Celebrating Romance Awareness Month!

Since August is romance awareness month, I'd like to and my thoughts on romance writing. I just finished reading a book where the main character belittles another for writing romance saying there's nothing to writing romance. This is a theme that's often repeated in romance books and in Hallmark movies.

However, to write a romance that keeps your reader turning the pages rather than toss the book aside, takes skill and a lot of hard work.The key to writing a successful romance is bringing the reader into the emotional side of the story by adding conflicts that could pull them apart until the couple realizes their relationship is important and they're willing to overcome obstacles to be together.

Romance genres regularly outsell all other types of fiction. Last year’s statistics show romance books accounted for over 39 million books sold. There's definitely a demand for this type of writing. Reading romance is opening your heart to the thought that love indeed does conquer all.

Love is not just for romance novels, it's found in children's books as well. Here's a good example..."How do you spell love?’ asked Piglet. ‘You don’t spell it, you feel it,’ said Pooh.” —Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne

And here's a quote from one of the few books that I've read twice... “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.” —Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell

Here's a read quote from an author that you wouldn't expect would talk about love... “You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought.” —The White Company, Arthur Conan Doyle

“We’re all a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love — true love.”  Robert Fulghum, True Love Stories

“True love is rare, and it’s the only thing that gives life real meaning.” Nicholas Sparks, Message in a Bottle

Romance movies have the opportunity to show the emotional connections visually, but they also need great lines to grab your heart. Here's one of my favorite movie quotes from When Harry met Sally… “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

As you celebrate the romantic side of life this month, pick up a sweet romance novel or two to read. Let the genre give you an escape from everyday life and make you smile and feel happy about happy ever after endings even when you know there will still be challenges along the way. Ready for a romance story? Pick up one or more of my new releases whose covers you see on this post, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Here's the link to my Amazon page to learn more about these books and others as well. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christine-L.-Henderson/author/B09L2Y7XNP

Special Event - Happening Now! Dozens And Dozens Of Free eBooks - Today Only

I've joined with 50 other authors to celebrate Lisa. Prysock's milestone of publishing 50 books. That's a great achievement. At this point I'm only at 10% of that goal. The fun starts today at noon EST and runs till 9:00 PM. Hope you'll drop by several times during the day to chat with the different authors, learn about their books, and enter into the 50+ giveaways.

Other than the hosts for this event, other authors are running their giveaways in 15 minute time slots. My time slot is 7:15 to 7:30 PM. I would really appreciate it if you drop by during that time to ensure that I won’t only be talking to myself.

First off, I'll be telling you about an inspirational romance box set called, Once Upon a Starry Night which features 12 novellas written by 12 different authors. I'm one of those twelve. In my story, Christmas Moonlight Melodies, Nikki and Michael were high school sweethearts who were brought together by music but their quest for music fame tore them apart. Now they're both home for the Christmas holidays. Can the magic of the Christmas season bring them together? Or will their love become another love song gone wrong? 

The box set is at a special preorder price of only $2.99 – that’s 25 cents per story! Once the book is live, the price will be $9.99.  Here’s the link to buy the set now: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Starry-Night-Collection-ebook/dp/B0C81PYJBF

I’ll also be giving away copies of my eBook cookbook called, Let's Share a Meal,. which features my favorite recipes and those from family and friends. It includes my choices for breakfast, lunch, snacks, soups, sauces, main dishes, and desserts. You'll be sure to find several dishes you'd like to try.

My other giveaways will include kids picture eBooks and a 52-week woman's devotional. I’ll be discounting my inspirational romance novel, The Sweetest Delights in Life, in both eBook in print formats.  I have no idea what the other authors are promoting only that knowing at least one of their giveaways needs to be Christmas themed. I'm going to be checking in from time to time myself to see what they have to offer as well.

 So if you're ready to join the fun, here is the link to take you there.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/500592113747995 You will need to join the group to participate in the giveaways, but that's as simple as one click with your mouse.

 

See you there!

Here's Some Great News to Share with You.

For those who say they would like to write a novel but don't know where to start, I’d suggest you begin with finding a supportive writing community. That's what I found with this group of authors whom I have joined with to create a box set of romances. Though I have written other books and have been in numerous anthologies, this is my first experience with individual story in a box set.

These ladies are assisting me in increasing my knowledge of marketing, writing book blurbs, formatting, and cover design. I am grateful to be on this writing journey with them. All of our stories are sweet romances set within a Christmas time frame.

My story is a contemporary romance between two musical talents called Christmas Moonlight Melodies. Here’s a little teaser about it. Music brought Nikki and Michael together, but fame split them apart. Will their Christmas reunion in their hometown bring them back together again? Or will their second chance for love become nothing more than a love song gone wrong?

The box set is called Once Upon a Starry Night. Right now we are offering a pre-order discount price of $2.99 for the 12 novella set. How can you pass that up? You'll get to read 12 different stories from 12 authors who could just become your new favorite writers!. Here's the Amazon link which will give you the details on the each of the books and how you can purchase them. https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Starry-Night-Collection-ebook/dp/B0C81PYJBF

And here's a special bonus for my readers… Make sure you follow my upcoming blog posts so you can learn about two big book giveaways I'm doing with other authors in July. There will be lots of free books and prizes. However, neither one will include a giveaway for this box set. So go ahead and buy it now!