Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary

I think this is an interesting concept but have not decided yet why it’s needed (except maybe for greed?). Some authors and publishers will be mimicking what Hollywood has been doing concerning product placement in their television shows and movies. That is getting paid to mention their products in their books.

Enter first time author Tina Wells. She is CEO of Buzz Marketing Group, which advises clients on the intricacies of product placement. She is a guru when it comes to marketing to teens and preteens. She is extremely talented and only 24 years old. She is also the new author for an upcoming series from Harper Collins titled “Mackenzie Blue”. In her book, the central character loves Converse. She said this is central to her character. She has no idea whether Converse wants to sponsor the book though. But when asked if Nike requested product placement she said she would possibly look at another character for the placement.

Tina said she was inspired to write the series because she felt it was important for girls to have positive books to read and to encourage them to make good choices.

So did …

Jennifer Estep came to my attention through a blog comment she made at Meljean Brook’s blog. Estep was a first time author who was offering up a fun, comic based romance. It looked like a book I had to read. Estep has a bit in common with her characters and she, too, is a person in disguise as she is an author at night and an award-winning journalist by day.
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My first sale story is like that of a lot of writers – it was years in the making.

I started writing about eight years ago. I made all the typical rookie mistakes that writers do when they start out and don't know much about the business.

I wrote a really bad, really long, really cliché fantasy novel. Then another one. And … another one. And, yes, one more just for kicks. Told an agent I was nervous during a pitch session and then stumbled through said pitch. Submitted my whole manuscript to a conference for a critique when all they wanted was the first chapter (that one still makes me …

As I sit here at my Corian breakfast counter drinking my Goose Island Root Beer and munching on my Dole Peeled Mini Carrots, I can’t help but consider the renewed arguments for advertising within books. After all, authors use brand names all the times to convey a certain iconic message. What is a spy without his Aston Martin or a uptown New Yorker without her Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks? So what the author is receiving quid pro quo payment for the mention?

Product placement is nothing new. I blogged about it before when the topic arose at the publication of Cathy’s Book in which the authors collaborated with Proctor & Gamble to include a few specific references to Cover Girl makeup that the protagonist uses. In return for the product placement, P&G promoted the book at its website and through other avenues.

For The Bulgari Connection, Fay Weldon was paid an undisclosed sum for writing a book about Bulgari. In 2000, Bill Fitzhugh made waves when his “satire about American hyper-consumerism”, Cross Dressing, included a product placement for Seagrams in exchange for Seagrams provided publicity.

A serial novel by Mark Haskell …