In a world where women are seen but rarely heard, Adélaïde
Labille-Guiard refuses to be silenced.
The daughter of Parisian shopkeepers, Adélaïde dreams not of
marriage or titles but of earning a place among the masters of French art.
With Queen Marie Antoinette on the throne and a spirit of change in the air,
anything seems possible. But as revolution brews and powerful forces conspire
to deny her success, Adélaïde faces an impossible choice: protect
her life—or fight for a legacy that will outlast her.
Inspired by the true story of one of the first women admitted to the Royal
Academy of Painting and Sculpture, Adélaïde: Painter of the
Revolution is a sweeping, evocative portrait of ambition, courage, and
resilience in the face of history’s fiercest storm.
About the Author
Janell Strube makes a mean barbecue sauce. She’s also a world traveler,
a baker, and a bicyclist. But when she writes, her identity as an adoptee
often steers her attention to topics of alienation, erased history, and
displacement.
In 2024, a personal essay of hers was published in the anthology Adoption and
Suicidality. Her work has also appeared in Shaking the Tree: brazen. short.
memoir and A Year in Ink. Her short memoir, “Taking my Blonde Daughter
to a Black Lives Matter Rally,” was selected for the 2020 San Diego
Memoir Showcase, an annual live storytelling event.
While much of her writing is personal, she enjoys the freedom that comes with
crafting fiction. Her desire to learn about forgotten female artists who
shaped the French revolutionary period motivated her to write
Adélaïde: Painter of the Revolution.
When not crunching numbers as a tax executive for a hotel chain, she can be
found hanging out with Shiloh the Wheaten and plotting her second book.
In 1755, British Major General Braddock led an army of 2,400 soldiers,
including a young Colonel George Washington and Daniel Boone, to retake Fort
Duquesne from the French and seize control of the American
Frontier—The French & Indian War. Yet, carried by this formidable
force was a treasure—gold to be used as payroll for troops and gifts
to win over native allies. Its protection throughout the perilous journey,
through steep mountains and dense wilderness, weighed heavily on the
General’s mind.
Ever since The Battle of the Monongahela, where the French ambushed
Braddock’s forces and mortally wounded him, Braddock’s puzzling
orders for a hasty, complete retreat from an inferior force have driven
rumors he desperately sought to recover the treasure he hid for its
protection, but instead, took its location to his grave.
Over the centuries, legends swirled around Braddock’s lost gold,
worth a fortune today. The tales of its hiding place, stretching the length
of Braddock’s tedious and precarious march from Western Maryland to
Southwestern Pennsylvania, have persisted.
Fast forward to today—Join Jack Sullivan and his companions in a
heart-pounding quest as they decipher cryptic clues, brave treacherous
traps, race against time, and battle aggressive adversaries. Will
Jack’s bonds with his friends withstand the ultimate test, or will
their pursuit of wealth cost them everything, including their lives?
About the Author
David R. Leng, known for his expertise in risk management and insurance,
now ventures into the world of fiction with his latest historical thriller,
Echoes of Fortune. With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, David
is the author of International #1 Best Sellers including "Insured to
Fail" and "The 10 Laws of Insurance Attraction," and has
saved clients over $42 million in premiums and overcharges. As Executive
Vice President and Partner of the Duncan Financial Group, David is
celebrated for his innovative Risk Profile Improvement Process and has
earned numerous accolades, including Advisor of the Year by the Institute of
WorkComp Professionals. An avid contributor to industry publications,
David’s passion extends beyond his professional achievements to
include boating, skiing, woodworking, and supporting his local high
school’s musical productions. His foray into historical thrillers
reflects his deep storytelling skills and a lifelong commitment to engaging
and captivating audiences.
Three men. Two blackmail notes. One slight misunderstanding.
Blurb
Every new romance has its ups and downs… Its bumps in the road… Its blackmail notes…
A misunderstanding ties the fates of three men together in this heartfelt, sensual, and uproarious romantic puzzle. Blackmailer’s Delight is a tale of lives tossed into the air, then reassembled in some rather unexpected ways.
England 1795 London gentleman Daniel Thornton has just dumped his philandering lover Clarence. He moves to Grantham to care for his ailing uncle and nurse a broken heart. The move he hopes will be a fresh start – a place to discover himself and perhaps a new way of seeing the world.
Luke Morley is a draper's son struggling to accept his sexuality. He has withdrawn into a world of fantasy, but with the arrival of Mr. Thronton this private world is shattered. Grantham’s most eligible bachelor is everything Luke has ever dreamed of. After months of silent admiration, he determines to introduce himself.
Re-enter Clarence, who arrives to win back his old lover. When Daniel rejects him again, he is not about to take it lying down…
A blackmail note appears – a demand that Daniel marry one of Luke’s sisters. A demand that he fulfill Luke’s sexual desires.
Daniel saw young Mr. Morley leave the note on his mantle.
The note is from Luke.
Excerpt
March 1795
A revolution in France. Food shortages at home. And now a damned tax on wig powder.
“This world is going to hell,” said Daniel Thornton to his lover, Clarence, one morning over toast and marmalade. “What is the name of that local sect I was telling you of the other morning? The one predicting the end of the world in the year 1800?”
“What?” said the younger man, who had been gazing out the first-floor window of their Westminster townhouse. “Haven’t they all gone to America?”
“It was in the paper last week. I distinctly recall telling you about it.”
“Oh, you know I don’t listen to anything you say at the breakfast table.”
“Don’t you?”
“I’m slow to rise, Danny. Once I am awake, I must plan my day; I cannot attend to your little newspaper articles.”
Daniel observed his companion for a moment – perhaps the longest moment of his life. This was the end, of course. Not of the world, but for them. For six weeks he had been expecting this, cynic that he was. They were both cynics – and, apart from the sex, he supposed Clarence’s pessimism had been his primary attraction. They saw the world identically. They liked to laugh at things like sects predicting the end of the world in five years. Or they had. If Clarence couldn’t be bothered to listen to him at the breakfast table, if they hadn’t even this anymore, after the misery this man was putting him through, there really was nothing for them.
He eyed the orange juice Clarence was sipping lazily. Should he?”
They weren’t sleeping together anymore. And this, incredibly, before he had understood why, had actually bonded him to this man. Clarence had made no excuses: “It’s the way of all things, isn’t it? We are simply two old men grown comfortable with each other,” though this was absurd as Clarence was just twenty-six. No man likes being rejected in bed, but Clarence had won him by appearing to join him in their common plight – wasn’t it just the way of this miserable world?
“What?” he said, lowering his orange juice to glance over his shoulder. Daniel hadn’t spoken – Clarence must have heard the memory of his words ringing in his companion’s head. Narcissists only listened to hear the echo of their own words.
About the Author
I am the author of two queer historical novels – ‘Hugh: A Hero without a Novel’ and ‘Blue Billy’s Rogue Lexicon’. As a writer, I love taking a deep dive into the social norms and historical events of 18th century England, told with humour and whimsy, while presenting what I hope are compelling and unique coming-of-age tales.
A native of the American Southwest, I have spent much of my life in Great Britain, France, and Finland. I now live in the American Northwest – Helena, Montana – with my Finnish partner.
By day I love hiking under the Big Sky of my beautiful adopted state.
By night, however, I prefer wandering the byways of 18th century London…
Details for authors wanting to join the fun follow the post.
Book Blurb:
Celebrate summer with this steamy collection of short stories, perfect for a beach read!
All proceeds will go to ProLiteracy to benefit adult literacy all over the world. Visit their website at https://www.proliteracy.org/
Story Tagline
A woman may be made a fool of if she hasn’t the spirit to resist, but what does she do if, for the first time in her life, being made a fool is exactly what she wants?
Story Blurb:
Florence Walters is proud that she’s sexually knowledgeable, yet not deflowered. The men whose advances she has rebuffed call her a vanilla, a tease who’s a marriage hold-out. However, nothing could be further from the truth. At twenty years of age, she wants nothing to do with the motherhood and marriage role 1898’s society expects. She resists being made a fool of by any man who wants to control the power of her cunt with great delight. But home on summer vacation, things heat up between her and Harold Edwards, who has given as good as he’s gotten in their sexually charged teasing and taunting. On the day before she is due to return to finishing school, she tells her mother she’s going for a ride with the brother of a friend—but hungry for firsthand sexual knowledge, she’s really going with him to view a sex show at the local brothel. Then Harold tells her he has something different, something special, something just for her, if she’ll stay in town with him instead. His offer is delicious, but what if accepting makes a fool of her? What if she’s in for more of him playing with her the way she has with him? And what is she to do with the unfamiliar desire that maybe being made a fool of by Harold isn’t something to resist?
About the Author:
Michal Scott is the erotic romance pen name of Anna Taylor Sweringen, a retired United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church USA minister. Inspired by the love mystics of Begijn, Audre Lourde, and bell hooks, Rev. Anna writes erotica and erotic romance with a faith arc, hoping to build a bridge between the sacred and secular, spirituality and sexuality, erotica and Christ, you and a well written, spiritually stimulating, and erotically arousing story. She uses story settings to give insight into the African American experience in the US. Besides erotic and steamy romance, she writes inspirational and sweet romance as Anna Taylor and lite paranormal second chance ghost romance as Anna M. Taylor.
20th - 26th - Have you ever become disoriented in a bookstore? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
I'm easily disoriented. I pretty much have no innate sense of direction. I rely on landmarks.
If you're feeling disoriented, why not head over to http://poetryofthenetherworld.blogspot.com and read my latest poems and drabbles? This is your warning that my work can get kind of heavy.
LOOK OUT BELOW!
Lil DeVille will give away one copy of Hot and Sticky during this event.
A Spooky Good Time Event
Information for Authors
Your book does NOT need to be Halloween related just make sure your graphics are Halloween Themed, that's it!
All Romance, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi subgenres are welcome.
3. Ask your readers to join Rene's Getaway Party Room. They will not want to miss this event! It will be so much fun for them to meet new authors, play games and win prizes.
4. Commit to sharing "A Spooky Good Time's" graphics on Social Media and in your Newsletters (including links to the group) leading up to the event. This is a team effort, so please share!
5. Mark your calendars. Saturday, October 28th. Anytime on the 28th, make 1 post in the group. Introduce yourself, tell the readers a bit about your books, tell them what you are giving away, and ask them a question, have them play a game, ask them to follow/friend you, whatever you want to do--but their comment on the post is their entry into the giveaway! You can give away as many books as you'd like! You can also give away swag and gift cards.
6. On Sunday the 29th you will pick your winner(s). Be sure to friend them and tag your winner right under GIVEAWAY CLOSED, so I know that you have reached out and made arrangements with your winner(s).
**PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON TOP SHARE THIS FORM WITH YOUR WRITERS GROUPS OR WRITER FRIENDS WHO MIGHT WANT TO PARTICIPATE** https://forms.gle/Yum4MLC9DX2ZBNvc6
Thank you!
I will be sending important updates as we gear up for the event, so be sure to check your inbox!
Please contact Rene, your ghostess with the mostest, if you have questions.
The promo runs from October 1st until the 31st. Each author will get their own promo page and a book cover posted on the sidebar of the site for the entire month. Every day a different author (or several, depending on participation) will be featured so everyone will have a day on the front page on the site.
I'll be holding a giveaway for visitors and offering a $25 Amazon egift card to one winner. I'll also be offering a free download of one of my ebooks, and if you would like to offer a download as well, you're welcome to, but it's not necessary to participate in the promo.
Lil will be having two freebie days (October 2 and 3) for her erotic romance novelette, The Shape of Heat: Awakening during Kate's promo event. If you can't wait that long, this book is just 99 cents or free with Kindle Unlimited.
Readers, I can only say I know the fine fellow in my little promo banner looks nothing like a highwayman. I hunted high and low and couldn't find any decent free highwayman images, so I went with this. The approximate time period is accurate-ish anyway.
Details for authors wanting to join the fun follow the post.
Book Blurb:
Celebrate summer with this steamy collection of short stories, perfect for a beach read!
All proceeds will go to ProLiteracy to benefit adult literacy all over the world. Visit their website at https://www.proliteracy.org/
Story Tagline
Kidnapper or Savior? Your call.
Story Blurb:
When Kat sets out to do her duty to her family, marrying the Earl of Grandhaven, her life is turned upside down when she’s kidnapped en route to her intended’s manor house. Jack the Rake offers to show her a thing or two that she’ll be missing after wedding the old Earl. After two glorious days in Jack’s bed, staying true to her commitment to her family is harder than ever.
About the Author:
Belle Sloane is a hedonist from the word go, and she owns it. She loves the tactile sensation of the keys beneath her fingers as she writes her stories, the smell of rain on cobblestone streets, the wind moving through Ponderosa Pine at night, and the taste of Hazelnut flavored Colombian coffee as it flows over her tongue. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, as well as a Master of Social Work, where she focused her study on sexual health. She lives in the beautiful Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico with her beloved husband CJ and their canine pals Mabel and Lily.
Author Links
Belle would love to hear from you anytime. Go ahead and drop her a post at BelleSloane@yahoo.com
13th - 19th – Do you read anything specific in the fall? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
I don't have much time to read anything in the fall. Three out of four months of the fall quarter are dedicated to poetry. Every September I do a 30 Days of Haiga project. Currently, I'm participating in OctPoWriMo, and in November, I will be doing the November PAD (Poem A Day) challenge with Writers Digest. This month, I'm also publishing a drabble a day on my poetry blog, and in November I will be doing NaNoHellMo because I'm a masochist (not the fun kind.)
3. Ask your readers to join Rene's Getaway Party Room. They will not want to miss this event! It will be so much fun for them to meet new authors, play games and win prizes.
4. Commit to sharing "A Spooky Good Time's" graphics on Social Media and in your Newsletters (including links to the group) leading up to the event. This is a team effort, so please share!
5. Mark your calendars. Saturday, October 28th. Anytime on the 28th, make 1 post in the group. Introduce yourself, tell the readers a bit about your books, tell them what you are giving away, and ask them a question, have them play a game, ask them to follow/friend you, whatever you want to do--but their comment on the post is their entry into the giveaway! You can give away as many books as you'd like! You can also give away swag and gift cards.
6. On Sunday the 29th you will pick your winner(s). Be sure to friend them and tag your winner right under GIVEAWAY CLOSED, so I know that you have reached out and made arrangements with your winner(s).
**PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON TOP SHARE THIS FORM WITH YOUR WRITERS GROUPS OR WRITER FRIENDS WHO MIGHT WANT TO PARTICIPATE** https://forms.gle/Yum4MLC9DX2ZBNvc6
Thank you!
I will be sending important updates as we gear up for the event, so be sure to check your inbox!
Please contact Rene, your ghostess with the mostest, if you have questions.
The promo runs from October 1st until the 31st. Each author will get their own promo page and a book cover posted on the sidebar of the site for the entire month. Every day a different author (or several, depending on participation) will be featured so everyone will have a day on the front page on the site.
I'll be holding a giveaway for visitors and offering a $25 Amazon egift card to one winner. I'll also be offering a free download of one of my ebooks, and if you would like to offer a download as well, you're welcome to, but it's not necessary to participate in the promo.
Lil will be having two freebie days (October 2 and 3) for her erotic romance novelette, The Shape of Heat: Awakening during Kate's promo event. If you can't wait that long, this book is just 99 cents or free with Kindle Unlimited.
