Wrt romance sales -- would you say some of that is due to "brand loyalty," or rather, author loyalty?
Not any more than any other author's sales are due to brand loyalty. Which is to say, at one point in its early history, Harlequin defended the sales as a product of brand loyalty -- and it can be argued that category novels had a basic number. But... as many category novelists kind of broke out and began to sell -better- than their category peers ... I would put it this way:
You get the first chance for free because you're category (if you are) and if the reader has subscribed at that time; you get the rest the same way anyone else does -- by writing a novel that appeals enough to its audience they're willing to go along for a second book. And they'll follow you at that point, the way anyone who appreciates or loves the work of any author in any genre does.
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branchandroot
Re: sales question
Date: 2004-11-08 08:21 am (UTC)Not any more than any other author's sales are due to brand loyalty. Which is to say, at one point in its early history, Harlequin defended the sales as a product of brand loyalty -- and it can be argued that category novels had a basic number. But... as many category novelists kind of broke out and began to sell -better- than their category peers ... I would put it this way:
You get the first chance for free because you're category (if you are) and if the reader has subscribed at that time; you get the rest the same way anyone else does -- by writing a novel that appeals enough to its audience they're willing to go along for a second book. And they'll follow you at that point, the way anyone who appreciates or loves the work of any author in any genre does.