Juno Books

How can you NOT want to buy this book?
Not to mention I bet you don’t have a single book on your shelves paginated entirely in Roman numerals?
Make sure you click on the image for a larger view.

Although Carole’s “teasers” have yet to make it to her, we’ve been assured the screw up is unscrewed and they will be there tomorrow. Further, evidently the hundreds of free books DID make it and are being scarfed up. Rebecca York’s books were, sure enough, mixed in with the others, but she has reportedly got hers, too, now.

Y’all have no idea how relieved I am

Later: Yes, Carole got her teasers. They are, btw, sneak peaks at two titles (in this case DANCING WITH WEREWOLVES and CHASING SILVER) bound upside down with respect to each other in what is called a dos-à-dos book. (The old Ace doubles were dos-à-dos.) They are 80 pages with full-color covers. We’ll be giving them away in many places. Hmmm. Trying to figure out how to get them to people who we can’t reach in person…

Boy, I’m bloggy today…

If any of you are at the Romantic Times con and reading this — they were supposed to receive 30 cartons (that’s about 1000 books) of free books for the giveaway. Rebecca York is supposed to have a carton of BEST NEW PARANORMAL ROMANCE, too. Carole Nelson Douglas is supposed to be getting hundreds of copies of a “teaser” giveaway sampler of DANCES WITH WEREWOLVES and CHASING SILVER (half of “Jamie Craig” is coordinating with Carole to get copies)…

I have no idea if anything got there. The warehouse supposedly shipped the cartons in plenty of time (but not too early). The printer screwed up shipping to Carole and a friend in Houston, but they promised the Houston address would have at 10:30 AM this morning. (Although that still leaves a hassle for poor Carole and her friend.)

SO, if y’all see/get/hear of all these books, let me know! I don’t even want to think that after all the time, cost, and trouble that we don’t have books there…(shudder!)

I’m not seeing a lot on contemporary “urban fantasy” (ack! I hate that paranormals are now being called that, but you do what you have to do…) submissions. Have lots of fantasy, more sf than I would have expected…but I’d really like to see more “kickassitude”, possible-series books. Especially if there’s something a little “different” about it.

if you’ve already sent one in, don’t bother to remind me. Even though responses may not go out, I have probably read it and am considering it.

But if you have a completed ms. of this variety you are thinking about submitting — now is a good time to send in a synopsis and writing sample (like three chapters).

And the picture shows one reason I don’t take paper submissions –>

Okay, so maybe the mullet-haired bloody-beaked muse is thrusting the sharp tip of its beak into my ear (see below). You tell me –

Should I or shouldn’t I make what I feel are helpful comments when rejecting submissions?

I’ve been through this debate before when doing short fiction. I once spent a couple of hours (o! to have such time to squander now!) writing up what I thought would be helpful critique on a story that had been submitted to me. I felt the writer showed talent and wanted to encourage him. I mean, geez, it was obvious I spent considerable time and effort on the critique and meant well.

I got a response seething with fury and expletives. Who the hell did I think I was to criticize his story?

Well, I thought I was a small-time horror editor to whom this gentleman had submitted work in the hope that I liked it well enough to buy. I sorta thought that meant this person was giving me credit enough to “judge” his work.

Silly me.

Of course he didn’t want my opinion. He wanted me to buy the bloody story. If I didn’t want it, I could properly decline with thanks and be done with it. He could then curse me and swap email with his cronies about what an idiot (well, he’d call me something much worse) I was while he sent the story out to other zines without changing a word.

And that was when I stopped giving comments with rejections.

But now, with Juno, I’ve started to sometimes make a comment or two.

See, I’m the sort of person who appreciates being told if I have toilet paper sticking to my shoe. But there are people who don’t. My son started off to school this morning wearing a shirt that had shrunk in the dryer. I told him and was reviled for doing so. He didn’t really care. I, on the other hand, would be ticked off if someone didn’t say anything.

So, I don’t know.

In ancient times — oh, 15 or 20 years ago — new writers sent stories to editors. If they were rejected (with or without comment) the writer still looked the piece over, tried to improve it, and sent it out again. It was part of the process of learning the craft. Sometimes the same thing happened with novelists, too. And there were a LOT more editors and publishers of novels in those days.

This is not to say that such advice was always correct or that you should always take whatever advice is given…agents and editors have been saying vampire fiction was dead for nearly 35 years now and that first-person narrative was not a good idea…but I think that, at least, you shouldn’t be offended by it or think any less of the person offering it.

At the same time, unsolicited advice really isn’t appreciated by most of us. And, although I want to be told about the toilet paper, I really don’t want to then be told much more about it and advised as to what I should have done to avoid tissue adhering to my sole in the ladies’ room.

An SF Chronicle article on HarperCollins’ San Francisco-based imprint (HarperSanFrancisco or is it HarperOne now?) says whatever it is called is launching a line of Christian “inspirational fiction” for women. The new imprint — developed in collaboration with Avon (a HarperCollins paperback line) is called Avon Inspire.

Cynthia DiTiberio, editor of the new book line, said, “Avon Inspire is gentle reading, safe reading. They end with a kiss and a proposal…. It’s ‘Sex & the City’ without the sex.” The first title, “Defiant Heart” by Tracey Bateman, comes out May 8 with a first printing of 50,000.

Gosh. Does this mean we are publishing UNSAFE READING MATERIAL without a kiss and a proposal? “Like it rough? Try Juno!” No…no…no…no!

I’ve replied to everything through February 6 (and some beyond). If you submitted on or before that date, you might check with me.

Rudy Rucker has a double issue of Flurb #3 posted. “The Webzine of Astonishing Tales” has stories from  Charlie, Anders, Paul DiFilippo, Eileen Gunn, Nick Herbert, Marc Laidlaw, Th. Metzger, Rudy Rucker, Kris Saknussemm, John Shirley,  Mac Tonnies, and Ian Watson &  Roberto Quaglia. RU Sirius is interviewed  saucer-abductee Frank Shook.

In the past few years, newspapers from the Chicago Tribune to the Dallas Morning News to the Village Voice downsized book reviews and coverage. Last week, the Los Angeles Times folded its book review section into an opinion section, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution eliminated its book review position.

The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC), in an effort to support book reviews, book editors, book pages, and book culture, the NBCC is launching a Campaign to Save Book Reviews. During the last week in April and throughout the month of May, the NBCC is asking authors and editors, journalists and publishers — anyone interested in literary culture–to speak out on the value of books and book reviewing.

Critical Mass, the NBCC blog (http://bookcriticscircle.blogspot.com/)offers suggestions of what you can do to help. It will also track developments in this ongoing campaign and feature Q&As, posts by concerned writers, and advice on petitioning the media to assure continued book coverage. Current posts include a Q&A with David L. Ulin, editor of the Los Angeles Times Book Review.

The book review position at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was held until last week by
Teresa Weaver. A petition to save Weaver’s job has already secured nearly a thousand signatures, including those from luminaries as varied as Michael Connelly, Richard Powers, and Ian Rankin. Those interested in signing should go to
http://www.petitiononline.com/atl2007/petition.html.

So, John Shirley is teaching this sf/f/h class through writers.com, see? And this is a message he sent the class yesterday:

Some of you are not writing! If you continue to not write I will send the Bloody Beaked Muse to feed on your brains. You’re watching television or surfing the internet; you’re yapping on your blackberry or into a cellphone. That’s when you’re most vulnerable; that’s when it strikes! It’s about the size of an eagle. It has greasy black wings and human hands and eagle’s claws and an evil woman’s face except its mouth is a hooked, serrated vulture’s beak; it has a mullet hair cut. It will perch on your shoulder and thrust the sharp tip of its beak into your ear, and you’ll feel blood runnel into your collar. “You have surrendered your brain! Now I feed on it! Unless…unless…unless…unless…you begin to write!

Now THAT is inspiration!

You know, the scariest thing about this is the mullet…

Okay so, really, I’ve posted here three times in the last couple of days and took one down immediately and never hit “publish” for the two others. In the one I took down, I *thought* I was being optimistic, upbeat, and positive, but I guess it was not seen as that, so — not be misinterpreted — I deleted it. The second two were just as “blah” as this post.

In sum: I am behind on just about everything from any deadline past or impending to doing my laundry. Sigh. And, among other technical difficulties. I discovered today that some email I sent on Tues/Weds did not make it to the intended mailboxes. And, even as I type, the cat puked on the floor. Despite all this, I’m really not glum at all. But I can’t seem to say that properly.

Since there is no common adage/symbol for “blog nothing”, I’ll just use a “see no, hear no, say no evil” image.

I accidently deleted 18 comments this morning because one of the cats decided attention was needed and leapt upon me. Sorry.

From Galleycat:
Romance publisher Mills & Boon is just the latest to hop aboard the text message bandwagon, reports the London Times. Beginning next month, eight titles in their “Modern Romance” line and 20 titles from MIRA will be available for download (priced at 1.99 and 4.99 for each line). Alison Byrne, the UK publishing director for its parent company, Harlequin Mills & Boon Ltd, said yesterday: “For many people there’s still that embarrassment factor of carrying your Mills & Boon around. When you are using your mobile phone nobody knows what you are doing, whether you are texting a friend or playing a game.”

Byrne credits their Japanese arm with giving them the idea to pursue books-by-mobile in the UK. “Our Japanese operation has had great success selling our books in mobile-phone format,” Byrne said. “Japan is normally 18 months ahead of the UK. They are finding that it’s women who like reading on phones and romantic fiction that’s rising to the top.

Submissions sent to me through January 21, 2007 should now all have replies. If you submitted before that date, you might check with me to make sure it was not overlooked or lost.

I really didn’t think I’d need to say this, but…ahem…

If you want to be published you need to learn the #1 Rule of Publication:
READ THE GUIDELINES

For those of you with long enough memories, keeping track and passing on markets to writers used to be a primary occupation of mine. Like any market maven, I always stressed to read the full guidelines. And none of the fine folks who still do this usually thankless job are any different. They always emphasize this, too.

So it is not as if you shouldn’t know this already. No one is misleading you or guiding you down the wrong path. You, the writer, are the only one who can accept the responsibility.

I can at least comprehend how someone might not notice that we want a synopsis and three chapters (or equivalent) sent to us in email. But I don’t see how anyone could miss that Juno Books is looking for novels with a focus on women: We are looking for adventures for women (and don’t mind if they appeal to men, too) — fantasies with a focus on female characters….We want stories with strong female protagonists or women who grow and become empowered — women discovering themselves and discovering new worlds.

Am I wrong here? Is this somehow vague?

Now, yes, there are grey areas and I have no problems with folks who have mss. that may or may not exactly fit the “female protagonist rule”. If there are co-protagonists, or a group, or anything that might still be “female focused”, I’m happy to get the submission. Worst that can happen is that I say, “Oh well, thanks, but just not what we need.”

I’m not even irritated by submissions in which the writer reveals that he (sorry, these have all been male) has no idea what “female focus” means or what women would want to read. They are sincerely well-meaning guys, just clueless.

No, my rant is just about writers — female and male and whatever — who simple cannot be bothered to read or cannot comprehend what they read.

::End of Rant::

This is not a rant…this is a gentle hint. I’m gently hinting because most publishers do not WANT attached document submissions, so it may be new to you. Besides, format is still a bugaboo for many. Nor do I expect every email send to come through perfectly. But…

It is 2007. Learn to use email. It is now a pre-school skill. It is a necessary part of doing business. Selling your writing is a business.

Part of learning to use email is to have a real email account. I know, there are good reasons having a freebie account and if one of those good reasons is yours, then you know I don’t mean you and you aren’t going to get all offended. But for those of you who seem to think you have to “protect” yourself with alternative accounts: Do you really think I am going to pass on or sell your eddress to anyone? If you do, then why trust me to be your editor?

Otherwise: I will not take dead tree submissions. I will not purchase a new novel that is not in e-format. (Obviously reprints from years back do not come under this edict.) I will not work with an author who cannot use email for communication.

Easy!

I made a comment on THE BONE WHISTLE below that made me think about novel length.

[Note: An arbitrary low-end definition of “novel” is over 40,000 words. That definition, probably originally set by SFWA, has been used for genre awards categories. (The first genre writers association was MWA, but I think the only Edgar word-count is under 22K for a “short story”. Anyone else have knowlede of the history of such?) We aren’t discussing that sort of definition, but it is a definition.]

It would be nice to say that a story has its own length and that word counts don’t count. But, of course, there are other considerations.

To a certain extent, I think the natural range we “feel” a novel works for us as readers is about 75,000 to 125,000 words. That’s a big range, but there’s a big range of novels. The middle of that range, maybe 85,000 to 100,000, may be an even closer guess. Structurally that gives a writer room to develop chracters, plot and complete the story arc with adequate pacing. But I’m sure you’ve all read novels that were “too long” at 80,000 words and “too short” at 150,000.

And, maybe, that “natural range” may well be more acculturation than reality.

Back in the 19th c. England (and in the 19th c. literary and publishing trends in English language works started there — American publishers mostly plagiarized popular Brit books), long novels were the vogue. Literacy was expanding and it was no longer only the well-to-do who wanted books. Lower-income folks were served by lending libraries that charged a subscription fee. A long novel published in three parts (a “three-decker”) meant the fees for a single novel were instantly tripled.

Longer novels also worked best for serialization. Newspapers and magazines served the growing, but not wealthy, reading public in this affordable manner.

In the mid-twentieth century, the second World War resulted in paper rationing; during and post-War the prices for manufacuring books soared. Even during the 50s and sixties, manufacturing costs often influenced book length more than today. Not surprisingly, novels of shorter lengths were encouraged — 55,000 often being the lower acceptable end and 100K the top.

Paperback originals — a genre mainstay — also influenced acceptable novel length. The glued binding, pulp paper, and lower cover price all meant publishers needed to be more conscious of length.

At some point, I think maybe the 1980s, longer novels came back into style. I’m not sure why, but possibly because publishers felt buyers wanted “value” — “fat” books being worth the investment and presenting the biggest “bang” for the buck.

Fantasy seemed particularly entranced with thick tomes and a fantasy novel less than 100-120K wasn’t considered commercially viable.

Now? A few years ago, chain stores decreed they simply didn’t want thick fantasies. Sure, best-sellers like Goodkind, Jordan, and Martin take up plenty of shelf space…in fact, one might think those thick novels and extended series that must be stocked (sometimes in various editions) may have left less room for the rest. Whatever the cause, the preferences of the stores meant that many chubby fantasies were logosuctioned (okay, I made that word up) by tens of thousands of words and those that couldn’t be reduced were chopped up into two and three volumes. The guidelines went forth: Thou shalt not produce 250,000 word fantasy if thou expects publication.

And, of course, production cost always counts. The more pages, the more a book costs to print. The bigger the page, however, doesn’t always mean higher price, although at some point it does.

Not to mention prestige. Yes, indeed, “serious” books (including “serious literary fantasy” published by serious non-genre publishers) should look a certain, weighty way. You might want to read this Guardian UK article on that: Why Size Matters.

In our short history with Juno we’ve rather drastically changed our length needs. But that is another story…and so is the fascinating world of trade paperback vs. hardcover vs. mass market…

Just so we are all on the same page — I appreciate any reviews our books get! If I comment, it is just that — a comment. No complaints. No snark. But book reviews are opinions and I’m just giving some of mine in reply. Or maybe supplying some info. Hey, I’m a book reviewer myself. I can’t help it.

A Romance Review gives BEYOND THE HEDGE “5 roses” and you can’t get much better than this:

Writing the review of Roby James’ Beyond the Hedge is difficult because I don’t want to give away too much information. Yet, at the same time I am nearly bursting with the need to tell everything within the pages of this extraordinary novel. The reader tends to forget that it was not she who traveled back in time, but Jennifer, the story’s heroine. The writing is tight, and the story flows smoothly throughout each captivating page. James is a master storyteller.

The Harrow on THE BONE WHISTLE:

…deftly combines Native American and Celtic concepts into a romantic fantasy suitable for your summer vacation reading, in case you don’t have a whistle of your own. Be warned, however — The Bone Whistle is full of mid-scene point-of-view changes unheralded by blank lines or any of the usual “we’re moving to another POV now” textual signals. It’s unusual to run into so much headhopping in a contemporary novel, but once you come to accept the fact that at any moment you may be plunged into another character’s perspective, you should find the rest of the story easy reading.

(Obviously I didn’t feel the POV changes were troublesome. In fact, I felt they were a plus. But then I find such things becoming common in contemporary fiction, especially British.)

FromBook Loons on THE BONE WHISTLE:

…a refreshing take on a genre that has been inundated in recent years. While the romance could be improved upon (Darly’s is a whirlwind courtship with no time to fall in love, and I have no idea how she becomes pregnant), the fantasy itself enthralls. The wanaghi’s world under the hill is similar to the world of Faerie, but also different enough to give the wanaghi their own individuality that sets them apart from other fey. Because of this, The Bone Whistle will appeal more to readers who do not mind a little romance in their fantasy, rather than to those who want a little fantasy in their romance.

(Well, uh, *I* know how she becomes pregnant. The usual way. But, yes, the reviewer is correct, there is no “love scene” per se.)

Book Loons on JADE TIGER (Man, I *like* these people at BookLoons…):

If Reese’s novel is any indication of the type of books we can expect from Juno, fantasy lovers everywhere can rejoice. This beautifully written novel is filled with everything a reader craves: adventure, romance, a worthy quest, characters we can root for and plenty of magic, myth and paranormal intrigue.

Reese has a spectacular handle on all things martial-arts related, but nowhere is that knowledge more impressive than when she’s choreographing fight scenes. Each one of Shan’s round-kicks and back-flips seems to leap off the page. It’s impossible to put this book down while the heroine is busy tangling with the bad guys … and heating up the pages as she gets to know Ian. The book is filled with non-stop action, which would almost be too much if not for the wonderful downtime that allows the heroine a chance to unwind and learn a bit about her unlikely companion. A must read for fans of Indiana Jones, Sidney Fox (of Relic Hunter fame) or Lara Croft, Jade Tiger is a wonderful debut.

Also from BookLoons — Nimaur’s Loss: Book One of the Vildecaz Talents. (Okay, so you can’t win everyone over with every book But yes, I promise that the second book does what the reviewer wants it to…and I still like these BookLoons!)

…Most, however, will find it hard to delve into Vildecaz because too many characters are introduced at once, the religion of the inhabitants and their mythology is conveyed in clumps, and titles and clothing — that could easily have just been called in English by what they were — are assigned words in a fantasy language. I spent a good portion of time flipping to the glossary just so I could find out what the characters were wearing — the outfits were always described in detail, but seemed to mainly be vests of different lengths and formality. Though most fantasy novels do introduce new language, using it to this extent just confuses the reader.

Unfortunately, most of the plot gets lost in exposition, but things pick up at the end when everything comes to a head, only to finish abruptly, leaving any reader who has been able to follow the story wanting to know what happens next. Hopefully this Vildecaz Talents series will pick up the pace now that all the exposition is out of the way.

Jandy’s Books on BEST NEW PARANORMAL:

This is paranormal romance, but there isn’t a vampire in the lot. Instead, this is magic (try “A Maze of Trees” or “Walpurgis Afternoon”) or on other planets (check “The Shadowed Heart” or “A Hero’s Welcome”) or good old suspend-your-belief imagination (”Single White Farmhouse”). There are goddesses (”Calypso in Berlin”) or olde magick (”Fir Na Tin”, “A Treatise on Fewmets” or “A Knot of Toads”). Besides some otherworldly type women in the earlier mentioned stories, one has a non-human lover even if we’re not quite sure what (”Follow Me Light”). Then there are a couple that look at existing relationships and twist them around (”The Hard Stuff” and “Magic in a Certain Slant of Light”).

Some of these stories are pure fluff to be read for the enjoyment of the tale. But others make the reader think. This book is a good one to have in your personal library.

Review of A MORTAL GLAMOUR on CurledUp.com:

In the stirring and haunting A Mortal Glamour, Yarbro…has written a compelling look at the lives and lusts of fourteenth-century nuns struggling with the temptations of the flesh, a tale that will stay with you long after you put the book down. [4.5 stars]

(BTW — the historicity on this one, as always with CQY, is excellent. Even the French is properly archaic.)

Calico Reaction on BEST NEW PARANORMAL. (She gives a story by story breakdown you may find of interest.):

It’s a good anthology, with 10/12 stories engaging me, and even the ones that didn’t were good in their own right. My absolute favorite piece was McDonald’s; Bear’s story was enchanting; Hand’s story was just beautiful. The anthology had a good diversity, considering its theme was paranormal romance. Not all stories had happy endings, and not all stories had a traditional romance. Definitely worth checking out if you write any kind of speculative fiction with romantic elements, and romance readers, I think you ought to check this out solely for the intro, which I found fascinating.

I do have one nitpick about the anthology: typos…(Okay, I hate this more than she does. But we’re now doing a great deal better on this front.)No matter: I’ll be happy to buy the next volume when it comes out, which is slated for the end of April 2007. (Or thereabouts ;->)

Reviewers-Choice on JADE TIGER:

…moves as fast and smooth as an exhibition fight between black belts. The beautiful, engagingly unsure Shan holds our focus, but allows us to appreciate things (such as Ian) that she doesn’t have time for. While zipping us through her martial arts story, author Jenn Reese gives us the spiritual feel of the training, with added flavors of humor, fantasy, romance, travel, even art appreciation. This is fun in several dimensions.

I rarely comment on a cover, but Juno Books has a winner in cover artist Timothy Lantz. If you were so inclined, you could buy JADE TIGER for the gorgeous cover and the story would be a bonus.

Speaking of covers, writer Bonnie Deenotes THE STRANGELING is the “prettiest cover ever”.

April 2, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Juno Books, a publisher of fantasy that focuses on female protagonists, will be moving into mass market paperbacks this fall with four titles. “Up to now, we’ve been publishing attractive trade paperbacks,” said editor Paula Guran. “We’ll continue with a mix of trades and mass market. The latter gives us further market penetration and a chance to reach a broader audience with our books.”

The first mass market titles will include, in September, Jamie Craig’s CHASING SILVER, a steamy noir-ish futuristic/paranormal novel, and BLOOD MAGIC, a dark fantasy from debut author Matthew Cook. DANCING WITH WEREWOLVES, an urban fantasy from veteran author Carole Nelson Douglas follows in October. AMBERLIGHT, a literate fantasy by Australian author Sylvia Kelso will be published in November. Sequels for all four are anticipated in 2008.

Juno Books is distributed nationally through Diamond Book Distribution. For more information about Juno Books, visit www.juno-books.com.

Lori Handeland’s ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY, the first in a new urban fantasy series where a psychic PI is given more powers than she bargained for and discovers herself fighting monsters of Biblical proportions to thwart an upcoming doomsday, to Jennifer Enderlin at St. Martin’s.

Jeanne Stein’s next two books in the Anna Strong series, continuing the adventures of the bounty hunter turned vampire, to Jessica Wade at Berkley.

Caridad Piniero Scordato: A Christmas Vampire Novella and three more books in the Calling series, FURY CALLS, ARDOR CALLS, and VENGEANCE CALLS, to Stacy Boyd at Harlequin
Nocturne.

Elaine Barbieri’s next two historical romances, again to Alicia Condon at Dorchester.

Judith Todd’s BROKEN WING, to Kerry Estevez at Medallion.

Delilah Devlin’s three erotic novellas, again to May Chen at Harper, for immediate e-book publication.

Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll’s BAYOU CORRUPTION, involving rival reporters who agree to work together to solve an attempted murder and end up uncovering a gun smuggling ring, and love, to Krista Stroever at Steeple Hill Love Inspired.

Linda Winstead Jones’s THE EMPEROR’S BRIDE, a new trilogy, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley.

Dianna Love Snell’s MIDNIGHT KISS GOODBYE, featured in the anthology Dead After Dark, to Monique Patterson at St. Martin’s.

Kelley St. John’s THRILLING AND ABLE, BED ON ARRIVAL, and LIVE AND YEARN, featuring ghosts and the family who helps them cross over to the other side, to Brenda Chin at Harlequin Blaze.

Rita Herron’s DARK LORDS series, bringing three estranged brothers,
anti-heroes, who must battle their own inner evil side, together to form
a paranormal crime unit and fight demonic crimes, to Michelle Bidelspach
at Grand Central Publishing Forever.

“pornanormal”