Comments on: Meet VP of Public Relations Katherine Orr

By: Katherine Orr

Katherine Orr — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:29:25 +0000

Hi everyone— I have answers to your questions but first, thankyou for the hair compliements! I nearly fell off my chair….It sure doesn’t look like that today—electric rollers and then rain….
First, promotion: we still feel bookmarks are good promotional vehicles because they can remind readers of your backlist, so I would suggest doing as inexpensively as possible. Being a pal of your local bookstores does work—even just popping in to sign stock is a nice thing to do to build relationships with staff. And I hear from a lot of bookstore owners that candies and chocolates are a nice reminder of you ( I know, I know, but they still say it!)…
Linda—Unfortunately we do not have coupon functionality right now. We’re currently investigating gift certificates in the eBook store. We’re also looking at this option on the print site.
We encourage authors to highlight that eBooks are always available, for front kist and our increasing backlist. we are adding to our backlist eBooks on a nongoing basis, titles that were not previously available in this format so readers can find the books they missed. And we are always looking for suggestions. I will get an answer on the Medicals!–back to you shortly….cheers, KO

By: Geri Krotow

Geri Krotow — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:01:30 +0000

I was lucky to see Katherine in person this past May, hard at work during the opening night of the Heart of a Woman exhibit in SoHo.
Linda, your idea for the eharlequin gift card is genius! As a Harlequin author who lives overseas it would be wonderful to be able to offer this to my readers and friends I’m making here in Russia.
Thanks for all of your hard work, Katherine!

By: Alexandra Ivy

Alexandra Ivy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:49:19 +0000

Is there any promotion you consider a waste of resources, such as bookmarks or newsletters or booksignings that weren’t arranged by the publisher?

By: Tawny Weber

Tawny Weber — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:30:18 +0000

Hi Katherine! I’m going to echo the awesome hair comment

And to thank you for all the fabulous work you do to bring awareness and positive focus to the Harlequin/Silhouette books and the authors.

Samantha already asked the big questions that were in my mind, so I’ll just add on to those by asking what effect you’re seeing to sales with the shift to offer so many of the titles in ebook, and do you think there’s a promotion angle that authors should be using to take advantage of that availability?

By: Linda Warren

Linda Warren — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:26:50 +0000

Well, I had to go back and look at the hair. Yes, great hair and I’m jealous. I have fine, thin hair that’s always been a challenge.

Now to my question–the important stuff. A lot of authors run contests on their Web sites to draw readers and give away gift cards to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Borders. I would love to give away a eHarlequin card. That way I know the reader is buying Harlequin books, even if it’s not mine. I write for Harlequin so that’s where I want my hard earned money to go.

Any chance of eHarlequin gift cards in the future?

Thanks for sharing your amazing career at Harlequin.
Linda

By: Molly Evans

Molly Evans — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:01:31 +0000

I have to second my vote on the cool hair.
One area of marketing and promotion I’d personally love to see if the Medicals in North America. Any chance of that happening in my lifetime?
Molly

By: Laura Resnick

Laura Resnick — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:11:13 +0000

Okay, this is totally off topic and irrelevant, and does not acknowledge this interesting interview and list of accomplisments… but can I just say? I love your hair! In your photo. I’ve always wanted my hair to look like that, and it never has.

LauraR

By: Samantha Hunter

Samantha Hunter — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:43:17 +0000

Welcome Katherine. Wow, what a history.

When I sold my first Blaze 5 years ago, everyone I told, even people who don’t ever read romance, knew that selling to Harlequin was a big deal. It’s a household name.

I’ve popped up to the Toronto offices now and then, and love to meet everyone. Hope I’ll get the chance to pop in and say hi sometime,

For discussion, what is the biggest challenge in promoting Harlequin? and if authors only have time to do one or two things to promote, what do you think is the most effective/important thing to do?

Sam