If you think authors have become rock stars to readers, who do you think writers worship? I'll tell ya: Book buyers.
Enter Barnes & Noble Romance Buyer Tommy Dreiling, albeit not sporting eye liner or package-cupping leathers.
Nope, this intelligent and engaging guy knows that to move among thousands of worshipping women who'd kill for a slice of his time, it's better to go conservative and have a big knowledge of the genre - and confident understanding of what romance-reading chicks want.
"Romance popularity and sales have increased dramatically in the 13 years I've been buying romance for Barnes & Noble," says Dreiling, whose commitment to the genre is clear in the understated, yet still intense and animated ways in which he talks about his job. "And what's very exciting is that for September, we've bought 159 romance titles - and that doesn't include series."
It's his familiarity w/ readers and book trends, as well as his rep for being a stand-up guy in the biz, which made me jazzed about meeting with Dreiling on a recent trip to B&N's NYC digs. There, he told me a bit about his journey from BN bookstore manager to his current gig.
"Barnes & Noble's buyers are unique in that they have bookstore backgrounds first," Dreiling noted. He spent five years as a B&N manager before moving to corporate to work as assistant to Bob Wietrak, VP of Merchandising. Dreiling was thrilled to be given the opportunity to score romance as his first venture into buying, and he currently purchases all romances by bestsellers and "soon to be" stars.
"There sometimes is a misconception that we don't buy ‘midlist,'" says Dreiling of novels that may not become bestsellers but will make money and help develop a following and future book sales for an author. "We buy everything great that comes our way, something for lots of our stores, if not all of them. " For example, often Dreiling will buy more of a midlist book to place in the author's hometown area or another store that makes sense.
Since everyone wants to be a rock star, I wondered what Dreiling thinks is the coolest thing about his hi-visibility position. "Probably to watch as new authors in romance have a chance to become very big, very fast," he said, after giving the question a bit of thought.
"Word sometimes spreads in zero to 60, and in about one-to-two years, a large number of new romance authors break out. It's fun to see something good happen, to have an opportunity to really put authors out in the market in front of readers."
What trends do you see in romance books? What would you suggest Tommy consider taking a look at in the future?
You've got the rest of today to hook up w/ Suz Brockmann at Center Stage to talk "Hot Pursuit," Troubleshooters, Izzy, SEALs and anything else! BN mod Becke Martin's your hostess, so head over to have some fun!
Don't forget Eloisa James' manly mens @ her Review column: "Alpha Allure":
Please: Join me on twitter @michelle_rbtb! And check out my romance stuff Tuesdays at "Unabashedly Bookish!"
Maria_Geraci
on
I love the back to back releases that some pubs are doing with new authors. I haven't read the Tessa Dare book yet, but it's definitely on my TBR pile.
I remember a few years ago when talk was that the historical was "dead". Well, it seems that it 'salive and kickin' to me and I for one couldn't be happier. Give me a Eloisa James or Madeline Hunter book any day of the week!
That said, i have to say my favorite genre is the contemporary. Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jennifer Crusie, to name a few. There's nothing like a good laugh with your romance
As far as new trends go, wait till you read my critique partner, Louisa Edward's debut book "Can't Stand the Heat." (St. Martins, Sept 1). It's foodie romance! I just saw "Julie and Julia" last night (loved it) and I think books like Louisa's are going to be really hot.
Maria Geraci
Bunco Babes Tell All (Berkley, May 2009)
Oh, Maria! I'm a total lightskirt for Madeline Hunter and re-read her medievals at least every six months. Sure, I could be spending that time with my kids, what of it? I'm very glad you're rec'ing Loisa's book because it -- and yours! -- highlight the trend in novels that riff on things that bring women together, the "community" stuff folks are talking so much about. Now, in terms of romance, we need at least one super-strong happily ever after HEA, but we don't care what it's wrapped in, especially if we can relate to it.
Which reminds me of an interesting experience I had at the Historical Novel Society N. Amer. conference recently. Some yet to be pubbed authors were asking about writing sensuality and older characters: do readers want to read 'older characters?
I think they do. I hear readers talk about wanting older characters they can relate to, not just over 35, but over 40, 50, 60 and beyond. Someone even suggested GeRotica!
But the point was that as we age and accept that for women sex becomes better w/ it, we want to read about the same discoveries for heroines. And if they happen to have younger heroes to go along w/that, more's the better. However, older heroes also are great. Move them from the secondary love stories to primary. As we age, we generally also have more disposable income, and would like to be represented . Perhaps there's an age limit that would work best for the fantasy placeholder of the mature woman, as there is for the younger woman. Why not try to figure it out and offer us those books publishers?
