You can only imagine how thrilled we were as a still-growing company to get the call from NBC-TV’s “The Today Show” that their on-air correspondent Bob Dotson wanted to feature us on his segment “An American Story.” We could not say “yes!” loud enough nor fast enough. Quite simply, we were thrilled.
So it is fitting that today we share this clip from exactly 14 years ago. And we must say, the couple also featured on air, our customers Mike and Debbie, were excellent and are now friends and super fans.
Just another chapter in these most wonderful 31 years!
YourNovel.com’s J.S. Fletcher and Kathy M. Newbern were thrilled to be on The Today Show February 2009
Posted inAuthors, News, TV segments, Valentine's Day|Comments Off on Waaay back in the Day – YourNovel.com was featured on The Today Show. It was 2009.
Orders for paperbacks and hardbacks arriving after Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at noon likely will not arrive by Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Ebooks, however, are still available and are delivered electronically within 24 hours.
Our printing facility so far has experienced only a one-day shutdown due to bad weather, which is beyond our control and theirs.
We have to make each book one at a time and then get it in the mail. We ship all books in the U.S.A. by US Priority Mail (2-4 day delivery) as our regular shipping method. Out-of-country shipping is slower.
The United States Postal Service does not guarantee shipment. Unfortunately, neither can we.
As always, we cannot guarantee delivery of USPS Priority nor US Express by an exact date. Even with EXPRESS shipping, each book has to be handmade first, which means you cannot order one day and expect your book to be there the next day.
Our long-standing policy remains in effect: no refunds will be issued due to weather issues. If planes can’t fly and trucks can’t roll, no mail will get delivered. Weather and disasters are always beyond our power, and we hope none of us have any such concerns. We simply cannot be held accountable for delivery problems caused by circumstances beyond our control.
Final bits of advice:
1. Consider an ebook. Ebooks go out within 24 hours with no shipping costs and arrive by email. 2. If you think your printed book order may be late, do not use the date February 14, 2023 in your dedication date, but say something like Forever and Ever or I’ll Always Love You. 3. Keep in mind that you can celebrate Valentine’s through the whole week, not just on the actual day, and give the book then. 4. Have a backup plan, like at least get a card. Here’s one that you can download for free: Custom Gift Coming Card
Lastly, we operate year-round, and these books are great for anniversaries, weddings, birthdays and anytime to say, “I Love You.
Thanks. We appreciate your business and your understanding.
The HF Group, printers of our hardback and paperback personalized romance novels, readies orders for shipping.
Wow, it’s the Season of Love around here as the calendar flipped to February, which means Valentine’s is right around the corner. Our books are customized for any starring couple, so they are made one at a time . Don’t delay – order yours today and use discount code VN10 for 10% off!
Oops, she did it again. Kathy, who just earned the title Hot Mama, was back on air with The Big Show where John Boy and Billy had a blast talking about how all their listeners should check out YourNovel.com for the “best Valentine’s Gift ever” – hey, their words.
Starring together in a one-of-a-kind personalized romance novel is the way to go, they promised, and these customized books are also good for any time of year. The audio clip is a little long, but the laughs are worth it! Kissy, kissy, huggy, huggy, – her words.
Just one of the folks we met along the way – Mario Lopez with Kathy!
“It changed our lives forever.” That’s how Fletcher reflects back to 1992, when he and and I started this grand experiment called YourNovel.com. (As some of you know, we write under our pen name Fletcher Newbern, his and my last names combined.) That spark of an idea soon became a full-fledged business, and we’re so happy our concept has remained a year-round hit, especially as one-of-a-kind Valentine’s gifts.
Thirty-one years and we’re still at it.
We’ve been featured in more than a thousand radio, TV, magazine and newspaper interviews including “The Today Show,” USA TODAY, ABC-TV’s “The View,” People magazine, Elle, Bridal Guide, Reader’s Digest, Entrepreneur and more.
What sparked the idea? While working in public relations serving on a conference panel, I (Kathy Newbern) fielded the icebreaker question: “What would folks be surprised to find out about you?” I responded that I’d written a yet-to-be-published romance novel. Good-natured chuckling ensued.
Over lunch, a friend commented, “Wouldn’t it be great if you could star in one of those novels?” The seed had been planted: On the long drive home, my then-boyfriend (now hubby) Fletcher commented, “You know we could do that.” I agreed and grabbed a manila envelope from the glove box and started outlining a story that anyone could star in.
After figuring out how to customize each book using personal information provided by each customer — names, workplaces, eye color, hair color, best friends, nicknames and many other individual details, we got to work.
It’s been quite the journey. When we tell people what we do, that we’re travel writers and romance novelists, they’re in awe. The big difference is we acted on our great idea, and we are able to work for ourselves, which is a dream come true. We also knew if we didn’t take the plunge to see if we could create a whole new publishing genre that we’d always regret it.
Over the years, our books have been called the ‘Ultimate Vanity Valentine,’ and we’ve been labeled ‘Computerized Cupids.’ We love that job title.
For any adult on your list who loves to read, make them the star in their own personalized romance/adventure novels from YourNovel.com. Yes, these are real printed books personalized with 26 bits of info about the starring couple like best friends, where the couple lives and works, perfume/cologne, etc.
She becomes the heroine, he the hero. Available in paperbacks, hardbacks and ebooks. Customers can even upload a digital photo to be added to the book’s cover, or — get this, use your own photograph and make it the entire book’s cover – like the two of you last year in front of the Christmas tree or snowboarding or skiing.
This keepsake will always remind your recipient of your thoughtfulness. There’s something for every price point with ranges from $10.95 – $144.95.
Or if you prefer to get away to the beach or on safari, we’ve got those, too. Even vampire books and detective novels.
When you checkout online at at YourNovel.com use the discount code HapHol15% – share it widely with friend, family and on social media for 15% off your order.
We have the best customers. This one wrote us this wonderful review of our service and particularly the product he ordered for a Valentine’s gift:
We now have 30 different novels where, like this happy customer, you can use your own very special photograph and make it your book’s entire front cover.
“I cannot begin to describe how cool what y’all do is.
“I did receive our novel today. I knew it would have been a shot in the dark given the time I requested the book.
“I heard you guys on John Boy and Billy and ordered one. I have no idea what I’ll do next year🤷♂️. I’ve hit the Apex.
“I just handed the novel to her, and the look on her face was priceless!!!!!!
“We cannot wait to read this together, I’m sure we will have several laughs over this. She actually thought I wrote a book at first until I explained it. She really liked the fact that our picture was on the cover.
“A little note to possible future customers: DO GET THE FULL COVER WITH YOUR CUSTOM PICTURE. It was worth it. I should have gotten a hardback. “Thanks again!”
Posted inNews, Products, Reviews|Comments Off on YourNovel.com customer raves over her reaction to her full custom cover paperback romance novel
Our normal shipping is U.S. Priority Mail. Normally, meaning without weather delays or transportation issues, you should have your novel in hand about 10 days after getting the email reply that yes, your book has gone to production. That’s for any of our paperback options; please allow a few extra days for the hardback option, which does take longer to produce and make. Keep in mind, please, that each book is printed one at a time, specific to your custom order. Ebooks, by the way, are delivered via email as a pdf within 24 hours.
Here are a more more details from our FAQs page (See all the FAQs here):
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Posted inShipping updates|Comments Off on How long does it take to receive a book?
Orders for paperbacks and hardbacks arriving after Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 at noon likelywillnot arrive by Valentine’s Day on Monday, Feb. 14. Ebooks, however, are still available and are delivered electronically within 24 hours.
Our printing facility experienced a two-day shutdown due to bad weather, which is beyond our control and theirs.
We have to make each book one at a time and then get it in the mail. We ship all books in the U.S.A. by US Priority Mail (2-4 day delivery) as our regular shipping method. Out-of-country shipping is slower.
The United States Postal Service does not guarantee shipment. Unfortunately, neither can we.
As always, we cannot guarantee delivery of USPS Priority nor US Express by an exact date. Even with EXPRESS shipping, each book has to be handmade first, which means you cannot order one day and expect your book to be there the next day.
Our long-standing policy remains in effect: no refunds will be issued due to weather issues. If planes can’t fly and trucks can’t roll, no mail will get delivered. Weather and disasters are always beyond our power, and we hope none of us have any such concerns. We simply cannot be held accountable for delivery problems caused by circumstances beyond our control.
Final bits of advice:
1. Consider an ebook. Ebooks go out within 24 hours with no shipping costs and arrive by email. 2. If you think your printed book order may be late, do not use the date February 14, 2022 in your dedication date, but say something like Forever and Ever or I’ll Always Love You. 3. Keep in mind that you can celebrate Valentine’s through the whole week, not just on the actual day, and give the book then. 4. Have a backup plan, like at least get a card. Here’s one that you can download for free: Custom Gift Coming Card
Lastly, we operate year-round, and these books are great for anniversaries, weddings, birthdays and anytime to say, “I Love You.
Thanks. We appreciate your business and your understanding.
John Boy and Billy on the full cover of their personalized romance novel.
It’s an annual tradition around here when Kathy goes ‘on air’ with John Boy and Billy on The Big Show on the radio.
Make your favorite photo your book’s cover.
They and she have so much fun talking about YourNovel.com’s personalized romance novels as the perfect gift for your honey this Valentine’s.
Kathy shared the news that now in its 30th year, the company has unveiled 30 different novels where you can make your favorite photograph the entire cover of the book for the ultimate personalization and a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
John Boy and Billy talk with Kathy, laughing all the way
For us here at YourNovel.com, it’s not really Valentine’s season until our friend Mike Evans of EvansRadio checks in to share our cool product with all his faithful listeners. He is so fun and talk about connected. Listen in as Mike gives you the quick low-down and cost savings on your own personalized romance novel as it is indeed that time of year – Valentine’s is coming, y’all!
Mike Evans of EvansRadio and his Hollywood News tells listeners about YourNovel.com for Valentine’s Day.
To celebrate its three decades promoting love and romance through a most unusual publishing venture, YourNovel.com, has upped its game to not only letting couples star in a romance/adventure novel together but also providing a favorite photo of themselves to create their own unique book cover on any of 30 different titles.
Your photo can become the cover of your personalized romance novel
People laughed when they learned they could become the characters in their own spicy romance novel.
Innovation is nothing new for the Raleigh, NC, couple J.S. Fletcher and Kathy Newbern, who write together as “Fletcher Newbern.” They started their personalized romance novel company on their kitchen table with $200 back in 1992 with one paperback book that any couple could customize with their names, hometowns, workplaces, eye and hair color, best friends, favorite fragrances and music, affectionate nicknames for one another and more. Those details are scattered throughout the book thanks to an online questionnaire.
That first paperback, Another Day in Paradise (still the best seller), featured cookbook binding and a black-and-white silhouette cover. Thirty years later, the lineup includes more than 50 titles as perfect-bound, full-color paperbacks, hardbacks, and many as ebooks to keep up with publishing industry changes.
For 2022, they’ve doubled their offerings of paperback and hardback titles where any special photo can become the entire book cover. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, there’s something for every taste — beaches, cruises, exotic destinations, time travel, fantasy, detective stories.
All novels come with a customizable, dedication page, and for any book, the customer can add a smaller photo of themselves to the existing cover’s art. “Valentine’s is definitely our busiest season, so we suggest gift-givers order early to avoid delays,” says co-owner Kathy Newbern.
Partner J.S. Fletcher adds, “Over the years, our books have been called the ‘Ultimate Vanity Valentine,’ and we’ve been called ‘Computerized Cupids.’ We love that job title.”
Newbern notes, “Doesn’t everyone have that ‘great idea’ — scribbled on a napkin, stashed in a drawer, buried in a file? We’re a married couple who acted on our great idea 30 years ago, and it changed our lives forever.”
The co-founders and their bright idea have been featured in more than a thousand radio, TV, magazine and newspaper interviews including “The Today Show,” USA TODAY, ABC-TV’s “The View,” People magazine, Elle, Bridal Guide, Reader’s Digest, Entrepreneur and more.
December 14 is the date we need your order in for delivery by Christmas in the USA using our regular shipping method. The Postal Service announced their last day to ship with assurance is December 18, but we still have to produce and mail the books. We ship all books by US Priority Mail as our regular shipping method; you can choose US Priority Express as well. So order now to avoid extra cost or delays. FYI – the United States Postal Service does not guarantee these dates. Unfortunately, neither can we. But you can help by getting your order in by 12/14/21.
Posted inNews, Shipping updates|Comments Off on Shipping for Christmas delivery should be by Dec. 14, 2021
Do newlyweds really want a toaster or monogrammed towels as a wedding gift? Are “oldyweds” really going to appreciate silver candle sticks or an engraved serving tray?
YourNovel.com Personalized Romance Novels are the perfect wedding or annniversary gift.
Weddings, anniversaries and bridal showers all come with the challenge of giving a memorable gift. Making the loving couple the stars of their very own personalized romance novel by YourNovel.com will separate your gift from the pack.
Let the half-hearted give gifts with no passion. Be remembered every time the couple reads your special gift to them.
Use the promotional code WedAnn15% during online checkout at and 15% will be taken off your order. The code is valid until midnight EST July 1, 2021. Feel free to share the code with friends, family and on social media.
Top 10 reasons to give YourNovel.com’s booksthis wedding season:
1. Wedding gift – for many brides, when she reads the first page of the book, it’s the first time she sees her “new-name” in print. 2. Anniversary gift – with June being the traditional “wedding month,” imagine how many anniversaries there are (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, in-laws, friends, and don’t forget yourself); perfect for couples who’ve been together for decades. 3. Paper is the traditional first-year anniversary gift. 4. Bridal shower – toast the bride-to-be with laughter when you read aloud the “wild” parts in her romantic adventure. 5. Bachelorette party – OK, so maybe a male stripper is better for some, but for others, titillating but tasteful is the way to go. 6. Bridesmaids’ gifts – always a bridesmaid and never a bride? Set her up with a little action-packed romance of her own. 7. Honeymoon gift – it’s unlikely you can afford to send them on a $4,000 cruise, but you can put them in one of our cruise books for around $40 – armchair travel. 8. Honeymoon reading – of course, they’ll have plenty of under-the-covers action on their honeymoon, but they have to come up for air sometime. 9. Know thy bride – if she’s a reader, envision her surprise when she reads about herself in a book starring her and her new hubby. 10. Kindle the newlyweds – our ebooks are sent electronically anywhere in the world – pull an ultimate surprise by emailing the ebook to her email address while they are at their honeymoon destination – to be open and read in celebration of their life together.
If a dad in your life loves to read and loves to golf, make him the hero he is by starring him in Sandhills Fore-Play, one of YourNovel’s personalized novels. In it, he and his Sweetheart experience the world-class Tar Heel Golf Resort, where he receives lessons from the course pros and plays in a PGA-like tournament.
What the pros teach can actually be applied to cut strokes off anyone’s game, including dad’s.
Put Dad in a golf novel.
This novel might be called a cross between the movies Bagger Vance and Tin Cup, especially when a cantankerous old spirit shows up to offer practical advice on the game they both love.
Throughout the story, the starring couple take their action to a higher level both on and off the course. Enjoy this short video clip about this fun golf novel.
For fathers, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, step-fathers and so on, a personalized action-adventure, romance novel makes a unique gift. And our books make timely, memorable presents for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and always just to say, “I Love You!” Allow about a week for delivery of printed books.
Please share this idea with friends, family, co-workers and on social media.
Hey, put dad in his own golf fantasy novel this year for father’s day where he takes on the starring role in Sandhills Fore-Play from yournovel.com
Yes, you can still order a printed book for Valentine’s Day 2020 but we cannot guarantee delivery because of weather and mail delivery, and you can throw in a lot of COVID-19.
There is very little we can do about these issues, but we can control what we do, make personalized books one at a time.
We can suggest for you to order as soon as you can. February 7 normally would have been our cut of date for Standard shipping, which is USPS Priority mail. In 2021, we really suggest that if you want to get a printed book for Valentine’s Day to use US Express shipping.
Our STANDARD USPS shipping may get the book to you by Sunday 2/14/21, but it will be close. If you are the worrying type, or this year maybe the practical type, and want the book by by Valentine’s Day, go with Express Shipping now.
But as always, we can not guarantee delivery of USPS Priority nor US Express by an exact date.And remember that even with EXPRESS shipping, each book has to be handmade first, which means you cannot order one day and expect shipment nor delivery the next day.
Our long-standing policy remains in effect: no refunds will be issued due to weather issues. If planes can’t fly and trucks can’t roll, no mail will get delivered. Weather and disasters are always beyond our power, and we hope all of us have none to be concerned with. Additionally, we will not be held accountable for delivery problems caused by circumstances beyond our control.
Orders going outside the United States are unlikely to be delivered by Valentine’s Day.
Ebooks go out within 24 hours with no shipping costs and arrive by email.
Final bits of advice:
1. Get your order in now.
2. Choose US Express.
3. If you think your order may be late, do not use the date February 14, 2021 in your dedication date, but say something like Forever and Ever or I’ll Always Love You.
4. Keep in mind that you can celebrate Valentine’s through the whole week, not just on the actual day, and give the book then.
5. Have a backup plan, like at least get a card. Here’s one that you can download for free: Gift Coming Card
We operate year-round, and these books are great for anniversaries, weddings, birthdays and anytime to say, “I Love You.”
For us here at YourNovel.com, it’s not really Valentine’s season until our friend Mike Evans of EvansRadio checks in to share our cool product with all his faithful listeners. He is so fun and talk about connected. Listen in as Mike gives you the quick low-down and cost savings on your own personalized romance novel.
Kathy had a blast being live just now with Nazzy at JYY. He’s been ordering our personalized romance novels for years and points out that with our stay-at-home time caused by COVID, it’s a perfect way to safely “go” away on a romantic adventure and a good time to renew that passion for each other. This was fun!
John Boy and Billy, The Big Show, as they became the stars of Love’s Bounty: An Outer Banks Romance.
John Boy and Billy on the full cover of their personalized romance novel.
Whoops, they did it again: The Big Show invited Kathy back on air to talk about the perfect, keepsake Valentine’s gift, a personalized romance adventure novel from YourNovel.com
This has been a tradition for several years, the annual joking with John Boy and Billy.
Listen in especially to the end where John Boy Wonder Boy and Billemena start getting frisky while snorkeling in Tahiti!
The folks at Blainesworld, a fun and upbeat blog and newsletter out of Fairview, NC, are giving away a personalized romance novel. But to be eligible, you have to enter by TODAY at 9 p.m. (Mon., Jan. 25, 2021)! The listing mentions two fantastic books the Blainesworld writer ordered, one of which is Wild West Love Fest. If you win, though, you have your choice from 50 titles.
*** CONTEST #2 (of 2021)
One lucky reader will win his or her very own personalized romance novel from J.S. Fletcher and Kathy Newbern, founders of YourNovel.com. Imagine you and your sweetheart starring in a book featuring the two of you as an unusual and romantic gift, especially with Valentine’s Day on the way.
I’ve gotten two of these novels, the first written by my friend Marcy Gallagher and the other by her husband Tom. They were both fantastic.
To enter this contest, send an email to: [email protected] and put CONTEST #2 in the subject line. In the body of your email, include both your name and email address. All entries must be received on or before 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25.
Thomas Marcy penned Wild West Love Fest in which you can star if you win at Blainesworld.
You can only imagine how thrilled we were as a still-growing company to get the call from NBC-TV’s “The Today Show” that their on-air correspondent Bob Dotson wanted to feature us on his segment “An American Story.” We could not say “yes!” loud enough nor fast enough. Quite simply, we were thrilled. So it is … Continue reading →
Orders for paperbacks and hardbacks arriving after Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at noon likely will not arrive by Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Ebooks, however, are still available and are delivered electronically within 24 hours. Our printing facility so far has experienced only a one-day shutdown due to bad weather, which is beyond our … Continue reading →
Wow, it’s the Season of Love around here as the calendar flipped to February, which means Valentine’s is right around the corner. Our books are customized for any starring couple, so they are made one at a time . Don’t delay – order yours today and use discount code VN10 for 10% off! Another Day … Continue reading →
Oops, she did it again. Kathy, who just earned the title Hot Mama, was back on air with The Big Show where John Boy and Billy had a blast talking about how all their listeners should check out YourNovel.com for the “best Valentine’s Gift ever” – hey, their words. Starring together in a one-of-a-kind personalized … Continue reading →
“It changed our lives forever.” That’s how Fletcher reflects back to 1992, when he and and I started this grand experiment called YourNovel.com. (As some of you know, we write under our pen name Fletcher Newbern, his and my last names combined.) That spark of an idea soon became a full-fledged business, and we’re so … Continue reading →
