Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Marketing and difficult decisions

As authors, we're often faced with many difficult decisions when it comes to the way our work is presented. After all, readers base their opinion of our work on that presentation. The most important thing is the book itself. It should be engaging, well-written, and entertaining. Not to mention thoroughly edited.

Beyond that, there's the cover art, the blurb, and many other factors that are often out of our control. Unless, you self-publish.

The rights on many of my previous titles are in the process of reverting back to me. What does that mean? It means my contracts are running out and I have chosen not to renew them. This is a business decision that I put off for as long as I could.

Many people have written to me about the Lilith Mercury series. I promise, I am NOT abandoning Lilith. This series is part of the books that are returning to me. Unfortunately, there will be a delay in the books being re-released, but it will happen. Hopefully, the first 3 books in the series will be available again for readers by the end of the year.

The reason I delayed this for so long (besides honoring my original contract length) was I didn't want to inconvenience my readers. However, I feel this story was never given the chance it deserves, due to marketing.

First of all, Red, book one in the series, was sold in the category of erotica. That is grossly misleading. Book one is definitely NOT erotica. This led many people to complain about a lack of sex. I can't blame them, they thought they were purchasing an erotic title. Also, the blurb is written in a way that leads people to believe Lilith will end up with Marco at the end of the book. This is also terribly misleading. Naturally, I got complaints that there wasn't a "happy ending."

Well, of course there wasn't! This is the beginning of a SERIES. Lilith Mercury will have a happy ending some day, I promise. But not at the end of the first book in the series. Unfortunately, the book had already been out for 3 years and many sequels released before it was ever marketed as a series.

All of this was out of my hands and I apologize to everyone who was disappointed.

Soon, however, the series will be re-released and marketed as it was intended. The blurbs will be worded in a way to not mislead people, but to let them know what they're getting. And just as importantly, the books will be sold in the correct categories. While the series does get hotter as it goes on (that was always my intention) book one should never be mistaken for erotica.

To my loyal fans of this series, bless you for sticking with me. And to all those who have written to me, asking about the next book. it will come, I promise. I appreciate your emails from the bottom of my heart.

The Lilith series will return, revised, re-edited, and expanded. And better than ever!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

YOUR A WONDERFUL WRITER...I HAVE READ MANY MANY OF YOUR BOOKS. THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT ROMANCE WRITER! :)Leslie S.

Tracey H. Kitts said...

Wow. Thank you:) Your support means a lot to me. I appreciate my readers very much and consider many of them friends as well. Without your support, I wouldn't be able to do what I love. Honestly, I can't say thank you enough. The words fall short of how much it means for people to support me and appreciate what I do:)

Unknown said...

I can so relate to your issue with your story never getting the chance it deserved. I have one book with an epub until 2016, and it never got the chance because it's at a publisher that focuses on other genres. It's sad too because it's a great story. Good luck with re-releasing. I think you'll do great!

Tracey H. Kitts said...

Thank you, Gabrielle:) I appreciate that, and I hope you're right.

Although I'm sorry to hear about your title not getting the chance it deserves, I figured there were other authors who could relate.

It's always unfortunate when great stories get lost that way.

Christian Sarono said...

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Tracey H. Kitts said...

Thank you, Christian. I'm glad to be of help.