And this actually happened a couple of years back. First one book at one pub, then two, then a bundle. And because they do sell better (I have both m/m/f and het – the menages sell better) more aspiring writers try LGBT to get their foot in the door. And established writers too will jump on. Yes, writing is art but its also business and if you’re hoping to stay in business you don’t HAVE to write what’s hot, but you better at least know what the competition/new trend is at any given time.

That said, het romance is the bread and butter that I as a writer like to call stability. Maybe you don’t sell two thousand copies of your het story, at least not out of the gate, but generally they bring in a nice, steady paycheck. M/m is hot as Hades out of the gate, but IME (ymmv) the sales also drop off more sharply than with the het. So, I have no fear that Loose, or any other of my fav e-pubs, are going to drop their het lines. At this point, they are publishing the best of what is submitted and trying to maintain balance. Eventually, maybe, the m/m m/m/f train will slow and het will see another upswing. Until then, I’m going to keep on reading- and writing – both and enjoying it :D

We are such I small community and yes I agree there seems to become a lot of self fufilling prophecies around this stuff.

That to me is also where I come down on those complaining and ask have they promoted or talked to or shown some support of an author they enjoy reading outside of maybe buying an eBook every once in a while.

These eBooks are like audience participation to me since the audience is so small.

I went down to several Gay Bookstores I shop at and have given these books in print to them and promoted them and had really great reactions for doing so. That’s my way besides this blog of attempting to support those authors I enjoy and let them know I want to read more of their books. I want to be constructive in my efforts not just sit around bitching about what does not work for me. Anyone can do that.

This is just me, but whenever I hear this perception confirmed by someone, I have a comic flash-forward montage in my head of a self-fulfilling prophecy death spiral:

Someone says (incorrectly), “Loose Id publishes very little m/f!” -> Fewer people shop specifically for m/f there -> Fewer authors think it’s a good place for their m/f to be noticed -> Treva gets fewer m/f manuscripts -> Fewer m/f books are published -> Someone goes to the latest releases page and sees very few m/f -> Someone says (slightly more correctly), “Loose Id published very little m/f!” -> And we’re off again…

Is that true or even possible? Hell if I know. I think Loose Id has some great authors and I am really glad that gay romance has such a strong, vibrant presence there. That’s my opinion as a person and a reader.

As an author of pretty much exclusively m/f, though, I do have to consider the possibility that I could become an accidental impulse buy there. Everyone knows that B&N sells music, and lots of book buyers also enjoy purchasing music. But when people go to B&N, they’re usually there for the books or, maybe, for a very specific CD that they know the store will have. If they want to browse albums, they’ll probably go to some place that they perceive as having a wider selection of music.

I guess the only other thing I’d like to say is that I hope Loose Id continues to provide awesome gay romance, and that while I have to take note of perception as a m/f author published with Loose Id, it’s not because I think it would be a bad thing for them to be a predominantly GLBT publisher in truth as well as perception. It might make me reconsider where the best market is for my work, but there are plenty of publishing opportunities for me. :)

Excuse me, Teddy, for the endless comment. LOL I have been thinking about all of this stuff since the LAST go-around, but since I’m a co-writer who has to think about how I’m going to be screwing with my partner’s career every time I open my mouth, I try very hard to make sure I’m being rational. In this case, rational might be directly opposed to coherent though. :D

True, re. business going where the dosh is, and possibly caring less about perceptions to differing markets, indeed that makes sense. I don’t have a beef with the shift, I was just chiming in with my noticing of the shift of focus, and that there is less for non-MM readers at the site.
I guess my main point is they have to know it is there to support it.
Though I brought a ell of a lot more in 2006-07, but my support didn’t add up to that much obviously. ;)

Thanks for the discussion TP!
I promise to go back to lurkdom now and stop rambling at you.

They still have come right out and said their Gay Romance makes more money so there you go. Because let’s face it they are known also for having some good Gay Romance writers. Not because they “only” publish Gay Romance.

Samhain bless them is top notch eBook wise but I have to admit they are not my go to publisher for Gay Romance. They do not seem to take the risks other ePubs do with new Gay Romance authors.

For business in my opinion that’s all that really matters. Taking risks that pay off. You go in the direction the customers spend the bucks and not worry about how you are perceived as long as that has nothing to do with poor quality and you are open minded but also sound business wise you are good to go.

As Treva did say she publishes what is of good quality that is sent to her. She can’t magically create Straight Romance manuscripts out of thin air. I am sure if a Straight Romance author over on Loose Id got more support and promotion from the Romance Community there would be nothing stopping them from publishing more books. That was my main point. You as a customer have to financially and publicly support those authors you want to read not expect anyone to just serve your needs without giving back.

That last bit is physical exhaustion, not conversation exhaustion, thought I should clarify.

Perceptions and labelling bite, but it is a very important thing in business, for both the company and the customer. And realistically that is what we are talking here how customers perceive Loose Id the company. And while yes, if you get past the front page dominance of recent times, and do some serious counting the numbers go against the perception, but what average customer is going to take the time to do that?
ie. They go to the new release page three weeks in a row, and see the MM releases dominating those three weeks in a row, an opinion forms.

From what is on the hard drive, I have only brought 40 books from them in the (roughly) last two years, so I guess I am a fairly small fry customer, but I still consider myself their customer.

I don’t get really how feelings come into the discussion?

Sorry if I am repeating myself, I have kinda run smack into the exhaustion wall.

That’s my point though people perceive me as only doing Gay Romance because I am a gay man and don’t bother with the other Straight Romance reviews. That is a perception that is not based on facts and I could go on arguing for days but that is not going to change what people have labeled me. I am used to that labeling in the real world you just go on being yourself despite whatever is said as long as you are doing well who cares.

I can not really fight that perception just as people at Loose Id should not bother arguing over the facts because the facts (just like Anne pointed out with the real numbers) don’t change (Anyone can count) and as long as they are doing well arguing about them just points out how people who are probably not their customers anyway are not paying attention but they are also not paying the bills. Which just pisses them off so no win just hurt feelings which is not good business and if anything Loose Id should consider business first not argue about perceptions.