Here's a tip for all of our readers. You'll love this interview. Mary Ann is an interviewer's dream. When you ask a question, she doesn't simply answer with a blunt yes or no. No way, this successful and talented lady digs right in there and welcomes you into her life with open arms. You've heard the phrase "Ask and you shall receive?" Well, Mary Ann tells you what you want to know with a flourish. I really enjoyed this interview and learned a lot in the process.

Thanks, Mary Ann! I'm really glad we had this time together and I hope everyone else enjoys getting to know you as much as I have.

~ What made you decide to become a publisher? ~

Trees. It sounds funny, but it's the truth! I was personally outraged when I learned that 50% of all paperback books printed today are destroyed unsold. I got mad and started researching the industry. I thought it was environmentally irresponsible for an entire industry to think it normal, no not even normal, but to think a book a "success" if only half of a book's inventory had to be thrown away. The coveted status of a "50% sell through" means that only half of the books had to be destroyed, because the other 50% sold. It is a high price financially for an author to pay to have books destroyed because a tax write off holds more appeal to a publisher than increasing marketing efforts.

I originally started researching the romance niche and the publishing industry after having been an avid romance fan for years. I wanted to know the left brain business stuff of what it would take to get published. I had thought about writing a romance novel just to keep my creative brain cells active, since the consulting I was doing at the time was so out of proportion, non-creative, analytical stuff. It was during my research I ran across the 50% statistic and my emotions and brain took a different direction away from becoming a writer. Instead of writing a novel and hoping I was the one in 3,000 who actually is lucky enough to get published, I realized that all of my business background and marketing experience might better serve helping talented and creative authors become published. Thus LionHearted was born.

~ What are your qualifications? ~

My personal business background includes over 20 years in administration and management of multi-million dollar companies. I've hired, trained and supervised hundreds of home office personnel, written and compiled sales training manuals, developed marketing concepts, created policies and procedures and conducted training for thousands of sales representatives and hundreds of home office personnel.

With my husband, Kim, we have built personal network sales organizations of 40,000+ representatives earning us six figure incomes. We are both highly respected consultants in the industry - sort of a swat-team that can go into chaos and fix it, or most often, put together a company from scratch for the owners. Additionally, I have been a legal secretary in corporate law, and have eight years experience behind the scenes in radio and TV broadcasting - the creative aspects of which I believe has been invaluable to our long term corporate vision. I view LionHearted as being in the entertainment business, not just publishing.

I'm published in non-fiction (a work I did for hire), and was editor for a cruise fan club magazine. The Wall Street Journal's 1998 Almanac (the one book a year put out by WSJ) included an article on women in business, and of the 6.4 million women owned businesses in this country, I'm honored to say myself and LionHearted Publishing are included in the book not only with an interview, but with a quote.

In addition to my corporate responsibilities as president, and directing the long term corporate vision of LionHearted as CEO, I have served since LionHearted's inception as one of the acquisition editors and I'm actively in the loop on the review and final selection of manuscripts.

~ How and why did you start this company? ~

Why, is easy - I felt I could make a difference in an industry I thought needed new publishers.

How, is an evolutionary process. First, I believe a part of being an entrepreneur must be in the genes - my grandmother owned and ran two huge manufacturing plants, in this country and overseas. You either have a "pioneer" spirit in your blood, or you don't. An overwhelming majority of company founders and owners in the USA are first or second generation immigrants - my dad immigrated when he was six.

Being an entrepreneur in the "old boy" publishing world is definitely not for the meek, faint-hearted, nor even the 'quick-buck' mentality. The upper echelon (chairman, president, CEO, owner) of many corporate book publishing conglomerates have a pretty thick glass ceiling that most of the female VP's, Senior Editors, etc. never break through. The exceptions normally founded their own small book press or magazine.

Making the decision to start a company such as LionHearted Publishing, Inc. was not an easily made or casual decision. Having had all my experience in business I knew what I was getting into. A lot had to be given up or postponed. It has been in some aspects a predictable roller-coaster of ups and downs, but I have willingly devoted 80 hour weeks to the ride since the company's inception.

"How" is more difficult to answer - it takes persistence against all odds and a focus that doesn't waiver. It takes personal assets and turning them into cash which is poured into the company. It takes guts, energy and enormous amounts of time.

~ What do you look for in a prospective writer? ~

An enthusiasm for revisions. This separates the amateur writer from the professional. I'm not sure, but I believe we ask for a higher percentage of revisions than other houses. This could be due to two factors: 1) We don't get the sheer volume of submissions that an established NYC publisher gets, and 2) out of every hundred submissions, two or three, with revisions will fit our editorial vision.

Why not give the author the opportunity to do revisions rather than just reject the work? Most authors can pull off revisions, but some can't - it does take some maturity and skill level of an author to successfully tackle an editor's requests.

Probably 90% of the books we've accepted need some sort of revision work. I can count on one hand the times an author received "the call" and heard "no revisions required." Sometimes revisions are very minor, other times it can take an author several months in their spare "writing time" to complete the task. An editor's revision letter is normally two to eight pages, goes into detail, makes suggestions, gets the author thinking and hopefully excited about what the work will look like revised.

We've asked revisions of new, unpublished authors, and even authors with over 100 books to their credit. Most of our authors do them graciously and with an energetic spark and it is fun to share in their enthusiasm. They can see what the editor sees - and understand how the work will become a stronger book because of the revisions. I'm not saying that revisions don't occasionally cause some hair pulling, nail biting and maybe even a few tears, but I doubt an author who has ever completed revisions for any publisher didn't learn something in the process that makes her next book easier, cleaner, and less revision work. Once an editor and an author are in harmony it is easier for the author to produce new books for that editor, and the editor knows the capability of the author and can push her to do her best, or even better than her best! I think it is unfortunate that many editors change houses so frequently as each house may have a different vision of what their editors should acquire. What an author wrote for an editor at one house may not be close to what that same editor now seeks with a new employer - and the author is starting over again from scratch.

A friendly attitude is always a plus in an author, it makes the task of working with them a much more pleasant experience for all.

~ What is the one thing, in your opinion, that makes a manuscript stand out over the others? ~

Characters in conflict. That's it. Without conflict the book has no purpose. Without strong characters the story has no appeal.

~ What is your average number of submissions per month and the rejection percentage ~

Submissions range from over 300 a month down to about 50 per month, depending on if it is over the Christmas / Thanksgiving holidays (the slow period). We reject 95-97%.

~ Do you accept previously unpublished writers? ~

Yes. We receive submissions from previously published, agented, unagented, and unpublished. The majority of the stories we have fallen in love with are from unagented, and previously unpublished authors very familiar with the romance genre. They are not necessarily members of RWA (Romance Writers' of America) but romance is what they love to read and what they love to write. However, we are fortunate that there are such organizations such as RWA and groups such as WCRG that highlight romance because such groups are wonderful sources of romance submissions. Such groups also help writers to become more knowledgeable about all of those "unwritten rules" that govern romance that can only be learned from being an avid fan of the genre. I can't stress enough that if you don't read romance and don't love it, don't write it. Write what you love.

~ Can your guidelines be found on the internet? ~

Yes at www.LionHearted.com/guidelines.htm. We have also posted the Top 10 Reasons Why Editors Reject, and three author friendly articles on writing Conflict, Characters, and Point of View, OR, send a SASE and receive guidelines, the Top 10 Reasons, a list of titles and an order form for our books.

~ Tell me a little about yourself. ~

Kim and I have no children and have been together 23 years, most of them working side by side. We love Keeshond dogs and will adopt a couple of puppies in maybe a year or so, our last two Keeshonds died during the past two years - after 19 years of always having a loving Keeshond under foot. We are close to our families, see them all once or twice a year even though they live quite a distance away.

We both love funny or uplifting movies, and manage a "movie date night" at least twice a month. Fortunately, we live in Lake Tahoe, and can take a break from the stress of business by a short hike, hugging a pine tree, a walk on the beach, or visit friends and neighbors who are like an old fashioned small town. We find ourselves frequently listening to classical or new age music, in between a little Celine Dion. Music and watching the snow fall while a log is on the fire in the office can do a lot to reduce corporate stress. It is why we live in Tahoe not New York to run the publishing company.

I love nature, and when weather permits the french door to my office is open, so I can watch the small squirrel "Chippy" sneak in and steal nuts from a basket while I work. "Thumper" the large squirrel is not so brave and only comes and "thumps" on the glass of the doors to be fed peanuts.

Lake Tahoe has a couple of resident bald eagles, and it is always a thrill to watch them when they circle the mountain range behind our offices. We also have deer in the foothills, black bears and coyotes depending on the drought and food supply, though I have never seen a bear. We do quite a bit of business traveling which keeps us from getting "mountain fever" and trips away only make us appreciate living in Tahoe more than ever. Send me a postcard with your name and address and I'll send you a post card of Lake Tahoe... you'll see why I love this place and think it a great environment to plan future author workshops and conferences. LionHearted's PO Box is 618, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448.

On a rare occasion now, I get the creative urge to sew a new outfit. I'm quite good at sewing, and used to design and sew costumes for the longest running children's TV show in the Southwest. Once I even did an evening gown for a beauty contestant. Now, most of my creative energy goes into building LionHearted or helping nurture author talent, as one of the acquisition editors I am frequently the one who does the line edit and sends those long revision letters.

~ What are the three most irritating things that you encounter when dealing with a prospective writer? Please list by means of importance. With #1 being the top dog of all irritations, and so on. ~

1) Many authors concentrate so much on their writing they fail to research what a particular editor or house is buying - a big mistake as far as editors are concerned! If you go through all that trouble of getting the proper editor name to submit to why would you not follow through with the rest of the research and find out what kinds of books she has accepted in the past? Many authors in their understandable enthusiasm hear of a new publisher and ship out a manuscript without knowing anything about the publisher, what the editor seeks, and frequently don't bother reading the guidelines. You can best tell what a publisher seeks by reading what they have already published.

If you read mystery, write mystery. If you read category, write category. If you read historicals, write historicals. Break into the romance industry in the subgenre you love to read the most before spreading your wings across subgenres. Romance ten years ago is not what it is today. Romance five years ago is not what it is today. Every subgenre evolves and changes, you have got to stay current. If you were a dress designer instead of an author, would you stop checking out the competition if you wanted to be successful in your career? Of course not. So, why do so many authors stop reading and only concentrate on writing? Why do published authors stop reading their competition? A dress designer wouldn't stop checking out other designer's latest styles. I believe one of the biggest professional mistakes a writer can make in this competitive industry is to stop reading in the genre in which she wants to be published - or in which she wants to stay published!

How many big names of romance from ten years ago, fifteen years ago, twenty years ago are still on top? What happened? I think some stopped reading the competition and one day their writing wasn't as crisp, as fresh, etc. and the competition passed them by.

It is not hard to do research on other writers, and what editors want. It can even be a lot of fun and a relaxing break - simply read the books an editor selects or a house publishes. I buy books from all different publishers of romance and save them for plane trips. Don't let your writer ego get in the way of your research. It doesn't matter if you think the book you read is good, bad or mediocre, or that you can write better. If you read what is out there you know where you stand with your talent and maybe you even pick up a thing or two to incorporate into your craft just like a dress designer might get ideas from seeing another designer's creations that leads to a whole new tangent. If you want to write a category for the Temptation line, then religiously read the Temptation line. Lines and tastes evolve and change, editors change houses. Stay current with what is being published. Reading a book or two each month will help keep you current.

Additionally, what better way to capture an editor's attention then to say in your opening sentence in your query letter that you feel your contemporary story is comparable to the crisp, tight style of Lucy Grijalva in Undercover Love. Or, you feel you write with the emotional appeal and pull of Lee Ann Dansby in her medieval Forever, My Knight? An editor then knows you are serious about being published because you've taken the trouble to research the different houses and felt your work identified closely with works already acquired. That is why you are submitting to that particular editor or house, you feel your book is right for them!

2) An author who doesn't take an editor's letter seriously when the editor says she would welcome a work back with revisions. I recently overheard a group of writers discussing editor correspondence and most were of the opinion that this is just a "polite brush off." What foolish thinking. An editor has limited time and would not make the effort to write a letter and request to see the work back if she were not interested!

3) A rejected author who writes back to the editor, not really so much to thank her for any input beyond a form letter, but in reality is trying to take a stand and convince the editor "logically" that the book is great and just what the editor should want. Like art, the beauty of a book is in the eye of the beholder. If you and your best friend with similar taste went together to an art museum, she may love a Picasso and you see nothing but blocks and an artist who was probably high on alcohol or drugs. However, you love Monet, but your friend sees nothing but a bunch of fuzzy paintings. That's how different taste can be in the selection of books. Your story may be a great book, but if it doesn't spark an editor's interest or feel right for their house you won't make a sale. Learn the lesson: It is the work that is being rejected, not the author. Do your homework, read what they publish, dissect the guidelines and submit something closer to what they like! We have numerous authors that we accepted a second or maybe a third submission from, but turned down the prior submissions.

~ What would you suggest a writer do when they receive an encouraging rejection letter? ~

Frame it! Learn from it! Write the editor a heartfelt thank you note for her time and her input. Keep that editor in mind for future submissions. Remember the lesson: they rejected that particular work not you. If the editor doesn't say she would like to see it back - she doesn't want to see it back. She was just kind enough to take the time to try and help you along your journey as a writer. Send her a thank you, it puts your name under her nose again in a positive light.

~ After you receive a query/synopsis - approximately how long does it take you to reply to the author? ~

A query and synopsis is normally answered within the week it arrives. We prefer to receive queries and a synopsis by mail rather than email, please snail mail them with a SASE.

A query/synopsis/partial (first 3 chapters) is normally answered within a month.

A query/synopsis/full manuscript is normally reviewed within four to twelve weeks.

~ What are your requirements for a query/synopsis, in regards to length of the document(s)? ~

All query letters should contain a minimum of one paragraph that gives a thumbnail description of the storyline. The query letter should also contain the manuscript word count, type of romance subgenre (we only publish romance), if you are previously published- a bit about yourself. The synopsis should be 2 to 10 pages on average. A good rule is one page for every 10,000 word count.

We never buy from a partial submission, it doesn't matter how many books you've had published. Acquisition decisions are always made from a full manuscript.

~ How many employees do you have working for your company? Do they also have the authority to recommend books for acquisition? ~

All of our editorial and art staff are independent contractors. We flux between three up to 12 people monthly depending on the work load. Yes, Preview Readers, Assistant Editors, and Acquisition Editors all have the authority to recommend a book for acquisition, and 99% of the time their recommendations are followed. The final decision is mine, as I am the only editor on staff who has read all the books acquired and therefore the only one who knows if a work is too similar to one already acquired.

~ Are you currently accepting new authors? ~

Yes. We currently acquire about two or three books each month as we are continuing to ramp up for production on a regular basis soon, and we know we will need more inventory in the queue. Books acquired now will more than likely be released in late 1999 or beyond, depending on the romance subgenre.

~ What are your paying rates? ~

10% royalties on paperback books and 30% on ebooks. No reserve against returns. No joint accounting. A partial advance is paid when the contract is signed, and royalties from sales. Our books do not go out of print for extended periods of time, because we do not destroy our inventory. Some early published titles with smaller print runs will likely have a second print run as inventory gets low.

~ Why should a writer turn to your company for possible publication? ~

First, I would recommend visiting our web site and seeing if you like our publishing house philosophy and vision. If you seek an established publisher with a 50 year track record that is going to put your book on the shelf for a short two weeks exposure, fame, and sales, go to NYC.

Second, I would recommend reading our books. This is especially important because we are a new publishing house with a different vision of romance. If what you have written looks like it might fit what we have already published, and falls within our guidelines regarding conflict, characters and point of view - then submit to us.

Our guidelines are not hollow editorial rhetoric - every word was carefully chosen and should be digested by authors. Also, please pay careful attention to the Top 10 Reasons for Rejection posted on our web site. It was developed for your benefit. If you have too many points of view in your work it will be rejected. Why try to convince an editor in a cover letter that you can rewrite it with only two points of view if the editor likes the story? It will not be the same read when taken down to two points of view, it is almost impossible for an editor to give the work a fair shot in an "as is" condition. Why subject yourself to a known rejection? Why not rewrite a partial from only two points of view, send it with a synopsis and see if the editor asks to see the rest? We're patient. We'll wait for you to take it down to two points of view so you can put your best foot forward rather than a murky one.

Third, if you have trouble attracting an agent for your romance novel because you write outside the NYC mold of category romance (or you can't write a category to save your soul), or you like to blend sub-genres in romance to keep you feeling creative and readers on their toes - we might be your publisher.

Or, if you are a talented mid-list author whose opportunities are fading in NYC we might be your publisher. Opportunities are almost not existent for the unpublished in NYC, but not at LionHearted. We allow authors tremendous creative freedom - as long as it is still a romance.

If you don't read romance, don't try to pawn your work off as a romance by adding the word "romance" to your suspense thriller calling it a "romantic suspense." It is a waste of your time, our time, and you'll get rejected.

Why should a writer turn to our company? Our advance is good and the percentage royalties are higher than most publishers for beginning writers. But, more importantly, we routinely welcome new talent if the author can have the patience to grow with us. Our staff is a bit old fashioned and we do nurture our authors through the revision process. Our books don't go out of print for eons, extending exposure and increasing author earnings. We plan international expansion, and have wonderful personal hollywood connections for movies and TV. Visit our web site at http://www.LionHearted.com, for submission and author guidelines.

Thanks for the interview Mary Ann. It was indeed a real pleasure getting to know the wondrously unique woman behind the company.

Best of luck to you and Kim for many years to come.

Bobbi Gentry Meyer 3/24/98

For more interviews, reviews and information on the romance industry, visit the Writers Club Romance Group - keyword WCRG on AmericaOnline.