Are E-Books here to Stay? With Guest Blogger: Tory Richards

This morning we are joined by author Tory Richards who joins us to discuss the world of e-publishing! Stay tuned for a chance to win one of her books!


Why e-publishing?

You graduated from high school ten years ago, and you’ve finally written the end to the manuscript that you’ve been plugging away on ever since. You sit back and wonder, now what? Let me tell you, there are no easy answers. But you sure have options!

I think every author begins with the dream that they’ll make it big with some NY house, and envisions their name on the best sellers list. You can start out with one of them, send in the required query and synopsis, and then sit back and wait. And wait…and wait some more. Then hopefully when you hear back from that NY house they request the full manuscript. You send it in with high hopes, and a child-like enthusiasm that fizzles quickly as each month goes by after that, and you hear nothing.

Then you either receive a phone call that they want your book, or you get a letter declining it, but wishing you much success in your writing endeavors. Let me tell you from experience, you can wait a good year or more from the time you submit a query to the time you get a response they either want it or not. And because most NY houses don’t want you submitting to anyone else until they’ve made up their mind about your book, it sits there collecting dust. There was actually one big publishing house that I never heard back from!

So why e-publishing? There are many reasons why I like e-publishing. I have to be honest. The first time I submitted to an e-pub I didn’t expect much. But within four months I heard from the publisher and was offered a contract. My release date was a year away, but during that long year the book cover was designed, and my editor revised and polished my manuscript until it was as good as it could be. That first book was on the publisher’s best seller’s website for two consecutive months!

I’m not saying all e-pubs work the same way. One publisher I signed with put three of my books out within four months of each other. But I soon learned I’d rather have quality over quantity any day. E-pubs all have their good and bad issues, but get with a publisher who has a good reputation. Look for one with longevity. Ask questions, and the best part? Everything is done online! You’ll save on ink, paper and trips to the post office.:)

To date I have several books out with e-publishers. Did I tell you that your books are offered a lot longer with e-pubs? Readers will be thrilled when they discover new authors, and then find their older releases are so easily available.

My latest release is a Quickie with Ellora’s Cave, Talk Dirty to Me. It’s a short hot read that won’t disappoint.

A Note from the Book Boost: Well said, Tory! I'm with 4 e-book publishers AND 1 of those NY publishers and I can tell you that I've had wonderful experiences with both. I truly believe that my e-book publishing experience is what ultimately led me to success in NY. So, I highly recommend them. I agree with your advice--do your research up front. All publishers are NOT created equally. Thanks, Tory! Will you tell us more about your naughty quickie?

Blurb:

Lilly has been in love with her brother's best friend Blake for years. She lost her virginity to the oil driller on her eighteenth birthday, only to wake the next morning to find him gone. After he pulled that stunt twice more, she swore never to see or talk to him again. But now he's back for her brother's wedding, and he's as sexy as she remembers.

Blake thinks Lilly's even sexier than ever. Unable to resist one another, they don't make it out of the airport parking lot before taking up where they left off. As the two rediscover their passion for each other, nothing and nowhere is off limits!

Excerpt:

Lilly drove her little car around the airport at least twice before finding her way to Southwest arrivals. Parking wasn't allowed so she could only hope Blake was waiting for her somewhere outside. She drove slow, searching through the crowd on the sidewalk for him. Desire churned in her stomach.

And then she saw him.

Her body reacted instantly, thinking about him was one thing but seeing him in the flesh was even more powerful. Awareness exploded through her body, as she remembered all the times and places they'd had hot, naughty sex. How Blake had taken her to paradise a thousand times.

Her panties became soaked as she clenched her legs together hoping to ease the need that was becoming unbearable. A pleasant prickling in her full breasts caused her to raise her arm and brush it over them to try to ease some of the ache.

Blake hadn't changed at all. He was still the sexiest man on earth. As she sat there staring at him she felt her breathing become erratic and her heart rate pick up speed.

Blake was six feet tall, and lean. Yet his black polo shirt revealed he wasn't lacking on muscle power. The gray slacks he was wearing gave evidence to the strength in his thighs and stretched across the prominent outline of his cock. He looked dangerous. He was dangerous, only in a way that had always drawn her in. His dark hair was shorter than he used to wear it, military cut.

Lilly couldn't see his eyes for the dark sunglasses covering them, for which she was thankful.

Blake had the kind of eyes that could look right through someone, into their very soul.

He's just a man, he's just a man, Lilly repeated to herself. Flesh and blood and as mortal as she was. He had emotions, he could be hurt. He had needs. Her cheeks grew hot when she thought of their last night together, and how they'd made love like two wild animals trying to consume one another. Then he'd left the next morning for an assignment on an oil rig in the North Sea.

And she'd tried to convince herself that she hated him ever since.

Now she knew how futile that had been.

Want More Tory?

Visit the author's website here: www.toryrichards.com

Pick up your copy of Talk Dirty to Me, click here!

Contest Time:

Just for fun! The first person who guesses the correct answer will receive a download of your choice of one of Tory's books! The winner will be announced here in at the Book Boost in the Recent Winners box (on the right hand side of the blog). Winner announced next week!

Which one is not true?

I’ll be 55 this year
I was on a plane on 9-11
I was a twin
My soul mate is 30 years older than me
I have three cats
I know how to fly a plane
I have one daughter
I once raced a car 110 miles