Romance Slam Jam Convention - 2023

 

I am hyped about attending my first writer's conference in years. Even though this three-day event will be held virtually, I can barely wait for the party to start. 

Romance Slam Jam (RSJ) is a readers and writers event promoting diversity in romance books. The first conference was held in 1995, in response to publishing gatekeepers who used to claim, "People won't buy black romance." Over the years, RSJ has helped demolish many barriers in the Romance Book industry. The conference, and now convention, is designed to provide networking opportunities, education, and support for African American romance writers and readers. Black romance, interracial romance, and LGBTQ+ romance are all part of the convention's focus.

Attending RSJ in the past has always felt like going to a family reunion. Both published and aspiring authors, as well as those who are 100% readers participate. The convention especially welcomes bloggers and reviewers who love romance books and want to meet authors, get free books, and a chance to win book related prizes (including a kindle). All are welcome to join in disussions on discussions on diversity in books, regardless of race and/or role in the publishing industry.

Me with authors KD King and 
Beverly Jenkins at RSJ 2018

In the past, RSJ was held in a variety of cities, including Chicago, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles, California, New Orleans, Louisiana, St. Louis, Missouri, and Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunatly, Covid impacted this event as it did so many others. But now RSJ is back as a virtual event, and I am ready. Entertainment included city and museum tours, dances, and even a dinner - mystery theater night. I have to admit being at home will not match that. 

I am so looking forward to networking with passionate readers, and with other authors who write diverse books. I'm especially looking forward to the pajama party event. The night's schedule includes "cliffhangers," readings from stories that are designed to leave us on the edge of our virtual chairs.  My fingers are crossed that we will achieve some of the energy that the in-person events always produced. 

I have already marked the schedule with the sessions I want to attend and hope to learn from. There is always room for more information on marketing.  The other sessions I am hyped about include workshops on comedy writing, pitcing, deep POV, cultural diversity and LGBTQIA+ romance books. I'm even looking forward to one called "Novel Writing Basics."  It sounds like something for beginners, but every writing workshop I have ever attended has taught me something I could use to improve my own craft.  

There will also be meetings and discussions with publisher representatives from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS and HARLEQUIN, along with scheduled pitch sessions with several agents and editors.

I admit, three days of Zoom sound a bit overwhelming. But the chance to talk and listen, to discover diverse authors new to me, and talk with readers from across the country, leave me eager to get started.

Bring it on!

PS - I get a box of books sent to me as part of the convention! 

Reading is Fun!

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Who would have thought that reading would become a lost art? I know that’s a strange thing for a writer to say.  I blame some of it on modern technology and this world of instant gratification. We want to get answers now.  Forget about savoring and enjoying the moment we're in.

Back in the day, we escaped the challenges of everyday living by immersing ourselves in books. Books opened for us a diferent world and exposed us to lives and cultures that were foreign to us. 

As a child, growing up on a small Caribbean island, it was my means of escape. I was exposed to places never before seen. Reading made me long to travel to all those places I’d never been.

On a small island where only the upper middle class had televisions, and reception was faulty, you had no choice but to read.  You spent precious minutes savoring the cover, holding that book to your heart, and pretending you were in that foreign country.

IPads and electronic devices didn’t exist back then, and even today, do they really trump the feel and smell of a good book?

 Years  ago,  when book signings were in vogue, and readers were excited about meeting authors, millennials (normally a smart  group)  would proudly tell me they didn’t read. Mind you, this was usually said while hustling through busy malls with a collection of shopping bags from upscale stores. It was often a sad moment for me, because it struck home that reading was indeed a lost art. Better to acquire material stuff than the knowledge a good book might bring.

More recently, I had the opportunity to do some work for an international airline. My role was to assist passengers at the kiosks preflight.  This was a relatively simple process that required me to assist those electronically challenged. It required reading the instructions and touching the screen.  

 To my amazement, I discovered that many adults simply couldn’t read. It wasn’t fear of technology that paralyzed them, but the inability to read the instructions.  Even the most buttoned down, briefcase carrying passengers were challenged.  

In doing my research, I discovered that 20% of adults in the nation’s capital still struggle with illiteracy, although most are way too embarrassed to admit it. The unfortunate truth is that several don’t possess academic skills beyond those of a middle-school student.

The National Center for Education indicates 19 percent of adults cannot read a newspaper, much less complete a job application. According to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, approximately 32 million adults in the United States can’t read.  Further, The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development claims that 50 percent of U.S. adults can’t read a book written at an eighth-grade level.   This is truly scary.       

 The inability to read makes life significantly harder for adults.  The Literacy Foundation says the consequences of illiteracy are as follows:

The unemployment rate is 2–4 times higher among those with little schooling than among those with Bachelor’s degree

Illiterate individuals are assured a lower income

They are destined to find lower-quality jobs

Their access to lifelong learning and professional development is reduced

They place themselves in a precarious financial position

They have limited ability to obtain and understand essential information

 There is greater likelihood that if little value is given to education and reading within the family, the cycle repeats itself in the next generation

 Low self-esteem is often a result, leading to isolation

 Illiterate individuals tend to have more workplace accidents, take longer to recover and misuse medication because they have trouble reading and understanding the relevant information (warnings, dosage etc.)

 This boggles the mind since there are many Literacy organizations out there willing to work with adults, and at no cost to you.  A good place to gather information would be your local library.

 Just think about how much more enjoyable that electronic device used for game playing would be, if you could read the instructions. How much more enjoyable life would be if you transport yourself to another world. And finally, what better way to relax and forget your troubles than reading a book on that electronic device, now a staple of life.

Yes, reading is fun.  What’s more it increases brain power, benefitting you in the same manner as a good run. Reading improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout. Why don’t we work out together? 


BookBub special through November 5th. By Design being offered at the very special price of .99 cents! Amazon and Barnes and Noble http://a.co/d/8Lcz2W9
BN ID 2940158721830. Don't miss this offer.

Coming soon!

Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. 

She is a travel industry executive and a self proclaimed globetrotter. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 40 books. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling, and with her animal family.

She loves hearing from you. www.lovemarcia.com or Like her on Facebook https://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Changing Seasons in a Writer's Life!

By: Marcia King-Gamble
www.lovemarcia.com

Happy March!  Spring is definitely in the air.  I can feel it, even in the tropics (where I live). I can smell it and see  in the foliage.

   For those of you living in places where there is a visible change in the four seasons,  it's  usually a sign that  temperatures are rising and there  is a beach in your future.

But this months blog isn't about weather changes. It's about changes in the publishing world.

A little over a decade ago, eBooks took the publishing world by surprise. Many publishers and even readers were dubious, claiming it was a fad. On-line publishing was supposedly a place for the not-so-talented who couldn't get published anywhere.  That perception quickly changed when authors and publishers realized there were some serious money to be made. Books authors were told would never sell, and were subsequently rejected, found a home, and new life on the Internet. Just You, my mainstream book, http://a.co/i3MCJrX, for example had been sold three times to a traditional publisher. For one reason or another,  it never made it to the shelves. I got back my rights, self published and  received decent reviews. It's been one of my  better selling books.

The good news for Indies continues. According to The Written Word Media, in 2017 the majority of Fiction book sales will come from eBooks.  Statistics indicate that    70% of adult fiction sales were digital last year. Good news indeed for the Indie world.

In 2016, market share for traditional publishers continued to drop.  Small presses, Indie authors, and Amazon imprints accounted for over 50% of market share. This means reader perception continues to change. Readers are open to reading authors that are not traditionally published. This means smart marketing and developing a loyal following will become even more important this year.

Amazon imprints will command the top ten spots in 2017. This is based on last last quarters results when Amazon imprints took an additional 4% of the market share.

Mark Coker of Smashwords predicts that this year Kindle Unlimited will be king,  He talks about the value proposition of Kindle Unlimited for readers. He also believes that crowding will increase competition. Crowding means the availability of  more books online. Typically a print book has a shelf life. Not so in the e world as there is no limit to shelf space. So get out there and upload that back-list, my  author friends.

Audio books will increase in popularity in 2017. This comes as no surprise, given longer commuting hours, and  the ability to multi-task. You can use a device while doing house or gardening work.  Confirming this upward trend, The Association of American Publishers reports that audio remains the fastest growing format. Additionally, in a survey completed by Pew Research, 14% of respondents said they listened to audio books.

Mark Lefebvre of Kobo Writing Life believes this is the year authors should seriously consider expanding their offerings. By this, he means you should branch out and take advantage of multiple formats and sales platforms. He advises not to rely on a single retailer or format for your income.  The more formats you have available, the more readers you can reach.  Link: http://a.co/8xTJbcq


Market, market, market. The time and money are well spent, especially in an increasingly crowded  market. Overall  email marketing has proven to be the best way.   And it's not just about writing,  it's about career building Barbara Freethy says, and she is the classic example of an author who left traditional publishing behind. In July 2014  she was named the Amazon KDP Bestselling Author of All Time!  She's since built an even huger following. To quote Barbara, " It’s  about engaging and re-engaging the core audience and exploring ways to diversify income."

Facebook ads are supposed to decline.  Costs have increased.  So broaden your marketing efforts and diversify. Test and try new avenues.  Don't  be afraid to see what works for you.

Expand your audience internationally. Markets like India and Germany are growing just as fast as the UK and US  market did.  Mark Lefebvre of Kobo suggests you focus on International markets where English is spoken and there is no need for translation. And do consider selling the rights to your book to foreign publishers. Read Joanna Penn’s article on international rights for more information.

Finally, authors need to continue to support other authors. Collaborate on promotions.  Use your social media presence to share each others work This can be done through group giveaways, anthologies, samplers and author promotion websites,  Promoting your own book is no longer a  solo endeavor. The success of box sets  are a clear example. Reach out to your fellow writers and see who might be interested in working together. I know I did, and the results were phenomenal.

This  is your year. Change is in the air. Dust off those unsold manuscripts and get them out there!

Pic taken in Cozumel on a Writers Cruise Feb 2017 LR authors Marcia King-Gamble, Carol Stephenson, Karen Kendall.

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

What do you do to get into the holiday spirit? by Paty Jager

Because this month at Romancing the Genres is about Holiday Romance Novels, I asked a historical western romance facebook group I’m in, “Why do you read Holiday romance books?” I found their answers enlightening. 

While I had a hunch I knew most of the answers, there was one that stuck out in my mind.  One reader said she had a dysfunctional family and it was a way to experience a joyful, family-filled holiday by reading Christmas romance books.

 

Quite a few readers said the stories gets them in the mood for the holidays. Many said the books feel magical and they appreciate a story that has a happy ending.  A few liked that the books are an escape from reality. 

Because this was a historical group I asked, several said they enjoyed reading about how the holidays were celebrated in the earlier times of pioneers and cowboys. I have to agree, a lot of the fun of writing a historical holiday book is the research into how they did celebrate. While today’s children wouldn’t be impressed with an orange in their stocking back in the pioneer days it was a treat. Before the railroad it was hard to haul the fruit very far from the states where they grew, making it hard for many in the mid-west to even see let alone taste the citrus fruit.

Other comments made by readers included: 

I read them to feel better, get lost in a good story.

I read holiday romances to get lost from my reality. Love stories about others during the holidays always brightens my mood!

I love reading about the Christmas miracle and hope with the season.

They make me feel like I’m surround by family and friends.

I love Christmas stories. They just lift my spirits

I love reading and I Love Christmas! Put the two together and I'm in heaven!

It is fun to get into the holiday spirit with a good book. Sometimes I feel like I do so much for the kids that it is nice to have a little something like a Christmas story just for me.

I don't usually have a lot of family here for the holidays, so I spend my holidays with my book family.

I work retail so the holidays are twice as stressful. We don't get much time off, so I bury myself in Christmas stories to relax and bring the holidays back when they were more magical.

I love reading holiday romance it never snows here and never at Christmas and holiday romance are just so magical you can get lost in them and they make you feel good. I read them all year round.

What do you do to get into the Holiday spirit? Is it reading a holiday book or something completely different? 

Leave a comment and I’ll put your name in the drawing for an ebook of my Nov. 15^th release of the Shandra Higheagle Mystery, Yuletide Slaying. There’s a bit of romance, murder, and a feel good ending. 

Book 7 of the Shandra Higheagle mystery series

Family, Revenge, Murder

When Shandra Higheagle’s dog brings her a dead body in a sleigh full of presents, her world is turned upside down. The man is a John Doe and within twenty-four hours another body is found. 

Detective Ryan Greer receives a call that has them both looking over their shoulders. A vengeful brother of a gang member who died in a gang war is out for Ryan’s blood. Shandra’s dreams and Ryan’s fellow officers may not be enough to keep them alive to share Christmas.

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 25+ novels and over a dozen novellas and short stories of murder mystery, western historical romance, and action adventure. She has a RomCon Reader’s Choice Award for her Action Adventure, received the EPPIE Award for Best Contemporary Romance, and a Paranormal Lorie Award. Her first mystery, Double Duplicity, was a finalist in the Chanticleer Mayhem and Mystery Award and a runner-up in the RONE Award Mystery category.  This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”

 Photo © Can Stock Photo / monkeybusiness