Welcome to Purple Sword Publications!
The publishing world is changing every day with the invention of electronic books—e-books—available in many formats to satisfy readers of all ages, interests, and reading levels. As of the date of the printing of this sampler, Purple Sword offers PDF, HTML, Mobipocket, and Microsoft Reader formats of its e-books, and is just beginning to publish print books.
Purple Sword Publications is a small, quiet, royalty paying publisher of genre specific fiction. Fantasy, horror, paranormal, and science fiction which we describe as speculative fiction blended with romance in varied heat levels is our focus. By specializing in these genre blends and limiting the number of authors we represent, we are able to offer high quality stories by authors whose talent is fully realized. We chose this specific style of story because this is what we like to read. That makes editing fun. Our authors are chosen based on past work experiences with us, their ability to write clean, concise prose with a gripping plot and characters readers fall in love with, as well as their willingness to work hard and promote their writing.
I am often asked why I chose the name Purple Sword for the publishing house. Yes, the name is based on bad purple prose. Chock it up to my sense of humor and the giggles I suffer when I read this phrase: He thrust his purple headed love sword into her moist valley of desire. Changes in the romance industry and the falling out of style of purple prose has resulted in a trend of shocking language in explicit scenes. While we do not require our authors to use that language, we do not encourage purple prose, ever.
If you don't know what purple prose is, here is the definition: Purple prose is a term of literary criticism used to describe passages, or sometimes entire literary works, written in prose so overly extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw attention to itself. Purple prose is sensually evocative beyond the requirements of its context. It also refers to writing that employs certain rhetorical effects such as exaggerated sentiment or pathos in an attempt to manipulate a reader's response.
It is the mission of Purple Sword to allow its authors a certain amount of creative freedom. Our only requirement for their stories to be submitted here is that they be romantic speculative fiction. Romance can be anything from sweet to highly erotic, and everything in between. If you only like a certain heat level, please be sure you read the book's description carefully before purchase or peeking at the sample chapter.
This sampler is intended to introduce you to our authors and their available works. We hope you enjoy a taste of their worlds and that you will return to our website at www.PurpleSword.com to pick up your next favorite story.
Traci Markou
Purple Sword Publications, LLC
www.PurpleSword.com
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