Odds and Ends
Congratulations to Nalini Singh and Alyssa Day, who have both landed on some fantastic lists with VISIONS OF HEAT and ATLANTIS RISING! (And check out Nalini’s cover for CARESSED BY ICE!)
Jennifer Estep got a great review from Publishers’ Weekly for KARMA GIRL.
Also, Lenora tagged me, and I’ve autosummarized my manuscript.
From Lenora’s blog: Yet more evidence of Tessa Dare’s genius. Check out her post on AutoSummarization–the MS Word feature that allows you to distill your manuscript into ten sentences (under the Tools menu). She found it while searching for a way to make synopsis writing less painful, and it fulfilled its function by giving us all a good laugh.
Here’s mine:
Charlie’s brows rose. “Charlie?â€
“Easy, Charlie. “Charlie?â€
“Charlie?†Ethan nodded. “Ethan?â€
“Charlie.â€
“Charlie.†Charlie nodded.
But, yep, it got it right — it’s about Ethan and Charlie.
ETA: Oh Jesus! I just did it for DEMON MOON, too. This would please him all too well.
Colin. “Colin—”
“Colin? Colin!”
“Colin?”
“Colin’s?” Colin. “Colin—”
“Colin—”
“Colin!
But I swear it’s also about Savi! And yes, I have a LOT of dialogue in both books.
Also, here is the ad banner that I’m working on. Is it stupid? Too busy? Too long?
Thanks for playing! I have the opposite problem. Here’s SINFUL SPINSTER:
Eveline gasped. Eveline screamed. Eveline frowned. Eveline smiled. Eveline flushed. Eveline shivered. Eveline winced. Eveline squeaked. Eveline blushed. Eveline.
Is there a man in there anywhere? Good god.
About your banner: I think it’s looking great. I love the “sensual netherworld.” If you wanted to shorten it a little bit, you could consider cutting “a startling romance” and just going with “…and experience eternal love threatened by the consuming darkness of…”
ROFL.
I offer witness to the fact that DM’s not all about Colin.
Thanks for giving me a shout-out on your blog! I appreciate it. And I am eagerly awaiting my latest Amazon box which has Demon Angel tucked away inside.
Now, if I can just find time to read it and all my other TBRs …
I think the banner ad works well. It would make me want to click on it and get more info. I tried to do some banner ads, but ended up asking someone else to help me out.
Regular ads I can do in Photoshop, however poorly. I can even update my Web site, but banner ads and Flash stuff is beyond me (and my budget for computer software). I was thinking of getting the new version of Photoshop — until I saw the price. :boggle:
Love the banner
I’d move the text in the frame “no greater ecstasy” down a couple of pixels. It would balance better.
I’d also consider doing one with a call to action on it. I don’t know where your considering linking it, but something along the lines of “click here to read an excerpt” or “click here to preorder at Amazon” Something to move the viewer to action.
May is going to be harsh. I so want to read Karma Girl. And a million other books coming out in May. I got a pretty Karma Girl bookmark from the bookstore the last time I was there. I’ve got a May birthday and by God, there’d better be some bookstore gift cards in those presents.
I like the banner.
honesty, right? Too long. I would take out the second demon moon thing with the address to your site. I would take out the cute little covers. and the return to the sensual netherworld.
Of course, I am not a fan of banner ads in general. I like RBR’s suggestion of having some type of call to action – click for excerpt. or whatnot. click to buy. click to send me huge amounts of cash. click for a night with colin. . . :boggle:
Oh, and I am excited to read Karma Girl. Sounds fun. Why hasn’t Berkley sent that book to me yet?
I’m easily impressed by anything with animation.
But ditto the above comments about the text. Less text, more mystery. . . “ooh, sexy people necking, I’ll click on that.” 
Hey Meljean! Thanks for the congrats!
And the banner – first of all, I’m amazed by your tech genius but I’d echo Jane, a bit shorter would be better in terms of keeping people’s attention.
Okay, will get rid of some of the verbiage (I pretty much just took this off the back cover copy, so it was looooong).
And will see if I can incorporate the cover in another way, if it looks too cutesy that way.
Oh, and say: spend a night with the most beautiful vampire in the world, and watch as he becomes a geek’s sexual plaything.
Thank you so much!! I can’t wait for “our” book in May!! I’m so jealous that you’re talented enough to do banners. I’m lucky to point and click.
Hey the geek’s sexual playing works for me *g*