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, which are displayed on the Order a Book page, 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, which are displayed on the Order a Book page, are full color.

A photo of the starring couple can be added to the covers of both the paperback and hardback versions. Click here for more info on adding a photo to a book cover.

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2. How long are the novels?

The paperback novels average 170 pages depending on which title is selected.

The hardback novels average 210 pages depending on which title is selected.

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3. How much does a book cost?

We offer four book options:

• Paperback, plain: $49.95
• Paperback, with photo: $74.95
• Hardback, plain: $94.95
• Hardback, with photo: $119.95

Shipping and handing charges are extra.

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4. 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 will use another carrier.

• STANDARD U.S. Priority is $7 (usually 5-7 business days)
• STANDARD Out-of-Country Priority is $16 (usually 7-10 business days)
• US EXPRESS Service is $30 (usually 2-3 business days)
• Out-of-Country EXPRESS Service is $65 (varies by country but usually 3 -5 business days).

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5. How long will it take to get my book with STANDARD shipping in the US?

In the United States, paperbacks sent STANDARD U.S. Priority usually arrive within a week from when the order was placed. Outside the US, 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 US, add another 2-4 business days.

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6. How long will it take to get my book with EXPRESS shipping in the US?

EXPRESS shipping refers to the delivery method, which in most cases 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.

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

Yes, each order placed has a confirmation number which will be sent to you by email, if you've provided a valid email address.

You will be auto-emailed three times by yournovel.com as follows:

• When you place your order;
• When your order has gone to production;
• When it has been shipped.

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8. 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.

Adding photos to the cover usually adds a day or two to the process.

In all cases, we strive for speed, so oftentimes, the books will arrive earlier than our estimates, but there is no guarantee of that.

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9. 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 US Postal Service Priority Mail which is delivered within two to four days. The cost is $7.00.
• EXPRESS Shipping is normally US Postal Service Express mail which is delivered by the next day to most, not all, US locations. The cost is $30.00.

Note that 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.

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10. 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 US Postal Service Global Priority Mail which is delivered within 3 to 7 days depending on the country the book is being mailed to. The cost is $16.00.
• EXPRESS out-of-country shipping is done using select carriers who can deliver the quickest, usually within 2 to 5 business days. The cost is $65.00.

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

Yes, you can order multiple copies at least 3 different ways.

A. If you want to order MORE THAN ONE COPY OF THE SAME BOOK, simply type in how many copies of the book you want in the box where it asks for that information and then follow the prompts to complete the order.

B. If you want to order DIFFERENT BOOKS USING THE SAME INFORMATION IN EACH, you first have to order one book, fill out the questionnaire, add the book to your shopping cart, (add a photo if you chose that option) proofread your information, and accept the information is correct. Then the book will be in the Shopping Cart.

Click Continue Shopping, which will take you to the Entire Book Catalog where you can order another book.

When the new questionnaire page comes up, make sure the book you want is selected.

Click which Option you want:

• Paperback: $49.95
• Paperback w/ Photo: $74.95
• Hardback: $94.95
• Hardback w/Photo: $119.95

Type in how many copies you want.
Click whether you want the Wild or Mild version of the book. And if you want to use the same characters you did in the first book, select that book from the drop-down menu and click Copy. Those answers will appear in the blanks.

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).

Click Add Item to Shopping Cart and follow the prompts to complete the order.

C. If you want to order DIFFERENT BOOKS USING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INFORMATION IN EACH BOOK (like if each book is for different people), you first have to order one book, fill out the questionnaire, add the book to your shopping cart, (add a photo if you chose that option) proofread your information, and accept the information is correct. Then the book will appear in the Shopping Cart.

Click Continue Shopping, which will take you to the Entire Book Catalog where you can Order another book.

When the new Questionnaire page comes up, make sure the Book you want is selected.

Click which Option you want:

• Paperback: $49.95
• Paperback w/ Photo: $74.95
• Hardback: $94.95
• Hardback w/Photo: $119.95

Type in how may Copies you want.
Click whether you want the Wild or Mild version of the book.
Fill out the Questionnaire with the new information.
Click Add Item to Shopping Cart and follow the prompts to complete the order.

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

First, before you start placing your order, please have a good photo of the couple ready in your computer. Important: Please make sure your photo is in a jpeg format and that its filename ends in .jpg.

For best results, the photo should be no smaller than 640 x 480 pixels (122 kb) or, if you are sizing by dots-per-inch, make sure your photo is no smaller than 150 dpi. Please do not send a 72 dpi photo which is standard for web pages - the quality will not be good enough.

Do not send an excessively large file either. Ideal is about 1280 x 960 pixels (414 kb) or 300 dpi.

Once your photo is ready in your computer, you can upload it.

Go to the order page of the book you want and click the Order button. Choose the option of either a hardback with photo or paperback with photo.

Then fill out the questionnaire of details about the starring couple and click the Add Item to Shopping Cart button at the bottom. A page will pop up titled: How to upload your photo for your cover. Following the instructions on the page, you will click the Browse button to browse your computer files. Once you find the photo on your computer, select it (be sure the file name ends in .jpg).

The name of that file will then appear in the window to the left of the Browse button. Now click the Upload button.

Note that uploading your photo may take several minutes based on its size. Do not close your browser or click the back button during this process because this will cancel the upload.

If for any reason you change your mind and do not want a photo on your cover, click the Cancel Photo button. This will allow you to go back and change your order.

Once the upload photo process is completed, you will see your photo on the screen along with this message: Your photo uploaded successfully.

If you like the photo you selected, click the Continue button. If not, click the button: I want to use another photo.

If you click Continue, you will get a page to Proof your final Sample Answers. After you proof your answers, click Accept/Proceed to Checkout or Continue Shopping.

Your photo will be automatically cropped into a circle or oval on the book's cover that focuses in on the faces of the starring couple, so please make sure the two people are close together in the photo you upload.

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14. 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.

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15. 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. Also, if you'd like to print out an order form that you can fill in and fax or mail back, please click here, and you can download a PDF of our faxable form. Acrobat reader is required and can be obtained free from Adobe software online.

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16. Do I pay sales tax?

Only North Carolina residents are required to pay 6.75% sales tax per book. Therefore, for North Carolina residents, one paperback book is $49.95 + $3.37 N.C. sales tax + $7.00 shipping and handling, for a total of $60.32 for Standard Service.

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17. What types of payment are accepted?

Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express and money orders. We do not accept personal checks.

For money orders, books will be shipped after the money order is received.

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

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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19. Is this website secure?

Yes, our order form is on a secure server, and our site is certified by Network Solutions.

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20. 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 couple's first names.
• Their 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 color.
• 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 date and/or type of occasion.
  (Ex: Happy Anniversary, December 31, 2009).

You will also need to supply the billing, payment, and shipping information.

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21. 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 do not know an answer to a question, use one of the following:

• Favorite radio station: KLOV or WUSA.
• 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. If you do not provide a time after the number, we will use years, as in 12 years.

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 books reads the same. Fill in the blanks as you want yours to read, but limit yourself to less than 40 characters/spaces per line.

This book is lovingly dedicated to _________________________ from _________________________ _____________________________

SAMPLE: This book is lovingly dedicated to My Wonderful Wife, Lilly from Jeff, Who Loves Her Dearly Happy Valentine's Day - February 14, 2009

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22. 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 spoken to or corresponded to you about the problem, when we receive the book that contains the error due to workmanship, we will remake and and remail a corrected copy to you.

We will use your spelling to make the book. If you have given us the wrong spelling or if any of your 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.

Also note that once your order has gone to production, the order cannot be changed and no refund will be issued.

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23. 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 book store 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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24. Does the personal information printed into the books appear in bold in the book like it does in the excerpts on the website?

No, it appears as regular text like the rest of the book.

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25. 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 book.

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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26. 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 book of contest winners, "Celebrating Romance," which has 10 short stories, or "Shore Thing," and "Shore Thing II," which have four stories, you get more of a variety.

"High Seas Romance" is historical fiction.

"Missed Tryst" is a detective novel.

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27. Is there drinking in the books?

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

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28. What happens to the personal information you collect?

yournovel.com, Inc. (yournovel) 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, you consent to the practices described herein.

yournovel 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 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 by a customer may be used by yournovel 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 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 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, or submitting a written request to yournovel.com, 3100 Arrowwood Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604.

If the customer leaves the yournovel 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 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's Privacy Policy is reviewed periodically. yournovel 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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29. What does the shipment look like?

• STANDARD orders are shipped in red, white, and blue US Postal Service Priority Mail envelopes.
• EXPRESS orders are shipped in packaging provided by the carriers.
• Out of country STANDARD orders are shipped in US Postal Service Global Priority envelopes.
• Out of country EXPRESS orders are shipped with different service depending on which country the book is being shipped to.
• Lovey Duckies, Bears, and Coupon Books will be mailed in plain envelopes. They are shipped separately from the books.

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30. Do you ship to prisons?

yournovel.com delivers to penitentiaries using the United States Postal Service, 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 an authorized vendor.

We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages and on the outside will indicate only the destination address, our company name, and our return address. We also do not sent anonymously to inmates or any customers.

To avoid delivery problems, you might consider having the items shipped to you and then shipping them to the penitentiary via U.S. Mail.

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31. 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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32. Who writes these books?

With four exceptions, the author of each personalized romance novel is Fletcher Newbern, the pen name for a husband-wife writing team who not only writes the novels, but developed the concept and originated the company, yournovel.com, Inc., that brings you these titles. They also work as travel writers and have visited many of the exotic locations that are the settings for their personalized romance novels.

"Celebrating Romance" was written by 10 contest winners to produce a book to celebrate yournovel.com's 10th anniversary.

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

Jennifer Price wrote "High Seas Romance."

Geno Vincenzo wrote "Missed Tryst."

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

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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34. 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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35. 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 today are going strong. 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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