Monday, March 04, 2013

Other Uses for STRENGTH & FAQs!

Dear family and friends,

I am touched that so many of you have expressed your desire to support me, even though NA paranormal romance isn't exactly your thing. Thank you so much! To help you out, I have created this list of other uses for the paperback. :)

* E-books will go live on Thursday.

FIVE NON-READING USES FOR STRENGTH:

5. Use it to level furniture.

4. Use it as a doorstop.

3. Sleep with it.

2. Put it on your brag shelf—a.k.a. your "People I Know" shelf.

1. Give it to someone as a gift! There are only 295 days until Christmas...


Oh! And while I have you here, I should probably answer a few of your questions... 

 FAQs

Q: I saw a piece on your category the other night while I was watching Nightline. Is it true that NA is YA erotica?
A: No, it's not true.

I mean, no offense to the people who put this story together—because I'm thrilled NA is finally being acknowledged by the media—but they simply cannot make statements like this one: "Now there's a new genre, mixing erotic fiction with the young adult fanbase." That's ill-informed, sensationalist journalism, and I think Nightline is above that.

Let's take a second to connect the dots.
  • Nightline is a news broadcast from ABC.
  • ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is a part of the Disney-ABC Television Group.
  • The Disney-ABC Television group owns Hyperion Publishing.
Wouldn't you think they'd have access to better information? *Sigh* Oh well. I've always said the best way to combat misinformation is to offer an equal (or greater) amount of accurate information. So, in that vein, I'll make two points:

1. Most people consider NA a category—not a genre.
2. Not all NA is erotica.

Next question, please! :)

Q: Is that guy (on the cover) wearing pants?
A: Yes, I can confirm that he's wearing pants/shorts.

Q: Is paranormal romance about ghost sex?
A: You would be surprised how many times I've gotten this question! No, paranormal romance isn't about ghost sex—though, I suppose it could go in that direction. Let's take a look at the official RWA definition:

"Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending. [Paranormal romance is a sub-genre] in which the future, a fantasy world, or paranormal elements are an integral part of the plot."

So, basically, you have what I'd call a supernaturally-charged love story. :)

Q: Is Strength, like, some fantasy of yours?
A: Well, it is fiction. So, I guess you could say it stemmed from a fantasy or a daydream. But if you're talking about the other kind of fantasies, well... you're going to be disappointed.

In case you're wondering, my fantasies usually involve explosions and epic fight scenes. :P

Q: Is Rena based on you?
A: No. If Rena were based on me, Strength would be a short story called, "Wallace Gets a Restraining Order".

Q: So, none of this is based on real life?
A: Every author uses fragments of his or her previous experiences to envision new things, but that's usually the extent of inspiration. This isn't a memoir.

I wouldn't mind if it were a memoir, though. Have you seen the cover? *grins*

Q: So, are you rich now? Any chance I could borrow some money?
A: No and no. I still eat ramen noodles and dart into traffic for loose change. If you want me to reach money-lending status, you'll have to help me sell some books. ;)
And there you have it! If you still have questions, please feel free to contact me. I love hearing from you all. :) Have a wonderful week, and I hope to see you back here on Thursday. Three days until STRENGTH's release! ♥

76 comments:

Elise Fallson said...

Get your book out from under the furniture! (:
I'm excited for you Carrie, three days left!!!

Stina said...

I would NEVER do that to a book. Okay, maybe a really really bad one.

I'm getting sooooo sick of people referring to NA as YA erotica. They obviously don't understand the definition of erotica, either. Very steamy sex in a book does not make it erotica. It's more complex than that.

Yay for your upcoming book release, Carrie!

Unknown said...

Looking at that great cover, sleeping with it isn't a bad option. ;) Just saying. Of course, reading it is still the ideal choice!

Kyra Lennon said...

Q: Is Rena based on you?
A: No. If Rena were based on me, Strength would be a short story called, "Wallace Gets a Restraining Order". - Totally just choked on my cup of tea! Great answer lol!

Juliana Haygert said...

HAHAHA I seriously LOL'ed!
Awesome, sister!

JeffO said...

Good fun, Carrie.

Maybe the Nightline thing is a roundabout way of trying to boost sales at Hyperion by sensationalizing it all.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Wallace gets a restraining order - funny!
No way anyone is using your book to prop up wobbly furniture.

ilima said...

Love this post. Haha. And I would totally sleep with my own published book. :)

Kelley Lynn said...

Haha. I love that 'Wallace gets a restraining order' Didn't see that about Nighline. Gonna have to check that out. Silly news people :)

David P. King said...

Awesome interview, and I admit using books for all of the above, and then some. :)

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Q: Is Rena based on you?
A: No. If Rena were based on me, Strength would be a short story called, "Wallace Gets a Restraining Order".

That one had me cracking up. Congrats on Strength coming out in 3 days Carrie. And that doorstop and level furniture business made my heart stop. With a book? NEVER!

Anonymous said...

Carrie, now those pics are funny :-)

Heather M. Gardner said...

Trying again.

Hello Carrie.
I tried to leave you a comment earlier and it disappeared. It's been happening to me a lot so I went to the Blogger help forum and asked for help...hence the above comment from Mr. Croll.

Apparently its something to do w/ my settings. Hopefully I've fixed it.

I wanted to tell you that I'm looking forward to the release of your book. It sounds very intriguing. Best of luck w/ the release.
Heather

Mary Ellen Quigley said...

Is paranormal romance about ghost sex?

Ha! That is too funny!!

Mark Means said...

Congrats on the new release and, you're right, Christmas is closer than we think! (ducks and runs) :)

Melissa said...

I like option #3. Although hubby might object... xD

'ghost sex' *shakes head*

Great post, Carrie. I needed some laughs today. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Oh, it killed me to stick the book under there. I was like, "Please don't leave prints, please don't leave prints..." LOL

Thank you, Elise!

Melissa said...

PS... Do I ever have a release-day-party post planned for you! heh heh heh *sly grin*

Carrie Butler said...

Haha! Same here. :)

Oh my goodness. Me too! I wish there were some kind of universal wall we could tack out explanations onto. That way, we could clear up these misconceptions once and for all!

Thank you, Stina!

Carrie Butler said...

Or reading it IN bed! Best of both worlds. ;)

Thanks, Julie!

Carrie Butler said...

*Grins* Thank you, Kyra!

Nancy Thompson said...

First, I LOVE your brag shelf! You know I have one, too, with you front and center. Second, I totally guffawed on the "Is Rena based on you" question!! Third, why is it people think that just 'cuz you published a book you're suddenly wealthy? I could buy the hubs and me a really nice dinner on my monthly royalties, but not much more. *cough*

Can't wait for Thursday!!!!

Nicky Wells said...

Carrie, I love your style. Brilliant feature, totally inspired and I can't WAIT for Thursday! Rock on! XXX

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Juliana! :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Jeff. :)

Hmm... you never know!

Carrie Butler said...

*Grins* Thanks, Alex!

Carrie Butler said...

Hah! Well, I'm definitely thinking about it. It's not like the story and I haven't known each other for two years... ;)

Thanks, Ilima!

Carrie Butler said...

Silly news people, indeed! :) Thanks, Kelley!

Carrie Butler said...

They're multipurpose! All the more reason to buy them. :) Thanks, DPK!

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Sheena-kay!

Hah! I love emphatic responses. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Faith! :)

Unknown said...

Wait, he IS wearing pants? Street cred just dropped a little... ;) If my wife sleeps with your book I'll be all :_( and send you my therapy bill.

>Three days! #KATN13

Anonymous said...

Hahaha! Love this.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I totally have my own "people I know" shelf!!! As budget permits, I expand my collection (and it makes me regret that I bought so many on ebook!)

Carrie Butler said...

Hi Heather!

Oops. I figured his comment was spam and deleted it. It did come through, though! Hmm...

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. :)

- Carrie

Carrie Butler said...

I facepalm all the time, realizing that's what people think I write... LOL

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Mark! :) Hah! Yes, the Christmas countdown doesn't go over well with everyone.

Carrie Butler said...

Aww, come on. Tell hubby that sharing is caring. LOL

Thanks, Melissa! :)

P.S. I am both excited and nervous about your party post... xD

Carrie Butler said...

1. Thank you! When I saw your Facebook photo this weekend, I nearly spit out my drink. It looked so similar to my shelf!

2. Hah! I'm glad. :)

3. It seems to be a common misconception. Oh well. Being able to afford a nice dinner will be a step up for me!

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Nicky! I really appreciate it. :D

Carrie Butler said...

The pants-less edition costs more.

Kidding, kidding! No one quote me on that. This isn't #NALitChat! LOL

And don't worry. I'm sure your wife will wait until you're not home to cuddle the book. ;)

#KATN13

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Laura! :)

Carrie Butler said...

The very best kind of shelf! Oh, I know what you mean. I have to pace my collection, too. :)

Summer Lane said...

LOL. This was epic, Carrie. And I'm glad to know that Wallace is wearing pants. :P

Leigh Covington said...

Can I get that guy to pop out of the cover so I can sleep with him AND the book? Or maybe we could read it together? That would be fine too! hehehe.
Love this post Carrie! Very cute!

Victoria Smith said...

I love this Carrie! I will most assuredly be using my copy as eye candy :D

Jessie Humphries said...

Oh Leigh, you crack me up! And ghost sex?! haha I love it.

Natasha Hanova said...

All I can say is I LOVED this book! Looking forward to the 'official' release!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Oh, dear. You're so funny! Can't wait to read this.

Angela Ackerman said...

OFFICIALLY THE best q & a evar. lol. But that first picture almost broke my heart!

Carrie Butler said...

Haha! Why thank you, Summer. ;)

Carrie Butler said...

That could be the next trend in the literary world! Hologram heroes. ;)

Thanks, Leigh!

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, V! :)

Carrie Butler said...

You heard it here first, folks! Jessie loves ghost sex. ;)

Kidding, kidding!

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you so much, Natasha! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Donna! :D

Carrie Butler said...

Why thank you, Angela! ;) Oh, mine too. You should've seen how fast I threw down the camera to save my book!

Mina Burrows said...

As usual I was busting a gut reading this. Very funny. Some people ask ridiculous questions, but it sure makes for a fun post. :)

Steelerlady2379 said...

Oh Carrie I am sorry but I would never use any book to put under any furniture or as door stop. That to me is book abuse, if you don't want to read it then give it as a gift or donate it to your local library. Me, well I am excited to get to read Strength!
Happy reading and writing*
Teresa
morris1963tess@yahoo.com

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

OMG, I can't believe you stuck it under the leg! Gawd, I would kill if someone did that to one of my books. LOL. Oh, Carrie, you kill me. But I guess one needs sharps wits in this business, eh? How else do we survive?

Great post! You rock, girlfriend!

Carrie Butler said...

Why thank you, Mina! I'm pretty sure ridiculous questions exist to keep us from taking ourselves too seriously. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Good! These were suggestions for non-readers. I know you would give a book all the love and respect it deserves. :)

Thank you!

Carrie Butler said...

Don't worry. The chair wasn't very heavy. I tested it on my hand first. (See where my priorities are? LOL)

Thank you! :D

Mark Murata said...

Or, you could use Strength as something to throw at Nightline.

Carrie Butler said...

Now that is an interesting idea... ;)

Michael Di Gesu said...

TOOOO FUNNY, Carrie...

LOVE the suggestions on how you can use your book.LOL. ANd the q & a section was a scream.

Can't wait until THURSDAY to CHEER YOU ON!!!!!! All the best!


Michael

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Michael! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :D

ONE MORE DAY! :)

Morgan said...

Oh my gosh... I'm DYING with these questions... seriously funny, Carrie!

AND ONE MORE DAY!!!!!!!!!

:D

Carrie Butler said...

Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive! ;)

Thanks, Morgan!

cleemckenzie said...

You know, I've been wanting to ask about the pants for a long time. Thanks for clearing that detail up for me.

Now you'll have to excuse me. I'm going to take my book out from under the chair of the uneven dining room table.

Golden Eagle said...

LOL. I love the list of suggestions. And those questions were great!

Carrie Butler said...

He even wears pants in the book! It's crazy.

Haha! Yes, we wouldn't want anyone to see that. ;)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Eagle! :D

Unknown said...

I love the uses of your book! Although, I don't think holding up a table is a proper use for the book. But it is sure funny, cuz the book is strong. hehe

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Julia! :) I was hoping someone would see the humor there!

Anonymous said...

thank......