Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Novel idea in romance publishing

Woman’s young e-company selling popular volumes online

Alison Stanton Special for The Republic May. 7, 2004 12:00 AM

Ever since she was a teenager, Kristi Studts has enjoyed reading romance novels.

But over time, Studts began to realize that, while the names of the characters changed from book to book, the basic plot remained about the same.

Studts found herself longing for something other than the "strict formula" most romance novels adhere to, or what some call the "woman meets man, woman may lose man, woman wins man, and everyone lives happily ever after" theme.

"After reading 300 of them it gets old. I got sick of reading them," she said. "I really wanted to see something strange happen or funny or out of the ordinary or not the same."

In order to provide women with the type of romance books she always wished for but could never find, Studts, now 39, recently formed her own publishing company.

Called Triskelion Publishing, Studts’ company began selling books online in January from a home office in Peoria. Studts works as publisher and executive editor.

In Celtic lore, Studts said the Triskel traditionally represents the symbol of the circle of life for woman: maiden, mother and elder. Studts said Triskelion Publishing focuses on marketing books for women of all ages, or, as her Web site proclaims, "Extraordinary Romance for Extraordinary Women."

At least 30 women write books for the company, including West Valley residents Vijaya Schartz and Toby Heathcotte, as well as former Glendale resident Lynn Warren.

Seven editors, including one who lives in the United Kingdom, help prepare the books for publication.

Although romance novels are the main focus, Studts said her company also publishes many other types of books, including romantic suspense, paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and what she calls "cozy mysteries - the Murder, She Wrote type of thing."

Within a year, Studts hopes to offer a young adult line of books that will focus on science fiction or paranormal plots similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as opposed to the heaving bosoms and intense passion found in many romance novels.

"No high octane stuff," Studts said, laughing.

Triskelion Publishing is an e-publisher, which means books are available in file form on the company’s Web site. Customers choose the books they want to buy, purchase them through PayPal, and get an e-mail verifying the sale. The books are then typically downloaded onto a Palm Pilot or personal digital assistant.

Studts said that, although e-publishing companies are a relatively new idea, they are catching on quickly with the public. Combining an ease of ordering with a slight savings over a traditionally printed book, e-books are quickly gaining in popularity.

And with the ability to download multiple books onto a hand-held computer, people can save both their shelf space and backs by not having to store or carry heavy piles of books.

"You can take 10 books on a Palm Pilot. That’s going to be a big seller," said Kathi Troyer, 37, an executive editor for Triskelion Publishing.

Troyer said buying romance novels online is also a good way to avoid the embarrassment some people feel when purchasing them. Troyer speaks from experience.

"When I was younger you wouldn’t catch me dead buying them," the Surprise resident said, laughing. "I was very shy about it."

In addition to offering their customers a relatively new way of purchasing and reading romance novels, Studts said many Triskelion Publishing books feature heroines not often seen in romance novels.

For example, rather than the long-haired, lily white, impossibly thin yet quite busty women who spend their days depending on men to help them, Studts said many of the books feature strong female lead characters who are not necessarily the thinnest.

"They are not wimps," she said. "We wanted a broad range They don’t have to be size 2. They don’t always have to be Caucasian. We’re not locked into the same old, same old."

"We’re reading about women who have a strong character. They’re not giving up, and they’re not letting people walk on them," Troyer agreed. "We realize they are stories but they can still inspire."

And even though the heroines are independent "real" women, Studts said they still end up snagging the handsome men at the end.

"The girl is still getting the gorgeous guy," Studts said.

Studts said public response to Triskelion Publishing has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, she seems somewhat amazed by the instant popularity.

"It’s amazing how many Web hits we’ve gotten," she said. "The biggest feedback is the repeat buyers. So far everybody loves what they are seeing. We’ve received a lot of notice from people in the public community."

For more information, visit www.triskelionpublishing .com.