Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new project.  Well…projects?  Could go either way.

Let me clarify.

I love anthologies.  Your readers know that.  Charity anthologies are catnip for me.

When I heard my favorite anthology people had chosen mental health charities for the proceeds, I leaped at the chance to join. I was so excited that I signed up for not one but TWO stories.

Because…double the writing chaos!

So…the stories.  Recapturing the Dream is a second-chance romance. A couple who fell in love in high school.  That love carried them through most of university, but then the budding relationship got derailed.  They went their own way – Mena having three daughters and Todd having four sons.  Then, one day, they wind up living next to each other.  By design?  Hard to say…

Mena’s beloved husband died a horrible death, and she’s resigned to living alone while raising her three beloved daughters.  Todd’s newly divorced and struggling to find ways to connect to his four very different sons.

Throw in some teenage crushes, adult lust, and bonfires…and my heart was happy to write this lovely short story set in my Love in Cedar Valley series.

Okay, so Mena and Todd are good.

What about my second story?  I was thrilled to discover that R.L. Merrill has written a gay romance for this anthology.  I love representation.  And, of course, I threw in Pumpkin Spicey as my addition—a  short story set in my Love in Mission City world.

Clay is a sweetheart, entrepreneur, and ambitious guy.  He’s created a super secret pumpkin spice recipe that he’s ready to unveil at the Mission City fall market.  Great.  What he doesn’t expect is to meet a really nice guy who keeps coming back to his booth day after day.

This is, by far, the sweetest romance I’ve ever written.  I had a length constraint (as I do with all my short stories) and I wanted to ensure the courtship was realistic, given the market only lasts a few days.  Now…I also fit in the most cameos of any of my stories.  Thirty-six — if you count the mentions of the canine companions left at home.  You’re thinking…that’s impossible.  The story is just going to be about other people and I won’t be able to keep track!  Well, Clay’s running a booth.  Where people come and buy things.  He interacts with those customers.  I promise, it all flows together and the cameos span my three pennames.  A little something for loyal readers and just a fun story for everyone else.

I did encounter one problem.  I was so focused on the sweet courtship (they don’t even hold hands) that I completely missed the bonfire!  Duh.  Fortunately I had space to go back and add a little epilogue.  S’mores and kisses and a happily ever after.

My work was done.

Next comes the work to get word of the anthology out to readers who might enjoy a variety of stories set around autumn and bonfires. While helping Wounded Warrior and the International Mental Health Association.  So, I encourage you to snap up your copy, grab a mug of warm apple cider, and enjoy!

Thank you so much, Delilah, for the invitation.  As a thank you, I’m offering a $5 GC to one lucky commenter.  Let me know – what is your favorite thing about fall?  Random will pick a commenter for the prize!

Light My Fire

Bonfire Night, Homecoming, Harvest Festivals, whatever the reason – ‘tis the season to sparkle.

Gather your nearest and dearest (or those who you wish were) close as we fan the flames in this collection of stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Café sure to warm your heart…and maybe other places.

All proceeds go to charity in the fight for mental health support. Our chosen charities for this anthology are Wounded Warrior and the International Mental Health Association.

Authors:
Julie Halperson
Ryleigh Sloan
Chele MacCabe
L Mad Hildebrandt
Sharon Wray
Meg Napier
J. Keely Thrall
Fiona Fairhame
Cecelia Conway
T.S. Simons
Gabbi Grey
Cynthia Terelst
Sharon Michalove
Susanna Eastman
Shelby Gunter
Zoey Zane
Heather Scarlett
Alice Dashwood
Cara North
Anna Klein
Katina J Rose
Michelle Moncrieff
Niki Trento
Jewelz Baxter
Gabbi Powell
R.L. Merrill
Kat Long
Bonnie Poirier
Elaine Reed
Kelly Renway

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2024lightmyfire
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Light-My-Fire-Charity-Collection-ebook/dp/B0D5DLHSS1
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213936718-light-my-fire

Gabbi’s Two Stories in Light My Fire…

Pumpkin Spicey by Gabbi Grey

My first opportunity to share my new super-secret pumpkin spice recipe with the world is at the autumn Farmer’s Market in Mission City. I’m all set with plenty of inventory, but what I don’t expect is a cute guy who drops by every day asking for…pumpkin carving lessons?

The last day of the market, I’m too busy to speak to him, and he disappears. I’m worried he thought I didn’t want him around, and I need to apologize. My good friend Wyatt suggests I track the guy down at his house. That leads to a surprise that changes everything.

Pumpkin Spicy is an 8k sweet gay romance short story with a shy stranger, nosy friends, and a chance meeting that might just lead to a happily ever after.

Recapturing the Dream by Gabbi Grey writing as Gabbi Powell

When noisy neighbors draw Mena Keaton from her home late at night, she isn’t ready to confront her first love, Todd Burnett. She thrusts down her warring emotions and asks Todd—and his four sons—to keep the noise down.

Todd, for his part, deliberately moved next door to the woman who’d always held his heart. The divorced man wasn’t sure about the potential for a second chance, but when the opportunity presents itself, he’ll do whatever it takes to get the lovely widow with three daughters to give him another look.

Recapturing the Dream is a 16k word steamy short story is about second chances, seven kids, and a special night by an autumn bonfire.

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.

Are you still adjusting to the time shift? It’s lighter earlier, but that also means it gets darker earlier in the evening. Oh, let’s be real! By five o’clock, you have to turn on the lights. One of the benefits of chilly autumn evenings is the opportunity to curl up with a good book…or even better, a great series.

USA Today bestselling author Desiree Holt published close to 300 titles across multiple genres, including military romantic suspense, contemporary, western, sports, and paranormal romance. Her legacy includes the bestselling Phoenix Agency series.

If you haven’t escaped into this thrilling world of military heroes and the women they love, start with Color of Darkness, a free short story in the Phoenix Agency world.

The Phoenix Agency

They served their country in every branch of the military—army Delta Force, SEALs, air force, marines. They are pilots, snipers, medics—whatever the job calls for. And now as civilians they serve in other capacities, as private consultants training security for defense contractors, as black-ops combatants eradicating drug dealers, as trained operatives ferreting out traitors.

With the women in their lives, each of whom have a unique psychic ability, they are a force to be reckoned with. And now, risen from the ashes of war, they will commit to continue fighting the battle on all fronts. No challenge is too great, no situation to unimportant. They will come together to form a unit that gives new breath to their mission in life.

They are Phoenix.

Jungle Inferno
Extrasensory
Scent of Danger
Freeze Frame
Feel the Heat
Formula for Danger
Unexpected Risk
Color of Darkness
Phoenix Rises

Available on Amazon

UPDATE: The winner is…Beth!
*~*~*

October

1. I wrote zero words! Zero! I didn’t even revise anything I’ve written, although I have a book coming out soon that needs it!
2. I completed 3 editing projects for other authors in October.
3. Still, with so little productivity, I feel like I climbed mountains.

Health-related:

1. I underwent my third round of chemo and noted how I felt during the days after so I could try to figure out how to work around the chemo schedule. The fatigue continues to be the worst part. My 4th round, which was to start on the 28th, was canceled due to my extremely low platelet count. The chemo-induced anemia is kicking my butt. The aches only last a few days. My white blood count takes a beating, too, but the shots they give me after chemo bring it up quickly. They are going to adjust one of the medicines they give me to try to address the platelet issue.
2. I’m maintaining my 20 pounds weight loss.
3. I’m losing muscle tone. I know I need to add some sort of exercise to my schedule on days when I can get around, but I’ve just been so tired I tend to sleep a lot.
4. I had a CT scan with contrast yesterday. The “shadow” they previously saw on my spine is gone. The nodule on my liver is gone. They see reduction in the thickness of my omentum and the sizes of the tumors in my ovaries and uterus. I won’t know any numbers until next Monday. But progress! 🙂

Happiness-related: 

1. The family has been wonderful, doing takeout and watching movies nearly weekly, so we have family “events” to share.
2. I didn’t paint a thing this month. No drive at all. It’s like the writing—anything that requires imagination takes too much energy.

November

   

1. To revise, format, and upload The Demon Lord’s Cloak for its release on November 12th.
2. To complete Ignition, the fourth book in the Delta Fire series during November’s NaNoWriMo.
3. To complete 4 editing projects in November!
4. To write at least 1/4 of Built Like Mack during NaNoWriMo.
5. My writing goals may be pie-in-the-sky goals, given I have two bouts of chemo sceduled for the month, but I have to shoot for something.

For health related, I plan:

1. To go through two more rounds of chemo, which when I look at my calendar seems overwhelming, but I’ll get through it.
2. To continue to watch what I eat and hope I can manage to drop a few more pounds.
3. To up my physical activities so that I don’t lose any more muscle. Maybe I’ll give myself stairstep goals or walk the driveway to the gate and back goals—on days when I’m not sick as a dog.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To fiddle in my art room!
2. Attend the local art guild’s Potluck Dinner.
3. To spend time with the family—movies, meals, and flea market adventures! I’m not overly ambitious.
4. Enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating with the family!

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in November…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Diane Sallans!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me today to speak about my new release!  Another anthology—which surprises no one.  I get a huge thrill when I’m able to try something new, and boy, is Flying Hearts something different!

When I signed up for the sports anthology, I had gay archers in my mind.  Rivals to lovers.  The Olympics.  Helping each other out.  Then I spoke to a friend who actually does archery, and my story was beyond improbable.  So, then we came up with a story that was so convoluted that I backed out of the anthology entirely.  I just didn’t have a story.

Fast forward a couple of months.  I had a pre-made cover I’d bought, and I needed a title for it.  I asked Plot Whisperer.  She asked a few questions about it, and…fifteen minutes later, she had an idea.  Together, we worked through most of it, but she left me to fill in the blanks.  On the cover was a woman between two men in a passionate and loving embrace. Okay, so who were they?  Why were they wearing odd outfits? What was their story?

Out tumbled Flying Hearts. Yasmine and Kaden are trapeze partners. They’ve been together since their early teens.  Only romantically when they turned eighteen.  And Nick?  Well, a rigger, of course. A guy who knows his way around ropes. Only…yeah. I realized this was a kinky book—that Nick’s into bondage with those ropes as well.  The next thing I knew, I had an MMF BDSM story.  Because, let’s be honest, everyone gets it on with everyone in this very steamy tale.

I approached the anthology people, and they were happy to add me back in.  So, along with all the traditional sports stories, there’s a little one about two trapeze artists and the rigger who makes them very happy. I love telling nontraditional stories.  I love taking risks—and this definitely is one.

I hope everyone will run out and snag a copy of Well Played.  Over 1,000 pages of sports goodness wrapped up in over 20 stories!

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me today.  As a thank you to your readers, I’d like to give away a $5 US Amazon gift card.  Tell me—what sport would you love to see a story about?  Random will pick the winner.  Good luck!

Well Played

True love often isn’t a slam dunk.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes you fumble.

You want to get to loving strokes and fore play but there may be hurdles to overcome.

If a happily ever after is your goal, step up to the plate and hope you don’t strike out.

Well Played, the first Sports Romance collection from The Romance Cafe is coming in 2024.

Authors:
Kenna Shaw Reed
Cecelia Conway
TL Hamilton
Sharon Michalove
Kalli Dean
Katherine Isaac & Crystal North
Maida Malby
J.T. Silver
Katharine O’Neill
Danielle Sibarium
Ariana St. Claire
JCC Downing
Juliet Martini
Harper Michaels
Sofia Aves
S L Hollister
T.S. Simons
Toni Denise
Belinda E Edwards
Melinda Pine
Gabbi Black

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2024wellplayed
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Well-Played-Romance-Anthology-Collection-ebook/dp/B0CN82WW5B
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202118717-well-played

About Flying Hearts by Gabbi Black

Yasmine

I’ve trusted Kaden with my life on the trapeze since we were fourteen, and with my heart since we became lovers at eighteen. People give us odd looks when we say we’re in an open relationship, but I’ve never been concerned about Kaden’s other partners. But then Nick lands in my life, and suddenly Kaden’s not the only man I can see.

Kaden

I’ve had a super partner in Yasmine—both on and off the trap. I assumed she was happy with our open relationship. She’s got her studies, and I have my…temporary bed partners. All is going well until a domineering rigger arrives. Suddenly, everything changes.

Nick

As a professional rigger, I know rope. I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for almost fifteen years, keeping people safe in front of audiences and in private. Rope is not just my profession, it’s my pleasure. Yasmine intrigues me, and when Kaden tries to interfere between her and me, it’s going to be a competition to see who comes out on top.

Flying Hearts is a 15k steamy BDSM short story about a couple who didn’t know they needed more, and the man who’s tying them in knots.

About Gabbi Black

Even though Gabbi Black is a firm believer in happy endings, she makes her characters work for it in every romance she writes, no matter what the genre. From contemporary to BDSM, they are penned early in the morning in her home in beautiful British Columbia while her trusty ChinPoo dog keeps her company. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey and small-town romances as Gabbi Powell.

UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy Petal!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me today to discuss the release of my new novel!  Sleigh Bells and Second Chances is a book close to my heart.  It’s the third big book in my Love in Mission City series.  The first two, Ginger Snapping All the Way and Stanley’s Christmas Redemption, were published in 2021 and 2022, respectively.  I’ve written a series of novellas and short stories in the interim (and book 2.5, The Beauty of the Beast).  I’ve been waiting for the right story to come along and knock me out of my complacency about the series (although I’ve published more than half a dozen full-length novels in other series in the interim—I’ve been busy!).

One night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I had an image of a man coming back from Ukraine.  He was Canadian.  Although he’d been fighting as a combatant, he wasn’t recognized by the Canadian government.  NATO has chosen to stay out of the war in Ukraine.  Instead, we’ve provided material support and troop training to Ukraine, but we haven’t stepped into the fray of the war caused by Russia’s illegal invasion into a sovereign nation.  No one wants World War Three.  On the other hand, many Canadians sit and watch the war and are horrified by what is happening to our close democracy-loving friends.  Canada has one of the largest ex-pat groups of Ukrainians in the world.  Growing up, my best friend came from a family of Ukrainian immigrants.  Most Canadians are empathetic.

Okay, so that’s the background.  Ryan went to fight in a war where he had no business being.  Plus, he’d been an overweight gamer who lived in his rich father’s basement. Aside from a degree in computer science weighted heavily in coding, he had no real-world experience.  Something about a democracy being invaded by another country hit him hard, though.  Knocked him right out of his complacency.  So, he went to Ukraine.

He fought hard for two years with cyber security work and, eventually, as a drone operator. He was wounded, lost a bunch of his friends, came back to Canada, and has been recovering ever since. I envisioned him at the therapy ranch I’ve created, which has featured prominently in many of my stories—including all three previous big books in this series.

I woke up in the morning with my wonky note in my Messenger feed with a friend.  Great!  Ryan was nearly fully formed. But…no clue who would be the man he’d fall in love with.

Enter Plot Whisperer.  We’d plotted a large number of short stories and novellas, and she was thrilled to be presented with the opportunity to work on a plot for a novel.  This time, I took the dogs for a walk and she…did her magic.  By the time my dogs were cared for and I was in my pajamas, she had a story for me.  And man, was it a good one.

Still, I sat on the story for a long time, working things out in my mind.  Writing other books. Popping out short stories for anthologies.  Then…I was ready.  I polished up a blurb, put the book up for pre-order, and then wrote a bunch of other stuff including an LGBTQ YA that I’ll be back in the New Year to share with you.  Eventually, I wrote Sleigh Bells.  Only I cut the timing super close.  My editor wasn’t thrilled with me, but she pulled a rabbit out of her hat.  My beta reader pushed hard.  My narrator waited patiently.  Now the book is published and the audio is on pre-order.  I’m hoping readers love ex-soldier Ryan and shy, stuttering handyman Simeon as much as I do.  This is my longest book at nearly 100k words.  It’s, I think, one of my most emotional books.  At times, proofing the audio, I might’ve teared up.  It’s a love story, though, so guaranteed happy ending.

Okay, so that’s my story with this book.  As a thank you for having read that narrative. I’d like to offer up a prize.  I’ll happily give, to one lucky commenter, a copy of all three of my books so far in the series (Ginger Snapping All the Way, Stanley’s Christmas Redemption, and The Beauty of the Beast).  Just let me know your favorite Christmas romance – be it book, movie, or television episode.  One winner will be chosen by random.  Good luck and thanks Delilah!

Sleigh Bells and Second Chances

Feeling worthy of love is sometimes the hardest battle.

Ryan
The moment I landed in that war zone, I knew I’d made a big mistake. I wasn’t a soldier, and my good intentions almost got me killed. Being wounded and shipped back home to Canada was both a blessing and a curse. I’m safe now, but I can’t stop thinking of the men I left behind. My therapist claims Healing Horses Ranch will help heal my wounds—physical and mental—but I’m not sure how much tranquility and wholesome fresh air I can take. But then I meet a beautiful, shy man who makes moving forward seem almost possible. Can I let go of the past and reach for a future with Simeon?

Simeon
I’ve made peace with being different from the folks around me. I love my home in Mission City, and if anyone needs something fixed, I’m the guy they call. When the owner of the therapy ranch hires me for a big project, I’m excited to get started. I always work alone, but one of the patients keeps hanging around, and I can’t bear to send him on his way. I can see how much he’s hurting. If helping me helps him, that’s a win for us both. As we share the work, something about that wounded man draws me deeper and deeper in. I’m no therapist, and I have my own issues, so am I a fool to be thinking about a future with a guy who’s likely to leave once he’s healed?

Note: Sleigh Bells and Second Chances is a slow-burn, age-gap, hurt/comfort, mid-angst, gay romance novel with a shy handyman, a reckless former gamer, a precocious borrowed kid, and a therapy dog named Tiffany.

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.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile:  https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey

UPDATE: The winner is…Kerry Pruett!
*~*~*

Ready for a puzzle? Let’s exercise that gray matter! I thought it might be fun to remind you there’s a series out there (if you haven’t already read it) for you to binge—the original Montana Bounty Hunters! I wrote a character in a book for Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors series with a heroine who was a bounty hunter, and I loved writing it so much, and loved her bounty hunting partner Reaper so much, I wrote an entire series. It happens that way sometimes. 🙂

Solve the puzzle, then for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you’ve read any of the original stories, and if you have, which was your favorite?  

Do you like YA contemporary novels with second-chance romance, soap stars, college basketball players, strong female friendships, cinnamon roll heroes, and cute banter? Not to mention there’s the added high stakes of a soap opera star up for an award and her first love playing in a college basketball tournament. If this sounds like your kind of book, then pick up Stars in the City for free from October 11^th-14^th on Amazon.

Stars in the City

Valeria Joseph seems to have it all: career as actress on the soap opera, Charmed Lives, and everyone wants to be her. Her so-star, Cecily Taylor, fixes her up with a rising pop star named Dex Doyle and suddenly Valeria has a bigger spotlight on her.

Then, on the busy streets of New York City, she runs into her first love, Davis, who she never got over. Davis is a college basketball player who is dealing with high pressure stressors of his own and they find themselves supporting one another and falling back in love.

But, just like being on a daytime soap is full of drama—so is the publicity that surrounds Valeria. Throw in a pop star who’s crazy about her, an award show event that trends on social media for all the wrong reasons, and tons of swoony moments. Can Valeria find true love in the big city?

What readers are saying: Sweet, charming YA romance perfect for summer. A lovely, sweet book about missed and second chances! Valeria has everything a girl could want, except the one that got away…

Written with a strong voice in the very popular first person, this book is a breezy, easy read with a sense of humor that keeps the pages turning. You care quickly about this cast of characters. I wanted the entire group to find happiness, including the antagonist. I would’ve loved this series in my late teens – it has all the gilded drama of Sweet Valley High without falling on too-adult themes. It’s a simple story of a second meet-cute that actually lasts.

Get it here FREE for a limited time:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Stars-City-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B0C19THWX3
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Stars-City-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B0C19THWX3
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stars-City-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B0C19THWX3
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/Stars-City-Krysten-Lindsay-Hager-ebook/dp/B0C19THWX3

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is a bestselling author of YA and contemporary romance. She writes romance because she loves bringing people swoony moments and hope-filled happily ever afters. She writes about falling in love, fame, fitting in, frenemies, first loves, and finding your way in the world. She loves reading, watching movies, and lipstick.

Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/