Susan Palmquist

I read maybe a dozen category romances per year. One of my greatest finds was a HQN Special Edition book by RayAnne Thayne. If you’ve ever read any of her stories you’ll know what I mean when I say they make you smile when you’re done. She has a gift with crafting true to live characters who live through every day ‘stuff’ we all face. It’s always a thrill for me to ‘chat’ with someone whose books I truly enjoy so here is my interview with RayAnne. http://raeannethayne.blogspot.com 

Susan Palmquist (SP)-You’ve been an avid reader all your life. Who were some of your favorite authors?

 RayAnne Thayne (RT)-My all-time favorite book when I was a girl was Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. When I was a teenager, I adored Georgette Heyer and Clare Darcy as well as Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters and Madeline Brent. But really, anything I could get my hands on!

SP-You worked as a journalist. Any interesting interviews you can remember? And have you ever turned any of these into plots or even sub plots for your books?

 RT-Working for a newspaper was such fertile ground for ideas. The last eight years of my newspaper career, I was the news/wire editor for a small daily paper and had to read all the Associated Press stories to select the ones that would run in our paper. I had folders and folders of ideas!

 I definitely mined those stories for some of my characters. My first book for Silhouette, THE WRANGLER AND THE RUNAWAY MOM, featured a heroine who worked as a physician on the rodeo circuit — that idea came directly from an AP feature story about traveling medical care providers on the rodeo circuit. Another book for Silhouette, THE VALENTINE TWO-STEP, had a heroine who was an equine vet practicing acupuncture. That was based on a veterinarian near me whom I interviewed for a feature story. I wrote a very memorable story once about a woman with Alzheimer’s who couldn’t remember her husband’s name anymore or take care of her most basic needs but when she picked up a violin, she could play heart-stirring, haunting music on it.

 People sometimes ask me how my early career as a journalist helped my fiction writing. My answer is that it was invaluable … I learned to write on deadline, whether I felt like it or not, I developed an interest in a wide variety of topics and I picked up an ear for dialogue through hours and hours of interviewing sources.

SP-Why did you choose to write romances?

 RT-Great question Since the time I read my first romance novel when I was probably eleven or twelve, I have loved the genre. I love reading (and writing!) stories about the healing, redeeming power of a happy ending. Romance novels have been a comfort and a solace to me during some pretty tough times and I love the idea that I can maybe lift someone else who might be struggling.

 People who pursue journalism as a career tend to lean toward the idealistic, believing they can make a difference in the world. I don’t mean to sound cynical but a few years in a daily newsroom can quickly beat that optimism and sense of purpose out of you. I hated losing that completely. Long before I ever sold my first book, writing romances in my spare time became my way of holding onto that hope that the world wasn’t just about the harsh ugliness that appeared on the pages of my newspaper every day. I have this quote on my desk, widely credited to Kathleen Gilles Seidel: “I may not change the world, but I can change someone’s afternoon.” That’s the reason I write romances, the hope that somewhere right now someone is reading one of my books and being transported away from the craziness and pain of life to a place where good people can find the happy endings they deserve.

SP-You sold your first book in 1995. What do you think of the changes that have taken place in the publishing world since then — for example, the growth of e-publishing? Do you think it’s harder or easier for a writer to get published today?

 RT-I am very excited by the changes in the industry and see them as putting more control in the hands of writers. Two or three years ago, I remember saying I just couldn’t get into reading books on a computer and didn’t know how it could ever be a viable publishing option. Boy, do I have to eat my words. I have an e-reader now and much prefer reading books on it to any other reading method. I’ve had a free book available electronically for the last two years (DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT, one of my first books for Silhouette Special Edition) as part of a publisher promotion and it’s been a huge boon to my career. I’ve picked up many new readers and I’m pleased to say my entire Silhouette backlist is now available digitally.  It’s a very exciting time to be a writer but also a very challenging one. I’m excited to watch the changes!

 SP-You live in northern Utah. I spent my freshman year at university there. It’s a beautiful part of the country; do you find it distracting or an inspiration for your writing?

 RT-Definitely an inspiration. If I’m stuck in a scene, all I need to do is go into the mountains and take a fifteen minute walk on some of my favorite trails. Something about the clear air and the scent of pine and sagebrush completely recharges me and I can always find a solution to my current plotting dilemma.

 SP-I’ve read many of your books, both the Silhouette romantic suspense and Special Editions. I’m always impressed how real your characters seem. By the end of the book I feel I know these people personally. What’s your secret?

 RT-First, what a lovely thing to say. Thank you! Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can answer your question!  I’m not really sure what I do. I can tell you that they become very real to me too during the writing process. Finishing a book is always such a mixed bag — I’m usually always so glad to be done but also very sorry to say good-bye to these people who have become friends. I love writing connected stories, just so I have the chance to revisit old friends.

SP-You seem to love the West and cowboys. Are these personal favorites of yours?

 RT- I do love living in the West. I grew up in the Midwest until I was thirteen and loved it there but the Rockies have definitely become home. I love the idealized image of cowboys. The reality is often not quite as romantic, alas.

 SP-You write both family based books and romantic suspense; do you have any plans to write a more mainstream novel?

 RT-I am writing single titles now as well as series romance but I’m definitely sticking with romance My first book for HQN, BLACKBERRY SUMMER, will be released in June 2011. It’s part of a trilogy called HOPE’S CROSSING, set in the fictional Colorado ski/tourist town of the same name (again with the Western setting!). The series is centered around a bead store in the town and I’m having a wonderful time exploring all the interesting stories there.

 SP-Can we expect to see more SRSs from you?

 RT-I learned early in my writing career to never say never but I don’t expect to be writing any books for SRS in the near future, at least not for the next few years. I’m contracted for four more Silhouette Special Editions and three single-titles, so I won’t have time right now to even think about anything else. I do love writing romantic suspense and can possibly see that somewhere down the line.

 SP-What are you working on right now? In fact, I’d love to hear about the new trilogy you’ve been working on. What can we expect to see?

 RT-These are warm, funny emotional stories about life in a small town. The heroine of the first book is Claire Bradford, a divorced mom trying to juggle her kids, her demanding mother, her ex-husband and his pregnant new wife and the challenges of being a small business owner in an uncertain economy. She definitely does *not* need a man to muck up everything — or at least that’s what she thinks, until Riley McKnight returns to town as the new Hope’s Crossing police chief. He used to be only her best friend’s pesky kid brother but Riley’s all grown up now and ready to teach Claire that she doesn’t need to try to rescue everyone in town.  I love Hope’s Crossing and the people in it, who have endured some tough times but are finally learning to come together.

 My new SSE series will be four more COWBOYS OF COLD CREEK books, focusing on the family of Trace Bowman, a secondary character I’m introducing in my October 2010 book, A COLD CREEK BABY. (BABY is Easton and Cisco’s story, for those who have read the others in that particular series of COLD CREEK books!).  I fell in love with Trace and wanted him to have a story of his own. Turns out he has two brothers and a sister who also wanted their stories told

 I also just finished another Christmas book, A THUNDER CANYON CHRISTMAS, a December 2010 release for SSE. This one is part of the latest MONTANA MAVERICKS continuity and I loved the chance to work with some really phenomenal authors.

 SP-Any tips for aspiring writers, any books you recommend?

 RT-I swear by GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Debra Dixon for craft, as well as Bird by Bird by Anne Lamot for motivation. Most recently, I’ve been reading THE FIRE IN FICTION by Donald Maass and SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder.  I strongly encourage beginning writers to purchase the RWA whole conference CDs each year. I always purchase them, even on the years when I’m able to attend the conference, and invariably find a wealth of information there.

 SP-Any tips for those wanting to become Special Edition authors?

 RT-Nothing original, I’m afraid. Read, read, read. SSE has some of the best category authors in the industry and you can learn tons by reading their books. This is also not an original idea, but when I was starting out, I would double-read books. I would read the first time for sheer enjoyment then immediately re-read to study craft: pacing, dialogue, characterization, etc. I actually still do this. If I read a book that really wows me, I try to re-read it ASAP to analyze why the book worked so well for me.

My Interview with Justyn Perry, owner of Breathless Press and a bonus interview with Deb Brody of Harlequin nonfiction imprint

Susan Palmquist (SP)-Tell us about yourself and your background.

Justyn Perry (JP)-I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and countless years of experience in the publishing industry. I love books to no end and am thrilled that I can be part of something as great as producing them. I am self taught in graphic design and can learn just about any program in a week, so I enjoy trying new things and utilizing old techniques.

SP-What sparked the idea to start Breathless Press?

 JP-I saw a decline in the number of quality eBooks being produced and needed to make a change. With the onset of self-publishing, it felt like no one cared too much about quality. Granted, there are those publishers out there concerned with quality, but they are far and few between. I wanted to provide authors with a place where they felt like it was a second home and felt welcome. Not a place they dreaded and regretted signing with as a publisher. So, I felt a need to create a place for those authors.

SP-Why did you decide on the romance genre?

JP-The romance genre is a giant market. It sells billions of dollars worth of books a year. Romance not only serves a monetary purpose, but it also provides satisfaction. It provides happiness and pleasure to those reading it. In our current economic time, I felt it was the right time to offer more books that made people forget about their problems and allow them to take a quick vacation. The romance genre provides so much to readers and I wanted to be part of that.

SP-What sets a Breathless Press book apart from other e-books?

JP-We spend a lot of time on each book. Crafting it, editing it, building it up. I view eBooks as a house. You have to have a sturdy foundation (the publisher). From there, you have to build up slowly so that once it’s finished, it won’t collapse. The time you put into the book will pay off which is why Breathless Press strives for quality.

SP-You create some of the best book covers in the business. Take us through the process of how you turn a story into one of these beautiful images?

JP-Why thank you! I love art. Art is an amazing medium and allows so much expression. I will admit now, I don’t have the time to read every story that we publish. I will read close to every title, but I just don’t have enough time to read all of them. We have the author give our art department (me) a lengthy description on the hero, heroine, location and ideas they might think would work; after all, they know the story the best. From there, I search (and search and search) for the best images that fit the cover.  Sometimes it takes a few minutes (I have a large collection of images) but sometimes it can take days or even weeks.

Once the image is found, I doctor it up to make it look production worthy. This may include adding make-up, airbrushing, changing features, altering eye color, making the model smile or smirk, adding expression to the face, giving a breast implant (if needed). All of this is done in Photoshop. When someone says “Oh that model looks Photoshoped” chances are, they have been and I love doing that stuff (I am available for hire wink wink). Once the model is finished, I work on the background (if any), then the text and any effects I want done to the cover. Generally, a cover can take me anywhere from an hour (most of our covers were done in an hour or two) to a day or two. I don’t stop once I do start because I will lose whatever inspiration I had.

SP-Tell us about some upcoming books you’re especially excited about and why?

JP-I am excited about a few books. Our very first f/f book in our Aphrodite line, Strapless by Honoria Ravena, will be coming out in August. I am stoked to see how it will be welcomed in the industry since m/m is a hot seller right now. Another book I am excited about is Sable Grey’s new book: Her Laird, Her Lover. Any book by Sable Grey is an amazing one and I cannot wait to see how our readers devour it. The last one that is a big milestone for us is launching another line. I approached Kaye Spencer, western writer, to write us an erotic western to launch our brand new Branded line this fall. She agreed with a sly grin and began working. I have seen glimpses of it and am pleased to say that it will be one of our hottest releases yet.

SP-What do you look for in a submission?

JP-We look for quality writing and a great story. Without a great story, there wouldn’t be a good book and without quality writing, there wouldn’t be a story. The story has to maintain the reader’s attention throughout and make sure that there is enough twists and turns that the reader is left wanting more. It has to have appeal (not just sex appeal) and scream read me!

SP-Any story or sub-genre you’re eager to publish but have yet to find?

JP-We are launching another line (yes, three new lines) called Cyber – Satisfying all your future desires. The only problem is we haven’t been able to find any good quality futuristic/Science Fiction Erotic/Erotica. I see a market for it but have yet to had a single good submission (not saying my Acquisitions Manager doesn’t have one in her inbox right now).

SP-You publish various book lengths from short stories to full novels. Any word length you’d like to receive more submissions?

JP-Our best selling lengths are Temptations, Novelettes and Novellas. We love these lengths and would like to see more.

SP-Breathless Press is already home to some very talented writers. Why do you think Breathless Press is a good place for an author?

JP-We are like a fine hotel. We cater to most needs of authors and try and give them the best care we can. If our author is happy, we are happy and our readers will want to read their books. Each author becomes part of our family and is a friend and treated like one. I believe this allows us to have a better relationship with those authors and happy authors produce great books.

SP-Lots of publishers are now producing anthologies. Any plans for those?

JP-We have actually been contacted a few times for anthologies soo… yes. We are going to be opening submissions for some themed anthologies in the coming months.

SP-So what’s ahead for Breathless Press?

JP-What’s ahead…well, we just launched our Audio Books so readers can now listen to their favorite Breathless Press book while they work out at the gym, jog, drive, eat, sleep, breath… We aren’t picky where they listen. We will be printing a few titles this fall so watch for that on our site. Other than that, the rest is a secret . Oh, and a new website launching end of summer with a lot of bells and whistles!

 If any of you read non-fiction you might already know that Harlequin launched a nonfiction imprint. Here is my chat with executive editor Deb Brody.

Susan Palmquist (SP)-HQN’s had huge success in the fiction market? Why did you decide to venture into nonfiction?

Deb Brody (DB)-60% of all books sold are nonfiction, and we wanted a piece of that market.  Harlequin knows women like no other publisher, so it made perfect sense for us to be publishing books for all aspects of a woman’s life.  I like to say that the nonfiction program is providing books for the issues women are trying to escape when they’re reading a romance novel!

SP-When was the first book released?

DB-We launched with LOVE MATTERS by radio talk show host Delilah in October 2008.

SP-You’re releasing two books a month. Any plans to expand?

DB-We’ll be publishing 14 books in 2010 and are already scheduled for 24 for 2011.

SP-So far you’ve published a diversity of books, everything from The Total Brain Workout to Underneath It All, A Girl’s Guide to Lingerie. Is this your intent or are these the books that appealed to you the most?

DB-Our goal is a diverse list, though we are looking primarily in the categories of health, diet, self-help, parenting, and memoir.

SP-You’ve been publishing books by some well know HQN authors such as Debbie Macomber and Susan Wiggs. Did they write these especially for you or were these books they’d already written?

DB-These are books that have been contracted expressly for the nonfiction program.  One of our goals is brand extension of our bestselling author base. 

SP-Are there any types of books/subject matter you’re looking for and so far haven’t found?

DB-Nothing comes to mind right now, as we’ve got upcoming books in so many different categories.

SP-So a writer acquires an agent and is ready to submit to you. Does it have to be completed or will you look at a book proposal?

DB-Proposal is fine, and, in fact, preferred.

SP-If so, what do you want to see when you read the book proposal?

DB-A fresh idea or a new take on an old idea. And, most importantly, an author with a platform who can go out and really help promote and sell the book.

SP-And speaking of authors having a platform, is this something you require?

DB-As I mentioned above, it’s certainly something we like, but it’s not required if there are enough other reasons to acquire a book.

It’s my pleasure to bring you an interview with a fellow Brit, historical author, Lindsay Townsend. She has a degree in medieval history and uses her background and love of the subject to pen wonderful romances that are full of adventure. www.lindsaytownsend.net

Susan Palmquist (SP)-Tell us about yourself.

Lindsay Townsend (LT)-I’m English, married, born in Yorkshire and still living there. I took a first-class degree in medieval history, worked in a library for a while, and then started to write full-time.

SP- When did you start writing?

LT-I wrote stories as a child, but seriously started in the mid-1980s.

SP-You write historical romances. Any particular reason you chose that sub-genre?

LT-I love romance and richly dramatic situations, which explains why I homed in on the medieval and ancient worlds.

SP-Many historicals are set during the Regency or in the Old West but you’ve chosen older time periods like ancient Rome, even Egypt 1560 BC. Any reason why?

LT-They just suits my tastes, and alongside the medieval studies I was reading Mary Renault and so on. I’ve always taken an interest in all aspects of history and in archaeology right through to the Middle Ages. Ancient Egypt is fascinating anyway. I’ve visited Italy and Greece, and married a classicist, so that’s about it. 

SP-You must spend lots of time on research…you must enjoy it. What’s the research process like? And have you ever come to a dead end when researching something for one of your books?

LT-Research is totally different for a writer of fiction than it is if you’re studying for a degree. I decide on when to set a book, the basic plot and locations and what my main characters will be like. Then I read, Google and pick brains until I have enough material to put the whole thing in a historical context, especially if that context feeds back into the plot. In ‘A Knight’s Enchantment’, for instance, I was able to use the fact that churches in England were all closed for a time when King John was excommunicated by the Pope.

SP-You live in Yorkshire, England, an area with its own interesting history. Any plans to set a book in York itself?

LT-Not at the moment, but no doubt I will one day.  

SP-You’re published with one of the publishing industry’s most well known companies, Kensington/Zebra Books and also electronic publishers like Bookstrand. Maybe you can tell us about the different experiences you’ve had with both types of publishing.

LT-Both publishers have been excellent to write for, and the main difference is speed. As a traditional publisher, Kensington works with long lead times and it seems ages between submitting a manuscript and seeing the book reach the shops. Without warehousing, paper costs, print runs and the like to factor in, an electronic outfit like Bookstrand can publish more quickly. Both publishers have been responsive, careful and professional, and I’ve enjoyed my experience with them so far.

SP-Your latest book, A Knight’s Enchantment is released on June 1^st by Zebra. Can you tell us about it?

LT-It’s set in England in the West Country and opens in 1210. My heroine Joanna is an alchemist and she is also very family-minded, loving her father deeply. She has an interesting heritage, one which is dangerous to her. My hero, Hugh Manhill, is a younger son of a lord, needing to make his own way in the world. He is a warrior and a rescuer, a man of action, whereas Joanna, because of the disciplines of her work, must be more thoughtful. They begin in opposition, as enemies wanting different goals, but that changes over the book. I loved writing ‘A Knight’s Enchantment’, as I’ve loved writing all my knight books.

SP-You’re a member of many writer’s groups. Do you think it’s important to connect with your fellow writers?

LT-It’s very important for me to connect with writers and readers regularly. First, I like to be as outgoing and helpful as I can. Second, I’m living over in the UK and publishing in the US, so the internet – blogging, writer’s groups, contributing to websites – is my main point of contact until I get a chance to visit. The only drawback is that I’m five hours ahead of New York and eight hours ahead of Los Angeles, so I’m usually in bed when my readers get on the web for the evening and I have a pile of emails waiting for me in the morning. 

SP-Any tips for aspiring historical writers?

LT-Choose a period that you love to read and research. Write to your strengths and choose a time that allows you to show them. One of the reasons I love writing about the medieval and ancient worlds is the sheer epic side of events in those times – it gives me lots of scope for women in jeopardy, which I love writing, and adventure, which I also enjoy. If you as a writer love showing intrigue, for example, then a corrupt, dangerous court (Tudors, Dukes of Burgundy, Byzantium, Charles II) might be a perfect setting. If you enjoy by-play between your hero and heroine then a Regency, Victorian, 1920s-30s setting might be perfect. Try to find very intimate, telling details about the period you’re writing, so the reader can identify with your people. Give your hero and heroine universal, timeless desires, needs and goals, but always be aware that they live in a different time and be sure to show those differences. If you wish to show the brutality of an age, you can show it in the actions of secondary characters, and sometimes in your main characters. Be aware of the language you use – would a knight in armour say ‘cool’ or ‘brilliant’? If you’re aiming at a particular publisher, then have a look at their writers and see what language they use – usually a clear, direct style is best.

Here are some publishers who do historicals and will look at a manuscript without an agent’s involvement:

Avon

Dorchester

Avalon

Harlequin

Bookstrand

Desert Breeze

The Wild Rose Press.

SP-Any reference books or sites that you find helpful to historical writers?

LT-The short answer is no, because it depends so much on historical period, locations, plot, characters and details. I have lot of books dealing with general historical topics and background, (including children’s books that are often a wonderful source for social history) and add all the time. For ‘A Knight’s Enchantment’ I added books on alchemy, for the next book it’s tournaments and the Black Death. I also use the internet to hunt down factual bits and pieces, illustrations, and likely books to buy.

SP-What’s next for you, any time periods you want to tackle?

LT-The next book is already written and comes out in July 2011. That’s set in the mid-fourteenth century. After that, I have a couple of ideas, one of which involves taking a minor character from my first medieval and giving him his own book. It’s all a bit fluid.

Seems like everyone’s a writer yet the author’s grapevine is a tiny one. Most days it’s talk about who’s looking for this story and that, while on others it’s chatting about a publisher’s reputation. One company that constantly gets high praise is Samhain Publishing Ltd., so this month I decided to check them out for myself. Here telling us about the company and what they’re currently looking for is editor Tera Kleinfelter. www.samhainpublishing.com

 Susan Palmquist (SP)-When did you start working at Samhain?

 Tera Kleinfelter (TK)-I started working at Samhain in 2007

 SP-Any particular genres you work with?

 TK-I work with all genres. I won’t close myself off to anything. A great story is a great story no matter what genre it’s in. That said; I particularly like contemporary, romantic suspense, m/m and ménage, any combination.

 SP-Samhain publishes everything from romances to sci fi. What’s your best selling genre?

 TK-My personal best-selling genre is m/m and m/m/f, but I think a lot of that has to do with those authors and how they promo and their popularity.

 SP-Any genre you think is under-represented at Samhain, meaning that you’d like to see more submissions?

 TK-Wow. That’s a tough one. I try to keep up with everything that comes out and reading a lot of our books, but I simply can’t, so I can’t be sure about that.

 SP-When I visited the Web site I noticed you have some upcoming anthologies.  Red Hot Fantasy Tales, Steampunk Romance and Red Hot Winter Tales. Maybe you can tell us more about them?

TK-I can tell you they’ll be really good. =) Other than that and what information is on the website regarding them, I don’t actually know anything else. An anthology is that particular editor’s baby, so they are really the only ones that know all the particulars about it.

 SP-Any other forthcoming anthologies you can tell us about?

 TK-Of my own? No…I do however have an idea that I’m pitching that I think everyone will love and I’m pretty sure hasn’t been done before. =)

 SP-I’m hearing lots about ‘steampunk’. I immediately think of the show from way back when ‘Wild Wild West’. Do you think it’s the next ‘big thing’ in publishing? And what do you look for in a steampunk submission?

 TK-There has indeed been a lot of hype around steampunk lately. It seems that everywhere I turn and every time I read an article, someone is talking about steampunk. Could it be the next big thing? Sure, why not. J I have to admit, I love the idea of steampunk, but I’ve never actually edited it, and I’ve never received any submissions for it. We have other editors, like Sasha Knight, who love the genre. I would rather let editors who have a passion for it receive those submissions.

 SP-And what about vampire tales and urban fantasy? Have they had their 15 minutes of fame? Or will Samhain continue to actively look for these stories?

 TK-Samhain will now and forever continue to actively look for well-written, unique, and wonderful stories…no matter the romance sub-genre. I personally enjoy vampire tales and urban fantasy and have those stories in my repertoire of contracted manuscripts.

 SP-In your role as editor you probably see no end of these paranormal stories. How can a writer put a new spin on them and make you take notice?

 TK-I’m really not sure about that anymore. I love paranormal, but I feel like I am seeing the same stories over and over. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything original out there anymore, though I know there is. There always is. It just takes someone’s imagination and a fresh spin on an old idea. I’d like to see someone take something very UNparanormal and give it a paranormal twist.

SP-Thinking about some of the recent manuscripts you’ve acquired, what got your attention, what made you say, I have to offer the author a contract for this one?

 TK-Unless a manuscript catches my attention and makes me say “I have to offer a contract on this one” I don’t contract it. Every manuscript has to have that something that grabs me. I know that seems vague, but it really is as simple as that. There is no “one” thing, because every story is different.

 SP-What don’t you like to see in a submission?

 TK-To me, a submission includes the query letter, so I’m going to include that too. =) The very first thing I look at is someone’s e-mail and what e-mail addy they are sending it from. I don’t like seeing an address that is obviously a family e-mail, or one that is sexygrrrl69@whatever.com. It takes two seconds to set up a free e-mail account at Yahoo! or G-mail (my personal fave) and shows that you take your writing seriously. As for query letters, I’ve posted about the on my personal blog and the Samhain weblog, so I won’t bore you with that here. =) Then comes opening the manuscript. If I see a grammar error, misspelling or word misusage on the first page, it’s going to put a bad taste in my mouth. I also don’t like to see manuscripts that start with a dream sequence of someone fantasizing about someone. I think it’s overdone and rarely done right.

SP-I love the warnings you have on each book, like deep emotions, edge of your seat suspense. Some of them make me laugh out loud. They’re very original. Does each editor write these?

 TK-Actually, our authors write these. Sometimes we editors tweak them teeny teeny bits, but by and large, the authors come up with the warnings, and we encourage them to be as creative as possible with them.

 SP-So for the readers out there, what makes a Samhain book different from the rest?

 TK-One of the biggest I can think of is quality. We take the editing of every facet of our books very seriously. And we are very particular about the books we offer contracts on. Our cover art is also amazing; the art department does a wonderful job and we have some amazing talent working for us.

 SP-Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Anything you’d like us to know about Samhain Publishing?

 TK-You’ve covered a lot here. There isn’t really anything I can think of off the top of my head to share that I haven’t already said in one way or another. Samhain is a wonderful place to work and be involved with and I’m really excited for what the future holds.