Romance Readers and Writers

At Liquid Silver Books:

Fortune’s Return by Jamie Craig

Ryan Putnam has lost everything. Laid off from teaching high school and dumped by his lawyer boyfriend, he has nowhere else to go but his childhood home – the Good Fortune ranch. He plans to take the summer to regroup and start over. He never expects to be smitten with a cowboy. Especially not a cowboy like Teo Mendez, who is everything Ryan’s ex-boyfriend is not.

Four years after his wife’s death, Teo Mendez has returned to what he loves the most – working the land. He believes the Good Fortune ranch is the perfect place to build a new life for his son, Antonio. When his boss’s brother Ryan shows up to work, the other man’s haunted eyes reminds Teo of everything he has lost as well. So he offers the only thing he can—his friendship. But it doesn’t take long for Ryan to reawaken long dormant emotions and desires.

Ryan doesn’t intend to find a relationship. Teo doesn’t want to complicate his life with a fling. What they have between them, however, is too powerful to ignore.

Deer Run Falls by Roscoe James

John O’Bannon, ex-Chicago homicide detective, moved to the sultry riverfront of Vicksburg, Mississippi dreaming of a slow paced life in semi-retirement. He figured his days as a private eye taking pictures of cheating spouses for divorce lawyers and recovering lost family jewels would both pay the bills and allow time to enjoy life in the slow lane of southern country comfort. He thought it was business as usual when he agreed to meet the mysterious Southern belle Jeri Lynn Lee at a local eatery. He was wrong, on all counts.

At the behest of one of the local gentry, Judge Horatio Robert Lee, and with the help of Hushi Humma, a sexy and fascinating half Choctaw Indian woman, John is forced to confront past failures and unlock the secrets of Deer Run Falls. He must choose one, dangerous lust or the promise of love, no matter how deadly the consequences.

From The Wild Rose Press

Hidden Shadows by Lauren Hope

With a failed marriage and bitter betrayal tucked in her suitcase of baggage, Jenna Gregor is admittedly cynical and pessimistic concerning men and the prospect of a lasting relationship. When Bennett Aston sweeps into her life like a sturdy gust of wind, she jumps to defend herself at every angle from his easy confidence, southern charm, and unnerving good looks.

But in the shadows of Jenna’s past lay deep secrets. And there, a mad woman lurks in the darkness, ready to ruin all Jenna holds dear. As life as Jenna knows it begins to unravel, she finds herself in a tangled web of lies, suspicion, and murder. She must look deep inside herself to find the courage for forgiveness, trust, and self-acceptance. Only then will she discover love, redemption, and ultimately, survival.

From Whiskey  Creek Press

In the Arms Of the Enemy by Mary Eason

Everything Kate Bradshaw believed to be real about her marriage to her husband Alex was slowly slipping away as the newspaper reports explained the sordid truth in black and white. Their marriage and Alex’s seduction was nothing more than a lie. A means of accomplishing one thing–Alex’s revenge against the man he believed responsible for killing his one true love…Kate’s own father.

Linden Bay Publishing has re-opened to general submissions. If you aren’t familiar with Linden Bay, they publish strictly romance novels.  If you can work in paranormal, comedy or mystery, that’s great, but the relationship should be front and center and there should be a happily ever after ending. They are looking for light story lines– nothing dark.

I could never write for Linden Bay since I tend to write paranormals or fantasy with the romance woven into the framework of those types of stories– and my stories tend to be dark.  However, they have a great reputation for what they do.  Here’s the link if you want to read their full submission guidelines:

http://www.lindenbayromance.com/submissions.html

There are blogs on all conceiveable topics from politics to green living.  Many romance writers post to their own blog on a regular basis to build readership and stay in touch with their fans.  Some publishers also make use of blogs.  Liquid Silver Books has the SEx Blog where LSB published writers take turns posting daily.  Daisy Dexter Dobbs also makes good use of her blog, as does Emily Veinglory. Do you visit a publisher’s or writer’s blog regularly?  Does a regular blog make you more likely to read a book from that writer or publisher?