Writing offers countless creative options for authors. One thing that happens for me is the scene, the moment, that springs up in a dream or an afternoon of house chores. They’re never complete stories like a reader would expect to find in a novel. Instead, they’re vignettes.
Some of the stories in this collection have been previously published as standalone shorts. When I decided to work on a collection of shorts, they’ve been expanded and nourished with more detail, more emotion, more of what makes a story resonate with a reader. I called it — Love in the Moment — a collection of contemporary romantic shorts featuring unexpected affection in unforeseen circumstances.
Love in the Moment
One moment she dared. Stepped outside of yesterday and tomorrow. Took what she wanted even if she didn’t want to want it.
These are stories of those moments, when a stranger’s smile and a glint in his eye speak to a previously undiscovered part of her soul, when each second ticks past with the wealth of a thousand years.
In “Encounter at the Elevator,” a moment’s whim may open the door to an unexpected future. Flash Fiction
“Cara’s Rescue” follows a woman’s escape from heartbreak and terror into unimagined safety. Short Story
In “The Lawn Guy,” a widow struggles with survivor’s guilt and the stirrings of desire. Short Story
The struggles of air travel open new opportunities in “The Layover” when a woman steps outside her comfort zone to meet the challenge of a seductive stranger. Novelette
“In Dare to Ask,” a spur of the moment dare forces a woman to blurt out an invitation to a younger man. Instantly regretful, she wants to drive away and never come back. Worse, he accepts. Now what? Novelette
What starts as a woman’s educational pursuit quickly detours into something else entirely when an old house “In Need of Repair” brings a major complication to her life. Novelette
“A Chance to Move On” materializes unexpectedly at a remote cabin smothered in ice and snow when a park ranger comes knocking. Novella
Yes, both here on my blog and in the informal poll I ran on FB, cowboys won! So, the next anthology will be filled with yummy cowboy goodness. Thanks to everyone who voted! I won’t overrule your voices. This time. *snickers*
So, since I’m here, and I just shared a lovely photo of a cowboy riding into the sunset, let’s play a game…
Contest — Tell me a story!
Based on the photo above, tell me a story. It can be one line. It doesn’t have to be a good story. You can have fun with it! But tell me something and you’ll be entered to win your choice from among my latest cowboy series, Cowboys on the Edge. I’ll choose two winners!
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Click on the covers to learn more about the stories!
First, let’s take care of a bit of business! Thanks for your input on yesterday’s poll! I’ve closed it out and have narrowed the choices for themes for the next Boys Behaving Badly Anthology based on your input. Now, enter your vote in one last poll!
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
The Puzzle
Now’s the puzzle because you should be rewarded after the stress of having to choose!
The Contest
Tell me what’s happening in that photo for a chance to win your choice of download from among the Boys Behaving Badly anthologies!
So, I gathered your suggestions from my post over a week ago regarding the theme for the next Boys Behaving Badly Anthology—#6. Now, I need to know which theme really grabs your attention.
So, cast your vote! You can choose up to three themes. I’m not guaranteeing that the highest vote-getter will end up being the one, but I promise to consider your choices!
And to entice you to play, I’ll offer a prize—a $5 Amazon gift card to one person who leaves a comment telling me which was the clear winner!
Thanks for adding your two cents to my decision-making process! ~DD
The Poll
Which themes appeal to you the most for the next Boys Behaving Badly Anthology? Choose up to 3 themes!
Cowboys and Ranchers (20%, 10 Votes)
Real Men, like lumberjacks, construction workers, etc. (16%, 8 Votes)
Silver Foxes, i.e., older guys (12%, 6 Votes)
Royalty...bad boys with a title...could be real world or a fairy king... (10%, 5 Votes)
Nerds and Geeks (10%, 5 Votes)
Military Men, any branch of service (8%, 4 Votes)
Second Chance stories (6%, 3 Votes)
Medical Men (6%, 3 Votes)
Bikers (4%, 2 Votes)
Captive--but not a rape scenario! (4%, 2 Votes)
Working Class Men (I'll find a sexier title, promise!) (4%, 2 Votes)
Yes, I know, First Response was just released (and is still going strong—thank you!), but I have to think ahead to the next one because it’s a long process to get one of these ready and out into the world!
I’d love your help to come up with the theme for the next Boys Behaving Badly Anthology!
I have a few ideas of my own, but I’m not married to them. I’d like to gather yours as well, and then run a poll to see what readers want the most. My ideas include:
Captive — which will have to be delicately handled, because I don’t want rape scenarios! But think about alien abductions, your ex “rescuing” you from marrying the wrong man, a woman rescued in the snow and kept “captive” in a cabin by a solitary man until the snow melts, etc.
Real Men — lumberjacks, backwoodsmen, mechanics, construction workers, farmers—not a billionaire in sight! Someone good with his hands and strong from physical labor…
And that’s all I’ve got. So, put on your thinking caps. Offer an idea for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! Have fun with it. Your idea doesn’t have to be great, but it could spark an idea in my tired brain!
Psst! We’re beginning a fun thing over on Delilah’s Collections, which involves the authors of FIRST RESPONSE. I’m repeating the blog here, so you see what we’re up to, but the contest itself, and future “In One Picture” posts, will happen over there!
“Far from Over” by Reina Torres They missed their chance at the academy, but after she rescues him from a pile of rubble, a fireman decides it’s time to make her burn for him
From “Far from Over”…
Smokin’ Joe’s Bar wasn’t his normal haunt. Center City was a few hundred feet smaller than Chicago, not that Chi-town let them forget the difference. Still, Center City was big enough to house a handful of bars frequented by firefighters, but beyond that, Joe’s was one of two bars owned and run by firefighters.
It had probably been a great place to get together a few years ago, but the decorations inside looked like they hadn’t changed much since the Marlboro man was big. And he was still hanging on one of the walls. Things were clean and well kept, just old. Just go to any bar that was packed on a night like this and you’d see why they were packed. Joe’s had just gotten stuck in the past, but he wasn’t there for the decorations of even the liquor. He was there for one reason, Gina Ferrer. She was bartender in Joe’s every night she wasn’t working at Station Five.
We (all 15 authors!) are very proud of this edition! The stories are spicy and fun! We set the price low, not because we didn’t think people would be willing to pay a higher price, but because we want to share it with as many people as we can! So, get your copy! It costs less than a cup of coffee—even the straight, unflavored cup! Remember, I have a short story in this volume, too! One related to the Montana Bounty Hunters…
Also, please visit the Collections website for the next wee while. Starting tomorrow, the authors will be sharing photos that depict an aspect of their stories, plus, there will be more contests!
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