What's New With Red Sage

First let me start by introducing myself. I’m Theresa Stevens, managing editor for Red Sage Publishing, a 15-year-old print house with a 2-year-old e-books division. We’re best known for the Secrets anthologies and for discovering such luminaries as Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Larissa Ione, Emma Holly, Liz Maverick, and several other names that might be familiar to Fierce Readers -- including several of the Fierce Authors!

Red Sage was the first American publisher to release erotic romance stories for a female readership. The concept, as you might know, took off. Erotic romance became the hot trend of the new millennium, and many new publishing houses came on the scene. A lot has changed in the market, and in some ways, Red Sage has changed with it. We now sell e-books, for example, and although novellas will always be part of our core line-up, we’re moving into novels in a more purposeful way. (Now would be a good time to submit your erotic romance novel of 50-80k words for our e-books line!)

But in other, more important ways, Red Sage hasn’t changed. We still want stories which are first and foremost well-told romances. Character and emotion are important. Yes, sex sells, but once the shock value of a specific sex trend has worn off, what keeps people reading these stories are great characters, powerful emotions, and happy endings. They might buy because they like the sexual aspects, but they continue buying because they get something deeper and more moving than empty porn. They get a story told from the heart.

So, with that said, here’s where we are today. The Secrets anthologies are still going strong, though preference for those slots goes to existing Red Sage authors. If you want to be in Secrets, sell to Red Sage Presents (our e-books line) first. We also have a very small line of print novels, and at some point, we plan to grow that line. For now, though, we’re releasing novels in e-books first with the possibility of print later.

Our e-books division is growing. We’re preparing to launch a new Red Sage website -- it will be lovely! -- and we’re focusing on increasing market penetration for our e-books titles. Look for your titles at your favorite e-bookstores! Some of our e-books will soon be available in print, too. We think of digital and print as different formats, different containers for content. We don’t think there should be any quality distinction between the formats. (And our reviews reflect this. Our authors get consistently high marks, regardless of the format for their stories.)

But e-books do allow us to take chances that aren’t always available with print, which is a defined container. E-books are more flexible. We can create hyperlinks within the text in a branching story (Megan’s Choice by Ellie Marvel), release stories in serial format (Secret Confessions of Lady H by Bethany Michaels), and try other experiments with form and function. The files aren’t limited by length, so if we want to include a mini-magazine in each file -- complete with recipes, interviews, and excerpts -- we can do so. It’s fun to work outside the boundaries of the printed page.

I would be happy to answer any questions about submissions in the comments. But if you’re first and foremost a reader, let me recommend a few of our stories.
- Sex & the Single Pearl by Mia Varano. If you’ve been shy of menage stories because you’re “not that kind of girl,” this is the menage story that will change your mind. Even good girls can have naughty fun!
- Scarlett & the Sheriff by Carly Carson. When we talk about great characters, this is what we mean. Scarlett is a real humdinger, and she shakes up Rand’s world with every move she makes. A bright and engaging contemporary, plus handcuffs!
- Forbidden Fruit by Anne Rainey. This story is the best of both worlds -- a smoking hot erotic romance and a traditional romance, all blended together in one beautiful plot. I love the makeover and the way she teases him!
- Nameless Surrender by Kris Daniels. Red Sage has a reputation for quality and for finding the next new wave of top authors. It’s books like this one that keep the reputation alive. Dark, pulsating, and emotional.
- Quinn’s Curse by Natasha Moore. I almost wrote “anything by Natasha Moore” because it’s so hard to pick just one of her stories. Quinn’s Curse is an unusual story -- a ghost pirate and the woman he haunts -- and Red Sage is known for these amazing, oustide-the-box stories.
- Devil in a Kilt by Nicole North. This is the first in a planned trilogy of Secrets stories involving Highland warriors and shapeshifters. You have to read this one first, and then the second one, which I love, comes out in summer 2010.
- Second Nature by Cameo Brown. This story is so creative and inventive. I promise you, after reading this one, you’ll never again take a walk in the woods without thinking of it. (Trust me on this. I live next to a forest!)

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Thanks so much for being our guest here at FR today, Theresa!

Everyone, yes, if you have questions for Theresa, please ask. (She loves questions. :))

Thanks!

Nicole