Summer Reads Coming At You by @ElsaKurt #RomanceGems

I Started Doing A Thing

It's not a big thing, really, just a little something I call the #DailyBookDrop (hashtag and all) on my Facebook page. I've started with "dropping" my own books, and will add books in my current reading list, all-time favorites, books I want to read... and so on.



So, I thought I'd do one big book drop here. Below are my currently published books, which can all be read for free with Kindle Unlimited! Here we go...

 The Two Tenleys

Two strangers, one name. What could go wrong?

Everything, that's what! This light-hearted, but heartstring pulling story is a medical mix-up with a twist. 

Still Here

He thought he'd lost her forever...

Damon  & Birdie Harrison had the perfect life, or so it seemed. When the trip of their dreams becomes their worst nightmare, can they find their way back?

 Craving: Country Billionaire's Club & Craving: Loyalty anthologies

I loved these short stories so much, I may make them full-length! Country girl Ella meets Hollywood star Owen Collins  & sparks fly in Tomorrow Always Comes. Jenna's a girl on the run... into the arms of billionaire Griff Pierce. And Jaime is a boy on the wrong side of the tracks. Can the girl he used to love save him from himself?

 Awkward Adventures in Dating

This funny, sexy, awkward romcom is about newly divorced Keira. She's joined the online dating pool... and she's drowning in disaster. Add a snarky narrator who sounds suspiciously like Fitzwilliam Darcy and stir.

Lost & Found Girls

This hauntingly strange tale isn't quite your typical romance, but if you're looking for something different, here you go! When a young girl and her mother show up unexpectedly across the street, twelve-year-old Shayne discovers they may have more in common than she ever imagined.

The Writer's Romance

Take a reclusive writer, a charismatic, handsome reality tv host, set them in a small town... and you've got a Hallmark-esque sweet, romantic comedy. Katharine Evans is trying to work on her novel, but Mitch Form and his demolition crew have shown up next door. More than her peace gets disrupted when these to meet.

Livvy Takes the Long Way

Another non-traditional. Livvy is at the crossroads of her life. Stay married to a man she despises, or start over again? Nothing is simple in this touching story of one woman's journey toward finding herself.

 Welcome To Chance (Series)

Five families, eight years in the life. Welcome to the small, coastal Connecticut town of Chance. It's where small-town life meets big-time drama.

And There You Have Them

Is your TBR list as full as mine?! Not that that's a bad problem to have! I love reading list recommendations, so feel free to drop your favorites in the comments.

JUNE GIVEAWAY

We're giving away Amazon gift cards again! Check the MONTHLY GIVEAWAY page for how to win!

Life Is A Journey @ElsaKurt #RomanceGems

Forgive The Cliche...

As writers, we're supposed to avoid them at all costs and come up with a more original or creative way to say the same thing. But the thing about cliches is... they're true. Life is a journey (not a destination) and I don't want to say it another way.

I remember when I was a young girl thinking, "When am I ever going to be older?" I didn't have a specific age in mind, I just wanted so much to Be Older, to do stuff and things older people got to do. Time and the elusive older stretched out like the horizon - unreachable and endless. Oh, silly girl.

What Seemed So Great About Older?

Well, for one, it looked to me like none of those 'Olders' were getting told what to do. (Cue the buzzer: WRONG). Let me preface this next one with: it was the seventies. All the Olders got to smoke cigarettes and drink out of fancy glasses, they got to stay up late, wear makeup, and say bad words. They were so darn cool. I, at the graceless, scrawny, awkward age of seven (eight, nine, and ten through twelve) wanted to be that. Cool. Older.

When The Hell Did That Change?

I can't pinpoint it exactly, but I think I was about forty when I realized I was that mythical creature, that perceived unicorn: Older. Maybe you read that and thought, "Jesus, honey. Forty?" What in hell's bells was I doing in those previous twenty some odd years?! Believe it or not, I was adulting, aka, being older. I just didn't feel like I was.

Delusions, Confusions, Illusions...

Among the aspirations of being Wonder Woman, a beach bum, a writer, an actress, and a veterinarian, I developed a strong desire to be and do something less popular in the Age of the Independent Woman: I wanted to have lots of babies and be a stay-at-home mom. I wanted a house with a white picket fence and a dog and a garden. I wanted to be a PTA mom who volunteered at her kid's school and have a bunch of mom friends. And guess what? I got my wish. Mostly. I married at age twenty, had my first daughter just after I turned twenty-one (my second five years later) and I did and had all the stuff and things. Only, it wasn't quite what I'd hoped. Or envisioned. Or... hang on, I'll get there.

Life Is A Journey

See, I'd spent a long, long time thinking it was a destination. I thought once I got there (Older), I'd be all set. Mission accomplished, goal achieved, an arrival well met. Can I again say: Oh, silly girl. Motherhood was everything I thought it would be. My friendships, my sweet little house, my charming little life in my cozy little town... close enough to perfect. It was that whole pesky marriage thing throwing a wet blanket on my party.

I Make Light... 

It's been many years since those dark days, so I can. Revisiting those days is something I chose not to do, at least not often. Suffice to say, the road was bumpy as hell. Divorce is ugly. So ugly. It's an experience I wish on no one. If you've been there, and if you've traveled that road with kids in tow, I'm preaching to the choir here. In fact, my fellow travelers (along with my need to purge the toxins of that experience) served as motivation for writing my first novel, Livvy Takes the Long Way. Livvy's journey is based strongly on my own...

About Livvy Takes the Long Way...

Livvy Handler is at the crossroads of her life. Married to a man she now can't recall ever loving, although she must have. She must have believed she did. How could she have gotten here - at this precipice - otherwise? Livvy knows she has to get out, but that word - how, how, how - repeats like an endless echo in her mind. She's trapped in a gilded cage of her own design, her own choices. Or is she?
When a face from the past returns, Livvy comes to believe it might be the sign she's waited and longed for; her path to freedom from a man who tears her down as if for sport. Should she takes the fork in the road that leads to who-knows-where, or stay on the one paved with unhappiness but safety and familiarity? Tread water for the sake of her child, or swim fast and hard to a new life? These are the private dilemmas of a woman quietly breaking down.
It's also the metamorphosis of a woman discovering her worth, realizing her strength, and finding her way. It's a story for any woman traveling the hard road, fear and doubt lodged firmly in heart, but undeterred and head held high. And it's the story for any woman who thinks she can't...

Forgive Me...

This perhaps isn't your traditional romance book, but don't worry, it has a happy ending! When I learned that this month's theme is about Life Lessons, I knew this was the book I wanted to share with you. I poured so much of what I've learned in life into that story. Honestly? It was terrifying to put something so close to home out into the universe, something so vulnerable and exposing. There was a time when I hated Livvy and felt so angry with her for doing everything the hard way (yes, there's psychological subtext in there) but I've come to love and understand her so much better now that... well, now that I'm older.

As For My Journey... 

I love every bump, twist, and turn in the road thus far. Yes, even the bad ones, the stupid ones, the impulsive, and destructive ones. They brought me to the here and now, a place where I live in infinite gratitude for the life I get to live. It's not perfect, nor do I want it to be (how boring that would be!) but it's hard-won and worth every skid mark and road rash I snagged along the way. Life itself is the destination. Here. Now. Tomorrow. Every day after. I arrived at it forty-eight years ago and so far, it's a pretty nice place...

Care To Share? 

I'd love to hear about YOUR life lessons and how they impacted the way you live! Here are ours:

 Oh, and here's our November Giveaway!

November is the month for Gratitude, Appreciation, and counting your Blessings if you are religious and/or philosophical. Grateful, Thankful, Blessed—that's what we Romance Gems Authors feel. Join us this month in celebrating the Life Lessons we all learn. Enter our November Rafflecopter now for a chance to win 1 of 5 Amazon Gift Cards. 

You can also enter by going to the Monthly Giveaway Page HERE

November Life Lessons Rafflecopter

5 Reasons Why I Hate My Favorite Month @ElsaKurt #RomanceGems

You may have read that and thought... wait, what?

I know but bear with me. October is my favorite month... and the one I dread most. It's my birth month, so YAY! I'm cool with birthdays - this year I'll be forty-eight - even when it means the "Big 5-0" is ever closer. Life's good, I'm feeling pretty all right (aside from the usual aches and pains). I'm not happy with my weight, but it's within my control to do something about it, so I'd say I'm fortunate. 


Plus, October is beautiful in my neck of the Universe (New England)... the leaves, the air, the *gasp, pumpkin spice everything, cozy sweaters, and fairs. Who wouldn't love all that? And what's my heckin' problem, man?

It's THIS...

That Stuff.

Which brings me to the first reason I hate my favorite month.

Number One: I. Hate. Getting. Scared. That I even searched and posted the above GIF is shocking. Now, I try not to be that guy who blames their mother for their problems, but... this is TOTALLY my mother's fault. She loves scary movies. For as far back as I can remember, she watched them. On the highest volume. While I tried to sleep. We lived in a nine-hundred square foot apartment back then, people. There was no escaping the blood-curdling screams, demonic voices, or ominous music. I used to set all my stuffed animals and dolls around my bed for "protection"... until I had to make a bathroom visit and saw that damn Raggedy Ann doll in Amityville Horror. 


Number Two: As you can now guess... Halloween. I have an older brother, folks. It goes without saying (but I'll say it) big bro loved to scare the bejesus out of me. He once told me he saw the devil sitting in our great-grandmother's chair at our grandparent's house. I couldn't pass by the dining room without assistance for ten years. Ten years. So, it's a given that Halloween equaled double the terror time in our house. I can't recall a single costume he wore. Not a one. I think they call that selective memory? Or maybe repressed trauma?

Number Three: The aforementioned costumes. Ugh. Costumes. I'd rather see fifty sexy nurse costumes than one Jason, Freddy, Chainsaw Massacre, or the worst of all: IT mask. Yes, I have a clown phobia. And balloons. And food touching my lower lip. But I digress. Those bleepin' masks. I. Can't. Take it.

Number Four: Birthday parties. I know, I know. I said I like birthdays. But I don't like birthday parties for me. Dude, that is an introvert's idea of hell.

Number Five: I always get sick. Yep, my normally fabtastic immune system says, oh, I think it's time for the cold from hell. Or, hey, maybe a little pneumonia might be fun! Maybe it has something to do with all those other dramas I mentioned?
Whatever the reason, I'm doubling up on Vitamin C and elderberry syrup. You're not getting me this year, nasty virus buggies.



So, to all you Halloween lovers...

I envy you. It must be so nice to not feel dread or burst out in hives at the thought of jack-o'-lanterns and packages of cotton cobwebs with little black spiders. But I want you to know, I'm putting on my big girl pants and toughening up for the sake of the crowd this year. I'm even going to - again, *gasp - wear a costume this year at the 2019 Fall in Love With New England Romance conference. I'm even -get this- excited about it! It'll be a surprise, so you'll have to wait to see what  I went as after the 19th.

In unrelated news...

If you've been reading my Welcome to Chance series, I have a special gift for you! Sign up for my newsletter HERE and receive my bonus story "Two Weddings and A Brawl" for FREE as a thank you for subscribing. Be a guest at two of Chance's most beloved characters' weddings and witness, yep, you guessed it, an unforgettable brawl.

Oh, and now I have something else to LOVE about October... Our Giveaways!

NO TRICKS—JUST TREATS

Every Day is Treat Day in October. Each author will give away a prize of her choice on her posting day. That's 31 days of prizes. My prize today is a Kindle copy of my book, Still Here. It's a deeply romantic story with a paranormal element.

To be entered in the random drawing for this prize, leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link) on this post. The deadline for doing this is Oct. 9, Wednesday, at 8:00pm Central time. I’ll draw the winner's name Thursday, October 10, and notify the winner by email and by leaving a comment on this post.

But Wait, There's More!

We're not just doing a daily random drawing for a prize. We're also doing a Rafflecopter with 4 Amazon Gift Card Prizes. Whoop! Big money! Visit our Monthly Giveaways Page for all the details.

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

Schedule of Events

If you'd like to get the heads' up on my upcoming news, releases, giveaways & more, join my Newsletter HERE

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!