Hello Friends,
I’m back from attending my first ever book launch. I've spent this last week coming down from a high point in my writing life.
It took a team of people to make the Christmas romance anthology and bring it to life. The launch started with good vibes and a feeling of success. Overnight, Holiday Kisses had hit the highest ranking on Amazon Australia, a #1 best-selling new book release.
Last Sunday, the book launch was held in a heritage building located in a south-eastern suburb of the city of Perth, Western Australia. The venue was a restored homestead which had been turned into a community center. The old brick and stone house had the biggest fireplace I’ve ever seen which was a perfect place for Christmas decorations and a poster of the book cover (see the fireplace photograph at the beginning of the post).
A team of authors and helpers set up the homestead room early. Then we were welcomed by Gumnut Press publisher, Peta Flanigan. Next an acknowledgement of the traditional indigenous owners of country was made.
The first cheery Christmas song was sung by Alyssa.
Lisa, the Director of Dragonfly Publishing gave a witty and sometimes humorous outline of each story in the anthology. Holiday Kisses was then officially launched.
Alyssa sang another festive song. Afterward, it was time for a chat to get to know the authors a little better. During the author chat, each of us were asked two questions. First, I answered the question about where my favorite place to write is. Which is the laptop on the kitchen table. When I’m not working at my day job, I’m often multi-tasking at home. Preparing meals, and cleaning etc. The kitchen table is the perfect hub for me to get my home jobs done while still catching some writing time.
The second question was if there was an author who I use as inspiration to write. In the mid 2000’s, early in my romance writing days, I was inspired by Australian romance author, Anna Campbell. She started her career as an unknown writer whose manuscript went to auction among traditional publishers in New York. Her historical romances dared to be different to what was selling in the book market at the time. She was successful at bringing dark, sexy regency stories to readers, and then she went on to build a career writing romance. I also listened to her speak at Romance Writers of Australia conferences and she generously offered advice to beginner writers.
The next activity was for each author to read an engaging section of their book to the guests. I opened a brand-new paper copy of Holiday Kisses, to find the scene I was going to read. Suddenly I got an attack of the nerves. My story, The Now or Never Miracle, had only ever been read by me in my kitchen and the Gumnut Press editors. Now it was going out into the world for the first time.
I went to the podium to read but my nerves wouldn’t calm down. My hands shook the whole time. It was a personal challenge, and fortunately the guests didn’t boo me. I had chosen a light comedy section of the story to share. The hero, Jedd with his eyes closed, thinks Gracie is pleasantly tickling his face. What was really happening was the donkey called Colin was rubbing his whiskery jaw over Jedd’s face and checking him out. I tried not to laugh as I was reading and some of the guests thought the scene was a little funny.
Along came the third snowy Christmas song to fill the room with cheer. The free raffles for the guests were drawn from a table of goodies. I really liked the drinking mugs decorated with the book cover.
A fabulous, big, creamy sponge cake was cut by the authors to celebrate the book launch. Then we moved to the back of the room for the book signings. There were tables of delicious Christmas themed food for the guests to eat.
It was a wonderful book launch organized by Gumnut Press and I thank them for including my story in the Christmas romance anthology.
Yay!
Woo-hoo!
This Sunday, I’ll be meeting the other authors of our Christmas romance anthology at the book launch. My red and white Christmassy dress and silver shoes are already packed in the suitcase. We are going to bring a plate of Christmas food to share. My daughter has found us a recipe for a savory Santa snack we can’t resist making.
After years of sitting in the chair and typing away on the keyboard, I can’t wait to go to a ‘romance book event’. The ladies in the room will be romance readers like me. We love the Romance book world. You gotta love it! Romance reading is such fun, pleasure, and love makes you feel good.
At the time of writing this blog, Holiday Kisses anthology was ranking as a #2 Hot New Release on Amazon. The authors are so happy with the reader’s interest. We are hoping to reach the top spot on Amazon Australia but the results are fantastic anyway.
Hello Friends,
This week I’m delighted to tell you about my romance story which is featured in the Holiday Kisses anthology being published 4 November 2022. In 2021, Gumnut Press located in Perth, Western Australia, put out a call for White Christmas short romance story submissions.
I was intrigued by the challenge of writing a
Christmas romance, but how would I do it? Now I am a fan of the Wham song, ‘Last
Christmas’ which has almost become a classic Christmas song since its release
36 years ago.
I imagined a heroine called
Gracie who had a heartbreaking last Christmas and she’s not over it yet. She’s definitely
not looking forward to the new Christmas Day tomorrow. She keeps her distance
from a special man, Jedd, even though he catches her eye every time and she’s
naturally attracted to him. What can Jedd do to make Gracie realize they could get
together and make a great couple?
How will Gracie ever
know that the special man right there with her is the guy she’s been looking
for? He’s a man to love.
It was going to take a
miracle to bring this couple together. So, I called my story, The Now or Never Miracle.
How exactly was this
miracle going to work? Well, I took Gracie and Jedd away from homes and their
normal lives, which is the ‘fish out of water’ trope. I sent them on a holiday
to the Southern Highlands of Scotland to find the true spirit of Christmas. Then
I enlisted the help of an unusual matchmaker.
As I continued writing,
I laughed until the last page. The matchmaker is TROUBLE of a 4-legged kind.
The romance turned fun, and it was wonderful that Gumnut Press liked the story
enough to include it in their anthology. I hope you can read it sometime too.
Well, that’s my short description of The Now or Never Miracle.
And now for the official burb…..
Christmas is a magical time when you choose to believe in love.
After her last Christmas left her heartbroken, Gracie Joyce will do anything to avoid another yuletide disaster. Sidestepping a kiss under the mistletoe is her first safe move at the staff party in Scotland. She must keep resisting her attraction to her charismatic, handsome boss, Jedd Taylor, even when the Christmas Eve party turns to chaos.
Lovely Gracie is a smart and funny woman who captivates Jedd Taylor. If only her smile didn’t fade when she laid eyes on him. How can he convince her not to pigeon-hole him as her boss, and let them get to know each other better?
A miracle unfolds
in a picturesque village in the Southern Highlands. The spirit of Christmas
comes alive in unexpected ways. When a special matchmaker appears, will they
surrender or deny the heart’s desire?
My next excitement is that Gumnut Press have released a video featuring The Now or Never Miracle.
Thank you to author, Carolyn Wren who made the video.
Carolyn also wrote a romance story in the anthology. I can’t wait to read her
story, and the whole book.
The
Holiday Kisses anthology is available for a special-pre-order book price of $ 0.99 (Australia) at Holiday Kisses Universal Book Link
.png)
Hello Friends,
The year is speeding on toward Christmas. The excitement is building as Holiday Kisses, the Christmas Romance Anthology gets ready to launch in early November 2022. There’s news from the publishers, Gumnut Press. I can share the book description and pre-order details. It’s been fun being in a group of authors who are enthusiastic about every single book detail like the cover, videos, and write-ups. So, let’s dive into the description of the stories.
‘Tis the season to fall in love in this heartwarming collection of Christmas romance stories.
It’s Christmas…a time for kisses under the mistletoe, tree decorating, fruit mince pies, fairy lights and snow in abundance. This holiday season celebrates the joy of romance with some Holiday Kisses.
Filled with love, romance, and a whole lot of heart. From a Christmas gift exchange program, Manhattan wedding, fireman’s calendar photography shoot, train trip to Edinburgh, Irish castle, holiday job, Christmas wedding photo shoot, missent text, plum pudding catastrophe, and a mischievous donkey named Colin. All with a kiss or two.
Families reunite, new friends are made, and old flames take a second chance at happiness. Escape between the pages and get swept away into these holiday stories celebrating the spirit of the Christmas season!
Light the fire, grab some hot chocolate and settle in for the night and dive into these Christmassy romances. With ten stories from Australian authors, you’re sure to find something to pull at the heartstrings while rediscovering the joys of Christmas.
If you want to grab a bargain, there’s a special-pre-order book price of $ 0.99 (Australia) available now. Catch it before the normal price is set at $3.99 (Australia). For readers living outside Australia, I have a buy link here; Holiday Kisses Universal Book Link
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
12 August 2022
Hello Friends,
This week, a surprise appeared on fb, and it’s worth sharing. It’s revealing. I mean, book cover revealing. Yay! Gumnut Press has released the book cover for their Holiday Kisses Anthology.
Early November 2022 is when the collection of Christmas stories is planned to launch. The book will be a sweet romance read for the holidays, or before, or for whenever you want to indulge the heart-warming feelings of the festive season.
More details to come over the next months.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
27 May 2022
My romance story has been accepted for publishing in a Christmas anthology by Gumnut Press, an independent publishing company based in Perth, Western Australia.
I can’t wait to share more details as the publishing date draws closer.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
No comments:
Post a Comment