As a business communicator, I see how the world has adjusted, and still is, adjusting to the various means and trends of communicating (e-print, e-news, INTERNET, hello!). IMHO, it’s a given and bottom-line advantageous for corporations to rethink how they do business and communicate.

And as an aspiring romance author, I believe this holds true for any other company, with stockholders (i.e. publishers).

Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the standard publishing tradition of receiving an advance and royalties for one’s hard work and talent.

However, I am not opposed to having my work published by an only-digital publisher such as Samhain, Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave, and Loose ID–to name a few (although Samhain and Ellora’s Cave are doing print). These e-publishers allow authors who may never publish traditionally, the chance to have their work published and their talent displayed.

I’ve been following self-publishing and have friends who have gone that route and have become successful. They did so because they couldn’t find a traditional publisher (or agent) willing to take the chance on their work.

I’m sure we’ve heard plenty of stories how a self-published author, who was scoffed by traditional publishers, goes on to make millions. That’s great and I’m happy for them.

But I’m also happy for the author who, after self-publishing, receives accolades and (guess what?), an agent—after their book sold a few thousand copies. This is a monumental feat for pre-published authors who have developed personal relationships with the big “R”—rejection letters. It shows determination, confidence and resilience.

I’m not sold on publishers that offer to help “self” publish, but charge a large fee and want half the royalties (i.e. Harlequin Horizons, who have subsequently changed their name to DellArte Press). If I’m going to self publish, I’d like to do the work and reap the benefits.

As with anything, you have to weigh the good and bad. With self-publishing and digital publishing, you have to be aware of the pitfalls and disadvantages. Do your homework. Talk to people who have been through the process, just as you would talk to authors who have dealt with certain traditional publishers.

I’m not looking for millions. (But if they come, hey that’s a different story!) I’m looking for a nice bottom line that my business partners (agent, publishers) and I can enjoy. My main goal is to offer romance readers what they want—a story that makes you sigh, cry and beg for more.

Like most African-American teenage girls, my bedroom walls were plastered with pictures of the Sylvers (does anybody remember them?) and the Jackson 5. My mother used to have a fit when I hung them up with massive piles of tape. “You’re going to peel the paint off the walls,” she yelled.

So …I used less tape on the next picture.

Every morning before I left the house for school, I would say good-bye and blow kisses to the fifty or so pictures and posters I had collected from magazines such as Right On! Ebony, and any teen magazine that featured the Jackson 5. I also had a special kiss on the lips for Marlon. Hey, I was a teenager in love!

My girlfriends and I used to have pajama parties and divide the brothers amongst ourselves. One girlfriend loved Jermaine, and another was crazy about Tito. Marlon was and is, my favorite Jackson.

But we all loved Michael.

I’ll always remember my first J5 concert at Madison Square Garden in the early ‘70s. Dressed to the nines in hot pants and strappy sandals that tied around the legs (Amazingly, they’re popular again. If only I’d kept mine, um …), my friends and I strutted in—with the other ten thousand teenagers—like we owned the place.

I loved my parents for taking five screaming girls to a J5 concert—not once, but twice. We cried and sang along with each song. When Michael yelled out to the audience, “Just look over your shoulder, honey…I’ll be there…” we went ballistic!

I could go on about how much Michael Jackson and his brothers influenced me growing up. I could also go on about how Michael’s solo career kept me dancing and singing along with my three daughters, who are also big MJ fans.

But I won’t.

Instead, I’ll pop “Butterfly” and “Wanna be Startin’ Something” into my car CD and jam on the way home. When I get there, I’ll raise a glass of whatever, and play every Jackson 5 song starting with “I Want You Back” on the “Diana Ross presents: The Jackson 5” cd.

It’s forty years of music, so my tribute will definitely last all weekend. And possibly, beyond.

MJ: Gone too soon.

Although, ALPHA characters in romance novels shine like brilliant gems, and get the job done, there have been everyday men and—because this is a Memorial Day tribute—women, who have fought in the name of freedom, or what’s right.

I am grateful to the fallen soldiers who have protected us through threats foreign and domestic. We remember you.

Happy Memorial Day.

To this day, she’s the one person, outside my immediate family, who can persuade me to do anything—okay, almost anything.

Some twenty plus years ago, at the tender age of 27, (corporate fresh meat) she took me under her wing and showed me how swim around the sharks. I was taught how to dress for success, exude confidence and most important, to be on my game at all times. I marveled at the way she handled herself—with style and knowledge. No one received more or less of her time or respect. She conducted business with the CEO, vice-presidents, other communications professionals and the cleaning lady. I’m indebted to her for teaching me “how to.”

As far as my literary endeavors are concerned, next to my parents, my mentor was and is still my biggest cheerleader. She was my unofficial PR person and responsible for my first speechwriting gig.

Looking back at my career as an educator and a communications professional, I’ve discovered it takes a special type of person to take another under his or her wing. It takes a giving, confident, and secure person to take an interest in someone else’s success.

For anyone who has started over or just started in general—you know there’s always something you don’t know, or need to learn. In the beginning, you experience a level of frustration when you realize nothing you’ve learned thus far seems to make a difference.

Yet, many of us have had someone in our corner who cared about our success as much as we did. If you didn’t have a mentor, you obtained knowledge from someone—a coworker, a professor, a lover or a stranger–perhaps the author of a “how to book.” Whatever the medium, the bottom line is that someone took the time to explain.

As I start yet another career in my life, one of a romance author, I’ve been blessed again to meet people in the publishing industry who don’t mind taking the time to help and/or mentor a newcomer. They don’t mind because they remember starting at point A, treading lightly to point B and finally easing into the big “C,”–a rewarding career.

Although she’s retired now, my mentor makes it her business to email or call me. She tells me that she enjoys my column and then in the same breath provides unsolicited, yet exacting criticism.

I’ve learn that mentoring someone or taking a person under your wing is free, gratis, doesn’t cost a dime, not one red cent—nada. It’s also satisfying and if anything, it makes you a better person.

For those of us still trying to get to heaven or redeem ourselves for some indiscretion, mentoring someone or taking an interest in a “newbie’s” success may earn us a few bonus points.

In romance novels, the couple behaves as if they’re in love everyday—not only when it’s commercially cool to buy flowers and candy. Couples in romance novels exchange glances, touches, inside jokes, and body fluids often—not just on Valentine’s Day. They argue, cry, throw things and then make up– not just on Valentines’ Day. And I love it! They may have conflict and issues to resolve, but ultimately, they find their way back to love.

Naysayers may think that I’m living in a fantasy world or that I’m wishful thinking — love and affection every day only happen in the movies and romance novels. But that’s okay. According to Romance Writers of America, in 2007 romance fiction became the largest share of the consumer book market with $1.375 billion in estimated revenue. So hello …I’m not the only one who wants their love everyday!

I have another thought. (Go ahead say it: oh joy)

Romance and love are what we make it. In our busy lives, it’s hard to be romantic every day, but it CAN happen. You invested a hell of a lot of time pursuing your love interest, now perhaps it’s time to work just as hard to keep them. More important, we don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to express affection or undying love and devotion.

If you’re single, give yourself flowers, a hug and a sizzling, romantic novel and then call up a friend. (wink) If you’re married or have a significant other, go ahead and buy the flowers on Valentine’s Day. (You may not be able to get in the house if you don’t.) I have a girlfriend who insists that her husband buy her flowers and send them to the job. (That’s a whole other blog.)

But, also buy (or expect) the flowers, candy, jewelry, theatre tickets, a new car (hey, thought I throw that in there) because your significant other made you smile on a bad day. Buy them because your partner suggested hiring an accountant to do your taxes this year, instead of trying to do them yourself, and saved your family hundreds of dollars. Buy them candy because you want to stuff your face together while watching an old movie or playing cards. Moreover, don’t forget to give a touch, hold hands or steal a kiss often.

Whatever you do, don’t wait for ONE day to show the person you’ve spent so much of your life with–or maybe a little time with–that they mean something more to you than the average person. In the words of Otis Redding, “Try a Little Tenderness.” You may be surprised by the reaction and who knows, you may create enough sizzle to write your own romance novel.

It’s nice to surprise your lover with a pair of edible undies or strawberry flavored body powder–anything that may add fuel to passion’s fire. For those who can keep the passion going 24/7, you’re my idol!

So, let me hear you. Don’t be shy. What do you do keep the fire burning?