ANNOUNCEMENT:

I’ve finished selecting the stories that will appear in SECRET IDENTITIES: A BOYS BEHAVING BADLY ANTHOLOGY!

Congratulations go out to the following authors!

Of course, there will also be stories by Elle James and myself, too.  I’m super-excited about this book! ~ Delilah

UPDATE: The winner is…Colleen C!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me to share my new release!

When I saw the call for femme fatale flash fiction pieces, I dropped everything and ran to my computer.

My editor was shocked when I sent her not one but two pieces. I asked for a quick turnaround time – which she generously did for me. I even got the two stories submitted early! What mostly surprised my editor was that, at the beginning of our acquaintance, I maintained I couldn’t write short. That I was only capable of writing stories over 70,000 words.  She’d send me different calls for short pieces. I even submitted one for a Delilah anthology (she didn’t pick it and that was good because it wasn’t that great).  Eventually I wrote a couple of short stories that got published. Then I wrote my first short story for a charity anthology, and I’ve done almost a dozen since.  I’ve also written more than a dozen novellas.  So yes, apparently, I can write short.  The last few submissions have been 5,000 words or less.  In this case a lot less.

One piece of flash fiction I submitted for this anthology was a BDSM short story about a Domme. That story was under my Gabbi Black pen name.  It didn’t get picked, but that was okay.  I plan to expand that story and release it myself.  Kat’s Claws, however, did get selected.

That acceptance letter put me over the moon.  Most of the anthologies I join involve me signing up and submitting the best story I possibly can.  Rarely do I submit to curated anthologies (or get personally asked to join a charity anth).  I just don’t have time.  I’m so glad I did for this one.  My flash fiction (667 words – and yes, I should’ve found one to trim…) is about a lioness shifter who interferes with her best friend’s love life. Her best friend is an owl shifter.  From the first shifter book I read about ten years ago, I wondered what kind of shifter I would write. Now, I never had any intention of writing a shifter book.  I’ve only written one other paranormal story, and it’s about a ghost.  To me, that’s just a love story, not a paranormal.  Well, apparently if ghosts are involved, it falls into the mystical sphere.

I’ve signed up for a shifter anthology in September, and I’ve written the story of the owl shifter (the lioness’s best friend) and the human woman she loves so much.  A lesbian, owl shifter, reality show, short story.  Man, I can’t wait to share that with the world. In the meantime, when I saw the femme fatale call, I knew I needed to tell Kat’s side of the story.  The prologue, as it might be. Why she did what she did and how her friend reacted.  That’s the basis for Kat’s Claws. I hope readers pick up this anthology and read all the great stories. The editor prepared sketches for each one, and I’m thrilled with what she did for me.  So yeah, the email I received telling me that I made the cut really was a great day.

I would love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter.  Have you tried reading or writing flash fiction? Or do you prefer longer stories?  One randomly chosen comment will win the prize.

Thanks, Delilah, for letting me visit.

Femme Fatale Flashes

Welcome to the shadowed corners of intrigue and peril. Wicked Shadow Press presents “Femme Fatale Flashes”, a captivating anthology of flash fictions, each one casting the spotlight on the elusive femme fatale, a figure at once dangerously seductive and imbued with an undeniable strength.

Dive into narratives where mystery and malice dance closely, as these women tread the fine line between morality and desire. From the straightforward journeys of beguiling yet sinister characters whose beginnings are as veiled as their intentions, to the intricate tales of those sculpted by the harshness of society, the sting of betrayal, or the tumultuous twists of love, this collection delves into the myriad hues of what it means to embody the femme fatale.

“Femme Fatale Flashes” beckons you to explore the complex realm of these mesmerising women through stories that are as concise as they are profound. Brace yourself to be captivated by the lethal allure of the femme fatale, in a collection that promises to enchant, entangle, and ultimately, redefine your perception of power, vengeance, and seduction.

This anthology features 56 stories, penned by 49 authors from around the world.

FEATURED IN THIS COLLECTION: Albert Tucher, Angela Tang, Anna McHugh, Armand Rosamilia, Arun Hariharan, Barlow Crassmont, Bissme S, Chad Anctil, Christopher Ryan, Crystal Red, D.A. Cairns, Dale Parnell, Daniel DiQuinzio, David Rae, Dawn DeBraal, Destiny Eve Pifer, Emmanuel Maduabuchi Titus, Gabbi Grey, Grant Tracey, Hannah Marchildon, Ian Gielen, Ivy Wilde, James Dorr, JB Wocoski, Jeremy Gadd, Joshua Vise, Kevin Hopson, Kris Blackburn, Kylie Doyle, LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Linda M. Crate, Madhu Mehrotra, Nelly Shulman, Olivia Arieti, R.W. Hartshorn, Rachel Loertscher, Rina Palumbo, Robb T. White, Sarah Das Gupta, Sarah Mayo, Sharon Frame Gay, Shayde O. Brown, Sheldon Woodbury, Soter Lucio, Susan Temple, TC Phillips, Toshiya Kamei, Val Roberts, Warren Benedetto

Links:
eBook link: https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/femme-fatale-flashes/ebook/product-579e6jr.html
Paperback Link: https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/femme-fatale-flashes/paperback/product-579e6yr.html
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209492846-femme-fatale-flashes

Kat’s Claws by Gabbi Grey

I am a temptress, a seducer, and a lioness shifter.  When my best friend, an owl shifter, is about to make a terrible mistake, I use my prowess to bring her relationship with a human to an end. That might make me a bitch, but I did it for the right reason. Or so I believe…

About the Gabbi Grey

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

UPDATE: The winner is…Steph!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for letting me drop by today to share my new release!  And, unsurprisingly, it’s another anthology.  When I heard about this one, I knew I wanted to be part of it!  My gay romance, Returning to You is set in my Mission City world.  The story is about two men who dated covertly in university. One wanted to make their relationship public, while the other needed to stay in the closet – for fear of his family’s reaction.  Fast forward half a dozen years and then men are in very different positions.  The question was, of course, could they make a go of a new relationship? Especially since one is now a single father and the other is a bachelor who now hooks up with guys regularly.  Well, my story is a romance, so you can guess the outcome.  Happy ending anyone?

Great.  Got the story written, edited, and off to the anthology people (two lovely women whom I adore).  Of course, I started working on another LGBTQ charity anthology novella for a project in June.  As I was writing it, though, I realized I had another story I needed to tell.  And it was a second chance romance story.  I contacted the anthology ladies and asked if they could squeeze in one more story.  They were like, uh, sure…?  So, I wrote Josette and the Count in a couple of hours.  I sent it off to be edited and submitted it to add to the anthology Second Time’s A Charm.  Now, Josette’s brother, Jacob, is important to the story. Don’t worry, his story is coming soon!  How he gets to his HEA will be quite a ride.

I love these charity projects.  Makes my heart swell when I know I’m helping.  Last year, we raised thousands of dollars for charities that are near and dear to my heart.  My aunt is a breast cancer survivor and although she’s recovered, that illness stuck with me.  If I can help raise money for Breast Cancer Research, then I’ll happily do it.

As a thank you for letting me drop by today, I’d love to give away a $5 Amazon Gift card to one randomly selected commenter. Are you a sucker for a good second chance story? Or is there another trope that you enjoy?  I’m in a bunch of anthologies over the next two years, so I suspect there will be one that might pique your interest.

Thanks, Delilah!

Second Time’s a Charm

Is love better the second time around or are we just repeating past mistakes? How do you know if you are falling back into bad habits or falling into your happily ever after?

Find out in this spicy collection containing enticing stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Cafe, with ALL proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Authors:

Sofia Aves
Rachel Abugov
MacKade
Melissa Kendall
Jane Suen
Niki Brazen
Sharon Michalove
Keighley Bradford
Kat Long
Laura M. Baird
Stacy-Deanne
Chelle Pimblott
C.M. Youngren
J.E. Parker
Katina J Rose
Tasha Blythe
JK Lycke
Bella Paige
Poppy Parkes
Amy Stephens
Kathleen Ryder
Marissa Frosch
Wynter Ryan
Katherine Moore
Dawn Patricia Bolton
Rachel Radner
Niki Trento
AK Landow
Annee Jones
Gabbi Grey
Gabbi Powell

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links: 
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2024secondtimesacharm
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWH3JY1K
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122923533-second-time-s-a-charm

About Gabbi Grey

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

This is just a reminder that next Monday is the deadline to submit your stories. However…if you are working on a story and need a few extra days, please contact me to let me know it’s coming! I’ll be starting to read the stories I have, so there’s plenty of time still. If you have any questions at all—email me!

SECRET IDENTITIES:  A BOYS BEHAVING BADLY ANTHOLOGY
Editor: Delilah Devlin
Deadline: January 15, 2024

SECRET IDENTITIES is open to all authors.

Editor/Author Delilah Devlin is looking for stories for a romantic erotica anthology tentatively entitled SECRET IDENTITIES:  A BOYS BEHAVING BADLY ANTHOLOGY.

Why write a short story for this collection? Well, it’s certainly not about making a lot of money, so why do it at all? I’ve said this before, many times, but here are my thoughts…

Writing a short story for a call for submissions is a chance to flex your writing muscle! It can be a chance to experiment with a genre you’ve never written. If you’ve never written a story in first person but don’t want to begin by writing an entire novel using it, start short! For myself, I’ve written stories in new genres or with fresh themes that ended up being so much fun to write they’ve spawned entire series.

You have a deadline! I don’t know about you, but I have trouble keeping my butt in the chair without one!

It’s a promotional opportunity! If selected, you’ll be joined by 12-15 other authors for the launch, sharing your audiences and, hopefully, picking up new readers along the way. Having your story in the collection is another chance to be “seen.”

And remember, you retain the rights to your story, so you can republish it for individual sale or give it away to attract subscribers to your newsletter. You might even decide there’s more story to tell and expand your short story into a novel.

Here’s what I’m looking for…

SECRET IDENTITIES: A BOYS BEHAVING BADLY ANTHOLOGY will include stories that satisfy the reader who craves stories about mysterious, enigmatic men. Perhaps, they’re the new next-door neighbor with a mysterious past that finds him just as he’s meeting a woman he doesn’t want to leave. Maybe he’s an alien from a far-away galaxy looking for his fated mate. Could he be a spy setting up surveillance on another suspected spy? An assassin scouting his target who discovers his handlers lied about the reasons for targeting a particular individual he’s intrigued by? Is he a werewolf living in the human world? Yes! So many ways to go.

SECRET IDENTITIES will seek stories with varied settings here on earth—present, past, or future—or on another planet or moon in this solar system or in a galaxy far, far, away.  Heroes and heroines might be more than human—supernatural creatures or even aliens and cyborgs.

I’m open to any subgenre of erotic romance you want to write. I’ll accept contemporary, historical, science fiction, or paranormal stories, and I won’t be picky about whether the stories are hetero, LGBT, ménage… Basically, you, the author, can go anywhere your imagination takes you so long as 1) the story is a romance, and 2) you have a bad boy somewhere on the pages!

The anthology will be sold at a low price—my intent is exposure for you and your writing. The more readers reached, the better! You will retain the rights to your story so that, at a later date, you can republish your stories individually.

I’m seeking hot and inventive stories from authors with unique voices, and above all, I’m looking to be seduced by tales filled with vivid imagery and passion.

Published authors with an established world may use that setting for their original short story.

This is erotic romance, so don’t hold back on the heat. Stories can be vanilla or filled with kink but don’t miss describing the romantic connection between strong-willed individuals learning to trust and love one another. A deep sensuality should linger in every word. Keep in mind that there must be a romantic element with a happy-for-now or happy-ever-after ending. Strong plots, engaging characters, and unique twists are the ultimate goal. Please, no reprints. I want original stories.

How to submit: Prepare your 2,500 to 5,500 words story in a double-spaced, Arial, 12-point, black font, Word document (.doc or .docx) OR rich text format (.rtf), with pages numbered. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing; do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). U.S. grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) is required.

In your document at the top left of the first page, include your legal name (and pseudonym, if applicable), mailing address, email address, and a 50-words or less biography, written in the third person, and send to bbbsecretidentities@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. Authors may submit up to 2 stories. I will try to respond no later than March 15, 2024, with decisions. Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE: The winner is…Elaine Bishop!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me to share my new release!

When I signed up to join a box set of Christmas Market stories, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  I just knew I hadn’t written anything for this Christmas this year (busy with Single Dads and Rockstars).  This box set provided me with the opportunity, also, to delve back into my Love in Mission City world that I love so much.  The imaginary small town is located in Southwestern British Columbia — just an hour outside Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest, although not on the Pacific directly.  I love immersing myself in this small town where tolerance is the norm and people love who they love.  I also adore the opportunity to bring in characters from my Love in Cedar Valley series, written under my pen name Gabbi Powell.

In my mind, these characters are real people. So, when I created Johnson and Henry, I imagined two men I would want to be friends with.  The shy Henry, who makes fairy figurines, and the gregarious Johnson, who runs an apple farm and is still nursing a broken heart over his longtime partner abandoning him.  I took these two men — complete opposites — and found a way to make the relationship work.  This is about as close to a sweet romance as I’ve ever written (except the sex scene at the end).  I wanted something soft and sweet — no angst or drama.  I think I’ve delivered that with this story, and I was so thrilled to be included in the box set.

I would love to give one lucky commenter a $5 Amazon Gift Card.  What’s your favorite part of the holiday season?  I admit walking my dogs on a crisp night air down the main street in town and enjoying the lights.  Oh, and spending time with my nieces and nephews.  One randomly chose comment will win the prize.

Thanks, Delilah, for letting me visit.

Mistletoe & Markets

‘Tis the season to find trinkets, treats, and love at your favorite Christmas Market.

Will you meet someone special under the mistletoe? Is that a candy cane in Santa’s pocket or is he just happy to see you? Whether it’s the traditional markets of Europe or a small-town winter festival out of a television movie, the holiday market is the place to come together to shop, drink, and make merry. Will you find the perfect gift or the love of your life?

Grab your eggnog and cookies and join USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Café as we celebrate all the things that make this a holly jolly season.

Authors:
Linda G. Hill
Alexa Santi
Renee Dahlia
Sharon Michalove
Bella Paige
Jill Brashear
Lily Kindall
H. D’Agostino
Sera Taino
Harper Michaels
L.A. Remenicky
K McEvern Lestrade
Jackie Paxson
Sofia Aves
Gabbi Grey
Jewelz Baxter
Juliet Martini
Élodie Garroway
Chele MacCabe
Annee Jones
Hannah McKee

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/TNRC2023MistletoeandMarkets
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSTSL213
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/84279246-mistletoe-markets

Included in Mistletoe & Markets…

“Christmas Courtship” by Gabbi Grey

Johnson

Three days before Christmas last year, my husband of ten years walked out on me. It’s been a rough year picking up the pieces but now I’m selling fresh cider I make on my farm at the local Christmas Market. I’ve been welcomed into the community, and a shy man who makes the most exquisite fairy figurines catches my attention. I want to ask Henry more about his talent. Something about his artwork speaks to me and I think we might become friends. As Christmas nears, though, and we spend more time together, my feelings are growing. Can a guy with a battered heart and a shy craftsman find new hope this holiday season?

This is a 12k gay holiday romance short story with a quiet artist, a boisterous cider-maker, some nosy matchmakers, the magic of Christmas, and a zany border collie named Zeus.

About Gabbi Grey

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

I was hoping to announce the release this morning, but KDP was being a butt. But better late than never! The Triplehorn Brand stories are now available in one volume—it’s a money-saver! Plus, those of you who’ve asked me to put the stories in print can now purchase it!

If you love second-chance stories, sexy Texas cowboys, and brothers, you’ll love these stories. Follow the title links in the blurb below to read excerpts.

Three brothers, three women from their past… It’s about to get hot in Texas!

Laying Down the Law

A teller implicated in a bank robbery seeks sanctuary from the small-town sweetheart she left behind — who happens to be the new sheriff in town…

In Too Deep

Some things never change. And some things change everything… When a man finds the one woman he could never forget, he realizes she’s been hiding a secret for years.

A Long Hot Summer

When two lonely hearts collide, age becomes just a number… A shameful indiscretion in their past keeps two lovers apart, but now, he’s waited long enough for her to get over being ashamed of their shared past. He’s old enough to know what he wants, and he wants her.

Order the eBook!
Order THB in print!

UPDATE: The winner is…Jennifer Beyer!
*~*~*

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me today!  I’m here to share a new book. As you may know, I love writing short stories for charity anthologies and when I saw this one by The New Romance Café, I signed up right away.  Amazingly, I’ve never written a story with this trope, so I was excited to try.  Since I write gay romances, I knew my story would have a bit of a different twist.  Tanner loves his best friend, Nita.  They’ve been friends forever.  When Tanner turned twelve, he witnessed an incident between Nita’s brother Kade and a bully.  Kade, although only sixteen, had come out as gay.  A boy from another school didn’t like that and a brawl ensued. Tanner realized, for the first time, that he was also gay.  And that he sort of had a crush on Kade.

Fast forward fifteen years and the men have taken very different paths in life.  Yet both wind up back at Nita and Kade’s family home frequently.  One night, Kade comes on to Tanner.  Nita’s, uh, annoyed.  So is Kade’s best friend, Cam.  Kade’s been a player.  Nita and Cam are worried he’ll date Tanner for a bit, break his heart, and walk away without a backward glance. Tanner, though, is all grown up.

Now, I won’t give away the rest of the story, but things definitely get interesting.

So why best friend’s brother?  I think it’s something readers can often relate to.  I know I can.  I had a huge crush on my best friend Chrissy’s older brother.  He was nice to me, but clearly had no interest in an eleven-year-old girl (yeah, I knew I liked boys when I was super young).

When I signed up to write a story for this anthology, of course I wondered about how the story might be different if my character was gay.  I adore Tanner and wanted to make certain that not only was his relationship with Nita strong, but that his crush was genuine and could grow into love.

With over twenty stories in this anthology, there’ll be something for everyone.  And, best of all, the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research.  I hope everyone grabs a copy today!

As a thanks for letting me drop by, I’m happy to give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to one random commenter.  Have you read this trope before?  Do you enjoy it, or is there something else that you would one click as well?  Best of luck and thanks, Delilah.

Breaking the BFF Pact

We all know the rule – Do not lust over your best friend’s sibling. But what happens when you break all the rules? Will Breaking the BFF Pact get you a happily ever after? Or will you lose it all?

Read titillating stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors in a spicy Best Friend’s Sibling collection curated by The New Romance Cafe, with ALL proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Authors:
Keighley Bradford
Serafina Jax
Guinevere Jordan
A.R. Bell
Michelle Moncrieff
Katina J. Rose
Melanie Greene
Hannah McKee
Chelle Pimblott
Jewelz Baxter
Bethany Monaco Smith
Chele MacCabe
Kat Long
Jenna Daring
Noa Camhi & Lashe’ Lacroix
Heather Scarlett
Sofia Aves
Wynter Ryan
Sarah Stein
Harper Michaels
Niki Trento
Tasha Blythe
Gabbi Grey

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link:
https://books2read.com/tnrc2023breakingthebffpact
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-BFF-Pact-Friends-Collection-ebook/dp/B0BSDXNDHT
Add it to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200600069-breaking-the-bff-pact

About “Jeopardy” inside Breaking the BFF Pact by Gabbi Grey

Tanner

I’ve had a crush on my best friend Nita’s brother for fifteen years. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want me hooking up with him, and he’s never shown any interest. Until the night we wind up in the pool alone together and then everything changes. Is he serious about his interest in me, or will he want to forget in the morning? Have I ruined everything with my best friend for one meaningless night?

Kade

My life is perfect until the moment I realize I’m attracted to my younger sister’s best friend. Now, my eyes are open, and my need to get Tanner into my bed is impossible to resist. But with my best friend warning me off and my sister giving me the evil eye, I’m having second thoughts. Are my feelings for Tanner serious enough to lead to forever?

This is a 7k gay, best friend’s brother’s romance short story with an interfering best friend, a bossy sister, and the possibility of love becoming realized.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.