MCSLIST: Taglines, your writing in a sound bite
December 3, 2008by Marie-Claude Bourque
Ever since I’ve joined writers loops, I’ve been fascinated by taglines. You know those little words in the signature lines that describe the “brand” of an author. Maybe it’s because I still missed those days as I worked as an aerobics director and had to make up the fitness class names such as “Tight ASSets”, “Ab Attacks” and “Burn, Baby Burn”. It took me a while to be brave enough to make my own tagline, but once some writers convinced me to build my own website, I felt I needed that “brand”. So I searched my writing soul and came up with “Dark Legends, Eternal Lovers.” I thought I’d get bored of it, but strangely I’m not. My ANCIENT paranormal series will always be about legends and immortal lovers, my GOTHIC WARRIOR story is certainly about legends and super dark. It seeems I’m all about dark romance with some mysterious legends involved. In a way, my tagline helps me focus on what I want to write and what my niche is about.
So I became quite interested in other writers’ taglines and decided to make a list by perusing all the groups and forums I belong to. Starting with our own Qaey Williams, following by my writing partners and ending with my favorite tagline of all time –hope you will agree– from my RWA chapter president Shelli Stevens.
- “Quintessensually Quirky Romance from the Queen of Tease ”…. Qwillia Rain (Qaey Williams)
- ‘It’s that one shallow breath before your lips meet in a first kiss” …. My WP Candi Wall w/a Danci Law
- “What secrets does she hide? –Paranormal Romance” …. My WP John Roundtree
- “Tempestuous Tale, Wicked Fun” …. My WP Jennifer Bray-Weber
- “Love, Power, Fairytale Endings? Be careful what you wish for.” … My WP Jeffe Kennedy
- “Escape from Reality, Succumb to Temptation” … My WP Kayla kacer w/w Kaycee Kacer
- “Giving new meaning to the term alpha male.” … Terry Spear
- “ADVENTURE as rich as gold * LOVE as delicious as chocolate” … Delle Jacobs
- “Sexy romance that’s intense, passionate, heartwarming and fun” … Susan Lyons
- “In the mood for romance? Indulge yourself with a book from Patti Shenberger“
- “Experience The Magic” … Lynn Crain
- “Author of sizzling historical romance. Bringing passion to life, one love story at a time” … Eliza Knight
- “Author of Dark-Edged Romance” … Lynne Connolly
- “Romance charged with danger from ages past!” … Beth Trissel
- “Unleash the Adventure, Discover the Romance” … Tami Dee
- “Compelling, Sensual Tales of Love and Forgiveness” … Anna Kathryn Lanier
- “Romance so hot… it melts your heart” … Nina Pearce
- “Slip between the pages and find romance” … Nancy O’Berry
- “Spicy Romance with a Dash of Humor” … Jenny Gilliam
- “Heart-stopping danger…undercover romance” … Misty Evans
- “Strong Women, Brave Stories.” … Lyn Cote
- “…darkness and romance…” … Kim Knox-Kim Rees
- “Sugar or Spice…being naughty is so nice.” … Elaina Huntley
- “Action. Adventure. Erotic Romance.” … Dawn Montgomery
- “JOURNEYS OF LOVE every woman needs to take.” … Melissa Lopez
- “Romance accross the edge…” … Antonia Pearce
- “Romance with Heart.” … Nell Dixon
- “Romance that’s out of this world.” … Jennifer Colgan
- “Heartbreaking, Soul-Shaking, Love-making.” … Inez Kelley
- “Enjoy the Ahh… Sensation.” … Monica Burns
- “Daring to heat up fiction…with humor and heart.” Debora Dennis
- “Edgy, Elegant, Erotic Romance.” … Kate Pearce
- “I’m the author your mother warned you about.” … Shelli Stevens
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34. “If you believe, magic will happen” … Edie Ramer
35. “Embracing the creepier side of writing.” … Marcia Colette
36. “Passion, enchantment and adventure on the inner edge of the paranormal” … Cait Donnelly
37. “Indulge in a hot, delicious romance.” … Nicole North
38. ” Sensuous Timeless Tales.” … Judi Phillips
39. “Saucy Sexy Romps” Judi Phillips w/a Pepper Goodrich
There are still a lot more space to this list. So please share yours with me and I’ll add it to my list! See how many we can come up with 
Or maybe this list will inspire you to come up with your own tagline!
Great blog! M-C, I love yours and Qaey’s. Shelli’s made me laugh! Mine is “If you believe, magic will happen…” Marcia Colette has a terrific one: “Embracing the creepier side of writing…” You can tell write away that we write different books.
Edie…I love yours…so positive and Marcia’s definitely makes me curious
Tag lines can be so much fun! Those are some great ones! And I really like yours, Marie! Some people argue they never remember a tag line or who they go to, but…well, I figure what does it hurt to have one?
Shelli, I click with yours right away. I don’t know is people remember them or not. As you say, I think they are just kind of fun!
Here’s mine:
“Passion, enchantment and adventure on the inner edge of the paranormal.”
Great post Marie-Claude! I love all these creative tag lines! Here’s mine: “Indulge in a hot, delicious romance.”
I loved that tagline, Cait. Very intringuing. And congrat on your upcoming spring release with The Wild Rose Press
Nicole,
I should have known (although I would have guess something like: “She makes them hot hot hot…and kilted!” LOL I looked at your email for your tagline and couldn’t find it….Thanks for dropping by
Wow…I’m blushing. Thanks for throwing my tag line in the mix with so many talented authors. What are fun subject to post about.
These are great!!!
Here are mine: Sensuous Timeless Tales Judi Phillips
Saucy Sexy Romps (Judi Phillips writing as) Pepper Goodrich
Hi Marie-Claude! What a fabulous post with some amazing taglines. I’m flattered you have mine on there
Thank you!
I love your tagline, and Shelli’s is awesome!
Jenn,
I just love your tagline…when I saw your business card I was blown away by it…it is sooo like your books….it describes your writing perfectly!
Judi,
Saucy Sexy Romps….how can we resist 
Thanks for sharing!
Great lines
I love your tag line too Eliza…full of promises !~!
I love seeing how people sum up their work in just a few words.
Mine is: Bitchin’ Fiction
Here’s mine:
“Romance with a stroke of passion” – Jill James
I believe mine is rather boring compared to everyone else’s!! It’s “Curl up with the past.”
Are you still awake?
Christine
Hey Marie-Claude. Great blog. It was cool to see everyone’s tag line. My tagline is “Fiction that Defies the Boundaries.”
Hey Marie!
Had to think long and hard on this one–but it was a fun pastime.
Here is mine:
“The lovers of legend are well and alive…surrender to their dark magick”
Eve
Spicy Victorian Romantic Adventure~
More adjectival than some. Thanks for the post, there’s a lot of inspiration to be found in those tasty little morsels of taglines!
I love this! I put it as a link in my “Writer’s Resources.”
When it comes to summarizing my entire writing philosophy, I am much better with images than I am with words.
Hm… perhaps I’ll run a tag line contest on my site using a picture collage!
M-C, thanks for adding mine. This was a fun blog.
Bitchin’ Fiction is awesome Melissa, catchy!
Thanks for sharing!
“Curl up with the past” is beautiful Christine. I happen to love historical, especially to curl up with for a whole long time on a rainy day.
Your line just bring that nice cozy feeling!
Good job Eve! I knew you’d find something. And legends as well….love that:)
Anthea,
maybe a lot of adjective, but I know exactly what your stories are about now! Cool!
Thanks for linking this Kate. A contest for tagline is an awesome idea!!!
Can I be one of the jugdes LOL
Edie, no problem.
It is a fun idea. I still love your magical tagline
Great blog topic! I hope you don’t mind the late comer.
Here are a couple others that are important to me.
The future has never been so sexy! Melany Logen.
Home to a new breed of alphas. Marissa Alwon
Best,
~Mel