insecure writers support group, writing

IWSG: Faves of the Romance Genre

Created by Alex Cavanaugh, join this supportive group here.

Thank you to today’s amazing co-hosts: Tonja Drecker, Victoria Marie Lees, Mary Aalgaard, and Sandra Cox!

Hey, writers! How’s it going? I’ve been swimming more to train for a swim vacation in Mexico soon. We’ll swim 2-4 miles a day in the ocean while glamping on the beach.

I still haven’t been writing, but I’ve listened to quite a few audiobooks, including Book Lovers and The Cheat Sheet.

Both books are romances, which brings me to this month’s question: What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre?

It surprised me how many writers answered a previous month’s question by stating that they could never write romance. The romance genre, especially sports romance and romantic suspense, is about all I know as a writer.

Image by Maria Godfrida from Pixabay 

How do I love thee, romance? Let me count the ways:

  1. Unresolved sexual tension. You know that feeling when two characters lust for each other, yet neither ponies up to share their feelings due to fear of being rejected? When they clearly belong together? It’s palpable! The Bridgerton series on Netflix captures UST perfectly, and I’m enjoying the book series as well.
  2. Shared vulnerabilities. Sharing your heart with a potential boo leaves you so exposed, but your partner will likely respond by opening up their inner insecurities, too. Writing romance is an effective way to reveal characters.
  3. Opportunity for creativity. Authors have covered first dates and marriage proposals countless ways, but how can a writer come up with a fresh take? It’s a fun challenge.
  4. Happy endings. Life can be painful, and I relish happy (yet still somewhat realistic) endings.
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$100 Bath & Body Works #giveaway

September days are here, bringing you good cheer! Welcome September with us and celebrate all the warm scents of fall with a chance to win.

I’ve teamed up with some fabulous bloggers to offer you the chance to win a $100 Bath & Body Works eGift Card! Perhaps you need to pamper yourself or buy some gifts for your child’s teachers? 

This event is hosted by The Kids Did It and The Mommy IslandGraciously Co-Hosted by: Coupons and Freebies Mom, Christy’s Cozy Corners, Deliciously Savvy, Our Crafty Mom, Jennifer Lane Books, Style on Main, Me, Him and the Cats, It’s Free At Last 

Enter the Giveaway! One lucky entrant selected by the entry form will win a $100 eGift Card via email to Bath & Body Works. 

Entry open to the US and Canada, 18 years and older. Void where prohibited. Open for entry from 09/1/19-09/30/19 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be drawn on or around 10/01/19. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to the notification email to claim this prize or a new winner will be selected. The Kids Did It and The Mommy Island are responsible for prize fulfillment. Twitter ‘head’ profiles and dummy accounts are ineligible for entry and will be blocked. Authentic accounts only are eligible to win. Visit our hosting sites for some great fall ideas and events!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Life’s a Beach #Giveaway

Thanks to The Kids Did It and Mommy Island for hosting.

Summer is around the corner, hooray! In Ohio, that means outdoor swimming in a pool, not a beach. But I love swimming outdoors in any body of water.

Want a fun, summer beach read? My volleyball romance BLOCKED is free till 5/27. Get it HERE.

I’m giving away a $10 gift card as well as an ebook of my swimming romance, Streamline. Enter on the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Swim on over to these blogs to win stuff, and watch out for sharks on the way.

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Christmas in July #NewAdult #Book #Sale #SportsRomance #.99

Welcome to the New Adult Christmas in July Promo! This week you’ll find all these wonderful New Adult titles for $2.99 or less out on Amazon. (My book, BLOCKED, is only $.99!) Be sure to read up on each title and check them out. 

Death Island

Author: Kelsey Ketch Her family name tainted by her great-grandfather’s crimes of piracy, Meriden Cummings is far from the typical 18th century woman. A social outcast, she works in a carpentry shop in a small village, where the people barely tolerate unconventional behavior. However, her life takes a turn after a gang of pirates attack her village and her blood reveals an ancient map adorned with Mayan glyphs leading to Death Island. An island legends say is ruled by the Mayan god of the underworld, Ah Puch. Her great-grandfather had sought after the island before he vanished without a trace. Now, Meriden is about to journey across the sea to understand her family history. There are only a few problems: her growing feelings toward a mysterious stranger linked to her great-grandfather’s past; a greedy band of pirates after her great-grandfather’s legendary treasure; and a contract she has unwittingly signed in blood with Ah Puch himself.

Amazon

Blocked

Author: Jennifer Lane Blocked is a New Adult sports romance. College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. ¡Híjole! Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her. Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President. When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?

Amazon

Olympian Passion

Author: Andrya Bailey Olympian Passion is the first book in the Olympian trilogy, by romance author Andrya Bailey. It is the recipient of Readers’ Favorite 5-star seal and 2016 New Apple Literary Medalist Winner in Contemporary Romance. Sabrina loves everything about Greek mythology and can’t believe when she’s accepted for an internship at the Fine Arts Museum in Houston. There, she meets the handsome Greek archaeologist Nikos Soulis, who will spend two months at the museum, and she falls head over heels for him. But the sexy professor seems too busy and already spoken for… so why does he insist on helping her with her project? Can Sabrina avoid heartbreak when she is seduced by the hot Olympian-looking god of her dreams? “A great romance that does justice to the mythological theme.”

Amazon

Tin Man’s Dance

Author: MK Schiller The one time Lilly Franklin rewards herself with a front-row concert ticket is turning into an epic fail. Not to mention the tall, cocky boy who claims her front-row seat is all wicked smiles, long legs and tug-worthy hair. Well, he’s messing with the wrong girl. But as the night wears on, Lily starts to see a softer side of former marine, James “Hutch” Hutchinson. A side that makes her shed her loner inhibitions along with her clothes. There is a difference between trouble and troubled. In Hutch, she has found both. Hutch lost more than a leg in the Iraqi desert. Returning to school on the GI Bill wasn’t exactly in the plans…but plans change. Now he only wants to meet the mysterious dancer, but he’s forgotten how to talk to women, especially one as graceful as Lilly. So armed with a plan that even a twelve-year-old would laugh at, he steals Lilly’s seat. Only fair since she stole his heart first. But Lilly has plans, too. As if Hutch’s life wasn’t already a sh*t storm of sacrifice. How can he give up the one thing that’s made him feel real?

Amazon

If We Had No Winter

Author: D.L. Pitchford Does a father who abandoned his family deserve a second chance? Can an unwanted daughter restore her faith in men? Or has Billie already sabotaged her chance at first love? After her parents’ divorce, introverted Billie Dixon buries herself in her studies. Her plan? To stay out of sight, out of mind, and out of trouble. But that plan fails when she starts at Bradford College. While hopeful to renew her relationship with her estranged father, she struggles to resist the advances of her persuasive tutoring student. But no one gets under her skin like her best friend’s playboy roommate, whose snarky smirk drives her up a wall…and into his bed. But is Billie too broken to open her heart again? If she can’t find closure with her father, she’ll close the door on love. But a huge fight with her father threatens to ruin any hope of healing her past and securing her future. If you enjoyed Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Looking for Alaska by John Green, you’re sure to love IF WE HAD NO WINTER.

Amazon


His Dark Magic

  Author: Pat Esden Its power is legendary. It can fulfill every impossible magical desire. But for one young witch seeking redemption, the Northern Circle coven will challenge her skills—and her heart—beyond measure. One tragic impulsive mistake made Chloe Winslow an outcast to her influential magic family. As a medical student, she wants to combine science with sorcery to heal those she hurt and right her wrongs. But brilliant, charismatic Devlin Marsh re-routes her plans with a once-in-eternity offer: membership in the exclusive Northern Circle, a mysterious Vermont coven known for pushing the limits. Enthralled by Devlin and their mesmerizing mutual attraction, Chloe makes a dangerous sacrifice to help the Circle’s high priestess awaken Merlin himself—and learn his timeless cures. But a foreshadowing soon causes Chloe to doubt the Circle’s real motives, as well as Devlin’s . . . Now Merlin’s demonic shade is loose in the human world, while Chloe and Devlin’s uneasy alliance will pit them against ancient enemies, malevolent illusions, and shattering betrayal. And with the fate of two realms in the balance, Chloe must risk her untried power against a force she can’t defeat—and a passion that could destroy her.

Amazon

House of Goths

Author: Maria Bernard House of Goths – Not Your Average Fraternity House Becky Sparks is a sweet, average girl who refuses to spend her college years in a lonely, soul destroying dorm, surrounded by people who don’t care enough to ask her name. Bassist Kelley Keele is a Goth with a dark past. He resides at what he and his equally eccentric bandmates, Crispin, and Dorian, like to refer to as the House of Goths. On the first day of class, these two polar opposites literally crash into each other. Mesmerized by his overwhelming persona, Becky forms an instant bond with the scary Goth with red streaks in his hair. So much so that when she spies him putting up an ad for a fourth housemate, Becky jumps at the chance to move in, away from her dreary life at the unfriendly dorm. The problem is, well, she’s a girl and a mundane one at that.

Amazon

Reckless Treasure

Author: Cecily Wolfe When her mother is sleeping with the man she loves, what’s a girl to do? Francesca is weeks away from high school graduation and the hope of escaping her self-centered, grasping family – her trashy mother and hustling twin brother. While her crush on their older neighbor holds her attention, she is blind to what everyone else can clearly see, the love her best friend Mitch carries in his heart for her. When her dead grandmother’s high school boyfriend returns to town for his class reunion, his immediate attraction to Francesca is a game changer. Can Mr. Long – and his wealth – open up undreamed of opportunities for Francesca’s future, and at what price?

Amazon

Calling California

Author: J.P. Grider A modern day story about pride and prejudice… Cali Parker is poor. She has a lot on her plate – her father is dying, she’s working to help pay the rent, and she’s two-years behind in college. Griffin Brooks is rich. He has not a care in the world – he’s acing his engineering courses, his hobby is restoring his fifty-thousand dollar classic car, and he has a different girl on his arm every week. When Cali sees Griffin on her first day of class, she’s immediately smitten and thinks she’s found the perfect guy. When Griffin sees Cali at the bank, he immediately forgets the blonde he was with that morning. Then they meet, and their worlds collide. Cali doesn’t belong in Griffin’s world, and he doesn’t understand hers. But just when Griffin convinces Cali that their two different worlds can blend, a secret is revealed that tears them apart. Is their love strong enough to bring them back together, or will their worlds drift further apart?

Amazon

Just One Summer

Author: Lynn Stevens One summer, no regrets Carly Reynolds does not want to work at her father’s Branson theater over the summer, but she has no choice. After wrecking his prized Mercedes on Prom night, she’s got to pay him back somehow before she leaves for college. Now she’s stuck working as the personal assistant to twenty-year-old Gracin Ford, former member of one-hit-wonder boy band Accentuate. Gracin is demanding, condescending, and an all-around jerk. Carly would rather eat glass than deal with a male diva who’s more famous for his stint in rehab than his music. Until she realizes that Gracin’s lonely. Once she welcomes him into her life, she starts to let him into her heart. Even though she knows it will end when she leaves for school, Carly doesn’t want to look back on her life and wonder what if. Even if it means a broken heart.

Amazon

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Rain Rain Go Away #Giveaway Hop


In Ohio, I’ll retitle this the Snow Snow Go Away Giveaway Hop. Where the heck is the spring? Hopefully it’s warming up this week. Thank you to The Mommy Island and The Kids Did It for hosting.


In addition to a $10 gift card, I’m giving away two Jennifer Lane ebooks of your choice. If you like sports romance or romantic suspense with a psychological twist, then I hope you win!

My latest release, psychological thriller Twin Sacrifice, is only $.99 until 4/16.



Enter to win on the Rafflecopter, then hop over to all the blogs to scare the rain away!


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#IWSG Inserting Yourself into Your Characters #amwriting

Doh! I almost forgot IWSG two months in a row (busy fall at my day job). Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this supportive group.


October’s Question: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?

Oh, yes, in multiple books, on purpose. (That sounds narcissistic!) As a psychologist/author (psycho author), I throw all of my characters into therapy, and the therapist character often channels me in some way. And in my swimming novel, Streamline, the heroine’s friend was a backstroker who struggled with her body image–also autobiographical.

I look forward to hearing how other authors have inserted themselves into their characters.

How is your writing? I’m 80% done with my romantic suspense and I’m really excited about releasing it into the world maybe January or February of 2018. I keep changing the title (my original idea was Twin Sacrifice) and my latest brainstorm is My Life For My Brother. How does that title sound to you?

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Life’s a Beach #Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Life is a Beach Giveaway Hop, sponsored by The Kids Did It and The Mommy Island.

I’m so stoked for summer, my favorite season. I’m visiting my sister near Hilton Head, South Carolina soon, and we will definitely hit the beach.

Want a beach read recommendation? Check out my college volleyball romance series starting with Blocked, or my swimming military murder mystery Streamline, set in Pensacola, Florida.

I’m giving away both ebooks along with a $10 gift card. Enter on the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stroll over to these beachy blogs to win more stuff!

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#IWSG How Does Writing Affect Your Reading?


Welcome to February’s edition of Insecure Writers Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh. Hop on board at Alex’s blog!


How was your January? I had to replace my furnace/AC/water heater and let’s just say I’m relieved I don’t have to survive on my measly author income after getting that bill. Luckily the system died when we had unseasonably warm temperatures in Ohio.

Are you ready for Singles Awareness Day on February 14th?


February Question: How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

Positive change: A greater appreciation for well-written books.

Negative change: Less enjoyment of many books. Before starting as a writer, I didn’t notice misspellings (like blond/blonde) or excessive verbiage. In the past, I skipped over cliches and telling instead of showing. Now those errors disgust me.

I feel fortunate fellow authors had the patience to read my debut novel, considering all my fledgling writer mistakes. I just re-edited With Good Behavior and chopped off 33,000 words, yahoo! The manuscript is with my publisher for a copy edit before we re-release it.

Speaking of revising, my website is over six years old and in need of an overhaul. Any web designers you’d recommend?

Thank you to this month’s co-hosts:

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#IWSG Writing Rules


Happy New Year! Time for January’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group.


Join us! Sign up at creator Alex Cavanaugh’s website.

How’s your writing? I decided to re-edit my debut novel, With Good Behavior. It’s taking me a long time because it’s so bad! Adverb abuse abounds.

JANUARY 4TH QUESTION: What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?


Since I got into this writing thing as a lark, I haven’t been big on rules.

One rule I wish I followed more was to limit adverbs. *see above*

But one rule I wish I’d never heard?


My day job as a psychologist doesn’t leave me the time or energy to write every day, and all this “rule” does is to jack up guilt. 

I agree that writing is a muscle–the more we write, the better we get. But we each need to find our own writing schedule.

I mostly write on weekends, and that works for me. 
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Life’s a Beach #Giveaway Hop #Giftcard #Sports #Romance

Welcome to the Life’s a Beach Hop, hosted by The Mommy Island and The Kids Did It.


The beach is one of my favorite locations! As a former college swimmer, I like to swim 30 minutes in one direction then turn around and head back to my starting point. Sometimes a fear of sharks gets lodged in my mind, but overall it’s more fun than swimming in a pool.

In addition to a gift card, I’m giving away an ebook of my college swimming romance STREAMLINE, set at the beaches of Pensacola, Florida.


Enter on the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hop over to these beachy blogs to win more stuff! document.write(”);