I just finished reading Brenda Joyce’s new book, “The Promise,” the latest  in her intriguing de Warenne family dynasty. This is Alexi and Elysse’s story. I always enjoy Joyce’s books and this one is no exception. Do you have a favorite book in the series? I think mine is Rex and Blanche’s story, “The Perfect Bride.” What can I say? I guess I’m a sucker for damaged people – he’s lost a leg and she suffers serious flashbacks from a childhood trauma.

I am also looking forward to the return of Joyce’s Deadly series featuring amateur sleuth Francesa Cahill. Joyce wrote eight highly entertaining books in the series before she says her publisher asked her to put them aside. What a bummer for fans of the series who were looking forward to Francesca’s long-awaited marriage to that hot Calder Hart. Theirs must be the longest engagement in romance novel history!

The latest Deadly book comes out in March 2011. According to Joyce, she’d like to write three more books in the series but that depends on how well the books sell. I, for one, can’t wait to buy all three! If you haven’t tried this series, you should. For more details on the new Deadly books, check out Joyce’s letter on the subject. 

Next up for me is Madeline Hunter’s latest offering, “Sinful in Satin,” the third book in The Rarest Blooms series. Any Madeline Hunter book is a special treat.

That’s the upside of a long bus commute into the city…plenty of time to read!

If the shoe fits…

I’m currently reading Eloisa James’ latest book, “A Kiss at Midnight,” sort of a retelling of Cinderella.

So far, I am enjoying this saucy incarnation of a Cinderella who is no door mat. As a girl listening to the fairy tale, I always wished poor Cindy would show some backbone and give her evil stepmother a good kick in the shins.

Reading the book got me thinking about James’ other job — as a literature professor at Fordham University. And did you know that best-selling author Julia Quinn went to Harvard? That’s right. Harvard.

We’re obviously dealing with some extremely intelligent women — which is not always the image people have of romance writers. 

Check out this 2009 article from USA Today entitled, “Scholarly Writers Empower the Romance Genre.”

An agent with a well-known agency said recently that it is not unusual for a first-time romance author to get a $2,500 advance. Sometimes, she added, that advance can be upped to $5,000 or $10,000 (not including royalties).

Another romance author tells me she received a $7,000 advance for the first book, $8,000 for the second and $9,000 for the third title in a three-book deal with a major publisher.

Another signed a multi-book deal, with a mid-sized, up-and-coming publisher, which included a $2,000 advance per title.

For more detailed numbers, including royalties, check out this candid discussion of earnings from cozy mystery writer Ellery Adams.

To learn more about advances from the specific publishing houses, click here.

Of course, some of the biggest stars in the genre do very well. Here’s a look at some recent deals which show a range of advances:

NYT bestselling author Madeline Hunter’s next four historical romances, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley, in a major deal ($500,000 and up) by Pam Hopkins at Hopkins Literary Associates

#1 NYT bestselling author Julia Quinn’s three novels, to Lyssa Keusch at Harper, in a major deal ($500,000 and up), by Steven Axelrod of The Axelrod Agency

RITA-award winning author of Not Quite A Husband, Sherry Thomas’s next three Victorian/Edwardian historical romances, moving to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley, in a good deal ($100,000 – $250,000), by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency

NYT bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann’s FUTURE PERFECT, to Shauna Summers at Ballantine, in a good deal ($100,000 – $250,000), by Steven Axelrod at The Axelrod Agency.

NYT and USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean’s next four Regency romances, to Carrie Feron at Avon, in a significant deal ($251,000 – $499,000), by Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group

2010 RITA nominee for The Virgin’s Daughters Jeane Westin’s THE QUEEN’S LADY SPY, to Ellen Edwards at NAL, in a nice deal ($1 – $49,000), by Danielle Egan-Miller at Browne & Miller Literary Associates.
 
Tracy Madison’s three holiday books, to Gail Chasan at Silhouette Special Edition, in a nice deal ($1 – $49,000), by Michelle Grajkowski at 3 Seas Literary Agency.

Interesting, no?