A little inspiration from visiting author Kayla Kensington

  

I’m Kayla Kensington, and I am honored to write a blog post for “Romancing the Genre.” I write inspirational and sweet romance. My first inspirational book, Finding her Family’s Love will be published by Mt Zion Ridge Press on February 1, 2022. February cannot arrive fast enough. I’m so excited.

 
What led me to write inspirational romance? Although I’ve always read and enjoyed the genre, when my husband of thirty-plus years faced health challenges, I read every inspirational romance book I could find. I wanted to provide other readers with the same comfort, encouragement, and love I discovered through inspirational romance.

 
From the age of eight when I learned in Ms. Eaton’s third-grade class that writing existed as a career, I yearned to be an author. When our teacher gave us the news that authors penned stories, she wore a green, sleeveless dress, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and she smiled. On that May morning, the spring breeze cooled our classroom and rustled the window blinds. Although I’ve done other work, writing, my faith, and my family remain my passions.

 
When I’m not writing, reading, or swimming at our community’s pool, I am privileged to work full time as a school librarian. In my middle school, I also teach creative writing and writing lab, a class for students who need writing assistance.

 
My writing always includes contemporary issues and real-world problems. In Kendra McFarland’s case, the main character in my novel Finding her Family’s Love, she experienced emotional abuse by her late husband, which damaged her self-esteem. I applied the emotions I experienced from a long-ago, emotionally abusive relationship. In addition, I wrote an article for a major publication regarding emotional abuse. From the letters I received from the magazine readers, I knew many individuals faced the sadness and insecurity emotional abuse prompts. I hope my book brings readers peace.

 
Want to know more about Finding her Family’s Love? 

 Widowed and pregnant, thirty-year-old Kendra McFarland doesn’t want or need a new love interest. When she meets her deceased husband’s relatives and yearns to be part of their family, her mother-in-law rejects her, blaming Kendra for her son’s accidental death. Will Pierce, her late husband’s cousin, offer her a fresh start, or will Kendra’s visit rip apart the McFarland family?

Take a look at an excerpt from Finding her Family's Love:

“Hey, you’re up, and dressed even,” Pierce said, looking in the half-open door. 

“I am, then I went back to rest. You look tired. It doesn't look like you slept out on the couch?” When she awoke earlier, she noticed the empty living room couch where she thought Pierce might have slept. The maroon pillows that decorated the couch hadn’t been moved. The matching maroon and green-striped blankets stayed folded with neat corners, exactly as they had looked yesterday. She hadn’t heard him rustle about in the second bedroom either.

“I slept under the stars. When you feel better, you should try it.”

As she sat in bed, she braided her hair, still damp and fragrant from the shower. “I’ll keep that in mind. Was that your sister and her children I heard outside? I’m sure that wasn't you cock-a-doodle-doing. Whoever it was, sounded quite rooster -ish.”

He smiled. “Can’t take the rooster sound-effects’ credit. My youngest niece has the rooster-call gift. Sorry they woke you. I learned about hips and lips today. It’s in my new vocabulary and a way to quiet them, if needed. I’ll have to try it on those loud high school students as they rumble through the school hallways.”

Sitting up straighter, she shifted her legs and let her feet dangle for a moment over the side of the bed. “I don’t need quiet. I love children’s giggles, whispers, and questions. Even the crying doesn’t bother me, never has. Could I walk to the house and say hello?”

“How ’bout I make you some breakfast? After you’ve eaten, I’ll bring them down for you to meet. Right now, my nieces are having ‘grandma time.’ It probably won’t last too long.”

“Sounds good. Do they know...?”

“Nothing, not even who you are, except that you represent the female gender. I figured you’d want to tell them.”

She took a deep breath, letting out the air slowly. “Thank you. You figured right.”

Interested in Finding her Family's Love? You can preorder at  Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Familys-Love-Kayla-Kensington/dp/1955838143/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2DIX0LRXZIMCK&keywords=Kensington%2C+Kayla&qid=1641866145&sprefix=kensington%2C+kayla%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-5

Hello there.  I'm Kayla Kensington, and I'd love to hear from you! Please consider connecting with me via social media:

Website kaylakensington.wordpress.com

Email kensingtonkayla@gmail.com

Twitter twitter.com/KaylaKensington

Instagram instagram.com/kayla_kensington

Series and Settings!

 

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Through the years, series books have maintained their popularity. There's something the reader likes about familiar settings and revisiting the characters they've come to love. 

With that in mind, three years ago, I partnered with bestselling author Sandra Kitt (whom I have admired forever, and who was my inspiration to start writing.) Together we created By Design.

https://www.amazon.com/Design-Store-Book-1-ebook/dp/B078K5JPRS/ref

 If you've never heard of Sandra, let me tell you a little bit about her. Mind you, this is just skimming the tip of the iceberg.  Sandra was the first black author to publish with Harlequin. In addition to being a talented writer, she  is a talented graphic artist and has exhibited in several corporate collections, as well as at the Museum of African American Art in L.A.  She has also designed cards for UNICEF, and illustrated two books for the late science writer, Dr. Isaac Asimov.  As if that's not enough, Sandra is the former Information Specialist in astronomy & astrophysics at the Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History in New York. 

Anyway, this amazingly talented woman and I joined forces to brainstorm and create a setting for a series we hoped would appeal to not only the fashionistas of the world, but to those readers who could relate to losing their jobs for one reason or another and were being forced to start over.  We'd thought with downsizing being such a common thing these days, readers would connect.

And, so, By Design was co-written; a story about Elle Stanford who loses a lucrative job and is forced to start over in retail as a store associate. Our setting was the world of retail, and  the fresh air that a  humble associate and former marketer was able to breathe into a failing store.

H.E. Caldwell, a black owned, Philadelphia store on a downward spiral, came to life from the embers of a "what if." We're romance writers after all , so of course, not only was there intrigue and  conflict, but in the telling of the story, romance prevailed and  Elle found her man, Miles Bradshaw.

Following By Design, and because Sandra was busy with other projects, I penned By Heart, a novella,  again using H.E. Caldwell's as the setting. This time there was  a Valentine's theme, and a jump off character, Cyndy Lawsen, who'd been introduced in the first book, and who hated Valentine's Day and anything associated with Cupid, found her man. You can pick up the ebook here:

  https://www.amazon.com/Heart-H-Caldwells-Book-ebook/dp/B08CRC78W1/ref.

Newly released, last month, and again as part of the H. E. Caldwell series, is By Golly, another solo venture. This novella takes place during the holiday season. All of our couples are now having issues and on the brink of breaking up. Will the magic of the season bring them back together?

https://www.amazon.com/Golly-H-Caldwell-ebook/dp/B08R5GN5B8/ref

Here is an excerpt:

A trio of musicians tucked away in the corner of the room struck up Kool & and the Gang’s Celebration. Elle wished she had something to celebrate. It was awkward enough Miles’ unexpected arrival with Heather Hamilton in tow. Had she brought her best friend, CeCe, as her plus one, it might have softened the blow.  At least she would have someone to vent to.  But venting would have to wait until later when she got back to the hotel. Regardless of the hour she would be getting her bestie on the phone.

At least Jay and Cyndy were here. They’d have her back. The executives had started playing musical chairs and were visiting with employees.

 “Dance?” Jay asked, coming to her rescue and whisking her away.

“What took you so long?” she asked, allowing Jay to twirl her.

Miles asked Heather to dance and joined them on the dance floor. Parker two-stepped Cyndy. That left Monique at the table alone, but not for long. She was rescued by a fellow store manager.

As the beat picked up, employees of every rank and file flooded the dance floor and it quickly became crowded.   Jay brought Elle up hard against him. “So, is Brett Anderson out of the closet?” he asked.

Elle chuckled. “Ask him. I don’t gossip about employees.”

“Sure, you do.” Laughing Jay twirled her around again. They were each other’ s confidant and Elle often told him more than she should.

“Cutting in,” a deep voice said from behind them. A heavy hand settled on Jay’s shoulder.  Jay was about to tell the person to get lost when he realized it was his boss he was about to blow off. He graciously handed Elle over.  Miles and Elle needed to work out their issues. There was still a lot of love between them. A blind sugar mouse could see that.

“She’s all yours,” were Jay’s parting words. Elle was a vision in her shimmering gold gown as Miles expertly led her around.  

“You look lovely,” Miles said,  his hands on the small of Elle’s back.  “New dress?”

“Just a little something I picked up in Formalities.” 

I hope that you will enjoy By Golly and the other books in the series. May 2021 be good to you and may you realize your dreams!

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her mailing list.

Instagram * Amazon * Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

The Way We Were.... Romance has Changed!

 By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Like me on Facebook  http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

 In the background are Locks of Love ...lovers names are engraved and the keys thrown into the ocean!

As a writer of contemporary romance, I’m amazed at just how far we’ve come. I grew up for the most part on St. Vincent; a  small British island, that back then, few people even heard of. We had two book stores on the island, so if you were a reader you read whatever was on those shelves.

At age six, I read Mills and Boon novels and hid them under my mattress. I was an early reader, thanks to my school teacher mom. She would later tell everyone she didn’t even know I was able to read. She’d take me with her to classes and apparently I was catching on. But back to the subject matter at hand.

Contemporary romance at that time consisted of a boy meet girl scenario, some kind of conflict ,(usually a third person vying for the hero’s attention,) and the only hint of  lust were a few chaste kisses. These kisses increased the woman’s heartbeat and made the guy’s manhood throb.

Flash forward several years, and here I am writing the stories that I grew up with, except, oh, my, how much these stories have changed.  Now there is sex! And not implied either.

My first publishing opportunity came with the launching of the multi-cultural market.  Prior to that, few people who looked like me were even on the covers. With the nineties things changed. Kensington Publishing launched their Arabesque and Encanto lines and held their breaths. Other publishing houses quickly followed suit when they realized there was money to be made and the market couldn’t get enough.  They were shortsighted in that, they only marketed these books to the  African American and Latino community, not realizing that a good book is a good book, whether the faces on the cover are yellow, white or black. 

Back then Erotic or Erotica novels were something you did not read in public, or if you did, the book jacket was covered. I remember when books like Lolita and Lady Chatterley’s Lover were considered scandalous and only a 'harlot' read them in private or public.  Now today’s heat level would make even an exotic dancer blush. 

Today’s readers want it hot, hot. Readers for the most part want their sex, raw and explicit, although there has to be some romance driving that sex.  Readers want to read about both parties enjoying sex not women being taken, as had often been portrayed in the romances of the sixties, seventies and even eighties. Readers want to explore and maybe learn about something other than the missionary position.    Look at the success of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Contemporary romance also has hero and heroine meeting in unusual ways, just like people meet today….online... in coffee bars and in Internet cafes.  Heroines also have a multitude of careers. Gone are the days when the heroine was usually a nurse or nanny. Today she is the CEO and the hero might just be working for her. In Come Fall, one of my less known books, the heroine is accused by a subordinate of sexual harassment. How’s that for a flip?

Long gone are the romance novels that are completely vanilla, although the Inspirational Market, which is hugely popular, and very faith based, prefers sex not to happen without benefit of marriage.  But boy still meets girl and conflict happens. 

Romance today can take place on an alternate universe and love can happen between vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters. There are elements of suspense in romances and gruesome mysteries to be solved.  But the one thing that has not changed is that a satisfying ending must happen, and true love will prevail.

Contemporary romance has changed for the better.      

Meet Inspirational Romantic Suspense Author, Terri Reed

Terri Reed

Why did you decide to write Inspirational Romantic Suspense? 

I started writing romance back in the early 90’s.  I thought I wanted to write historical romances because that is my first true love of romance genre.  But I had small children and no computer and research wasn’t easy.  I did eventually sell one historical novella. However, I took the advice of a multi-published author who said, “Write what you know” and switched to contemporary romances, but couldn’t gain any traction. By this time I had discovered category romances and romantic suspense novels.  I had heard in a workshop that you should write what you like to read.  Since I devoured thrillers, mysteries and romantic suspense books, I decided to give the genre of romantic suspense a try.  I gained a bit of traction with some finals in contests, receiving positive feedback from editors but still no sale.  Then I discovered Dee Henderson’s books that combined romance, suspense and faith.  I knew I’d found the right genre for me.  When I rewrote my earlier stories to include faith, they sold.  The first few books were romances but I had a light thread of suspense (not necessarily action or adventure so much as carefully guarded secrets).  Then Love Inspired opened the suspense line and I migrated naturally into the genre.

You do such a wonderful job of braiding your stories together. Which story line is harder for you to write: the romance, the suspense, or the faith journey? 

For me weaving in the romance is the hardest part of writing romantic suspense.  I’m a plotter and I love the action, the adventure of suspense.  I love to build a story, layering in clues, red-herrings, scary moments and action scenes.  I write fast and tight plots with little emotion or romance in the first draft.  Invariably, my critique partners and/or editors will call me on the lack of romance development and I’ll need to go back and layer in the emotional landscape.  The faith element is more organic for me and comes in spits and spurts, intermingled with the plot and the romance.      

 Tell us about your latest release.

The Deputy’s Duty was a June release.  Book six in the Fitzgerald Bay continuity series. 

Fitzgerald Bay: Law enforcement siblings fight for justice and family.

Fitzgerald Family Secret

As the eldest of six siblings and deputy chief of the Fitzgerald Bay police department, Ryan Fitzgerald is a protector.  Of his family.  Of his community.  But staying in control means keeping his distance…until Meghan Henry comes to town.  Seeking justice for her murdered cousin, and safety for an orphaned—and missing—child, the daring journalist is not afraid to face danger head-on.  And when she uncovers a dark Fitzgerald secret, Ryan’s left with a devastating choice.  Which will he protect—his family, or the woman he’s started to love?

When can we order your next book?

I have an upcoming October release titled The Doctor’s Defender.  Book three of my own mini-series Protection Specialists.

Do No Harm

As a trauma surgeon, Dr. Brenda Storm saves lives every day. But someone wants her dead.  It starts with the anonymous delivery of poisoned cupcakes.  Now the hospital has hired a bodyguard to protect her 24/7.  At first, Brenda doesn’t think too-handsome Kyle Martin is the right man for the job.  Then she discovers his harrowing background—and that Kyle will do anything to keep her safe.  With every attempt on her life, she’s more drawn to the strong and silent man who risks his life for hers.  But their growing feelings could put them both in harm’s way.

What are you working on now?

I’m in the plotting stage of my next two Protection Specialists books.   

 

For a chance to win, you must have a snail mail address in North America and include your email address with your comment.

Stories of Faith



Maureen Lang

I’ve loved both reading and writing stories nearly all my life, so it seemed natural to try sharing my stories with as many others as possible—through publication. As isolating as a writing career can be, storytelling is really a way for us to share the human experience, to understand others and to be understood. So it makes sense to write to the community we’d most like to inhabit.

For me, that’s the Christian market. Faith is a big part of my life so filling my books with characters sharing the same faith just makes sense. My stories have been set in various eras, both contemporary and historical, and have covered a multitude of topics. But no matter what my characters face, at some point along the way their faith will play an important role in their growth or happiness.

With the increasing popularity of e-readers, I’m happy to report that Christian fiction ranks No. 3 in e-book sales, following Literary/Classic and Science Fiction (according to Publisher’s Weekly and the Bowker PubTrack Consumer service). General romance follows in spot No. 4. If electronic sales are a wave of the future, then Christian fiction is already on its way to capturing a healthy chunk of the market.

But as you might have guessed from my opening, neither market share nor money has much to do with why I write Christian fiction. I’ve always wanted to tell a story, preferably a romantic one. To me, a romance is about keeping two people meant for one another apart—at least for the length of the book—in a fun, believable and exciting way. I want to tell a story about realistic people, characters we can all identify with at some level. Eras may change but people stay basically the same: we all have a need for love and acceptance, we often don’t know what kind of courage we have until a situation demands it of us. I can explore all of that and more in Christian fiction, with an added bonus: I can include a spiritual dimension that can bring another layer of conflict—one that happens to be important to me.

Christian fiction has come a long way, baby. Gone are the days when characters talked about going to church, stopped to pray at a pivotal moment, never had an impure thought. Today’s Christian fiction can touch on just about anything from the headlines: from human trafficking to drug use to pre and extra-marital sex. While the details are not salacious or gratuitous and there is likely to be a consequence to the range of behavior, there is also plenty of redemption. That’s another thing that appeals to me, that Christian fiction isn’t about judging but about loving—from a human and divine perspective. The best of Christian fiction doesn’t preach at a reader, but it does reveal a level of spiritual awareness not likely to be found anywhere else.

Some of the topics covered in my books:

Available July 2012

Genetic mental retardation and physical disabilities in The Oak Leaves, On Sparrow Hill and My Sister Dilly. (The only way to lighten up such topics was to put them in a romance!) Eras represented: from contemporary to Victorian.

My Great War Books, set during the years 1914 to 1918, explore such things as whose side God might be on in a war, whether or not it’s “right” to fight, left over guilt from war activities, even political and economic choices like socialism and capitalism. Sound too serious? Rest assured there is a romance in each.

My current series is set in the Gilded Age and tackles the love and pursuit of money, which I’m having particular fun with. Thieves and would-be thieves conspire to do the wrong thing, only to have forgiveness and redemption win their hearts and actions. (Bees in the Butterfly Garden)

I hope this offers a glimpse into the Christian/Inspirational Market!

About Maureen Lang:

Maureen is the author of a dozen novels and her Inspirationals have earned various writing distinctions as a finalist for the Rita, Christy and four times in the Carol Awards. She’s won a Holt Medallion and Holt Award of Merit as well as the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. An avid reader herself, she also loves taking research trips to get a feel for the settings of her novels. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, children, and Labrador retriever. Visit Maureen at her website www.maureenlang.com

Or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maureen.lang

Guest Inspirational Author Roxanne Rustand - Christmas Eve Greetings

Happy holidays to you wherever you are.  I hope you are with family or friends today, and wish for you a wonderful holiday season.  

I know many of you are in warmer climates, and I've always wondered what the holidays would be like with balmy warm weather and bright sunshine, year after year!  My husband and I live out in the country in the Upper Midwest,  on an acreage with our horses, dogs and cats,  and we've usually got snow on the ground by Thanksgiving--sometimes even by Halloween. 

 I adore heavy snowfalls and sitting by the fire with a cup of cocoa and a good novel while a heavy blanket of white builds up on the trees outside.  The silence of it--the incredible beauty--just takes my breath away.  Of course, when it's time to go out to do my horse chores or help clear the driveway and I'm bundled up like a version of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man (anyone remember the movie Ghost Busters?) then maybe it isn’t quite as fun!

 What are your favorite Christmas memories?  I would so love to hear them!  I guess my own favorite, hands down, was the Christmas Eve when our son Brian was born unexpectedly early.  His brother wasn't quite as excited, though, at finding Christmas and Santa were delayed because of a baby!   Do any of you have Christmas birthdays?   

Christmas Eve can be tough, because you can never have a big party on the actual date, and with the hectic schedule of that day-- with a big late afternoon dinner to prepare, a crowd of relatives coming and going, evening church and then opening Christmas gifts afterwards--making the day truly special for the birthday child isn't easy.  We often celebrated his birthday a week early when he was younger, but still....   

Not long ago, I told Brian that I was sorry that he didn't have a special day all his own, but he said "I have the best birthday I could ever have--because I'll always be with family to celebrate, and that means more than anything."  

 

I feel so blessed, to have my family around me on this holiday, and because another year has passed with all of us in good health.  And I feel so blessed to have had another year of doing the things I love most--enjoying the beautiful countryside on our horses, writing my books, pursuing my dreams. 

During the past thirteen months I had seven books out.  The last one, Duty to Protect, was released a few weeks ago. 

 

My wish for all of you is that your holidays are happy and that you have a wonderful, successful and joyous New Year.

Peace to you all,

Roxanne Rustand

www.roxannerustand.com (The All Creatures Great and Small Blog)

Judy Duarte - THE APPEAL OF CHRISTMAS STORIES + A THREE-BOOK GIVEAWAY!

BONUS:
Click here for Genre-ista Judith Ashley's November 4th review of Judy Duarte's new book, Christmas on Nutcracker Court. 

Christmas is my favorite holiday, even though I often get stressed out and over-extended.  In fact, each January, as I put away the ornaments and drag the tree outside, I vow not to let it happen again.  Yet as fall rolls into winter, I find myself shopping and decorating and baking and…  Well, you get the picture.

There’s just something special about families getting together, about celebrating memories and giving from the heart. 

If you’re like me, you enjoy watching a Christmas movie on a wintry night while curled up on the sofa with a cup of hot cocoa or tea.  Who doesn’t love the timeless movies like Miracle on 34^th Street or It’s a Wonderful Life?

And what about Holiday Inn or White Christmas with Bing Crosby?  Or maybe even The Shop Around the Corner?

Another favorite of mine is Christmas in Connecticut.  But my list isn’t limited to the classics or to those that bring tears to my eyes and a smile on my face.  I’ve got a few comedies on my list as well, such as Home Alone and Elf.  And I find myself setting aside the television remote whenever one of them comes on and watching it one more time.

There’s just something special about those heartfelt holiday stories—either the ones we see on television or those we read.

I write for Special Edition, one of Harlequin’s home and hearth lines.  So the first time I came up with an idea for a holiday story, I knew it was a perfect fit.  The readers loved it, too.  So it shouldn’t be any surprise that I have two Christmas releases out this year—one romance and an inspirational women’s fiction. 

I’d love to give three lucky people who comment and share their thoughts on the appeal of Christmas stories—books or movies—an autographed copy of either A Baby Under the Tree or Christmas on Nutcracker Court—their choice. 

So what do you think?  What are your favorite Christmas movies or books?  And why do those holiday stories hold such an amazing and timeless appeal?

While you’re giving it some thought, I’m going to put a little Christmas music on the stereo, light a fire in the hearth, and whip up some sugar cookies.  Then I’ll pull out one of my favorite DVDs and invite a couple of friends over for a warm and cozy evening.

Visit Judy's website at www.judyduarte.com