Sunday, November 25, 2007

Drama, Espionage, Romance and a SciFi TV show?!

Cue the James Bond music and call the Geek Squad! If you like your espionage with thrills, romance and a touch of humor look no further! Lucy Monroe, internationally best selling author, brings us sensuality and sass with her new high-tech action romance called “Deal With This”.

It’s lights, camera, action as this novel brings the reader inside the Vancouver film industry. It’s a fun look at the industry itself while taking you through a rollercoaster ride of spy action and hot romance. The book is lighthearted but intensely researched for believability. There’s no doubt that the romance and sass will satisfy as much as the action and technology.

Michelle Buonfiglio of Lifetime TV's Romance: B(u)y the Book says Monroe "excels at creating alpha bad boys and authentic erotic romance." The love scenes sizzle and the characters are the highlight of every scene. Her “alpha bad boy” Alan goes undercover to find out who is trying to auction off international secrets and finds himself on the set of scifi TV show with the star of the show, Jillian, set to help him whether he likes it or not!

Monroe is especially pleased with this novel because of the character development of both the hero and heroine. The hero isn’t a typical “alpha male”, but he has layers of complexity to him that allows him to appreciate the heroine’s independence and accept himself without having to be in charge all the time. The heroine is strong, sassy, fun and loveable. She isn’t going to faint at the sight of a gun and she doesn’t mind talking about sex, needs and what she really wants.

Throw in a scifi TV show, producers, spies, anti-gravity planes, costumes and great love scenes and you’ve got a formula for a best selling novel! Deal With This comes out November 27th!

Friday, August 31, 2007

TV, Radio, Newspapers = 0 Internet= 3 My how the times have changed!

If you’ve been following the COS MySpace blogs you won’t be shocked by any of this. Internet is THE place to be if you’re advertising. More and more people are turning to the internet for news, weather, sports and entertainment than ever before.

In this article on Media Daily News they discuss the statistics and reasons behind the phenomenon that isn’t just revolutionizing communication and entertainment delivery systems, but establishing it as the newly accepted “norm”. Media Daily News also reported that Newspapers have gotten the “Red Alert” with realizations that, “"the proliferation of emerging media" is giving "advertisers many new alternatives for reaching their fragmenting audience bases."

Is TV next to feel the bite of a very hungry internet appetite? According to a recent study done by IBM the answer is yes. Another recent article looks closely into the trend and talks about exactly who is or isn’t watching TV now . This article asked a very interesting question about whether or not traditional TV viewers are really your target audience. Therein lies the part of the reason that eventually internet will become more popular than TV for advertisers. People may still watch TV, but you don’t know who is watching. The measurements are hard, or perhaps faulty, in gleaning a real life look at who is watching. But, with internet you can be more target specific and you can interact with the audience, thus giving you more insight to not only the “who” but the “why” someone is interested in a subject, show or game online.



Reader’s Entertainment TV is a perfect example of target-specific audience. Because the site specializes in books, authors, literacy, reading and shows that include those themes, you can bet that people who purchase books go there. So, why aren’t more authors or publishers rushing to purchase ad space there? Why is it that more non-industry companies are interested in this site?

Part of it has to do with the fact that the publishing industry is notoriously slow in responding to new trends and technology. Instead of getting in on the ground floor to help grow a site that brings book buyers to one place, publishers sit back and watch to see if enough people will come on their own and make it worth their while to be there. It’s this kind of passive non-support that is hurting the overall industry. Unless someone in the industry steps up to the plate, the site will start to show ads for cold cream and sanitary napkins since the site is primarily visited by women. And a chance to promote to book buyers will go to other types of products.

Some publishers are trying to start their own version of REC TV. They then play videos and discuss books that are specific to their company. It gives them control of the content. But, because it is the company’s products, it comes across as very commercial and people know they’re being sold something. People aren’t going to go there for entertainment when it is really just cleverly disguised ads.

REC TV promotes itself as an entertainment portal. Like MTV, you’re given video meant to entertain that also happens to help sell books. But, it’s the original shows that are brining in viewers that aren’t traditionally readers. These are the people the book industry should be romancing. These are potential readers who are looking at books in a new light. REC TVs The Lonesome Losers has been hot on the internet. It has been featured on major social sites, comedy sites and featured in talk shows. Yet, publishers aren’t interested in sponsoring the show and REC TV producers are now turning to non-industry companies to get the $5000 it will take to make the next season of The Lonesome Losers. And with equally popular online original shows raking in more than $50,000 for sponsorship, there’s no doubt that The Lonesome Losers will get picked up. It’s just a shame that the publishing industry isn’t willing to support shows that bring in new readers.


Where The Lonesome Losers are bringing in a younger crowd due to its SNL-like brand of humor as well as bringing in men ages 18-34, the book trailers and author interviews appeal more to women of all ages. The site is primed to show people that reading is an exciting form of entertainment, but the support from the industry is sad to say the least.

New shows and new sponsor opportunities are coming to REC TV, but whether or not the publishing industry will support it is yet to be seen.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Publishers following COS trends

Without a doubt Circle of Seven Productions is the trend setter for book video creation and marketing. COS has been making book trailers since 2002, but started to revolutionize the trend in 2004 when they made a deal with a major movie theater chain and started showing book video in movie theaters.
A year later Harlequin decided to give it a try with a video by Heather Graham. And, today HarperCollins is determined to see if they can utilize movie theaters with the same effectiveness COS has experieneced. You can see the video HarperCollins made - HERE.

The COS Newsletter has many publishers, booksellers and competitors subscribed to it. Often, information newly released by COS is found later in blogs, competitor newsletters or as publisher's press releases as they utilize COS marketing ideas.

So, the question is - What's next?

After COS announced an online tv station for readers last year others found the idea to have merit. Simon and Schuster announced recently that they have started their own online site for book video called bookvideos.tv.

Not only have publishers found book videos to be a great way to engage readers and entice them to buy, but booksellers have embraced the new age of video with Borders now offering book video in their newsletters, on their main Borders Media site and a special page just for romance. Barnes and Noble have their Meet The Writers program and are also taking book trailers to enhance their reader's buying experince as seen on these pages-

Safe Harbor
Lord of the Fading Lands
And many, many more.

Authors are creating their own tv players for their site like Douglas Clegg and Cheryl Holt

Reader's Entertainment TV has lead the way into a new trend to bring readers more dynamic material online. But, there's more!

In 2006 COS worked with author Christine Feehan to start offering online games associated with books. The FOG (Feehan Online Game) attracted over 10,000 people who played the video game all the way through and received a screensaver as a prize!

The future of online marketing both with video and with other opportunities continues to be a main focus for COS Productions. Leading an industry into a new era of opportunity using video and online endeavors, new ideas and creative media is a staple for COS, and having industry giants follow that lead is a sure sign of success.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

REC Tv on MySpace!

Come join the fun! REC Tv on MySpace! Find out what new shows we have, what the schedules are for author interviews and read some exclusive interviews on the REC Tv MySpace Blog!

New shows include the My Word! Show that currently has interviews with Robin Schone, Kayla Perrin, Michele Scott, Stuart Ellison and Renee Bernard!

The new show - Off The Shelf - is currently showing the annual Heather Graham's Vampire Ball play, exclusively on REC Tv!

New Book Trailers and other fun stuff for readers is available at REC Tv!

We have seen an increase in viewership since advertising in USA Today online and there are plans to advertise in the RWR magazine and other exciting sites or print magazines.

The station was set up to capture the attention of readers and POTENTIAL readers by show how exciting books can be!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

AtomFilms, MySpace, Funny or Die and Veoh...

What do they all have in common? Reader's Entertainment TV!
Two weeks ago REC Tv's hit original comedy show, The Lonesome Losers was featured on Funny or Die! Last week The Lonesome Losers was featured on MySpace! This week we found the guys featured on AtomFilms! And, Veoh featured Circle of Seven Productions, parent company of REC Tv and where REC Tv videos live!

With all of this online exposure REC Tv is reaching readers, finding fans and making history with online reader's entertainment!

We were very excited when the director of The Lonesome Losers was contacted and asked to have the show entered into a contest where the winner has a chance for a deal with Comedy Central!

The online hit show VIRAL caught up with our Lonesome Losers a couple of weeks ago and interviewed them for the show. We are currently featuring the VIRAL episode on REC Tv on the main player after The Lonesome Losers episode of the week!

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Books on Video and at MySpace!

Book videos are winning top awards! A month ago we found out that Christine Feehan's Dark Demon won a top Telly Award along with Must Love Dragons and now three more videos have been added! New Moon, a book by Rebecca York and Susan Kearney won with two videos; Island Heat and The Quest!

Book videos have become so entertaining that the movie-trailer-like videos now have their own online TV here at Reader's Entertainment!

To see more you can go to www.cosproductions.com or if you're on MySpace drop by and see the newest videos there and blog about which ones you really love at www.myspace.com/cosbooktrailers.

Congrats to Susan and to Rebecca!!

The Quest by Susan Kearney

The Quest Book Trailer

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New Moon

New Moon - Book Trailer

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Island Heat

Island Heat Book Trailer

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Monday, June 4, 2007

Ways to get free books online - A discovery I made during BEA

What will come of books in the future? Will they all go to electronic format? Will people be able to access books for free? Let's take a look at some things I found at BEA that could stir up a buzz of a different nature between authors and readers.

Wowio is an online site that gives books away for free! Yep, you heard it. Free books. I recognized some of the books and wondered, "Wow! Can they do that?" But, apparently they are doing it. http://www.wowio.com/about.asp

I went over to register to check it out. Wowio doesn't allow non-anonymous email addresses, such as Yahoo or Gmail, so that is very annoying. I signed up with my COS account and then was told that the domain had to be checked first. Finally, I got my authorization and go in to set up my account. They ask a lot of personal information so I'm a bit concerned with that. Why do they need my age and race to give me free books? They don't trust me to say who I am (won’t take Yahoo accounts), but they trust be to give my REAL age?! Ha! They don’t know me very well do they?! I can see where my entertainment preferences are important though.

At Wowio they say you can download up to 5 ebooks per day. And, if you get 10 friends to join they will give you a free iPod Shuffle! I can see where they want to authenticate email addresses, but really, if you’re smart enough you can get around this too.

I have to say that there really are a lot of books here. And, if you like the classics, this is the place for you! Or, if you’re a college student on a budget, this is a good resource.

I searched “Romance” and up came some Jane Austen books (good sign!) and Edgar Allen Poe (bad sign). Did Edgar Allen Poe write romance and I just missed that fact?

They have a feature “Readers of this book also downloaded” that I thought was useful. I found a book I was actually VERY interested in - Branwell: A Novel of the Bronte Brother. I ordered the book and was told that a confirmation email would be sent telling me how I can download the book. The email came in and I now have the book. But, what I found interesting is that they note how much the book is actually worth ($14) and that it is brought to you by Verizon Wireless! So, they have companies who sponsor a book! All very interesting. And, other than the fact that I didn’t like to give out so much information on myself and that they don’t allow non-authenticating email addresses (which will cost them in the long run) this is a very cool site with wonderful benefits!

Sunday, June 3, 2007

The Good, The Bad and The Smugly

I attended the Harlequin party last night and was impressed! It was very classy, very fun and I was amazed to find that I knew a lot of the people there.
The party was held at a place called Arena. Very chic! Very hip!
One of the things that impressed me was that everyone mingled and seemed to chat with everyone else. I didn't detect any "clicks" or haughtiness. It was one of those experiences that made me think, "wow! I would love to write for these prole! I would love to be a part of this!" Kudos go out to Harlequin for being cool, chic and fun! And bonus points to them for the free food and drinks! Lol
Afterward I hung out with some old friends and new! The conversation turned to bad-behavior-by-authors. Since I was sitting with readers, and not authors, I got told some terrible stories that shocked me! I was amazed at the authors I was told about, and very interested in how those experiences deeply affected the fan/reader telling the story.
I now have a running list of authors reported to get mad and ride if you don't recognize them! And a list of smug ones who have a "better than you complex"!
Luckily, it is a short list!
The night was wonderful and now I'm sitting in the airport waiting to go home, wher I hope to sleep...until Thursday! Lol
Sheila
Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

Thursday, May 31, 2007

BEA has begun!

Being my first BEA I was very excited about attending. And, to have it here in NYC was a bonus! Next year it will be in LA, which I'm thrilled about as well.

Javitz Center is HUGE and full of people who care about books! Well, today at least!

Workshops on marketing, quanitifying marketing strategies, social networks, and many more topics were discussed. They have an African American and Latino pavillion this year which I am very interested in. REC TV has an African American channel and would love to be able to show more of those videos with other sites as content. It was great to see such a wonderful turn out for that topic.

I expect tomorrow will be even more busy with the exhibitors opening and additional interesting workshops to be presented.

Tomorrow I hope to find time to blog again and leave the information for the MySpace Books contact. So, check back later for more fun and facts!

Monday, May 28, 2007

NYC, BEA and News

Last minute meeting arrangements in New York during BEA are all that's left in preparation for this coming week.
COS will be gathering data about the future of the industry, meeting with the good folks at MySpace, stopping by to see clients and chat with publishers who have contacted us.
Being my first BEA experience, I'm not sure how much work I'll be able to add to this trip, but I hope to attend many conferences and learn what COS needs to gear up for next year. I'll bring media kits, sample DVDs, brochures and business cards. I'm ready and enthused about being in NYC!

The new videos have gone up on REC TV and more will be put up next week. Distribution will continue as normal while I'm away. Wayne is getting ready to upload several new videos! New Head of Production, Victoria Fraasa, will be organizing our new projects while all of the COS network celebrate 4 Telly Award wins!!

REC TV will undergo some renovations in June that will make it even more user-friendly with more original programs and book video!

Friday, May 25, 2007

New technology!

We are now able to Blog from our cell phones! We hope that will allow is to give you up to the minute news during BEA!
Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

BEA @ NYC

Circle of Seven/Readers Entertainment TV CEO Sheila Clover English will be leaving for the Big Apple on May 29th to attend Book Expo America!
With so many publishers, authors and industry leaders in one place, Sheila hopes to spend time identifying trends, new ideas and even more ways to effectively promote book video and reading!

Publishers have started calling asking to meet while Sheila is in NYC, so everyone at COS and REC are thrilled. The fact that publishers have taken such an interest in book television and book video is very encouraging!

If you're in NYC from May 30th to June 3rd let us know. We'll do lunch! LOL

Blog

Start
Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

Monday, May 21, 2007

New shows and features coming on REC TV!

Shows like, Write On! which features author interviews and Off The Shelf which features cool behind the scenes stuff are all coming to REC TV this summer!

Each Saturday you get a new episode of the hit comedy show The Lonesome Losers, and Sunday the new videos are uploaded to the station!

Advertising is now available at REC TV, with a wide variety of opportunities for varying budgets.

Music videos for books, animations, comedy or something sexy, it's all right here on REC TV!

The Lonesome Losers on Funny or Die

Funny or Die is an online network for comedy, promoted and owned by comedian Will Ferrell.
Brenda Urquhart, director of The Lonesome Losers, submitted the first episode to Funny or Die, where it was voted on by the public. It made it to the the top submissions and was featured on the homepage! Congrats to Brenda and the guys at The Lonesome Losers!

Right now we're up to episode 3 of 10 on REC TV and one of my personal favorites, episode 4, comes next week!

REC TV is currently looking for corporate sponsorship of The Lonesome Losers and with so much public support of the show it's looking good for a second season!

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Reader's Entertainment is LIVE!

Reader's Entertainment Channel online television is live! The all new comedy show The Lonesome Losers is now showing its first episode of the season!

The station is geared toward readers with an emphasis on gaining new readers, while still entertaining traditional readers.

Each week new content goes up on the homepage and the featured content then goes to one of the many Genre-Stations!

Come by and see the new place for readers to be entertained!

COS at the CAMEOS!

Circle of Seven Productions
WINNERS of the 2007 Cameo Awards!

Thank you to the authors who submitted their book video to the Cameo Awards!
Circle of Seven did not personally submit any video this year for the Cameo Awards, so we appreciate those authors who submitted their videos!
The following are WINNERS in the Cameo Awards for Best Book Videos in a given category!

The following list reflects only the COS WINNERS.
_______________________________________________________

Best Contemporary Romance Winner-
LISA KLEYPAS - SUGAR DADDY


Sugar Daddy - Book Trailer






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________________________________________________

Best Romantic Suspense

JOANN ROSS - NO SAFE PLACE









__________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Best Fantasy Romance WINNER



LUCY MONROE - MOON AWAKENING

Moon Awakening - book video






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____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Best Science Fiction Romance WINNER

SUSAN KEARNEY - THE QUEST


The Quest Book Trailer






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___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Best Historical Romance WINNER

SYLVIA DAY - THE STRANGER I MARRIED

The Stranger I Married - Book Trailer






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__________________________________________________________

Best Paranormal Romance WINNER





COLLEEN GLEASON- THE REST FALLS AWAY









______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




Viewer's Choice Award - No Safe Place - JoAnn Ross



Cameo for Excellence in Art Direction - The Stranger I
Married - Sylvia Day author - Joe Gruberman producer



Excellence in Score (music)- The Stranger I Married -

Sylvia Day author -
Joe Gruberman producer




Excellence In Writing (script and concept)- No Safe
Place -
JoAnn Ross author-
Sheila English writer -
Mike Miller visual concepts



The Cameo Award for Promotional Excellence (top award
for all trailers) -
No Safe Place - JoAnn Ross


Congrats to ALL the winners of the 2007 Cameo Awards!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Cameo Awards

Circle of Seven Productions
Cameo Awards Nominations!
Thank you to the authors who submitted their book video to the Cameo Awards!
Circle of Seven did not personally submit any video this year for the Cameo Awards, so we appreciate those authors who submitted their videos!
___The following are finalists in the Cameo Awards for Best Book Videos in a given category!
_________________________________________________________

Best Contemporary Romance Finalist-
LISA KLEYPAS - SUGAR DADDY


Sugar Daddy - Book Trailer






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____________________________________________________

Best Contemporary Romance Finalist
LUCY MONROE - SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Satisfaction Guaranteed






Add to My Profile | More Videos


_____________________________________________________________

Contemporary Romance Finalist
CHERRY ADAIR - WHITE HEAT

White Heat Book Trailer






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________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Best Romantic Suspense Finalist


R. CASTEEL- CHAMELEON

Chameleon Book Video






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_________________________________________________________

Best Romantic Suspense Finalist
LUCY MONROE - SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

___________________________________________________________

Best Romantic Suspense Finalist
JOANN ROSS - NO SAFE PLACE








____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Best Fantasy Romance Finalist

REBECCA YORK - NEW MOON

New Moon – book video






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____________________________________________________________

Best Fantasy Romance Finalist
L. F. HAMPTON - WINGED DARKNESS

Winged Darkness






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_______________________________________________________________

Best Fantasy Romance Finalist
LUCY MONROE - MOON AWAKENING

Moon Awakening - book video






Add to My Profile | More Videos


_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Best Science Fiction Romance Finalist

SUSAN KEARNEY - THE QUEST

The Quest Book Trailer






Add to My Profile | More Videos


____________________________________________________

And again with-
SUSAN KEARNEY - ISLAND HEAT

Island Heat 30-sec-final






Add to My Profile | More Videos


________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

Best Historical Romance Finalist

SYLVIA DAY - THE STRANGER I MARRIED


The Stranger I Married - Book Trailer

Add to My Profile | More Videos



_____________________________________________________

And again with-
SYLVIA DAY - ASK FOR IT

ASK FOR IT - Book Trailer






Add to My Profile | More Videos


____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Best Romantic Series Finalist

SHARI ANTON - TWILIGHT MAGIC

Twilight Magic Book Teaser






Add to My Profile | More Videos
________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Best Paranormal Romance Finalist

REBECCA YORK - NEW MOON


__________________________________________________________


Best Paranormal Romance Finalist

COLLEEN GLEASON- THE REST FALLS AWAY





____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________





We look forward to the final Cameo Awards!

RT Convention

We leave in the morning for Houston and the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention.

Ed, me, Kelli, CJ and Victoria will all be there for COS. And of course we have our usual suspects, Maida, Lisa, Anne, Mary, Lysa and our other good friends!

I'm doing a couple of workshops, one on Thursday and another on Friday.

I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Sheila

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Where to find us in the great e-universe

I can't believe how huge the internet has become. I remember being in awe of Yahoo! Mail, and Google Search! Now, with social networks, user-generated video upload and user-generated news the world has opened up, and at the same time, shrunk!

I have blogs here, there and everywhere. I find I designate a blog for certain topics. My blog on Tagworld is more personal, my blog on LiveJournal started out very personal and now it is more about videos. I feel like I have multiple personalities! LOL

COS is out there in the great e-universe. YouTube, MySpace, TagWorld, Veoh, Grouper and more. We are on over 150 sites!! Not all of them have blogs, but they all allow us to upload video. If you're on ANY other social network, try looking us up using - cosproductions as your search or "book trailers". Though, I see a lot of people using the term "book trailers" (A COS registered trademark term btw), it's actually very cool to me that after all these years we've finally managed to make the term "Book Trailer" a common household term. THAT was not an easy thing to do!

Here's hoping you find us out in there, but if you don't, you can always count on us being right here at home...on www.cosproductions.com or on www.readersentertainment.com

Sheila

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Welcome to the Reader's Entertainment TV Blog!

Reader's Entertainment Channel, or REC TV, is a place for readers. It includes all genres of books and highlights everything from author interviews to book trailers, and even original programming like documentaries and the new comedy show that starts in April called The Lonesome Losers. This online television station for book lovers is here to inform and entertain!