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Showing posts from October, 2026

WOLF’S CHALLENGE (STRANGER CREATURES BOOK 1) BY CHRISTINA LYNN LAMBERT - A 5 star Review by Katherine Eddinger Smits

  BLURB   When Sydney left Seattle two years ago, she was scared, traumatized, and done with men for good. Now she has a good job, a hobby that’s fast becoming a second career, and best of all, she’s adopted a little girl named Angel. Life is good and Sydney’s not about to let charming lawyer Derrick mess that up, no matter how sexy he is, or how sweet he seems. Things aren’t always as they appear in the town of Great Oaks, Virginia. Derrick isn’t the ladies’ man Sydney thinks he is, but he does have a few secrets, the least shocking one that he can transform into a powerful wolf at will. Can Derrick convince Sydney to give him a chance, something more than her elusive maybe? More importantly, should he? He’s still trying to forgive himself for being at the wheel during the accident that killed his son. Losing Sydney when she learns the truth might break him, but he’s pretty sure not having her in his life would be just as bad.   5 Star Review by Katherine Edd...

VICTORIAN TIPS FOR MODERN LIVING CREATING DIGITAL KEEPSAKES Liese Sherwood-Fabre

  During the Victorian period, people carefully preserved memories in what were known as correspondence albums. Friends and family filled these books with inscriptions, sketches, poems, and pressed flowers. More than a scrapbook, the correspondence album provided a record of relationships and moments that mattered. Each page reflected the care and intention of those who contributed to it, turning the album into a lasting record of friendship, affection, and shared experience. Today, people collect memories constantly through photos, messages, and social media posts, capturing everyday moments with remarkable ease. The speed and sheer volume of digital sharing can make such memories feel fleeting, quickly forgotten as new ones take their place. Adopting the Victorian spirit of intention and care can transform modern digital collections into meaningful keepsakes rather than passing records.   Memory as a Curated Practice   For Victorians, the correspondence album ...

ONLINE CRITIQUE GROUPS Ana Morgan

  In my smalI northern Minnesota town. the local writers group focuses on poetry and memoires. Members look down on romance, so I was overjoyed when I found an online romance critique group. Critiquing has helped me to become better at plot arcs and character development. Also grammar, pacing, setting descriptions, and sentence structure. Understanding POV and head hopping. (Nora Roberts is allowed to head hop. Us mere mortals should not.) I’ve been in my critique group for fourteen years, its moderator for twelve. Membership in the group has evolved over time. However, the rules have remained pretty much the same. We take on short stories, novelettes, novels, synopses, agent -publisher cover letters, back cover blurbs, and tag lines. Members sub one chapter at a time. Critiques (aka line and developmental edits) are returned generally within a week. We ask that every member critiques every sub, whether they are currently subbing or not, but we know that life intervenes. We a...

WHY EVERY AUTHOR NEEDS A NEWSLETTER RENE MIGLIORE

  Before we dive into this month's topic, let me introduce myself. I’m not a marketing theorist—I’ve spent years actually working with authors, managing newsletters, organizing promotions, arranging swaps, building ARC teams, and creating content. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and the mistakes authors make along the way. These articles won’t be filled with generic marketing advice; I’ll share practical strategies based on real experience. And sometimes, I’m going to be blunt.  .   Your Newsletter Is More Than an Announcement Board   Let's start with something every author should have: a newsletter. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. I already have one. Great. But what are you actually doing with it? There are plenty of authors whose newsletters consist of: · Here's my new book! · Here's my upcoming release! · I'm attending this event! · Here's another book I've written! · And then... six weeks later, another email. ...