Somehow I got lucky enough to be included in an anthology with Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, and Allyson James. It’s called Hot for the Holidays and it releases on Tuesday, September 29th. I admire all these authors greatly and have for some time. I’m not sure what good deed I may have done to have the honor of being included in an anthology with them, but I’m not complaining.
My story in the anthology is titled Sweet Enchantment and it will be the first installment of my new Dark Magick series. However the novella is totally stand alone and you don’t need to read it in order to follow the series.
I say that up front because I’ve heard from readers that one of their pet peeves is having to buy an entire anthology just to read one small installment of a series. So I made sure that anyone intending to follow my new series can start with Wicked Enchantment (Jan, 2010) if they don’t want to buy the Hot for the Holidays anthology. ***
Which brings me to the subject of this post. I asked this question recently in another forum and found the answers so interesting, I wanted to ask it again here.
As a reader I tend to like anthologies. Usually I’ll buy them for one or maybe two of the authors, but I’ll end up reading all the stories in the book. Sometimes that’s how I find new authors to follow. As an author I like them too, since I’ve had many readers tell me that’s how they found me. 😉 The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance is a good example. I can’t count the number of emails I’ve had from people who discovered me through the tiny little seven thousand word story I wrote for that one.
So, dear readers, how about you? Do you like anthologies? Dislike them? Can you think of an author you found through an anthology who then became an autobuy for you? Do you have any favorite anthologies? Tell me all about it. This fine Friday I’m at Lora Leigh’s Reader Appreciation Weekend, so I may not be replying to comments. I am, however, and as always, reading them with interest.
*** Of course, why wouldn’t you want to buy the anthology? Lora Leigh! Angela Knight! Allyson James! Cool fae-themed novella from me!
LOVE THEM! Like you I usually get an anthology for one or two of the stories and sometimes am lucky enough to find a new author that I enjoy. Hot for the Holidays is an exception though because I read three of the four authors so I have been anticipating this one ever since I first heard about it. Can’t wait. Have fun at RAW wish I could be there too 🙂
by Booklover1335 September 25th, 2009 at 4:25 amI bought it last night and I admit I read the Lora Leigh story right then. I don’t mind anthologies, they give you a preview of stories to come and that’s exciting. Or continue in a series you love and that’s good too. No I don’t mind them at all.
by Diane Sadler September 25th, 2009 at 5:21 amI love them. I ,by chance, bought 2 anthologies and ended up needing them for Sunnys ‘children of the moon’ series. So i ended up reading the other stories as well, and i found ‘Alpha and Omega’ by Patricia Briggs and instantly fell in love and bought the series as well as another series from her. So, im a huge fan of Anthologies and i look forward to yours! I cant wait to read it. Thank you! 😀
by Jamie September 25th, 2009 at 5:28 amI must admit that I love and adore anthologies. That’s how I found Angela Knight and Lora Leigh, actually. It’s how I found most my authors, including Eileen Wilks. It’s just so much fun to read around. And, to be honest, for some of the anthologies, you step outside the box for the normal. For instance, Mammoth brought several not connected but excellent stories. The same reason I love MaryJanice’s faerie shorts.
As for autobuys, I think most of the authors become them. Like Alyssa Day’s shorts are connected to her series, but they’re for the less bookable characters who are just as important. The side characters are able to get their own stories, give them more than 2-D. That’s why I love anthologies.
Oh! I found Charlaine Harris that way. Powers of Detection, I think, was the name of that anthology. I bought it for Anne Bishop and found so many freaking shorts I loved. The same for Rachel Caine. I’d never read her and then BOOM, I fell in love with the Weather Warden series. I’m just finished the first book and next month I’ll get a couple more. Anthologies can introduce me to already popular series because I’m able to get a short background without having to buy a book. I can tell if I’ll love it or not within a couple pages. Caine’s an autobuy now.
by Jesi September 25th, 2009 at 6:02 amI love anthologies. When I’m between novels and am not sure what I feel like reading next, anthologies fill in the gap nicely. I discovered Virginia Kantra, Emma Holly, and Patricia Biggs through anthologies. There’s probably more but those are the first to come to mind.
by Cybercliper September 25th, 2009 at 7:54 amMost of the time, I love anthologies. I love big anthologies where there are a bunch of different authors to read. Because there, even if I know I don’t care for one or two of the authors, there’s still tons more for me to read.
When it’s an anthology with only 4 authors and maybe I already know that I don’t care for 2 or 3 of the authors, then I’m reluctant to bother reading it. For sure I won’t buy it. I’d only pick it up at the library to read the couple stories I’m interested in.
by tvaddictgurl September 25th, 2009 at 8:08 amOk somehow I got my hands on this book before the release date. It was at my local store and I knew I wanted it because you were in it. Yes I bought the book for your story only. The hot guy on the cover, wow I can say I am dreaming about candy canes. hehehe
That being said, I am 20 pages from finishing the book!!! I would have finished today unfortunately I was already late for my job. Oh my goodness this book was wonderful, powerful, and breathtaking. I love all the stories! I’m even going to check out the other authors.
If you don’t normally like anthologies I would tell you to try this book. I didn’t like them either since it seemed only one or two stories were good ….. until this book!
I cannot wait for your new book release. I hope we will be able to read more about of Ronan and Bella. They are so strong, I can’t wait to see what the future hold. I want my own Ronan!!!
Love your work!!!
by LauraP September 25th, 2009 at 9:33 amI love anthologies! Like you wrote in your post, it’s a great way to get glimpses of new authors and decide if you want to read more by them. I’ve found some fabulous authors that way. I don’t know that I’ve ever been disappointed by an anthology, even the ones I’ve had to buy and read for school. I can’t really think of my favorite anthology off the top of my head because there are so many that vie for that title, but I can say that I’m thoroughly enjoying The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance.
by Karin September 25th, 2009 at 11:33 amI love anthologies.
by Estella September 25th, 2009 at 12:23 pmLove anthologies because I have found many new authors through them. Eileen Wilks, Kresley Cole, etc. I read a lot of anthologies when I first started reading the paranormal genre to see if I liked them before I invested in their series.
I have to say I have already finished this one and absolutely loved every story in it. Anya you were in very good company in this anthology!!!!
by Heather Brewer September 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pmI love Brava’s Bad Boys anthologies. I discovered Erin McCarthy, HelenKay Dimon and Janelle Denison from reading these anthologies.
by Jane September 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pmI agree, I usually will buy the book because of one or two of the wuthors and read all the stories. If I like the author which I usually do more times than not, I’ll remember their name for the next trip to the book store.
by Mary September 25th, 2009 at 3:19 pmLove them, but wish they didn’t take up so much shelf space. I am one of the treasured who found you in the MBOPR along with a few other authors that have been added to my always buy list.
by shannonannon September 25th, 2009 at 5:30 pmLove them, but wish they didn’t take up so much shelf space. I am more likely to buy them on the kindle/ereader to conserve because I am less likely to go back and re-read them later. I am one of the treasured who found you in the MBOPR along with a few other authors that have been added to my always buy list.
by shannonannon September 25th, 2009 at 5:30 pmI have to say that I seriously dislike anthologies. I understand their purpose for introducing different authors and have even found a couple of new reads that way myself. What I don’t like is having to find a short story that is crucial to a series that I’m following – then having to read other stories that are crucial to other series that I have no idea what is going on. If authors want to use anthologies as marketing tools, why can’t they write a short that is unrelated to the big series? I know it’s not as powerful, but it is less frustrating for us. 🙄
by Sue September 30th, 2009 at 7:41 am