I’m excited to share my new release, Falling for a Star in the City. It’s a standalone book that’s part of the Stars in the City interconnected series. Each book can be read on its own, but the characters all exist in the same world in New York City. Check out the blurb:

Paige thought she had it all: a job on the soap opera Charmed Lives and a boyfriend who was trying to get discovered as a singer/songwriter. Then her part on the show is reduced to reoccurring status and her family pushes her to leave her acting dreams behind to major in journalism—what they call a “real job.” Her relationship with her wannabe pop star boyfriend, Walker, ends only for her to find out he signed a recording contract right after their breakup. Then she reads online that his new album is about their relationship.

She gets an internship in the sports department at the TV station where she meets a college hockey player named Viktor who has trust issues from a past relationship. Now with Walker’s pop star dreams taking off, it leaves her questioning her own play-it-safe tendencies, her acting career aspirations, self-worth, and relationships. Everyone else seems to have it together but her.

Paige and Viktor begin to confide in each other, which soon leaves them falling for each other, but Paige worries their worlds are too different for them to work as a couple. Plus, there’s the issue of Walker trying to back together with her, but has fame changed him?

Meanwhile, Paige has a minor accident which leaves her questioning if she ever really wanted a flashy lifestyle or if it was what she felt she was supposed to want. Now she must figure out what she really needs to be happy and fulfilled in life. Can Paige find both her purpose & true love?

***Free in Kindle Unlimited ***
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CVXHF8DL
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208865198-falling-for-a-star-in-the-city

New review: Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers’ Favorite

Falling for a Star in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager follows Paige, a young woman navigating the highs and lows of her acting career and personal life in a bustling city. Paige is driven by her dreams of acting success and haunted by a recent breakup with Walker. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she starts an internship at a TV station, initially performing menial tasks but eventually impressing the sports department. Paige faces professional and emotional challenges, encountering Viktor, a hockey player, and seeing her ex, Walker, whose music career was inspired by their split. The story captures Paige’s inner conflicts and resilience as she navigates her evolving relationships with Walker and Viktor, culminating in moments of personal growth and professional achievements. Falling for a Star in the City is rich with themes of love, career ambitions, and personal discovery.

Krysten Lindsay Hager carefully shows the ups and downs of Paige’s feelings and choices, helping readers understand her successes and failures. The writing is both engaging and straightforward and the use of humor and introspection maintains intrigue and emotional resonance. The descriptive language and relatable dialogue enhance the characters and their experiences. The setting is the vibrant backdrop of the city, and the tone is a blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth; both capture the protagonist’s optimistic yet sometimes uncertain outlook on her future. Paige is a well-rounded character. Her interactions with Walker and Viktor are key to the story, revealing different sides of her personality and helping her grow emotionally. The other characters, like her friends and coworkers, enrich the story by showing the importance of friendship and support. The title itself aptly captures the essence of the story. The word “star” hints at Paige’s acting career and her romantic interests, giving the title an intriguing double meaning. This sets the stage for the themes of love, ambition, and self-discovery that unfold. The book also gives a clear message of resilience and being true to yourself. It highlights the importance of real connections and having the courage to chase your dreams, no matter the obstacles. Falling for a Star in the City is a compelling narrative that resonates with its authentic portrayal of personal growth and relationships.

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Preston!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah! Thank you for inviting me to join you and your readers today.  I’m super excited to share my new release with you, Husky Love.  This is the fourth book in the multi-author series, Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue set in the fictional town of Gaynor Beach, California.

I was part of the original series, The Single Dads of Gaynor Beach, with three books (because I love single dads?).  I loved writing Hugh, Anthony, and Xavier.  All three were interracial gay romances with varying degrees of angst.  I mean, a single dad’s usually got a story behind that.  Anyway, I loved writing those books, and I also loved being in a community of writers with true depth and range.  We all came from different backgrounds and even different parts of the world.  We all wanted to do something great. I think we did, and the 17-book series is now complete. Just over a year ago, someone asked about a rescue shelter in our fictional town.  Our group chat blew up and within a day, Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue was born.

I wanted to write the first book really badly and had an idea ready to go. Love Furever came out in March and readers have really loved the book.  Plus, putting a cute guy holding a bulldog puppy in his arms on the cover proved a good idea as well.  In the writing of that book, I had a scene where two secondary characters met, and I went…OMG—these two need a book!  I didn’t have any notion of how or when I would write the book…I just knew I had to.  Fast forward several months and a slot opened up in the series.  I leaped at the chance to bring Rob and Danny’s story to life.  Danny is the younger brother of James (cover guy) from Love Furever.  I had an image of Rob in my mind, but finding the right photo was tough.  In the end, I found the husky hugging the guy.  From there, all the pieces, including the double entendre, all came together.

I had a book.  I lovingly sent it to my beta reader, my editor, and my proofreader.  Finally, several weeks ago, I sent it to reviewers.  All through the process, I’ve worried whether readers would enjoy the book.  Also…this is an animal rescue book…what are the kids doing there?  Turns out I needed the kids to tell the single dad story as well as that gorgeous husky named Trouble.  And you really have to read the book to find out the evolution of Trouble’s name.  Well, my book’s out in the world.  I’ll sit back and desperately hope readers enjoy it as much as I loved writing it.  This wasn’t an easy story—Rob’s a survivor of domestic violence. This is a book about resiliency and finding another chance at love.  It’s a slow burn with moments of humor and moments of dark contemplation.  And, of course, a happy ending.  Oh, and Zeus. Must mention Zeus.

Thank you for hosting me today! I’d love to give out a $5 Amazon gift card to a random commenter.  So far, Friends of Gaynor Beach animal rescue have a couple of dogs, an amazingly talented cat who does tricks, and an iguana.  Is there an animal you would love to see rescued?  Let me know.  If inspiration hits, I might just write that book!

Husky Love

Danny

I may be young, but I’ve done a hell of a lot of growing up in the past year. I watched my big brother deal with the challenges of loving someone, went through some medical stuff myself, and changed my career plans and ultimately, my city. Gaynor Beach is smaller than where I was, but it has two attractions—my brother’s big new house, where he’s letting me live for now, and Rob Dunn. When I met Rob, just, damn. Like my brother, I wanted to help that sweet, stubborn guy and his cute kids get back on their feet. Maybe the rescue husky wasn’t the right gesture, despite Rob’s connection to her, but a dog is love on four paws, and I plan to be there to help all the way.

Rob

I fled my abusive husband with my two kids and the clothes on our backs. I’m grateful every day for the support the Gaynor Beach folks have given us…okay, I’m not sure I’m precisely grateful for the rambunctious young husky Danny Reynolds gave us, but Trouble makes my kids smile, and that’s a big win in my eyes. I’m determined to get back on my feet. I hate relying on other people to help us, but somehow it doesn’t bother me as much when it comes from Danny. It’s nice to have a real friend after all those isolated years, but do I want to keep him in the friend zone?

This slow-burn small-town gay romance novel is about fresh starts, accepting help, two sweet kids, and an adorable husky named Trouble.

Links:
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/Husky-Love-Friend-Gaynor-Animal-ebook/dp/B0CT5SGK5S
Universal Book Link:  https://books2read.com/Husky
KOBO:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/husky-love
Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/husky-love/id6504550093
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/husky-love-gabbi-grey/1145838658
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1579491
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206097250-husky-love

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
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/gabbigreyauthor/
Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009821772591

Are you ready? Hmmm. This sounds like the opening to an Ole Miss football game. (If you know, you know.) Let’s try this again.

Are you ready for something different?

Like many writers, I began writing because I could not find stories I wanted to read. That doesn’t mean they didn’t exist. It means they didn’t exist where I was searching. Regardless of the reason why, I didn’t have the desired reading material which prompted me to create my own. Turns out, writing is also therapeutic. It positively filled the downtime on the bayou. But even with wonderful books to get lost in, sometimes, I got a hankering for something different.

Romance books are a lot predictable, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s satisfaction in knowing that a HEA or HFN awaits. The true joy is the journey there, and every book takes a different route to the destination. That is why the romance genre has stuck around for so long. That being said, some voyages are similar. Well, if you’re a reader wanting a palate cleanser, hang onto your bootstraps. I have the story for you in Demon Rodeo.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. “What kind of name is Demon Rodeo for a romance? It sounds more like…” If you completed that sentence with “something from a Louisiana bayou,” you’d be correct. But let me tell you about it and what makes it different.

1. Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle If you don’t like reading series, that’s okay, because Demon Rodeo can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers, I promise.
2. It’s a mashup of several subgenres that aren’t typically seen together. I explain it as if Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild. It is a contemporary MM paranormal spicy, friends-to-lovers sports romance.
3. The story is about modern-day bull riders, but these cowboys aren’t on a ranch or a farm. This isn’t a “western.” These are Louisiana Cajun and Creole cowboys who are competing for a national championship. Their stories take place outside of the arena as much as inside of it.
4. The characters are diverse and inclusive. Readers will definitely get a taste of the Cajun and Creole cultures as well as others.
5. It has a heat level of volcanic. It’s not for the kiddies. This is an adult guilty pleasure. The main characters have sizzling chemistry. Yet, the plot doesn’t get lost in the steam and isn’t “smut” or erotica.
6. It also isn’t horror that isn’t going to keep readers awake at night. However, if readers like a little bit of spook that will bring them to the edge of their seats, they can check that box. Think about the stories of the peculiarity and eccentricity that is rumored to occur in New Orleans.
7. The story is fast-paced. For most readers, it feels like a quick read.
8. Demon Rodeo supports healthy, nontoxic relationships between consenting adults.
9. Not everything is predictable. As in life, sometimes things just occur, and they don’t always make sense. Adjustments must be made. Life is about swiveling and pivoting. So is this story.
10. A romance is at the center of the story. Is there angst? Yes. Is there humor? For sure. Is there drama? Most definitely. Will it keep readers on their toes? That’s the intention. But in the end, it’s all about love and friendship.

So, why did I decide to write this post? It’s reveal day! I’m happy finally to be able to share the Demon Rodeo book cover. Be sure to follow me on my social media platforms because I have lots of giveaways and goodies coming soon.

Preorder
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

So, that’s it. What did you think? What is your take on the subject of creative freedom? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click here and sign up today.

Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

• Facebook: Genevive Chamblee
• X (formerly Twitter): @dolynesaidso
• Instagram: genevivechambleeauthor
• Goodreads: Genevive Chamblee
• Amazon Authors: Genevive Chamblee
• BookBub: Genevive Chamblee
• TikTok: CreolegurlNola
• Bluesky: Genevive Chamblee
• Threads: Author Genevive Chamblee

Locker Room Love Series

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, a blogger and contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.

UPDATE: The winner is…Amy Fendley!
*~*~*

Born in 1815, Harriet Ann Jacobs started life as a slave in Edenton, North Carolina but died an author, school founder, “contraband” advocate, and women’s rights champion in Washington D.C. Her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, chronicles the brutality she endured as an enslaved woman, but also demonstrates her resiliency, thanks to her family connections.

Harriet belonged to a tavern owner’s daughter who disregarded societal rules and taught six-year-old Harriet to read and write. Unfortunately, when the woman died, Harriet’s ownership transferred to John/James Norcom’s family, where Norcom sexually abused her. She began a relationship with a white lawyer named Samuel Sawyer who fathered her son Joseph and her daughter Louisa Matilda. Despite this relationship, Norcom kept sexually harassing Harriet. She ran away in 1835 and hid in her grandmother’s crawl space until she could escape to Philadelphia in 1842.

From there, she moved to New York and worked as a nanny for writer Nathaniel Parker Willis’ family. To thwart Norcom’s attempts to recapture her, the Willises sent Harriet to Massachusetts multiple times where her brother John lived and was an abolitionist.

After traveling to England with Willis and his child, Harriet lived in Rochester NY with abolitionist activist Amy Post, thanks to her brother’s connections with Frederick Douglass. She visited the Willis family back in New York City and agreed to work for them again. Since she was still a fugitive, they purchased her freedom in 1852.

Her brother and Post encouraged her to write down her life story, but Harriet refused.  However, a defense of slavery written by the wife of President John Tyler, finally broke down Harriet’s resistance. She responded to Julia Tyler’s lies that slaves were happy and well-treated with “Letter From A Fugitive Slave.” She sent the testimonial to the New York Daily Tribune, which published it on June 21, 1853. You can read the text here: https://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/jacobs/support16.html.

This letter served as the springboard for Harriet writing her autobiography.

She tried three times to find a publisher for her work here in the US and in England. After the third attempt failed, she was able to buy the plates and had the book printed herself under the pen name Linda Brent in 1861.

During the Civil War in occupied Alexandria, Harriet did relief work with contrabands—slaves who had escaped and found shelter with Union troops. She traveled north and to England several times to promote and raise financial support for this work. In January 1864, Harriet opened the Jacobs School with her daughter to teach the formerly enslaved to read and write. After Sherman’s marches, they took the Jacobs School to Georgia as well. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln and post-reconstruction violence by the Ku Klux Klan forced them to relocate North. They opened boarding houses, first in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then in Washington D.C.

She died on March 7, 1897, and is buried in Cambridge’s Mount Auburn Cemetery.

In 2004, Jean Fagan Yellin published a biography entitled Harriet Jacobs: A Life. Yellin also started the Harriet Jacobs Papers Project. which collected nearly one thousand documents written by, to and about Harriet, her brother John, and her daughter Louisa. Through her research which began in the 1980s, Yellin has used documents from various historical societies and archives to successfully defend Harriet’s work as an autobiography, not a work of fiction as some academics had claimed.

Today in the US people are still trying to whitewash the history of slavery, but slave narratives written by men and women like Harriet keep setting the record straight.

For a chance at a $10 Amazon Gift card share in the comments any thoughts this post may have raised for you.

One Breath Away
by Michal Scott

Sentenced to hang for a crime she didn’t commit, former slave Mary Hamilton was exonerated at literally the last gasp. She returns to Safe Haven, broken and resigned to live alone. She’s never been courted, cuddled or spooned, and now no man could want her, not when sexual satisfaction comes only with the thought of asphyxiation. But then the handsome stranger who saved her shows up, stealing her breath from across the room and promising so much more.

Excerpt:

Tonight, all she cared about was the pleasure she hoped to enjoy again.

Spectral fingers of steam wafted from the water, inviting her own fingers to play between her thighs. The hope of completed self-pleasure shivered agreeably along every nerve.

She closed her eyes and massaged her nether lips, tentatively then confidently. The slow coil of arousal spread from her gut to her core. Her body swooned as desire ebbed and flowed in each vaginal contraction. First her chest tightened, then her belly and finally her groin. She gasped, caught in the grip of longing.

Now. I’ll do it now.

She thumbed her clitoris. Already throbbing with eagerness, the nubbin responded immediately.

Her back arched. Her throat tensed as bliss hardened into a clawing climax. She reached for the release beckoning to her from the edges of consciousness…then fell suddenly, frighteningly onto a piercing stake of pain straight out of hell.

Buylink: https://amzn.to/2u5XQYY

Summer is here, which means people are heading out on holiday, having barbeques, going to concerts, and generally having fun. At some point, you’ll need a break. Pull up a lawn chair, get something cool to drink, and cozy up with the smokin’ hot wolves of the Lone Wolf Legacy series.

Who are the lone wolves?

Since the rise of the werewolf, there has always existed a single lone wolf—with pure white, gray, or black fur and eyes that match—who answers to no alpha, belongs to no pack. Merciless and deadly, he wanders the world, both judge and executioner of rogue wolves who senselessly kill, endangering all their kind.

When one dies, another takes its place, awakening to his purpose the first time he shifts to his wolf form. Known by the sign of the lone wolf—a sickle over the heart—the short-handled, circular blade remains as a tattoo on the man and as a mark on the wolf. A lethal combination of intelligence, brutal strength, and keen instinct, he walks a lonely path, shunned by pack, always alone.

For the first time, there are three in the world—white, gray, and black—who all bear the mark on their chests. No one knows why, least of all them…

Taming the White Wolf
Lone Wolf Legacy, Book 1

There’s only supposed to be one lone wolf. When other shifters see me coming, see my white fur and pale eyes, they know things are about to get real. Because my job—my fate—is to take out the wolves who go rogue.

Only now something has changed.

For the first time ever, there are three of us: one white, one gray, one black. And if that’s not ominous enough, my senses have pulled me to New York City…for a human.

There’s something almost supernatural about the connection between me and Zoe Galvani. It’s not just the crackle of heat, the blood pounding through my veins—or even that her eyes are the strange, pale hue of my own.

It’s that she makes my wolf come alive. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Almost like magic.

Which is when I learn that someone’s out to hunt me. That I’m their prey.

…and Zoe is the bait.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7NTXG92/
Entangled Publishing: https://entangledpublishing.com/books/taming-the-white-wolf

Protecting the Gray Wolf
Lone Wolf Legacy, Book 2

I’m used to other wolves coming for me. They want their chance to try and take out the infamous Gray Wolf. And every single one of them fails—because lone wolves aren’t like the others…we’re stronger. Harder. Meaner. Immortal.

But it also means I’m alone. No pack. No alpha. Just the three of us—white, gray, and black. Two too many, if you ask me.

But with power-hungry mages gunning for us, I don’t have the luxury of reflection. They’re in New York City, and I Will. Hunt. Them. Down.

Which is when I see her, and every cell in my body is on alert, filled with the kind of primal longing I never knew I was capable of. Luna West may be human, but there’s some kind of thread connecting us. Call it destiny, fate…or voracious animal hunger.

I know she’s bait. She’s meant to tempt me, to make me weak. But even if I could resist her, I’m not sure I want to.

Because I’ve never denied my wolf anything…especially the chance to raise some serious hell.

And I’m not about to start now.

(Author Note: This book is told in third person point of view, even though the blurb is in first person.)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSXC8HTG/
Entangled Publishing: https://www.entangledpublishing.com/books/protecting-the-gray-wolf

WATCH FOR TEMPTING THE BLACK WOLF COMING SOON.

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit her at:
Website: https://www.njwalters.com
Blog: https://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Sign Up: https://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

About the Author

Recently, I watched the third season of Bridgerton on Netflix. For those who haven’t heard—although that’s difficult to imagine considering how much press the series has received—Bridgerton is a Regency romance novel series (eight books) authored by Julia Quinn that has been adapted for television. The first season aired during the pandemic and blew viewers away. It was one of Netflix’s most original series, and viewers couldn’t wait for the next installment. Indeed, it was so popular that a spinoff, Queen Charlotte, was made.

Much has been said about the books-to-film adaptation—both positive and negative. However, this post is not intended to critique the novels or the series. Instead, it is to focus on a single aspect of the series that I found interesting and how that single element translates to the world of fiction writing.

First, for the purpose of this post, it needs to be stated that the series takes great liberty with the source material. In fact, some state that the novels serve more as guidelines than as scripts. Multiple characters and subplots have been added to the series that weren’t included in the book. Also, some characters with minor roles in the novels play a much greater part in the series. Deceased characters in the books are alive in the series, and genders have been swapped.

Second, Regency romances are set during the British Regency era (1811–1820) or early nineteenth century. When it comes to historical movies, one of the first (and easiest) criticisms frequently made is about the historical accuracy or authenticity, especially of the costume and speech. And this—accuracy—is the heart of this post. While much of the discussion can be applied to the novels, this post is mainly focused on the film.

Here is a fact. The Bridgerton novels are all fiction. Therefore, the series is also fiction by default. When a story is fiction, it means it has been created from the author’s imagination. Thus, a fictional story is not real and is not intended to tell a true story. In fiction, authors frequently use creative or artistic license. Creative/artistic license refers to deviation from or the freedom authors may take when handling fact or form for artistic purposes. At the beginning of Queen Charlotte, this is unambiguously stated by the following. “It is not a history lesson. It is fiction inspired by facts.” One would think that would be enough. Yet, the question about the Bridgerton series still comes under fire for its accuracy.

Well, let’s see. I don’t think the musical artists Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Pitbull, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Ariana Grande, Nirvana, Madonna, or Rhianna were around in 1815. So, obviously, the screenwriters took some liberties with the musical score. Not only that, writers embraced inclusivity to create a non-stereotypic multicultural society. I dare to say that this approach helped set the series apart from other Regency series and make it the success that it was. It seemed to be a magic formula other Regencies have attempted to copy. So, why would anyone assume the writers wouldn’t take other liberties?

In a recent review of the series, the reviewer questioned the accuracy of the costumes. It seemed apparent that the choice of over-the-top costumes for some of the characters was intentional to add a bit of fun and provide a narrative. Yet, the reviewer discussed the choice as if it were a mistake. It would have been something different if the reviewer’s position was that he disliked the choice or that it was poorly done. No, his position was the clothing was not accurate to the period.

So, here’s the question of the day. Why must writers defend a creative choice? When a work is labeled as fiction, why does a disclaimer need to be made that the content may differ from fact? Why are deviations from facts considered and/or treated as errors? It’s fiction.

In the Mission Impossible movies, I lost track of how many countries Tom Cruise traveled to and almost got killed in a week. No one complained about this when it was raking in the millions. And what about all the movies where people get blown sky-high in explosions and walk away with only a few scratches on their faces? However, authors seem to be held accountable more than the movie industry. Yes, I know I was speaking of Bridgerton the Netflix series, but this review is what sparked the questions.

In the past, I’ve read many writers state how they’ve had to explain and defend their decisions to alter facts. One writer reported having been left a negative review because she changed the landscape of a well-known location. Another writer explained how he was informed that the fictional disease he created did not exist.

Anyway, it was food for thought. Now, for some exciting news. I’m happy finally to be able to announce the upcoming release of my contemporary M/M paranormal sports romance, Demon Rodeo, on September 5, 2024, and available now for preorder on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you. A cover reveal is coming soon. Also, expect a lot of goodies and giveaways. More information will follow in my monthly newsletter.

Preorder
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

So, that’s it. What did you think? What is your take on the subject of creative freedom? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.  If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click here and sign up today.

Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

• Facebook: Genevive Chamblee
• X (formerly Twitter): @dolynesaidso
• Instagram: genevivechambleeauthor
• Goodreads: Genevive Chamblee
• Amazon Authors: Genevive Chamblee
• BookBub: Genevive Chamblee
• TikTok: CreolegurlNola
• Bluesky: Genevive Chamblee
• Threads: Author Genevive Chamblee

Locker Room Love Series

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, a blogger and contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.