The world of publishing is changing at an incredible rate.  eBooks are becoming a bigger part of the industry with the introduction of things like the Sony eReader, the Kindle and now Barnes and Noble's eReader The Nook.  Writers can now choose to have their books published in other arenas outside the major NJ publishers and many of these small press are not only reputable, but thriving.  The Wild Rose Press is one of those small press and it is based right here in Rochester, NY.

The Wild Rose Press is a small publisher that specializes in ePublishing great romances.  Many of their books are also available in print form either through their website or on line at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Borders.  It is a great alternative to not just for writers, but for readers as well.

Liana Laverentz is the author of three contemporary romances with The Wild Rose Press.  For more information please go to her website.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for over twenty years, off and on, with breaks for different life events. My website and business cards say Life is a Journey, and boy is that true. It’s a journey that never goes in a straight line, either. But for the past ten years, I’ve been writing steadily and for the past two, I’ve been writing from home full-time.

What do you write and why?

I write contemporary romance with elements of suspense and romantic suspense. I
t think it’s because the first books I read were Nancy Drew mysteries, and I can’t seem to keep a mystery of some sort out of my stories. I also like the balancing act of romance and suspense, trying to accomplish two goals at once (comes from a lifetime of multi-tasking ?), and keeping the reader on the edge of their seats in both cases.

Who are some authors who have shaped or influenced your writing career?

My favorite authors to read include Barbara Delinsky, Eileen Dreyer, Rachel Lee, and Lisa Gardner. I don’t have a mentor, not in that sense of the word. I’m more of an independent-study stay-at-home student, but I do enjoy their writing immensely. I love the way they play with words.

Why did you choose to submit to The Wild Rose Press? Why a small ePublisher?

I chose to submit to The Wild Rose Press because they had just opened up and I liked what I was seeing. I also knew ebooks were the wave of the future and I most definitely wanted to be a part of it. At the time, my first book, Thin Ice, had already made the rounds of the traditional publishers and was getting rejected because it was 1) too long, and 2) had a hockey player hero, which they said nobody wanted to read about.

Which I couldn’t imagine, living in the northeast, where almost every town has some sort of hockey team, not to mention having the Rochester Americans, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins within driving distance. We watched Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night. Our son played in a pee wee league. I was seeing hockey fans all over the place. So I wrote what I knew.

But the word then was that sports heroes were out. My agent’s last words of advice to me were to “go and win some awards, and come back and we’ll try again.”

Life took me in a different direction, however, and by the time I got back to her, she was retiring from agenting. So I started submitting it on my own. The Wild Rose Press was the first place I submitted it, on a dare, actually, and Rhonda Penders, co-owner of The Wild Rose Press, snatched it right up as it was, no cutting needed.

She likes to tell how she was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia and she just kept reading and reading, and couldn’t put Thin Ice down. Mine was the first full length novel she contracted, saying “This is exactly the kind of book we are looking for.”

So I went with them for the creative freedom they allowed me, and the chance to see my book in print. In the end, Thin Ice won a New Jersey Golden Leaf Award and an EPPIE, so I couldn’t have been more pleased.

Why submit published books to contests?

For the validation it gives your writing when you win. I can be having a really bad writing day, thinking I can’t even string a decent sentence together, and then I’ll look up and see the awards sparkling in the sun and say, “Somebody out there thinks you can write, so you just keep your butt in that chair and you’ll get through this bad patch.”

Why did you submit to the New Jersey RWA contest specifically?

One, it was my local region, two, I knew they were one of the best, and the most prestigious contests to win. I also knew they were judged by readers, and not just authors. Authors are readers, too, but writers look for different things in a book than pure readers do. Readers only care about losing themselves in a good story. Writers can get caught up in technicalities and their preferred writing styles when they judge contests. I know I do. Can’t seem to turn the ‘editor’s brain’ off sometimes.

I’d also been to New Jersey’s conference before and wanted a reason to go again ?.

Where can we find your books and what is currently available?

You can find Thin Ice, Jake’s Return, and Ashton’s Secret in print or ebook at The Wild Rose Press or on Amazon (they’re all available on Kindle), or you can order print copies from your favorite bookstore. The ebook versions can be purchased at all sorts of ebook sites, but again I’d recommend The Wild Rose Press.

New releases?

My latest release is Ashton’s Secret, a murder mystery romance in the Crimson Rose or suspense line at The Wild Rose Press. It’s the story of a woman who goes to a small town in Western New York to look into the suspicious circumstances of her sister’s death, and finds more than she bargained for. This month is our Crimson Rose celebration month, so Ashton’s Secret and all our suspense titles will be on sale for ten percent off.

What is next for Liana Laverentz?

I’m writing another romantic suspense, as well as dabbling in some non-fiction, having to do with women’s health issues. For more information on that, you can check out my blog on Wellness Wednesdays.

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