Cover Reveal - My Newest Intrigue Novel: INFILTRATION

There are a lot of things I like about writing for Harlequin Intrigue. The biggest are probably that: 1) They pay me and 2) They take care of all the things involved in writing a book beyond just the writing part.

They take care of: content editing (overall big edits: does the story make sense? do the characters

Seriously, my editors love me.

act/speak consistently through the entire book?), copy editing (flow, clarity, did you use the word “well-preserved” in this paragraph and two paragraphs ago?) and line editing (basic grammar, punctuation, peek vs. peak vs. pique…)

Beyond editing, Harlequin also takes care of cover design, titles (with some input from me), back cover copy, distribution, basic promotion and all things unicorns and rainbows.

There are lots of arguments about traditional vs. indie routes in the publishing world. I have no doubt I will do both before it’s all over. A writer can (theoretically) make a lot more money publishing independently, but then you’re in charge of all the unicorn and rainbow stuff yourself. That’s not something I’m wanting to take on yet.

But despite the fact that I am appreciative of what Harlequin does for me, some of it is nerve-wracking. Particularly when it comes to covers of the book. Generally, I am sent the cover art three months before the book is available at bookstores. The cover is a total surprise (I get no hints as to what it will look like) and set in stone by the time I get it.

I understand why Harlequin does that. Because these are series/category romances (meaning a new set comes out every month) they do not have time to discuss every detail about the cover with a committee (Although to quote Princess Leia: "I am not a committee!" -- but alas...) I complete what is called an Art Fact Sheet (basic features and characteristics about the hero, heroine and theme of the story) and can offer suggestions, but beyond that I just cross my fingers and hope for best.

I lucked out when I got the cover of PRIMAL INSTINCT:

Seriously, I love that cover. I couldn’t have designed it much better if I had worked with the designers myself. (And I love that Harlequin gave me a giant poster! --thanks to fellow Intrigue author Barb Han for mailing it to me after it was used at the Romantic Times convention)

So I was very nervous about getting the covers of my upcoming 4-book Omega Sector Series. Well, last week I got the cover for Book 1: INFILTRATION that will be available in stores mid-December. It’s the first story of the four Branson siblings, Cameron, and how he falls in love with Sophia Reardon while saving the world, of course:

Front only

Front & Back

I like it! It reflects what the book is about: He’s been undercover a long time and lines are getting blurred. She’s a little damaged and was having a bad day even before being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend. 

So I would say I’m 2 for 2 when it comes to the covers of my books! And I have another cover coming this month for my book COUNTERMEASURES (out mid-January), so I’ve got my fingers crossed for that one. 

Be sure to support your favorite almost starving author and pre-order The Omega Series, Book 1: INFILTRATION at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or look for it in stores from mid-December to mid-January.

Primal Instinct: Gone But Not Forgotten - Things I Learned

My mom called me, quite sad, a couple of days ago. She had gone to Walmart to purchase a copy of my book for one of her friends, but it wasn't there. Thinking they had just sold out, she headed to another store where they were in the process of packing up any of the remaining April Harlequin Intrigues and putting out the May books.

My mom, of course, threw herself on top of the books in protest. But she couldn't stop the inevitable.

That's right, Primal Instinct, my first novel, is gone forever from the shelves.  Such is the nature of category romances: they're only around for a month. It's sad, because I can't go visit my book at the bookstore six months from now just to see it. (Although it will always be available on Amazon)

But the fact that six more new Intrigues just hit the shelves is the reason I'm a published author in the first place. Category romances are short and inexpensive. Many readers still buy all six every month straight from Harlequin as subscribers. Publishing 72 books a year (and that's just in the Intrigue line) means a lot more new authors get a chance to publish.

Some of the most famous names in romance got their start in categories: Nora Robers, Linda Howard, Elizabeth Lowell, Suzanne Brockmann. Maybe someday someone will include my name in a similar list.

But now that it's gone, I just wanted to point out some discoveries I made in the last month as my book came out. These are in no particular order or of any particular relevance. Just my observations.

1. Primal Instinct is also the name of an Australian tanning lotion. Evidently I searched Primal Instinct enough that the interwebs decided I was desperately searching for tanning lotions because they showed up in every ad space for a while.

2. If you ask for reviewers on Goodreads (where all the reading people hang out) as I did, and mail them a free copy of your book in exchange for an honest review, only about 20% will actually leave a review. The rest will sell your book on Amazon or Ebay.

3. It was exciting to see how Primal Instinct looked all over the world.

It was part of a Mother's Day "box set" in Australia:

It was available in India, and didn't even have my cover:

And for the U.K. Mills & Boon release, they used just a picture of hunky Agent Perigo:

4. The Atlanta, Tampa and Indianapolis areas were the places where the largest numbers of my book sold.

At this point (almost exactly one month after Primal Instinct's release), I know I have sold over 9,000 copies (not including books sold at non-tradition bookstores such as Walmart, etc). But I don't get too excited about that considering I make less than $.50 per copy. As soon as I have more solid numbers, I will be sure to do a post entitled "How Selling A Romance Novel Will NOT Make You a Millionaire..."

5. I gave the Virginia Beach public library two copies of my book so they could put them in circulation. But they refused because they don't keep category romances on the shelves. Even for local authors. <sad face> Even when I showed them the Romantic Times Top Pick review! <super sad face>

6. Now that you're a published author, a lot of friends will want your advice or input on their writing or want to know if you've got any sort of "in" for them with any editor or agent (which, unless you write category romantic suspense, I don't). Because you care about these people you don't want to say "I don't really know anything about the non-fiction/angels vs. demons/biography/Christian/superhero/etc." markets. So you read their stuff, provide advice and hope you're steering them in the right direction. But you're probably not and one day they'll hate you for it.

Good times.

Oh, and that look on the PTA president's face when she realizes the newsletter, now written by the published author, is still just a crappy ol' newsletter? Priceless. (I tried to fit a couple of FBI agents and a serial killer in there, but alas...)

6. Last, but most importantly, I learned that I have crazy supportive friends and family. They stepped up and sent me the greatest pictures from all over the country!

No matter how many copies of Primal Instinct sold, whether it exceeded Harlequin's expectations or not (I don't know the answer to that. I wish I did), I consider the release of this first novel a success. I'll never have another first and it will always be special to me. (Plus, I got some good news about doing the follow-ups to Primal Instinct recently, so hopefully I'll have an official announcement about that soon.)

But now, I've got to get back to writing the four other books for which I've been contracted. Because this release process happens all over again for my next book beginning in December 2014!

Professional Shot to the Head

I mean, shot OF the head. Not to the head.  Professional headshots.

So, I've got this book that just came out... (seriously, even I'm tired of hearing myself talk about this). No discussion about Primal Instinct today, promise!

But one of the things I was told by Harlequin last month is that I needed a better photograph than the one I have been using on in order for them to be able to officially utilize it for promotional purposes.  The one I have been using is a great picture of me -- from the Romance Writers of America convention (the Harlequin Party, if fact) in Atlanta last summer (2013): my hair was so long and I was just so excited about having sold my first book.

But unfortunately it's out of focus and there are people wandering in the background.

I am a terrible picture-taker. I always feel awkward and stilted. But I decided while I had my hair and make-up done for my release party last week I would get a professional headshot done. I found a photographer who was 1) a woman, which I hoped would make me a little more comfortable , and 2) had a website with a feel I really liked: Melissa Blue.

Poor Melissa. I was doing a one-outfit shoot, but I brought almost every outfit I owned because I wasn't sure. About anything.  I wasn't sure about colors, textures, patterns, jewelry, tones, styles... I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to these things

I just wanted a picture that was natural and not-stiff, but professional, friendly and yet glamorous, and made me look young, hip and fabulous. No problem, right?  I was thinking maybe one of these...

Really, I liked either pose: classy, comfortable, casual.  You know, but fun!

Sigh. Basically those are how I felt for the entire photo shoot. Basically how I feel for any formal photo. 

Melissa, God bless her, worked very patiently with me. I felt like I was wearing a TON of make-up (the opposite of my usual), and that I was stiff and awkward. The poses she asked for (shoulders down, chin out, elongate the neck, then chin down) were to help me look the best I could for the camera. But honestly, every once in a while Melissa would have to say, "Yes, that's the perfect pose. Just don't make that face." I imagine I looked something like this:

Fortunately, Melissa stuck with me and I ended up with some great shots. She sent an entire gallery worth of good photographs (nary a mullet in the bunch). I was able to choose three with the package I got, so these were my choices.

I'm thankful it's all over, but most of all I'm thankful to have some good shots. I'll be changing all my social media over to the new shots this week.





Primal Instinct Release Party!

We had the Primal Instinct book release party yesterday (4/3/14) -- thrown for me by my fabulous parents and hubby. Had a wonderful time with my local friends and family. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!!

My Momma -- unloading books for me to sign

Primal Instinct's First Review -- RT Book Reviews

I mentioned last week that while I was tremendously excited to hold my book in my hand for the first time, I was a little nervous about the reviews I knew would come.

Well, I got my first one today, actually probably the biggest (in terms of volume of readers) that I will get. It came from RT Book Reviews, the trade magazine for reviews of romance (and other genres -- science fiction, mystery, young adult, etc.) in their April 2014 issue.

(RT Book Reviews used to be called Romantic Times but when they began reviewing other genres in 2002, they changed to RT)

Every Harlequin Intrigue book is reviewed each month. The paper version of the April issue will be available at bookstores in March, but the digital version became available this week.

Gulp. A couple of my author friends have been have been not-so-kindly reviewed in the last year, so I have to say I was a bit nervous.

BUT IT GOT A GREAT REVIEW!! Not only that, my book was a RT TOP PICK - one of the highest honors they can bestow. They even included a picture of Primal Instinct - great exposure. Here it is, not long but fabulous:

So did everyone read the critique part? You know I'm going to make you read it again:

"If this is Crouch's debut then readers are going to be in for a real treat when she spreads her publishing wings. It's a first class effort on every level and will leave readers feeling haunted when they're finished."

Hear that, peeps? Prepare to be haunted by my first-class effort on every level.  And <-- that "RT Top Pick" icon -- that's quite coveted. I'm honored and thrilled. It's the most I could've hoped for in the critique of my debut novel. Of any novel I write.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             As an author, you know, because words are important to me, I want to find the perfect one to describe how I feel right now: 

YIPPIE!!!! just about sums it up.



PRIMAL INSTINCT - Cover Reveal!

I was harassing my poor father the other day on facebook. Evidently, a friend of his asked him what type of books I write. My dad -- bless him -- couldn't remember the term "romance novels" so how did he respond?

"She writes sex books."

Oh, boy.

It's not totally my father's fault, I guess. He hasn't read Primal Instinct yet, doesn't really understand that it's a romantic suspense book, complete with a serial killer and everything. And, I have to admit, when I first told him I had sold the novel to Harlequin Intrigue, all I told him was that it was about an FBI agent.

Oh, and I told him that this would be the cover:

My dad's response: "But, I thought he was an FBI agent. Where does he keep his weapon and his badge?" Maybe this picture explains a little of the sex-book talk. :-)

But today I got THE REAL COVER of Primal Instinct! Hot off the virtual presses from Harlequin HQ, here is the official cover for Primal Instinct that will be available March 18, 2014:

The back cover copy got changed a bit too. I like it:

A killer stalks the city streets, and one FBI agent is determined to bring him down in Janie Crouch's Primal Instinct. 

On the crowded streets of San Francisco, a serial killer watches and waits. Known only as "Simon Says," he lures his next victim while the FBI grasps for answers. Desperate, they turn to Adrienne Jeffries. Adrienne has an uncanny talent for getting inside the city's most dangerous minds. But first she'll have to get past FBI agent Conner Perigo. Skeptical of Adrienne's abilities, Conner begrudgingly enlists her help…unprepared for the powerful attraction that could jeopardize their focus. With little time, and everything to lose, they must work to find Simon's next victim—before he does.

(Back cover copy I originally submitted was:

Ten years ago Adrienne Jeffries was a profiler for the FBI with a talent so remarkable she became known as the bloodhound -- someone who could sense and track evil. But the price she paid for her abilities was too high, costing her almost everything. So she left the Bureau with no intention of ever returning.

FBI Agent Conner Perigo is trying to catch a killer who has eluded his team at every turn. He will use any means available -- including an unwilling ex-profiler with some sort of hocus-pocus abilities -- if it means finally getting ahead of the killer. What he doesn't expect is his attraction to Adrienne or his desire to protect this vulnerable beauty.

And she needs his protection, especially now that it seems the killer has targeted Adrienne as his next victim.

I think the new copy is better, tighter.)
 
My first book, my first cover  -- I must admit I was quite nervous, but I love it. I can't help but hope that everyone will be as thrilled with it as I am.

In Which I Happy-Dance And Run Joyously Screaming Through the House

So, some exciting stuff happening on my first novel (Primal Instinct) front. As I posted a couple of weeks ago (here), I finished both my copy edits and my AAs (Author Alterations).

After talking with a few established author friends, and reading what others had posted elsewhere, I realized how blessed I was that my copy edits were pretty basic, and all ones I agreed with. (Or, since we’re talking about copy edits, I should say: all ones with which I agreed.)

Yes, there were a lot of corrections in my copy edits, but none of them changed the feel or flavor of my writing. Nor were any of the changes particularly nit-picky, imo. Evidently, nit-pickiness does happen and I’ve heard horror stories of manuscripts returned with dozens of requested changes per page.

Some edit marks you may not be familiar with

That sort of overhaul is frustrating for a writer, because often you’ve labored meticulously over the flow of specific pages, paragraphs, sentences and even individual words. Then a copy editor – who only works with the book once, and never has to see it again – can come in and rip it to shreds. Then you have to decide as an author what to change, what to fight to keep, and what to cry about losing. It can be hugely frustrating, I’m sure. Fortunately, my set of copy edits wasn’t like that at all.

My AAs I had a month to complete. This was the last chance for me to look at the book. I had a trusted friend read it and she found half a dozen spelling errors – those tricky ones where the misspelled word spelled another word correctly, so they’re easy to miss. I also made some changes to a few sentences that made me cringe, and then sent it back to my editor, weeks earlier than my deadline.  And now it’s completely out of my hands.

Last week I was asked for two more important pieces of the book: the “cast of characters” that goes at the beginning of every Intrigue novel and my book dedication. Both of those were special to write.

But yesterday the bestest, most surreal thing happened. I was talking to some Intrigue friends about the February covers that were just released and could only be found by doing an advanced search on Amazon. So I looked through those, and then OF COURSE I did an advance Amazon search of the April 2014 Harlequin Intrigue releases, and low and behold:

THAT’S MY BOOK!!! No cover yet, of course, but THAT’S MY BOOK!!! (And it’s available for pre-order. That’s just ridiculously awesome.)

And if you click on the author link: THAT’S ME!!

I have to admit, my heart went a pitter-pat. I got up and happy-danced around my living room and ran screaming through the house (clutching my laptop). It was an amazing feeling.  I’m trying to relish these moments, because I know they’ll come only once. If you rush through them and don’t take the chance to enjoy them, they’re gone forever.  Parenting taught me that. And how to happy-dance.

So there you have it, my thrilling news for the week. I resisted the urge to pre-order a copy of my own book, but you all feel free to purchase all you want. :)

The Road to Publication - Copy Edits & Author Alterations (aka: Proof that I'm Not as Smart as I Think I Am)

So this week brought another first in the journey to become a published author for Harlequin Intrigue. Each of these milestones have been exciting and terrifying at the same time. And because each is so new to me, it's stressful. Way stressful.

One First that wasn't stressful - My first Advance check!

My editor sends me something -- a file, a question, a form to fill out -- and I do it. But then I wonder: are my comments understandable? are they appropriate? are they even wanted in some cases?

And, you know me, I always have a comment. About everything. I'm sure there has been times when my editor wished she had never signed me.

Regardless, I'm trying to treasure and appreciate every step as it comes because I know I will never have another first book. It's kind of like parenting: you love all your kids, but everything is unique, new, terrifying and unexpected with the first one.

This week, I received my first ever set of Copy Edits.  Basically, a copy editor and my main editor had gone through and marked up my manuscript -- everything from formatting to grammar/spelling, to overall consistency issues, to just better ways of writing a particular sentence. It was pretty brutal -- like being back in college. If their comments had just been in red ink, it would've bled just like a Freshman English paper all over again.

Here's a sample:

My Copy Edits

This is a reasonably mild page in term of comments, some had many more. Of my 220-page book, there were only about 10 pages that didn't have some sort of correction.

Anything that was undeniably wrong -- the blue words in the text itself above -- was just automatically changed for me, I had no say in that. But anything that required an opinion, something that could go either way, I had to approve. That's where the blue and red boxes came in. For the record, I agreed with probably 95% of their suggested changes.

So after the initial shock and embarrassment of "OMG, how did I miss so many errors?" wore off, and the perfectionist in me who doesn't like any red marks on her paper, was stuffed and gagged, it really wasn't too bad. I made what changes I needed to and I was able to get it back to my editor within a couple of days.

My Author Alteration file

And, to my surprise, a couple hours later my editor sent my Author Alteration (AA) proofs. This is basically my last chance to make any changes and catch any errors within my book. Once I send that file back (due mid-October), I am stating that, as far as I'm concerned, the book is officially and completely finished and error-free. It will then go to a second copy editor one last time for anything me, my editor, the first copy editor (and then me again) might all have missed.


And darn if that doesn't look just like a book. Like a real, live book. That people will hopefully buy and read come April 2014.

So here's my "Road to Publication" Timeline so far:

May 2012 - Sent a back cover blurb & 100-word snippet to Intrigue team as part of a contest; Editor requested first three chapters and full synopsis

June 2012 - Sent requested chapters and synopsis

October 2012 - Received (amidst the 2012 "So You Think You Can Write" Contest Madness - I'm still embarrassed to think about it) request for full manuscript from editor (read about that request here)

December 2012 - Sent full manuscript to editor

June 18, 2013 - Received "The Call" from Harlequin -- they wanted to buy and publish my book in April 2014

Mid-July 2013 - Asked to submit the "Art Fact Sheet" for my manuscript.  A list of a billion questions (about characters, locales, seasons, etc.) from which they will develop the cover of my book. So if my hero looks like Fabio, I only have myself to blame.

August 1, 2013 - After much discussion back and forth, I was notified that the title of my Harlequin Intrigue book would be Primal Instinct (read about that here)

Sept 10, 2013 - Received copy edits; made changes and returned on 9/12/13

Sept 12, 2013 - Received AA (author alteration) file; due mid-October.

There's other stuff I know I still have to do before next April when the book comes out, and I'm looking forward to that too. It's all a little bit scary, but a whole lot of awesome.

Drum Roll please... My Harlequin Intrigue Debut Title

I found out this week that the title of my Harlequin Intrigue April 2014 release will be…  

Primal Instinct.   

Sorry to my smart aleck-y friends who voted for Murder Radar of Love as what they thought would be the title, or the even more pals who messaged me and told me they thought Throw Mama From the Train of Love was an awesome title. I’ll try to remember that for upcoming books.

Harlequin display at my local B&N - Intrigues are in the top right -sold out!

Of the other titles I mentioned last post, Dangerous Intent was never really under consideration by either my editors or myself. We liked it okay as a title, but it didn’t really work for this story.

Shielded, I must admit, was a favorite of mine. But the editors felt it gave off the wrong vibe for my book. It’s pretty vague and somewhat noncommittal to a plot. For an established author who already has a following of readers, that’s not a problem. But for a new author, it could scare away readers. (I tried to convince my editor that I DO have a following of readers, but evidently my mom and Cousin Sophie don’t count as a following.)

The last reason Shielded wouldn’t work is because there are evidently already a couple of one-word titles coming out the same month as mine.  As I stated last post, when editors are choosing titles, there’s much more coming into play than just any one book.

So Primal Instinct it is! I always thought the word Instinct was excellent for the title. My book is about an FBI profiler, after all.  

But I had concerns about the word Primal. I was afraid that it suggested savage in people’s mind – which really isn’t the tone of my book at all.  But my editor explained that when she thought of primal, she thought of:

 First. Original. Most important.

When I thought of it that way it all clicked for me. Everything about the heroine in my story is tied to her instincts – she can’t get away from them even when she wants to.  She has no choice but to go with her original instincts – when tracking a killer and when falling in love. Even though it almost gets her heart broken AND almost gets her killed.

Her instincts are the most important – primal – part of who she is.  Primal Instinct.

Explained that way, it seemed perfect.

Now I’ll admit, the title is a little bit, as a friend put it: saucy. And, because I’m such a movie buff and am

Primal Fear circa 1996  - what do you mean you don't remember it?

surrounded by movie geeks on every side, I did have a concern about a Basic Instinct/Primal Fear possible tie-in to my title. Both are movies that came out in the mid-90s with a "is this person psycho or not?" theme and mucho gratuitous sex and cigarette smoking. Not the image I wanted for my book either.

My editor basically, in the very nicest way possible, just scoffed at me and said no one but me and my movie-geek friends would make that connection. I have no doubt she’s right.

One very successful Intrigue author who has befriended me, told me not to worry about a Basic Instinct connection at all. If anything, she told me, I might gain some readers from that connection, but definitely wouldn’t lose any. You know what? I’ll take readers anyway I can get them.

All and all, choosing the title – finding one that works for everyone: me, the editors, the art department, the Intrigue Brand in general – has been an interesting next step in the publishing process. It was a learning experience, but definitely not an unpleasant one. Every step of the way I’m learning something new, and I’m loving all of it, even when it's a bit painful.

So now I can officially announce:  Primal Instinct, a Harlequin Intrigue novel by Janie Crouch, will be available in bookstores and online everywhere in April 2014.

And someday, someone (and by someone, I mean my mother or cousin) is going to ask me to sign their copy of Primal Instinct. And I’ll be able to write:

Always follow your instinct.

And it will tie-in perfectly to the title. Isn’t it great how that just works out?