Dear Author: Romance Novel Reviews, Industry News, and Commentary

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We’ve changed the look and now we’re thinking of what we can do to make Dear Author fresh and new for 2009.  I loved getting the guest opinions during the month of December and am thinking about making that a regular feature for Tuesday’s Op Ed day.

I’ve had other people ask why the Industry News section isn’t on the front page with the posts and I’ve always felt that the reviews would be lost if we included the industry news in the front page.  

I don’t know that we do enough to highlight the smart voices of readers here at Dear Author.  If you recall, I want to post essays from readers, bloggers and authors this year, about why we read, write and blog about romance.  Please send me an essay if you want to participate (or a date you’d like reserved).  

Any other ideas/suggestions?

Welcome to First Page Saturday. Individual authors anonymously send a first page read and critiqued by the Dear Author community of authors, readers and industry others. Anyone is welcome to comment. Published authors may do so under their own name or anonymously.
Readers, though, the way that I look at it is this: Would the hook itself interest you in reading the book. If yes, what interests you and if not, what would you change to make it more appealing?
***

Julia cursed as she lost her footing again. The rounded cobblestones were like black ice under her stilettos and her ankles struggled with every step. She clung to her companion for support, and the short, muscular Spaniard with lips like ripe cherries and silky black hair seemed more than happy to wrap his burly arm around her waist. After a few paces he let his hand drop to give her bottom a rough squeeze.

She didn’t protest. Instead, she began to stroke his torso. She imagined running her hands through the forest of dark, curly hair that would cover his platter-sized pectorals, envisioned letting her mouth trace the clean demarcations of his eight perfect stomach muscles.

Julia bit her lip and shivered. …

Welcome to First Page aka Query Saturday. Individual authors anonymously send a first page (or query) read and critiqued by the Dear Author community of authors, readers and industry others. Anyone is welcome to comment. Published authors may do so under their own name or anonymously.
Readers, though, the way that I look at it is this: Would the hook itself interest you in reading the book. If yes, what interests you and if not, what would you change to make it more appealing?
***

When Asa sidled into my office with that pinched expression on his face, I didn’t bother looking up from my laptop. “No.”

“C’mon, Cyn. You don’t even know what I’m asking yet.”

“Yes, I do.” I stabbed a few keys and stopped the playback on a full view of last night’s scene—not as gruesome as it could have been, but the lack of gore didn’t make the victim any less dead. “You want me to translate. And I’m busy.”

Asa sighed. He ambled over, stopped in front of my desk and fingered the leaves of my dwarf Chinese evergreen. “Don’t you ever water this thing?”

“It’s supposed to droop,” I snapped. Behind me, the photo printer whirred and fluttered …