A sequel to Forbidden Lessons, my taboo student-teacher romance. It will eventually be a trilogy. Like the first book, both sequels will be "going wide".
I'm writing a serialised novel on Wattpad - Misbehaving - which I'll eventually self-publish as an eBook. It has been interesting getting to grips with Wattpad and how to build readership on there.
I have a Regency romance planned, which I may try to write as a serialised novel on Wattpad again. The bare bones of it are in my head, it's just a question of starting it.
I've never had much luck with Dragon. I use Otter.ai and a digital recorder when I dictate. Will definitely sleep in the brace tonight and look into a tens. Right now, ice is getting me through the day...
Here's mine!
Imogen is a thrill-seeker. It's why she's part of a Guild that hunts down vampires and it's why she finds herself in bed with a vampire.
Nate is unbelievably tempting, with his enticing good looks and his power that could snap her in half if he chose too. But then, he's also funny, kind and not at all what a vampire should be. But that's irrelevant, because if the Guild found out Imogen was having relations with a vampire, they'd execute her themselves.
The Guild faces its own troubles when the oldest vampire they've ever had to deal with comes into town and begins turning people at an astonishing rate. He needs to go down, but they're simply not strong enough. How can Imogen stay alive, protect the people of her city, and resist the temptation of Nate?
I haven't tried writing serialised on Amazon, though partly for fun, partly for promotional reasons I've started writing a serialised romance on http://www.wattpad.com
Once it's done I'll wrap it up and publish it as a full eBook (wide, not Kindle Select/KU).
I have to say that as a romance reader, I almost certainly wouldn't go for multiple novellas or shorts of the same couple. I generally want a single story arc, single relationship, in a single complete HEA work.
If it was more like a soap opera, with multiple couples and events, that's different.
I have and would on occasion buy a full novel and sequels to it, on the same couple. However it's rare that that is satisfying. It worked with Bridget Jones, for example. It also worked with Good and Better by S Walden. But another series (a trilogy) the Wilson Mooney series, bored the hell out of me. It felt like a single novel stretched over three, frankly. With a lot of other series it's just boring more-of-the-same. You need to leave a lot left to progress.
I'm also now writing a trilogy, keeping these challenges very much in mind. I'm going to be splitting the couple up and introducing other love interests before they reconcile. Just the two of them, for three books, I can't sustain.
Oh Jesus wept I found it. Amazon. Goodreads.
> When Luke Murray woke up cold, naked and next to the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen--and he could see all of her--he thought he was dreaming. Maybe he didn't know exactly how--or why--they were together, but strutting his stuff for this luscious lady was fine by him ...until he realized they were being observed!
> Luke scoffed at the idea of UFOs and alien abductions, but when he bumped into the woman of his "dream," he had to rethink his position. Could his "fantasy" have been reality, and would he be able to lure her into another close encounter--of the real and lasting kind?
Very, very soon. Readers won't wait around these days - they are so impatient, to the detriment of a lot of good plots and books, frankly - and the Amazon LookInside will slay you if your first paragraph doesn't grab them by the (lady)balls.
However, there are some "cheats" available:
The slimmest BT folding keyboard available is the MiPow x Miffy folding keyboard, and it's $30 on Amazon right now.
mine is poppy whitlock ii and i came up with it based on vibes only lol. check out my/poppy's sapphic/genderqueer erotica :) https://www.amazon.com/Unrequited-Lust-Poppy-Whitlock-II-ebook/dp/B0BGC7R9HW/ref=sr_1_12?crid=32K8D19D699JM&keywords=unrequited+lust&qid=1664200038&s=instant-video&sprefix=unrequited+lust%2Cinstant-video%2C187&sr=1-12-catcorr
This is a good start if it doesn't come naturally to you.
I do make my characters a little like me but I break my life and personality down to little bits and spread them out to everyone, like a shuffle. And then I watch my beans grow up. 😹
ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com << is a good option for real looking people. You do need to really look at the image because sometimes it is wonky. To get a new image you need to refresh.
>Any other good promos for self-published authors?
Sure! Affinity is running a sale as well. It's a great piece of software for those who want nearly all of the power of Photoshop but don't want to pay a subscription fee to use Adobe products. Or those looking for a better interface than something like GIMP or more customization potential than something like Canva.
You might want to look at The Heroine's Journey by Murdock, but also keep in mind that the romance genre as it is today is less about archetypes and psychology and more about the rules of the genre.
Also, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Cinderella aren't romances, really, they're fairy tales and that's a different genre.
Aside from Jung's works on archetype, if you're interested in the psychology of fiction, I'd suggest The Seven Plots which is a little long, maybe 50 hours or so on audio, but a fun listen. (Well, I don't know how fun it is, but I liked it. A lot of the references are older but they give the context anyway.)
The short answer is that I don't get carried away. In a one-hour writing session I usually will do a 25-minute block of writing followed by 5 minutes of moving and stretching my body (like a mini workout) and then another set of writing and stretching.
The slightly longer answer is that even outside of the 5 minute breaks, I try to stay active. While that doesn't always mean an actual physical workout with weights and cardio and the whole nine yards, it might mean that I'm washing a sinkful of dishes or organizing a closet or running around with my cat or playing with something like this. And I can't overstress the importance of staying hydrated (I've learned that coffee and wine don't count).
The even longer answer is that having the right equipment and using it the right way helps. That means a desk that is right for you, or something to pad your wrists while typing. Posture is super important. I recommend something like this that you can use even while seated to play around with even while you're seated and writing. Hope that helps!
Put your draft on a word-loss diet.
There are currently 6 books in the series now....I bet you can't finish all six before I publish number 7 in Mid February...lol...here's the link. This is the first book in the series. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLL2YF3?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks
Hey I just published and I’m getting a lot of clicks but not many sales I don’t think ( it’s my first book so I don’t have a benchmark) if anyone could take a look and just see if there’s anything glaringly wrong with the blurb, I’d be much appreciative: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NPV5RCC
**Holiday SFR!** A Cyborg's Old Terran Christmas
After 700 years of space sleep, interstellar bride Nell and her children wake on a cyborg ship.
Super proud of my latest release that brings an end to my first self published equestrian romance series... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soaked-Hay-Stable-Mirrors-Equestrian-ebook/dp/B08JQFT7XZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fw+rider&qid=1607814111&quartzVehicle=907-2060&replacementKeywords=rider&sprefix=fw+r&sr=8-1
Fallen Blame is out Dec 15th!
The fourth book in my paranormal romance series can be read as a standalone, or with the other books!
https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Blame-Book-4-ebook/dp/B08NHRS443/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
A Fallen Angel obsessed
Liam was cast out of Heaven, into a dark and seedy life. Getting captured changed him, the experiments left deep wounds. Now, even free, he can’t move on. Not from the woman who tormented and lured him. The woman who caused it all. Are answers worth the danger that surrounds her?
A woman on the run
Maegan Jackson is alone, hiding from her enemies and from herself. Struggling with who she has become, only one thing is certain in her life, she can’t make it on her own. Her tenuous connection with Liam is hostile, but unescapable. Her shadows are drawn to his, lighting a fire within her
Can they overcome their pasts, or lose all hope for a future?
With animosity and lust battling within them, and danger all around, they need each other. But when every mistake could mean doom, trust is hard to find. Fate brought them together, only death can rip them apart.
Two days to my next release. I fell in love with Scott as a character almost three years ago. Wanted the dichotomy of corporate CFO turns professional gambler. Throw in a mobster ex boyfriend for the women at the centre of his dilemma and I took three different attempts before I could get her to be the strong heroine I needed her to be. Once I dived into her - wow. She then took over every word and chapter. Fam doesn't understand how characters control the narrative - we are merely the fingers on the keyboard. Anyway, here's the link to Reckless Gamble
I'm really proud of this one, having spent the better part of 3 years working on it. I hope those reading it have as much enjoyment as I did writing it.
The Angel, Samuel Night, was living a peaceful life in the heavens when one day, demons attacked his home. During the battle he gets knocked unconscious. Upon waking up, he finds himself held captive by Demon...on earth... Not Hell? And the Demon acts as if he knows him. But that's not possible. The Angel had never met this Demon before in his life. This is most confusing...
But as time goes by, memories of a life with this Demon start to pester the Angel. But they can't be his memories, could they?
And here's a sample of it over on Wattpad so you can all try before you buy. Have the fun.
Fallen into Hell is out on Tuesday!! It will be on KU, Kindle, and paperback!! You can even preorder now!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CVSPMR4?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks
TWO CREATED WEAPONS
Axel, A Fallen Warrior Angel, was made to fight evil. Needing to do more to protect innocents, he left Heaven. The only Angel who chose to Fall. Forming the Hunters, a group of powerful beings intent on dismantling an organization experimenting on supernatural creatures, Axel had to fade into the shadows, and lead from afar. Now, he must put his life on the line, to go undercover at a research facility. A dangerous mission that tests his control on his emotions, abilities, and needs. But what happens when he empathizes with the enemy?
NEITHER WERE WHO THEY PRETENDED TO BE
L975373 was created and raised in Homeland to seduce and to kill. With no name, no identity, she can only follow orders. Or so her owners believe. Many men have been enticed into her bed, only to divulge their secrets. But none were like Axel. None awoke passion and desires. None could play her body and mind like a beautiful instrument. None threatened to destroy her carefully crafted persona.
WILL THEY JOIN FORCES, OR WILL THEIR SECRETS BURY THEM?
With allegiances divided, and lives on the line, trust isn’t easily built. Two worlds collide, and enemies must make a decision, reveal their true selves or die on opposite sides of a war. Because in Homeland, appearances are everything.
A suspenseful adventure between two enemies who bond in a hellish place, some funny old friends, and an HEA. This book can be read as a standalone or in the series with the rest of the Fallen Books.
Fallen in Disguise (My third fallen book) will be out Sept 15th! That's like... 10 days away!
It will be on KU, kindle ($2.99) and paperback ($10.99).
It can be read as a standalone, or with the other books!
If you're into Fallen Angel romance, like enemies to lovers books, and are interested in dangerous female characters, you might like Fallen in Disguise!
(And you can preorder now!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CVSPMR4?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_2&storeType=ebooks
released my first book in a series of 10 :)
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This month, I'm releasing the second book in my new adult steamy contemporary romance series! It's a standalone, though the series (which will be 4 books total) is meant to be read in order. (I'll also be running a Kindle Countdown Promo on book 1 the week leading up to the release!)
BANG OUT is an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a good girl, a bad boy, a dash of humor, tons of heart, and a heap of sizzling heat!
Here's the blurb:
Kennedy needs one night. They say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. And I know just who. Spencer Armstrong has a reputation on campus―for bar brawls, a bad attitude, and boundless booty calls. I can’t stand him. Which means he’s perfect to get me past this post-break-up dating slump.
One night is all I need. One intense, passionate night…that doesn’t go according to plan. Spencer’s advice? I won’t be over my ex unless I “bang out” all thoughts of him (his words, not mine)―with Spencer. Repeatedly. As often as possible. Until he’s the one I can’t stop thinking about.
Spencer doesn't do repeats. Kennedy Walsh is an uptight goody-two-shoes who avoids trouble like the plague―so I should’ve known something was up when she approached me. I should say hell no to her stupid plan, but the idea of melting this ice princess is too tempting to turn down. It’s enough to make me forget my no-girl-twice policy.
But now I can’t stop at one night. While Kennedy needs to “bang out” her ex from her system (she said it first, not me), I need to kick her out of mine. Because the more time we spend together―in and out of bed―the more I rethink my policy. That maybe one girl, all the time, is really all I need.
Raptimax: A Knotty Alien Gymnastic Romance
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HW4HV5M
This is a standalone number 7 in the series and I'm really happy with it. The main character was a little bit of an antagonist in some of the other books and it was fun to show what was going on inside of her head. Just because someone seems like an arse doesn't mean that they mean to be that way.
*****Blurb:*******
Sierra is gold.
Striving for first place was the entire focus of her life until it was all torn away. Flung through space and time, Sierra finds herself in a human prison camp on another planet, all her dreams crumbling in the dust. She refuses to give up. Instead, she runs.
Straight into the arms of an alien soldier.
Sierra isn’t willing to settle for any old savior. She needs a man who can match her determination and help her achieve the one thing that she can never have - gold.
Disclaimer: This story has a lot of adult language, fast and knotty romance, and a healthy dose of consent, communication, and respect. If you are offended by dirty encounters, restraints, cults, culture clashes, communication, alien physiology, gymnastics, sweat, or women screaming yes repeatedly, well maybe you should read this little story and get over that.
This novelette can be read as a stand alone, but as a whole, the series really comes together.
My Ancient Egyptian novella, Seduction in the Sand, is on preorder! "In the time of pharaohs, a sizzling romance takes place under the fig tree..." $.99. Seduction in the Sand
I published my very first novel last week! New adult college romance with heart, heat, and a dash of humor :D
Rylie swears she’s not a prude.
How was I to know the art course my best friend signed me up for meant I’d be sketching a nude model? I should have checked the fine print. Then I never would have―quite literally―bumped into Levi Hart moments before he dropped trou in class.
He can turn up the charm all he wants―I’m not sleeping with the guy that starred in a sex tape circulating campus last year (and no, I didn’t watch it. Much). Even if the more he takes his clothes off, the more it turns me on, it’s not happening.
Levi is no stranger to nudity.
Yes, I was in that video. But I’m trying to put that behind me, which is why I’m doing this art class modeling gig. Now, I just need to convince Rylie Stone to overlook my past mistakes…and maybe not run away every time I get naked.
Rylie can deny it all she wants, but I’ve seen how she stares at my body. She wants me. And I want her. So I’m pulling out all the stops (and taking off all my shirts) until she realizes just how much fun can be had when you go after what you want.
I released my first novel today! I'm pretty proud of it:
https://www.amazon.com/Dawnbreaker-Book-1-Sunlit-Saga-ebook/dp/B08FF8M9RP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Dawnbreaker+Poppi+Cassandra&qid=1597315947&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
Now I'm working on my next book :D
Yay! Welcome to the land of kissing books!!
Step 1: read romance.
Step 2: read more romance. (Repeat steps 1-2 many, many times)
Step 3: read Gwen Hayes' Romancing the Beat
Step 4: I found A LOT of support about writing and self-publishing from the r/eroticauthors sub. Really generous community with highly practical advice. I highly recommend digging through that sub, especially u/the_gorgon's wonderful posts like this one about research.
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Best of luck!
I have a new Dark Contemporary Romance on preorder now and releases on August 21. It has a few Triggers for sexual assault and past sexual assault, drugs and drinking.
It Centers around a girl and her ex-best friends. A friends to enemies to lovers story.
Desecrated Flesh- Book 1 in the Desecrated Duet
Yeah honestly with my last few books I've had zero inspiration so I just went through the book and highlighted a few tropes/hooks and it gave me enough of a boost to build a story around. After so many stories you just run out of steam sometimes and need that, lol.
Here's a link, Karen Winters has several books but this is the trope dictionary
Hi Everyone! Here’s my debut steamy romance novel. It’s currently on a Kindle Countdown Deal for a few more days at $1.99.
Abigail, a dental hygienist and painter, has sworn off love. When she reluctantly attends her 10-year high school reunion, she reconnects with Logan, the man she was infatuated with all throughout high school. Several tequila shots later, he is escorting her home.
One steamy day and several hot nights later, they both want more.
As they struggle to find a healthy balance in their budding relationship, each of them must deal with personal issues. While Abigail struggles with her insecurities, Logan battles a troubled childhood. Can they learn to love and trust each other in spite of their fears, or will the passion fade?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0853FQZYC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_jhhdFb9E00AQZ
I love http://www.bryndonovan.com/ I have Master Lists For Writers out on KU at the moment and I'm going to buy it in print.
• lists of phrases for describing facial expressions, body language, gestures, physical appearance, and emotions • 175 master plot ideas, including romance, high-stakes, family, and workplace stories • lists of words for writing action scenes and love scenes • inspiration for figuring out character traits and quirks, backstories, occupations, motivations, and goals • lists for describing settings and writing dialogue • lists of good character names for contemporary stories...plus medieval England, Regency England, Wild West, and WWII settings • and more!
I think this comes down to marketing more than anything. "Romance reader" is such a wide category that you can probably find an audience for anything so it's a case of making sure the right audience is finding your book. So you need to focus on how you present it, look at other authors writing books similar to yours and see what covers they use, how their blurbs read. For example, look at the branding of The Avery Shaw Experiment (YA contemp rom) and it's contemporaries (no reason for choosing Avery Shaw, I just read it recently and it sounds like yours is a similar type book?).
As yours is a YA romance I don't think finding the right audience is going to be that much of a problem. My personal expectations for YA romance are that there's not going to be much sex in the genre (admittedly I don't read a lot of YA rom, but that's my perception for what it's worth). Hope that helps!
A quick look tells me both 99¢ and $2.99 are popular prices. I'd study the top 100 in your category and do a few tests. 99¢ may help you break into the market and $2.99 may be where you eventually end up. If you have a favorite author or two in your new genre, join their mailing list and ask their advice via e-mail. If you struggle with romance story structure--like many new writers do--you may find this Nina Harrington book helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Write-Short-Romance-Kindle-Books-ebook/dp/B00UDP3XBU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435689440&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+write+short+romance+kindle Her chapter on story structure is fantastic.
Blurb: “Zoe," he whispered. “You are playing with fire.” “Then why don’t you burn me.” I whispered back.
I was tired of writing obituaries or maybe just tired of my boss editing out any style I add to the tiny synopses. To torture myself I read the remains of each one.
That's how I found the ad. A job listing for a beat reporter in a small town. Send us a sample of your writing, it read. Well I had plenty of those, a whole drawer full of rejected stories.
The job was in Bear Creek, ten minutes from Wolf Head. I looked it up on a map. A man I met online lived in Wolf Head. The conversations between us were getting pretty heated, I was ready to take it the next level, in person, preferably in his bed. I sent the samples that afternoon.
I heard back from the editor the very next day, offering me the job. Within two weeks, I found a new place to live, packed up my apartment, and set up a meeting with my mystery guy.
In Bear Creek, I hoped to find the beginning of my career and possibly a fling. What I didn't expect to find was a threesome...
What's a good little BBW like me to do when caught between two big, handsome, sweaty... Begging me to...
I don't want to ruin the surprise. I'm stopping here, but you have to.
I stand alone and have a HEA.