From HelenKay’s blog:
In the never-ending Aphrodisia v. Brava debate, the editors say: Aphrodisia is about sex and Brava is about romance. Hillary Sares (the main Aphrodisia editor) says the term “erotic romance” with the imprint is a misnomer. The books are not really romance and don’t have to be. Use of the title is for marketing – Kensington wants the books in the romance section and wants to reach romance readers. That’s it. And, the only limit on the sex is that it be legal.
I have to say this annoys me greatly. Since when is misleading and lying ok marketing?
What is next, erotic sex in inspirationals? hmmmm
::see that isn’t as much fun without the lil pictures::
Great post *smirk*
No commentary?
I live to serve 😉
I feel like crap so that must be why I am quiet. I will rant about it later. Maybe *g*.
ugh. I already wrote my monday morning article but I may have to scrap it. Or should I just recycle the original complaint post to the top. What’s ironic is that of all the “erotica” offerings by NY pubbed authors, I think Aphrodisia offers the most romantic stuff out there. Sigh.
“Since when is misleading and lying ok marketing?”
You’ve got to be kidding? Since when has misleading and lying NOT been ok in marketing? That’s pretty much the basics of the profession.
I see that I managed a whooping typo in the portion you excerpted. Yeah, the last sentence should read: “The only LIMIT on the sex is that it be legal.”
Now, some Aphrodisia authors in the audience didn’t like the distinction or the idea it was a marketing tool either. They insisted they were writing erotic romance and that the title wasn’t just marketing as to them. I haven’t read enough Aphrodisia to be able to comment or to have a position on whether or not I’m being led astray by the tagline, but I’m assuming Hillary Sares knows what she’s talking about when she says “misnomer” (yeah, that was her word) since she’s in charge of Aphrodisia.
I haven’t heard any reader complaints on a bait-and-switch so maybe this hasn’t been any issue??? Who knows.
I keep ASKING someone to write an erotic romance inspirational. I even already have a name for the genre. Insperoticals, lmao. Catchy, right?
Helen, there was alot of discussion on DearAuthor and at Beverly’s blog about how much we readers disliked being misled. I have an article for Monday and it’s all about trust. We readers will give you (author or publisher) a certain amount of trust and if you break it, we won’t be back for a while.
I think Milla hit it on the head.
I remember when I used to love to rant…those were the good ol’ days. No I take it back, I ranted a little not long ago. http://britblaise.com/blog/?p=28
I love your blog!
Brit Blaise
http://www.Britblaise.com
Wild and Wanton – Amber Quill Press – bestseller, now available
Knights of the Magical Realm: Warriors Gone Wild – Triskelion, now available in ebook & print
Thoroughly Mannerly Millicent – Avalon, spring of 2007