5 Things To Know Before You Write A Book by #ElsaKurt #RomanceGems

But What If I Already Wrote it?

It's okay, really. This applies to both new and aspiring writers! There were a few things I wished I knew before I wrote my first book, so I'd like to share them with you -  the I've sort of been writing a book and the okay, I wrote a book but I don't know what to do with it person.

And since this is our Back To School, Back to You month, what better time to re-light the fire for your passion project than now? (*high fives herself for tying it all together)

Nice. But What If I Just Enjoy

 Reading Books?

That's okay, too! Maybe you have no desire or interest in writing and you're wondering, why bother reading this post? I'll give you the few reasons I came up with: 

1) You've got a few minutes to kill, so eh, why not?

2) You're just a really nice person throwing the proverbial bone out to a writer & reading this.

3) You've got a friend (relative, neighbor, child) who's really interested in writing, so you're going to skim this & pass it along to said friend (relative, neighbor, child).

4) You. It is really you who has this quietly simmering desire to write, but something holds you back.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Wrote A Book

*I apologize in advance. These may seem incredibly obvious, but by way of explanation, I have to confess: I jumped into this gig face first, with only my love of writing in hand and NOTHING else. 

1) You Need To Have a Plan. In fairness, I did (sort of) have a plan: Write a book, put in on Amazon, make money. Great plan, right? (*rolls eyes) But seriously, have a plan. Word count goals, deadline, editing options, social media strategy, publishing options, and so on. Then, take that very long list and break it into small bites.

2) Commit To The Plan. Hold yourself accountable! At some point, you decided this is what I want to do. Don't back down. Don't waver. And don't let anyone dissuade you. Usually, we're our own worst enemy, so do yourself a favor: be as kind and encouraging to yourself as you would be to a child.

3) Learn, Learn, Learn. I don't care if you're an English major or a high school graduate who spent much of their early adulthood as a stay-at-home parent (ahem, like me). You MUST learn the craft - the magic - of the written word. The resources are boundless. I recommend these two to start: On Writing by Stephen King and The Elements of Style.  

4) Know That No Matter How Many Times You Self-Edit, You Need an Editor. Seriously. I know that you'll read it at least ten times, and on that tenth, you'll decide you've caught all the mistakes. You haven't. Believe me (speaking from experience here) You. Have. Not.

5) You Have To Believe in Your Work. Self-doubt and insecurity never go away. You'll have to learn to put that all aside, learn how to take criticism and rejection. Not everyone will love your work. That's okay because it's not meant for everyone.

I Could Go On, and On, and...

You get the idea, though. There is so, so much more. An addendum for each of those numbers and then more numbers. It's a lot, but please don't be overwhelmed. You absolutely can do this... if you really want it. Only you can decide how much you're willing to believe in yourself, how passionate you are, or how motivated you feel. The only thing I (and authors like me) can do, is help you navigate the path of your writing journey. In fact, it's exactly what I do. If you are an aspiring or new author and feel overwhelmed by the writing, publishing, and promoting process, consider joining Elsa Kurt's Writer Tribe. it's an online/virtual course & live help hybrid tailored to your needs. You'll have instant access to the private Facebook Group and resource files & videos at your fingertips. If you're interested, email me at authorelsakurt@gmail.com.

No Slick Segue Here...

Nope, I have no suave way to tie in the exciting news that book three in the Welcome to Chance series, Georgie's Secret officially releases in two days!! EEEKKKK! I'm SO happy to send the newest installment of this small-town saga into the world. This time around we step inside the Brightsider's epic love story, and yes, these two are swoon-worthy together. Fun fact - I based Charles and Georgie on a very real couple - Bob and Annie, who've been together for more than fifty years and are still madly in love. I adore them & consider them absolute marriage goals. And since this a book about a secret, I'll let you in on mine: You can get Georgie's Secret in paperback NOW, but shhhh, don't tell.

Want to come to the online release party & party like an introvert? Here's your "invite" Click HERE

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It's Time For Our September Rafflecopter Giveaway... Back To School, Back To YOU! 

You can click September Rafflecopter here at any time, or scroll to the bottom and find the entire form. There are some great prizes up for grabs. (You can always check the daily post for the Rafflecopter link and/or form too.)

September Prizes

Grand Prize: Winner's Choice—Echo Dot with Alexa or $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

Alexa can read most of the ebooks on a Kindle, read an Audible audio book for you, keep track of your calendar, organize your life, do research for you, play games, play music, make phone calls for you, and even order a pizza!

Actually there's even more that Alexa can do for you. There are hundreds of free Alexa apps available to you.

2nd Prize: Winner's Choice—Reader's Journal or $15.00 Amazon Gift Card

If you select the Woman's Writing Journal, you'll receive the one shown to the right if available or another attractive, stylish journal.







3rd Prize: Winner's Choice—Lavender Bath Bomb or $5.00 Amazon Gift Card

Have you had bath bombs before? They're like a bubble bath kicked up a few notches.
They fizz and smell absolutely wonderful. If you select Bath Bomb as your prize, we'll send one similar to the Lavender F Bomb, "a lavender bath fizzer with a message inside," shown on the left.
Good luck everyone! Enter often and tell your friends.

Don't forget to refer to our Giveaway Tab above to read our contest rules!

Coffee and Conversation with the #Romance Gems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: Best gift given or received

It’s the season of giving – no, not Christmas! Rather the weeks that hold Mother’s and Father’s Day here in the USA. A time when many exchange gifts. So, tell us, what is the best gift you’ve ever given or received? A macaroni necklace or diamond ring? A vacation, poem, card, pet, or warm hug?

“Playing Santa one year, I gave my daughter a saddle. Santa had skipped her Christmas morning, but when she returned to my house, Santa had left the saddle. Unfortunately, at that time, he didn’t leave the horse.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

"The best gift I've ever received for Mother's Day was my first child. She came eleven days earlier than expected and was born the day before Mother's Day that year. An amazing gift that keeps on giving joy!" ~ Bonnie Edwards

“When my three children were younger, my husband would take them on Mother's Day and go visit his mother. This would leave me alone to have some time for myself. I saw them every day all year long so the gift of alone time was fabulous.” ~ Kari Lemor

“I don't have children, and my parents are long gone. However, the best Mother’s Day gift I've ever received was when my stepson wished me a Happy Mother's Day and went with my husband and me to take me out for dinner. It was the one and only time he'd ever acknowledged me as his step-mother.” ~ Constance Bretes

"The best gift I ever gave was to my mother. She'd been struggling financially since my father's passing a few years before. I happened to be blessed with a very decent advance on a book deal and used it to pay off all her debts just in time for her 75th birthday. They say money can't buy happiness but I think, in this case, they were wrong." ~ Nancy Fraser

"A gift that stands out for me is one I gave my elderly aunt back in the 1990s. For years she'd been writing poetry and had been offering it for publication in her church bulletin and in various periodicals in exchange for free copies. She would make Xerox copies of these poems and send them to me, the niece who got her writing gene. So one Christmas I compiled her poems into a booklet we were able to mass produce via our computer. We slapped a cardstock cover on it, picking up the title from one of her poems (The Golden Hour and Other Poems by Marie Gray) and comb bound it. We put 30 copies of the book in a box and sent it to her for Christmas. You would have thought I'd given her a million dollars. I don't think I've ever given or received a gift that brought me so much pleasure." ~ Cheryl Bolen

"When I was a teenager, I showed horses. One Christmas my parents went in and got me a beautiful show saddle with sterling silver decorations that I'd been told we couldn't afford. Best. Gift. Ever." ~ Karen Whiddon

"I have two favorite gifts, but there’s a common theme. The first was when Mr. H. gifted me my first RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference trip back in 2010, held at Disney's Swan & Dolphin Resorts. I was a newbie writer—totally overwhelmed—yet the experience gave me the inspiration and push I needed to finish my book. Next was when my daughter surprised me with a 'girl’s getaway' to Disney. My grown-up daughter, buying us matching t-shirts and mouse ears? Magical memories, indeed!"
~ Kathryn Hills

"The best gift I have received is my birthday gift in 2001. My Hero and I went on a 25-day tour of Ireland, England, Scotland, and one town in Wales. It was a lovely tour and I hated for it to end. This was not our first British tour, but was the longest. Hero and I saw lovely places and hope to return someday."
~ Caroline Clemmons

"The best gift I’ve given was a few years ago. I made two recipe books for my daughters. The pages were filled with hand written recipes from their great grandmothers and other family members. When they opened them on Christmas morning we laughed and cried over the memories. Putting together these books was a labor of love and I’m glad I did for my daughters. Now they have a tiny reminder of the women who came before them." ~ Lucinda Race

"Growing up a girl, I was never given Santa presents that weren't specifically made for XY gene types. I begged for Roc'Em Soc'Em robots for 3 three years, from aged 5-8. Never got it because it wasn't a girl themed toy - so I was told! Flash forward 30 years and I mention this around the in-law table one night before Christmas. On Christmas morning there was big, red-bow-tied present under the tree for me, with a card that read: Sorry this took so long, Love Santa. Yup, you guessed it - Roc'Em Soc'Em Robots courtesy of my very own Santa spouse. Best. Gift. Evah!!!" ~ Peggy Jaeger

"My favorite Mother's Day gift was a preschool plaster hand-print impression from both of my sons. They are adults now, with large manly hands, but I still get teary-eyed at the memory of those tiny hands clutching mine."
~ Connie Vines

"In the movie, Shall We Dance starring Antonio Banderas and Susan Sarandon, there's a line Sarandon says that really explains the greatest gift I've ever received. The line goes like this, 'I wish I could give you a gift that comes in a box.'
Well, I wish I could tell you about a gift that came in a box, but the greatest gift I ever received was my husband. Through thick and thin—a lot of thin in the beginning—we've had each other. I've always thought it was Destiny... Fate lending a hand. When he was in high school he bought his first car. He'd been cleaning the car and had removed the back seat. The gleam of gold caught his eye. He found a small plain gold wedding band. He picked it up and put it on his key ring where he carried it for many years. When we "found" each other, we wanted to be married to each other. We didn't think about nitpicky details like planning a wedding. We just wanted to belong to each other. We got a marriage license and met with a the minister who asked if we had rings. After a moment of hilarious blank looks at each other, Larry pulled out his key ring and removed the gold band. The minister smiled and began the ceremony. When Larry slipped the gold band on my ring finger, it fit perfectly, and I wear a small size. That was over 40 years ago. Even though I have a more expensive, rather unique ring now, I still wear the plain gold ring too. It's my Cinderella ring. P. S. One of these days, I'll write a book entitled The Cinderella Ring!" ~ Joan Reeves

"When my husband was in the Army he had a short layover in Iceland. He bought me a blue carnation and gave it to me when he landed in Dallas. He still gives me blue carnations."
~ Karen Kelly

"I always think the best, most meaningful gifts don’t carry a hefty price tag, but have a lot of thought involved. I take credit for this one. My father-in-law was a carpenter who built many homes in the area over his career. After he retired, I got his kids together to compile a list. It took a while, but they all helped snap photos of every home their father ever built, which I mounted into an album (pre-digital days) as a Father’s Day gift. It was so cool to see his reaction as he flipped the pages, viewing photos of his legacy. He could not believe they remembered them all, even some he had forgotten about." ~ Kathleen Lawless

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! We'd love to hear from you. Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us!

~ The Romance Gems ~

Don’t forget our Heroes & She-Roes Contest! BUT HURRY! This contest ends on Wednesday, May 29. For a chance to win a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card and Bundles of Ebooks, click here to enter our RAFFLECOPTER

Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: Favorite Words

We all use them, agonize over them even as writers. After all, we are wordsmiths! So, tell me... Do you have a favorite word? One you use in your books, speech, or just because you love it?

"Favorite words!! How can I pick just one? For over 30 years I taught elementary school and made sure each year my students became sesquipedalian logophiles - lovers of long words. A few of my favorites over the years - troglodyte - a cave dweller - or recluse and shenanigans - silly or high spirited behavior, mischief." ~ Kari Lemor

"Gaze Verb: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look often with eagerness or studious attention Noun: a fixed intent look. - I use the word gaze too much as in this example from one of my books: "She’d seen the appraising way Scott’s gaze had raked over her.” As a young writer, I learned not to use “eyes,” because eyes don’t leave your body. They don’t drop to the ground or rake over someone. The trick is not using “gaze” too much and finding an appropriate synonym for it. Verb: gape, gawk, peer, stare or Noun: gape, regard, scrutiny, stare." 
~ Jan Scarbrough

"One of my favorite words, especially when writing, is albeit." "It felt decadent to be this aroused by little more than a few, albeit perfect, kisses." (from Touch Me) ~ Nancy Fraser

"Since I write historical, there are words I love to use that I can only use when writing my Regency romances. Take melancholy. It's not a word we don't toss around too much nowadays. It's not really a word I have my historical characters use, but it certainly was in use in those days to describe what we now call depressed or depressing. Therefore, it's a word I will use to describe a character's state of mind. A couple of other archaic words I sprinkle into my books are odious or vexed. They're just so . . . so quaintly old fashioned." ~ Cheryl Bolen 

"One of my favorite words is shenanigans. I love the sound of it, the number of syllables and the fact that it's so old, but still self-explanatory. Especially when used like this: Hooligans got up to shenanigans. Now, I ask you, who would need that explained? But no, I don't use it in my contemporary romances...but maybe I should have a grandparent say it as a joke. HMM..." 
~ Bonnie Edwards 

“I fixated on the word surreptitiously for a while. I still love it, but it's just one of those words that stick out like a sore thumb, so you can only use it once, maybe twice if they're really far apart in the story. I try to be aware of those neon bright words that distract rather than enhance, but sometimes I can't help myself.” ~ Elsa Kurt

"My favorite word is colloquialism. I once had a heroine pull on a toboggan. In Texas it’s the same as a ski mask. Not so up North! That’s when I learned about colloquialisms." ~  Karen Kelley 

"Oxymoron. First, because it has one of my favorite words, MORON in it. Hee hee. I love a good oxymoron, like JUMBO SHRIMP, VIRTUAL REALITY, ORIGINAL COPY, and ONLY CHOICE. Kids, I could talk about this all day! Salacious. Say it slowly…sa—lay—shous!! You don’t even need to know the meaning to know it means something….dirty! Bifurcate. My daughter hates that I use this word all the time instead of just saying split in two!! Hee hee Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. No explanation needed for why this word is one of my favs." ~ Peggy Jaeger

“Ooo… As is my typical fashion, I’ll choose something a bit dark and mysterious… Kismet - a noun meaning destiny or fate. Synonyms include circumstance, doom, fortune, lot, and portion. A very bad character from Hellfire and Handbaskets speaks of kismet, and it suits him. But I also like quintessential - an adjective meaning perfectly typical or representative of a person or a thing. So, he's a quintessential bad guy.” ~ Kathryn Hills

"I had to really think about this - I have a short phrase instead of a word - Oh my stars - In Lost and Found my main character used this phrase, actually Cari uses it throughout the Loudon Series." ~ Lucinda Race

“A favorite word of mine is abscond. Many equate this word with theft, but I like to think of it as leaving stealthily, furtively, or secretively, with something. Not necessarily something stolen, but rather something not to be discovered or shared. As most of my characters have secrets they would rather not divulge, the whole idea of absconding, keeping said secrets safe.... I love the word. There is no substitute.” ~ Kathleen Lawless

"I don't know that I have a favorite word. I do especially like words that have internal "music" such as miscellany, a commonplace word that sounds almost musical when spoken. I'm fond of words like serendipity. It just sounds like fun. I like sentences with internal rhyming words like Poe's The Raven: "Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary..." Dreary and weary are evocative and set the rhythm for the poem. I'm a fan of palindromes—words or phrases that are the same when read backward or forward. Long ago in elementary school English, I learned how much fun palindromes could be with what Napoleon supposedly said when exiled to Elba: "Able was I ere I saw Elba." ~ Joan Reeves

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! We'd love to hear from you. What is your favorite word? (keep it clean *grin*) Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us" link on the bottom of the left sidebar. 

You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future. 

We've got LOTS coming up in May, so stick around. Thanks for joining us!

~ The Romance Gems ~

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A Splash of Danger with your Romance? by @KariLemor #RomanceGems

Romance is such a broad category. You’ve got contemporary, historical, or futuristic. Paranormal, fantasy, erotic, suspense, rom-com, inspirational, and many others. You can put several of these together.

When I finished my first book (and the series it belonged to), I needed to figure out how to categorize the story. Contemporary, for sure. But it had a criminal element and an ex-military FBI agent.  So the story was sent out as a romantic suspense.

But after reading quite a few other suspense novels, I realized mine was nothing like the run-for-your-life-every-second-of-the-book kind. It also did not have the intense detail of third world power struggles or the inner workings of organized crime. I will readily admit I’m too lazy to do the kind of research and world building those kinds of novels require. And I hate having beloved characters die, which is unrealistic in intense suspense. My focus is always on the characters and their relationship.

Chatting with another author who writes similar to me, she called it ‘light suspense’ and I like that description.  Thus my tagline “Romance with a splash of danger” was born. I love focusing on the relationship between the hero and heroine and how they react to the conflict in their lives and between each other. But throwing in lots of danger and putting them in peril also gives me a rush. I love to add tons of angst and really hit people with emotions. One way to do that is what we (in the fan fiction community – yes, that’s where I got my start writing) call hurt/comfort.  You hurt one character (either emotionally or physically) so the other one can comfort them. I do love torturing my characters. Muahahaha! *rubs hands together maniacally*

So even though I don’t have the run-for-your-lives-every-second kind of book, I still like adding a few good battles for my characters to go through. Physical and emotional. If you like a lighter suspense novel, then please check out my first series:  Love on the Line –  where the heroes are all from the same military unit in Afghanistan. Danger is in their blood, but with the right woman by their side, they are strong enough for any new challenge.

Currently you can get all three books for under $5!! They are available at most online retailers (see website below for the links)

And FYI, I had a number of people ask for a prequel to Running Target, to show how the main characters actually met. This is in the works and will be offered to my mailing list subscribers. If you’d like to be on my list, you can sign up on my website. I rarely send more than once a month, if that, and usually only when I have new information or a sale… No spam, promise!

https://www.karilemor.com/

Also, while you’re on my site, check for the free short story (Canobie Kisses) and novella (Unstable Ground) that I’m giving away.  And I LOVE hearing from readers and will respond to all.  Send me a note letting me know if you liked one of my books!! I love talking about my books and the characters in them!

See you soon,

Kari

REVERSE WHAT? @kathleenlawless, #romancegems, #kaelysteel

Would women today really want more than one man in their life at the same time?  Likely not, but they sure seem to enjoy reading about it and writing about it. And if each hot male serves a different purpose, meets a different need…. Being adored and worshiped by more than one man actually sounds quite fun.

Reverse Harem is currently rocking the charts as a hot new sub-genre within the romance world. The notion being if one man is good, more than one must be better. 

It’s an interesting concept, so when a fellow romance author threw down the gauntlet and challenged me to try my hand, I ran with it. I chose a different pen name because the genre has a distinct following and some of my readers may not enjoy embrace the idea. Many of the books written include a relationship between two or more men in the harem, which is not what I want to write. I make it all about my heroine. She is the star. The guys are the supporting actors.

 The project proved to be more difficult than I originally thought. A lot of these books are set in the paranormal world, which makes it easier to suspend disbelief.  But I’m an in-the-moment kind of gal, so I decided to write a contemporary setting for my five hotties, whom I call the G Force Five, and the woman who desperately needs their protection, whether she knows it or not.

The resulting G Force stories are short, sexy novellas, about half the length of a normal book. I did a series of three because I needed that much room to learn about the men, to watch them grow, to let them surprise me as well as the reader, and see how they interact with the lady. And of course, because I like my heroes to suffer, I gave them lots of baggage to overcome on their journey.

 If I've succeeded in sparking your curiosity, Redeeming Jenna is free today on Amazon. Check it out.
https://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Jenna-Force-Five-Book-ebook/dp/B07LC4ZGYP/

And don't miss out on the contest.  There are only a few more days to enter to win.

Win great prizes with #RomanceGems LUCK O' THE IRISH March #Giveaway. COMMENT & WIN has $5.00 AMZ Gift Card up for grabs every week. FRIENDS TELL FRIENDS, new giveaway, open now. Enter for chance to win a Romance Reader's T-shirt or Audiobook. Rafflecopter, awesome prizes, opens Mar. 4. Details here: https://romancegems.blogspot.com/2019/03/luck-o-irish-march-giveaway-by.html 

Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

Today, we're introducing a new feature ... Coffee and Conversation! If you ask ... the Gems will answer. So grab yourself a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some great conversation. This month's topic: As a romance author, when you read for pleasure, what do you read?

"I write contemporary romance (unless it's a time travel) so I prefer to read historical romance to relax away from contemporary world issues. I do enjoy Regency and my favorite authors there are Gail Whitiker (so very proper) and our own Cheryl Bolen. Another favorite is Elizabeth Hoyt. ~ Bonnie Edwards

"Because I write historical romance, much of my personal reading consists of non-fiction research books that put me in eighteenth century England. I also enjoy biographies, particularly of dead English women and Englishmen. When I’m craving fiction, I gravitate to English mysteries set between the twentieth-century wars. If they feature a bit of humor and throw in a romance, I’m in heaven. Favorite authors are Jane Austen and Josephine Tey." ~ Cheryl Bolen

"Since the stories I write are character driven with strong dialogue, I am drawn to cozy mysteries—heavy in narrative, internal thoughts, along with a body or two landing in the middle of a scene, for my personal reading pleasure." ~ Connie Vines

"I love to read dark twisted romance that includes mafia romances and I enjoy office/billionaire romances. I love to read stories by Skye Warren, Bella J, Willow Winters, Whitney G. and Ali Parker. I spend a lot of evenings reading, and have already blown up two kindles and my iPhone. (LOL) There are two authors who are non-romance that I enjoy reading as well, Jonathan Kellerman and Patricia Cornwall." ~ Constance Bretes

"I've recently discovered Tess Gerritsen and a new mystery author named Victoria Selman." ~ Jan Scarbrough

"I'll take Romance—Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, actually, Romance of just about any persuasion—along with mystery/suspense/thrillers." ~ Joan Reeves

"When I read, I want to immerse myself in the flow of the words, how they conjure up an intriguing setting, show enhanced senses and the turbulent emotions of the characters. I enjoy Barbara O’Neal (loved The Art of Inheriting Secrets), Sarah Addison Allen’s magic realism, Jayne Ann Krentz’s Arcane books and, for a bit of fun, anything by Susan Elizabeth Phillips." ~ Judith Hudson

"Because I write 4 books a year, paranormal romance or romantic suspense, I love to read outside my genres. I adore a good Fantasy book and lately, I've been reading a lot of Young Adult Fiction. Maybe some day I'll try my hand at writing one!" ~ Karen Whiddon

"I have to admit that my favorite genre to read is also romance. There's nothing quite like seeing two people, who for some reason shouldn't be together, manage to fall in love, fight for that love, fix their differences, and end up living happily ever after." ~ Kari Lemor

"Whatever I read it has to be a page-turner. When I can stop analyzing the writer’s craft and just be a reader is the best." ~ Kathleen Lawless

"History! As in non-fiction, with science a close second. Because of the circles I travel in—mostly paranormal enthusiasts, writers, and history buffs—I’m always heading down a rabbit hole. Victorian lifestyle, folklore, and space exploration are a few favorites. Lately, I’ve been immersed in WWI trench warfare as research for an upcoming book. That’s the only spoiler I'll give. Of course, it’s romance. Happily-ever-after is my jam!" ~ Kathryn Hills

“Although my own writing sticks to sweet romance and a newspaper column, my pleasure reading revolves around new books by long-time favorites, re-reads for comfort, and Favorites by Friends. Not to mention the occasional cozy mystery or, the other day, just because, Understood Betsy. Betsy was a muse for me since elementary school days—she still is.” ~ Liz Flaherty

"I read cozy mysteries and I adore JD Robb In Death Series. In addition I have a huge TBR pile as I am a lover of bookstores and am always picking up several unknowns. I like to think that other book readers will give my novels a chance too." ~ Lucinda Race

"Since I write across multiple romance genres, my creative brain is always scrambling. Whether it's a new plot idea, or just keeping three different genres straight, it's often a super-highway of confusion in there! When I read for pleasure, it's either cozy mysteries or very light romantic comedy." ~ Nancy Fraser

"When I'm not writing about people in love or jeopardy, I love to read biographies. Recently I read Marion Ross's story, My Happy Days, about her life and becoming a celebrity in her fifties. I also read Trailblazer about the first black woman journalist for the Washington Post. When she went to get a story, the doorman always told her to use the back door for the maids. Just a sample of how she was treated." ~ Nora LeDuc

"Since my favorite tv shows are usually crime dramas ala Law and Order and Criminal minds, I usually find myself reading police procedurals, romantic suspense and murder mysteries for pleasure." ~ Peggy Jaeger

"I like to read a variety of romance sub-genres, such as contemporary, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. I also enjoy reading science fiction, post-apocalyptic, and YA. Some of my favorite automatic "one-click" authors are Kit Rocha, Lexi Blake, Susan Kaye Quinn, Ilona Andrews, Sarah Lyons Fleming, Elizabeth Hunter, and Nora Roberts." ~ Satin Russell

We'd love to hear from you!  Add your questions or comments below or send via email through the "contact us" link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make a suggestion on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us.

The Romance Gems

💖 💖 💖

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The more comments you make; the greater your chance of winning. Winner selected by random draw from eligible entries.

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Prizes: Romance Readers Tee & Audiobook by Nancy Fraser

Luck O'The Irish Rafflecopter

1st Grand Prize Winner: Name a Female Character in an Author's upcoming Book plus $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

2nd Grand Prize Winner: Name a Male Character in an Author's upcoming Book plus $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

You can find all the Rafflecopter prizes on the Monthly Giveaway tab.
Click to enter LUCK O' THE IRISH Romance Gems Giveaway 

Best of luck to everyone in the draws!

Wearin' the Green @kathleenlawless #romancegems

       

My family originally hailed from Ireland in the 1880’s.  They landed on the east coast of Canada and eventually migrated as far west as they could go.  I guess the ocean was in their blood, as it is in mine.  Dad is turning ninety this year, and years ago started a tradition of buying me a card each year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  As you can see, I have amassed quite a collection, which I proudly display each year.  I get a little emotional when I think, one year, there will no longer be a card in the mail from him.

Dad was always a big fan of my writing and Callie’s Honor is his favorite of my stories.  He doesn’t really know what Bookbub is, but he was excited to hear they will be featuring his favorite book on sale for .99 the day before St. Patrick’s Day.  Sounds like a good omen, wouldn’t you say?  Here’s an excerpt.

Rafe angled Callie's chair around till they faced each other
and he had one knee on either side of her. "You don't
trust me, Callie. Now just why exactly is that?"

Callie averted her gaze.

   His free hand snaked between them. Thumb and

fore- finger pinched her chin, turning her face back around to
his. "I expect an honest answer now."

Eyes steely, chin thrust forward, Callie met his gaze.

Her skin burned every place Rafe held her; "I don't trust
any man."

She expected him to release her like a hot rock.

Instead, he took his time about it. Slowly his fingers
uncurled from around her wrist. Slower yet the fingers
imprisoning her face gentled, till their touch bordered on
a caress. "Why's that?"

     Feeling her hands tremble slightly, she knotted them
in her lap, away from his gaze. "Never met a man yet who
gave me any reason to trust him. Including my pa and my
older brother."

     "I see." Rafe sat back in his chair and crossed his arms
over his chest. "In that case, apology accepted." He
extended his right hand toward her, leaving Callie little
choice but to slide her hand inside his. She was conscious
of the warmth of his skin, the callused, leathery feel of his
palm and fingertips. The sensations chased clear up her
arm in the most unsettling of ways.

He didn't let her go right away. Instead, he raised her
hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on the spot where he'd
removed the sliver. Then he did something that caught
Callie totally off guard. He guided her wounded thumb
slowly to outline the contour of his lips, bottom and top.   

 Callie felt as if melted wax spilled through her limbs in
a heated rush. Opening his lips, he pulled

her thumb just inside the hot moist cavity of his mouth and

gave a slow gentle suck that she felt clear down to her toes.

"Since you don't trust me, anyway," Rafe said, his
breath touching her forehead like steam rising from hot
water. "I guess it won't make much difference if I kiss
you."

"Don't." The word barely escaped from the tightened
muscles of her throat.

With one finger beneath her chin he tilted her face up
toward his. "Any woman smells this good, she needs kissing
if only as a thank you from the lucky man close
enough to notice. "

Callie trembled clear down inside her boots as he lowered
his head to hers.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JIJ3EPM

In the meantime, I am working hard on a new American Historical Romance series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Hot off the press is the prequel, Before The Brides, free when you sign up for my reader list to receive alerts about fan pricing, new releases, and free promos.  http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

If you’re already on my list, don’t worry, you will receive an alert telling you how to download your very own copy.

In the meantime, don’t forget to enter our Luck O the Irish draw for your chance at some really great prizes.  Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and may your beer be as green as the money in your pocket.    

https://romancegems.blogspot.com/2019/03/luck-o-irish-march-giveaway-by.htm