Hey, the 2018 guide is out with a discount and free shipping, if you’re in the USA. Boo! I only get the discount. Just got my copy can’t wait until it ships. It’s on sale now $24.99, cheap as chips as us British say. Check out Writer’s Digest website on the link below. There’s a guide for every type of writer, poets, children’s authors etc. May the creativity be with you!
https://www.writersdigestshop.com/novel-and-short-story-writers-market-2018
Well between you and I, the month of July, for National Novel Writing Month for me pretty much sucked. LOL. But, I have a really good excuse for sucking at my second attempted at Nanowrimo. Like you know two books were released in July, within the space of one week of each other. That in itself was madness. Writing, editing, editing, writing, proof reading. Jezzz, I’ve actually never worked so hard in one month as a writer! All against the backdrop of motherhood and family life.
As a result about two weeks into Nanowrimo, I had only about 2,000 words down of book #3, of my next Romance Set In Paradise novella. In my head on the 1st July I said yeah, 25,000-30,000 words you’ll do it Kim just keep pushing. By 31st July I had about 5,000 words … I never made it at all way off target. Seven days post Nanowrimo, well almost seven days, I’ve attacked my keyboard and have almost 10,000 words down. I feel somewhat pleased. The blast of writing creativity over the last week has done well, I’m making good progress. If I stick to my deadlines I should finish writing this baby, get all the usual cover design, edits and proofs done, then BOOM September my seventh book will be published. Here’s hoping, I’ll keep you posted. Well done all those novel writers that had a successful Nanowrimo last month. I’ll be back in October/ November time for my third shot. And this time I will do it!! 🙂
Between the blog polls and Twitter you all voted for this as the winning prompt, to create this week’s short story.
Didi and I love this prompt! It really fits in well with the theme she lined up “back with a bang”, to celebrate the return of our weekly writing challenge Kim and Didi’s Suspenseful Collection. Remember you can join in and write with us. We’d love to read your stories using the prompt. Be bold and be brave! Thank you for all your votes! The writing has commenced, we’ll be back Tuesday with the story for y’all using this writing prompt. Have a wonderful end to the weekend.
I’ve read a lot of this author’s work and I always really really enjoy her writing style, and plot lines. In my view she excels at paranormal romance. I read her last novel The Homecoming which is part one of a series. You can read my review here. When it comes to contemporary romance what I love in her work is the drama jeeezz… and steamy sex scenes! Let’s get into the review.
You guys know me by now, I hate to giveaway all the spoilers. As a brief outline this is a novella length book. Reader’s follow Tori’s story she was once a super model, before she had an accident that left her unable to work. She has scarring on her face. Her path crosses with Mr. Burns (Mark), enter Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. He’s rich, witty, demanding, and I kinda liked him a lot for all of this, his personality really shines. So like I was saying… Tori applies for alternative work, as she can’t be a traditional model. She lands a job as his assistant. Mark is now blind, he too had an accent that left his sight reduced.
After some serious push and pull, drama that takes them from the countryside, to another state in the USA, to a Valentine’s Day ball and an old admirer puts in an appearance, these two likeable characters find a very heart-warming happy ever after. Both professionally and emotionally as a couple.Oh… yeah the hot sex is there too that’s not missing! *grins.*
I’m giving Valentines Vision five well deserved stars as firstly I have to tell you, this is a NOVELLA length book. Taking an educated (writer’s) guess looking at page count, I would say maybe about no more than 20,000-25,000 words. Within this small word count the author’s writing packs a punch! What I love about Tammy Tate’s style generally is she’s fast paced and engaging with it. The character development is good, you get a sense of who they are as people. I’ve not read a book where I’ve not experienced this. In this short novella she delivers again for me personally as a reader. The story line has some very realistic issues that could crop up for two people in this situation, a blind man and a scarred ex- model with their own insecurities. This is another thing I like about this author’s work, as a romance writer she crafts stories about love that are realistic.
The steamy scenes are always good too. I’d be lying to no one but myself, if I tried to deny, that I breakout in a girly giggle when I read her well crafted scenes. In this novella she delivers again.
Overall this novella is well worth the read, has a great male lead, packs a punch with the story line and has a lovely HEA every romance lover and reader seeks. Great job five stars.
Blurb:
Valentine’s Day is approaching and Tori signs a five-year modeling contract with a high-end perfume manufacturer. The ink isn’t even dry when she’s thrown through the windshield in a horrific car accident. Despite a deep laceration to her face, the doctors say it’s a miracle she’s alive.
Tell that to a Dallas girl who was on her way to becoming America’s next top model.
With her funds dwindling, Tori scans the classifieds for a job. Preferably, one that doesn’t require a pretty face to sustain a decent wage. One ad stands out among the others. A Personal Assistant to the blind son of an oil tycoon. What more could she ask for?
Tori didn’t expect her new boss to be witty, buff and extremely handsome. Mark didn’t expect to be captivated by his new assistant’s gutsy mindset. When his eyesight is restored, will Tori still be the desirable woman he envisioned? Or, will tragedy strike twice for the ex-model?
I was thrilled to receive two author review copies of this author’s work this weekend. I read them both in one sitting! First I must say this book is part of an anthology with other authors, I’ve not read the other stories and can’t comment. This review is only based on Seaside Passion. I loved it a great one for romantic suspense lovers out there. Let’s get into the review.
No spoilers from me! But from what I understand this anthology of four stories follows the story of four brothers, the Mac brothers. Each story is tied in some way. In Seaside Passion the focus is on Blake, the youngest brother. He is a very successful man he owns his own dental practice, but he’s single and has been for four years. He and his brothers learn that their estranged father passed away. He left them his lodge. The brothers work hard and convert it to a holiday resort, once complete Blake’s path crosses with Callie. She is on holiday at the resort for some head space, she would have been with her partner if he had not cheated on her with his secretary. Anyway, after some drama, push and pull the two bond. During this Callie learns about Blake’s fear of love due to his mother running off with another man, then his dad becoming estranged. The oldest of the brothers raised them all. In between all this there is one massive turn of events that takes this story into the romantic suspense genre… I’m keeping quiet about that! It was a shock to me but a good one.
I’ve not read all the stories but I’m giving this story (Seaside Passion) of the anthology five plus wonderful stars, Tammy Tate delivers again. This is a short story you could say less than novella length BUT, the plot line and writing packs a punch in such little word count! Plus the little extra drama she added in (that I’m keeping quiet about) I loved. The characters are well developed, you see Blake’s issues via good writing that shows us in his actions rather than telling us as readers. The author has a way of making her leading men sound really yummy visually. I’d be lying if I said I did not smile at his visual descriptions. *Grins.*
The story itself is a good romance story, filled with a good dose of drama and suspense when things kick off. There is the HEA that we want as romance readers too. The heat level is a little steamy. I’ve read a lot of this author’s work, my guess is if she had more word count there may have been more steam and description with the character’s closeness *grins.* She writes steam really well, tastefully always.
Overall, I recommend this particular story to romantic suspense lovers, thrill seekers and all romance readers who love stories that focus on realistic concepts, issues we face as humans. And also like a fast paced snappy writing style. Great job 5+ stars, I loved it.
Blurb
Book 4 in the sexy new series, The Mac Brothers.
After a traumatic childhood, Blake MacDonald has trust issues with women and leaves Highland Bay vowing never to return.
With the help of grants, student loans, and odd jobs, Blake puts himself through college. He becomes a well-respected dentist in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Five years go by and his brother calls with news that their father passed away. They learn that they have inherited an abandoned lodge in Nova Scotia. When he partners with his brothers, renovations begin. Seaside Escape becomes a luxurious oceanfront resort with jagged cliffs, breathtaking views and amazing sunsets. When Blake’s not helping his brother’s run the hotel he’s a part-time dentist in the small seaside town of Highland Bay.
Thirty-two and single, Blake has had his share of women, but he’s never allowed himself to fall in love. He’s not even sure what love means, much less what it feels like. Rejection and abandonment are his worst enemies. It’s a highly-guarded secret he keeps buried.
Check out Didi’s series of humorous books. Turns out she’s actually funny! Not just a mean suspense writer. 🙂
It’s Friday, I get it you’re about to shut down your work laptops, loosen your ties, change your killer high heels for your flats, then break out the office. It’s the weekend! The working week is done, thank God for that right? Before we get into weekend mode take a look at the votes, between Twitter votes and blog poll it looks like this one is in the lead for this to be this week’s short story writing prompt.
Thank you to EVERYONE who has voted on either Twitter or our posts so far. If you’ve not voted if you are in agreement for this to be mine and Didi’s prompt to create with this week, then post the story Tuesday please give it a vote. If not and you fancy something else, give that prompt a vote below or on Twitter. Voting is working on USA time this week, Didi will close up shop by around midnight I think. That be Saturday morning for us in the UK and Europe. Have a wonderful weekend, God it feels good to be back doing Kim and Didi’s Suspenseful collection.
Great post. Stand tall King, what I always tell my son.
In the 60’s
When our strength and muscles
When our time and energy
Were used to yield
Thank God it ended in the 80’s
Oh! i could feel the aches in my bones
The bruises and wounds
The piercings that hurt my spick-and-spin flesh
The lock in our mouth that says “no food for us”
Oh! I remember the whips
The scars that remain
The handful meal they fed us with
The cage that was our home
Our life time
Our potency
Our horsepower
To yield satisfactory coinage
To effectuate creation
To innovate the world
Despite the degradation
Our prowess
Our finesse
Made the world
It’s Thursday! New followers you’ll soon see I love to throw it back musically on Thursdays. Music is a big part of my life. This week’s Throwback Thursday tune came to me last Saturday night. I was at home in the late evening, just about to pick up my e-reader and escape. I tuned into a station I’ve not listened to for a long time, Radio 1 in the UK. They play a variety of music from hip hop, dance and indie-pop. Sia came on, I said to myself ” I remember this song” I turned it up and started to sing along. Sia is such a talented lady, who I think is so underrated!! She’s wrote so many of the big songs we hear on the radio. She has made stars like Rhianna a huge success. Not to mention her actual singing voice, amazing too. I never would have imagined such a voice could come out of her. A bit like Lady Gaga when she actually sings the woman can sing! No need for auto tune, Gaga.
This song here is the original of “little Man”, I read her Wiki page and learned she was in a jazz band in her early days. Listening to the throwback tune it makes sense. This song here it reminds me of a jazzy Amy Winehouse, or I should say Amy may have been influenced by Sia back in the day, if you listen to Amy’s first album Frank you can see the relation between the two singers. I like the jazzy, soulful feel.
I’m throwing it back to about 2000 with some old school Sia, when we could see her face. Which I don’t think she should hide. I love the original and the remix UK Garage version too. One of the UK’s well know underground DJ’s called Wookie remixed this tune. OMG the beat is so so so out of this world! I remember dancing in the clubs in my early twenties to the remixed dance version. Great nights! Some very tipsy nights too! Thanks Sia (and Wookie) for your great music, these lyrics highlight the relationship between a mother and son, I can relate. And the UK remix is such a great tune to dance to :).
Thank you for your feedback on Amazon. UK!!
Weird, funny and suspenseful, 3 Aug. 2017
Author, Kim Knight 