As you can imagine, I was very excited about this opportunity. There are so many great authors in this sampler! I was a little star struck by some of the names, lol. Unfortunately, it meant that the editing timeline for Holow had to be condensed so I could have my part of the esampler ready on time. As a result, I've been doing a lot of editing behind the scenes, hoping to get things ready for the big release day May 1st. (That's tomorrow!)
Are you curious about the esampler? You can check out TORTURED LOVE here. As you can see, I'm with some great new adult authors who write a wide variety of heat levels. This makes me wonder...will the esampler go over well with readers? My story has a sex scene, but it isn't very explicit (hence the different pen name). Other authors are much more graphic, and would probably be more in line with what Suzanne writes.
This topic hits a little close to home for me, because I've been talking to other authors this past week about possibly putting out a boxed set that has multiple heat levels. While none of the stories would have closed door sex scenes, some would be much more explicit than others.
Would something like that interest readers? The authors I spoke with aren't sure. Heck, I'm not sure, so I thought I'd bring the question here to see what readers think. So, let me know...are multiple heat levels okay for boxed set releases? How about esamplers? Tell me about it in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you!
And here's the blurb for Hollow, in case anyone is interested:
Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Disaster in this thrilling and sexy debut novel, in which a college student learns her perfect life is a lie and finds new love where she least expects it—a mental institution.
Freaks, misfits and psychopaths. Those are the kinds of people found at Newton Heights Psychiatric Hospital, and high-society girl Lucy White’s new home.
Freaks, misfits and Jayden McCray. Jayden has his own set of rules for life at Newton Heights, and in this contradictory guy Lucy finds a way to live with the events that left her cheating boyfriend and best friend dead and Lucy in the middle of the investigation into their demise.
The problem? Jayden makes her want things she’s not supposed to have, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality and making Lucy feel more at home in Newton Heights than she ever did at home. But this isn’t how her life is supposed to be.
Or is it?
30 comments:
I really don't know the answer to your question, Ava. My thought on this is that you can't satisfy everyone, so do it your way.
Your story, Hollow, sounds intriguing.
Thanks so much Sandy! I don't know either, but I like you're attitude. Personally I read a wide spectrum of heat levels, so it doens't bother me. I think as long as I know up front so my expectations aren't out of whack, I'm fine with the mashup...but I'm curious to see if other people are OK as well...
Suzanne/Ava
What a great idea to do a free esampler. You may have started a new trend. As a reader, I'd read a boxed set with different heat levels. In fact, I've just gone into a 3-book set with two other authors. One book has very steamy sex, one has a little foreplay but stops there, and the other, mine, has explicit sex but not quite as hot as the first book. We just released it a few days ago and it's selling very well. So, yes, a set with different heat levels can sell.
Ooh, that's so good to know, Cara! Thanks for sharing! I can't take the credit for the esampler, though. That's my publisher, lol. I think it's a great idea too, though. :)
What an idea, I would even participate in a book set with different heat elements, especially since my heat level in my books are not very hot. I think it's a great idea. Why not try...can't hurt.
Go for it, girl! That's the only way you'll find out if it's going to work. I'd buy the box. What I look for is a good read. I can always turn the page if the heat level gets too hot for me. Wishing all of you the best.
i would buy a boxed set with "mixed heat" level. i would just make sure when it is marketed that it states it somewhere in the description.
sparkle40175@hotmail.com
Since I read a variety of books with different heat levels, having a mix would be fine with me, but I have friends that I think would like a warning at the beginning before the story began with a the heat level, so that if they are uncomfortable with certain ones they would know.
The answer is yes and no. It would appeal to readers who read books in all the heat levels, and it would appeal to readers who enjoy the more graphic sex scenes. It might not work for the conservative reader.
I'm a conservative reader. I enjoy a moderately graphic scene between the main couple. If there's a taboo scene or more cutting edge stuff, then it would not work for me. It's a fine line between a bit smutty and total smut. I'm being honest, I would not pay for total smut which seems to be creeping to mainstream.
I would buy a box set with "mixed heat" levels, to be honest it wouldn't put me off in the slightest. I like a bit of a mixture sometimes I would much rather read something less explicit and steamy...leaving more to the readers imagination if you get what I mean. On other occasions I would rather read something a bit more heated and more graphic, suppose it just depends on my mood and how I'm feeling. Hope this helps in some way!!
I read all levels of heat. I can see it might bother some, some sort of rating system might benefit all. RT magazine has a rating system if I remember correctly.
I think a set with different levels of heat is just fine. I tend to look more to the theme of the set rather than the details. If the theme interests me, I'll love it. If readers have trouble with a heated scene or two, they can skim forward :)
Your book sounds wonderful :)
I don't mind buying a box set with different heat levels since I read all kinds of books, some are super super hot and more erotic but I also enjoy reading books with hardly any sex in them so as long as the stories are written well and the plot is interesting I'll read them.
I think it's totally okay. As long as you can read about the content of the different books before buying.
For me I don't mind the different heat levels in a boxed set. But I do mind when the books are mixed, i.e., vampire, historical mixed in with contemporaries. I'm a contemporary romance reader and have no interest in historical or vampire books. I have purchased boxed sets and was pleased with my purchase.
Ginger aka robertsonreads
I would buy it. I think it's a great idea. A little bit of something for everyone's tastes.
I think it's actually a great idea. Sort of a chance for people who haven't ever read any of the steamier things to dip their toes in and get wet. I know for a fact that I would love to read them and I love that it's in ebook format. Thank you so much!
I love anthologies because they give me a chance to read my favorite authors and find new ones. It never bothers me when there are different levels of heat. I figure that it's just how the author writes. I do think that there probably needs to be some warning for those people who are upset by the stronger heat levels. Congrats on your upcoming release and the wonderful opportunity!
Everyone who has said they would buy it, admit to reading books with mixed heat levels, so those readers would be fine with it. It's just us conservative ones that would have an issue. So it depends on the ratio of the reader pool. Can I ask a question? Is it just a mix of heat levels or is it a mixture of sweet, mild, all the way up to beam and swinging? I ask because it has popped up in what looked like regular romances. That would make a difference.
Beam is supposed to be bdsm. Darn autocorrect.
I think the idea of a free sampler sounds very intriguing. As for the mixed heat that sounds like something I would definitely read.
By the same author, sure; different ones, not too sure.
I think it's totally okay to mix heat levels as long as it's mentioned on the box somewhere so readers know what they are buying. Our moods change. If we know we like an author, it would be nice to have a variety of levels to match whatever mood we might be in.
I am not sure. But I suppose people would either like it or not. If they do, they will read more, if they don't, they wont. You surely cant write to please everyone. Impossible. So do your best and write stories you like!
I want it to be one or the other. And I wish more books would say if they have explicit materials or are less sexual. Personally, I have a damn dirty mind and I prefer the hot and heavy books. I don't mind sweet scattered in here and there. But it would just be better to know ahead of time.
I think I'd like a variety in a boxed set. Maybe you could p
ut a heat level indicator on each one.
Why not mix it up? You can kinds skim parts that are too racey for you.
Readers are looking for good writing, characters they can relate to and compelling stories. I think we are flexible on heat levels, and a variety might be better than all alike.
I enjoy reading boxed sets, and yes I also enjoy different levels of content, but I do like the book to label how explicit it is, that way people know which ones they will want to read and which ones they prefer not to, for me it depends on the writing style, and just how explicit the content is. That way readers are not surprised by what they are reading.
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