When I wrote, “Which Genre Am I?,” I delved into the idea of whether or not readers preferred a certain genre from a certain author. What’s behind the cover of a book is, of course, the most important part of any book. But, how important is the cover? Recently I was confronted with a dilemma that made me stop and wonder how much difference the “look” or “branding” of a book made in sales.  My first three releases in the single title arena carried what I consider romantic suspense covers.  Nameless is an example of the look.  All three books were a variation of this cover, but with different colors (blue, red, then purple).  A very nice look, in my opinion.

I write romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense. So this seemed like the perfect covers.  However, rather than being labeled romantic suspense on the spine, the books were marked as “A Novel”.  This was very flattering to me in a way since it felt as if I was being labeled something that embraced more than one genre. This particular label, “A Novel”, put a large number of my books in the fiction aisles–also very flattering. But did that decision make a difference in overall sales? Did the titles, Traceless, Nameless, and Faceless, cause any confusions or disappointments since the books weren’t actually related other than by setting? The last two did have one character in common. Were the romance readers who look for my name going to be perusing the fiction aisles looking for me or would they assume, when they didn’t find me in romance, that I didn’t have a book out or that the book was sold out? These were questions I had not considered before. It’s a bookstore, my book is there…does anything else really matter?

My upcoming release, Find Me (December 30th), has a bolder, more upscale cover and is still marked as “A Novel” on the spine which brings me to the recent dilemma I spoke of.  My roots are in romance.  Shouldn’t my books, which are romantic suspense, be shelved solely in the romance aisles? Will the thirty or thirty-five percent shelved in fiction languish there or will they serve to broaden my reading audience?  In surveying the bookstores to determine how they decided where a book should be shelved, most reported that the book was shelved according to where the author had been placed before. If they had carried you before and you were in romance, that’s where you went the next time. Some said their decision was based on the cover, how it looked, how it was labeled and the reviews posted on front and back. So, I asked a bookstore manager, who didn’t know me, to look at one of my books (Faceless) and tell me where he would place it in his bookstore. This was a chain store, by the way. He said that his intial look at the cover told him to put the book in romance, but, on further inspection, the spine indicated it belonged in fiction. But the reviews seemed to say it should go in suspense or mystery. I asked him how he would make his ultimate decision and he said he would look at the data system to see where I had been shelved before.  Hmm, this was a bit unsettling. Would the stockers in every bookstore go to so much bother?  Also troubling were the many emails I received from readers saying they couldn’t find my books, which ultimately led to my survey of nearly 400 bookstores across the nation.

After much discussion and hard word by my publishing team, it was decided that with the next book (summer 2009) the spine would read: Romantic Suspense. I haven’t seen the cover yet but the title is Everywhere She Turns, which I have come to like very much and feel it is indicative of the story. I am extremely pleased to be a part of a team who works so hard to determine the best course of action for my career. But the whole dilemma made me wonder how much difference the look of a book made. So, please, share your thoughts with me. How important is the look of a book in your decision to pick it up? Is location in a bookstore relevant or will you look until you find what you’re looking for?

Happy Veterans’ Day! This is a holiday sometimes overlooked or given little thought in this busy life of ours. But my father was a veteran, and my beloved husband is a veteran so I must take a moment to acknowledge this day and, in particular, all who sacrifice to keep our country free. I thank all of you.

Besides Veterans’ Day, there are two significant days in the month of November for me and my family. Thanksgiving, of course. We gather, usually at my house, each member of the family bringing the dish he or she is best at preparing. My niece always brings this amazing potato salad—no matter the holiday. My younger brother is assigned the drinks or the paper plates. He doesn’t cook. But, we all have our parts. Who prepares or brings what is an unwritten rule of sorts. If even one person fails to show up or to deliver as promised, it feels different—the meal is not the same. I have certain expectations for Thanksgiving and turkey, dressing, and my niece’s potato salad, are all on the list! It sounds a bit silly, but the day is not as wonderful if everyone doesn’t fulfill his or her part. Can you tell I’m geared up for that potato salad?

The final significant day in November for my family is “my” birthday. I won’t say which day or how old I’ll be because I don’t want to scare anyone. My family never forgets–well, okay, some of them have been known to forget. There’s usually a new purse, flowers and a cake. And a reminder that time is flying by. There’s no potato salad. Family stops by if they have time. No party, no big deal. Just all that cake to make me avoid the scales with even more tenacity.

When mulling over my calendar for the month I acknowledged that there is a major difference in how I treat these three dates in November. Over the years, I have trained my family to do the same. At what point in my life did “I” become the least important part of it? After I married my dearly beloved? After kids came along? During one of the house remodels? Or did I just get lost amid all the characters I create? Or maybe I simply vanished because there wasn’t enough time for me.

So, folks, it’s my birthday month, help me out here. How do you put yourself first? I know, I know, it’s almost a sin to think it…we’re wives, mothers, teachers, so on and so on. But seriously, we rarely EVER put ourselves at the top of ANY priority list. I want to break that vicious cycle. How do I ensure I’m on that list every day of my life henceforth???? Suggestions, please!

When I first started attempting to break into publishing, I did a lot of research. Mainly about who was buying what and who was doing it the most often. I didn’t care what genre I broke into—as long as I made the break. I felt as a writer, I could write anything. At the time, ten years ago, it appeared that romantic comedy was the hot ticket. So I dived in with both feet. I had been writing since I was a kid, some comedy—I fancied myself a sitcom writer before I’d even heard of the term—but mostly I wrote very dark stories about very desperate people. Still, I was convinced that the key to becoming a published author was the basic supply and demand scenario. The strategy worked. I penned a romantic comedy, Up Close, that Hilary Sares of Kensington wanted for their Precious Gems imprint. Yay! I had made it.

But the romantic comedy wasn’t enough to keep the beast inside me at bay. I needed to write those other stories. You know, those dark, creepy ones. Eventually I became an author for Harlequin’s Intrigue line where I honed my skills as a romantic suspense author. Still, in time, the beast roared for me to try something new, to do more. I ended up doing a few Harlequin Americans, a more family-driven story with a mystery element. Then the Bombshell line came into being and I couldn’t wait to create women’s action/adventure stories. I even wrote a Harlequin Next and a couple of the NASCAR romances. I love creating characters and writing their stories so this was just so exciting and so wonderful. The beast was happy and well fed.

But I noticed something as these different types of stories were published, the readers and reviewers seemed to prefer my suspense stories, the darker and the grittier the better. Admittedly, those were the stories that came most naturally for me. But, was I a failure since my success or the accolades in each genre was not equal? No, of course not. When readers purchased a Debra Webb book, did they prefer a certain kind of story? I decided the answer to that question was yes—at least to a degree. I had heard all the talk about branding and that seemed to confirm my suspicions. With some trepidation, I moved forward with the decision. Debra Webb would strictly be a suspense author.

That’s what I am pleased to write for St. Martin’s Press and for my Colby Agency series at Harlequin Intrigue. Suspense with a dose of romance. Occasionally the stories are called mysteries or thrillers, but the line between those three (suspense/mystery/thriller) is, I think, quite blurred. I am very happy with my decision. Suspense is my first love.

Still, occasionally the beast roars and I long to write a paranormal/supernatural thriller or a chick lit type suspense. Usually this occurs when I watch True Blood or a beloved old episode of Sex in the City. Many, many authors write in more than one genre and are very successful at both. As a reader, do you prefer a certain kind of story from an author? Does that author’s name evoke a certain expectation? (Beyond a darned good story, of course.) Is it ever really possible for an author to be as good at one genre as another?

I really worried about what to talk about today. The competition is stiff, let me tell you. So, I decided to discuss a topic that as an author and a reader I’ve often wondered about other authors and readers. Let’s see if the same questions have occurred to you.

When I first took the plunge into the world of publishing I heard many folks say, “Write what you know.” That was a problem, however, since some of the things I wanted to write about were subjects I definitely didn’t “know” such as FBI agents and murder. I took it upon myself to do all the research I could: Internet, phone a friend, follow some guy in uniform around while he does his job, reference books–you name it. There were loads of information and avenues available that made me feel confident about most any occupation and proposed manner of death.

But what about setting? Could you really know a place if you hadn’t lived there or spent considerable amounts of time on location? Maybe. Maybe not. I guess the reader ultimately makes that determination. As a writer, I’ve done it both ways. I’ve written stories set in states where I’ve lived and I’ve ventured into unknown locals educating myself by various means of research. I spent three weeks in Los Angeles to capture a feel for that setting. Wherever vacations and conferences have taken me, I’ve always utilized the opportunity to get in some research on the location. That’s a part of my work that I truly enjoy: learning about a place and the people who call it home.

Last winter I took my quest for writing the memorable setting to a new level and spent five months, family and dogs in tow, on the coast of Maine to write my upcoming novel, FIND ME. When you read that one, keep in mind that I took every step through the snow and ice right along with my protagonist, Sarah Newton. I got to know the folks and traipsed around in cemeteries and all kinds of other places scouting out murder scenes and other pivotal settings. I have to say, the whole adventure was really cool(cold as heck actually!).

On the other hand, I’ve written many stories set in Chicago and I’ve spent minimal time in the Windy City. I’ve never been to South America yet I’ve had my characters plow through the jungle as if it were my backyard.

So, as a reader, do you pick up on the nuances that shout “been there, done that” in a story? Do you enjoy the story all the more for it? As a writer, do you feel more confident when creating your story setting in a location where you’ve lived or visited frequently?