Ashlyn Brady Author - writing Romance, History & Mysteries.
Hello Friends,
This week I’ve been
putting together a video of the Holiday Kisses book launch from all of the images I saved on my phone.
We had lots of books for
sale and more Christmas food than anyone could eat. Ho-ho-ho! The video
might make you hungry.
So come along on the
tour of the book launch and take a peek into a world of Christmas romance.
Holiday Kisses is
available now for your reading pleasure.
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.
During
the next week I plan to put together a short video showing some of the features
of the special launch day.
Hello Friends,
This week, I’m blogging
earlier than usual because tomorrow I’m travelling from the country to the city
of Perth, Western Australia. There’s a special reason for the trip. It’s nearly
time for the book launch of Holiday Kisses.
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 but the results are fantastic anyway.
Next week, I plan to bring you news from the book launch.
Photo Credits: Nathan Anderson on Unsplash.com and Gumnut Press
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 romance short 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 which is tomorrow in the story. 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 the 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 blurb.....
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
Photo Credits: Gumnut Press, Seema Miah and Freestocks R on Unsplash.com
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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.
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.
Take care,
Hello Friends,
My romance story has been accepted for publishing in a Christmas anthology by Gumnut Press, an independent publishing company based in Perth, Western Australia.
If you’d like to check out the romance books available at Gumnut Press, here’s the LINK
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
More HOLIDAY KISSES Book Posts
This week, a surprise appeared on fb, and it’s worth sharing. It’s revealing. I mean, book cover revealing….
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Christmas Romance Anthology – Holiday Kisses #2
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…
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…
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
