Hope For The Holidays

For many people, celebrating the holidays this year will be particularly festive. After the tragedy and turmoil of 2020, being able to gather with friends and loved ones, even while being cautious, has more meaning, and joy, than ever before. A sense of normalcy is slowly returning, even though the pandemic may not be completely in the past.

When it comes to holiday traditions, it’s easy to take them for granted, until something unexpected, like the pandemic, takes them away. Sharing traditions with those we love becomes even more precious than any gifts we may give or get. That’s why there’s a collective level of excitement growing as we approach the end of this year.

Another Perspective

But for some people, the holidays have a different meaning, regardless of the year. Not everyone is willing or able to celebrate, and some have very personal reasons for not participating.

How and why one chooses to celebrate, or not celebrate the holidays, is an intensely personal thing. It may be cultural, it could be religious, or it may simply be personal preference. But when something is as pervasive in society as is our annual ramp up to the grand finale of New Year’s Eve, and all the hectic activity in between, it can take a toll on a person’s attitude.

Holiday Overload

I must confess that as I’ve gotten older, I am less interested in the holiday hubbub. Decorating feels like a chore; shopping for gifts becomes a race against time. Endless holiday-themed commercials become even more annoying than pharmaceutical ads, and I swear, if I hear “Winter Wonderland” one…more…time…

But then, when Christmas is almost here, a yearning comes from somewhere deep inside, and I find myself searching closets for that old DVD of Rudolph, or the Grinch, or Charlie Brown. I actually look forward to exchanging gifts, because the pressure to find and wrap them is over. Seeing little kids getting all excited over the lights, or going to see Santa, melts my irritation away, and I find myself enjoying the holidays once more.

So now I try every year to not let cynicism take over, and to enjoy the little things.

Deep As Snow

But some people have more serious issues with the holidays, and that is what prompted me to write the short stories that comprise my holiday novella, Running In Snow. Sometimes, past trauma can make it difficult for people to enjoy the holidays. I’ve had a few unpleasant holidays in my past, so I wondered what it would be like for someone who refused to celebrate, but was in a situation where they had to?

What on earth would make them go through with it?

That was the basis for Noelle’s Promise, the first short story. Noelle had some serious trauma around Christmas from her childhood, to the point where she would not participate at all. Not with friends, not at work, not in any way. She simply avoided it.  

But when she fell in love, her life changed. Should she continue to ignore the holidays, or try to join in her boyfriend Logan’s family celebrations? She makes a valiant effort to do so, but things don’t go as planned. Through a series of unexpected and almost tragic events, Noelle discovers that the way past your fears is to go right through them.

Eve’s Hope, the second short holiday story, is about a woman who believes she is cursed. Every New Year’s Eve, something goes wrong. When her heater goes out in a rare Atlanta snowstorm, her handsome neighbor, Kirk, comes to the rescue by inviting her to his party. She makes the best of it, hoping to get through the night without her bad luck kicking in. Let’s just say there’s a few surprises in store before the clock strikes midnight.

(Side note– a book signing I had planned when I launched this book was cancelled—due to a rare snowstorm in Atlanta! I kid you not. My tweet about it went viral, and there was even an article about it in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Oh, the irony!)

I enjoyed writing these emotional holiday tales because I was able to explore those feelings of dread I get every year, but still end up on a happy note. Do you ever experience negative feelings around the holidays? How do you cope?

Running In Snow is available on Amazon for just .99, and is also in Kindle Unlimited. I sincerely hope you enjoy the holidays, however you choose to spend them!

Nine Reasons Why I Love to Write Romance Novels

If you ever write a romance novel, you will at some point experience the disdain and condescension of those who dislike the genre. Every seasoned Romance Author has had it happen, and unfortunately, this phenomenon will probably follow the genre forever.

Again With the Stigma? Really?

It could be as benign as an off the cuff remark from a friend or family member. “I read your book and it was great, and I don’t even like those types of books!”

            Wow, thanks. Glad I could provide the exception to the rule for you.

            Tip #1: If you like a book, say so, regardless of genre. Don’t qualify your statement. Don’t worry about someone judging you for what you read. What are they going to do, take away your reading privileges?

            Or, it might be a snarky comment on a social media post. I recently saw a post where a woman wanted to organize a book club, and immediately the romance-haters came out, complete with their arsenal of trash-terms, such as “mommy porn” and “Fabio”. When I politely mentioned that Fabio has not been associated with romance novels for over twenty-five years, I got no response from the poster.

Tip # 2: If you don’t read a genre, don’t insult the people who do. I never read horror novels, but if you enjoy them? I am happy for you. It does not detract from my reading enjoyment at all.

Romance Author Pride

Sigh. Despite the prejudices, and at the risk of being ridiculed by a certain portion of the population, I chose to write steamy Contemporary Romances. Why would I do that?

I chose to write romance novels because Romance is my favorite genre to read (and I have read widely, in various genres), but it goes much deeper than that. The following list details the reasons why I write romance, and I say this proudly and without reservation. I even posted a series of videos on Tik Tok recently, describing them (follow me at @reneeregentauthor).

9 Reasons Why I Love to Write Romance

1. I love hearing how real-life couples got together, especially when there is an element of fate to it. When you meet people, doesn’t that question ever come up? “How did you two meet?” As an author, I get to make up all sorts of karmic love matches!
2. I love first kiss scenes. You always remember your first kiss as a couple. Whether it was awkward, funny, or magical, it is a milestone moment. Describing that moment for each couple, and making it unique to them, is awesome.
3. I love the push and pull of the characters trying to resist one another, either physically or emotionally. Usually both! The snarky banter, the flirting, the buildup of tension. It sounds easy, but to do this with the proper pacing takes skill, leading up to the big moment when they finally give in.
4. I love pairing different people with opposite goals. It is more than just “opposites attract”, though that is a worthy trope. Both the internal and external differences must be explored and overcome. Slowly, the relationship between the characters becomes more important than the other obstacles, as they bond and share a common goal—being together.
5. I love writing that moment when they finally…become as close as they can be. Just as memorable as a first kiss, with a lot more heat. I write steamy romances, so the “door” is open, but mine are not overly graphic. Romances are written with varying heat levels, from no spice to extra spicy. That way, readers can find the level of intimacy they are comfortable with. And as a side note—the spicy scenes in my books are part of the character’s growth arc, and happen in the story organically.
6. I love exploring the emotional baggage and having the couple find their way through it all, to be with each other. The emotional journey is the heart of any romance novel. My readers have told me the emotions shown are what they love about my books, even when the characters make them want to throw their e-reader across the room! I have always naturally tried to figure out what motivates people to do the things they do, and this gives me an outlet for that curiosity.
7. One of the criticisms of the romance genre is the rule that romance novels must have a happy ending. And how that is bad? Other genres have conventions—in a mystery novel, you know the mystery will be solved at the end. Even sad-ending stories in other genres can be enjoyable to read, but the reader may not know it will end that way. However, the payoff in a romance novel is guaranteed. Yes, we absolutely know the main characters will end up together, but it’s HOW they get there that makes the story. And that is the challenge of writing a romance novel—how to get them to the HEA.
8. Tropes and subgenres—the romance genre has many common tropes and subgenres catering to niche readers, and the list evolves and grows over time. Tropes are like a template of situations—enemies to lovers, second chance, fake fiancée, etc. Using that structure, an author can imagine all sorts of variations while still meeting reader expectations. And the subgenre niches change in popularity, providing more fodder for story ideas. Outsiders see Romance as one genre, but it has many layers. The genre as a whole has grown exponentially and has been the best-selling genre of all for many years now, and authors catering to these changing tastes is one reason why.
9. Which brings me to my final reason for loving what I do. The readers! Romance readers are voracious, many reading a book or more per day. They are loyal to authors they love, and have been more than willing to take a chance on indie authors (independently self-published, and no, it is not the same as vanity publishing.) They also tend to leave reviews, share book recommendations, and support their favorite authors on social media. I cannot speak for authors of other genres, so comment if you like about your experience with readers. But knowing my books have been enjoyed by others is an important part of being an author, and romance readers are a very responsive group.

So there you have it—I am out, loud and proud. I plan to explore other genres at some point in my author career, but for now, having that central relationship between two characters in the backdrop of the plot/setting/subgenre is the thread that keeps the story moving. If you are a romance reader or author, I’d love to hear why romance is your chosen genre.

“Sizzling heat, surprise twists, and all the feels” is my Romance Author tagline. And I could not agree more!

Contact me through this blog or at www.reneeregent.com

What Makes a Heroine “Feisty”?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or on a desert island, strong female leads are quite popular now in movies, television shows, and books. Women who can kick butt, both figuratively and literally, are everywhere these days. Think of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, or Sarah Connor in the latest Terminator movie, Dark Fate. Or the two sisters in Frozen 2. It’s a refreshing change from the guys always saving the day, and from what I’ve heard, many men also enjoy this trend of strong female characters in entertainment.

In the book world, especially in the Romance genre, such strong female characters are often described as “feisty.” The definition of the word according to Google dictionary is, “a person, especially one who is relatively small or weak, who is lively, determined, and courageous”.

“Feisty” definitely evokes an image of a take-no-crap, say-what’s-on- her-mind lady. It’s far from the shy, virginal heroines of yesteryear who had their bodices ripped. If her bodice is ripped today, it likely happened in a battle.

I realized how strong this trend is when I was recently invited to be part of a collection of Romance short stories called the Feisty Heroines Romance Shorts Collection. Organized by authors D.F. Jones and Tia Didmon, it releases June 16, 2020. Over thirty authors are on board, each writing a short story featuring a strong, compelling heroine in one of four Romance subgenres: Contemporary, Historical, Fantasy and Paranormal. Several of the authors are already award winning, USA Today, or New York Times Best Selling Authors. These ladies know their stuff when it comes to creating feisty female characters.

The female characters in my books tend to all be strong and independent. Sarah in the Higher Elevation series faced a series of trials, including escaping death, averting a kidnapping, and unexplained supernatural forces, not to mention single parenthood!

The tagline for my second series, the Love Grows series, says it all— “Strong, protective heroes, feisty, independent heroines. When they meet, love grows in unexpected ways!”  Both Sacha, from Not So Broken, and Melanie, from Not So Wrong, are quite capable of fighting their own battles, and they do. Meeting their match in the heroes they fall in love with only serves to strengthen them.

I must be pretty feisty myself (though my husband calls it, “stubborn”), because I can’t imagine writing any other type of female character. I’ve faced a few hard knocks in life, and I know I’m stronger as a result. Being feisty doesn’t mean a person (or a fictional character) is rude or insensitive—far from it. It means they have a strong sense of who they are, and they will fight passionately for what they believe in. Feisty women are also protective of the ones they love, and those who are in need.

That’s something that I hope will never go out of style. Perhaps one day soon, Feisty Heroines will be the norm.

 

To preorder the Feisty Heroines Romance Shorts Collection:

Amazon-https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08188KPK1?tag=books2read02-20

Apple Books (ibooks)- https://books.apple.com/us/book/feisty-heroines-romance-collection-of-shorts/id1488638490?fbclid=IwAR2Pz6M1ic9eCCXV0BGdWHMiTICAT0-albebrt4H7v9-UC_qjqBVGsX8te4

Barnes and Noble- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/feisty-heroines-romance-collection-of-shorts-d-f-jones/1135023539?ean=2940163674169

Kobo-https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/feisty-heroines-romance-collection-of-shorts

 

To Check out my books, go to my website at www.reneeregent.com, or click here:

The Love Grows series:

Not So Broken (Book1)- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L3VLFF1

Not So Wrong (Book 2)- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W95G7T6

(Book 3, Not So Far, is coming in 2020)

The Higher Elevation series, Books 1-3- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YJ3V5KJ

 

 

 

 

 

When Your Novel Is More Than Just A Story

“Write to market”, they said. “Your books will sell better”, they said.

Most of the time, that’s good advice. I took it to heart when writing my latest contemporary romance series, the Love Grows series. However, I did have some reservations. They were concerning, even though they were more rhetorical than factual.
• Would a story written to fit a certain genre feel contrived?
• Would “hitting the buttons” or the “checklist” of a genre or trend suck all the creativity out of the story?
• Did I risk targeting a trend that has already passed?

Such are the burning questions which keep authors from sleeping.

Despite my initial reservations with “writing to market”, once I started writing, I found I was able to compose stories that I enjoyed while still targeting a specific audience.

The Love Grows Series

My approach was to take a popular trope- billionaire romance- and put my own twist to it. What could it hurt to try? If I hated writing it, or it fizzled upon release, the experience would provide valuable information. It would be a lesson learned. I’d write the best book I could, with a targeted cover and blurb, and niche-focused marketing.

In January 2019, I released the first book in the Love Grows series, Not So Broken. Creating the perfect title had eluded me at first. All the possibilities were either too on the nose, or too vague. My editor actually commented on a great line in the book, “perhaps I was not so broken, after all”, and I knew I had my title.

Oddly enough, that sparked the titles for the next two books, Not So Wrong, and Not So Far. Which proved to me that creativity can indeed flow within a framework, especially if you’ve some experience at writing fiction. Not So Broken was my fifth book, so I had the general plot structure and process down before I started writing a word.

To my great surprise, the book was well received. Based on the feedback, I’d “hit all the points” expected of the genre. And I’d fallen in love with the story in the process.

Not So Wrong

When I crafted the second book in the series, Not So Wrong, I took a secondary character from Not So Broken and gave her the spotlight. It so happened that Melanie Parker was a singer, which I had just thrown in when she appeared in the first book. Her profession became the central theme and conflict of the story, which I had not planned out previously.

The hero, her love interest, had also appeared briefly in the first book. Spencer Colebank was introduced as an annoying cousin, who was suspected of scheming to take over the family business. I don’t know why I chose him, of all people, to woo free-spirited Melanie. But I sensed there was much more to him than was shown on the surface, and the challenge of redeeming him intrigued me.
Boy, was I in for a surprise! He turned out to be as strong a hero as Gibson was in Not So Broken, but in a different way. He was all business on the outside, sucking up to his uncle (who is his boss) and trying to please everyone. When alone, he drank scotch and played piano. He was a musician at heart, and a chunk of painful baggage had dragged him down so far he thought he’d never get up again.

Meeting Melanie was the spark that brought him back to life, and to his first love, music. She encouraged him to pursue his passion, while she had all but given up on hers. Her family needed her, and she was plain tired of trying to find success with her band, Sparker. How they resolved these issues, confronted their pasts, and figured out a future together, was the story.

The Value of Creating

But it was so much more than a boy-meets-girl romance. As I said in the dedication, this book was a tribute to all the musicians, artists, and writers who sacrifice in large and small ways to bring beauty to the world. In an era where creativity is highly prized but at the same time, almost completely devalued, that’s a significant statement.

The creative arts can be a hobby, or a job, but either way, it involves giving a piece of your soul to the world. The internet has made creative works in all their forms plentiful, but that in no way lessons the value of efforts of the creators. The sense of abundant opportunity has made many creatives work even harder than they ever would before. The sad thing is, when there is more opportunity, there is also more competition vying for those opportunities. Which makes it increasingly harder to be noticed. Thus, the price of art, photos, music, literature, etc., goes down as hopefuls offer discounts and freebies in order to gain the attention of an audience, and ultimately, be able to afford to keep creating.

Not So Wrong was at heart, about the salvation of music and the sacrifices the characters were willing to make to keep creating it. Whether they were rich or not, they had the same desires, and the same struggles.

Themes Matter

The first book, Not So Broken, also dealt with larger themes–single parenthood, career vs. family, and loss. Those are universal concepts. Not So Wrong deals with the struggle to be your true self, and the sacrifices and compromises often necessary to make your dreams come true.

These are the themes that go way beyond the meet cute and the hopping in bed. All the flirting, romantic moments, and hot passion still serve to bring the characters closer, and by doing so, they eventually fulfill those larger goals.

Recently, a very vocal critic of the romance genre (we’ll never run out of those, it seems) called romance authors “literary prostitutes”. Blanket statements like that have to be taken with a grain of, or maybe a rock of, salt. One reason why romance readers are so voracious, (fueling a billion-dollar industry) is these books make them feel good.

And quite often, there’s more than just a cute love story between the pages, even if the book is “written to market”.

Here’s a sample scene from Not So Wrong:

Suddenly he was on the floor in front of me, kneeling. He took both of my hands in his and looked into my eyes. My heart skipped a beat. What was he going to say now?

“Melanie, you keep saying we’re so different, but we’re really not. Music saved my life, too. Piano lessons were a gift from my mother, her legacy to me. Later, when my world shattered, when I thought there would never again be any joy in my life, music kept me going. To share that personal salvation with someone else is a miracle. You understand me, and I understand you. That’s priceless. That’s something my money could never buy.”

Hot tears sprang from my eyes. I blinked them back, not wanting to cry in front of him. He was right; we had a deep understanding that connected us. I’d felt it that first night at the party when we played music together. Even before we confessed our deepest secrets, we knew them.

© Renee Regent, 2019

I love to connect with readers and other authors, so here’s my links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15611048.Renee_Regent

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/renee-regent
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeRegent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneeregent/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reneeregent/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Renee-Regent-Author-1625365841109181/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/801861879972801/
Website: http://www.reneeregent.com/newsletter-sign-up

Featured Interview- Romantic Suspense Author C.F. Francis

“Welcome to the tropics, where the weather isn’t the only thing that’s HOT!!”

That’s the introduction you’ll find on the website of C.F. Francis, an up and coming author of steamy, suspenseful romance. And judging by the reviews for her first two novels, her latest book, Explosive Touch, is bound to be a must-read.

Ms. Francis is a native Floridian, who loves mystery, suspense and a romance. Her novels include all three and are set primarily in beautiful Southwest Florida.  The stories tell the tales of a team of Special Forces men who get into as much trouble off the field as they do during deployment.

I had the pleasure of talking with her recently to get the scoop on her latest release and find out what she has planned for the future.

Hello and welcome! First, let’s talk about setting. What was it about Southwest Florida that drew your interest as a setting for your books?

I live in Southwest Florida and it is beautiful.  Unless you’re setting is a fantasy universe, I think a writer should stick to settings they know and being a native Floridian, I know Florida.  And who doesn’t like the tropics?

And how do you come up with your storylines? Can the books in your series be read as standalones, or is it better to read them in sequence?

The James Gang series are intended to be stand-alone books.  They may refer to a character or plot line from another story but it isn’t necessary to know that story to read the one your in.  As for storylines, I work them out in my head.  I’ve been thinking about joining, or putting together, a “plotting group”.  Maybe I wouldn’t bang my head against the wall so often if I had a little help in winding my way through plots.

Did you do a lot of research for your books?

The amount of research depends on the subject but I’m always checking things as I want the “facts” to be correct.  My last story had a satellite phone in it.  I knew nothing about them.  Now I know more than I’ll ever need.  And it had bombs in it.  The FBI should be knocking on my door any time now!  The stories revolve around a Special Forces team and I am very fortunate a former Special Forces member is a friend.  He is always willing to help me work out ideas or tell me if I’m going in the wrong direction.  His wife was in the Army and with another friend who was an Army Intelligence captain, so I have some pretty good sources.

Do you have any other books planned?

Yes.  I’m working on a general outline for #4.  I’m normally a “panster” (I write by the seat of my pants) but wanted a little bit more of an idea of where I was going this time.  We’ll see if I stick with it.

Will you be making any public appearances?

I do book signings during “season” here in Southwest Florida.  If you’re interested, check my Facebook page.  As soon as I have copies of Explosive Touch in hand, I’ll be scheduling some.  I’m also planning on attending Heather Graham’s Writers for New Orleans Labor Day weekend.

What do you like most about being an author?

Creating characters I like to spend time with.  I’ve also found I like creating mysteries as much as I like reading and solving them.

Thanks for filling us in on your books and your world, C.F.! I can’t wait to read the next book.

Here’s the info on Explosive Touch, and the buy links:

Bombings, worlds apart, throw two survivors together. Troy, a mental wreck and physically damaged due to his last tour as a Special Ops soldier, is asked to protect Shayne from an unknown enemy. Is he up to the task? Can he keep his emotional distance from a woman who has become all too important to him?

Shayne Peterson cheated death when she survived a bombing at a Tampa country club. Still, she fights a nightly battle against the terror of being trapped under the rubble and her inability to identify the man who left the deadly package. After a move to Sanibel Island, she finds herself surrounded by former Green Berets. She feels safe—until it becomes obvious that she’s not.

A suicide bomber in an Afghani marketplace left Troy McKenzie, Special Forces soldier and former ladies’ man, disfigured. He should have died that day—punishment for his arrogance and misplaced trust. Unable to get past the memories and the boy he couldn’t save, Troy returns to Sanibel, seeking the support of his former brothers-in-arms.

Soon Shayne and Troy are battling their unexpected, and ill-timed, attraction to one another while staying one step ahead of a killer.

Amazon-  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N687LCT

B & N-   https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/explosive-touch-c-f-francis/1130407022?ean=2940156282142

iBooks –  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/explosive-touch/id1450778610?mt=11

Kobo-   https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/explosive-touch

 

And if you’d like to follow C.F. Francis, here’s the links:

Website:  http://www.cffrancis.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Francis_Sanibel

FacebooK: https://www.facebook.com/cffrancisauthor/?eid=ARAZFu_6rVA0iOdTwyDJTbS6Wzz1bwHG6XeeZSvWJlcO6ILNZwvkVZem4DTT82q3WLiUqOx3PG6-bBMO

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Romance Series With Heart and Heat

It’s always exciting to release a new book, but even more so when it’s the first in a brand-new series. I’ve had the idea for the Love Grows series in the back of my mind for a few years now, and on January 8, 2019, I can finally share my vision with you.

The Love Grows Series

The theme of this series ties in with my author tagline, which is, “Love Grows in Unexpected Places.” I love hearing how couples met, don’t you? Especially when there is some element of fate. Call me crazy, but I still believe in love that was meant to be.

If you like stories with strong, protective heroes, feisty, independent heroines, plenty of emotion and a good dose of heat, then you’ll enjoy this series. I’m exploring some of the usual tropes, but with a twist. I love writing about mismatching people who fight the odds to be together, whatever those odds may be. You can count on some twists and turns before they finally get to their happy-ever-after!

Not So Broken

Book 1 is entitled Not So Broken. Two unlikely lovers, Gibson and Sacha, are facing the biggest decision of their lives.

Here’s the cover blurb:

A billionaire in hiding. An independent woman. When they collide, love grows in a most unexpected way!

Gibson

After losing my wife and child in a devastating accident, I turned my back on everything—including my business empire. I was unworthy of anyone’s trust, convinced I would never find love again, let alone have a family. Then I met her—Sacha. One perfect night of passion forged a connection between us we never expected.

How can I convince her we are meant to be together?

Sacha

A bitter divorce left me reeling, but I forged a new life on my own. Now on the verge of a promotion, everything I want is in reach—except a family. I’ve all but given up on ever having a child.

Then one wild night changed everything. I was swept away by Gibson—now he and I are forever connected. But we barely know each other, and it seems we both have secrets.

How can I convince him we are better off apart?

The Love Grows Series- Strong, protective heroes. Feisty, independent heroines. When they meet, Love Grows in unexpected ways.

Not So Broken is now available for preorder at just .99. After release week the price will go up, so grab it now if you want the discount.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L3VLFF1

 

Book 2, Not So Wrong, is still a work in progress, but already the main characters are tugging on my heart. They have nothing in common, expect the one thing most important to each of them—music. Well, that and an undeniably hot chemistry! Will that be enough to keep them together?

Party Time!

For the release of Not So Broken, I’ll be doing some Facebook takeovers, with snippets, games and prizes. Won’t you join me?

My Blissful Books Blog Group Page, December 19 at 7pm est.*

Itsy Bitsy Book Bits Group Page, December 26, at 3 pm est.*

I’ll also be doing some release week specials on my Facebook Author page and in my reader group, Renee Regent’s Readers, so join us January 8-13.  Note:  * Times are subject to change, check my Facebook Author page (link below) for times and dates.

And Now…

I’ll leave you with a teaser sample of Not So Broken. I’m telling you, this couple broke my heart and put it back together again. I can’t wait for you to meet them!

In this scene, Sacha is trying to keep their relationship strictly platonic, and it’s not going as she planned…

 

His lips twitched, barely noticeable under the moustache and beard. His eyes had a feral look, and his husky tone reflected the hunger I saw there.

“Maybe we could be more. Maybe we can’t. But can you deny this attraction between us? It’s not going away.”

I couldn’t deny it, when every inch of me was at war with my brain. The smart thing to do was to leave, and only see this man when I absolutely had to. But what my traitorous body wanted right now was to wrap itself around him and never go home.

It would pass, but I had to get out of here before he touched me again.

Too late.

My back was against the wall. My purse slid from my shoulder to land on the floor near my feet. Gib was inches away, so close I could feel the heat radiating from his skin. One of his hands had settled on my hip, the other was brushing my jaw. His deep blue eyes, the color of a stormy sea, bore into mine. I had to look away. He was waiting for an answer. When I found my voice, it was thick, foreign-sounding.

“I don’t want you. It was just a one-time thing.”

“I don’t believe you, Sacha. You’re trembling with desire for me. Aren’t you?”

His hand was caressing my collarbone and moving lower. Why was I still standing here?

I laughed, but it wasn’t the confident, sarcastic sound I had been going for. It was more of a shaky, nervous warble. I had to push him away, to stop this madness. But his hands were leaving a trail of heat across my skin, and his now-obvious arousal was pressing against my thigh. My mental defenses were weakening as hormones raged out of control, stoked by the primal male now holding me in place. I moved my hands to his chest again, intending to push him away, but instead I gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him closer.

I love to connect with readers and other authors, so here’s my links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15611048.Renee_Regent

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/renee-regent

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeRegent

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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reneeregent/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Renee-Regent-Author-1625365841109181/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/801861879972801/

Website: http://www.reneeregent.com/newsletter-sign-up

 

 

 

How to Stay Organized While Writing a Series

Whether you begin writing with the idea for just one story or have the entire series of books pre-planned in your head, it’s best to be organized from the start. Keeping track of important details from the outset will pay dividends in the long run, saving you precious writing time and mental effort.

I’ve written a three book series (the Higher Elevation Series), and am currently working on two other series (One is a Contemporary Romance, the other is Fantasy Romance). I’ve curated a method that works very well for me. While it is true that every writer must use the process that works best for them, some or all of what I describe here may be useful to you. There is no one “Right Way” to write, or to organize your work, so take what you can use and leave the rest.

Note: I write using MS Word. If you use Scrivener or some of the other writing software on the market, your program may do some of the organizing for you or be done in a different way. I find MS Word suits my needs and some of my methods may still be useful for users of other programs.

Before You Begin Writing

The first thing I usually do when I get the idea for a story or series is to write a free-form outline. This can be in Word document, or hand-written in a notebook. The point is to write down any and all ideas I have regarding the story during that first rush of excitement. If I can, I break it into sections, as in plot, characters, and scenes. This way I can easily find these initial ideas later for development. I usually name it “XYZ story” if I’m typing a document. It’s meant to be a broad overview.

After the initial rush of excitement, if the story or series premise still seems viable, I’ll create several documents:

• Outline
• Characters
• Setting/World details
• Series Bible
• Research Notes
• Draft
• Scene List

The next step is to begin filling in these documents with more detailed information. I am not a heavy plotter, nor am I a “pantser” (writing by the seat of my pants). This method would work for both types of writers, because you can fill in as little or as much as you want before you begin writing. You can, and should add to each document as you write your draft, for the sake of consistency.

Filling the Well

Adding details to each document happens before I start writing, and continues throughout the subsequent drafts until publication. Sometimes details in the story are changed or added which need to be documented. Here is how I fill in those details:

Outline– Now I write a more structured outline, paying attention to scene placement. I want to be sure the rough order of scenes follows at least the three act structure. I also use a few other structure methods, depending on the type of story it is. Some of the structure aids I have used are Nick Stephenson’s/Mark Dawson’s Seven Key Elements structure; Jami Gold’s Beat Sheets; Michael Hague’s Six Stage Plot structure; and Gwen Hayes’ book Romancing the Beat. Use whatever method works for you, just be sure you have at least a rough Idea of where the story is going from beginning to end.

Characters– I usually keep one document with information on all the main characters, but sometimes I write one document for each. It just depends on how detailed they are when they come to me. Then I add traits, quirks, and details such as backstory, emotional wound, etc., as I go. This way, I can refer to it when I forget where they worked or what color their eyes are. Minor or mention-only characters are kept track of in the Series Bible. You can write all these details about your characters in advance, or as you write the story, which is what I do.

Setting/World details– much of this will be in the Series Bible, but what I write here is more of a free-form description of the settings where the story takes place and why they are important. This is to help me imagine the setting so when I write there’s a rich backdrop for me to use when choosing which details to reveal.

Series Bible– This document is broken down into sections, and is meant only to keep track of important details. The sections are:

• Timeline- when the story starts and when it ends

• Characters-( brief description), name, age, what they look like, if it is important; if character is minor or just a mention, I add how they are related to any other characters if that applies
• Places- countries, towns, street names
• Companies- any business name that is mentioned and what it is
• Vehicles- who drives what car, and the year, make and model

For my Romance Fantasy Series, I added several categories because there was much more world building. In addition to timeline, characters, and places, I added details about:
• Government
• Religion
• Animals
• Plants
• Customs
• Dress
• Food
• Events

Anytime I make up something new, I add it with a short description to the list. When subsequent books in the series are written, I break the Timeline and Characters sections into “Book One” and “Book Two”, etc. This way the timelines and characters can be tracked from one book to another.

Research notes- Some writers us One Note or Evernote for this purpose, but I like having the document handy in my folder for that series. Any research I do, whether my own notes or a copy and paste of an article, goes here. You never know when you might need that obscure detail!

While Writing

Some stories go through only one draft that is edited several times; some need to be revised and rewritten. If I write more than one draft, I number them. With each draft, I write a separate Scene List. The scene List is a must for me, and has:

• Whose point of view is speaking (POV)
• What happens in the scene. Example- “Jane- She calls her mother; they argue about why she hasn’t called; she hangs up, and begins to cry; there’s a knock on the door; When she opens it ( hero) is standing there”.
• Throughout the scene document, I note what day of the week and date it is, so I can maintain continuity
• I write the scene description immediately after writing the text of each scene, to be sure it has served its purpose

The scene list also helps if I get stuck. Reading all the scene descriptions up to the point I am stuck usually gets things moving again. I also review it once again when the story is done, before I begin self-edits.

All of the above can be used to write a series, adding the details to each section as you write. You could also keep one document to diagram the series arc, if you have one, adding and changing it as the stories unfold.

I can’t count the times I had to refer to these documents when some minor detail skipped my mind. It’s especially helpful if you skip around on projects and some time has lapsed between writing. I prefer concentrating on what is yet to be written, and this method helps me to do just that.

What methods do you use to keep track of stories in a series?

Here’s some helpful Links:
Renee Regent- http://www.reneeregent.com/books
Nick Stephenson- https://www.blog.yourfirst10kreaders.com/blog/
Jami Gold- https://jamigold.com/for-writers/worksheets-for-writers/
Michael Hague- https://www.storymastery.com/six-stage-structure-chart/
Gwen Hayes- http://gwenhayes.com/romancing-the-beat/

Why I Choose to Write Romance

“So, you also write romance? Well, I guess you have to eat.”

Condescending much?

I regret that when another author made that comment to me, I let it slide. We met online and decided to swap newsletters, since our work had some themes in common. We exchanged several pleasant emails, did the newsletter swap, and then he disappeared. I don’t know why we stopped communicating, but his initial comment still bothered me several months later.

Here We Go Again

There have been countless articles and posts written about the unfair bias against the romance genre, so I won’t rehash any of those here. But yes, it ticked me off when another author implied that romance as a genre was inferior to other genres, and the only merit it had was producing content in order to make money.

In other words, no “serious” author would stoop to writing romance. This was from an indie author, too—someone who knows how much work it takes to bring a book to market and how scary it is to put yourself out there without the backing of a publisher. He wrote the book that was in his heart, and it was well done, and well received. But you know what?

So did I.

It Goes Both Ways

My first book, Unexplained, (Book 1 of the Higher Elevation Series), was written with a central love story in mind. The heroine is a skeptical journalism student, and the hero is a psychic with the ability to project his mind outside of his body. They become tangled up in danger while trying to understand the meaning of their strange mental connection. The book ended up being a suspenseful Cold War spy story, with a twist. I never meant to straddle the mainstream and romance genres, but that’s how the story turned out. Readers who normally don’t read romance enjoyed it, and those who love romance enjoyed it, as well.

Because Unexplained attracted some non-romance readers, I was able to get some feedback from them, and I noticed something—there was often a “disclaimer” that they don’t normally read romance, but made an exception for this book. Why is that even necessary? The romance readers didn’t make any comments about having to read the non-romantic parts of the book. Will the stigma of romance being part of a story, or the entire story, ever go away? Gore and violence are often accepted, but not falling in love.

It doesn’t make much sense.

Romance Is Strong

However, the bias against romance won’t slow it down, because readers will continue to read voraciously, and authors will continue to write romance stories, myself included. My next novel, Not So Broken, is a steamy Contemporary romance, the first in a series. I chose to write this story because I love to hear how couples got together.

Isn’t that a universal question we often ask others—“How did you two meet?”

Don’t we all love to hear how a couple met, especially when there seems to be an element of fate? It’s fascinating to think that being in the right place at the right time led to a relationship. What if he had missed that train, or if she had decided to stay home instead of going out to that club? How can a chance meeting turn into something life changing?

I like to get inside the heads of my characters and figure out how to get two mismatched souls to come together despite the odds. The HEA, or happily ever after, is the destination and the story is all about the couple’s journey to get there.

Every group of people on the planet has those kind of stories—about two people falling in love. Love is love, and romance is universal, even for those who look down their noses at those of us who write about it.

That is why I choose to write romance. I’m damn proud of the title, “Romance Author”, and many of us are eating very well, thank you.

The Amazing Power of Readers- A Peek Behind The Curtain

 

 

As a reader, why should you care what goes on behind the scenes in book publishing? As long as you can find affordable books to suit your interest, things like book piracy, book stuffing and fake reviews won’t affect you. Right?

Wrong.

It may not affect you personally, but those factors, and much more, have already had an effect on authors, especially indie authors.

Scandals Galore

2018 has been a year of upheaval for the publishing industry, and the romance genre in particular. Authors and others related to the industry have been deeply concerned about several issues and forces that, if not resolved, may mean many authors will simply quit writing, rather than continue the often uphill battle that is book publishing.

If unfair practices and scammers overrun the marketplace, it will become much more difficult for readers to find the books they want to read. If authors quit writing simply because they can no longer afford to fight the tide of scammers, pirates, and automated, indiscriminate policing from retailers, there will be less books for you to choose from.

Want to find out more about what Indie Authors face today? Click here

Why Now?

Not caring about any of this is a valid viewpoint. Authors do not expect readers to know how much work it takes to bring a book to market and keep it there. But in my experience, and from what I have been hearing on social media and on blogs, a majority of readers do care what happens to their favorite authors, and by extension, authors in general. Many, up until recently, have been unaware of some of the challenges authors have been facing. But the frustration over what appears to be ongoing unfair practices has caused things to come to a boiling point, and the voices of dissension have been getting louder.

Readers really should care, because what has been happening has already begun to affect their choices.

This blog post by Author Jami Gold spells out clearly a few of the issues, including Trademarking common words and book stuffing on Kindle Unlimited.

You Are Powerful

There are several other issues authors face daily which can have a severe impact on getting their books to market so you may read them. If even a few readers take the time to find out what is happening and learn how to (properly and respectfully) report the unfair practices that make their reading experience less than desirable, we may see positive change. We are a consumer-based society, and consumer habits and preferences are very powerful.

You deserve to read only the best quality of your chosen reading material. Most authors want to provide this for you. Those who are in it only for the money will always find ways around the system, or to fool unsuspecting consumers, and quite often they trade quality for quick, easy money.

On the other hand, ethical authors agonize probably way more than is even necessary to bring you a quality product, and that requires much time, effort and expense. Several authors I know are already pulling their titles from Kindle Unlimited. It comes down to a business decision, and many cannot afford to continually fight.

Transparency and Gratitude

The purpose of this post is simply to let readers know they have a stake in what happens in this industry. In the days of traditional-only publishing, readers were far removed from the behind the scenes machinations of book publishing. Most didn’t have regular contact with their favorite authors. But it’s a different world now, and you can help. The curtain is wide open, as it should be. Talk to others, both readers and authors. Research the hashtags #Cockygate and #Bookstuffing. Support ethical Indie Authors who play by the rules and want to bring you the best stories possible. We do this writing gig for many reasons, but the main reason is you—the reader.

And for that, we thank you.

 

 

 

The Amazing Resilience of Indie Authors

On the wall in my office

Just when you thought it was safe to finally self-publish your novel, a new challenge rears its’ ugly head to join the long list of problems facing authors today.

Writing a book and having it published is quite an accomplishment, no matter how you get there. Accomplishing that and having a successful career as an Indie (Independent) Author, is a whole other ball game.

Don’t Get Cocky

The latest challenge which played out on the internet recently was over Trademarking. Just search the word, “Cockygate” and you’ll find dozens of posts and articles describing what happened. The issue may take some time to fully resolve, but the bottom line is this case has the potential to forever change the way we use words, and how we as authors (and maybe even the rest of the world) can advertise.

Hopefully, it won’t be the worst-case scenario that many fear. But, it simply adds another brick to the growing wall of obstacles one faces when publishing on the internet.

What else, you may ask? Here’s just a few of the everyday challenges I see when talking with other Indie Authors on social media:

Pirates– illegal copies of books on websites, either for free or for sale (someone else making money off your hard work)

Troll reviewers– leaving bad reviews on books they never read, or due to shipping problems, or revealing spoilers

Retailers (especially the really big one) stripping pages read, stripping reviews, shutting down accounts with no explanation, accusing authors of breach of contract due to pirates having stolen their work, or scammers using their books without their knowledge, page reads suddenly dropping off, sales suddenly dropping off, not changing or correcting issues in a timely manner—all with no notice, little recourse and scant communication options

Losing money on pre-scheduled ads and promotions because of the above

Possibly unscrupulous readers obtaining books through giveaways and then selling them online, or returning them for money (when gifted online- of course they have the right; but did they get it for free to read, or just to get something for it? We never know).

Purchasers reading an entire series, and then returning all books for a refund (try that in any other industry. Not talking here about accidental purchases, but systematic read and returns).

 

I may have missed a few, feel free to add your own. This doesn’t even cover the subject of how e-books have been devalued due to so many free books on the market, but it bears consideration when looking at all the things which affect a career. Indies put so much time, effort, and money into their books, and get relatively little for each book in sales. So, any and all of the above challenges chip away at what could be profits.

However…

Despite all of the above, I have found the Indie Author community to be some of the most helpful, patient, kind, supportive, and resilient bunch of people I have ever come across. They love writing so much, they keep going despite all the problems. They share information on social media, in blog posts, and in craft books, to help other authors fight the good fight to get our work into the hands of readers.

Yes, there are a few bad apples, or those who inadvertently piss others off, even though they mean well. But the vast majority of authors know this:

WE ARE NOT EACH OTHER’S COMPETITION!

We are stronger banding together. The beauty of writing books is, readers keep reading.  Just because a reader has read every vampire romance novel out there, doesn’t mean she is done. If you write a good one, she’ll probably read that, too. So, having books that look similar, sound similar, have similar stories (tropes) are a good thing. It helps the readers find what they are looking for. Just because someone buys another author’s book, does not mean they won’t buy one of yours.

In fact, it usually has the opposite effect of spurring more sales, overall. Readers find new authors, authors find new readers.

Most Indie authors know this and strive to give the readers what they want. Yes, we all do “copy” each other—to a point. Except for plagiarism, of course. Don’t ever do that.

I was proud to be part of the Indie Author community this week, as I witnessed how creative the support for each other was. From sharing links to buying books, to joint promotions—Indies banded together like never before. There was even a hash tag, #ThisIsHowYouIndie.  It was solidarity at its finest. A few of us had been affected by the Trademark issue, so all of us were.

So, go find your Tribe, and love them hard. How else are we going to face all the challenges of Indie Publishing, and celebrate our wins?  We are all in these trenches together, so we may as well help each other.