Nov 9 2008
Liquid Silver Update: LSB – Looking to the Future
What’s new and exciting at LSB? 2008 has been a year of renewal for Liquid Silver. First stage was increasing our staff. Tina Burns took over the role of Publisher to lead LSB in an expansion phase by increasing submissions, author retention, and moving Liquid Silver to be more visible in the ePublishing world. We brought Tracey West on board as our Acquisitions Editor, and Maria Rogers as our Publishing Admin.
We’ve updated our Submission Guidelines, and added a new heat level, Sterling Silver. This category will feature stories that allow for emotional buildup leading to the culmination of relationship sex, longer sensual tension. All genres are accepted for this heat level. We’ve also opened up our Molten Silver line to include "sterling" type stories for GLBT characters.
We lowered our word count acceptance from 20K minimum to 15K. We felt that anything less than 15K would hinder our focus on bringing quality, well developed stories to the masses.
In 2009 we’re launching a year long series highlighting Firemen, titled Hearts Afire. While we continue to accept and publish all genres, you’ll see more themed calls for submissions as well as a few secret projects we’ve got burning holes in our pockets.
As always, we’re dedicated to publishing quality erotic romance. Many of the changes we’ve made and continue to make are thanks to suggestions by readers and authors. We welcome feedback of any kind, our "office" is always open.
Send to Kindle
Nov 09, 2008 @ 15:57:12
Just the sort of story I prefer. Liquid Silver has a new fan. If they publish a lot of these type of stories, they will be my number one site to buy books online.
Nov 09, 2008 @ 19:14:56
I’m a fan of LSB’s books (and of firemen) and I’m looking forward to this anthology. Plus, I’m a wee bit jealous I didn’t think of it, because…yum!
Nov 09, 2008 @ 19:33:52
Liquid Silver Books is a class act. I hope they continue to attract talented writers they deserve it.
Nov 09, 2008 @ 20:35:02
I’ve only ever enjoyed one book from the publisher. However the new step seems very interesting. A love the new heat level, and the dedication to firemen themed stories ♥ great steps in my eyes.
Nov 09, 2008 @ 21:16:51
Ooh! Firemen! These changes sound very promising. I can’t wait to get my hands on the Hearts Afire series!!!
Nov 10, 2008 @ 00:29:00
Nice to see a top e-pub doing some thoughtful reevaluation of its criteria. It will be very interesting to find out — if, that is, we can find out — how well the slow-buildup stories do. Many readers keep claiming that’s what they want, but sales figures seem to suggest just the opposite.
I’m confused by the phrase increasing submissions. Does it mean encouraging different types of submissions or adopting a more lax acceptance policy? The latter is not a good thing, especially if it’s done simply to pack the stable and churn out more books than one’s competitors.
I wonder, too, about the success potential of a themed series — any themed series. It’s been my impression that readers tend to burn out on them.
Nov 10, 2008 @ 11:06:12
I think if they meant that they were going to have a more lax acceptance policy, they would have said “increasing acceptances” instead of increasing submissions. Sounds like they just want more stuff coming in to choose from.
I really hope the new heat level works out. Variety = excellent!
Nov 10, 2008 @ 12:07:42
That’s more or less what I think too, Jody. And it’s a good development. LS does seem to be a damned fine e-pub, and I wish them well with these changes. Maybe they’ll start shaking things up in erotic-romance land!
Nov 10, 2008 @ 18:55:56
Thanks Jane for posting this!
Regarding the Sterling line and its sales potential: We’ve heard this is wanted from both readers and authors, and in conjunction with looking for more submissions, thought this might help to open up the flood gates some. I agree with you K.Z., I’m very interested to see if the multitude of requests for this, will actually result in sales for it. I would be more than happy to share what sales information I can at a later time. I’d say a year from now, as we’re just now starting to receive Sterling level subs and have only actually pubbed one so far.
The “themes” and Firemen actually came from a brainstorm on how to get more submissions in. We’re not going to start only publishing themed stories, but it was a way for me to get LSB in front of authors. We’re always looking for all genres, but how many times can you send out “general” submission calls before it feels like we’re beating authors over the head with it.
Increasing submissions vs. relaxing standards: Like Jody said, looking for more submissions coming in. I felt like we were very “under the radar” to many non-LSB authors which on one hand was good, we take pride in not being blog fodder :) but on the other hand, not so good. We have a very loyal following in house, my goal is to make that house bigger.
We’ve only relaxed our heat level, our standard of acceptance is still stringent and I don’t plan on relaxing that anytime soon. :)
Anyone can feel free to contact me directly too, if you have any questions!
Nov 10, 2008 @ 19:10:19
I’m so excited about this new heat level since I write both erotic AND sensual romance.
I hope the Sterling Line does really well.
SEx - Silver Expressions
Nov 11, 2008 @ 01:03:16
[...] Dear Author has an update on what's happening at Liquid Silver Books – check it out. [...]
Nov 11, 2008 @ 01:11:01
I have enjoyed several books from this publisher and look forward to the Firemen!
Nov 11, 2008 @ 09:20:51
LSB is a class act. This new fireman series and the Sterling line are exciting steps for LSB authors both established and new. I’ve been with them for a year and they are absolutely wonderful to work with. Okay … I’ll admit, I’m a lot biased. :D Still, it’s great to be part of their growth.
Dec 04, 2008 @ 12:08:40
I just found out today that Liquid Silver will be publishing a novella of mine, which I subbed as a ‘sterling.’ This was a book I’d been told ‘did not have enough sex.’ But I felt the story was a good one and that it deserved a chance to find an audience. I worked very hard to build the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, which makes the hot, hot sex all that more satisfying, IMHO.
I am one author who is thrilled with these changes at Liquid Silver. I think I have found a home for the kind of erotic romances that truly make me happy to write.
I’m looking forward to finding out more about my new publisher! All the comments here tell me I’ve found a good place for my work.
Feb 09, 2010 @ 18:10:53
The ebook edition of my debut novel, Psyche’s Gate, is being published under LSB’s Sterling line this spring. My goal was to write a character-driven tale–while fabulous romantic sex is certainly present, I consider Psyche’s Gate to be less “erotic romance” and more “urban fantasy”. The introduction of the Sterling line at LSB is allowing me to reach out to romance niche readers while maintaining my story as I really wished it to be.
Kudos to Liquid Silver Books for being willing to expand beyond the standard and invite the attention of a broader reader/author base! I am thrilled to be working with them as my e-publisher, and going by comments read here, my feelings are true. :)