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While we were at it, we updated our catalog, adding lots of books we’ve edited over the past few months.
Make sure to peek at the new Writing Craft Books page! We added that specifically to help out authors looking for nonfiction writing craft books that are worth the money.
Happy writing!
by Margaret Pinard, historical fiction & fantasy author
Pitching your book to readers, whether at a holiday party or a book convention, can be hard excruciating. Trust me, I know. Having to explain what has taken you years to bring to fruition in a 10-second elevator speech may certainly make your soul die a little. That’s why comp titles are our golden shortcut, authors. Here are a few ideas as to how you can slice and dice this marketing tactic to reach your best audience.
Comp titles, or “comparison titles,” are other books you can cite as examples that share characteristics with your book. Depending on the person you’re pitching to, you can tweak the comp title to highlight different aspects of your book. (Warning, LOTS of examples to follow.)
Comp titles are helpful because people’s attention spans these days really do not extend to a near-stranger explaining the backstory, the world-building, the plot, the characters… YOU may be excited about all those elements, but you want something that packs all of that into a symbol that communicates it more effectively. To get that emotional engagement, comp titles are your best bet.
Also, you want to attract the right audience. It does you no good to work at a great pitch that attracts the wrong audience for your book, because they will just read it and rip it to shreds because it wasn’t what they were looking for. So there is our goal: communicate what your book is about in the most efficient way possible to attract the people who want what you’re offering.
The most common one I see on BookTok today is vibes. As in: style + setting + world building = vibes.
Sometimes the line between a vibe and a trope can get fuzzy, as with “touch her and die” used as a hook. Is it a vibe? A trope? Some readers don’t know and don’t care, but that language will perk their ears right up. You’ll want to see what is getting the most views and engagement to take notes on any that you also used.
Sometimes setting is what readers are yearning for:
Choosing books that are set in the same place and/or time might help a reader achieve the particular mood they are looking for, or deliver the historical detail they are looking to learn about.
Of course, the MC might be the main draw. Recent popular asks, including for people looking to diversify their reading list:
Readers often want to step off the mainstream POV to hear from different voices, and this can be where you highlight that your MC has a particular perspective to share.
One of the simplest ways to comp your book is its pacing. Oftentimes people want either a fast-paced book to keep them engaged, or a slow, meandering story they can appreciate slowly: it is best to know right away if they are looking for one and your story is the other.
One of the more subtle aspects to use for a comp title is a theme, for example, grief, sacrifice, solidarity, or justice. This is a very astute reader who asks for this, and probably less common than the previous aspects, but could be helpful in finding your niche audience. Someone who reads for the justice theme in sci-fi may be totally up for your justice theme in historical fiction, but you’ve got to pair it with something else then to make the new genre not as scary or weird. For example, I just read the sci-fi novella Countess by Suzan Palumbo, which has strong justice and decolonization themes. I don’t normally pick up sci-fi, but she billed it as a decolonization fight IN SPACE and I couldn’t resist seeing how that would translate!
Style is the squishiest, probably because style is so subjective that we often don’t even have common language to describe a certain style. “Purple prose” is a fun one to ask people about, as some think it means over-the-top, exasperatingly dense description, while others think it means flowery, metaphorical descriptions, and they like it like that (just see this Reddit post)! Given that this is the case, it’s safer to name-check authors, so that whatever one person perceives when they read Virginia Woolf or Victor Hugo gets translated into their own internal reactions rather than your opinions of what they’re like.
Don’t promise something that is not in your book (to hop on the trope train). Is it really a love triangle? Is it really enemies to lovers? If it’s merely adjacent, you may rile up readers who are disappointed because you raised their expectations in a certain way and didn’t deliver, so be careful that you are promising something you will actually deliver.
Do choose a well-known book, either a prize winner or a bestseller or a book with an adaptation. Remember, you’re trying to shortcut from a long explanation of plot to an emotional memory of a book read or a movie watched, so the likelihood that they’ve read or watched it goes up with how mainstream or popular it is; using a lesser-known book may not help, however much you love it. Harsh, but true!
But Don’t use themost popular book of the year. Don’t swing too far in the other direction! Claiming your book is “the next ACOTAR” won’t help because that book is so popular that many people will be claiming that. Giving it a twist may help, e.g. ACOTAR with Vikings! Or ACOTAR but drawing from Central Asian history! Etc. This is also where it might be helpful to use the format X meets Y to communicate two contrasting concepts, e.g. Anne of Green Gables meets Dracula.
Do explain which aspect it is similar to for a given title. Again, to make sure you’re giving people accurate information on which to base their reading decisions, you should tell them which aspect makes a book like yours.
You starting to see how you can mix and match different aspects to give readers an accurate view of what they will find in your story?
My latest novel is a quiet story of a mature woman in 1830s Glasgow learning how to pull the levers of power to find her agency, along with a network of allies and friends that help her survive the process. How to express that in Comp Titles?
VIBES: The Women of the Copper Country by Maria Doria Russell
THEME: Golden Hill by Francis Spufford
SETTING: Babel by R.F. Kuang
MC: Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs
PACING: Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
STYLE: Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunsmore
Orla Rafferty may be unaware of the sweeping changes about to upend her world, but she’s on the brink of discovering them.
In 1833, the United Kingdom is anything but united. Political reforms are beginning to crack the foundations of a deeply unequal society, but true progress is still far off. When the income bequeathed from Orla’s dead husband is threatened, she’ll seize any chance to steady herself amid the upheaval—whether it’s educating herself, seeking advice from friends, or eavesdropping on dangerous conversations.
However, when her actions land her in unexpected trouble, Orla must lean on both strangers and allies to forge a new path for herself.
A historical novel of quiet resilience and awakening independence, Orla Rafferty Seeks Her Fortune is a story of forged friendships, mended relationships, and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Four short stories from the desolate and tempestuous imagination of Jessica Halsey.
Originally published on Kindle Unlimited as “Speculative E-Shorts.”
Artist Konn Lavery’s work on Jessica Halsey’s The Wish Maker cover
“The Wish Maker” is a war-torn dystopian exposing the disturbing similarities between real-life evils and a larger-than-life Lovecraftian monster.
“Namaste Apocalypse” is a character-driven slice-of-life about maintaining healthy lifestyle habits during the zombie apocalypse.
“The Promise” is a YA dystopian tragedy about poison fog and an underground civilization.
“Echo” is a fast-paced corporate sci-fi adventure that combines notes of dark humor with all too possible futuristic concepts.
This collection includes a bonus preview of The Slaughter Chronicles, a genetic engineering supernatural suspense series.
Untrained tag-along, Marcus Aimond, aboard humanity’s first intergalactic exploratory 
commerce vessel has a singular mission: sell off-brand misprinted merchandise.
When the rookie and his crew encounter the Nerelkor, a frog-like civilization, he is thrust head-first into an alien civil war. The opposing factions, Rejault and Dinasc, are stuck in an ill-fated feud driven by deep-rooted ineptitude. To avoid the planet’s total annihilation and establish a local sales office, Aimond and the crew must survive arena combat, reshape the very structure of the planet, establish world peace, and stay alive—for the sake of positive branding, of course.
The Hidden Realm of Angolin has existed in peaceful isolation for centuries, but that’s about to change. The enemy across the Abyss has discovered them and is intent on conquest. Lieutenant Dharmen Tate has a great love for his homeland and a greater understanding of its position in the world. When he discovers a plot by fellow officers to join the enemy and overthrow Angolin, he and his colleagues spring into action to defend the Hidden Realm from its foes—those without, and those within. The ensuing struggle magnifies Angolin’s vulnerability and exposes the collusion of a growing body of its citizens, signifying an uncertain and bloody future.
For readers who enjoy Star Wars: Bloodline by Claudia Gray, Embassytown by China Mieville, and Catalyst of Sorrows by Margaret Wander Bonnano.
“A pitch-perfect combination of action, mystery, and humor.” ―Anthony Award-winning author Gigi Pandian for Jove Brand Is Near Death
“Fans of both superheroes and pulp noir are sure to love Crawford’s action-packed dialogue and descriptions.” ―Library Journal, for Heroes Ever Die
The hit TV show, The Lands Beyond, has become a cultural phenomenon, influencing fashion and baby name trends. Its creator, R. R. Reynard, masterminds the story each season, pitting the cast against each other in a toxic, kill or be killed, environment. But Reynard has even greater ambitions.
He’s formed a feudalistic society of superfans who are willing to do anything to rise in the ranks and be officially canonized as a character on The Lands Beyond. With the show set to enter its final season, the cast, crew, and superfans attend a convention at the historic Chateau D’Loire. While holding court, Reynard is murdered, and the notebook holding all the secrets, twists, and endings disappears.
Enter Ken Allen, former D-list actor turned private eye.
As the body count rises, Ken discovers the stakes are far greater than just a television show. And the fantasy neophyte is about to learn that all is fair in love and war in The Lands Beyond.
For readers who love fun mysteries like the Spenser Series by Robert B. Parker, the Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich, and the M Murder Series by Anthony Horowitz.
When two boys vanish from her hometown, Daphne Gauge notices uncanny parallels to her brother’s disappearance 30 years earlier. Symbols of an ancient Norse god. Rumors of a promise to reward the town’s faithful with wealth and power, for a price. She warns her husband that another sacrifice is imminent, but just like last time, no one believes her.
This leaves her with a desperate choice: investigate with limited resources, or give in to the FBI’s request for an interview. For years, they’ve wanted a member of the Gauge family to go on record about the tragedy back in 1988. If she agrees to a deposition now, Daphne must confess her family’s dark secrets. But she also might have one last chance to unmask the killer from back then . . . and now.
For readers who enjoy Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Joshilyn Jackson, Riley Sager, Jennifer McMahon, and Simone St. James.
Stalker ex? ✔ Four hot roommates? ✔ An illegal secret? ✔✔✔✔✔
I, Clara McElroy, always have a handle on things. List it out, check it off, and tally every win as a step toward joining the FBI. Then my perfect life explodes.
Now I’m living with four gorgeous guys I’ve never met while scrambling to make ends meet, and my perfect life is farther out of reach than ever.
Only my roommates Jansen, Walker, RJ, and Trips aren’t your typical undergrads. They’ve got the kind of secrets that can land you in federal prison. A thief, a forger, a hacker, and a bookie shouldn’t have a d*mn thing to do with a girl slated to put them behind bars. And I should run in the opposite direction if I know what’s good for my future.
But my ex isn’t taking our sudden breakup well. And these criminals are my refuge, keeping me safe and sane while the rest of my life spirals out of control.
When my ex gets dangerous, can I count on these guys to help? Or would relying on them destroy the last piece of my perfectly planned life?
Brazen Criminals is book one of the Brazen Boys series: a slow-burn, dark, forced proximity, new adult, heist romance series. Expect excessive longing, explicit content, more than one lover, and lots of broken laws. If you have content concerns, please visit Maisie’s website for additional information prior to reading.
When I ran out of Poca eleven years ago, I never planned on seeing the confines of this small town again. Now, it’s mocking me. The very thing that drove me to run away at seventeen is what’s pulling me right back into Poca’s prickly embrace: my abusive, alcoholic mother.
Mom doesn’t want me here any more than I want to be here, but her failing health has me trapped. Making matters worse is the rage my high school boyfriend, the love of my life, has built up over the years since I fled Poca. I couldn’t handle telling Conner goodbye or letting him know where I’d gone. Now he thinks that after I returned, I murdered the local bar owner, Mom’s unyielding alcohol dealer, by burning Rusty alive inside his own home.
Luke is the only other true friend I ever had in Poca and he’s followed in his stepdad’s footprints, becoming a member of the police force. A position he can use to help me. Or frame me. Conner took Luke’s wife and now Luke might be using me to get even.
The only clue I have to go on to find Rusty’s murderer and clear my name is the mysterious diary I found hidden away. But the unknown author is a twisted self-professed arsonist with ties to Rusty, my mother…and me.
My head and heart are aching, and long-buried secrets are coming to light. Poca has a murderer in its midst. One hiding just below the surface.
You know what they say—if you want the truth, dig for it. That’s exactly what I plan to do.
Nothing’s real on reality TV―or is it?
Everyone knows Kell Simmons manages the Matthews brothers, the three hottest stars in Hollywood: action hero Ryan, romantic lead Ash, and sports star Jonah. But no one knows that she’s hopelessly in love with one of them.
When Ryan’s surprise engagement to a fan just about breaks Kell’s heart, Ash, himself unhappily in love, lends his shoulder to cry on. All this is great fodder for the brothers’ very own reality TV show, and soon the days of their lives are filled with scripted dates, fake drama, and real heartache―all in front of a camera.
As the brothers’ popularity skyrockets into the stratosphere, Kell finds herself wondering how much, if any, of the spotlight she wants, if it means foregoing real love for fun and games on TV.