Happy Holidays to You

 This time of year, with the lowered temperature, short days, threatening snowfall, the world is filled with holidays. Reasons for people to find cheer and keep going (and spending money) even in the most depressing times. The first of November starts things out with the Day of the Dead, All Saints Day, Prime Meridian Day, National Cinnamon Day and World Vegan Day all crowding in together on November 1. 

Holidays like National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day (November 15) and National Homemade Bread Day (November 21) combine to make November and December quite cozy. As a person who suffers from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), I need every excuse to help me look up after Daylight Savings Time ends. 

All these happy holiday and dark days make November the perfect time of year for picking up a cozy mystery, especially one involving food. Let me suggest the newest of member of Cleo Coyles Coffeehouse Mystery series, Bulletproof Barista. 

In the new Coffeehouse Mysery, titled Bulletproof Barista, a film crew has chosen to spotlight a century-old Greenwich Village coffeshop, the manager Clasre Cosi, and its quirky crew of baristas as they film an episode of a popular reality show. Suspicious accidents plague the shoot until a stage gun fires a real bullet, and amateur sleuth Clare is a single mother with a quirky lovelife who who helps the NYPD solve crimes. 

She becomes convinced the "accidents" signal that something sinister is afoot. The murderer lurking in the wings forces her to root out the killer before the lights go out on her.

Author Cleo Coyle is actually a writing team, made up of Alice Alfonsi, and her husband, Marc Cerasini. This is their 20th Coffehouse Mystery book, releasing on November 14, 2023.

We all know about the Mother of All Eating Days, Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday in November. And never forget to celebrate November 11, whether we call it Armistice Day, Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day.

Following November, its time to hit the big host of holidays, including:

Dec. 5:      St. Nicholas Eve

Dec. 7-15: Hanukkah - a Jewish holiday

Dec. 8:      Bodhi (enlightenment) Day - a Buddhist holiday

Dec. 21:    Winter Solstice, also known as Yule

Dec. 25:    Christmas, a Christian holiday

Dec. 26:    Kwanzaa

Whether you celebrate only one of these days, or all of them, you should have time to sneak in a great holiday read. My December holiday reading suggestion is A Christmas To Remember by NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins, published in October, 2023.

The relationship between Bernadine Brown and diner owner Malachi "Mal" July has had its share of ups and downs. But now they're finally ready to say "I do."

Or are they? 

As wedding preparations go into full swing, and families begin to gather for the festivities, that long awaited walk down the aisle hits a speed bump.

 
Mal and Bernadine's relationship isn't the only one being tested.
Preston Mays aka Brain, loves his girlfriend as much like he loves physics. His heart breaks when she decides being a couple is no longer a good thing. He's ready to try almost anything, including connecting with his bio dad's family, to help ease his pain. 

Meanwhile, Reverend Paula Grant has been patiently waiting for God to send her someone to share her life. When a charming new chef arrives in town, she wonders if he could be the one. 

And then there's former mayor Riley Curry who throws a parade with his hog Cletus!  Really, is there even a hope that all ill end well in the small town of Henry Adams, Kansas?

I hope you find at least one of these stories stories enjoyable for the Holiday season. And if you have anything you enjoy and want to share, please add it in the comments. 

Have You Read Beverly Jenkins' Breathless?

by Michelle Monkou

Breathless was released this month (actually, January 31) and coincidently it's also the author Beverly Jenkins's birth month -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

So back to my question, have you read Breathless?

Yes? Wonderful. Be sure to share your thoughts and recommendation with friends.

No? Then hopefully I can sway you to hop right into Beverly's book for an epic romantic journey steeped in history, blended with suspense, and underscored by a beautiful courtship.

Romance Writers of America (RWA) recently asked the question on Twitter: Why do you read romance?

My answer: Breathless! When a great romance is built on a robust, meaty plot, with complex and compelling characters, and driven by really interesting historical details that enhance, but also provide dark conflict, these elements are all the reasons I celebrate reading a romance book.

As such, Author Beverly Jenkins once again has written another romantic masterpiece.

This historical romance, second book in the Rhine Trilogy, set in the Old West with its tarnished hero--Kent Randolph--and career-driven heroine--Portia Carmichael have reunited after many years. She's all grown up and is serious about what she wants in life.

For her, there is no room for relationships and she won't trust the shaky ground of falling in love. Meanwhile Kent has a checkered past, as a ladies' man, college dropout, and a former prisoner making him an ineligible bachelor for any respectable young woman like Portia.

Trademark of Jenkins' stories is the wonderful all-encompassing family structure that bolsters the main characters. She throws open the doors and welcomes you in to celebrate with the family, friends, and even neighbors and citizens of the towns and cities of her characters' worlds.

Make no mistake, this is not a romantic fluff story. Not in the least, the backdrop of the times, its limitations, its complexities, its opportunities are expertly woven through this tight quilt of lives.

From the first page of the Prologue, we climb aboard. We become invested. We care about these people, their circumstances, and their future. Danger is always present, sometimes fully in the couple's lives pushing them in one direction or another, maybe even away from each other.

The tiny bud of love that is so natural and beautiful between them must push through all the obstacles that can stifle and allow it to wither and disappear. Jenkins' writes bold and imperfect souls who can be fearless, yet humble and strong, yet compassionate. And despite all stories coming to an end with the last page and its last words, we can't stop caring about Kent and Portia.

We don't want to stop caring and celebrating for them.

"In romance novels, love always wins" -- RWA

Breathless (back cover synopsis):

A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West, from USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins

As manager of one of the finest hotels in Arizona Territory, Portia Carmichael has respect and stability—qualities sorely missing from her harsh childhood. She refuses to jeopardize that by hitching herself to the wrong man. Suitors are plentiful, but none of them has ever looked quite as tempting as the family friend who just rode into town…and none has looked at her with such intensity and heat.

Duchess. That’s the nickname Kent Randolph gave Portia when she was a young girl. Now she’s a stunning, intelligent woman—and Kent has learned his share of hard lessons. After drifting through the West, he’s learned the value of a place to settle down, and in Portia’s arms he’s found that and more. But convincing her to trust him with her heart, not just her passion, will be the greatest challenge he’s known—and one he intends to win…

(First book in the Rhine Trilogy)

Attend a Conference

Hi everyone! I am YA author B A Binns , writer of contemporary and realistic fiction for teens. My tagline tells you what I am about - Stories of Real Boys Growing Into Real Men - and the people who love them. 

Hopefully this is not a bucket list item. Hopefully many of us, both writers and readers, plan to attend at least one industry related conference every year. For some it's the RWA National conference. I've attended several times (including in 2010 when I was a Golden Heart Finalist). Needless to say that conference includes a ton of authors to meet and greet, editor and agent appointments to practice for, and lots of knowledge and industry information to absorb.

Another choice is the RT Booklovers convention, a heavily reader oriented conference giving authors a chance to meet with current fans and find new ones. This is the go to conference for authors to connect with readers en mass.  Or NINC, a meeting for multi-published authors that concentrates on future trends and professionalism. And many RWA chapters have their own conferences packed with knowledge on writing. I have attended and made presentations at the Nola Written In The Stars conference, the Chicago North Spring Fling conference, and the Wisconsin RWA Write Touch conference along with m any reader specific events.

And Romance Slam Jam (RSJ)

Romance Slam Jam began in Dallas Texas in1995 thanks to Emma Rodgers, Ashira Tosihwe and Francis Ray, with the goal of demonstrating “The Power, Passion and Pain of Black Love.” Twenty-one years later, the conference that celebrates both readers and writers of black and interracial romance, is being held in Detroit, Michigan with the theme: "Revving up the romance in the D".

While Romance Slam Jam has no direct affiliation with RWA, many attendees like myself are also RWA members. The weekend is filled with workshops where people in the know give information and feedback to aspiring authors, current authors and readers on the ins and outs of the publishing game. In the past I have given a workshop about Heroes and Heroines: What Makes Them Right For Each Other, because sometimes couples click and other times the readers know they will never last.

Me and the teens

I have also participated in the Teen Scene, a portion of the conference designed especially for teens and young adult readers and writers. Yes, RSJ has a special kids event operating as an integral part of the conference. This year the Teen Scene will feature author AlTonya Washington discussing her upcoming Teen Fantasy Novel “Eternal”. She will also talk about the research that went into crafting the story. As a librarian, AlTonya will also speak specifically to teens on the importance of research skills in their daily work.

Since this year's conference is in Detroit, the home of Motown, it will begin with a welcome reception and a karaoke sing along of Ole’ School Motown Jams and lots of fun & food! Anyone and everyone is welcome to take to the stage. There will also be interactive games centered around romance novels and the people who love them. The games often include prizes; a few years ago I won not one but two Amazon gift cards based in part on the contents of my purse during a scavenger hunt. 

There's always one evening devoted to entertainment and exploration. In the past we've explored New Orleans, cruised to Jamica and held a dinner/theater murder mystery event. Here in 2013, some members of a wedding party are being questioned after a guest is found dead during the meal.  We all gathered clues and tried to uncover the bad guy/gal. (No I did not manage to pick the correct killer, darn it!)

This enchanting picture of me was taken during the RSJ cruise to Jamaica in 2010. (Little did anyone know I was recovering from uterine cancer surgery at the time, but nothing was going to make me miss that adventure)


Attendees this year will have a three hour Detroit Princess Dinner Cruise along the gorgeous Detroit River cradled between the Detroit & Windsor skylines. There will be scenery, food and great music.  (Are you getting the theme? Slam Jam attendees always get their fill of music and dancing)
 

Author Panel

During the course of the conference, book clubs will host discussions with some of our guest authors. and authors frequently bring gifts for attendees at the individual author sessions where they answer reader's burning questions. This year will also include a town hall meeting where everyone gets an opportunity to discuss what we love about romance books, what we would like to see changed, and how to go about making that happen.

The 2016 keynote luncheon features Ms. Beverly Jenkins, the nation’s premier writer of African-American historical romance fiction with over thirty published novels to date. She speaks widely on both romance and 19th century African-American history. Her numerous awards include:

• five Waldenbooks/Borders Group Best Sellers Awards
• two Career Achievement Awards and a Pioneer Award from Romantic Times Magazine
• a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer’s Guild
• and in 1999 was named one of the Top Fifty Favorite African-American writers of the 20th Century by AABLC, the nation’s largest on-line African-American book club.

The conference traditionally ends with the Emma Awards ceremony, the premier awards event for readers and authors of Black romance and Woman' Fiction. (Formal attire is not required, but this is the one event attendees are asked to dress up for.)


It’s time to get our read on! If your bucket list or New Year's resolutions include attending a conference in 2016, consider the Romance Slam Jam.Interested in attending or learning more - check out http://www.romanceslamjam.org/