Meet Heather Bennett!

Co-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Decadent Publishing!

First question:

Eggnog or Mimosas? Are you old enough to drink?

Eggnog. Spiked. Old enough to know drinking too much will lay me out for a few days.

We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…)

I have the PERFECT gift for him, a book called Santa, Cutie by Cerise DeLand. It’s in Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand Holiday Anthology. This lovely author, Clarissa Yip, is also featured in that book. Do you know her?

Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner.

Are they naughty elves? Deanna Wadsworth permanently tweeked my vision of the merry little buggers in her Naughty North Pole book, Ms. Claus’ List. Never knew elves were that….flexible.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas. For a number of reasons, not the least of which is the kids are off school for 2 weeks and I can sleep in (which, at our house, means 8a.m.). I also enjoy the month leading up to it; holiday music, cozy fires with stockings, buying presents, decorating, making cookies and taking plates to our elder neighbors, etc. I have tweeners, so this is an awesome age for the holiday. This year we’re doing Grinchmas at Universal Studios, too. Shall be fun!

Did you ask Santa for anything good?

This answer could go SSOOO wrong, but I’ll behave. I need a new nifty wine opener, mine wore out, and I want one of those cake-pop makers. I have a kitchen-gadget fetish. Does anyone remember the Cosby episode where Claire forbade Cliff from buying more small appliances? Yah, that’s me. *gazes lovingly at new NuWave oven*

What’s your favorite place to spend the holidays?

Absolutely at home. We don’t go anywhere on Christmas, people come to our house and we have a junk-food feast on the 24^th (taquitos, cheese and crackers, mini-weenies, mini-quiches, wings, chips, dips, etc.) and we pile in the car to go see Christmas lights. Then we’re home until the 26^th, enjoying each other’s company, watching movies, eating leftovers. Serious snuggle time.

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

When I was a little kid, we had a GIANT snowstorm on Christmas Eve. We spun out on the ice, had to get pulled out of a snow bank, but mom was determined to get to my grandparent’s house and she kept driving. Mom had me looking in the dark sky for Santa’s sleigh on the way, we ate chocolate, I know that. My grandparents lived in the country, and my uncles drove up and down the dirt road leading to their driveway for 2 hours so the road stayed clear for us. I was maybe 3yrs old, but it is a vivid memory. I woke up and had a MOUND of presents, the snow was feet deep. Picture-perfect holiday for a wee one!

As an adult, there isn’t really one, it’s just the whole experience with my husband and kids and family.

Do you have personal resolutions for the New Years? Anything interesting?

I want to remember to take more time to enjoy next year. I get really busy and forget to enjoy the little things. I answer business emails at the beach and text at the movies. Need to stop that! Is that boring? J Oh, and hire an Organization Fairy.

Why do you publish romance?

It’s what I love to read, it has amazingly talented people writing in the genre, it’s a serious but fun industry to be in, and we have THE MOST interesting conversations over cocktails.

What do you love in running a pub?

Dealing with the people every day. There is a lot of joy in seeing authors get great reviews and awards for their hard work, seeing the new ones realize their dreams, having editors tell me they enjoy their job. I had a ton of fun developing a few new lines this year, a western and a sci-fi world-building line and a few others; the creative back and forth was inspiring. I also really enjoy meeting the readers and authors at conventions and in chats.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?
WRITE WRITE WRITE! One book out there is good. Congratulations! But you need to keep going if you want a career. And, by the way, a successful career in ANYTHING is a lot of work—writing is no different. Only half of it is writing, the other half is getting out there and getting your book into the hands of readers. Also, never stop learning. Take some classes or seminars, read other people’s work, do research and write what you enjoy.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Oh, lord. How much space do I have here?

Ok, without being biased toward Decadent authors)…Lara Adrian (whom I met this year, and she IS as cool as it gets), Sherrilyn Kenyon (fabulous world-builder), Sherry Thomas (amazing use of the language and humor), the late Kathleen Givens (epic researcher), Diana Gabaldon (2 words—Jamie Fraser), Sabrina Jeffries (sassy historicals), Susan Mallery (smart contemps), Lorelei James (smokin’ cowboys, talented at characterization), Lisa Renee Jones (I buy her off the shelf every time), Tori Carrington (fun stories, fun people), Samantha Kane (ménage master!), the older Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey stuff (my first fictional loves—all of the Montgomery brothers and *fans self* James Mallory), a giant list of ebook authors, growing daily. Also Kate Douglas and Hannah Howell because they are fabulous writers and great to follow on Facebook. Of course my partner, Samantha Gail. I am in lust with her hero from Guarding the Coast.

There are more. But you will probably cut me if I keep going.

What goals do you have for the new upcoming year?

Keep building Decadent Publishing in the manner we’ve been doing—quality stories, quality authors, quality staff.

Any big projects for 2012?
I don’t think we have any SMALL project in 2012! We are branching out with a new imprint– Bono Books–for our sweeter romance, mainstream, and YA books. That should launch soon after the new year. We have several new lines open or opening; including world-building sci-fi and western romance lines, Honor Guard (stories about modern alpha men working in or around foreign embassies), The Edge (short, very hot stories), and our main line and 1Night Stand series are going strong.

We’ll be at a bunch of Cons all over the country; RT, Tucson Book Faire, Arizona Dreamin’ and the New York Book Faire. Also I will probably be at EPIC, maybe Comic-Con. Decadent authors will be at a lot more. We’ll have a Decadent Publishing team at our Relay For Life event.

We’re currently in the editing process with Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes, more notably from Days of Our Lives. They wrote a wonderful historical fiction book that will release before April. There is another big project on the board I can’t talk much about yet, but definitely has a little celebrity tie-in.

What news would you like to share with your readers?

We have a writing contest for our Western Escape line with great prizes, including a contract for first place, a critique by Desiree Holt, one by rising star Ann Mayburn, and more. http://bit.ly/smvKhf

We also have a VERY cool blog for the holidays where someone wins prizes every day! Holiday stories, recipes, books, musings, music. http://30daysofdecadence.blogspot.com

Additionally, anyone who emails me at decadentnews@gmail.com and signs up for our newsletter will be entered to win a Decadent ebook of their choice. If you’re already a subscriber, let me know and your address will be verified and entered!

Where can readers find you?

1. Twitter: @DecadentPub
2. Facebook: www.facebook.com/decadentpublishing
3. Website: http://www.decadentpublishing.com
4. Others: http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com
   http://30daysofdecadence.blogspot.com
   http://westernescapedecadentpublishing.blogspot.com
5. Newsletter: decadentnews@gmail.com

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot!

Prize: 4 ebooks from Decadent Publishing; a 1Night Stand, a holiday novella, and 2 main line books of winner’s choice.

Meet Heather Bennett!

Co-owner and Executive Editor of Decadent Publishing, Heather Bennett leads a glamorous life balancing an extraordinary amount of computer time with two kids, one husband, and a seemingly endless supply of full laundry hampers. Before opening Decadent Publishing with partner Lisa Omstead, Heather had a background in marketing, personnel and retail management. She wrote newsletters, news articles, and edited on the side which is how she met partner Lisa–who has a super-secret identity as sci-fi and contemporary romance author Samantha Gail.

Welcome to Holiday Bash 2010! Contestant #15:

Decadent Publishing

Eggnog or Mimosas?
Eggnog is a fixture this time of year! Yummy. I’ll have two. Although, none is as good as my Gram’s was. She used the good stuff in hers!

We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him?

Is it that cute guy in the corner with the red jacket on <pointing>? The one from Deanna Wadsworth’s Secret Santa book cover? Nice party! Umm, I have a free copy of Amanda McIntyre’s sweet Irish holiday release, A Christmas Promise.

Blurb:

Widowed Irishman, Brady McCormick made a promise to his young wife the day she died–to bring their son to America and begin a new life in the land of opportunity. Living in charity with a distant uncle in New York, barely scraping by, Brady is unsure he will be able to uphold the promise, much less quell the loneliness, until an angel appears at the docks, Saran Reichardt.

Headstrong and tenacious, gentlewoman Saran knows she’s unlike most women of society. Dedicated to teaching and helping the impoverished, she has no need of a man to take care of her, but an accidental encounter with a stormy-eyed Irish immigrant and his young son changes her perception of what need really is. Will this holiday give them both the hope and faith they desire or will their own stubbornness keep them apart?

Great cover and story! An Irishman, too! Even though you’re a publisher, you still need to pass our test, please…

You’re at the Holiday Party, surrounded by movie stars. Given a dare, you have to tell your actor/model/hero that you own a pub and you want to cast him as your hero for one of your favorite books. Who is this person? What book did you pick? How do you approach this conversation and what do you think his reaction would be? Oh by the way, he’s standing under mistletoe.

I would say it was Henry Cavill from The Tudors, and he would be cast as Cole from Snowy Encounters.  He’d be delighted, because Clarissa Yip is a fabulous writer and Cole is delicious. It wouldn’t take much for me to take that dare, I’m fairly brave about those things! Besides, Henry seems to be the smart, gentlemanly sort.

You’re hosting a Holiday publishing contest. In order to win the hearts of your favorite authors, you’re given 30 minutes to formulate a pitch so they would write the book of your dreams. You’re given a sleigh, a reindeer and a Santa hat. What do you come up with? How do you go about this?

Write me a story about a guy who rides his intergalactic sleigh through the stars and brings ‘cheer’ to all the alien girls, but has a heart meant only for one…a voluptuous woman, from a particularly cold planet, who favors red faux fur. She shows him how to stay warm ‘arctic-style’.  Maybe she shape-shifting reindeer companion will giddy-up with the hero’s second in command!

LOL. That’s telling us that Decadent may want more science fiction romances…Why do you publish romance?

It’s a universal theme; everyone, everywhere, is looking for love in one form or another. Romance is a broad umbrella with so many exciting sub-genres it can never get boring. Almost all the great stories, whether they dress it up in romance-clothing or not, have a romantic element. I’ve read romance and loved the community of writers and readers since Whitney, My Love. It’s been a joy to be part of it in this way.

What do you love in running an epub?

I enjoy the diversity of people I have worked with, from authors to promoters to graphic artists and editors. I have been so inspired by their creativity and commitment to quality. I like collaboration.

And, while I love my paper books, I am a fan of ebooks because of the environmental ‘green’ aspect and the immediacy of availability to readers. If I want the new Sahara Kelly book, I can upload it in bed at 2am.

What goals do you have for the new upcoming year?

Keep putting out quality product, and build on the strong foundation we have in place. I am also looking forward to meeting out Relay For Life team donation goal through our ‘Read For a Cure’ project at Decadent. It’s close to our heart!

Any big projects for 2011?

We are publishing an anthology to help author Tina Gerow. Tina is a (Romantic Times Convention) Faery Court sister to my partner, Lisa Omstead, and we were so very happy to have been asked to work on this project. Anyone attending the 2011 RT Convention in LA will see it there for sale. Many wonderful writers will be contributing!

We will also be announcing a big project that will have stories written by 3 CAPA award nominees. Stay tuned, it will rock you!

What news would you like to share with your readers?

We have our 30 Days of Decadence blog up until Jan 1, when we will announce our Grand Prize winner. Until then, prizes are given away DAILY! Also, we will be at the Romantic Times Writers and Readers Convention this year, giving away a Kindle, a Decadent Wine and Chocolate gift basket, and pretty much having a great time with over 20 of our staff and authors attending, including Clarissa Yip, PJ Schnyder, Seleste Delaney, Amanda McIntyre, and many more.

Where can readers find you?

Twitter: Decadent Pub

Facebook: Decadent Publishing

Website: www.decadentpublishing.com

Others: http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com

http://30daysofdecadence.blogspot.com

Will you be willing to answer questions in regards to writing and publication today?

Of course.

We’d like to wish all of your readers a safe and happy holiday, and you as well, Clarissa. You’ve been wonderful to work with at Decadent Publishing!

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot!

Publisher’s Holiday Gift:

A Copy of A Christmas Promise by Amanda McIntyre and one book of the winner’s choice from the A Passionate Christmas anthology.

Check out the other parties! See Holiday Bash Prize List! Click here.

Yay! Guess who we have here today! Let’s welcome Heather Bennett, Managing Editor and co-owner of Decadent Publishing! Pull up those chairs, put those dance shoes on and stop harassing the bartender!

The most important questions:

Wine or beer? (As you know, we have a reputation to keep. If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

Both, but never together. Makes for a wicked day after. My favorites are Gewürztraminer, Moscato, White Merlot…maybe a good Cab once in a while. And I am a beer snob. I’m a Guinness, Bass or Blue Moon-with-an-orange-slice girl. Love a good, thick ale. I can’t even sip a Coor’s Light. <shudder>

Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

I adore a small piece of a really intense chocolate cake with coffee, or a yummy Carrot Cake because I can pretend it’s healthy. What? It had veggies, nuts, dairy in the frosting….it’s almost a complete meal!

Of course, I rarely turn down some Ruffles and dip or, my fave, Olive Oil and Sea Salt Pita Chips with hummus.

*snort* Yes, I’ve heard carrot cakes are part of the veggie food group. Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Barely. <cough> Although, I HAVE been told I look younger than my sister, who is 14years my junior. (She will send me hate mail when she reads this.)

To enter our playroom, you need to show us some goods. What did you bring me? Cupcakes aren’t going to work today…(Maybe a few books covers will do.)

<grumble> That’s because you ate 14 cupcakes the other night, probably OD’d on them. Dang. Plan B then(rummaging around in my mom-purse). I have a Snowy Encounters cover, a ½ bag of Peanut M&Ms, 3 mostly-clean napkins and a $10 bill. Pick one.

*gasp* So not true! You said they were healthy for me! They had carrots. (Grabs SE cover.) I’ll take this then. Hmpf.

Now on to business!

How long has Decadent Publishing been open now? And how would you describe your first year as a publisher?

We’ve been open since August 1^st. This year is flying by! It’s been very busy, and interesting, and fun. Sometimes gives me heartburn, but I have a LARGE bottle of Tums. <wink>  We’ve enjoyed the process and have been thankful to have procured some really TALENTED writers, editors, graphic artists, and staff.

That really sounds great! What do you mostly publish? (I know you’re my publisher. Just play along.) What kind of submissions do you see most of? What are you specifically looking for right now?

Funny thing is, there truly is NO rhyme or reason to the submission pattern. We have everything from sweet contemporary romances, erotica, paranormal and shifter novellas, historical novels, interracial romances, Steampunk, campy sci-fi, YA, mainstream fiction shorts…even a non-fiction coming out next year. We LOVE the variety and the quality.

Right now we are I am looking for a few military shorts and novellas, or even novels, for Memorial Day and July 4^th release.  I would LOVE to expand our steampunk line, our interracial and erotic romance line, maybe a few more sexy cowboys or a delicious Regency.

But really and truly we just want a good story—whatever length, whatever genre. If it’s quality fiction and it works for Decadent, we’ll definitely take a good look.

How would you define a good Decadent Author?

Clarissa Yip!
A good Decadent author is one who really likes the process of creating a good piece of fiction (or non-fiction). They work with their editors, they dig in and promote their books, they learn their craft, learn their business, and think outside the box. They are not afraid to come to us and the staff with creative ideas, new opportunities, and enjoy an environment of support.

*blushing* Whispers, “I didn’t bring any cupcakes for you…” *clears throat* What is your favorite genre and why?

If I had ONE, it would be an easy answer. But, alas, it is not so. I will say broadly the Romance genre, and specifically the sub-genres of historical, sci-fi, paranormal, contemporary, time travel…ok, pretty much all sub-genres.

I think variety is what makes our business so vibrant and exciting! It’s now a firm fact that our heroes can fight alien invaders, cross-breed demons or corporate raiders and we don’t blink an eye. Our heroines are no longer always 17yr old virginal ingénues. She can be a kick-ass Urban Fan chicks in leather and Manolos, maybe a strong-minded businesswoman who knows what she likes and how to get it, a 30-something mom enjoying her husband, or a middle-aged woman with smarts and experience looking for a man who can keep up with her.

Variety. That is what you will see on my shelf.

Where do you envision Decadent Publishing in five years?

I see us doing just what we are doing now, but on a bigger scale. I want to maintain the atmosphere we have in our company and with the people we interact with. It’s what makes us who we are, what makes us different.

I also see my home office with a Pacific view. THAT is a goal!

I notice a lot of Decadent Releases are single titles or they belong to series, and you have one anthology for the holiday. Will there be future calls for anthologies or larger collaborations of stories in specific genres?

Most definitely. I am a sucker for a good anthology; short stories I can read in a night or on a plane, different authors whose talent I may be only just discovering for the first time because they are under the same cover as one of my favorites. LOVE IT.

We will have a unique anthology coming out next year (it’s classified—I could tell you, but….), I want to put together a Steampunk antho, and ALWAYS a holiday one. The holiday antho this year, A Passionate Christmas, is based around a small town and I love that concept. It plays nicely with my favorite word in publishing: SERIES!

Where does Decadent stand on the print front? Will there be books in print in the future?

We are working on several at the moment. We are an ebook-to-print publisher. Paper IS in our future.

What makes Decadent Publishing stand out from other publishers? (Yes, I love making your life hard. LOL.)

Let me first say that I got into this business with my wonderful business partner, Lisa Omstead, because we have a real admiration for the industry and those who’ve made ebooks a FORCE over the past several years, and for those who’ve brought our favorite writers to the bookstores so we can savor their prose with a good cup of coffee.

At Decadent, we are trying to maintain the dignity of the title ‘published author’. We want it to continue to mean something going forward. We want our readers to know that, if they pick up a Decadent book, it will be top notch. We have a strong commitment to quality over quantity, to making each book the best it can be.

We also have a Review Coordinator, Author Liaison, Blog Maven, a staff of wonderful editors, including an outstanding Sr. Editor, and others who have specialties and support our authors in a number of ways. We work hard to advertise and promote.

What advice do you have for authors planning on subbing to you?

Know what business you are getting into. It’s not JUST about the writing. It’s about the promo, the graphics, the websites, fighting pirates, honing your craft and more.

Also, don’t be discouraged. We’ve rejected manuscripts, only to have the author re-submit something wonderful! Look at our submissions guidelines, ask questions, and don’t forget to attach your manuscript to your email. J

What big events does Decadent have going on right now?

We have a HUGE promotion for December, our 30 Days of Decadence blog (http://30daysofdecadence.blogspot.com) where we’re handing out prizes DAILY, our authors are blogging their holiday goodies and experiences, and we have a gorgeous Grand prize.

Are there any special announcements you’d like to share? I heard you’re going to Romantic Times Convention 2011…

Oh, my, yes we are. And we’re not going small. LOL We’ll have over 20 Decadent authors and staff there, special guests to be announced, and it is going to be FUN.

We are also sponsoring an American Cancer Society Relay For Life team in 2011. All publisher proceeds from one book per month go to Relay in our Read For a Cure program (this month’s book is Secret Santa), plus our authors are signing up as team members and some are donating a portion of their proceeds to the team. And anyone can donate to the team; it’s easy and tax deductible! http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11CA?team_id=811768&pg=team&fr_id=31130

Where can readers find more information about Decadent Publishing?

Website: http://www.decadentpublishing.com

Blog: http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com/

Holiday Blog: http://30daysofdecadence.blogspot.com/

Twitter:DecadentPub

Facebook: Decadent Publishing

Goodreads:Decadent Publishing
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DecadentPublishing

Thank you so much for coming! Will you be giving away anything for your visit today? Maybe a some nifty books from DP’s fabulous collections? * wink *  *wink *

Why, so SMART of you to ask, Clarissa! I will give away YOUR book, plus one other to a lucky commenter. I want to know what one (or 2 or 3) Decadent Publishing book your readers want on their e-reader this holiday.

Yay! Get moving, peeps! Grab a drink and pick a book! Here’s another DP contest! Make sure you check it out! Starts December 13th-17th! Keep an eye out!