Today I am very excited to welcome Doreen DeSalvo as our guest. Not only is Doreen an incredibly talented author of erotic romance (she is the author of one of my favorite novellas ever, Bedding the Beast), she is also a co-founder and Vice President, Community Development Of Loose Id, a leading small press and e-publisher. Today Doreen has graciously agreed to answer some of our questions about the world of e-publishing.   

Tell us a little about Loose Id.

Loose Id publishes cross-genre erotic romance in both electronic and print format. When we say cross-genre, we mean a romance plus significant elements of another genre, such as: action-adventure, alternative lifestyles and sexualities, futuristic, paranormal, suspense, etc. We're proud to publish New York Times best sellers MaryJanice Davidson and Angela Knight, along with rising stars of the e-publishing world like Morgan Hawke, Jet Mykles, Jules Jones, Treva Harte, and too many others to list! We're a royalty-paying publisher, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of contract fairness as defined by the Romance Writers of America and EPIC. We publish four books in electronic format each and every week. We also release selected titles in trade paperback. You can find our current electronic releases here and our print titles here. (NOTE FROM JA - several Loose ID titles are also available at Borders and B&N)

What’s with the lizard (who is adorable by the way)?

Thank you! The lizard's name is Loowis, and he's our company mascot. Disney has Mickey Mouse. AFLAC has the duck. Loose Id has Loowis. With his Jack Nicholson smirk and bad boy leather jacket, Loowis represents the spirit of Loose Id: hip, sexy and smart, with a dash of mischief. Why a lizard? In some psychological circles, the “id” is considered our most primal, most basic consciousness. It’s linked in that with the amigdale, our leftover lizard-brain. Hence Loowis the lizard as our symbol for the id. People often call us "Loose I. D.", but the second part is one word, "Id." Since many psychologists consider the id the seat of creativity, Loose Id stands for "creativity unleashed."

What are the benefits of writing for a small press like Loose Id?

As a small press, we have the time to give authors individual attention. Our editors work in partnership with their authors, providing guidance on what the author does well, where she could improve, and how she can best develop her writing career. (I'm using a female pronoun here, but Loose Id also has several very talented male authors). We devote time and attention not only to the author's writing, but to assisting the author with marketing and promotion. And unlike other large publishers, the owners of Loose Id are always available to speak with authors. We're also more encouraging when an author wants to spread her wings and try new things. A large house would be reluctant to take a risk on a project that doesn't fit the mold, but at Loose Id we welcome the unusual. We always want fresh, interesting stories that break out of genre conventions. Try to shock us -- we dare you.

What was the genesis of Loose Id? What made you and the other co-founders decide to start a small press?

I often wonder if we were crazy at the time. I was already an author -- did I really want to be a publisher as well? Seriously, we each had extensive publishing and business experience. We'd done a good job making other peoples' companies successful. Forming our own publishing company seemed like the logical next step for us professionally. Our vision was to create a company that helped authors take their careers to the highest level possible. We also wanted to create a company with a hip, smart, and fun image -- a company that made erotic romance appealing to hip, smart, and fun readers. But in all honesty, our primary motivation was to give authors and editors the appreciation and support they deserve. It sounds corny, but it's the truth.

I feel like there’s a perception that anyone with a computer can start up a small press. Can you share some of the hard truth about what’s really involved?

I'm chuckling. To do a thing well means putting in a significant investment -- not just of money, but of time. We spent over eight months developing the Loose Id name, our business plan, our reader and author community, our branding, and our Web site before we sold a single book. We invested a lot of time in hiring the best editors, wooing a solid stable of launch authors, soliciting manuscripts, and interviewing cover artists. The Web site went through several design iterations before being thoroughly tested, not just for "bugs" but for ease of use (my specialty). We studied the plethora of electronic formats available and developed processes for generating our books in the formats we judged to be stable and widely used. We began building our reader community six months before we launched, sharing our progress, publishing newsletters to create interest in the brand, and encouraging authors to join the loop to build a relationship with their soon-to-be-readers. On top of all that, we went through lengthy rounds of edits on legal documents such as our contracts and our partnership agreement, and we put bookkeeping and financial processes in place to ensure that we could keep track of royalties, income, and expenses. Sure, we probably could have rushed the process and started with a bare-bones URL, but we're perfectionists. We wanted to make sure we got it right the first time so that our authors and customers would have a smooth, enjoyable experience from day one. I'm happy to say we are growing each and every quarter, and many of our authors have successful careers, both with us and with major New York publishers. I always knew Loose Id would do well, but it's exceeded my wildest dreams.

In recent years, many small presses have formed in the market place.  What do you think makes Loose Id unique?

Loose Id isn't just any small press. It's the place to be for well-written, richly imagined, well-edited cross-genre love stories as steamy as you want them. We welcome diversity in storylines and styles, and we're always looking for the unusual and the off beat. We encourage authors to write the book of your heart, make it sexy, and send it over. We have a large, growing readership, and a supportive community of authors, editors and artists. Also, I think our dedication to quality puts us head and shoulders above the rest. From our authors to our cover art to our Web site, it doesn't get any better than Loose Id.

In the e-publishing world, the quality of your covers and artwork really stands out. Can you tell us about the artists who work for you and the look you’re trying to achieve with your books?

Thank you on behalf of our Art Director. As in all areas of our business, we strive for excellence in our cover art. We have a talented group of professional artists who create our covers based on author input and guidance from the Art Director. We devote a lot of time to putting the right cover with each book, and it's not uncommon for us to see several drafts of a cover until we have the perfect one. Each artist has his or her own style, which helps us match the cover art with the sensibility of the book. For example, my own books tend to be emotionally driven and unashamedly romantic, which is why most of my covers are photo-realistic and show the faces of the characters. Books that are edgy will have a totally different style. We're also experimenting with hand-drawn covers in a graphic novel style; you'll see those covers on Jet Mykles' Heaven Sent series of Male/Male romances set in the world of a rock-n-roll band.

Loose Id recently achieved a major milestone and became RWA recognized. For the benefit of some readers who may not be familiar with the term, can you share what that means and why it’s so important for your company and your writers?

Thank you. The Romance Writers of America is an organization of over 9,000 authors, editors, and agents who work in the romance genre. RWA officially recognizes publishers who meet exacting standards for contract fairness, fiscal responsibility, and sales. As a recognized publisher, our authors are eligible to join RWA's Published Author Network, and our editors are authorized to solicit manuscripts and take pitches from authors at RWA-sponsored events. To celebrate, we're throwing a party at the annual RWA conference in Dallas this July. Everyone's invited!

If writers are interested in submitting books for consideration, what’s the submission process?

We encourage authors to read our submission guidelines. All authors are invited to query us with a cover letter, a synopsis, and a partial manuscript (three chapters) in RTF format only. Submissions can be sent to submissions@loose-id.com. Please read our submission guidelines first to make sure we publish in your genre; following the instructions on that page will ensure your submission is reviewed quickly. Our standard response time is less than a month.

Okay, enough about business – tell us about what you’re working on!

I'm currently writing a contemporary BDSM romance, Still A Thief. It's a sequel to Once A Thief, continuing the story of a straight-laced attorney named Kate who meets the baddest of bad boys. I was flattered when readers asked for more of their story. In Once A Thief, the characters had a "happily -- for now" ending, but Still A Thiefwill give readers the "happily ever after" they've been wanting. I plan to finish Still A Thief at the end of April, and then I'll begin work on a to-be-named Regency historical. I've been itching to write sexy Regency historicals for a couple of years, so working on the book will be a treat. I have a penchant for musicians, and I'm planning to make the hero a composer and violinist. I have a strong suspicion he'll look a lot like the talented violinist in this photo. Everything else about the story is wide open -- I enjoy this part of the creative process, when there are limitless possibilities to explore. If you're interested in following my progress on the book, you can check my author site for updates, which I post more or less monthly. Thanks to all the Fog City Divas for inviting me to chat. If you have any questions, feel free to post them!

We are offering prizes to two lucky posters today! Doreen will be giving one lucky poster print copies of The PRENDARIAN CHRONICLES by Doreen DeSalvo, a fabulous futuristic erotic romanc and DANGEROUS CRAVINGS by Evangeline Anderson, a steamy BDSM romantic suspense. And in honor of my recent release, A TASTE OF HONEY, I will give another poster a tube of Le Couvent des Minimes Honey & Shea Repairing Hand Cream, and some Honey Lemon Beeswax lip balm from the Savannah Bee company.

Comments

[Kirsten]

Loowis sure puts that Geiko character to shame, doesn't he? Sounds like an interesting process starting up a company like this, interesting, fun and a lot of work. Very impressive. I look forward to reading many books from Loose Id. Good luck.

[Kathryn]

What an interesting look at the world of e-publishing. I have to admit that I haven't really dipped my toes into those waters as I love having a book in my hands and being able to re-read them at will (unless they're awful, my books are read many times).

That being said, perhaps it's time to take a look at e-books. It sounds like you have done an amazing job with Loose Id. Congratulations Doreen!

[Cherie J]

Good to have you here Doreen. I just got started with ebooks about a year ago and I must say there are an enormous amount of great books available. I have some ebooks from some of your talented authors that I have greatly enjoyed. Right now, I have been hinting alot to hubby about getting me a pda or ebook reader to make it easier. The laptop gets heavy and it is harder to set aside if I have to run around after one of my little ones. Still and all, I am happy I was introduced into the world of ebooks.

[Krissy]

For the past few years, I've pretty much been a library girl. If it's not at the library, I haven't read it. One because I have absolutely no control, so I've forced myself away from book stores and 2 I've been working on completing my Bachelor's. Now that I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (i'll be done in October), I'm looking forward to dipping my feet back into the book stores water, so to speak. Several of the books mentioned sound fascinating, and I'm very tempted to hunt them down... but I can't just yet... must study history... I've been good for 2 years, and now it's all slipping away. i'm definitely making a list of books to read, and I've added these to them.

P.S. I'm new to here, thanks to guest blogger Galen Foley.

[Barbara Freethy]

Hi Doreen - So glad you could join us and what a great insight into the trials and tribulations of setting up your own publishing company. It's quite an amazing venture!

[Monica McCarty]

Hi Doreen--thanks for joining us today. I love the lizard BTW. Thanks for sharing some of what is going on in the exciting world of e-books and Loose Id in particular.

And Krissy, thanks for coming back! Hope you'll be a "regular" around here. :)

[RobynL]

Congrats on a great accomplishment Doreen!!
Kudos on the hand cream and lip balm with honey in it; honey is such a wonderful skin softening ingredient; I love it.

[Karin*]

Hey, Doreen! So happy you stopped by. I lurve Loowis!

[Pam Rosenthal]

I'm filled with admiration for the fiendishly clever imaginations that thought to link "lucidity" with the wild and crazy creative powers of the id. The resulting double whammy being actually a whole lot like Doreen, now that I think about it. Hey, Doreen, good to see you here.

[joelle]

Your interview gives me an insight into the publishing world and it sounds fascinating. Your new book looks wonderful.

[anne]

Loose ID is a great venture and I wish you all the best. With your talent it should go far. Your books are compelling and the artwork is attractive.

[Kalen Hughes]

Can I be shallow and just squeal about the party? LOL!

Great interview, Doreen!

[Bella Andre]

Doreen--You're so fabulous and wonderful! I'm so thrilled that Loose Id is incredibly successful. I always knew it would be. You and your co-founders deserve all the best!

And I can't wait to read your uber-sexy regency, so hurry and get writing!

Oh! And I am SO THERE at your party in Dallas. ;-)

[Teresa W.]

Doreen enjoyed the interview today and your cover for your new release looks great!

[alissa]

Am impressed with this interview and your business skills as well as your great writing. The books look unique and appealing.

[ellie]

Wonderful interview and it is gratifying to read about your success. The books sound great and I will be looking into them. Love the striking covers.

[sharon]

It is interesting to read about your background, and the entire publishing endeavor. Hard work but rewards are great. Best wishes and your books look special.

[Jennifer K.]

It was nice to hear how the company started. I've read several books from Loose Id and enjoyed each of them. I look forward to reading more in the future.

[Doreen DeSalvo]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by. I wish I could take all of the credit for Loose Id's success, but I couldn't have done it without my three very talented partners.

I also neglected to mention tha the books I'm giving away are print editions, not e-books. I'll pick two winners at the end of today and let you know how to contact me to receive them.

Karin, I hear you have competition for Loowis's affections. He recently moved in with a sexy female lizard named Loosey.

More soon.
Doreen

[Treva Harte]

Darn it, Doreen, you were supposed to tell me why we became publishers.

Treva Harte
www.trevaharte.com

[pearl]

I am enchanted with your lovely interview. The book cover images are enticing and your books look fabulous. Your new release will win accolades.

[Kathy K]

I'm really impressed with the genesis of new publishing concerns that work with new(er) authors and in genres that are only beginning to find a niche in the world of books, both electronic and print. And this makes hitherto unknown themes and stories available to us readers!!
What a tremendous boon to reader-dom (*grin* sorry, I don't know what else to call it!)

Great interview Jami and thanks Doreen for all the info and the behind-the-scenes look into this growing phenonmenon. Very exciting!

[Karen B]

Love that Loowis!

[Melissa V]

hi, great interview questions and answers. i enjoyed it. Jami, A TASTE OF HONEY is such a yummy title for a book. love it! :)

[Cherie K]

some of the best ebooks I have read are from Loose Id.

and I love Loowis.

[Candice Hern]

Hey Doreen! Thanks for joining us today and giving insight into the world of e-publishing. I'm so impressed with all you have accomplished with Loose Id (like Pam, I always loved that name!) and wish you continued success.

Now, get to work on that sexy Regency! :-)

[Ericka Scott]

Congratulations on achieving RWA recognition. Loose ID books are well-edited and entertaining! And I love the lizard~ smooches!

[Jami Alden]

Yeah Doreen - get cracking on your regency! Your last one was fabulous - can't wait to see what you have rattling around in that complicated brian of yours.

And Melissa, thanks for the kudos - my editor deserves all the credit for the title.

[Phyllis Lamken]

I think that the small publishing companies are serving a very important function. It publshes authors who are writing something different from the big publisher. As a reader, I am grateful.

[Shari C]

Love Loowis! Thank you, Doreen, for letting us learn more about the e-publishing world and Loose id; I found it very interesting and informative.

Wonderful prizes as always.

[Doreen DeSalvo]

Nice to see so many Loose Id readers stop by! I'll pick two winners for the print books in an hour or so.

Confidential to Treva: I think we bacame publishers so we could become such good friends. :)

Cheers,
Doreen

[Stacy S]

Great interview. Your new book sounds great.
Loowis is a very cute lizard..

[Amy S.]

Great interview! How do you choose the names for your characters?

[Stacia Helpman]

What a great interview! I love Loowis - he's so darned cute.

[Tracy Grant]

Hi Doreen! Wha a graet interview. Fascinating info. I know just enough from an author's perspective to imagine what a huge amount of work starting a press would be. And loving the Regency era and music, I'm already intrigued by the story about the violinist!

[Doreen DeSalvo]

Hi Stacy,

Naming characters is a real challenge. To be honest, I usually ask my friends for help. I'll describe the character: "She's Russian-American, about 27 years old, has been in an orphanage since she was 6, is idealistic and has fallen in with a crowd of resistance fighters." My friend Cait immediately said, "Daria," and the name fit perfectly.

For "Mariana" from the novella Jami loves (Bedding the Beast) I wanted a name that was a little whimsical, because the heroine has a way of always seeing the bright side of every situation. The name Mariana was on a list I have of "Names to use someday." Since I don't have children, I get to use my favorite names for my characters.

Thanks for asking!

Best,
Doreen

[KateMoore]

Doreen--Wow! What a great behind-the-scenes look at publishing. I'm so impressed at all the facets of our business that you have mastered with creativity and skill. Loose id sounds like the perfect expression of your many talents. Congratulations!

[Kimberly Lane]

Hi Doreen, what an interesting interview. Love Loowis. Your book sounds wonderful.

[Susan P. or orchidlady01]

My Cuban MIL calls my daughter Marianna.

Another great interview, Jami! It's great to hear people who are conscientious about websites that work correctly and are easy to use. That drives me crazy when links don't work or there are typos. Don't people proofread them before they upload?

Good to hear about your trials and tribulations, Doreen and that everything is working out well for your group and Loose ID.

[Minna]

Great interview!
That lizard is so cute!

[surfer]

This online book is a movie waiting to happen...anyone there willing to take a look at it and email the author re obtaining an agent... the author's site shows there is not agent right now.

what a find...

sorry here is the site

http://adukestevensonlinebook.angelcities.com/iindex.html

sorry

http://adukestevensonlinebook.angelcities.com/index.html