Susan the Neon Nurse ([info]neonnurse) wrote,
@ 2007-02-09 19:18:00
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Current mood: amazed

Another great opportunity missed!
How's this for a totally genius idea?

Romance novels star (your name here)

By SARAH SKIDMORE
Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- This Valentine's Day, one publisher wants you to be the one doing the bodice-ripping.

Books By You says it sells thousands of personalized romance novels each year with titles such as "ER Fever" and "Pirates of Desire," where the reader is the star. It's not Bronte, but customers are going crazy for the novels that make them the main characters.

"I just wanted something unique and different," said Kym Sprague, who bought a book for her boyfriend of three years. "I thought it was pretty neat."

Customers answer 20 to 30 questions about themselves and their beloved, ranging from body type to pet names. Then the details are woven into one of the company's eight pre-formatted novels.

Clients go a step further and have their photos added to the book jacket. Then the personalized novel is shipped directly to them.

For more of the story, click here.


(22 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]trolleypup
2007-02-10 02:53 am UTC (link)
Did you mean to double post?

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:06 am UTC (link)
No, sorry. I had forgotten to "reset" the tab in my Firefox that is dedicated to the "post" page. It was still on the "successful post" link when I saved it, so when I restarted, it posted again.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]dawnmipb
2007-02-10 03:00 am UTC (link)
Well, the SF/Fantasy market is still open, if you want to give it a try.....

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:07 am UTC (link)
I was thinking more along the lines of selling the things. I think trying to write to spec like this would drive me crazy(er) in short order!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]nellorat
2007-02-10 03:12 am UTC (link)
That's interesting. Over the past few years, I've seen ads for children's books like that, but this is the first I've heard of custom-made books for adults.

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:08 am UTC (link)
Those people need to discover fanfic! :) But hey, if they are having fun, what the heck.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]misachan
2007-02-10 03:12 am UTC (link)
Dude! They're like grown-up versions of the books my parents used to get me when I was little. For a few years every birthday I got a book where I'd have adventures with the Care Bears or meet elves.

Of course, I was five. Don't people usually grow out of wanting to read about themselves at some point?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]dawnmipb
2007-02-10 03:22 am UTC (link)
Don't people usually grow out of wanting to read about themselves at some point?

And then there's the whole Mary Sue concept....

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:13 am UTC (link)
I think this shows Mary Sue is a wholly natural phenomenon. Even mundanes can't resist the pull!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]janetmiles
2007-02-10 03:10 pm UTC (link)
I dunno; Lisa Gardner has had a contest for several of her novels where you can submit your name (or one of your friends) as a victim. Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:16 am UTC (link)
I've seen that done for charity by several authors, although of course now I can't think of any of their names.... My son Sterling was an evil scientist in one of Somtow's books, and IIRC correctly he got killed. :)

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:12 am UTC (link)
I don't think people do, although maybe they stop admitting it in public. :) I mean, *I* always skim to see if my name was included in those memes where they randomly choose members of the person's Flist.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]deke
2007-02-10 04:35 am UTC (link)
Wow, talk about the ultimate vanity press!

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:16 am UTC (link)
Yes, it's the vanity win on both levels!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]deke
2007-02-10 04:37 am UTC (link)
Oh, and I forgot. Those book with your child's name are so passe. You can now have your child's name and face inserted into a Spider-Man DVD where Spidey takes his mask off and it's YOUR CHILD!

"Dang, little Billy's gotten buff!" LOL

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:17 am UTC (link)
Now THAT is freaky and weird. But I bet kids love it!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]padparadscha
2007-02-10 05:44 am UTC (link)
... Yeah, I found out about that over Christmas.

Some gifts give a message. Apparently, the message I got this Christmas was "You have weird friends."

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:18 am UTC (link)
I have 'em too, but being weird myself, it works for me. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]bojojoti
2007-02-10 07:15 am UTC (link)
I don't even read romance novels. Barf.

Now, if it was a story about a swashbuckling, one-eye pirate with her sidekick albino troll...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]neonnurse
2007-02-19 05:19 am UTC (link)
I don't much either, except for Georgette Heyer's, which I adore.

Maybe you should contact the company and offer to write them the pirate story! :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]bojojoti
2007-02-20 04:06 am UTC (link)
I'm not familiar with Georgette Heyer. I shouldn't have said "Barf" about romance novels, but I was thinking about the run of the mill swill. I read Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney, which always has some romance, but they also include suspense and mystery. I'll have to keep an eye out for Georgette.

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[info]neonnurse
2007-02-23 02:40 am UTC (link)
She wrote mainly historical novels (I am not as fond of her mysteries) and her romances tend to be set in the Regency period in England. She's a plotting genius, and sometimes very funny. Definitely worth watching for!

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