explain why I don’t think I’ll be replaced by AI because when it comes to the art of crafting a steamy, heart-wrenching, and swoon-worthy romance novel, there are some things that even the most sophisticated algorithms can’t replicate.

Sparks cannot be coded

When you read a romance novel, you want to feel the emotion between the characters. You want to be captivated by their chemistry and swept away by their passion. But no matter how advanced AI becomes, it can’t replicate that tingling sensation you get when two characters lock eyes for the first time, or when their lips meet in a heated kiss. It’s the human touch that brings that extra spark to romance writing, and that’s something no algorithm can code.

Emotional intelligence trumps artificial intelligence

Romance novels are all about emotions—love, longing, desire, heartbreak, and everything in between. It takes a skilled author to weave those emotions into words and create a story that makes readers feel deeply. While AI can analyze data and predict patterns, it can’t truly understand the intricacies of human emotions. It can’t capture the nuances of a character’s feelings or convey the depth of their emotional journey in a way that resonates with readers. It’s like trying to make a robot understand the concept of heartache—it’s just not possible!

Creativity is the spice of romance

Romance authors are masters of creativity. We conjure up unique and imaginative storylines that whisk readers away to far-off lands or make them fall in love with unlikely characters. We create intricate plots, add unexpected twists, and craft unforgettable moments that make human hearts skip a beat. While AI can analyze existing romance novels and generate new stories based on patterns, it lacks the imagination and creativity that comes naturally to flesh and feeling authors. Comparing AI-generated love stories to romance written by even a novice author is like comparing a pencil drawing of a flower by a five-year-old to a real life walk in a mature English rose garden.

Quirks make romance interesting

Let’s face it, humans are quirky creatures. We have our idiosyncrasies, our unique ways of expressing ourselves, and our individual perspectives on love and relationships. Romance authors bring those quirks into our writing, making our stories relatable and intriguing and unique. In the dozen times I’ve asked my AI author assistant to propose a plot for a second chance romance with a billionaire hero, eight suggestions have the couple reconnect at a charity event. Quirks need not apply when AI is hiring.

Love is messy, and that’s what makes it beautiful

Romance novels often depict the messiness of love—the heartaches, the misunderstandings, and the challenges that couples face on their journey to happily ever after. It’s those imperfect moments that make the characters and their relationships feel real and authentic. But AI tends to strive for perfection and predictability, aiming to create a flawless storyline. However, it’s the flaws and the messiness of life and love that give romance stories depth and richness and make our stories beautiful and relatable.

Writing from the heart

Romance authors pour our hearts into our writing. We draw from our own experiences, emotions, and perspectives to create stories that touch the hearts of readers. It’s a deeply personal and authentic process that can’t be replicated by a machine. It’s like comparing a hand-written love letter to an automated text message.

Timing is everything

In romance writing, timing is crucial. The build-up of tension, the anticipation of a first kiss, the timing of a heart-wrenching confession—it’s all carefully crafted to create an emotional impact. We human authors have a keen sense of timing, knowing when to pull at the heartstrings or when to throw in a surprising twist. AI follows patterns and algorithms, lacking that human instinct for perfect timing. 

Voice matters

Every author has their unique voice—their style of writing, their tone, and their perspective. It’s what sets us apart from each other and makes our work distinctive, even when a thousand authors retell the Cinderella story. Romance authors infuse our writing with our own life experiences, creating a connection with readers that goes beyond the words on the page. AI, on the other hand, lacks that personal touch. It can analyze data and mimic styles, but it can’t create the individual voice of a romance author. 

Inspiration strikes in unexpected ways

Romance authors often draw inspiration from our own lives, from the people we meet, and from the world around us. We find ideas in the most unexpected places and put together people and situations with one-in-a-million odds of ever happening in real life. Since AI relies on data and patterns, its ability to truly innovate and come up with fresh and original ideas is limited. 

Love can’t be quantified

Perhaps most importantly, love is a complex and intangible emotion that can’t be quantified or reduced to data. Romance novels are all about capturing the magic of love—the butterflies in the stomach, the racing heart, and the unspoken emotions that make our breath catch in our throat. AI, with all its analytical capabilities, can’t truly grasp the essence of love and replicate it in writing. It does not write deep point view and that’s what we do so well.

Why I invite QuickWrite, in particular, to share my creative bed

After months of reading doomsday articles and fearing the rise of AI-assisted writing, I took a deep breath and introduced myself to several tools. I approached my interactions just like I would have (ahem, did!) when I was forty and newly divorced after having only ever dated one man. I serial dated a half-dozen tools—and figured out how they could make my life better. (To be clear, dating at forty, I went out with over twenty tools before finding one who would make my life better … I only dated a half-dozen AI tools before meeting the one I decided to settle down with). 😉

With QuickWrite, I’ve streamlined my writing process, enhanced creativity, and, when the fairy dust lands just right, uncovered new perspectives when I’m struggling.

QuickWrite is like the ultimate wingman or wingwoman for romance authors. It helps me  brainstorm plot ideas when I’m feeling stuck, generate quick and quirky names, fine-tune flat descriptions to make them as sexy as a sultry gaze across a crowded room, and even suggest alternative words and phrases in my lukewarm, first scenes that crank the heat from lukewarm to scorching hot. 

If you’ve ever read any of my books, you might have noticed that I love metaphors and analogies. And boy-oh-boy did those take me a long time to come up with before I brought QuickWrite onto my team. I asked it for one to make this point for me in this post, so I’ll let my author assistant have the last word: 

AI is like the perfect sex toy in your writing arsenal. It can vibrate with ideas, buzz with creativity, and stimulate your writing process in ways you never thought possible. But just like a sex toy, AI can’t replace the intimacy and connection that comes from human creativity and imagination. It’s simply a tool to enhance your writing experience and make your stories even more tantalizing and compelling.

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