Monday, November 30, 2020

HERE BE NEWS for Monday November 30, 2020

Posted by: PG Forte

 



Monday, November 30, 2020 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

                    

 

VEILS
Book 3
Sci-Fi /Time Travel Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 38.2K
$2.99 e / $9.99 p

Now married, Griff and Nat couldn’t be happier to have shared the moment with their friends, but the honeymoon period won’t last long. Still plagued with the veils and acid rains, they’re just trying to do what they do best—survive.

However, things seem to be changing, improving. Cars are working again, guns are firing, there’s even electricity, but still they find themselves traveling through time. With each event, it seems they're getting closer to their original eras.

The world looks to be healing itself, and as long as they stick together, they believe they’ll make it through. The only problem is, if their theories are correct, at some point they will have to let each other go to return to their own year where it all began.

Hope prevails, but uncertainty continues to rear its ugly head. Will it ever be over? And if it does end, will they be able to reunite with their future selves?

Warning! Contains a broom, a length of twine, scientific impossibilities, a fireworks grand finale, a train, and a reason to believe the madness will soon come to an end, which gives them hope for a life together.



Tuesday November 24, 2020:  Linda Mooney treats us to a new flash fiction "The Ghost of Krismas Past"! 


    




In the Dark 
Children of Night 1.0 

 When you live forever, a few mistakes are bound to happen. 

 Vampire Conrad Quintano has been around for centuries -- long enough to know falling for a human is a terrible idea. Much less falling for adventure-seeking hippie Desert Rose and agreeing to raise her babies. 

Raised in virtual isolation, Marc and Julie Fischer have never known their unique status in the world. But once they're in San Francisco, the family reunion is nothing like they anticipated and they're thrust into a world they're completely unprepared for.



Thursday, November 28th, 1968 
Thanksgiving Day 

“All I’m saying is that the picnic in the park was a total blast and you missed out on a really great party today.” 

Desert Rose was pouting. Arms crossed, her posture rigid, she glared sullenly at Conrad from one end of his couch. Lying comfortably against the cushions at the other end, he smiled back at her indulgently. He hadn’t been expecting to see her here this evening. Even though she’d taken to spending nearly every weekend with him, tonight was Thursday—definitely part of the week, as far as he was concerned. In her mind, however, the fact that it was Thanksgiving apparently made it the start of the weekend. 

 “I told you all about it when I was here last weekend. I was really hoping you’d show. You’d have liked it.” 

“Yes, I’m sure I would have.” Enough talk now. Conrad reached for the girl and pulled her toward him. He rearranged her limbs until she was reclining against his chest with her head resting on his shoulder, her long, dark hair swept to one side. Unexpected, yes, he thought, as he began to lick lazily at her neck. But definitely not unwelcome. Three days was long enough to go without. He’d grown quite addicted to the taste of her over the course of the past month—which would have worried him, if he’d been planning on turning her. He wasn’t. “I’m sorry I missed your picnic today. It sounds like it was a…real happening scene.” 

 A strangled noise, emanating from the vicinity of the secretary desk on the other side of the room, greeted Conrad’s observation. He glanced up, his face breaking into a wide grin at the sight of Armand’s pained expression. “A happening scene? Mon Dieu.” 

 “Well, it was,” Desert Rose insisted as she settled deeper into Conrad’s embrace, her eyes closed, her neck exposed. “With music and dancing and…just crowds of people. And more food than you’ve probably ever seen in your life.” 

 Armand’s eyes grew smoky as he gazed at the girl. His tongue danced lightly across the points of his teeth. He looked mesmerized, enchanted. He looked hungry. 

 Mine. Conrad stilled. It took a conscious effort to tamp down the unreasoning jealousy that was once again threatening to burn holes in his gut. Luckily, Armand seemed to collect himself before too much time had passed. A shaky sigh escaped his lips as he shook his head and went back to work, writing checks to pay the monthly bills. Conrad relaxed as well, and quietly sank his teeth into the girl’s waiting neck. 

“Corn and beans and squash and cranberry sauce and those little pearl onions,” she continued her recital, in the slightly dreamy tone that indicated she was so relaxed she hadn’t even noticed Conrad’s feasting at her throat. “And mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, three kinds of pie, a big chocolate cake. Not to mention homemade bread and biscuits and pumpkin soup. Oh, and there was even an entire turkey made out of tofu.” 

“It sounds delightful.” Conrad raised his head. “Armand?” 

“Oui?” 

 “Qu’est-ce que c’est…toe-foo?” 

Armand looked up again, his face perplexed. “Je ne sais pas,” he replied with a shrug. Then, his face clearing, he snapped his fingers. “ Ah, non, non, non. Il est Chinois. It’s something to do with soybeans. A kind of a paste, I think?” 

“Soybeans? Vraiment?” Conrad shook his head and went back to his meal. Soybean turkeys. What would they think of next?

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Bring It Back(list) -- In n the Dark by PG Forte

Posted by: PG Forte

In the Dark 
Children of Night 1.0 

 When you live forever, a few mistakes are bound to happen. 

 Vampire Conrad Quintano has been around for centuries -- long enough to know falling for a human is a terrible idea. Much less falling for adventure-seeking hippie Desert Rose and agreeing to raise her babies. 

Raised in virtual isolation, Marc and Julie Fischer have never known their unique status in the world. But once they're in San Francisco, the family reunion is nothing like they anticipated and they're thrust into a world they're completely unprepared for.



Thursday, November 28th, 1968 
Thanksgiving Day 

“All I’m saying is that the picnic in the park was a total blast and you missed out on a really great party today.” 

Desert Rose was pouting. Arms crossed, her posture rigid, she glared sullenly at Conrad from one end of his couch. Lying comfortably against the cushions at the other end, he smiled back at her indulgently. He hadn’t been expecting to see her here this evening. Even though she’d taken to spending nearly every weekend with him, tonight was Thursday—definitely part of the week, as far as he was concerned. In her mind, however, the fact that it was Thanksgiving apparently made it the start of the weekend. 

 “I told you all about it when I was here last weekend. I was really hoping you’d show. You’d have liked it.” 

“Yes, I’m sure I would have.” Enough talk now. Conrad reached for the girl and pulled her toward him. He rearranged her limbs until she was reclining against his chest with her head resting on his shoulder, her long, dark hair swept to one side. Unexpected, yes, he thought, as he began to lick lazily at her neck. But definitely not unwelcome. Three days was long enough to go without. He’d grown quite addicted to the taste of her over the course of the past month—which would have worried him, if he’d been planning on turning her. He wasn’t. “I’m sorry I missed your picnic today. It sounds like it was a…real happening scene.” 

 A strangled noise, emanating from the vicinity of the secretary desk on the other side of the room, greeted Conrad’s observation. He glanced up, his face breaking into a wide grin at the sight of Armand’s pained expression. “A happening scene? Mon Dieu.” 

 “Well, it was,” Desert Rose insisted as she settled deeper into Conrad’s embrace, her eyes closed, her neck exposed. “With music and dancing and…just crowds of people. And more food than you’ve probably ever seen in your life.” 

 Armand’s eyes grew smoky as he gazed at the girl. His tongue danced lightly across the points of his teeth. He looked mesmerized, enchanted. He looked hungry. 

 Mine. Conrad stilled. It took a conscious effort to tamp down the unreasoning jealousy that was once again threatening to burn holes in his gut. Luckily, Armand seemed to collect himself before too much time had passed. A shaky sigh escaped his lips as he shook his head and went back to work, writing checks to pay the monthly bills. Conrad relaxed as well, and quietly sank his teeth into the girl’s waiting neck. 

“Corn and beans and squash and cranberry sauce and those little pearl onions,” she continued her recital, in the slightly dreamy tone that indicated she was so relaxed she hadn’t even noticed Conrad’s feasting at her throat. “And mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, three kinds of pie, a big chocolate cake. Not to mention homemade bread and biscuits and pumpkin soup. Oh, and there was even an entire turkey made out of tofu.” 

“It sounds delightful.” Conrad raised his head. “Armand?” 

“Oui?” 

 “Qu’est-ce que c’est…toe-foo?” 

Armand looked up again, his face perplexed. “Je ne sais pas,” he replied with a shrug. Then, his face clearing, he snapped his fingers. “ Ah, non, non, non. Il est Chinois. It’s something to do with soybeans. A kind of a paste, I think?” 

“Soybeans? Vraiment?” Conrad shook his head and went back to his meal. Soybean turkeys. What would they think of next?

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

New! VEILS, Book 3, the Conclusion to the VEILS Trilogy, a Sci-Fi /Time Travel Romance by Linda Mooney

Posted by: Linda Mooney

 

VEILS
Book 3
Sci-Fi /Time Travel Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 38.2K
$2.99 e / $9.99 p

Now married, Griff and Nat couldn’t be happier to have shared the moment with their friends, but the honeymoon period won’t last long. Still plagued with the veils and acid rains, they’re just trying to do what they do best—survive.

However, things seem to be changing, improving. Cars are working again, guns are firing, there’s even electricity, but still they find themselves traveling through time. With each event, it seems they're getting closer to their original eras.

The world looks to be healing itself, and as long as they stick together, they believe they’ll make it through. The only problem is, if their theories are correct, at some point they will have to let each other go to return to their own year where it all began.

Hope prevails, but uncertainty continues to rear its ugly head. Will it ever be over? And if it does end, will they be able to reunite with their future selves?

Warning! Contains a broom, a length of twine, scientific impossibilities, a fireworks grand finale, a train, and a reason to believe the madness will soon come to an end, which gives them hope for a life together.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Flash Fiction - "The Ghost of Krismas Past" by Linda Mooney

Posted by: Linda Mooney



The Ghost of Krismas Past
A Holiday Flash Fiction
by Linda Mooney

             “Angels we have heard on high!” Tina sang with the Christmas carol coming through the car’s speakers. She loved this time of year, and she especially loved singing all her favorite carols. She never tired of them, even though several of her friends often remarked at how sick they were of hearing the same old tunes.

            “Hey, they’re golden oldies,” she remarked aloud. “They only come around once a year, they hang around for a few short weeks, and then they’re gone. They’re not repeated over and over constantly like most of the music is nowadays.”

            The song came to the Gloria chorus, just as she reached the red light, and she joined in enthusiastically. She was in an especially happy mood. Christmas was four days away, and she’d finally finished all her shopping. Even the stocking stuffers. All that was left was to get everything wrapped and under the tree, after which she could kick back and enjoy the season.

            “Hey. I wonder if Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is on tonight?” It was also a classic. One of her childhood favorites.

            The light changed, giving her a green arrow. She turned to head for the house, when she heard the first strains of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Automatically, tears rose in her eyes. Kris had loved that song. He’d loved it because it had become a beacon of hope for him during those years he was serving overseas.

            I’ll Be Home for Christmas. During the four years he’d been deployed, her husband never spent any of the holidays at home with his family. It wasn’t until he got injured and was given a medical discharge that he arrived back in the states the second day of December. He’d missed Thanksgiving, but she and Kris had planned to make up for all those lost special days that Christmas.

            They never got the chance. On December twenty-first, Kris was taken from her.

            Traffic slowed. A large furniture truck stopped in front of her. It edged up a few inches, and she did, too. It wasn’t until the front tires bumped over the tracks that she realized where she was.

            Tumbril Road.

            No!

            First the song. Now here she was on the same road.

            And worse, straddling the same damned railroad tracks.

            How could fate be so cruel? She’d been in such a good mood, and now it was crushed.

            Hard sobs racked her. Closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead against the steering wheel as the tears ran down her face.

            The accident had taken place three years ago, and she still wasn’t over it. She thought she’d gone through the grief cycle. She believed she had reached the point where she could go on with her life without him.

            It had taken a beloved carol and a road she normally avoided to prove her wrong.

            A strident clanging drowned out the music. Tina jerked upright in her seat as the blood drained from her face.

            No!

            The arm to the crossing gate came down, obstructing the front of her vehicle. The truck ahead of her moved forward, but she was still blocked in. A quick check behind her showed the arm on the other side had bookended her. And a car sat directly on her bumper, preventing her from backing up.

            It couldn’t be happening again! It couldn’t be happening again!

            But a glance out the passenger side window confirmed her worst fear.

            The train was heading straight for her. Its front light nearly blinded her.

            “Not again! Not again!

            She reached for her car door to open it, but she already knew it wouldn’t open. Just like it wouldn’t open that afternoon three years ago when she and Kris had been trapped on the railroad tracks. These same railroad tracks on the same road. At the same time of the year.

            Where Kris lost his life.

            She struggled with the door, trying to open it.

            In the distance, the train hit its horn in warning as it continued to barrel toward her.

            She was now in full panic mode. She tried to climb over the center console to try to open the passenger side door, when a hand reached out and grabbed her upper arm. Tina froze in place as Kris gave her one of his warm, wonderful smiles. She screamed, but he quickly shushed her.

            “Shh, shh, shh. It’s okay, honey.”

            There’s a train coming at us! We’re going to die!

Around them, cars were honking their horns. Somebody appeared at the driver’s side door and jerked on the handle. She wasn’t the only one panicking.

            Another person banged on her car to get her attention, but all began to fade as Kris’s gaze locked onto her. She found herself sinking into those chocolate-brown depths that melted away her terrors like ice cream in a rain storm.

            Tears blurred her vision once more, forcing her to reach for him. Finding his face, she clutched it between her hands. “Kris!” Her breath hitched in her chest as she struggled to blink away the wetness blinding her.

            “It’s all right, Tina. You’re safe. We’re safe. It’s all over.”

            Miraculously, the train disappeared. The cars and people around them disappeared.

            The car they were in vanished.

            Kris pulled her into his arms as she buried her face against his chest and sobbed. He continued to speak soothingly to her, reassuring her that all was well as he stroked her back and hair.

            “K-Kris, what’s go-going on? What’s ha-happening?”

            To her surprise, he chuckled. “You do this every year on the anniversary of our deaths,” he gently told her.

            Sniffing, Tina leaned away from him and gave him a look of disbelief. “Our deaths?”

            He chuckled again. She felt it vibrate against her, familiar and comforting. They both were standing, surrounded by a fine white mist, as if they were enveloped inside a cloud.

            “You have to stop blaming yourself for my death.” He caressed her cheek. “It’s not your fault we got stuck on those railroad tracks. It’s not your fault the doors jammed. It’s not your fault. But every year, you go back and relive the tragedy. Over and over, you put yourself through the terror and pain we felt because you’ve never forgiven yourself. Tina.” He bent over to kiss her, caressing her lips with his. She felt herself slumping against him.

            “Kris, we’re dead? We’re both dead?”

            “Yes, darling. And we’re together. We’ll always be together from here on out. There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore. But you have to stop blaming yourself!” He gently shook her by the shoulders, and for the first time she saw anger in his face. “Tina, if you continue to wander this earth, bearing the guilt with you, you’ll always return to this moment in time every year, and you’ll be forced to relive it over and over, and there’s no reason why you should!”

            Tears sparkled in his eyes. “Tina, darling, please. Stop doing this to yourself. Come with me. Come and stay…stay with me. I’m begging you. I love you. I’ll always love you. It hurts like hell to see you go through all this crap year after year. Tina, sweetheart, please.”

            He bent his head, touching his forehead to hers. “You are not responsible for our deaths, but you are responsible for us being together for the rest of eternity. Remember that. Put that in your heart and never forget it.”

Pulling her into his embrace, he held her tightly. “The entire time I was overseas, my biggest fear was being killed over there and never seeing you again. I prayed and prayed that I would be able to come back to you, even after I got wounded. And now…now I’ll never have to worry about that anymore. You’ll never have to worry about me dying away from you, because we’re here now. We’re together. Forever,” he whispered. “Stop this stupid cycle and come with me!”

Somewhere, from far away, the sound of music reached them. Tina recognized the tune immediately. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

“Kris, do you hear that?”

He paused to listen, and a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “My favorite Christmas carol. Except, now, it’s no longer in our dreams. We’re home,” her husband murmured. “The past no longer matters. We’re here. We’re together. And we’ll never be parted again.”

He kissed her once more, long, soft, and slow. When he finally pulled away, he begged, “Please let go of the past. It no longer matters. It’s gone. Let’s walk together in the light where we belong.”

Tina sighed. “Never let me go?”

“I never have,” he admitted. “I’ve always been here. With you. For you.”

“Okay.” She nodded her head and smiled back. “I’m ready. Oh, and Kris?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Merry Christmas.”

He laughed softly. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

Drawing his arm around her waist, he turned her around to face the warm golden light coming toward them, and led her into eternity.

~~~

New!

THANKSGIFTINGS
Six Short Stories Celebrating the Season
By Linda Mooney
Fantasy/Contemporary/SciFi
Word Count: 11.9K
$0.99 e

Stories Included are:

BARNEY - She looked forward every day for him to come by. Then came the one day when he didn't.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE - All it took was one missing ingredient to melt the heart of a lonely old man.

 AN EXPLOSIVE COMBINATION - In a post-apocalyptic future, a group of survivors reminisce about their first Thanksgiving after that climactic event.

 THE LEG - Doug was determined to have turkey legs for his Thanksgiving dinner. He never planned on getting so much more.

THE WISHBONE - A grandfather finds out which end of the wishbone is the lucky part.

DAY 280,662 - When the last survivors of a doomed Earth reach their new planetary home, they discover the date of their first landing has special significance.

Excerpt and Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/anthologies.htm          

Monday, November 23, 2020

HERE BE NEWS for Monday November 23, 2020

Posted by: PG Forte

 

 

 



Monday, November 23, 2020 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:



Thursday November 19: Author Maureen Bonatch discusses what's different about her latest release Till Death.

Wednesday November 18: Wip-It Wednesday! PG Forte shows off new covers for her Games We Play trilogy.

Tuesday November 17:  Author Deborah Bailey shows us how she brings the heat!

Thursday, November 19, 2020

A Different Type of Story for a Different Type of Year

Posted by: Maureen

 By Maureen Bonatch

Everything is a little different this year, including my latest release. Till Death is a psychological thriller without my usual paranormal or fantasy elements. That made it a little challenging to write until I embraced my love of the human mind, that's where the true magic and mystery lies in most people. As the old saying goes, reality is stranger than fiction, and this year has certainly supported that. 

Till Death gives us a glimpse into Gina's life when she realizes that the beliefs, and the person, she's supported for most of her life may not be what's best for her—but she's made a vow, and that's not to be taken lightly. 

But just like 2020 has us all thinking, Gina wonders just when is enough, enough?

Fun Facts About Till Death:

  • My character was inspired by Annie Wilkes from Misery and Castle Rock
  • Are you superstitious? I had fun researching and taking Gina's superstitions to the extreme

Till Death is available now- just click right here 


Honor, obey or slay...

Blurb:


     Gina believes that mirrors hold bits of the soul, a rabbit's foot brings good luck, and that marriage vows are until death. But most of all, she’s blindly followed her husband Rick’s philosophy. Nasty men get one chance to convert from their abusive ways —or suffer the consequences they bring upon themselves. 
      But when she meets George, Gina begins to question everything Rick has led her to believe about men. Now Rick has George lined up to be the next man to be redeemed. Will black widow Gina honor and obey and weave her web around George, or will she become the next victim?

Here's an Excerpt: 


      Honor and obey. This was the life I knew. The one I’d created as Rick’s wife. I had to see it through. I lowered my gaze to the ground. “I meant, don’t give the neighborhood more to talk about than it already has.” 
     “Neighborhood? Do you mean that old man who’s been sniffing around here?” Rick smoothed his face back into the mask he shared with the world and glanced toward George’s house. 
      “No.” I didn’t dare look to see if George was lingering. It was a mistake to remind Rick that I might’ve made a friend. A male friend who didn’t fit into the mold Rick insisted most men did. But Rick made a lot of ruckus that could’ve attracted other attention, so when two ladies walked down the street, not giving us a second glance, I inclined my head their way. 
     Rick’s gaze followed mine and then returned to me. “I thought you didn’t worry about those things? About what people might think? Most people don’t see what’s justified in the world, they don’t understand the road to redemption and how we are paving it with the blood of those who don’t appreciate a woman.”      “I don’t care what they think, but this time it’s different.” I was different. But I couldn’t tell Rick that I’d begun to question the truths of performing this justice with him. All it had taken was one old man who’d experienced a loving marriage. A man who saw me as more than a cook, cleaner, and punching bag. 
      “It’s not really different when the end result is the same.” Rick pushed past me. He entered my house as if he owned the place, and as my husband, technically he did.

A Friday the 13th Short Story: 13 authors ~ 13 suspenseful short stories. Murder and mayhem on Friday the 13th...Find each story in the series on Amazon.


Author Bio:
Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. 

Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter Be the first to know about Maureen’s book sales and new releases by following her on BookBub, Amazon and/or signing up for her

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

WIP-It Wednesday for November 18, 2020

Posted by: PG Forte

Welcome to our new feature, WIP-It Wednesdays where any of the authors of HERE BE MAGIC might drop by to give you a glimpse at one (or more) of our Works-In-Progress.

PG Forte here: I'm in the process of re-releasing my Games We  Play trilogy--something that I had planned for much earlier THIS year, before the bottom dropped out. But it occurred to me that I hadn't shared my new covers anywhere (other than on my website). I loved the original covers (so much that I hunted down the original guys from book one to use again!) but I really feel that these covers really fit the "games" theme. 

Typical for me, these books have way too many themes--there's the theme involving he three cousins (which unfortunately gets conflated with the menage in book one); there's the lovers' games they're all playing; there's the paranormal theme--with each book focusing on a different aspect-; there's the wild geese/Irish family heritage; the charmed and charming old hotel that's (coincidentally?) located in a charmed and charming small coastal town; and, finally, there's the holiday theme, because that was the original story prompt: write three books, each set at a different winter holiday...and then, because I'm something of an overachiever, AND I got a late start, I ADDED two more holidays at the very beginning or books one and two. Book Three was always going to be set on St. Patrick's Day...but it has its own time frame troubles. 

Overall, I consider these to be the most controversial books I've ever written. And I say that while I'm re-working my first series (Oberon--also set in a charmed and charming small coastal town, albeit on the opposite coast) which was written twenty years ago when everything looked and felt very, very different. But that's a story for another day. Today is all about new covers--which have always been, and may always be, one of The Most Exciting parts of publishing for me. 








Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Bringing the Heat in Your Story

Posted by: Deborah A Bailey

Years ago, when I wrote short stories, I didn't include love scenes. I'd have the characters flirt and maybe have a kiss or two. But that's as far as it went. Anything more was behind closed doors (if the characters went that far).

When I wrote my first novel, however, I wanted to do more than mention their intimacy. I wanted to show it. Unfortunately, that presented another problem. How far to go? And when would it be the right time for them to go all the way?

Going for a high heat level doesn't necessarily make for a better romance – though it might be fun to read. 😊. About a year ago I did an informal survey of my readers to see what they preferred. A lot of them loved the steamier stories, but most said they'd be okay with less heat - if they enjoyed the story.

That makes sense, of course. When a story is good, that's really the bottom line. It's just that there are times when authors feel they have to add more heat because that's what everyone wants. But, based on my survey, that's not always true.

 

It's not only about the big moment

Even after the main characters get together, the intimate moments should continue. It's not just about the big sex scene (or scenes).

Here are a few ways to add the heat without necessarily having high heat:

Conflict

Even if the conflict between the main characters has subsided for a while, conflict still keeps things interesting. Without it, there's no story. For instance, in my lion shifter story, Family Pride: Blood Fever, the hero likes to resolve arguments by being intimate. The heroine gets frustrated because she wants to talk about the issues. Their attraction for each other keeps the heat level high, even when they don't agree. Even better, their conflict continues as well since it plays out in how they express intimacy.

Touching

Little gestures between the main characters can be very sexy. These gestures can happen at any time, whether th characters are about to have a hot scene or not.

Familiarity

These can be little things like holding hands as they walk or kissing before they leave the house. Small gestures add to the feeling that these characters know and have affection for each other. They also don't have to be preludes to bigger scenes. They can just show how the characters feel about each other. 


It surprised me to hear how many readers skip over sex scenes. I'm guessing there are quite a few reasons why they do. But I also think that showing small intimate moments can help to show that the characters' love life isn't only expressed during the hot, sexy times.

That's why I think having your characters show affection and love (and lust) in various ways is a must. What they feel shouldn't be saved for the "big moments." As long as the story engages the reader, they'll be invested in the characters -  and be less inclined to skip over scenes.

High heat is great, but there are times when you can keep hot without going all the way. 


 

Monday, November 16, 2020

HERE BE NEWS for Monday November 16, 2020

Posted by: PG Forte

 

 

 



Monday, November 16, 2020 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:


Tuesday November 10, 2020: PG Forte discusses "why" we write...or sometimes don't write.



November is the Month for Alternate World Romances!

During the month of November, you can get all 3 of these Alternate World romances for just 99c each!

HEALER OF THE HEART
Epic Fantasy Romance
Word Count: 88.2K
$0.99 e / $15.99 p

On an alternate world, a woman with extraordinary healing powers, and a man who would be the next ruler of his country, are thrown together to save their lands from warring nations and to solve the mystery of two brutal deaths within their fortress, despite the danger to their own lives.

Through it all, they find a love that defies all odds, and become the symbol of hope for the future of their world.

Warning!  Contains bloody swordplay, dungeon indoctrination, covert meeting in the kitchen, challenging authority, repeated attempted murder, total disregard for traditions, and the ultimate Seven Joys. 

Excerpt and Buy Links

~ ~ ~

LIONMEADE
Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Word Count: 43.6K

$0.99 e/ $9.99 p

A kingdom is rife with rumors of the evil that lays in wait on the fringes of the woods. Fairy tales of curses, animalistic beasts, and an inhuman princeLady Bethel has heard the stories all her life, but what she once thought were just stories told to keep a child in line could prove to be so much more.

The daughter of Lord Voril of Banderling, Lady Bethel spends her time following in her late mother’s footsteps, caring for the sick in the villages surrounding Banderling Mayne. While traveling home after dark, against her father’s warnings, Bethel and her guards are attacked by what she thought were wild animals, but she couldn’t be more wrong. When she awakens, she can’t remember much, but she remembers voices. Particularly one—her savior.

Adain has taken it upon himself to hunt down the beasts that threaten the kingdom. The number of attacks grows, but he will stop at nothing to end the monsters he knows all too well. Having been in exile all his life, he must remain the faceless benefactor to Lady Bethel, despite his growing feelings, for she can never know the reality of his world.

Tales will be told, truths will come to light, but above all, love will reign.

Warning! Contains a deep forest retreat, death, blueberries, possible solutions, attempted kidnapping, and a birth defect with unimaginable consequences.

Excerpt and Buy Links

~ ~ ~

FROM OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Word Count:  75.9K
$0.99 e / $9.99 p 

Croat was a Lupan, one of the half-man, half-beast creatures long thought to be extinct or fabricated from fairy tales. Lupan were folklore, nothing more than a myth.

Tora was a Sensitive. Her kind really existed, and normal people feared Sensitives because it was common knowledge that all Sensitives were evil and practiced the dark magicks.

Captured and thrown together inside Baron Agrino’s dungeon, they discovered a connection between them that defied all reason, and a love that transcended all boundaries.

But is their love strong enough to stop the baron from what he’ll do with every Lupan he plans to capture? Or, worse, what he’ll do with Tora once he learns what she is?

Warning!  Contains torture, imprisonment, severe beatings, nasty bad guys, public nudity, molten wax, old wives' tales, forest folk, bad horsemanship, lots of pissed off townspeople, and two people fighting their fears for the sake of their love.

Excerpt and Buy Links


Saturday, November 14, 2020

Bring It Back(list) - Three Alternate World Romances for Just 99c Each!

Posted by: Linda Mooney
November is the Month for Alternate World Romances!

During the month of November, you can get all 3 of these Alternate World romances for just 99c each!

HEALER OF THE HEART
Epic Fantasy Romance
Word Count: 88.2K
$0.99 e / $15.99 p

On an alternate world, a woman with extraordinary healing powers, and a man who would be the next ruler of his country, are thrown together to save their lands from warring nations and to solve the mystery of two brutal deaths within their fortress, despite the danger to their own lives.

Through it all, they find a love that defies all odds, and become the symbol of hope for the future of their world.

Warning!  Contains bloody swordplay, dungeon indoctrination, covert meeting in the kitchen, challenging authority, repeated attempted murder, total disregard for traditions, and the ultimate Seven Joys. 

Excerpt and Buy Links

~ ~ ~

LIONMEADE
Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Word Count: 43.6K

$0.99 e/ $9.99 p

A kingdom is rife with rumors of the evil that lays in wait on the fringes of the woods. Fairy tales of curses, animalistic beasts, and an inhuman princeLady Bethel has heard the stories all her life, but what she once thought were just stories told to keep a child in line could prove to be so much more.

The daughter of Lord Voril of Banderling, Lady Bethel spends her time following in her late mother’s footsteps, caring for the sick in the villages surrounding Banderling Mayne. While traveling home after dark, against her father’s warnings, Bethel and her guards are attacked by what she thought were wild animals, but she couldn’t be more wrong. When she awakens, she can’t remember much, but she remembers voices. Particularly one—her savior.

Adain has taken it upon himself to hunt down the beasts that threaten the kingdom. The number of attacks grows, but he will stop at nothing to end the monsters he knows all too well. Having been in exile all his life, he must remain the faceless benefactor to Lady Bethel, despite his growing feelings, for she can never know the reality of his world.

Tales will be told, truths will come to light, but above all, love will reign.

Warning! Contains a deep forest retreat, death, blueberries, possible solutions, attempted kidnapping, and a birth defect with unimaginable consequences.

Excerpt and Buy Links

~ ~ ~

FROM OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Word Count:  75.9K
$0.99 e / $9.99 p 

Croat was a Lupan, one of the half-man, half-beast creatures long thought to be extinct or fabricated from fairy tales. Lupan were folklore, nothing more than a myth.

Tora was a Sensitive. Her kind really existed, and normal people feared Sensitives because it was common knowledge that all Sensitives were evil and practiced the dark magicks.

Captured and thrown together inside Baron Agrino’s dungeon, they discovered a connection between them that defied all reason, and a love that transcended all boundaries.

But is their love strong enough to stop the baron from what he’ll do with every Lupan he plans to capture? Or, worse, what he’ll do with Tora once he learns what she is?

Warning!  Contains torture, imprisonment, severe beatings, nasty bad guys, public nudity, molten wax, old wives' tales, forest folk, bad horsemanship, lots of pissed off townspeople, and two people fighting their fears for the sake of their love.

Excerpt and Buy Links


Tuesday, November 10, 2020

More Advanced Procrastination Techniques.

Posted by: PG Forte

 Once upon a time I was very focused on my writing--to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. Recently, that hasn't been the case. I have become a master procrastinator, however, and one of my favorite techniques is creating covers. The idea was that once I had a cover I'd be more motivated to finish the book. And, since I'd eventually need a cover anyway, I was not slacking off: I was being proactive. That didn't work out as planned either. 

An even less successful writing technique has been to sign up for NaNoWriMo. I've generally been very good at meeting deadlines--ask any of my editors! But NaNo? Not so much. Every day I fall further behind. And with more and more ground to make up, what little motivation I had to start with is usually gone by the middle of the month. Plus there's the guilt at not writing, which only paralyzes me more. 

So, November is not a good month for me. But the covers are looking good. 

Here are two (of many--you don't even want to know) versions of All Through The Night--which may or may not be released in time for Christmas. I'm currently leaning toward the blue version. But we'll see!









I am hopeful that I'll eventually find my way back to a better, more productive writing schedule/strategy. Today I'm investigating my "Why" ie, why do I write, what am I hoping to accomplish, what is my goal. The following TED Talk is what led me to this line of thinking:



What struck me on watching this talk was that I DID have a "why"  once. And it did stop being a real factor in my life at about the same time that my ability to self-motivate myself evaporated. Since then, I really have been all about the "what," and the "how," rather than the "why."

Here's hoping I can change that, and that it will make a difference. I'll keep you posted!

Monday, November 9, 2020

HERE BE NEWS for Monday November 9, 2020

Posted by: PG Forte

 

Monday, November 9, 2020 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:


New!

THANKSGIFTINGS
Six Short Stories Celebrating the Season
by Linda Mooney
Fantasy/Contemporary/SciFi
Word Count: 
11.9K
$0.99 e / $6.99 p

Stories Included are:

BARNEY - She looked forward everyday for him to come by. Then came the one day when he didn't.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE -
All it took was one missing ingredient to melt the heart of a lonely old man.

AN EXPLOSIVE COMBINATION -
In a post-apocalyptic future, a group of survivors reminisce about their first Thanksgiving after that climactic event.

THE LEG -
Doug was determined to have turkey legs for his Thanksgiving dinner. He never planned on getting so much more.

THE WISHBONE -
A grandfather finds out which end of the wishbone is the lucky part.

DAY 280,662 - When the last survivors of a doomed Earth reach their new planetary home, they discover the date of their first landing has special significance.

Excerpt and Buy Links



Thursday November 5, 2020: Author Nicole Luiken discusses Tinkering With the Writing Process.

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