Category Archives: Romance fiction writing

Hey Hey… It’s Release Day!

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Guys,

It’s 2:15 a.m London time and it’s happened a day early, I can’t actually sleep! And I’m so nervous typing. I am proud to announce that my first novel A Stranger in France is now available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk to download and in paperback. I hope you enjoy the story, if you decide to get wrapped up in a modern day romance suspense set in London, France and the UK coast.

Book Blurb:

In A Stranger in France readers are taken on a fast paced, modern day romantic journey, that spans between the city of London, the glitz and glam of France, and the beautiful English coast in a gripping romantic story, between two complete strangers with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages.

When career driven and successful thirty- two-year-old London born Kate Brown faces hard times in her marriage, she confides in her best friend Tanya Adams in Marseille southern France. Kate makes a bold move and spends two weeks in Marseille away from her husband in London. Her path crosses with tall, dark, devilishly handsome and wealthy Nicholas D’Coix. An immigrant to France from the Ivory Coast west Africa as a young boy, who turned himself around and built up an empire of wealth as a hustler and money maker, and now one of Paris’ top three entrepreneurs. In a whirlwind of sexy, lustful romance Nicholas and Kate fall in love.

Kate returns to London to a few surprises of her own, and still very much in love with Nicholas as she makes yet another bold life changing move. Touching on real life issues these two strong characters battle it out against all the odds in the name of love, across the UK and France.

Buy Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Book Reviews click here

 

Writing Prompt: Day #3 Get Your S*** Together!… Book Excerpt

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I sat down at my laptop tonight to actually look over the current book I’m working on, I’m in the swing of things now I’m done with A Stranger in France and my Christmas book . (I’ll tell you the name, do a cover reveal and chapter reveal nearer the release date I promise.) I got side tracked this evening as today’s WordPress writing prompt word ” together.” I had two very different reactions to the word,  first it was awww I like that word I can write a nice poem or something for that, the second was Danny hmmm he really needs to get his s*** together. Now if you’re not sure who Danny is, it’s Daniel Brown the villain in A Stranger in France. One character I had fun writing. I took a risk and wrote him in a bad light and gave him centre stage along side Kate and Nicholas. So Back to Danny, a prize idiot in my view, who needs to get it together ASAP! I won’t give it all away and tell you why, but here’s an excerpt from A Stranger in France from Danny’s POV showing just how much he needs to get his s*** together.

 

 Danny is sitting at the kitchen table, it’s just gone lunch time yet he is hunched over his second beer already. In total silence in deep thought. The past two weeks have been a haze for him –literally. He arrived home that Saturday night two weeks ago on Valentine’s Day expecting to see a grieving Kate. He knew she would come around. Give her an hour or two and she’d be trying to talk with him and make peace.

The game had been good Arsenal won 2-0 against Manchester United, in his view it was well worth missing all the Valentine’s Day dribble he thought to himself, as he made his way home to Clapham from Woolwich, on the most romantic day of the year.

 But on his arrival home Danny could not believe it when he had read Kate’s note. It had been totally unexpected the bitch she’d left him. At the time all he could think was what did this mean? Were they over? Would she be back? He never once believed that Kate would up and leave him. To him Kate is a strong woman, determined and a fighter yes, but leave him? That was out of the question  ….. to be continued!

Over the last few weeks I’ve  focused on all three main characters, by posting an excerpt from inside  the book, using a word prompts which relate to each  character.If you’ve missed them and want to read more excerpts you can here just scroll through.

 If you want to know why Kate  left Danny, what he does about it and fall in love with the sexy lush Nicholas D’Coix (who I fell in love with while writing him), release day for A Stranger in France is Tuesday next week! On Amazon yippie! Just a few more days and you can escape, in this whirlwind of modern day romance- suspense set in three very different settings. And I hope you enjoy.

 

 

Writing Prompt Day # 7: Radical SEX…. Book Execrpt

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That got your attention didn’t it? Good! Today’s WordPress writing prompt is radical. Who loves great sex? We all do, and you can’t actually be a romance writer without writing about it, in some shape or form. How you create it is personal choice erotic and graphic or  sensual, steamy and sexy it’s really your choice. I go with the latter, I  feel like my mum is watching me write when I create a sex scene, so overly erotic is not my forte, I can see my mum with her mouth open like Kim! Where did you learn THAT? That said one day I would like to actually try it ( very erotic writing, what were you thinking??) seriously – when I drum up the confidence one day. I love writing great sensual scenes. Nicholas D’Coix is a great guy, not just pleasing to the eye, rich and charming he has  a really cool personality… and  ladies  YES he’s radical in bed.  With just 7 day’s to go until its release date…here’s an excerpt  scene from A Stranger in France from Kate’s POV.

 Back at the hotel up on the twelfth floor, we order room service and veg out on the bed, in front of an old black and white movie like a couple of teenagers having a sleep over. We order cheese burgers and fries, a very different meal from the West African delights I tasted at Nicholas’ restaurant last week. I prop up my feet on the bed, Nicholas starts to massage them with expert hands.

“I don’t know how you girls do it four to five inch heels all day every day, but I do like it.”

 He glances down at my white stilettos by the bed. I sink further into the bed as he takes me to heaven and back with his foot massage. I close my eyes and feel his hands moving up my legs, under my jeans my skin is on fire at his touch. As he turns his attention to me fully his hand stops at my groin area. He slowly presses his hand between my legs, I flinch and open my eyes abruptly and smile down at him. He swaps his hand for his mouth and starts to kiss and bite at the material of my jeans between my legs. I moan with pleasure. He climbs on the bed above me- fully facing me, then undoes the zipper on my jeans. Slowly he removes them, I don’t fight, and I don’t resist him. Laying there on my back underneath him, in just my white vest with plum coloured bra and panties I all of a sudden feel very sexy, looking up at Nicholas. He raises my knees, as he moves closer his fresh and fruity scent fills my nostrils. Without taking our eyes off each other he pulls off my panties and chucks them to one side. Moving on top of me positioned between my legs, that I’ve bent at the knees, he starts to kiss me softly, while caressing between my legs with expert fingers. He lowers himself after a moment and places his mouth between my legs, I’m lost in feelings of pleasure. Nicholas ignites a fire- a fire that Danny has failed to keep a light.

His tongue makes my body quiver, and I explode in a sea of ecstasy. I pull him up from between my legs and remove his shirt- taking in more of his delicious scent. His torso is rock solid and his arms firm. He stands up removes his jeans and boxers, then climbs back on to the bed and kisses me passionately as he picks me up and places me on top of him. He removes my vest top and bra, I straddle him on the bed. Looking me dead in the eye with a smile he lets down my hair, and I allow him to enter me. I’ve never felt more feelings of want, lust and pleasure in the last year as this. Our bodies press together, passionate kisses and teasing. As I ride him passionately I feel him explode inside me. This is a night to remember, in every way. Romantic, passionate, carefree, and lustful. We make love more into the early hours of the morning. I enjoy every moment of it.

TO BE CONTINUED!

 

Hope you enjoyed *wink

Writing Prompt: Day #11 The Learning Sandwich- Served By My Guest Author Tammy Tate.

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So today’s WordPress writing prompt is sandwich, and I was served a rather tasty sandwich by a bestselling author. In my sandwich was lots of advice on writing and general editing and how to look at your work in a new light.As a few readers have asked me questions on my journey /for some general thoughts and advice, here’s some of the highlights on what I’ve learned on my road to a published author – in addition to my last post  which you can read here. Which is a Q and A from a reader on publishing. I’m not selfish,  and far from an expert but I’ll share my sandwich  with you that’s handmade by Tammy Tate. Since Tammy is a busy lady over in the USA and I don’t want to disrupt her research and writing time, this guest blog I’ve done myself with her  permission to quote her from the organic conversations we’ve had. It is my pleasure to share with you a guest blog with Mrs Tammy Tate – Romance Author from the USA.

 Creating The Villain in Your Writing:

 This really depends on what genre you write in and whether a villain falls naturally. I write across two genres, and in romance you don’t often see a villain really do you? Have you ever thought of or have you already wrote a villain in one of your stories and wondered if you should keep him/her in? In A Stranger in France you will meet a villain – Danny a complete asshole no one is meant to like him, I really dislike him myself and wrote him in a bad light on purpose. I was nervous about him as I thought having a villain in a romance story may spoil it or turn readers off. To me it was a risk, but he’s central to the story and has a rather dramatic part that spices up the story, alongside Nicholas the hero (and my dream man!). Tammy (without even knowing) helped to calm my nerves about Danny and including a villain.  I am now no longer nervous and would do this again in this genre.This happened during an organic conversation, when she touched on this subject, here’s what she said.

“Sometimes we take risks when we create a bad guy who plays a big part knowing our readers will hate them. Who could blame them? Truth is, we hate them, too! It reminds me of a character I created in Off-Duty Christmas. Ethan. He was an arrogant cop who thought he was god’s gift to women. My readers hated him. By the end, everyone liked him, including me 🙂

Now in my case didn’t aim to make Danny likeable in anyway, but to hear this from Tammy made me realise – take a risk a villain is OK (in romance), and may even spark great discussion and debate for readers. If it works, hey it works even if it’s not the norm.

 Writing From What You Know:

I find that this can make stories realistic if you use a little of what you know or have witnessed/experienced in life. Again, via an organic conversation we touched on this subject, and I’m not sure how Tammy guessed I may have done this! But I guess that’s what happens when you’ve wrote and published five books- you just know. Tammy says

“They say our DNA is etched into every character we create.  I truly believe that to be true.”

 The message I got from this is if you want a realistic feel, it’s OK to use what you know. Just go for it dramatise it if need be but use it.

Editing Your Own Work

I have been in a constant paranoid state and labour with no pain relief for about seven months over A Stranger in France LOL- is the story EVER good enough? And I found that sometimes when I read, and re-read, wrote and re-wrote I started to read what I WANTED to read maybe not what was there.  The next day I’d go back and be like what is THAT? Tammy says…

“You are so right about not being able to edit your own manuscript! Your brain will fill in words that aren’t there. Mine does too, even after 5 books. What I like to do, is take it to another room or step outside. If you read it somewhere other then where you wrote it, you’ll see it in a different light! No pun intended…LOL I’ve heard other authors say the same thing.” 

 I did this, I went to another area of the room….

Paranoid State and Nervous To Share:

Nervous some? Yes, very. Whenever I do a short story for a writing prompt/ poem for my blog or write a full novel  as a published bit of work for commercial sale. Whatever I write to share I don’t know how to calm my nerves. Tammy says

“I don’t blame you. I was the same way, especially with my first one. You’re going to be a published author on the Sept. 20th! Of course, you’re nervous

 :-)”

What I took from this is – Just take a chill pill and move on to the next book leave this one alone. This is never going to be easy, it is not designed to be easy to be good, just keep practising and work hard. Maybe one day you nerves will ease.

So my learning curve has been very steep to say the least, but I feel that I have some key things I’ve learned from the writing and editing of book #1, that I will apply to book #2 which is what I’m on now the editing stage now I have it back.

Hope this advice helps an aspiring writer and author out there!Best of luck.

Thank you Tammy!

Here is where you can find Tammy:

Amazon: 

 

 

Day 13: Romance Novels in Color- Feature

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Hi guys!

 Just thought I’d share with you the news that A stranger in France will not only feature in Coffee Time and Romance    and All Romance Reads in September and October but also  in Romance Novels in Color. I’m extremely proud for A Stranger in France to be featured on the front of this website, and in their subscriber’s news letter.  The funny thing is I just looked on line and my book cover is already there! This was not meant to go live until the 21st…. someone has made a whoopsy over there! But still a little early promotion I guess never hurt anybody. I wonder if they will notice and take it down??

If you’re a lover of romance (with a multicultural line up), you should check out Romance Novels in Color on-line, I’m about to  head over see what I fancy reading.

Hope you had a great day!

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Day #15: Coming Soon- A Christmas Release

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Morning guys!

15 days to go until A Stranger in France is officially released, now that bit of work is wrapped up  today I’m working on the brief for the cover design for my second novel released at Christmas. A modern day feel good  romance with a Christmas theme, so if you fancy a nice modern day love story with a great twist to cosy up with this Christmas stay tuned!

Yesterday, I was battling with myself over the cover design for this book. I finished writing this book in July and held off sending a brief to my publisher as  do I go for a general romantic cover that’s eye catching or a Christmas themed one? After talking to a girlfriend of mine  she reconfirmed my thinking, I made up my mind to go with a general romantic cover, that would be eye catching all year around.

Once this is done, for my last day of holiday today before it’s back to the day job tomorrow, I’ll go back to research and writing for my romance suspense story I’m working on. Fingers crossed my publisher likes my proposal for this book enough for a 2017 release!

It’s all go here.

Have a great day it’s a rainy one in London, hope the weather is fine where ever you are.

Day #17: When Creativity Goes Side Ways!

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Today’s WordPress word writing prompt is sidewalk. You can interpret this word as sidewalk = the street the more American term for what we English  call a pavement. Or you can (if you’re a bit nuts like me)  have another take on this word.  Meaning to literally go or walk sideways, to make a sideways move as opposed to forwards or backwards.

Is it Ok in life to sometimes not walk forward but side ways? And do a ‘‘sidewalk?” I sure hope so! I just did, well my creative side of my brain did and I didn’t even call on the creative side I was trying to have a break from it. So it’s day #17 of my count down until the ” big day” , yesterday I wrote about my long to do list and that today I have the whole day to sit and write my heart out, which I have done. I’ve working on my romance-thriller story. I’ve been writing and editing my work since around 11:00a.m it’s now 4: 30p.m London time. I’ve  now drafted the first 4 chapters to a completeish stage and I’m happy -great news right.I took a five minute break  to make a cup of tea, and just have a break from the screen but my creativity didn’t switch off, even though I was trying to switch off just for a moment. My creativity  walked sideways ….instead of progressing my story forwards, it shifted it side ways in a new direction.

 While waiting for the kettle to boil, I thought about my dilemma  over whether it’s OK for a writer to write in two very different genres after publishing two books in one, panic set in again, and the back and fourth started again over whether to even finish this story idea, even though a few weeks back I had clearly made up my mind that I was ganna do it! Complete my love story which has an element of crime and it would sit in the romance- thriller/crime genre . Read all about that word writing prompt and dilemma here.  Guess what happened this afternoon while  waiting for the kettle to boil? Yep into my head popped a different version of the ending or second half of my original story. I grabbed my note book and jot it down quickly before it escaped me, and a smile crept across my face. Randomly, my creativity made a sideways move without me even really trying or thinking about it and now  book #3 I’m working on is more refocused on romance( if I change the second half slightly).Looks like I’m back to square one and back in my original genre writing a romance-suspense, there is a crime yes I won’t change that, but with this new second half that randomly popped into my head the  focus  is on romance if I write it in that direction, one that I never thought just by switching around a few things. I feel happier with this re-vamped mental draft of the second half and ending. 

Have you ever had a situation in life where you have made a side ways move? Rather than going forwards? I guess it’s OK to go sideways in life as it can surprisingly actually move you forward in a way you never thought of.

 

Writing Prompt: Melody -why I love you

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I LOVE music, a melody and a good beat  to the bone, I could never live without it. It’s done so many good things for me. I did a writing prompt in this before earlier this year which you can read here for the word prompt music.

This morning as I sat down and mentally drafted my to do list, before I did that I went over to my TV and loaded up Spotify and selected ”easy listening piano beats” under the ”focus” mood, as I have a lot get through today. It’s still playing and I know this background noise has helped me work through 50% of my to do list so far. My music taste is crazy! I have an old soul and like anything from old Motown hits and soul , to classical music and modern day stuff.While writing I never write in silence, in fact I don’t do anything in silence but sleep.  If I do house work the radio is on, I write it’s on ,I read it’s on, I bath it’s on, do my nails it’s on- 24/7 in my home and car. 

Music has also really inspired my writing, in  A Stranger in France  I purposely picked out songs to help set the mood or show what a character is feeling from their point of view (POV). It was a challenge but it really inspired me. Here is an excerpt using music from Nicholas’ POV from A Stranger in France.

 

Pulling out his IPhone he scrolls along his contacts to Kate, just a south London address and email address she left no number. He grips the steering wheel and internally he kicks himself. She of course has his mobile number, office number and home number! Why has she not used them or even sent a postcard? Taking a few more deep breaths to compose himself ready for the long drive over to his apartment on the upper 16th district, one of Paris’ most affluent property areas, with some of the most expensive properties in Paris. He decides he will make contact, he has nothing to lose.

 He cruises at a steady unrushed pace in his air-conditioned BMW X-5 along the motorway, with his shades on and the music loud. Nicholas has a rush of adrenaline, his emotions flipped 360 degrees from disappointment to thrill at the chase and challenge of pursing Kate from 600 odd miles away.

Put things into perspective he tells himself, Kate doesn’t strike him as a coaster, or lay about when it came to work. In his mind he rationalises that she’s probably had a busy return to London and work. He has no doubt about Kate’s hard work ethic from the intimate conversations they had while she was in France. That is it, he convinced himself, she’s just caught up, make contact and claim your lady his inner voice said. Smiling, and physically relaxed cruising along with one hand on the steering wheel and the music up, the Isley Brothers smooth vocals on Summer Breeze fill the car, he sings along at the top of his voice and enjoys the drive home.

 

Writing Prompt: Day #19 Over The Moon

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I’ve never actually done this, wrote 2 blogs for a WordPress  writing prompt, but it’s day #19 of my release day count down, and I’m over the moon.(Even more than I already was) why? I’m up in lights! Listed as a ”Coffee House Author” on Coffeeandromance.com where A Stranger in France will feature in October! *Cheesy grin* I’m shivering with excitement, over the moon and wanted to share.

And also let you know about this great website to discover other romance authors. I’m looking forward to having a good look through the list  myself, to see what and who I fancy reading.

Take a look and enjoy http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/

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Writing Prompt: Mr D’Coix Will Make You Shiver

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For today’s WordPress writing prompt ”shiver” I want to introduce to you Mr Nicholas D’Coix , one of the male characters in A Stranger in France. Nicholas is of west African decent- La Côte d’Ivoire  or Ivory Coast in English. He arrived in Paris aged 15 from the Ivory Coast and made his way in the world, from a simple hustler and money maker to a big time baller and now one of Paris’ top 3 entrepreneurs.

 There are so many reasons (that I hope) Nicholas will make the ladies shiver with excitement and even drool a little, I know I did when I was writing him  … I won’t give them all away, but visually he’s a treat! Six-foot -two inches, with a powerful athletic build, deep chocolate coloured skin, large brown eyes, long eye lashes, shaved head and a neat beard bordering his jaw -line. Ladies , Mr D’Coix is our eye candy! He’s a sharp dresser  with more Armani suits than you can count, and when he’s dressed down you’ll find him in a nice pair of fitted jeans, a crisp T-shirt showing off his gorgeous physic and on his feet a  cool pair of old school Nike trainers, or Gucci loafers. 

Nicholas is into Kate, like really into her. He falls hard and fast. Here’s and excerpt from A Stranger in France from Nicholas’ point of view after his first date with Kate.

Standing in the romantic candlelit garden, in the chilly night air Nicholas smiles to himself. What a woman he thinks. It has been years since he had actually felt a connection mentally with a woman as well as physically. It wasn’t just Kate’s looks that made him start to fall. Her height, curvy figure, slim legs, soft brown skin and wild dark curls. She’s smart, educated and has a career of her own. Over the years since he arrived in Marseille in his yearly twenties he struggled to find everything -brains and beauty- in a woman. At thirty six he is still searching.

 With the waves crashing in the background and smell of sea salt in the air he breathes heavily. A clear erection in his pants. He had to cool off before he went inside, there is no way his staff can see him so hot under the collar. Turning his thoughts to business, the following week he is due to make a business trip to Paris for three days. He wondered if Kate will join him. He’d ask her, or would that be too much too soon? He battles internally with the exciting thought of spending three days and more importantly two nights with this sensual lady and the possibility that he is being too forward with his request for company. No, he’d ask her to come by the club later that week or may be for another meal and then he’d make his move. Slow and steady wins the race he reminds himself.

“Ready when you are.” Kate’s voice interrupts Nicholas’ fantasy he spins around, taking her in from head to toe. That purple dress, the killer heels and big hair he smiles and grabs her hand. “Let’s go.”

TO BE CONTINUED!