Those Ideas for a Book That Didn’t Take Off

   Every writer — and potential writer — has them: manuscripts that were inspired, that had a great story, that were begun with enthusiasm… then fizzled out. We write ten pages, twenty, even a hundred, then all are shunted into a back drawer and forgotten (more or less).

   Twenty-five years ago, I was visiting my friends Catherine and Hervé in Murcia, Spain. I had a lovely room with a long window looking out onto a broad beige plain; along one wall was a huge old wooden writing desk; and I had hours of free time because my host and hostess worked for most of the day. This, I decided, was the right time to begin working on a new novel. My first romance, Felicity’s Power, had just been published in Australia, and I was enthusiastic about writing another for the same (now defunct) publisher.

  The theme was one I had been thinking about for many years; I had the beginning; I had the end; I had the hero — David; the heroine — Patty Jo; I had whole chunks of the story in my head. What could stop me? On that first day, I worked all morning, then went out for a lovely lunch of tapas at a local bar and an afternoon of walking.

   That evening at the dinner table, Hervé asked about my romance. What was it about? I told him, and he looked surprised.

“That’s no romance. A romance should be light-hearted, hopeful.”

“But…” Then I shut up. He was right, wasn’t he? I was a mere novice, but even I knew that Patty Jo’s story might never fit into the romance category. Or would it?

Over the next few days, I fooled around with what I had written, trying to see what I could do with it. Then, my holiday came to an end. The first pages of Patty Jo remained first pages, tucked into a corner of my computer.

The years passed; beloved computers died; files were lost; other books were written; but the pages of Patty Jo lingered in one of the very many unloved folders. And on one idle day, some five or six years ago, I looked at the pages again.

   
No, Patty Jo wasn’t strictly a romance, but it would still make a good story. Why start with a category in mind? Why bash something into a shape it wasn’t meant to have? Why end up frustrated?

    So, Words for Patty Jo began taking shape. Yes, it needed an awfully long time to come to fruition—I was doing research in Eastern and Central Europe; I published other romances and non-fiction books; and I wasn’t certain that what I had written was any good. I wanted beautiful, singing phrases, images that would titillate, and heart-clutching incidents. Believe me, I can’t, for the life of me, count how many revisions the manuscript has gone through, how many words were changed until the perfect one glowed in the right place.

      But here it is, finally. And I love it. It’s my beautiful baby, the cover by Teddi Black is glorious, and I’ll get the ARC from the Wild Rose Press in a few weeks.

    No, it’s not totally a romance, not totally women’s fiction, not totally literary… What is it? I’ll let someone else decide.

Jill (J. Arlene) Culiner

https://www.j-arleneculiner.com

Someone else’s memories buzzing to the surface

Status: Pulse stable. Respiratory functions approaching baseline. Someone else’s memories buzzing to the surface.

I sit at the edge of a pier, between a cormorant preening with its orange beak, and a white fluffy dog sniffing a river-damp coil of rope. It’s quiet here. Few people, no crackle of radiation detectors, no smell of burnt rock and human effusion. Just old jazz music drifting from a shop along a busy promenade, distant ducks and insects calling, wooden boat hulls knocking, and water lapping at pylons below. Water that’s safe to touch.

An old couple stands nearby. The woman wears a gold and black qipao tinted pink by sunset; it looks like a relic out of time. Her silver hair is pulled and pinned in a vintaged style. She turns away, nestled in the arm of the old man. He wears a beige suit and matching hat. His hand rests at her waist, fingers pinching the fine fabric at her hip.

The perfect picture of a lasting love. Something about his voice reminds me of you.

Qing.

One word: my name. A call from Origin through the neural lace grafted to my brain and nerves, connecting me to another place in another time. A reminder of what I’m here to do.

I clutch a bottle cap; its sharp metal edges ground me in the present. It’s funny, don’t you think, to consider this moment the present, as if the past and future I came from aren’t supposed to exist? If you were here, I’d ask. You’d smile and kiss my forehead and say you love my nonsense questions.

But you’re not here. They want me to forget you ever were.

✨ Until We Met Again is now available from most e-book retailers ✨

---

JL Peridot writes love letters to the future on devices from the past. Visit jlperidot.com for the full catalogue of her work or subscribe to Dot Club for a collection of her tiny stories.

Older Main Characters in Fiction

I’m noticing more older main characters in fiction, even though I know there have always been mature main characters. I wasn’t paying attention to that until I got older. Now I can relate to them. Things like needing reading glasses and dealing with aches and pains are part of my life now. I recall a funny moment from the violent Sons of Anarchy show where the evil, controlling mother was trying to hotwire and steal a car. She had to get her readers out so she could see.

Since I’m still recovering from my health scare, I haven’t returned to the book I was working on yet, but I have been editing for other authors. A small-press publisher hired me for three jobs, and keeping busy is helping me get back on track. So far, two of the books have older main characters.

It is refreshing to see stories featuring older main characters in books and on TV. Sometimes, though, watching these elderly people struggling with daily life is hard to take in. One recent example is the documentary on Ozzy Osbourne’s last couple of years and his final weeks. It was a great accounting of how much he went through after breaking his neck in a fall and then his final weeks planning his farewell concert. The documentary was both humorous and heartbreaking. One line stood out. “I used to take pills for fun. Now I take them to stay alive.”

I’m at that age now where watching an older person struggle is difficult to handle, but it’s part of life.

I’d prefer to see these mature characters running around like a 63-year-old Tom Cruise in his latest Mission Impossible movie. It’s inspiring to see that, but everyone ages differently, and everyone has a different story to tell. Even the daily struggles are inspiring in their own tragic way.

Escapt to a world of enchantment and passion.

www.kelleyheckart.com

A Shameless Fantasy Come True - ADORED on AUDIBLE - Tina Donahue Monthly Newsmagazine #TinaDonahueBooks #EroticRomance #BDSM #PublicSex #Domination #Submission #Giveaways #EyeCandy

 

ADORED

NOW ON AUDIBLE

A Shameless Fantasy Come True

Erotic Romance

BDSM

Public Sex

Domination

Submission

 

When tall, dark and delicious Adam Farrell crosses Danni’s radar at a trade show in Vegas, it’s not lust at first sight. He’s been the star of her wicked fantasies for a while, pleasuring her in acts of domination and submission that leave her breathless. Aching for his masterful touch, believing she’ll never have it, Danni indulges in a public sex act Adam alone witnesses. What follows is a night of wild and unrestrained passion in his powerful arms. It’s only the beginning.

 

An undisclosed business deal has turned Adam from competitor to Danni’s new boss. His hunger for her is absolute and he’ll make her fantasies seem tame as he takes her in ways she never imagined—whenever he wants, wherever he desires.

 

Seduced by Adam’s plan to mix exquisite control with adoration, Danni’s swept into a sensual adventure she can’t resist. Until corporate politics intrude and she learns what Adam’s been hiding to protect her…a secret he’s long feared will tear them apart.

PRAISE FOR ADORED

FIVE STARS

"I don't share what's mine" - Redrabbit Reviews

"Lovers shouldn't keep secrets" - Pico 1

"A Hot and Sexy Read" - Aunt G

"Great Read!" - Sleep Reader

"Fantasies on the Horizon" - Merry Jelks - Emmanuel

"Simmering Heat" - GEE.K

"I adored this book" - Trouble in Florida

TEASERS

What else will you learn about in my newsletter?

CLICK HERE TO READ

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Plan for what you want but be thankful for what you have

I’ve always loved Thanksgiving. Seems to me we need more than one day a year set aside to point out how fortunate we are for the things we have and the opportunities to make our dreams come true. For one of the Goodman brothers, knowing what he wants—and what he needs, more importantly—is what Only a Good Man Will Do is all about.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Blurb:
Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar's wife. Good luck with that!

Daniel Goodman is a man on a mission. He aims to become headmaster of Westover Academy. For that he needs a particular, special woman to help him set high standards. Into his cut and dried life of moral and upright behavior, comes Eve Star, formerly one of Europe's foremost exotic dancers. Her life is anything but cut and dried, black and white. Daniel is drawn to her like a kid to chocolate. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Or can it? He is after all, a good man.

 Buy link:
Amazon KU: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQM5YF5/

 

 Excerpt:
“Daniel, am I talking to myself, here?”

“Oh, no, I’m…” He chuckled an amused admission. “Tell me what you said again.”

 He could almost hear Eve smile. “I said, you called at four-thirty on Saturday and Sunday, so I took a wild leap that you would today, too.”

 “Ah.” Smiling to the empty room, he squirmed to get into a more comfortable position. “A woman of logic.”

 “Absolutely. You don’t want to play me in chess. I think five or six moves ahead.”

 “I’ll remember that. There’s nothing worse than seeing a guy cry when he’s been beaten at chess by a girl. Now tell me why you’re upstairs. I know you don’t have a lot of help this time of day.”

“I’m paying Jed extra to come in a bit early.” Her voice was low, as though she didn’t really want to tell him. The words struck his heart.

“You don’t have money to be paying Jed extra, Eve. I’ll start calling later, after dinner and before I grade papers.”

“No, don’t. It’s quiet this time of day and I want these few minutes to myself. Jed doesn’t mind, and he can use a few extra bucks.”

 “Well, okay.”

 “Besides, you won’t be calling forever. Soon you’ll be head of the school and won’t have free time for the likes of me.”

 Daniel hadn’t promised her on Friday that he’d call. He’d simply felt the desire and acted on it. Then, by unspoken agreement, they hadn’t mentioned what might happen next in their relationship. They’d spent time sharing that day in their respective worlds.

 Today, he’d discovered the desire to talk to Eve wasn’t an “at loose ends” feeling that sometimes came over him on weekends. After his dorm assistant had arrived, Daniel had locked his doors, put his books and papers away, and picked up the phone. Only after they’d been well into the fantasy did he remember he hadn’t even removed his gown and jacket before pressing her number. He’d wanted to hear her, find out what her day had been like and communicate his own. He felt seventeen again, with an infatuation about to drive him crazy. Except men his age didn’t have infatuations. They had obsessions.

 “Hey,” Eve charged, “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, like I was hunting for compliments or reassurances. I was simply stating a fact, the way we both know it to be. I want this to be short term as much as you do, so don’t worry.”

 “I’m not worried.”

 But he was. How long did obsessions last, anyway? Daniel had never allowed himself to be distracted by a woman or anything that might waylay his goals.

 Until now.

 

Reviews:

“ONLY A GOOD MAN WILL DO (The Good Man Series Book 1) by Dee S. Knight is a contemporary romance by a new to me author that had me falling for the hero and heroine, fanning myself during the well written sex scenes and looking forward to the other brothers’ stories.” 5 stars

“Emotions run sky-high in the first book of The Good Man series, where a very proper man meets a woman who hides many secrets about her past. I have always enjoyed stories written by the talented Dee S. Knight, as she has a knack for making her characters particularly believable while they face some difficult challenges in their lives. There are definitely some trying moments in this story, where a decision could lead to a blissful future or years of wondering about the what-ifs. The convincing developments all through ONLY A GOOD MAN WILL DO convinced me that the characters really must exist.” 5 Stars

“I was looking for a sweet read with some steamy scenes. This delivered nicely. I loved the young boy characters, especially Mr. Torrington, who tugged at my heart and made me smile. The romance was also fun to watch, and you just knew it was going to all work out, even though the couple didn't until the very end. The writing was excellent with great evocation. Now I'm going to have to pick up the next book and see what happens to one of the other triplets, Jonah.” 5 stars

A little about me:
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.

 After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity. Sign up for my newsletter and have access to free reads.

Author links:

Website: https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

 

Bite Me.for Christmas by @meganslayer #christmas #romance #paranormal

 

Bite Me for Christmas by Megan Slayer

Cover Art: Bryan Keller

BIN: 010087-03274

Genres: Action Adventure, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Themes: Christmas, Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, Vampires

Book Length: Novella

Page Count: 54

Rachael isn’t good at magic, and she’s not versed in life, but this witch wants to lay her hands on the sexy vampire who’s come to her in her dreams. She wants just one thing for Christmas wish -- her vampire.

Gavin wants the witch in his dreams, but he doesn’t believe he’s worthy of her. Part of him wants to devour her magic and save himself, but what if being saved doesn’t involve dying?

Anything is possible with a little Christmas magic.

Available at changeling press and wherever ebooks are sold. https://www.changelingpress.com/bite-me-for-christmas-b-3274

Every Day Should Be A Holiday--and Discounted to 99 cents

Almost fifteen years ago when I first started writing the Naughty Holiday List series I had no idea what I was doing. I'd read a bunch of what we now call smutty books (back then the more common term was erotic romance), I'd written one (Wandering off the Path, which would not be published for a few years after this series started) and I knew I had a fun idea with tons of possibilities. As a devoted romance reader, I knew I loved series, and that other readers did too. And that was about all the knowledge I had when I wrote the first book in this series. 

A good idea. A dream. Enough knowledge to be dangerous, but not enough to realize I had no clue what I was getting myself into. 

I read a submission request for Christmas stories, and the idea just came to me (this happens to me a lot), and I quickly wrote a fun little story featuring a girl, her four best friends, and the lists they all created to bring love into their lives. 

I had no clue if the first book would ever get published (which was published by Cobblestone Press titled Naughty List). I didn't know if anyone would read it. But I was still naive enough to think I could write a whole series of women finding the man of their dreams using lists. It was only after writing Naughty List that I decided all the characters would use their lists at different holidays. And in different ways. (I also thought I would write the whole series in one year, which I definitely didn't do. I had no idea back then how long it would take to not just write a book but five). 

When I started out I didn't even know what holidays would feature in these stories. I started with the big hits. Christmas. New Years Eve. Valentine's Day. All popular holidays, perfect for romance. And I found the perfect stories for those special days. But that all changed with Foolish Desire. None of the remaining popular holidays really worked for the story I wanted to tell for Amy. She was shy, scared, stuck in her own shell. Drinking green beer or watching fireworks wouldn't change any of that.

That's when I thought to try an untraditional holiday. The type of holiday that is rarely written about. And probably seen even less in romance novels. April Fool's Day. 

And that changed everything about this series. It opened up new and different holidays to explore. New possibilities, not just for this book but for the final book in the series, Dirty Work, which was set on Labor Day. Holidays that aren't know for their romance, but had so much great untapped potential. It might be one of the things I love most about this series.

Before writing this book I'd never read a April Fool's holiday romance, but even now, after writing my own, I don't know why I haven't seen more. If every day can be a romantic, why not April Fool's? And if a mix up with a Christmas email, or a Halloween costume, can be the beginning of a beautiful romance, why not an April Fool's Prank gone wrong? Which is exactly what happens to Amy and Will. 

April Fools offered so much potential for romance, especially romantic comedy. All the hijinks that could occur, all the misunderstandings that could take place and lead to so much more. Without the cheesy music, crowded restaurants, or family meddling of the other holidays.

Just thinking about it makes me want to write a whole new series. Filled with even more obscure holidays, and even more delicious romances. Or maybe one where they are all set on April Fools. The ideas are endless. Because everyday is a great day romance. 

And for the next three days, on the anniversary of its original release, Foolish Desire is only $0.99 on bookstrand.com. There was never a better time to pick up a romance set on an untraditional, but so appropriate holiday, than right now. And that is no joke.

Buy Link: https://www.bookstrand.com/foolish-desire

Blurb : Amy Spear has never felt special. She’s shy, awkward, and clumsy to boot. No one ever noticed her, especially not hunky guys like Will, except for maybe when she was tripping over her own feet. Until an April Fools' prank goes too far, and for the first time Amy is the center of Will’s interest, and she's rather liking the arrangement. But does he want all of her, or just the woman who likes getting naughty to an audience?

Will Long has always been a joke. And he never minded playing the jester to a tee, until he met Amy. She’s far too sweet, too innocent, too serious for a guy like him. But when his April Fools' prank shows him a whole new side of Amy, he can’t pretend to look away any longer. But can a fool like Will keep a girl like Amy? Or will he end up being the butt of his own joke?