Mandy Baggot doesn’t just love writing romance. She
loves the digital age that facilitates spreading the word. This is what she has
to say:
As a reader I enjoy lapping up new books in any medium I can get my
sticky hands on them in! Kindle, Kobo, Sainsbury’s e-books – I have accounts
with them all. The Works, Waterstones, WH Smith – I’m a browser and a sucker
for a cover I can fondle.
But, as a writer, I’m currently riding much higher with my latest
romantic comedy, Truly Madly Greekly in the digital arena.
So what’s so great about digital publishing?
1) Fast
It doesn’t take as long to prepare and publish an e-book. This doesn’t
mean the novel doesn’t go through a rigorous editing process (I’m going through
one of those right now!) but digital done right can cut down the process by
months.
2) Flexible
You can make amendments quickly and easily – change the cover, add bonus
content at a later date etc. You can also jump on trends as they occur. This
might be getting something into the marketplace quickly to hit on a special
event – a tennis romance in time for Wimbledon, a gardening tale for the
Chelsea Flower Show, athlete heroine for the next Olympics etc.
3) Price
Digital publishing doesn’t have a lot of the costs involved with
traditional paperback publishing. You can offer books at a more competitive
rate to readers and still make money.
4) Ride the electronic wave
More people that ever own tablets for entertainment and recreation. You
don’t have to have a specific e-reader to read digital books – any tablet,
smartphone or P.C. has the capability to download a free app to read books on.
Some people are becoming readers for the first time because it’s cheap,
convenient and accessible.
5) New writer opportunities
Since Kindle Direct Publishing was born, more and more storytellers are
taking the plunge and getting their work into the marketplace. Self-publishing
and digital publishing have let authors take much more control over their work
and I’m embracing that!
Writing and reading have never been hotter and I say, long may it
continue.
About Mandy:
Mandy Baggot is an award-winning romantic fiction author, writing hot
heroes and emotional reads. She is represented by Kate Nash of The Kate Nash
Literary Agency.
In 2012 she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival
of Romance and has since scooped Top Ten Reads/Book of the Year places from a
number of UK book bloggers.
Traditionally published by US publisher Sapphire Star, Harper Collins'
digital first romance imprint, Harper Impulse, and most recently, digital
fiction specialists, Bookouture, a great story is never far from her
fingertips!
A contributor to writing blogs and short story anthologies, Mandy is
also a regular speaker at literary festivals, events and women’s networking
groups.
Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World's Strongest
Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1's Who Dares Sings and
auditioned for The X-Factor.
Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society
of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two
daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.
Links:
Thank you, Mandy, for joining
us today and giving us such a comprehensive explanation.
The RNA blog is brought to you by
Elaine Everest &
Natalie Kleinman
If you would
like to write for the RNA blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com
