Helpful Answers to Common Questions

  1. What do the books look like?
  2. How do I upload a photo for my book cover?
  3. Can I use my photo as the full cover?
  4. What is an ebook?
  5. How long are the novels?
  6. How much does a book cost?
  7. Which book should I order?
  8. What is the difference between the "wild" and "mild" versions of your books?
  9. What information do I need to personalize my book?
  10. What if I don't have an answer to a question on the questionnaire?
  11. Is there a way to write something special and put it into a book?
  12. Can I order more than one book at a time?
  13. What if I don't have Internet access and want to fax or mail in my order?
  14. What are your shipping and handling (S/H) charges?
  15. How long will it take to get my book with STANDARD shipping?
  16. How long will it take to get my book with EXPRESS shipping?
  17. Will you notify me when my order has been shipped?
  18. Does it take longer to make hardback books or books with photos added to the covers?
  19. What is the difference between choosing STANDARD Shipping and EXPRESS Shipping in the United States?
  20. What if the book is shipped outside the United States?
  21. Can books be sent to an address other than my own?
  22. What does the shipment look like?
  23. Do you ship to prisons?
  24. What if my book does not arrive by the date I need it?
  25. Can I add EXPRESS Shipping after I have placed my order?
  26. What happens if I’ve given you a wrong address?
  27. Do you accept foreign currency?
  28. What types of payment are accepted?
  29. Do I pay sales tax?
  30. What is your return policy?
  31. What if I find a spelling error in the book that is not part of the personalization?
  32. Do you have any books that can be used for same-sex partners?
  33. Is there drinking in the books?
  34. Are your books appropriate for all ages?
  35. What are Promotional Discount and Gift Card Codes?
  36. What happens if I have money left on my Code during the ordering process?
  37. How do I get a Code?
  38. Who writes these books?
  39. How did you come up with the idea for these books?
  40. Do you have an affiliate program?
  41. Do you accept advertising on your website?
  42. Does the personalized data (names, hair color, etc.) printed in the book appear in bold in the book like it does in the excerpts on the website?
  43. What happens to the personal information you collect?
  44. Is this website secure?

1. What do the books look like?

The paperback books look like paperback romance novels you'd buy in a store. They measure 4.25 by 6.75 inches, average 170 pages and are perfect bound. The covers are full color.

The paperback novellas look like paperback romance novels you'd buy in a store. They measure 4.25 by 6.75 inches, but they are shorter than the paperback books, averaging around 60 pages. They are perfect bound. The covers are full color.

The hardback books look like hardback books you'd buy in a store. They measure 5.5 by 8.5 inches, average 210 pages, have a hard cover, and are perfect bound. The covers are full color.

Paperback: 4.25" x 6.75"

Paperback
Plain:
$49.95*

Paperback
With Photo:
$74.95*

Paperback
With Full Custom Cover:
$89.95*
Hardback: 5.25" x 8.5"

Hardback
Plain:
$94.95*

Hardback
With Photo:
$119.95*

Hardback
With Full Custom Cover:
$134.95*

*Base price before shipping and handling.

A photo of the starring couple can be added to the covers paperback, hardback and eBook versions for an added fee of $25. Also, for a fee of $40, the uploaded full photo can become the book’s entire front cover for select titles. See example above. Not all books offer full front cover photo options yet; more than a dozen do. (See FAQ #3). All printed books and eBooks do offer the option of adding your photo to the existing book cover.

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2. How do I upload a photo for my book cover?

A photo of the starring couple really takes personalization to the next level. The example to the left is about the same size - approximately 2.5" by 2.5." - as it will be when it’s printed on the book’s existing cover. Our staff will crop it into a circle, oval or rectangle that focuses on the head and shoulders of the starring couple.

For the full custom cover option, the full photograph will be used as the entire front cover with the book title and author name added. That cover photo will measure approximately 4.25” x 6.75” for a paperback and approximately 5.25” x 8.5” for a hardback. Vertical or “portrait” photos are best because a book cover is vertical.

Adding a photo to an existing book cover is $25 more; adding a custom cover is $40 more.

Adding the photo is an easy process, if you have the digital image ready in your computer before you start placing your order. So have a good quality photo ready to upload.

Photo Requirements – photo cropped and added to existing cover

  • Please make sure your photo is in a jpeg format and that its filename ends in .jpg. (e.g., smilingcouple.jpg).
  • For best results, the photo should be larger than 480 x 640 pixels (122 KB) or, if you are sizing by dots-per-inch (dpi), make sure your photo is larger than 150 dpi.
  • Please do not send a 72 dpi photo (one sized for the web) because the quality will not be good enough.
  • With today’s digital cameras and smart phones, the normal setting is perfect.
  • Remember, your photo will be cropped and placed on the cover by our staff, so make sure the two people are close together in the photo you upload.

Photo Requirements – custom photo that becomes the book’s full cover on select titles (See FAQ #3)

  • Please make sure your photo is in a jpeg format and that its filename ends in .jpg. (e.g., smilingcouple.jpg).
  • For best results, the photo should approximately 2 MB or larger or, if you are sizing by dots-per-inch (dpi), make sure your photo is larger than 300 dpi.
  • Please send a vertical or “portrait” style photo of good quality for best result.
  • Please do not send a 72 dpi photo (one sized for the web) because the quality will not be good enough.
  • With today’s digital cameras and smart phones, the normal setting is perfect.

Uploading the Photo:

  • Once your photo is ready in your computer, you can upload it.
  • Order the book you want.
  • Choose a book with photo option. The two photo options are listed either as “w/photo” or “w/full custom cover.” If a book does not list the Full Custom Cover option, then that option is not available for that title. More than a dozen are available.
  • Click on the “Select files” button.
  • Browse your computer to find the photo you want.
  • Select it (be sure the file name ends in .jpg).
  • Wait for it to upload; it will show on the page.
  • Do not close your browser or click the back button during this process because this will cancel the upload.
  • If you do not like the photo you selected, click the Change Photo or Remove Photo button. This will allow you to go back and change your order.
  • If you like the photo you selected, continue to complete the questionnaire.

Additional information about photos:

  • Whenever you upload a digital photo for your order, it is copied onto our site. The original digital photo file remains unchanged on your computer.
  • Black and white photos will work.
  • Note there are two photo options: The photo you submit becomes the new cover of the book (15 titles currently available); OR the photo of the couple is cropped to fit into a circle, oval, square or rectangle that is printed onto the book’s existing cover.
  • We do not accept photos by mail. If you need a digital copy of your photo to use with your order, you can usually go to a store like Kinko’s or the photo center at Target to get a .jpg made.
  • Take into account that adding a photo to the cover is a customized product that depends on what you send us, and we don’t offer refunds. So choose a high quality image that is clear and in focus.

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3. Can I use my photo as the full cover?

Yes! Our art department can work with your uploaded image to make it the entire front cover of your very customized novel or eBook. See the example above in FAQ #1. Shown are three cover images for Island of Love (for paperback and hardback) in this order, left to right: plain cover, your photo added to existing cover, and your photo as the book’s full front cover.

Not all books have this option yet. When you click the order button for a book, all available options pop up, and you choose one. If available, it will say "w/Full Custom Cover."

These titles are now available for FULL CUSTOM COVER (on either paperback or hardback and on eBook if that title comes as an eBook):

  • African Safari: Wild Life, Wild Love
    (poachers interrupt a luxury safari vacation to Zambia)
  • Another Day in Paradise
    (BEST SELLER! Caribbean luxe resort and danger)
  • Another Night in Paradise
    (Caribbean and meteors; not a sequel to Another Day in Paradise)
  • Awake My Love
    (romp through space and time via dream sequences)
  • Away on the Range
    (dude ranch with romance in unusual places)
  • Celebrating Romance
    (10-year anniversary anthology of 10 winning short stories set in Paris, Acapulco, Barcelona, Maui, outer space and more)
  • Celebrating Romance 2
    (20-year anniversary anthology of 10 winning short stories many of which are available as individual ebooks)
  • Cold Feet, Warm Heart
    (A mountaintop blizzard interrupts the hero and heroine’s instruction from a former member of the Austrian ski team.)
  • Cruise Alaska
    (an Alaskan cruise leads to time travel to Gold Rush days)
  • For the Ages
    (A stay at the venerable Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, leads to interactions with past notable guests and the spiritual present)
  • Hawaii is Romance
    (a BIG PRINT BOOK is 3 short stories set in the Aloha State)
  • Heart of the Keys
    (An 1848 love letter opens the door to help foil an unsavory scheme in sultry Key West, FL)
  • Holiday on Thames
    (a history lesson, a pair of outrageous gal pals, a little mischief and a lot of passion pepper the plot in this journey along a portion of the River Thames in England's countryside)
  • Island of Love
    (A TOP SELLER set in Tahiti featuring black pearls and a luxury cruise)
  • Jamaica Rendezvous
    (An ocean treasure caps hot nights, exotic entertainment and passionate encounters in this trip to Ocho Rios, Jamaica)
  • Let the Good Times Roll
    (a New Orleans visit during the Mardi Gras involves the prickly heat of the voodoo-laced Big Easy shows how precious life together really can be)
  • Lover's Paradise: Paris
    (three short stories form this novella highlight what makes Paris magical: So much to see; so much to do. Who wouldn’t fall in love with and in The City of Lights?)
  • Love’s Bounty: An Outer Banks Romance
    (set on the North Carolina coastline and featuring Blackbeard’s ghost)
  • Missed Tryst
    (first in the detective series inspired by hardboiled film noir)
  • Negril Everlasting
    (Negril, Jamaica, action moves from the luxury resort to the island’s pirate history)
  • New Mexico Nights
    (Albuquerque hot-air ballooning, quirky Taos culture and natural hot springs, and Santa Fe Canyon Road are sites of the romance and action)
  • New York: Some Like It Hot
    (NYC & time travel involving Marilyn Monroe)
  • Red Moon Waltz
    (a magical masquerade ball means stepping into an enchanted world of elf queens, shapeshifters, pixies and vampires)
  • Ren Faire to Remember
    (a modern-day London Renaissance fair transports the stars to a medieval, mythical land where brave knights serve a legendary king)
  • Rome: Diamonds, Danger and Desire
    (Against the backdrop of the Coliseum, the Vatican and all that Rome has to offer comes an intriguing tale of love, adventure and heroics in secret agent style)
  • Sandhills Fore-Play
    (golf-fantasy novel set in the Carolinas; a little bit of teaching, a lot of romance; a championship round)
  • Sea Double: A Cruise Romance
    (the heroine switches places with a rock mega-star on a Caribbean cruise; her hero takes on the role of her bodyguard, and the sizzling action makes for a hot time)
  • The Treasure Seekers
    (follow the clues around tropical Ft. Lauderdale, FL, for the promise of adventures and riches)
  • Vampire Saga: A Trio of Tales
    (all three stories in the vampire series in one book – encounter vampires)
  • Wild West Love Fest
    (time travel back to the Old West with characters right out of central casting – funny and sexy, a top seller)

4. What is an ebook?

An electronic book. The ebooks we sell at YourNovel.com are personalized like all our books and delivered electronically as an attachment in PDF format to the email the customer provides. They are normally delivered within 24 hours.

An ebook is NOT a bound book, but one that you can read on your computer screen, on your PDA or smartphone, eReader or printed out on regular, letter-size paper. To open the PDF ebook, you need a program like Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader.

To receive an ebook, the customer must provide a valid email address. We ask for the customer’s email address because the customer expects to receive an attachment from us, whereas someone else may not be expecting it and simply trash it.

Once you receive your ebook as an attachment via email, your email the PDF as an attachment to another computer, i.e., if you are giving it as a gift to someone; you can click on the attachment to open the ebook on your screen; and you can download it onto your computer then transfer it to your eReader via the devices’ specific instructions. This usually is done by sending the ebook to your eReader’s email address for the device, by connecting your eReader to your computer, or putting the ebook on a portable (thumb) drive and transferring it that way. You can also email the PDF to another computer, i.e., if you are giving it as a gift for someone.

Transferring it to another device may vary depending on what device you are using, so if you run into issues, check the device's specifications for troubleshooting details.

If you ordered an ebook and have not received it within 24 hours, please check your spam filter.

5. How long are the novels?

  • paperback novels average 170 pages depending on which title is selected.
  • paperback novellas average 60 pages depending on which title is selected.
  • hardback novels average 210 pages depending on which title is selected.
  • ebooks average 30 pages for a novella and 100 pages for a full novel.

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6. How much does a book cost?

These following base prices do not reflect sale prices. (Adding a photo to an existing book cover is $25 more; adding a custom cover is $50 more.) Shipping and handling charges are extra.

We offer these book options*:

  • Paperback plain: $49.95
  • Paperback with photo: $74.95
  • Paperback with full custom cover: $99.95
  • Hardback plain: $94.95
  • Hardback with photo: $119.95
  • Hardback with full custom cover: $144.95
  • eBook (short story), plain: $24.95
  • eBook (short story), with photo: $49.95
  • eBook (short story), with full custom cover: $74.95
  • eBook (full length novel): $39.95
  • eBook (full length novel), with photo: $64.95
  • eBook (full length novel), with full custom cover: $89.95

* Only select titles come in eBook format; only certain titles currently feature the Full Custom Cover option.

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7. Which book should I order?

Read the descriptions about each of the books, read the excerpts and pick the one that best suits you or the couple you're buying for. You might consider where the books are set and ask yourself if the couple would enjoy going on vacation there.

Or, in the case of our compilation books like "Celebrating Romance" and "Celebrating Romance 2," which have 10 short stories, or "Shore Thing," and "Shore Thing II," which have four stories, or "Far-Out Love," and "Hawaii is Romance," which have three stories, you get more of a variety.

"High Seas Romance" is historical fiction.

"Missed Tryst," "A Reunion to Die For" and "Time Share Affair" are detective novels.

"Sandhills Fore-Play" is a golf fantasy book.

"Vampire Saga" is three novellas concerning a vampire encounter.

And our ebooks offer various scenarios from Paris to the Caribbean to Hawaii to a zombie attack.

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8. What is the difference between the "wild" and "mild" versions of your books?

The "wild" version offers more detailed, steamy romantic scenes, similar to the romance novel genre. "Wild" uses those fun romance novel euphemisms but is never graphic. It is, however, racy in nature.

The "mild" version of each book is exactly the same story line, but the romantic scenes have been limited and left more to the imagination. In either case, do consider that the book is about two people in love, so they will make love in the story.

You can read both "wild" and "mild" excerpts from each book elsewhere on this website.

If you have any qualms about the idea of ordering a "wild" version, it's our advice to order the "mild" version instead. We do not recommend ordering a book for anyone under the age of 18.

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9. What information do I need to personalize my book?

Information you'll need to provide us so we can personalize your book includes the following:

  • Which book you want.
  • Whether you want the Wild or Mild version.
  • The man and woman’s first names.
  • The man and woman’s first and last names.
  • The town where she lives.
  • Her closest major airport.
  • Her favorite radio station for music. (Call letters or numbers.)
  • Make of car he drives.
  • Her favorite color for clothing. (Think lingerie or evening gown.)
  • The pet names they call each other.
  • Their best friends' names.
  • Her perfume and his cologne/after shave. (If none, please type in: the clean scent of soap or au natural.)
  • Where they work. (The name of the companies; or the word "home" will work fine.)
  • Their eye and hair colors.
  • A favorite musical group/artist or type of music.
  • The total amount of time they've been "a couple."
  • For the dedication page: whom the book is being given to, whom the book is being given from, and for what occasion and the date of the occasion.
    (Ex: Happy Anniversary, December 31, 2012).
You will also need to supply the billing, payment and shipping information.

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10. What if I don't have an answer to a question on the questionnaire?

You must fill in every blank on the order form or your order cannot be processed. When you are on the ordering page that asks for the answers, there is a Help Button/Wizard that you can click to guide you through the responses and give you suggestions. In the meantime, if you do not know an answer to a question, you might use one of the following:
  • Her closest airport: airport
  • Favorite radio station: KLUV or WUSA.
  • Make of car he drives: car or truck.
  • Her favorite color for clothing: red or black.
  • His pet name for her: use the woman's first name.
  • Her pet name for him: use the man's first name.
  • Her or his best friend: you can use a sister/brother, mother/father, or daughter/son.
  • Her perfume or his cologne/aftershave: the clean scent of soap or au natural.
  • His or her workplace: home; or perhaps something like the bridge club, golf course, or the home office. If retired, you can use the former place of work or home. Also note we want where they work, not what they do. So home will work, not housewife; Jason's Garage will work, not mechanic; Mason Middle School, not teacher.
  • Eye color: beautiful.
  • Hair color: sexy. (Note that bald or shaved will not work. Put in what color it used to be, or try very short, barely there, or invisible.)
  • Favorite music: romantic.
  • Amount of time: forever or short time or long time. If you use a number, be sure to add the unit of time as well (i.e., type in 12 years, not 12).

Don't hesitate to be a little creative with your response. For instance, if you don't know the type of car he drives, put in something exotic. We won't check to see if he drives a Corvette, Maserati or Lamborghini.

The Dedication in every book reads the same. Fill in the blanks as you want yours to read, but limit yourself to less than 50 characters/spaces per line.

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11. Is there a way to write something special and put it into a book?

Additional pages can be added to any of our books or ebooks at the cost of $25 per page. On these Special Pages, you can write whatever you want, and we’ll lay out what you have written so that it is in the same format as the rest of the book.

One page consists of approximately 300 words — that’s about 30 lines with 8-12 words per line. You’ll be surprised at how much you can fit onto one page. If you have a lot to say and need more than a couple of pages, we’d be happy to work something out with the pricing.

This is a special service that is not automated, so you and we will have to complete a couple of steps to make sure what you want to say appears in print the way you’d like it. For more info or to order, Click here.

Here is the basic process for Special Pages:
  1. Order a book or ebook online.
  2. Order this service online (either with your book order or separately).
  3. Prepare the text you want inserted.
  4. We’ll email or call you with instructions on how to get your text to us.

Keep in mind that this process will add more time to your book production — usually an extra day or two — but imagine the surprise your effort will create. There really is power in words.

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12. Can I order more than one book at a time?

Yes, you can order multiple copies at least 3 different ways.
  1. If you want to order MORE THAN ONE COPY OF THE SAME BOOK,
    1. Simply type in how many copies of the book you want in the box where it asks for that information.
    2. Then complete the ordering process.
  2. If you want to order DIFFERENT BOOKS USING THE SAME INFORMATION IN EACH BOOK,
    1. You first have to order one book, which will be in the Shopping Cart.
    2. Click Continue Shopping, which will take you to the Entire Book Catalog where you can order another book.
    3. Select and order another book.
    4. You will see this message:
      "Would you like to copy characters from another book you created?
      You can change any answer after you copy from another book."
    5. If you want to use the same characters you did in the first book, select that book from the book title that appears in a blue box. The answers you used in that book will appear in the blanks on the questionnaire.
    6. If you want to change some of those answers, just type in different ones (like if you want to use different pet names for each other, or if you want to change the occasion – like one for Valentine's Day and one for an anniversary).
    7. Check the Yes box at the bottom to verify your responses are correct.
    8. Click Add Item and complete the ordering process.
  3. If you want to order DIFFERENT BOOKS USING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INFORMATION IN EACH BOOK (like if each book is for different people),
    1. You first have to order one book, which will be in the Shopping Cart.
    2. Click Continue Shopping, which will take you to the Entire Book Catalog where you can order another book.
    3. When the new questionnaire page comes up, make sure the book you want is selected, then complete the second order by filling in the answers you want on the questionnaire.
    4. Click Add Item and complete the ordering process.

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13. What if I don't have Internet access and want to fax or mail in my order?

Fax or mail orders require additional labor to data enter and can result in error, especially if answers are handwritten. For those reasons, we charge an additional $10.00 fee for fax and mail orders that is added when we data enter the information for you.

We encourage you to place your order through our website, but if you want to do otherwise, we can mail or fax you the necessary forms. Please call for instructions: 800.444.3356.

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14. What are your shipping and handling (S/H) charges?

We have two options for shipping and handling for both in the United States and for outside the country: STANDARD and EXPRESS. We use the United States Postal Service (USPS) for most of our shipping, but if the need arises, we will use another carrier.
  • STANDARD U.S. Priority is $10.00
  • STANDARD Out-of-Country Priority is $30.00
  • U.S. EXPRESS Service is $35.00
  • Out-of-Country EXPRESS Service is $70

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15. How long will it take to get my book with STANDARD Shipping?

In the United States, paperbacks sent STANDARD U. S. Priority usually arrive within a week from when the order was placed.

Outside the U.S., add another 2-4 business days.

In the United States, hardbacks sent STANDARD U.S. Priority usually arrive within two weeks of when the order was placed. Outside the U.S., add another 2-4 business days.

Ebooks are delivered via email within 24 hours.

These are estimated times and can vary for many factors (including weather, which is beyond our control), sometimes making the delivery quicker and sometimes longer.

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16. How long will it take to get my book with EXPRESS Shipping?

EXPRESS Shipping refers to the delivery method, which in most cases in the U.S. is next day delivery after the book has been made. EXPRESS Shipping will normally cut 2-3 days off the delivery time, but remember that the book first has to be produced.

Outside the U.S., add another 2-4 business days.

These are estimated times and can vary for many factors (including weather, which is beyond our control), sometimes making the delivery quicker and sometimes longer.

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17. Will you notify me when my order has been shipped?

Yes, each order placed has a confirmation number that will be sent to you by email, if you've provided a valid email address. You will receive three auto-emails from YourNovel.com as follows:
  • When you place your order;
  • When your order has gone to production;
  • When it has been shipped.

If you have questions about shipping, you will find info posted on our blog www.yournovelblog.com or reply to your shipping info email.

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18. Does it take longer to make hardback books or books with photos added to the covers?

Yes. Each book is a special, custom product so each book is made one at a time.

Hardback books take longer to make.

Adding a photo to the cover adds a day or two to the process.

Note that books are not made on the weekends, so placing your order on a Friday afternoon or on Saturday or Sunday means it will start production on Monday morning.

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19. What is the difference between choosing STANDARD Shipping and EXPRESS Shipping in the United States?

Each book is made one at a time, personalized just for you. We strive to make each book as quickly as possible. After your book is made, it is shipped via your shipping and handling choice.
  • STANDARD Shipping is U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, which is delivered within 2 to 4 days after production is complete to U.S. locations. The cost is $10.00.
  • EXPRESS Shipping is normally U.S. Postal Service Express mail, which is delivered within 1 to 2 days after production is compete to U.S. locations. The cost is $35.00.

EXPRESS Shipping applies only to the shipping time and does not mean that you will receive your book the day after placing your order. We still have to make the book. The good news is that choosing EXPRESS Shipping does put your order in front of the STANDARD Shipping orders in the production queue, so it is made quicker.

Note that books are not made on the weekends, so placing your order on a Friday afternoon or on Saturday or Sunday means it will start production on Monday morning.

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20. What if the book is shipped outside the United States?

The production time is the same as for orders within the United States, but the shipping is different.
  • STANDARD out-of-country shipping is U.S. Postal Service Global Priority Mail, which is delivered within 3 to 7 days after production is complete depending on the country to which the book is being mailed. The cost is $30.00.
  • EXPRESS out-of-country shipping is done using select carriers who can deliver the quickest, usually within 2 to 5 business days after production is complete depending on the country to which the book is being mailed. The cost is $70.00.

EXPRESS Shipping applies only to the shipping time and does not mean that you will receive your book the day after placing your order. We still have to make the book. The good news is that choosing EXPRESS Shipping does put your order in front of the STANDARD Shipping orders in the production queue, so it is made quicker.

Note that books are not made on the weekends, so placing your order on a Friday afternoon or on Saturday or Sunday means it will start production on Monday morning.

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21. Can books be sent to an address other than my own?

Absolutely, books can be shipped to any address. Just fill out the Ship To information on the order form. Be sure the shipping address is one that the United States Postal Service can deliver to.

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22. What does the shipment look like?

  • STANDARD orders are shipped in red, white and blue U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail envelopes.
  • EXPRESS orders are shipped in packaging provided by the carriers.
  • Out of country STANDARD orders are shipped in U.S. Postal Service Global Priority envelopes or those provided by any other carriers.
  • Out of country EXPRESS orders are shipped with different service depending on the country to which the book is being shipped and the orders are shipped in packaging provided by the carriers
  • Other products such as Lovey Duckies, Bears and Coupon Books will be mailed in plain envelopes. They are shipped separately from the books and are only mailed within the USA.
  • In all cases, a return address for YourNovel.com is used.

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23. Do you ship to prisons?

YourNovel.com uses the United States Postal Service to ship to penitentiaries, but we strongly suggest you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to note any special regulations the prison might have. Some prisons don't allow delivery of hardcover books. Others reject deliveries unless they are from a pre-authorized vendor.

We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages. On the outside of the package, we will print only the recipient’s name and identifiers, destination address and our company name with return address. We also do not sent anonymously to inmates or any customers.

To avoid delivery problems, you might consider having your purchase shipped to you and then shipping it to the penitentiary via your choice of carriers. If the book is returned to us because the institution has rejected it, we will require you to pay to have it shipped again, so before you order, please check the rules and regulations of the institution to make sure they accept packages for the inmates.

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24. What if my book does not arrive by the date I need it?

Due to the custom nature of our one-of-a-kind books, we cannot guarantee delivery on a specific date.

If for any reason your book has been delayed, a printable gift card is available that can be printed and given while you are awaiting the delivery of your book. Click here to open and print the gift card.

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25. Can I add EXPRESS Shipping after I have placed my order?

Yes. If you change your mind and want to speed up the delivery process, you can change your type of delivery from STANDARD Shipping to EXPRESS Shipping. First email or call us to check to see if your book has been mailed. If it has not, we can upgrade your order to EXPRESS Shipping.

We've added this option for those in the USA who'd like to upgrade their shipping from the STANDARD USPS Priority shipping ($10.00) to USPS EXPRESS ($35.00), which will expedite production and delivery. Your book will usually be delivered the day after the book has been made and mailed. In certain occasions, FedEx or UPS overnights will be used. Click HERE to order an upgrade

The $24 charge reflects the difference between STANDARD and EXPRESS service in the USA. Your will receive an email confirmation once you place the order.

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26. What happens if I’ve given you a wrong address?

Once you submit your order, you will be emailed a confirmation email that asks you to look over your order to make sure it is correct and to contact us if it is not. At that time, we can make changes like errors in the ship to address.

If you have given us a wrong address, the post office is likely to return the book to us, which can take several days. If this happens, when the book comes back, we will email you about the situation.

If you have given us a wrong address or your book has been returned to us for any reason (including refusal by the recipient), you will be required to pay a reshipping and handling fee ($10.00) to have it sent to an address you guarantee will accept the book.

Choose this option only when the book you purchased has been returned or refused due to an address error on your part. The $10.00 shipping handling charge is for USPS Priority (2-4 day delivery) in the USA only. Click HERE to reship your book.

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27. Do you accept foreign currency?

No. All amounts on the website are U.S. Dollars. Exchange rates vary from day to day; you can check with your bank to see what yours is. If you are paying by credit card, the currency conversion will be automatic.

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28. What types of payment are accepted?

Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express, PayPal, money orders and YourNovel.com Gift Card Codes.

For money orders, books will be shipped after the money order is received, and the money order must be payable in U.S. dollars.

We do not accept personal checks.

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29. Do I pay sales tax?

Only North Carolina residents are required to pay sales tax, and it will be automatically added to your order at the current tax rate.

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30. What is your return policy?

If there is a problem with the workmanship of the book, we will correct the problem. All you have to do is call or email us about the problem, then mail the book back to us at YourNovel.com, 3100 Arrowwood Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604. After we have discussed the problem and have received the book that contains the error due to workmanship, we will remake and remail a corrected copy to you.

We use your spelling to make the book, and you were required to confirm your answers were correct after you completed the questionnaire. If you have typed in or have given us the wrong spelling or if any of your custom information is incorrect, we will not replace the book because it is an error you made. Our software reads what you input and places it into the book.

Remember that each book is individually made, personalized just for you, so take the time to get your information correct. Because each book is customized to your specifications, we cannot offer a refund because you simply do not like the book. After we have made it to your specifications, it only has value to you.

Note that once your order has gone to production – you will receive an email confirming this has occurred, the order cannot be changed and no refund will be issued.

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31. What if I find a spelling error in the book that is not part of the personalization?

Over the years, people have graciously pointed out their concerns as to spelling or grammatical issues in our books, nearly all of which turn out to be grammatical conventions, style decisions or subjective use.

We work very hard to make sure our books are error free, but just like books that are produced by major publishers, sometimes things slip by. We buy and read a lot of books and are keen to note where the typos occur. No matter how companies, large and small, try to prevent errors from happening, errors do happen. And just like when we find errors in books by major companies, we do not expect the bookstore or the publisher to provide us with a new book. If you feel inclined to point out a major error, please do, but we will not supply you with a new book because of it.

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32. Do you have any books that can be used for same-sex partners?

No. All of our books are about a man and a woman in love, so the pronouns and body parts are masculine/feminine and cannot be changed.

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33. Is there drinking in the books?

Our couple will drink alcohol in social settings, but they do not lose control of their ability to know right from wrong. Champagne and other alcoholic drinks play into toasts.

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34. Are your books appropriate for all ages?

Certainly not. Our books are written for adults. In each of the books, the starring couple is in love and will make love. A minimum suggested age would be 18, a time when a person can serve in the military and vote in an election.

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35. What are Promotional Discount and Gift Card Codes?

YourNovel.com issues Promotional Discount and Gift Card Codes, which we’ll just call Codes, from now on. There are primarily three kinds:
  1. Media and complimentary Codes. When they are used, they cost the user nothing. Comp Codes are issued to media members, reviewers, and individuals for various reasons.
  2. Percent off Codes. When they are used, the user will get a percentage off the purchase. Percent off Codes are generally given during promotions, to groups of customers, and to prior customers who will receive emails – sometimes in the form of a newsletter and sometimes as an email reminder that a special date like a birthday or anniversary is approaching. Anyone who purchases from YourNovel.com can select to give birthday and anniversary dates to receive future discounts. Also, if a customer wants to opt out, all they need to do is email, and we will remove them from our email list.
  3. Dollar off Codes. When they are used, the user will get a specific dollar amount off the purchase. Dollar off Codes are generally given during promotions, to groups of customers, and to prior customers in various ways, like emailed newsletters. Dollar off Codes can also be given as vouchers (or gift cards) in special promotions.
Here are how Codes work:
  1. If using a Code for a complimentary book, (for instance as a winner in a contest or giveaway) your book will be free including STANDARD Shipping.
  2. If using a Code for a percent off, the percentage will be taken off the order.
  3. If using a Code for a dollar amount:
    • If the Code’s dollar amount is less than the total amount of your order, you will have to pay the difference.
    • If the Code's dollar amount is equal to the total amount of your order, the order will process with no charge to you.
    • If the Code's dollar amount is greater than the total amount of your order, the order will process with no charge to you, but any amount remaining on the Code will be lost.
  4. Once a Code is used, it is deactivated. Again, there is no carry-over balance.
  5. A Code itself has no cash value, and neither it nor any carry-over balance can be redeemed for cash.
  6. Only one Code may be used at a time.

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36. What happens if I have money left on my Code during the ordering process?

You can continue shopping to use up the balance, but any amount left on the Code once you checkout does not carry over.

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37. How do I get a Code?

Once you are a customer of YourNovel.com, you will receive offers via email during the year. Other sites that we work with will sometimes have access to promotions we have set up with them. YourNovel.com also distributes Codes to specific groups and organizations.

We also issue Codes through our Twitter and Facebook pages. You are welcome to follow us on either.

Also, visit our blog for the latest news, codes, contests, and more.

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38. Who writes these books?

YourNovel.com Inc. is the brainchild of husband/wife writing team Kathy M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher, who write together as Fletcher Newbern. They not only developed the concept and founded the company in 1992, but also have written 20 of the current novels available.

When not writing romance, they work as travel writers, have set foot on every continent, and have visited many of the exotic locations that are the settings for their personalized romance novels.

These authors wrote the other books:

Ten contest winners who wrote "Celebrating Romance," ten short stories selected to celebrate YourNovel.com's 10th anniversary.

Ten contest winners who wrote "Celebrating Romance 2," ten short stories selected to celebrate YourNovel.com's 20th anniversary.

Marcy Thomas, one of the contest winners, who wrote "Treasure Seekers," "Heart of the Keys," "Rome: Diamonds, Danger and Desire," "Season's Greeting, Season's Love," and two of the four novellas in "Shore Thing II."

Thomas Marcy who wrote "Wild West Love Fest""

Gail Gibbs wrote "Vampire Saga: A Trio of Tales," which is comprised of her three novella ebooks "Vampire Rhapsody," "Fresh Blood, " and "Blood Starved. " Gail also wrote "Red Moon Waltz."

Jennifer Price who wrote "High Seas Romance."

Geno Vincenzo who wrote "Missed Tryst," "A Reunion to Die For" and "Time Share Affair."

Susie Taylor who wrote "The Magic Snow Globes."

Madhavi Krevat who wrote "A Ren Faire to Remember" and "New York: Some Like It Hot".

Additional ebook authors complete the line-up, and we are in the market for additional writers. You can request a copy of our Guidelines for Submission by emailing us.

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39. How did you come up with the idea for these books?

It's a great story that dates back to 1992:

Newbern: "I was on a panel at a public relations conference and the ice-breaker question was: 'What would people be surprised to find out about you?' I answered that I had written a yet-to-be published romance novel, which got an appropriate response. Fletcher, then my boyfriend, had driven to the conference with me, and at lunch, one of the women, a friend, at the table said, 'Wouldn't it be great to read about yourself in one of those romance novels?' Well, we all laughed and kidded around about it. Then, on the four-hour drive home, Fletcher and I looked at each other, and the proverbial light bulb went off. We said, 'You know, we could do that!' and actually started outlining our first book, 'Another Day in Paradise,' on the back of a manila folder on the drive. We started writing it the next day."

Fletcher: "We acted on a great idea and are still going strong 20 years later. We firmly believe that the only way to get something done is to do it."

Newbern: "We did not want to look back at some point and say, 'You know, if we had just done that personalized romance novel thing...' "

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40. Do you have an affiliate program?

Yes. If you are interested in selling our books on your website, please email us about details.

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41. Do you accept advertising on your website?

Yes. If you are interested in details, please email us.

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43. What happens to the personal information you collect?

In short, your information is not shared or sold to anyone.

YourNovel.com, Inc. (YourNovel.com) recognizes the importance of protecting the information collected from customers in the operation of this website, and takes reasonable steps to maintain the security, integrity and privacy of any information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. By submitting your information to YourNovel.com, you consent to the practices described herein.

YourNovel.com will ensure that any identifiable personal information it collects during the registration and purchasing processes will be adequate, relevant and not excessive for purposes of operating this website or any of the services operated hereunder, it will be kept accurate and up-to-date based on information provided, and it will be deleted when no longer needed. Except where necessary in connection with services provided by appropriate intermediaries, who will be required to comply with the confidentiality provisions of this policy, YourNovel.com will not disclose any personal information identifying customers to any third party, unless required by law or otherwise needed in connection with legal proceedings or unless we have received your consent.

Any private communications or information supplied to YourNovel.com by a customer may be used by YourNovel.com for internal business and research purposes and to help enhance and develop our website, but will not be shared with third parties unless we receive your consent. Periodically, YourNovel.com will email its former customers with promotional announcements of new products or discounts. Upon receipt of such correspondence, the customer will be able to opt out of future promotional announcements by notifying YourNovel.com he/she wants to opt out. To do so, the name of the customer and the email address must be provided. If at any point you wish to correct, supplement, modify or remove your information, you may do so by either using the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page, or mailing a written request to YourNovel.com, 3100 Arrowwood Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604.

If the customer leaves the YourNovel.com site and goes to another site to purchase a product or register for a sweepstakes where information must be provided, the customer understands and agrees he/she does so at his/her own will and that information will fall under the privacy policy of the other site.

Links may be provided from this website to other third-party websites. In using such links, customers should be aware that each third-party website will vary in terms of its privacy and data protection policies, and YourNovel.com does not take responsibility for the privacy policies of, and usage of, personal information collected by others including, without limitation, those of any partner or affiliate.

Please note that YourNovel.com's Privacy Policy is reviewed periodically. YourNovel.com reserves the right to modify its Privacy Policy at any time without notice. Any changes to the policy will be posted on this page. Your continued use of this website will be deemed conclusive acceptance of such modification. Any comments or questions concerning this policy should be addressed by entering your comments through our Contact Us link. If at any point you wish to correct, supplement, modify or remove your information, you may do so by either using the Contact Us link, or submitting a written request to YourNovel.com, 3100 Arrowwood Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604.

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44. Is this website secure?

Yes, our order form is on a secure server, and our site is certified by GoDaddy.com.

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