Are Short Stories the New Thing in Romance? by Nancy Fraser #RomanceGems

Authors? Want a quick fix for that stalled muse? Are you falling into the abyss of a sagging middle in your 90K work in progress?

Readers? Do you only have an hour to spare but are really craving a few minutes alone with a hunky hero or spunky heroine?

Short stories are the answer. Really. I've always used short stories as an exercise for re-calibrating my brain when the words won't come. I'd never once given in to the idea of actually trying to publish one.

However, more and more publishers are turning to short stories to attract new readers. A number of Indie authors rely on short stories to supplement their income because the production time is short compared to a novella or full length book.

One of my publishers, The Wild Rose Press, began a new erotic short story line late last year. The results have been outstanding both in sales and exposure for the authors. In February, one of the short stories was offered on Net Galley and received over one-hundred reviews.

I decided to give it a try ... after all ... what could it hurt? I can't believe how much fun I had creating the first book in what has morphed into a five-story series. I've written numerous erotic romances before but this was different. There was no expectation of a happily-ever-after, no promise of more than what could be accomplished in 6500 words. It was decadent fantasy at it's best!

This past Monday, April 1st, was release day for Touch Me, the first book in the Lusty Liaison's Series! Here's a peek...

High school teacher Maggie Lewis has decided to look for lust instead of love, and the right place for that is through Lusty Liaisons, a unique and exclusive dating service. Her friends are always bragging about their fantastic sex lives, and Maggie wants a man who will ignite the fire that burns deep inside her, a man who'll satisfy her every desire…without the hassle searching for him through the tedious dating process. She's hesitant but excited to give in to temptation and agrees to a one-night only liaison with a sexy suit, a virtual Greek God who immediately puts her at ease. Maggie only hopes he's half as good in bed as he looks.

Business mogul Evan Steele is a workaholic. His recent sexual conquests have left him wanting something more, something different. He longs for a lusty, no-holds barred night with a woman who, while not a virgin, still borders on inexperienced. The demure teacher might be exactly what he needs. But can he break through her shy shell to delight in the fire that simmers below the smooth surface?

Available from: Amazon | B&N | GooglePlay  | Kobo

Permanently priced at just 99¢

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If you haven't seen the details on this month's Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt you can check out all the information, including how to enter, on the "Giveaway" Tab at the top of the blog page.

Of course I'll be participating and you'll find my Easter Egg in one of the following places:

Website | Facebook | Twitter  While you're there, feel free to like and follow!

Until later this month, stay happy, stay healthy, stay well read!

Nancy

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 

It's A Chocoholic's Dream Day! by Nancy Fraser #RomanceGems

Today's the day 'chocoholics' everywhere dream of ... 50% off Valentine candy!

Unlike the mad rush on November 1st for leftover Smarties and Peanut Butter Kisses adorned with ghosts and skeletons, today's rush will be for the ultimate prize ... chocolate!

As much as I love chocolate (and I do), I prefer to get my Valentine fix with a good book! Plus, of course, there's no "I can't believe I ate the entire box", sugar-induced hangover the next day. I make it a point to curl up with a good book, a nice decaf coffee, laced with a shot of Baileys, and maybe one or two pieces of chocolate.

What the middle of February also marks, at least for me, is a promise of spring. I've never really put much stock in the ground hog, but I do know that if I ration that 50% off chocolate to one piece (or two) per day, I can usually make it to the first thaw!

Mid-February also seems to be the time I get my second writing wind. My projects for the current year are already outlined and in place. I can start thinking about new projects. Maybe even something outside my comfort zone ... not that there are many things I haven't already done in romance.

Most people (authors and non-authors) make their lists at the beginning of the year. Some call them resolutions, some just name them plans, or goals. I prefer to get a bit farther into the year ... recoup the energy that leads to the second wind.

So today, at some point, I'll start making my lists. I'll begin with the obvious...projects leftover from last year such as the continuation of a series. I'll add something from one of my four publishers' wish lists. I'll finish with a challenge ... something I've always wanted to do but haven't...yet.

One year, the challenge consisted of writing my first erotic romance. The year after, it was my first fantasy. Last year's challenge was my first children's book (which was published just last month). This year???? This just might be the year for that cookbook I've been wanting to write.

In the meantime though ... here's a peek at my upcoming April 1st release. It's a short story for The Wild Rose Press' new "quick reads" line. And, because it's story one of a proposed five, it's also the catalyst for the first thing on my list ... continuation of a series.

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High school teacher Maggie Lewis has decided to start looking for lust instead of love, and the right place for that is through Lusty Liaisons, a unique and exclusive dating service.

Her friends are always bragging about their fantastic sex lives, and Maggie wants a man who will ignite the fire that burns deep inside her, a man who'll satisfy her every desire…without the hassle searching for him through the tedious dating process. She's hesitant but excited to give in to temptation and agrees to a one-night only liaison with a sexy suit, a virtual Greek God who immediately puts her at ease. Maggie only hopes he's half as good in bed as he looks.

Business mogul Evan Steele is a workaholic. His recent sexual conquests have left him wanting something more, something different. He longs for a lusty, no-holds barred night with a woman who still borders on inexperienced. The demure teacher might be exactly what he needs. But can he break through her shy shell to delight in the fire that simmers below the smooth surface?  

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Now is also a good time to remind you that we still have our weekly "Comment and Win" contest going on. A $5 Amazon gift card can be yours just for commenting on this or any other Romance Gems post! Don't forget, when posting a comment, to leave your email address. And, to avoid those dratted email harvesters, please write it out like this: romwriter96 at gmail dot com.

Congratulations to our first two gift card winners:

Week #1 - Iris Tseng

Week #2 - Mary Preston

And, of course, remember to enter our Rafflecopter draw for a chance at a Kindle Fire or one of six book bundles from our wonderful authors!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until later this month, stay happy, stay healthy (despite the chocolate), and stay well read!

Nancy