Blog Policy

The I Love Romance Blog, or ILRB (as I love my acronyms), was built so that we could talk about the different facets of romantic relationships, and discuss romance novels. Posts can take the form of new release features or book features, cover reveals, romantic thought posts or romantic poetry, interviews (character interviews and exclusive author interviews), guests posts about romance or dating tips (contact me with your ideas!), articles on romance writing, book giveaways and other events like blog tours, as well as guest book reviews. Please browse our archives on the right hand side of the page to explore the blog’s posts.

Posting days are set for most Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless we are on blog hiatus or something else came up.

UPDATE — July 2022 –> If you’re an author visiting the blog for information about getting a spot, please know that our policy has changed.

You’ll find our past guest schedule on the far-right hand side of the page as you scroll down. Contact me at marieannlavender@gmail.com for one of our book or author features!

For the time being, I have decided to step away from my blogs to get some much-needed rest (I’ve been hounded with family emergencies, illnesses, and other drama for the past year). This will also allow me time to focus on my writing, and any other projects that come up. I may post something now and then, but they will not be guest articles or author interviews for other writers. I am uncertain when I will begin taking on official blog duties again. Please don’t contact me in the hopes of getting a spot on one of my blogs. If I decide it’s time to resume everything, you may subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email notification of the next post. Follow me on social media for more recent news.

Also, you can sign up for a ‘new releases only‘ email, or even join my exclusive fan club on Facebook. Additionally, you may keep apprised of my work by checking the ‘My Books‘ page of my website, browsing the ‘Updates/News‘ section, or just subscribing to my author newsletter in case I get that going again.

I really appreciate your visit to ILRB! Have a lovely day! 🙂

If you’d like to reach out to me with a question about one of my books, then by all means, please do so. Or, on the off-chance you’d be interested in writing a guest book review for this romance blog, see our policy for that. Scroll down to ‘THIS OPTION IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE’.

UPDATE for June 2021: This site is getting a major overhaul, and my policies have changed. Starting in September, I will be charging for some services (guest spots). There will be no fee for posting REAL articles. Guest articles written about relationship tips, romance writing, or a topic related to romance at all are always accepted. Authors, I won’t take a guest post blabbing on about your book. This is not a marketing tool. Make it PERSONAL for the reader. Tell us what ‘Romance’ means to you. How did reading romance novels shape your life? Were you inspired by couples you observed (parents or friends)? Is there some aspect of romance writing you’d like to cover? A specific trope covered in your new book? As long as you spend time on an article, I’d be more than happy to plug your work at the end of the post so readers can find out more about your new release. Some blog tour/virtual book tour features will be free, and it goes without saying that any large event which I host (mega giveaways or multi-author participation posts) will not require a fee of any kind, with the exception of donating a book to the cause or providing select information, such as answers to certain questions. Additionally, there is no fee if you’d like to submit a guest book review.

I will charge for other services, however. For example, specific types of blog posts must be reserved in advance, and a fee paid for that spot. Here is a list of charges with their respective services (in US Dollars):

Author Interview – $10.00

Character Interview – $15.00

New Release Features – $20.00

Cover Reveals – $10.00

Heroes and Heroines Feature – $15.00

Romantic Poetry Spotlight – $10.00

Please take a look at our guest schedule on the right hand side of the page. I will update the list as spots are reserved.

NOTE: I may add other features later on. To reiterate…

I will never charge a fee for real articles, notices about blog tours from official promoters, or special events which I personally organize. The same can’t be said for various interviews, book spotlights, or cover reveals, et cetera. These take more time and energy to post and promote, and I’ve had to start valuing myself more to accommodate for that. Although, despite the work involved in the big events, I won’t charge for giveaways which I host, as authors are already providing donations. But if you want me to run an individual giveaway posted on my blog and promoted across social media, that will cost extra. Believe me, I am asking for way less than I’ve witnessed at the blogs of my contemporaries; thus, I have done my best to offer competitive prices.

Free Posts are as follows:

Guest Articles (featuring relationship tips, anything with a romance theme – feel free to approach me with your creative thoughts for a post, an article about romance writing, or even suggestions for romance reads)

I will not charge for a ‘What Does Romance Mean to Me? post, as literally anyone can participate and they have before (not just authors).

Most blog tour features are free, but the spots get taken fast.

My hosted, big multi-author events

For a Paid Post, you may purchase your spot by reaching out to me to reserve a specific date. We can discuss more details in the email. Please email me at marieannlavender@gmail.com with the subject line ‘ILRB Guest Spot Reservation’, and I can send you an invoice for the paid feature.

PRICES FOR YOUR INTERVIEW SPOT

Interview Types

Author Interview $10.00 USD
Character Interview $15.00 USD

PRICES FOR A NEW RELEASE FEATURE or UPCOMING FEATURE (Cover Reveal) SPOT

Feature Types

New Release Feature or Book Feature $20.00 USD
Cover Reveal $10.00 USD

PRICES FOR A SPECIAL FEATURE

Feature Types

Heroes and Heroines Feature $15.00 USD
Romantic Poetry Spotlight $10.00 USD

Individual Book Giveaway which I run for you $25.00 (this does not include multi-author mega book giveaways that I host now and then)

PRICE FOR ADDING A DO-FOLLOW LINK TO AN EXISTING POST

Feature Type

Related Theme Do-Follow Link $25.00 USD

NOTE: Please keep in mind that all my spots are first come, first served. If your book release falls on a day when we don’t post, I may move you to my alternate blog instead. Just know that spots on any of my blogs go fast, and it’s possible you may not get the one you want. Be willing to settle for a different date, if that’s the case. Sometimes I will squeeze in an author’s new release feature, if it coincides with a book launch. However, keep in mind that I am only human, and I will offer what my schedule allows. I am posting for two other days on a different blog, so all of this keeps me incredibly busy. I try to never double book spots. If you have a book release coming, it’s better to contact me early on, as the demand for guest spots is so strong.

UPDATE for February 2021: Now and then, I may pop in on any day of the week to announce an event. As I am an author as well, I occasionally post about news regarding my own romance novels. I like to keep you apprised of all related book releases. I also might post personal, written articles sometimes – always relevant to this blog’s theme, of course. Sometimes, I will be stepping away from my blogs for a while, to take a much needed hiatus, and to focus more on my writing.

*****THIS OPTION IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE –> Please email me if you’d like to gush about a great romance book you’ve read! Don’t find this daunting. A book review can be as short as a paragraph, and as lengthy as you like! Then I’ll post the guest book review as soon as possible in this format. Drop me an email with the subject heading ‘Willing to write a guest book review for ILRB’.

SUBMISSIONS CALL –> As aforementioned, GUEST BOOK REVIEWS are an option. If you have a book you’d like to recommend, and you don’t mind writing some of your thoughts about it, we’d love to feature your book review of a romance novel (any subgenre). If you’re at a loss for what book to select, I can instead provide a book title for you to read from my extensive TBR pile (mobi or PDF formats only).

BESIDES author interviews, character interviews, and book spotlights, there are other options. We want to hear from readers, too! Recently, we began a new feature titled ‘What Does Romance Mean to Me?’, in which we get a take from any book reader of romance on how reading romance novels has shaped his or her life. You do not need to be an author to write a guest post for this feature! ♥ If you are not a book author, I will schedule you for a guest spot and then you’ll write the article.

Plus, we have another feature, titled ‘Heroes & Heroines’. With this type of guest post, authors get to tell us about one of their characters from a book. It doesn’t need to be from a character’s perspective, though that’s a possibility. It could simply be a casual approach on how the character was developed, what was it about the character’s personality that kept the author up at night, what parts of their story demanded to be told…that kind of thing.

****SPECIAL NOTE: I no longer have the time, energy, or health to write book reviews on my own, so DON’T even bother asking. Yes, we were offering book reviews. I was taking on this enterprise to bring great romance novel reviews to ILRB…however, my reading list got too long, and I am beyond exhausted from a few illnesses this year. I’ll do my best to fulfill my promises for past book review requests. Please visit our Review Policy page for more details… ♥ Feel free to reach out to me if you have a creative idea for a romantic post, or if you’re an author who would like one of these features for your book, at marieannlavender@gmail.com.

***ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR A FEE –> In the meantime, if time allows, I may be willing to do sponsored posts (written by you or yours truly in an organic manner), if your company’s budget allows it, and only if your post would fit the premise of this blog. Please reach out to me for a quote and details.

Keep in mind that I will NOT turn this blog into a forum for your inflammatory political views, so don’t even bother sending political articles, and I won’t post about unrelated products or services. Stick to the theme! If your article/product helps readers find a great romance book, or your service can assist our readers with their romantic relationships in some manner, even if you offer tips about romance writing, then I’m more than happy to work with you.

A BRIEF MESSAGE ABOUT SALACIOUS CONTENT:
We accept all romance subgenres on the I Love Romance Blog, but please know I will NOT post true adult excerpts. Curse words and some tough issues are fine. Some sexy scenes (kissing and a sensual embrace) is fine. As I can’t be sure who exactly visits the blog, it’s best to keep everything professional, though. If you do submit a highly adult or graphic excerpt, and you give me no other options, I will only post the material that I deem fit for the blog. In other words, I’ll either cut up the excerpt quite a bit or go grab a better one from Amazon. If it isn’t available, then we just won’t have a book teaser for that post.

**Anyone, please consider submitting a short reading list to ILRB, so we can add it to ‘Our Fave Reads‘ page! There is no cost for this option. We want to know your favorite romance books! ♥

****PROPER CONDUCT FOR GUEST WRITERS****

This shouldn’t need to be said, but given some of the poor behavior I’ve witnessed in recent years, here it is…

If you are participating, PLEASE have your information for a post sent to me in a timely manner – preferably a week in advance. I will also take something by the Friday of the previous week (yes, that means even if your post is coming up on Tuesday). But for God’s sake, communication is key. IF for some reason you cannot meet a deadline, please offer the common courtesy of sending an email. Flaking on a blogger is just rude, and even as an author with occasional features on other blogs, I would never do that to someone else. Know I am human too, and I understand when life gets in the way of your plans. But just tell me with a quick email (or even a private message on Facebook), and we’re good. I hate having to chase people and beg them to send in their stuff, especially if I never EVER receive a response. It’s a waste of both of our time. Just keep in contact, and I will fully understand if you need to reschedule or require more time to get everything together. As a blogger, I prefer to be prepared, but things will go smoother if you respect me the way I respect all of you. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, right? 😕

In the event that you do need to reschedule your spot, PLEASE let me know as early as possible so I can get another guest settled in for that date. Thanks for visiting us! ♥