DFRAT Guest Post: Zoe Archer & Nico Rosso + giveaway

Today we have Zoe Archer and Nico Rosso talking digital publishing and giving away a copy of Skies of Fire so don’t forget to answer their question. 

Zoë: Not that long ago, it used to be the model that successful digital-first authors would segue into print books. Usually, they maintained a digital presence, but they also found readers through print. But that model has changed. Print-first authors are now supplementing their backlists with digital-first titles—I should know, because I’m one of them! And I have to say, I absolutely love writing for both the print and digital markets.

Nico: I love the flexibility of electronic publishing. It starts with the types of stories these publishers will take on. I began by writing Sci-fi romance, a sub-genre with very limited print possibilities, but a robust life in electronic books. From there, I’ve been able to write in such diverse worlds as steampunk, post-apocalyptic and superhero romance.

Z: For Avon Impulse, Nico and I created the steampunk world of the Ether Chronicles together. We’ll be writing the series together, too, trading off books. SKIES OF FIRE is available now, and Nico’s NIGHT OF FIRE will be available in July. Then we switch back and forth as the series continues. It’s because of digital publishing that we were able to develop this series and release it together in a rapid time frame.

N: And not only can digital publishing bring books to the electronic shelves faster, but it also has great flexibility in terms of marketing. How many times have you seen the price of book one of a digital series drop when book two comes out? Some publishers will even make earlier books free, just to gain interest and momentum with readers as new books are released.

Z: The very medium that’s being used to bring readers and authors together is the same medium that helps get the books into readers’ hands. Social media has really expanded the options for both authors and readers to connect and communicate with one another. If we’re already tweeting or on Facebook, then it’s a very simple process to just click over to Amazon or any other digital book retailer and purchase a book. Authors can do their own hand selling as well as socializing.

N: And this all still feels like the beginning of the technology. Now that books are digital, the possibilities really open up in terms of linked content, such as videos or still of locations, or even some interactive aspects. I wouldn’t be against throwing in a little steampunk puzzle for the reader to solve every once in a while to bring the character’s experience to them. As long as the narrative wasn’t slowed too much, this could be a fun and new dimension to add to the stories.

So, our question for you is, in what direction would you like to see digital books evolve? Would you like to see more linked content or bonus materials? Or are you happy with the book, just the book, and nothing but the book? We’ll be giving away a digital copy of SKIES OF FIRE to one commenter. 

Captain Christopher Redmond has just one weakness: the alluring spy who loved and left him years before . . . when he was still just a man. Now he’s superhuman—a Man O’ War, made as part of the British Navy’s weapons program—and his responsibility is to protect the skies of Europe. If only he could forget Louisa Shaw.

Louisa, a British Naval Intelligence agent, has never left a job undone. But when her assignment is compromised, the one man who can help her complete her mission is also the only man ever to tempt her body and heart. As burning skies loom and passion ignites, Louisa and Christopher must slip behind enemy lines if they are to deliver a devastating strike against their foe . . . and still get out alive.