Fantasy Friday with Cheryl Dragon!

My Big Bang/Shifter Fusion

There are a ton of shifter stories out there…alphas and packs are hot!

I love shifters but doing what everyone else is doing the same way is sort of boring. Or, as an author, I feel like I might write something close to something already out there and not even know it. True, every author will write the same premise differently…but I wanted to put a unique spin on it where the conflict isn’t another shifter pack. It’s not even human hunters but scientists.

Who doesn’t love the Big Bang Theory full of nerds and geniuses out to make meaningful discoveries? I wanted to blend some loveable (and hunky) scientists with the mega hot shifter trend. Opposites attract, right?

The bears are like Penny, full of common sense and with a good feel for the world around them. The geeks might know how to experiment in nature but they’re not experts on everything!

Both sides have strengths and appeal. Geniuses out to help the Earth aren’t exactly dangerous but a discovery like shifters could make one of those guys a science super star. Will they all be able to resist such a Nobel Prize worthy discovery?

I’m not sure how readers will respond to this take on shifters and geeks. Making the story MM adds another dash of fun for me. Hopefully the combo will be appealing and readers will want more of the quirky relationships between a new scientist and a local shifter…I’d like to do more in the series but want to make sure my spin on shifters is in demand!

GEEK IN THE WOODS

Major construction disrupts more than Ray Hooker’s life; it rattles his small town with a secret.

As sexy genius Eric Ridgeway continues building his state-of-the-art think tank, the town’s shifter population is terrified their identities will be uncovered by the group of incoming scientists. When fear drives vandals to slow construction, Ray helps Eric defend his property. Their relationship heats up and, in order to protect Eric, Ray reveals that he’s a bear shifter.

Now, not only is his secret out of the bag, but Ray needs to decide if loving Eric is worth the risk of discovery by other scientists. None of that will matter if their newfound attraction can’t outlast fear, lies and distrust!

Available Now From These Online Bookstores

AMAZON | ARE | B&N

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

http://cheryldragon.com

A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance. Her two favorite settings are Las Vegas and New Orleans…where anything can happen! Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area with her deaf albino cat. By day she analyzes numbers for a division of a large international conglomerate, which leaves the creative juices free for her erotic romance novels.

Fantasy Friday with Leila Lacey!

Contemporary Romance Author, Leila Lacey Launches A New Sensuous Novel “Dr. Black’s Patient”

Romance author, Leila Lacey is pleased to announce the launch of her new book “Dr. Black’s Patient”, which was published in print and as ebook on April 24th, 2014!

April 25, 2014, Michigan, United States- Leila Lacey, a romance author from Michigan has recently released her new sizzling novel that blurs the line between romance, interracial love & erotica. “The only thing better than a sexy man, is a sexy book.”

“Dr. Black’s Patient” is an interracial romance novel that narrates the story of a successful black woman Dr. Nya Black, who is a smart & sexy pediatric neuro-surgeon. Being raised in Deep South, she has seen the worst of racism and doesn’t usually trust white people. However, one day, her best friend Vixen marries a white guy, which comes as a shock to Nya, but somehow she tolerates their presence and vows she will never fall for a white guy and let anything like this happen to her. However, destiny has something else in store for her, when Salvatore Barbatelli comes in her life, a sexy, rich Italian man who never had to try too hard to get a girl, but when he meets Dr. Nya, a woman who doesn’t fall for his charms, things become quite interesting.

“Dr. Black’s Patient” is currently available from Amazon, Smashwords, CreateSpace and ganxy.com in paperback & ebook format!

Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble

For more information, simply visit: http://www.leilaslace.com/

Excerpt from Dr. Blacks Patient

“Sharon, you paged me?” she said to the nurse that was standing there. Sharon had been with the hospital for 30 years. She knew everyone in the hospital and all their business except Nya’s.  Nya was a very private person and nothing but professional when she was at the hospital. But Sharon thought she might just get a little information about Nya after all based on the patient that was in curtain 3 demanding that only Dr. Nya take care of him.

“Yes, Dr. Black,” she said as she passed her a chart. “You have a patient in curtain 3 who refuses to see anyone but you. He will not even let the ER doctors look at him, only you.”

“Sharon, first I told you that you are the only person in this hospital that can call me Nya. Next, I am a pediatric neurosurgeon.  How can one of my patients be refusing any other doctor?” She took the chart and started to turn toward the bed that Sharon had pointed toward.

“He said that he was your patient and he only wanted to see you,” Sharon said smiling as she picked up the phone to answer it.

Nya put her backpack on the nurse’s station knowing they would take it behind the desk and put it someplace safe.  She took her badge out of her pocket and hooked it on the outside of her lab coat again. Like a professional adjustment from Nya to Dr. Black, she grabbed the chart and walked to the curtain and pulled it back saying,

“How can I make your boo-boo feel better, sweetie?”  Just as she finished the sentence she looked up into the eyes of Salvatore Barbitelli.

“Come over here and put those delicious lips right here on mine and that will be a good start,” Sal said.  He was sitting on the bed with gauze up to a cut on his forehead.

“What the f….” Nya stopped herself before she said something unprofessional. “Sal, what are you doing here and why did you have them page me?” Nya said looking at the chart in her hand for the first time now.

“Are you sure you are the top pediatric neurosurgeon in the country? Because I would have thought that was self-explanatory,” Sal said sarcastically wincing in pain at the 4 inch long gash above his right eyebrow.

“Yes, I am, Sal and if you keep talking, I am going to cut you stem to stern and see if I can sew you up before you bleed to death,” Nya said with total disgust in her voice.

Nya had not seen Sal since Vixen and Daniel’s wedding to which he had brought two brain damaged bimbette’s and had spent the entire reception flirting with Nya while the ladies found other “suitors”.  She had gotten to know Daniel a little over the past six months and she still did not get how he was best friends with this idiot!

“I will ask you again and for the last time Sal, how did you end up here and why did you have them page me?”  Nya walked across the room and placed the chart on the counter and started to wash her hands.

“Well, you are the best.  I was working on my bike and hit the throttle to test the pick-up and… well, things did not go as planned,” Sal said wincing again as she took the gauze from him and looked at the cut on his head. “Ouch,” he said as Nya touched the cut on his head examining how deep it was and how many stiches this moron would need.  Nya was nothing, if not professional, even though she hated being this close to him he was injured.

“Oh, suck it up, you big pussy!” she said. Nya took her stethoscope and started listening to his chest and back to make sure his lungs and heart were functioning properly. She was getting very pissed off with herself because she was getting turned on.

God, this man’s body was built for sin.  Nya had five different pictures flash through her mind of all the kinky positions she would like to be in with him.  Only, according to what Sal had said to Daniel about Vixen, Nya was too fat to have mind-blowing sex. She knew that was all this man wanted, so why was he pursuing her?

“Are you staring at my chest, Dr. Black?” Sal said with a sexy grin on his face.

“Yes, jerk, I am.  I am taking your vitals,” Nya replied shaking her head.  This man really thought that he was on the mind of every woman in the world. “You still have not told me why you came to this hospital and asked for me when there are plenty of capable doctors on staff here,” Nya said as she wrote his vitals on his chart.

“Well, I missed you, gorgeous. I have not seen you since the wedding. Have you gotten the flowers and notes and stuffed animals that I have been sending you?” he said to her smiling and reaching out to touch her arm.

Nya slapped his hand away and said “You are going to need at least 30 to 40 stiches on that cut and if you ever touch me again.  You are going to need a straw to eat and a full body cast,” she said, turning away to wash her hands. “I will have the ER doctor come in to stich you up.”

Romance author, Leila Lacey has done it again. With the release of her Legacy Series, starting with The Beasley’s.   The launch of the first book in the series  “Southern Charm”, which will be published in print and as ebook on May16th, 2014!

Shelby Beasley epitomizes the term “Southern Belle”. Raised in a wealthy southern family in Shelbyville Georgia. The Beasley’s are a southern family dripping in money, vestige, and tradition. Shelby’s father Jackson comes from and long line of responsibilities and expectations. While Shelby’s sister Savannah and her brother Grayson look exactly how a wealthy heir should look. Shelby is the ugly duck of the family. Smart as a whip and sweet as pie never seemed to be enough to make her parents proud. Shelby has always had one thing that never changed, her best friend Lance Chandler. Lance’s twin brother Logan has always been the man she desired and not just as a friend.

Logan Chandler was a poor nobody from the other side of the tracks. Logan and Lance’s father left their mother when she was pregnant with them. Logan’s mother LeAnn was a school teacher at one of the most prestige’s schools in the south, so the Chandler boys had been allowed to attend for free.  Logan had made some bad decisions as a kid and gone to prison at a young age. Though he has served his time and matured in juvenile detention, in Shelbyville he would always just be another ex-con. Because of that Logan trusts no one, but his twin brother Lance, and detest rich people and classism.

On the verge of opening his own motorcycle repair shop with his brother and getting full custody of his three year old daughter Gia. Logan’s life is content, as long as those rich snobs the Beasley’s stay out of his way.

When Shelby and Lance’s plans to make everyone think they are dating for her sister’s wedding to make her mother happy go array and they need Logan’s help to pull it off. Logan will discover there is one Beasley he would not mind getting to know a lot better. But will Shelby feel the same way.  

Now Available from Smashwords and B&N

Smashwords | Nook

Exert from Southern Charm

Ring. Ring. Shelby’s cell phone was ringing. “Cassidy, can you please get my phone for me?” Shelby yelled from the dressing room. Cassidy had demanded that Shelby go shopping with her and get a whole new wardrobe and let her pick everything. She had already selected thirteen new outfits and she was STILL trying on clothes.

“Darling, you just worry about putting those triple D Tata’s in that sexalicious bra!” Cassidy yelled from the other side of the dressing room door.

“Excuse me, ladies, can you keep your voices down, please.” The sales clerk had her nose turned up at Shelby from the moment they walked in the door.

“Excuse me? As much money as we are about to spend in this store, we are allowed to have a Diddy party up in here if we want to!” Cassidy said to the clerk. Shelby squealed and started laughing hysterically. “Why don’t you get my friend and I a glass of Champagne and take that stick out your ass while you are back there,” Cassidy finished with that distinct southern drawl shooing the sales clerk away.

“Well, I never!” the clerk said stomping away.

“Ha, that ain’t surprising!” Cassidy yelled, “And you never will, walking like that.  I think your thong is too tight!” she finished as the clerk stomped around the corner.

“CASSIDY! Stop that and hand me my phone!” Shelby said sticking her hand over the top of the stall.

“Oh, cool your britches, girl. I have the phone,” Cassidy said to Shelby looking at the phone. Hitting the ‘send’ button, she said, “Hey, sexy, how I can suck your dick for you today?” Cassidy said into the phone.

About Leila Lacey

Hailing from Michigan, Leila Lacey is a contemporary romance author in her 30’s who has been writing since the age of 10. She has published several books on relationships, love, romance genres.

CONTACT

Website: http://www.leilaslace.com/

Email: uzomamanagement@outlook.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meka.bracey

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leilalacey1

Fantasy Friday with Zayne Michaels!

GAMES WE PLAY

Hard Habits

Available From:

AMAZON | BOOKSTRAND | ARe | EVERNIGHT

Entering the small bar on the side of the highway, Remy didn’t harbor high expectations for the night, not until he notices the most gorgeous man in the place checking him out from across the room. Casual hookups in dark alleys aren’t his style, but he knows he’d be a fool to pass up such an opportunity.

From the moment the blond beauty stepped into the room, Colt had to have him, even if just for the night. Their parking lot tryst gets off to a sizzling start, especially when Colt realizes the barfly enjoys a firmer hand. It’s just a one night stand, though. What does it matter if he can’t remember the man’s name?

Unfortunately for him, it matters a lot to Remy, and Colt’s one-time fling is about to become much more than he expected.

EXCERPT

Unfortunately, before he could reach the door, his toe caught on the leg of a barstool, and he stumbled a couple of steps before finding his balance. If that hadn’t been embarrassing enough, his misstep didn’t go unnoticed, either. Before he could make his getaway, the man he’d been drooling over for half an hour appeared in front of him, smirking as though he knew a secret but wouldn’t share.

“Whoa, easy.” He placed his massive hand in the center of Remy’s chest to stop him. “Do you have a ride? ’Cause I think you’ve had a little too much to drink.”

“No, I’m fine. I only had a beer, half a second one, and some foo-foo drink.” His heart beat too fast, and he felt a little lightheaded, but it didn’t have anything to do with the alcohol he’d consumed. “I’m okay, really. Thank you.”

“Maybe I should drive you home, just in case.”

“No, no, thank you.” He tried to sidestep, but the guy moved with him, cutting off his exit. “I promise I’m not drunk.”

“I believe you.” The cocky grin that stretched his lips only made Remy’s heart beat faster and his dick throb to the point of pain. “Maybe I just wanted to get you on your knees in the back of my truck.”

His eyes rounded, and the air whooshed out of his lungs in a sharp gasp. “I…I…” Remy didn’t know what to say, so he snapped his lips closed to stop his stammering.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Stepping closer, crowding against him, the guy insinuated a hand between them and cupped Remy’s erection through his jeans. “I’ll take this as a firm yes.”

Remy’s heart crawled up into his throat, cutting off any reply he might have offered. Those deep, dark eyes mesmerized him, holding him captive to his own lust. Still unable to form intelligible words, he licked his lips and nodded toward the exit. He didn’t typically engage in one night stands or clandestine encounters in the back alley, and while they’d flirted some, he honestly hadn’t thought the guy was that interested.

Opportunities like this didn’t present themselves often, though, not in Remy’s experience, and he’d be an idiot to pretend he didn’t want it. So he said nothing as he was led by the elbow to the exit.

“I…” he croaked. Then he cleared his throat and added some bass to his voice in an attempt to sound more confident than he felt. “I still don’t know your name.”

“Does it matter?”

Remy shrugged. “I guess not.” He’d likely never see the guy again, so no, it didn’t really matter.

Neither of them spoke again as they hurried across the litter-strewn asphalt to the shadowy recess in the back corner of the parking lot. Approaching the jacked up Ford 4×4, his mysterious bar hookup swung him around, pushing him roughly against the side of the truck and pinning him in place with his muscled body.

Large, callused hands slid beneath the hem of his shirt and scraped along the expanse of his stomach to the waistband of his jeans. “Colton,” the guy growled in his ear. “You can call me Colt.” Then his mouth crashed down on Remy’s with heat and hunger.

Remy’s body lit up like the Las Vegas strip, and he opened readily, allowing Colt to thrust his tongue between his parted lips. The man didn’t just kiss, he consumed, and each confident stroke of his tongue over Remy’s felt like a promise of things to come. When the top button of his jeans popped open and Colt reached inside the denim to grasp Remy’s rigid cock, his world tilted on its axis and started to spin.

“I’ve never done anything like this.”

“It’s easy,” Colt teased. “I’ll show you.”

“I meant hooking up in a parking lot.”

“I know.” He scraped his teeth down the side of Remy’s neck and licked a wet path back up to his earlobe. “You talk too much.”

In the next heartbeat, Remy found himself pushed to his knees on the hard asphalt, staring up at Colt while his heart pounded painfully against his sternum. Though he anticipated what would happen next, the hard set of Colt’s jaw and the dominance in his stance still sent a ripple of electricity down his spine.

zaynemichaels@gmail.com

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Zayne Michaels is a small-town girl who grew up and ran off to the big city. She currently resides in the Midwest where she spends her days dreaming up dark, sexy adventures in between soccer games and the never-ending pile of laundry.

Zayne’s fascination with old and discarded treasures has always been a source of inspiration for her tales. From antique clocks to old, dilapidated houses, her imagination turns to the what ifs and what used to bes.

Maybe this love for the abandoned is why she is a firm advocate of second chances, or perhaps she’s just a little crazy. Whatever the reason, Zayne believes everyone chooses their own path, creates their own destiny, and is the author of their own story.

Fantasy Friday with Cupid Inc.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cupid Inc: The Angel Wears Prada

M/M Light Paranormal Erotic Romance

By Cheryl Dragon

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Now Available From:

AMAZON | ARe | B&N

It’s hard to find a soul mate when you have no soul. Kaden may have to settle for a Valentine’s Day date instead. Born human and forced to go evil, he has turned his back on the demonic ways. Despite demons trying to lure him back, he wants to make up for what he’s done and find love. But who will believe in him? Cupid Inc. will do its best to find him a match! A fallen angel who adores the finer things in the human world is also looking for a Valentine’s date. Lonal longed for romance and human sexuality so much that he fell to Earth to experience love. He just can’t find it. Sex and lust are easy to enjoy but he wants a soul mate. It’s a good thing Lonal has a few tricks up his wings!

Cupid Inc: Letters to Julian

M/M Paranormal Erotic Romance

By Zayne Michaels

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Now Available From:

AMAZON | ARe | B&N

Despite being a dragon shifter, Ridley Dragos doesn’t lead a life of adventure or excitement. Instead, he prefers the quiet solitude of his bookstore and the brief interaction with his customers. He has no aspirations of falling in love or living happily ever after, but all of that is about to change.

When he walked into The Book Attic that morning, Julian Haell harbored no expectations other than finding a new book for his ever-growing collection. Ridley intrigues him, though, and challenges everything he thought he knew about friendship and desire. A simple chat over tea turns into a comfortable, weekly routine, but as the months pass, Julian can’t help but want more.

It’s not every day a guy realizes he’s fallen for his best friend, but unfortunately, Ridley’s window of opportunity is closing fast. When Julian visits the mysterious Cupid Inc in search of a date for Valentine’s Day, Ridley finds himself facing an impossible decision—either seize the moment and confess his feelings, or let the love of a lifetime disappear forever.

READ THE FULL FIRST CHAPTER

Cupid Inc: Silver Lamp Playlist

M/M Paranormal Erotic Romance

By Skye Dragen

Website | Facebook | Blog

Hektor is a four hundred year old vampire with an interfering family and an antique shop. Bullied into a blind date by his sister, he signs up at Cupid Inc expecting little considering his questionnaire included deep questions like “if you were a nursery rhyme which would you be and why?”. At least he’ll get the women of his family off his back if he can get a complete stranger to stick around long enough to go to his mom’s birthday party. Finding out that his date is a genie might be the answer to his wishes if he can get past how very weird Vedran is.

Getting picked up by a gorgeous vampire was just what Vedran needed after several hundred years trapped in a magic lamp. From the second Hektor polished his teapot he’s been having fun being in the real world again. Maybe he’ll even have the chance to experience romance this time around if he helps Hektor out with his little family problem. When a thief snatches Vedran’s lamp, they’ll both see how far Hektor will go to make sure Vedran remains his.

Coming Soon! 

Cupid Inc: Practically Magic

M/M Paranormal Erotic Romance

By Kalista Kyle

 

Coming Soon!

Fantasy Friday with Lexi DeHalo!

Lexi.dehalo@gmail.com

Website | Blog | Facebook

Lexi DeHalo lived in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina until she left for college to study Chemistry and Forensic Science. After graduation, Lexi decided to pursue her love of the arts by writing erotic romance. When she’s not too busy in the lab, you can find her working on her latest inspiration or playing with her fur-babies.

Last Kiss Goodbye

The Southlands

Available on Amazon!

Haunting memories and shattered dreams of a life he left behind lead Karson Maddox back to Southlands, Montana and the one man he can’t forget, Marcus Deveraux. But Karson is a changed man, scarred by the chains of his past that are unwilling to let him go, and he doesn’t know if he can be the man Marcus once loved or if he will be forever bound to the horrors that plague him.

With his lover’s disappearance, Marcus repressed his pain and heartache by devoting his time to his family’s ranch. When Karson shows up on his doorstep five years later, battered and bruised, Marcus is torn between protecting the one man who stole his heart and the fear of betrayal.

As desire and passion reignite, the secrets surrounding Karson’s past threaten to tear them apart once again, and Marcus will learn just how far he’s willing to go to keep Karson safe from the demons that threaten both of their lives.

Excerpt

The Southlands End. The orange, neon words hung high above the doorway, glowing brightly in the nighttime sky. The loud music playing inside could be heard clearly from the crowded parking lot. This place was meant to serve as a safe haven for the shifter kind who resided in Southlands, Montana, but to Karson Maddox, it only served as a reminder of the life that had been stolen from him.

He took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of the familiar rugged landscape. Montana had been the place he’d called home for many years, until that fateful night had changed his life forever. After five years, Karson had finally made it back home, but now, he was uncertain of what awaited him on the other side of those metal doors, and frankly, he didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was finding Marcus.

Reaching out with a shaky hand, he opened the door and stepped inside. He was instantly greeted by the bouncers, set in place to keep wandering mundanes—a shifter term for the majority of the human population—out.

“Passcode,” the large one on the left requested in a less than pleasant manner. His voice was deep and his intimidating stare was enough to stop any sensible person from advancing.

Karson ran a nervous hand through his shaggy hair. “I don’t know it, but—”

Before he could even get the rest of his sentence out, the other bouncer, who had yet to speak, grabbed ahold of his arm and pushed him back outside.

“Hey, wait a minute. Lemme go!” Karson struggled against the painful grip. “I’m here to see Marcus.”

His words did nothing to stop the two shifters from removing him from the building. They tossed him to the ground like a ragdoll, and the sting from the gravel scraping against his exposed flesh burned like a son of a bitch.

He glared up at the two men, his temper flaring from their harsh handlings as his mind was taken back to the past five years of abuse he’d endured in one moment. He could feel the animal inside him rise to the surface, itching for a release that couldn’t be sated. His inability to shift only fueled his desire to defend himself as he lunged at the taller man His fist collided with the bouncer’s jaw, but despite the pain that radiated up his arm, his target appeared to be unfazed by the blow.

“Fuck,” he cursed as he shook his hand in an attempt to free it from the ache that emanated from his knuckles.

“Is there a problem here?”

His heart caught at the sound of the slight southern drawl. He knew the man who had spoken those words even before he turned around and his rage was instantly calmed by the familiar voice. A wave of nervousness washed over him as his hands began to tremble. Turning slowly, he met Marcus’s eyes for the first time in five years and the world around him seemed to fade away.

Marcus Deveraux stood in front of him, dressed in a pair of dark-wash Wranglers and his favorite pair of cowboy boots. His white shirt was left partially unbuttoned, no doubt to showcase his well-muscled chest. Strands of his blond hair fell in front of his ice blue eyes as he stared down at Karson. The soft features of his face had hardened with the years, but everything else was just as he remembered.

Karson’s mouth went dry. He tried to find the words he’d rehearsed earlier in the day, but nothing came to him. Instead, all he could do was stand there like a deer caught in headlights.

“Karson?” Marcus whispered as recognition finally kicked in. A look of shock and confusion fell upon his face as the pain and agony of the past few years shimmered inside the depths of Marcus’s piercing eyes.

The desire to reach out to him was overwhelming. It was an impulse that had surprised Karson given that he’d changed so much in the past few years. Something shifted inside him, awakening a mixture of emotions he hadn’t felt since the day he was taken from Marcus. Tears pooled in his eyes and he tried desperately to hold them back. He wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.

“Sir, you know this man?” the large shifter Karson had punched questioned Marcus.

Marcus gave a slow nod, his eyes never leaving Karson. “Yes… he’s my mate.”

Behind the Scenes

What are your current projects?

My current projects include starting a new pen name for a M/F BDSM piece I’ve been working on entitled, Beautifully Broken [A Limitless Novel] and supernatural suspense novel that has yet to be titled.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

Hmm. An interesting question. I think I have come a long way since my first book was released a year ago. I have found my own voice, so to speak, and I’ve quite enjoyed experimenting with different genres. I’m excited about my upcoming works in progress J

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

The edits. I switched editors with my latest book and while I was extremely happy with the feedback I got, I also spent many hours working on their suggestions. It really pushed me as a writer and helped shape the book to be what it is today.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Yes, I do. The cover is the first impression that a buyer sees and it needs to reflect the quality of writing, the reader can expect. A cover doesn’t need to be flashy or over the top, but it does need to be professional.

What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

Being published is great route for a writer so long as it is a reputable publisher that does their share of the work. Realistically, I don’t want to do business with a publisher if their editing, cover art, and promotions are not worth 50-60% of my royalties. If I’m doing most of the work and even having to correct their edits, then I don’t feel like the publisher is holding up their end of the contract. In that case, self-publishing would be an ideal situation, especially with today’s technology. Hiring you own editor and cover artist can be an up front, out of pocket cost, though and if an author doesn’t earn back enough from their self-published title to cover those costs, it will be a direct loss that they have to take. For new authors, I feel that being published is a great introduction into the industry. It gives the author a feel for the expectations of the industry and is a good place to start. For more experienced authors who feel like they aren’t getting what they need from their publisher, they may want to try their hand at self-publishing.