Zena Wynn's Blog, page 3

Nina Meets Her Future In-Laws (Thanksgiving Excerpt)

Setting the scene: This is Nina and Roberto's first Thanksgiving as an engaged couple. It's Nina's turn to host Thanksgiving for her large family. Roberto's parents and oldest son are flying into town to spend the holiday with him. Roberto's family can join hers for the holiday meal, but her house is too small. Roeberto's house is much larger, but he lives in a subdivision on a cul-de-sa, parking is limited, and most of her family won't attend if they change the location. Their compromise? Nina will host Thanksgiving for her family on Wednesday night and join Roberto with his on Thanksgiving Day. Roberto is excited because this will be Nina's first time meeting his parents.

The Nina Chronicles 2: Worth Fighting For?

Finally, Thanksgiving weekend was here. I worked a half-day on Wednesday to give myself time to prepare. My family was informed to be to the house at five. Since Roberto’s parents were flying in today, I didn’t feel it was right of him to leave them to their own devices to come here tonight and spend time with my family. He argued but eventually saw my point.

Justin chose to stay where the food was. Typical male. Brendon surprised me by coming home for the weekend. Justin took my car to go and meet Tyrone for me. When they got back, Brendon, Justin, and my two nephews gathered around the TV playing video games, followed quickly by the men who arrived. The females were in the kitchen, finishing the food preparations though I had most of it done.

We got a big laugh out of watching Justin and my mom trying to fry the turkey. Good thing the process was almost idiot proof. They managed to get it done without getting burned or knocking over the fryer, which was a real concern of mine.

In addition to the turkey I provided, our meal consisted of ham, collards, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, dressing, rice, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole. Mom baked sweet potato pies, and I made cheesecake. There were other deserts as well. Anitra brought drinks—cases of soda, gallons of sweet tea, and a case of bottled water. No alcohol allowed, house rule. 

Dinner was organized chaos. My dining table is a four seater, so we set up the food on it and everyone sat and ate wherever they could find a seat—the living room, den, and even the kitchen. It was great. Folks actually lingered after the meal. My family thought gathering on a Wednesday was an awesome idea, and we agreed to do the same next year when we met at my older sister Cynthia’s house.

It was almost ten before we got everything cleaned up and the last person left, taking a loaded plate wrapped in foil with them. Justin took out the trash and I headed to bed, knowing tomorrow would begin early. I was going to church for the six a.m. Thanksgiving service. It was a nice way to begin the day, giving thanks to God for all his many blessings and only lasted an hour. I’d been before and really enjoyed myself.

After service Thursday morning, I returned home and took a nap. I asked Justin if he was going to his dad’s in time for their family breakfast, but he preferred to sleep in. Roberto called three times to see where we were before I finally roused everyone so we could make our way there.

The weather changed, turning cold and clear. Accordingly, I dressed in a long broom skirt and a hip-hugging sweater that was comfortable yet dressy enough to meet Roberto’s parents without being too formal. Justin was excited to see his grandparents but a little subdued by the realization they weren’t truly his blood relatives. The twins were a bit apprehensive at meeting someone new and having to be on their best behavior.

Me personally, I really hadn’t given the situation much thought. I would be with Roberto, the man I loved, on a holiday designated for families. While I’d encouraged and even demanded his absence last night, it was hard seeing my sisters and other relatives with their significant others when I was alone, again. Next year would be different.

We arrived a little after eleven. Roberto came out and opened my door. “What took you so long?”

“The kids wanted to sleep in,” I told him.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” he told them as they exited the car. “Nice to see you, Brendon. You’ve been missed.”

Brendon gave a sheepish grin as we all headed into the open garage to enter the house via the garage door.

“Are you sure you didn’t want me to bring anything?” I asked, uncomfortable with coming empty-handed.

“Just yourself. We took care of the rest,” Roberto assured me. “Come meet my parents. My mother’s going to love you.”

One look at Ms. Ortega’s stern features and I knew it to be a lie. The woman hated me on sight. Oh, she greeted me politely enough. Things went downhill rather rapidly afterwards. She spent most of the day conversing in Spanish, despite Roberto’s many admonishments to speak English. When I tried to help in the kitchen, she shooed me out, emphasizing that I was there as a guest. I didn’t bother telling her I spent almost as much time in this home as I did my own. She was nice to the children, which was the only thing good I could say about the day.

I didn’t win any points with her with my reaction to the food. I’m a black Southerner. Ninety-nine percent of the homes you enter in the South on Thanksgiving Day will have some version of the same traditional holiday fare on their tables. It never occurred to me that Roberto’s family might be different. Talk about a culture shock.

Dinner began with some type of bean soup. Then came roast pig. The turkey had been soaked in wine and was served with some type of tomato sauce. Mashed potatoes, empanadas, stuffing with ingredients I couldn’t begin to name, seafood paella, and corn and rice were also served. I tried to do the polite thing and cautiously try a bit of everything. However, I’m allergic to seafood so the paella was out. Also, I have this strange little rule about the food I eat. If I don’t like the way it looks, it’s doubtful it will get close enough to my mouth to discover how it tastes.

I tried to keep my expression pleasantly noncommittal as I nibbled at the food on my plate, doing more pushing it around than eating. Roberto leaned over and asked in a low voice, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m still full from last night.” The partial truth rolled off my tongue without any forethought.

Roberto’s mom asked a question in rapid fire Spanish, and Roberto answered in kind. The few words I caught here and there told me I was the topic of discussion.

Jose, Roberto’s father, said, “Roberto tells us you had Thanksgiving dinner with your family last night at your home?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That must have been nice,” Jose commented.

“It was,” Justin answered and then went into a long speech about the food served.

“Did you save me some cheesecake?” Roberto asked.

I grinned at him as I assured, “I didn’t forget. I made a small one solely for you and threatened the kids with dismemberment if they touched it.”

He captured my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed the back of it before laying it on the table and covering it with his. “I’ll make sure to show my appreciation later,” he murmured.

My grin blossomed into a smile, thinking of all the many ways Roberto excelled in doing just that. A smile which died when I caught the expression on Mrs. Ortega’s face as she looked at our hands. As I looked away, my glance fell on Enrico, who gave me a look of sympathy. He knew his grandmother didn’t like me. Roberto seemed oblivious.

I withdrew back into myself and silently counted down the hours until I could leave without being rude. Thirty long minutes later, Mr. Ortega pushed away from the table and rose. His action signaled the end of the meal. I helped clear the table, offered my assistance washing the dishes, and was politely but firmly declined.

Fortunately, Justin chose that particular moment to come and ask for the car keys to move the car out of the driveway so they could play basketball. I used the opportunity to escape out of the house.

Backing the car onto the street, I found a parking space at the edge of the driveway and turned off the motor, but stayed in the vehicle. I was deeply disturbed. It had been so long since I’d been faced with an antagonistic mother-in-law, I’d forgotten the feeling.

Tyrone’s mother had never liked me. We got along well enough now, but it was because we rarely saw each other. Once she’d accepted she couldn’t control me and understood that I would continue to actively encourage the twins to spend time with them, we came to a truce.

Ronald’s mother was deceased.

For the first time in the six months since saying yes to Roberto’s proposal, I was having doubts. I loved the man, no question about it. He loved me, but he also loved his mother. I’d been in uncomfortable family situations before. Did I really want to put myself through another? Granted the woman lived in Texas, but life was funny. What if some day she ended up living with us? I would be her primary caretaker. Me, the woman she couldn’t stand.

I refused to come between Roberto and his mother. Her reaction today had been so subtle, I knew Roberto didn’t have a clue, other than her refusal to do the polite thing and speak English so I could be included in the conversations. Not that I’d have had much to say anyway.

I’d understood more of what was said than I let on. Living in Florida, I couldn’t help but pick up a bit of the language here and there. Not to mention the two years of high school Spanish classes, many moons ago. I’d caught enough to get the gist of what was being said but not enough to respond.

Roberto tapped on the window and I rolled it down. “What are you doing out here in the cold with no jacket?”

“Watching the kids.” It wasn’t a lie. My eyes were on them but I hadn’t really seen them until this very moment.

“Is everything okay?” I could see the concern in his eyes.

“Yes.”

“I know Momma can be a bit difficult to get to know, but she’ll grow to love you. You’ll see,” he tried to assure me.

I gave him a small smile I knew didn’t quite reach my eyes.

“Trust me. You’re a warm, caring woman. How could she not love you?” he asked.

Apparently very easily, I thought, but kept it to myself.

“It’s important to me that you two get along,” he continued. “The two women I love most in the world.”

I didn’t know what to tell him. The problem wasn’t with me. I didn’t know why she’d taken an instant dislike to me. It could be because I was black, or she might be one of those women who didn’t think anyone was good enough for her son. Or, Roberto’s first wife could have messed things up for anyone who followed. There was no telling, especially since Mrs. Ortega wasn’t volunteering the information.

I sighed. “I’ll try, Roberto.”

He gave me his gorgeous smile that revealed the dimple in his left cheek. “That’s all I ask.”

Breanna came over to the car. “Mom, can we go home? I have homework to do.”

I wanted to kiss her. Here was the excuse I needed to leave. I looked at the clock. It was two, going on three. We’d been here three, almost four hours. Not the whole day as I’d originally planned but good enough under the circumstances.

“I’d better get her home,” I told Roberto, trying to keep the relief out of my voice.

“She has all weekend to do it,” he protested.

“Not really. She’s going with youth to the state youth convention. It’s best she finish it tonight since she didn’t get the opportunity to do it last night,” I explained.

Roberto sighed. “I was hoping you’d be able to stay longer, give my folks a chance to get to know you. Who knows when my parents will be here again?”

“They’ll be here for a couple of days, right? We have two more days before their plane leaves,” I told him.

“That’s true. All right, I’ll see you later,” he said, his disappointment evident.

Anxious to leave, I asked, “Will you tell Brendon we’re leaving and send him to get my purse?”

“I’ll get your purse and send him over to you.”

“Thanks.”

Whatever your holiday plans, I hope your Thanksgiving goes better than Nina's. My family isn't doing a big get together this year. Instead, my oldest daughter is cooking, and my mom and I will drop in for to-go plates. I get to eat food I didn't have too cook and spend most of the day at home, doing whatever I want. I call that a good day.

If you've never read The Nina Chronicles and want to know more about Nina and Roberto's romance, please check out the following links. Binge read the entire series.

https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/nina-chronicles-nina-s-dilemma

https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/nina-chronicles-2-worth-fighting-for

https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/nina-chronicles-3-love-s-many-challenges

https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/nina-chronicles-4-full-and-overflowing

Sneak Peak: Ignite Her Fire (Current Work in Progress)

Sometimes my story ideas come to me via an opening scene that plays in my mind like a movie reel. This time, it was a picture that sparked the story idea. I saw this black and white picture and thought, there's a story here. Thus was born, Ignite Her Fire. I've had the photo for so long that I didn't know Fotolia and Adobe had merged. (I did find it again via Google's image search. Copyright: Forgiss) Now please enjoy this sneak peak.

,Chapter One - Grant

“I’ve never had an orgasm.”

I froze mid-step, certain I’d heard wrong. I’d backed the car out of the garage to drive to Home Depot, but as soon as the tires hit the driveway, I realized I’d left my credit card sitting on my computer keyboard. I ducked under the closing garage door and entered the house. Dashing into my office, I grabbed my card and was headed out again when I overheard Sasha’s comment. 

“I mean I enjoy sex, but I’ve never had anything close to the orgasms described in the erotic romance you gave me to read,” Sasha said.

I breathed a sigh of relief. If my wife was comparing our sex life to some silly romance novel, no wonder it hadn’t measured up. Everyone knew those books exaggerated. 

“Sex is…” Sasha made the humming noise she unconsciously made whenever she carefully choose her words. “It’s nice, pleasant…comfortable, like sinking into a hot bath at the end of a long tiring day. It feels good but…”

Sex with me was nice? Pleasant? Comfortable? What the hell? 

I must have said part of that aloud because Sasha suddenly said, “Hold on, Peggy. I heard something.”

There was a brief silence. I imagined Sasha tilting her head to the side and listening. Then she gave a soft laugh. “I’m back. I thought I heard a man’s voice…   No, it wasn’t Grant. He just left. … What? ... No, I don’t think someone broke into our house in the few minutes Grant’s been gone. This is a safe neighborhood. We have several cops living on the block and scattered throughout the subdivision.”

The soft fall of Sasha’s footsteps on the tile floor headed closer to where I stood just inside my office door. Fuck. I wanted to hear the rest of this conversation. Just then, the neighbor’s car engine revved and loud Spanish music blared, echoing throughout the house. It was the one thing I hated most about our subdivision. The damned houses were built right on top of each other. For the first time, I was grateful.

“Never mind. It was the next-door neighbor. Listen, I’m going to put you on speakerphone so I can wash dishes,” Sasha said.

I edged down the hallway, closer to the kitchen. The way the house was laid out, the garage exited into a short hallway. Directly opposite the garage door was a half bath. To the immediate right was a bonus room I’d converted into an office. To the left, past the bathroom, the short hallway exited into the large, airy foyer and the formal dining room. The foyer was two stories high with vaulted ceilings, and upstairs you could see straight down to the first floor. Past the stairs and laundry room was an open archway leading to the open plan kitchen, breakfast nook, and large family den. The high ceilings and lack of doors let sound travel clearly.

“Where’s Grant?” Peggy's voice came over the speaker.

“He went to the store.”

“So, you finally read one of the books I gave you. I’ve only been nagging you for months,” Peggy said.

“Yeah, I know. I was busy trying to get Wendi off to college. Then Nigel came home on leave. Things were hectic. Not a lot of downtime for pleasure reading.” Sasha’s footsteps on the tile floor drew closer and faded away, most likely clearing the table of breakfast dishes.

“Honey, there’s always time to read, even if it’s on the john. Did you like it? Which one did you read?” Peggy asked, her voice showing her enthusiasm.

“Yeah, it surprised me how much I enjoyed it. The one I read was about a man who could turn into a bear. I don’t remember the title. I couldn’t believe the way her family treated the heroine. I take back what I said about erotic romances being nothing but soft porn.” 

Forget about the damned book and get back to the sex talk, I silently urged them.

“I told you there was more to romance novels than sex. See what you’ve been missing by limiting your reading to cozy mysteries and true crime?” A pause. “You never had an orgasm? That’s a damn shame. Does Grant know?”

Sasha’s voice rose as she voiced her disbelief. “No, Grant and I don’t talk about sex.”

“I thought you two talked about everything. Why not this?”

Yes, why not this? I seconded Peggy’s question.

“I don’t know. Sex is something we’ve always just done. Who talks about their sex life?” Sasha asked.

“Plenty of couples, but I see what you’re saying. Once a couple actively becomes lovers, the conversations about sex reduce to when they want to do it, finding time to do it, or if one of them is adventurous, convincing the other to try something new. But if you’re not being satisfied, you should discuss it with Grant,” Peggy said.

The sound of running water filled the air, forcing me to move closer to hear. Sasha’s back would be to me as she loaded the dishwasher, so I had no fear of being seen. 

“I never said I wasn’t satisfied. After all, we’ve been married for over twenty years. Besides, I can’t just walk up to Grant and say, “By the way, honey, I read this book and now I’m starting to wonder if I’ve ever had an orgasm.” It would hurt him, not to mention the damage it would do to his ego. He’d think it was his fault.”

“Are you sure it’s not?” Peggy asked.

The muscles in my neck and shoulders tensed as I awaited her answer.

“Grant’s a wonderful, considerate lover. If there’s a problem, I’m sure it’s me,” Sasha stated firmly. “I did a little research on the subject. Not all women are capable of climaxing. Maybe I’m one of them.”

My eyes narrowed even as my fists clenched. Though Sasha tried to sound matter-of-fact, I heard an undertone of sorrow. 

“Hogwash! Every woman can orgasm. Our bodies are built for pleasure, and we all have the same equipment. Some women simply don’t know how, or they can’t relax long enough to let it happen. Then there are those stuck with selfish jerks who don’t care about anyone’s satisfaction but their own. I tell you, men are nothing but lazy, selfish pigs. Grant’s probably one of them, and you're just too nice to call him on it,” Peggy said.

“He isn’t! I told you, Grant’s a fantastic lover.” Sasha’s vehemence eased something tight in my chest. I didn’t think I was a selfish lover, but having my wife confirm it helped.

“All right, all right. Just checking. No need to get hostile. But still, are you sure you would know? Didn’t you tell me that you’ve been together since your senior year of high school and that he was your first lover? You really don’t have anyone to compare him with.”

“Peggy, I never said Grant was my only lover, just the first.”

I had to restrain myself from stalking into the kitchen and demanding who else my wife had been with. Had Sasha cheated on me?

“You had an affair?” Peggy’s voice echoed the shocked disbelief I felt, minus the anger.

“No! I did not cheat on my husband! Grant proposed while we were still in high school. Our parents did not approve. They thought we were too young to know our minds. His mother suggested that we see other people and make sure what we felt was real, spouting statistics about how many marriages between high school sweethearts end in divorce. My parents agreed, adding that if we still wanted to marry after graduating from college, my dad would pay for the wedding. My parents were concerned that marrying young would end with me dropping out of college. I was against it, but Grant caved under the pressure. We were apart during our freshman and sophomore years of college before getting back together the summer before our junior year. During that time, I dated and had a few short relationships.”

“Oh my god, I never knew that. Does Grant know?”

I do now, I thought angrily, fighting the urge to punch something—or someone.

“I think he was a little suspicious at the time, but we both agreed to forget the past and not discuss anything we did with others once we got back together. Besides, there wasn’t much he could say. We attended the same university, and every time I turned around he was with a different girl. For a while, he was the talk of the campus. That’s really what pushed me into accepting dates with other guys.”

The reminder of all the girls I’d gone through before admitting that none measured up to Sasha and never would put a chokehold on my jealous fury. 

My dad had encouraged me to play the field. “Son, I don’t want you to hit forty, burdened with kids and a mortgage, and regret not taking advantage of your freedom while you have it. Maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll be happy you married young, but maybe one day you'll look back and wish you'd made a different choice.”

I’d always been a popular guy, able to fit in with any crowd. I was both a jock and a nerd, so everyone liked me. University had been no different. Girls had thrown themselves at me, and I’d taken my father’s advice to heart. I’d told myself I was doing it for Sasha but the truth was, I’d been a horndog. 

“I take none of the others rang your bell, either?” Peggy asked.

Sasha chuckled softly. “They were nice guys, not too much more experienced than me, but eager to please. Sex was okay, but my feelings for Grant kept getting in the way. I usually broke things off after a few weeks, before the guys could get too attached. Being with me when I was hung up on Grant wasn’t fair to them.”

“Soooo, what are you going to do?” Peggy asked.

“About what?” 

“About what?” Peggy sputtered. “About this whole never having an orgasm thing.”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

Sasha sighed. “What do you want me to do, Peggy?”

More sputtering, then finally, “I don’t know, but aren’t you curious about what you’re missing?”

“Well, yes, but marriage is about more than sex. Grant and I have a great relationship and a wonderful marriage. He’s more than my husband; he’s my best friend. I’m not going to screw that up over a bit of curiosity.”

Peggy sighed. “You’ve got a point. You know, there are things you can do to educate yourself.”

Things like what? I wondered. Of all of Sasha’s friends, Peggy was my least favorite. Her views were a little too liberal for my taste. 

“What things?” Sasha asked.

“Well, remember when I said a lot of women don’t orgasm because they don’t know how?”

“Yeah.”

“One of the things Denise taught me to do was to learn my body. She encouraged me to explore my sexuality. Under her tutelage, I learned how to pleasure myself, ‘cause God knows, Tom never had a clue. There are plenty of sex toys designed by women for women to maximize a woman’s pleasure. I can recommend a few. You’re a very passionate woman. I think all you need is for someone to light your fire,” Peggy finished huskily.

Wait a damn minute. Was Peggy coming on to my wife?

“Masturbation, sex toys? Uh, that’s a bit out of my comfort zone,” Sasha said.

“Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I’ll be happy to help. Gotta go. Denise is calling me. We’re spending the day at the spa.” Peggy sighed. “She’s so romantic. Unlike that pig I divorced. Now that you’ve read one and liked it, what’s next on your reading list?”

Sasha laughed. “A contemporary suspense I already have loaded onto my tablet. As soon as I finish cleaning, I plan to kick back and read.”

I silently eased back the way I’d come until I reached the garage door, still open from when I’d entered the house. Exiting the garage from the side door, I walked around to the driveway and quietly got into the car. As I left, Sasha’s conversation with Peggy twirled round and around in my thoughts. What, if anything, was I going to do about her revelation? 

If my NaNoWriMo is successful, I hope to have this released in January. Or, you can read as I write at the following link: https://igniteherfire.laterpress.com/

Marriage in Crisis: Love after "I Do!"

I believe that even before I was married, I enjoyed romances about marriages in trouble. After my divorce, these books appealed even more. Sure, reading about couples falling in love is fun, but I like the meat and grit of a couple fighting to keep a marriage alive despite adversity. I'm sure if I were to consult a therapist, they'd give me all kinds of deep, psychological reasons why these books speak to me. I don't care about the why. I just really love a good marriage in crisis romance.

Over the years, two books with this theme really stuck with me. The first is The Fulfillment by LaVyrle Spencer. It was published in 1979, so you can imagine how long ago I read it. It's a historical set in the early 1900s. The MMC (husband) was infertile. He and his younger brother worked the family farm together, and the husband, wife, and brother-in-law have a close, loving relationship. The husband regrets that he can't give his wife a child, so he plants the seed, basically throws the brother and wife together so she can get pregnant, and leaves town, providing an opportunity for his suggestion to bear fruit.

Man, the emotional drama that followed. I had to have been a teenager when I read this story, and I still remember the details despite having read hundreds, if not thousands of books since then. Now that I think about it, this book may be the root of my fascination with love triangles. One woman in love with two good men. She can't have both, and there's no way to choose one without ripping out her heart. https://www.amazon.com/Fulfillment-LaVyrle-Spencer/dp/0380470845

In 2009, at the beginning of my publishing career, I wrote a book called The Contract. It's a sci-fi romance set off planet. In the story, my heroine (Cecily) marries the hero. They show up at his Human Resources office to prove he's married. The Company is the most lucrative employer on earth, where jobs are scarce. Cecily is on board with living on an asteroid, but there's a catch in Billy's employment clause that concerns her. Miners must be married and live in family units. If, for some reason, one of the men in the unit loses a wife, he has to leave the asteroid until he can find another wife. Or, he can exercise his option to marry one of the wives in the unit.

As you can imagine, my heroine balks at the clause, but the hero convinces her it will never happen. They will be sharing a unit with his older brother and sister-in-law. She reluctantly signs because she loves the hero. The unthinkable happens, and Cecily finds herself torn between two brothers who both want her.

Buy Link: https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/the-contract

The second book in my mental, unforgettable file is Lena Matthew's Happily Even After, published in 2010. Okay, technically, I guess the couple weren't still married to each other, but they were definitely still in love. The drama, the angst--this book had it all. The heroine has a one-night stand that ends with her getting pregnant. I won't go into all the spoilers of how the divorce happened, who she slept with, and why she keeps resisting the hero's attempts to heal their marriage. I will say that this was a damn good book. So good, I've never forgotten the author or the title. I reached out to Lena to see if the book is available anywhere other than in print. If so, I can't find it.

https://www.amazon.com/Happily-Even-After-Lena-Matthews/dp/1607377438

I suppose I can thank these two authors and others for exploring infidelity in marriage. I know most readers hate cheating books, but I've found that if it's really well done, the storyline can suck you in faster than a Lifetime movie.

I hope my duet Beyond the Breaking and Broken fits into this category. In my opening scene, Cassidy (my heroine) and her husband (Phillip) are on vacation, using the downtime to get pregnant. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't take long before their happy marriage begins to show cracks.

In Beyond the Breaking Point, I put my heroine through the wringer. In addition, there's a bromance (between Max and Phillip, best friends since college) that gets fractured by Phillip's betrayal. Throw in Cassidy's drunken, angry one-night stand with Max that ends with her becoming pregnant and not knowing which man is the father, and you have a drama worthy of a soap opera. My beta readers got into arguments over what they thought the heroine should do.

To read a sample, click here: https://beyondthebreakingpoint.laterpress.com/

These aren't the only books about a marriage in crisis in my catalog. If this trope entices you, check out these books:

To Jon, With Love: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/483249

Trust Me Tonight: https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Me-Tonight-Zena-Wynn-ebook/dp/B01MSUMR8T

Fantasy Island: Fantasy Man: https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/fantasy-island-fantasy-man

J & M Consulting: Gamed: https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/j-m-consulting-2-gamed

The Nina Chronicles: Full and Overflowing: https://www.zenawynn.com/product-page/nina-chronicles-4-full-and-overflowing

The Dreaded Business Plan

In the business world, it's good to align yourself with more experienced people in your field. Taking advantage of their business advice and tutelage can help tremendously in your efforts to establish a business for yourself. This is especially true in the ever-changing world of publishing.

Whenever I consult with my good friend, Author Olivia Gaines, for advice on some issue, she inevitably asks, "Zena, what does your business plan say?"

The first time she asked me that question, my thought was, "Business plan? To sell books. Duh!" To say I'm not the most business-savvy person on earth would not be an understatement. When I got started in book publishing, the only things required of me were to write the manuscript, submit the manuscript to my publishers for publication, and if accepted, work with the editor to polish said manuscript to the best of my ability. I also was required to have a website and find a way to interact with readers. That was the extent of my business plan: Write, submit, edit, advertise, repeat. I'd even been told by more experienced authors that the best way to sell more books is to publish the next one.

I had to level up when I embraced self-publishing and began educating myself. I no longer had a publisher to handle the business side of things for me. The learning curve was steep. First, because I wanted to do it right, I had to learn about the different types of businesses and pick the one that best suited my needs: Sole Proprietorship or LLC. Then, I had to research how to register my business at the federal, state, and county levels. That took time, patience, and money. I won't even get into the learning curve for filing self-employment taxes.

Fortunately, by this point, I'd established quite a network of authors, editors, and publishers willing to help me with all of the tasks my publisher used to handle. These people answered my many questions about formatting and distributing my books to sales outlets such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. The cover artist I met during my brief stint as an editor for the now-defunct Red Rose Publishing agreed to become my cover artist, which was a blessing.

I thought I knew all I needed to know about the business side of publishing until Olivia asked me that pesky little question. Apparently, there was more I still needed to learn, so I did what I always do. I consulted YouTube. What I learned is the first thing I needed was an objective.

Obviously, my objective is to sell books. Specifically, to sell the books that I write at a profit. To meet that goal, my "plan" was, and still is, to write two to three books a year and publish them (measurable). That number may change based on word count and the time it takes to write, edit, and publish each one, but three a year is the goal. It's not only my goal, but it's achievable. (See what I did there?)

Now comes the tricky, ever-fluctuating part of the equation. How do I want to sell those books? Meaning, which sales channels do I want to use? Amazon is key, of course, despite my becoming progressively more disgruntled with them as time passes. I use Smashwords/D2D as a distribution hub for other retailers and libraries to save time. I also applied for and received access to sell directly through Google Books.

In the last year or so, my focus has shifted more to direct sales. My new business plan is to remove the middleman as much as possible. I want greater control over my product. So now my business plan requires researching how to drive readers to my website and get them to purchase directly from me. Why is that important? Retailers take 65% of the book price, leaving the author the remaining 35%. When I sell directly, I keep 95-98% of the purchase price with only 2-3% for processing fees deducted. That is a much better return.

(Attribution: https://emilybuehler.com/2018/book-distribution-for-self-publishers/)

Kindle Unlimited used to be a part of my business plan. I'd post books there for the first 90 days to boost reviews and exposure, and then push my books out to the other retailers. I've hit pause on KU. In my opinion, a royalty of less than a penny per page read isn't worth it. Other authors may feel differently.

The same goes for Kindle Vella. The monthly bonuses were nice, but when I looked at the actual royalties earned for reads, it was a mere pittance. Since I started with Kindle Vella to pressure myself to finish Mate Run: Cara, it served its purpose. However, the stress of that pressure eventually wore me down. As a result, I pulled the two stories I had in Vella, too.

One of my goals is still to put all my books in all available formats: ebook, print, and audiobook. A future goal is to have all books translated into Spanish and perhaps German. Translation done right is costly, and unless a publisher expresses an interest in acquiring the translation rights to my books, that may remain an unrealized dream.

I think the biggest component of my business plan that's lacking is marketing. Frankly, advertising/marketing books is hard. Doing it cost-free is even more difficult. Olivia says I should have a marketing budget. The problem is finding places to advertise my books that aren't a waste of money. Contrary to popular belief, all authors aren't rolling in dough. Most of us have a day job for a reason.

There are days when the business side of publishing feels overwhelming. Every time I think I have a handle on things, it changes. I miss the days when all I had to do was finish the next manuscript, but I also enjoy having greater control over my books. Since I'm not going to stop writing, my only choice is to keep learning and growing so that I can be the best I can be at this thing we call publishing.

If you're an author, what has been your greatest challenge? If you're interested in becoming a published author, what do you find most frustrating about the process?

How Old Were You When You Read Your First Romance Novel?

I was 13 years old, in the 7th grade, when a classmate offered me one of her mom's romances to read. It was a Harlequin Presents. Back then, Harlequin had a monthly subscription (and maybe still do?). Subscribers received 6 books monthly, a month before they showed up on the shelves in the store. I don't remember her name now, but my classmate said her mom didn't mind her reading her books.

My mom was another story. I remember she saw me reading one in my room and asked what I was reading. I told her what I thought was the book's name. It was actually the author's, but I didn't correct myself when I realized my error. Her suspicious tone told me what she thought of "those sex books," which is how she still refers to them today. LOL!

In truth, she was right to be concerned. This was in the early 80s. While romances back then didn't have the sex scenes you find today, they were full of angst and drama. The heroes were rich and powerful: CEOs, Greek billionaires, Arab Sheikhs, and the like. The power imbalance between women and men was incredible. The stories were all written from the heroine's point of view, and frankly, the hero treated the heroine like crap. There were forced marriages and all other kinds of crazy situations.

There was a black moment in each book--that part of the plot where happily ever after seems like a lost cause. Suddenly, information would come to light, or the hero would do this amazing about-face, and you'd learn that he actually did love the heroine. Once he said those 3 little words, all would be forgiven, and the couple would ride off into the sunset (figuratively speaking).

This is why I never should have read those books at such an impressionable age. As I look back at all the relationship crap I've gone through in my early years, I can't help but wonder how much was the result of those romance novels? If I could speak to my younger self, I'd say, "Girl, the books are fun and all but no more real than Bugs Bunny. You wouldn't expect to find a walking, talking rabbit. Don't expect men to behave like the heroes in those books, and if they do, run far, far away as fast as you can."

Fortunately, romances today are different. Unless you read YA (Young Adult) romances, the power balance between the couples is more level. Most romances give both the hero's and heroine's point of view, so even if the hero is behaving like a jerk, the reader understands what he's thinking and feeling.

I am happy to be a romance writer now. Whereas previously, the heroines in those books were all white, I have the privilege of writing women of different colors and ethnicities. My heroines are professionals and older than the traditionally published heroines in their mid-20s. Most of my heroines aren't looking for a relationship and are chased by the hero. Which, in my opinion, is the way it's supposed to be. I don't like needy heroines or ones who do the chasing. (Perhaps that's my religious beliefs rearing its head?)

I write about women who respect themselves and command respect from others. They're nice and may give you the shirt off their back, but if you push too hard, as the saying goes, you'll "f*ck around and find out" exactly what they're made of. They are women in their 30s and 40s, who like me, have lived, loved, and learned from their life experiences.

Because I love a strong man (and what red-blooded female doesn't?), my heroes are all alphas. They're strong without being a-holes. They're not perfect, because perfect is boring, but they are a perfect match for the heroine. I don't write stupid misunderstandings that can be cleared with a simple, honest conversation, and I rarely do the "we almost broke up" moment in books. My tension and conflict come from other plot devices.

One of my favorite things to write about is married couples. Perhaps because my marriage didn't last. I like taking the couple past "happily ever after" and throwing conflict their way to see how they handle it. Did they mean their vows? Do they put the same energy into staying together that they did in getting together?

I'm working on one such story now. Grant and Sasha are empty nesters. Grant's focus is on rebuilding the connection between him and his wife when he accidentally overhears Sasha on the phone confessing that she's never had an orgasm. You can imagine the havoc it causes with him and their marriage.

The research for this book has been interesting. To get the details right, I've been reading books by sex therapists and listening to podcasts by industry professionals. It's amazing how many couples have problems with their sex lives. Astounding, really. I've been struggling with this story for a few years, occasionally pulling it out to play with and then sticking it back in its corner. This time, I'm determined to complete it.

My writing life has been unpredictable, so I don't want to promise a release date. What I can say is I hope to have this book published this year, if my creative mind and schedule cooperate. If this sounds familiar, I had it up in Kindle Vella for a time before snatching it down.

If you'd like to read a sample, here's the link: https://igniteherfire.laterpress.com/

Stay on the Porch: Don't engage!

At the start of my writing career, I was fortunate enough to have experienced authors and small indie publishers take me under their wings and mentor me. They taught me valuable lessons I adhere to today. I'd like to share a few.

Rule #1: Stay on the Porch. This rule was about reviews left for my books on Amazon and other distributor sites. When you put something out for public consumption, you're not always going to like the feedback you receive. I was told no matter whether the review was good or bad, do not respond. Responding to negative reviews only makes the author look bad to readers.

Let's be honest. There are malicious people in this world. People who never learned the Golden Rule: Treat others as you want to be treated. Belittle someone's book makes them feel good about themselves. Some reviewers make negative comments about the author instead of centering their comments on the book itself. There are all types of people in this world, and when you work in the public arena, eventually you'll have encounters with the less desirable ones.

It's hard not to jump in there and defend yourself or your book baby. Sometimes, as an author, you have questions and may want clarification so you know how to improve your craft. Don't ask. If the reviewer wanted to discuss the book with you, they would have emailed you.

I'd prefer an honest review, even if the reader didn't like my story. What I don't like are reviews that make me question if they read my book (character's names are wrong, etc), reviews left for my book that's clearly advertising another author's work, and reviews that summarize my whole book, leaving nothing for new readers to discover. Even so, I've learned to grit my teeth and bear it because it's part of the publishing landscape.

Rule #2: Authors Behaving Badly. The publishing world is a small one. I learned that right away. Publishers, editors, literary agents, distributors, etc. all know each other and they talk. With social media being as huge as it is, seeking an agent or a book contract is just like job hunting, but instead of employment references these entities view your public profile.

"But I'm an Indie author and have no intention of going the traditionally published route," you may be saying. Ditto for me, too, but that's even more of a reason for me to be as professional as possible with my public profile. A decade ago, the worst thing an author had to worry about was a 1-star review. Now, we have readers banding together to trash your book, your profile, and destroy your business reputation all because they didn't like something you posted online. It's savage out here in these publishing streets. Sometimes the best thing you can do as an author is stay in your writing cave and only come out when absolutely necessary.

For more examples of authors behaving badly, read this interesting article: https://literary-agents.com/authors-behaving-badly/

Rule #3: Keep Your Personal Life Personal. Whew, chile, this one right here! Look, I'm Southern and Black, and for a time in my life, I was on public assistance. Nobody gets up in your business like the government, except maybe readers fangirling over their favorite authors. The first time a reader wanted to know about my personal life, I was like, "Why? What business is it of yours?" I wasn't rude enough to say it aloud, but I sure thought it. Part of it is the generation in which I was raised (Gen-X), and the other part is simply my natural reticence.

When I became active on social media, I had to learn how to balance my public persona with my private life. I still struggle, but I think I've found a happy medium. I rarely, if ever, share my political beliefs. I'm choosy about with whom I share my faith. Not because I'm ashamed of either but because I know they're hot buttons for some. Readers would rather hear about my sex life than my faith, and I don't talk about that either. Instead, I occasionally discuss my day job, my family, and my health.

When I see posts on TikTok and Facebook exposing people's ignorance or entitlement, it's so hard not to jump in and comment. Excruciating, at times, but I know no good will come of it. My intent might be to educate the person, but most often, my blunt way of speaking will offend either the poster or someone else who read the post. Instead, I chant under my breath, "That's their profile. They can post whatever they want. Keep scrolling." The few times I've given into the temptation the results weren't worth it. Maintaining my peace is more valuable to me than putting in my two cents, which is about all unasked for opinions are worth.

What things dig under your skin and make it difficult for you to remain silent? Leave me a comment in the comment section so I know I'm not alone.

If you like content like this, don't forget to subscribe to my website. While you're there, consider visiting my store: www.zenawynn.com/shop

What I Suck At As An Author

If you read my last blog post, you know that I've been researching best practices for building a website that attracts readers and sells. During one of the podcasts I listened to, the creator said a word that made me groan. Can you guess what it was?

The creator said that you have to be consistent with your website. The example she gave was if the links on your home page are blue, they need to be blue everywhere on your website. This trains site visitors to know that red means it's clickable. What she said made sense so I immediately set about implementing in on my website, but I chose the color red, which is more on brand for me.

Unfortunately, her comment got me thinking about the lack of consistency in my life. For instance, I'm not consistent in my writing. Most successful writers set aside to time to write every day, even if it's only an hour. I write when the mood strikes. I have periods where I write every chance that I get, and I have seasons where the mere thought of writing sends me running from my computer.

Another area where I lack consistency is in what I write. I've taken classes on how to increase your author income, and one of the things they say is to "Stay in your lane." By that they mean pick a genre and/or sub genre and stick with it. When I first began writing in 2007, I started with my paranormal series, True Mates. I love paranormal shifter romances and at that time, there simply wasn't a big selection to choose from. The series was, and still is, very popular. Based on the given advice, I was supposed to keep writing True Mates romances, grow my readership, and rake in the money.

What did I do? Because I didn't want to be pigeonholed as a paranormal author, in 2009 I wrote my first full-length contemporary romance: The Question. It was a huge hit with readers and is still my highest rated book. I continued writing True Mates books but also began building a large contemporary romance catalog.

In the sixteen years that I've been published, I've written an Edgy Christian romance series, The Nina Chronicles, paranormal romances, sci-fi romances, fantasy romances, and most recently, a post-apocalyptic, futuristic romance series, Mate Match Agency. I write what I like to read and when it comes to romance, I read a bit of everything.

The irony is that on the drive to work this morning, I thought about a few of my favorite authors and realized they don't follow this advice either. My thoughts went first to Nalini Singh. She started with her Psy/Changling series. Next, she wrote the Guild Hunter series, a paranormal based on Archangels, but the more I thought, I remembered she also has a contemporary romance series and now she's writing a romantic suspense series. My thoughts then shifted to Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan, Cythia Eden, and so many more authors I read that don't follow this rule. I felt bamboozled.

I'm not saying the advice is wrong. It just doesn't fit my gypsy writing soul. I know authors who have followed their advice, began writing a series based on popular tropes, and now they're a seven-figure author. Maybe one day I'll learn to be consistent and do the same. Until then, I'll keep writing the stories of whichever character screams the loudest in my ears.

Just some food for thought as I celebrate National Book Reading Month.

Authorpreneur: My DIY Author Website (history)

In 2007 when I signed my first publishing contract, the only marketing requirement was that I have and maintain an author website. My book hadn't been published, and I didn't have the book cover to begin advertizing. At that point, my book didn't even have an approved title. Add in no money and I went with my best option, Blogger.com.

A few years later, I had more books under my belt but still no expendable cash. I researched "best free websites" and saw Webs.com. Their click and drag template appealed to me, as did the idea that with a little imagination, anyone could create a decent website--no coding necessary. I was happy with my little website for over ten years.

Unfortunately, Webs was bought by Vistaprint. For some time, they left us Webs users alone. Then in 2020, they announced that all Webs users would need to convert to the Vistaprint website. The free website was also going away. By this point, I had over thirty books. If I had to pay for a website, it was time to research the best fit for me.

A year before, I'd taken over my church's Wordpress website when the member who managed it left. That experience was enough to teach me that I wanted nothing to do with Wordpress. I didn't have the technical knowledge necessary to do more than basic updates, and each time I worked on it, I walked away with a headache and a deepening dislike of the platform. In addition, every time Wordpress did an upgrade, it caused issues with the various plugins the website creator used. It got to the point where our website failed, and we were forced to move it. (Happy Dance time!)

After questioning several authors and looking at their websites, I settled on Wix.com for not only my author website but also the church's. Moving thirty-plus books took time and the process was stressful. By that point, I was under a deadline. My old site was being deactivated by Vistaprint. I had to have the new website up and running before that happened.

I created my Wix site in 2021 and for a year, I was happy with it. I made a few tweaks here and there. I added all of my books, the blurbs, and buy links. Lastly, I paid extra to have a store and uploaded my audiobooks and ebooks to sell direct. I learned about Landing Pages and added one to my website. The only thing I didn't know how to do was drive traffic to my website.

All was good until a month ago when I stumbled across a Facebook post by Shea Swain stating she was updating her website and invited friends to take a look. Since I was already considering updating mine, I did and was immediately jealous. Her website is fabulous. I told Shea how great her website looked and warned her that I was stealing some of her ideas. (See it here: https://sheaswainwrites.com/ )

I try to update my website once a year. After seeing hers, I knew I had to up my game. I went to YouTube and searched Best Practices for Author Websites. Over my next few posts, I'll share what I learned and point out the improvements I've implemented.

See my website: www.zenawynn.com

Visit my bookstore: www.zenawynn.com/shop

Welcome to the Future: The World of Mate Match Agency

The hardest part of writing the Mate Match Agency series was unarguably the world building. These stories are set in the future after a viral pandemic changed the world as we know it. In addition to researching pandemics and its effects on the world (thank you, Covid), I had to use my imagination of what a recovering world would look like. I couldn't use race or ethnic descriptions for my characters because in the future, skin color doesn't matter. With each book, I explored a different aspect of their world.

Mate Run: Pia is the shortest book and an introduction to the world of the infected and noninfected.

Mate Run: Cherise takes a deeper look at infected society as a whole and how the genetic mutation impacts them.

In Mate Run: Cara, the longest book, I explore in greater detail the virus and its origins . I also made a valiant attempt to answer all of the questions asked by readers in their reviews.

Welcome to the World of Mate Match.

In the year 2124, our world has been dramatically reshaped by a man-made viral pandemic. Initially, this virus was designed to create superhuman soldiers, a project led by the US military. However, it inadvertently resulted in a profound division among the global population, creating two distinct groups: the infected and the noninfected. This division transcended the usual lines of race, ethnicity, and nationality, as it's now genetic alterations that determine one's place in this new reality.

**The Infected:**

1. **The Clans:** Those who contracted the virus and experienced genetic changes are known as "the infected." They reside in rural areas, forming small, necessary clans. These clans are predominantly composed of males who have acquired animalistic traits, such as heightened senses like super hearing, superior eyesight, and reflexes. These enhancements make urban environments, filled with technology and sensory stimuli, a challenging place for them to inhabit.

2. **Self-Governance:** In the wake of the pandemic's destruction, centralized governments collapsed. Consequently, the infected clans have taken on self-governance. Their leadership often relies on a merit-based system, where individuals with unique skills stemming from their genetic enhancements assume leadership roles.

3. **Natural Adaptation:** The infected have adapted to their improved senses and animal-like characteristics. They now reside in small rural communities, living off the land by cultivating crops, hunting, fishing, and relying on traditional wisdom to ensure their survival. Their distinctive abilities grant them advantages in these natural settings.

**The Noninfected:**

1. **New Town (formerly Portland Maine):** Those who remained uninfected sought refuge in meticulously rebuilt urban cities, which now serve as technologically advanced fortresses of safety. These cities boast state-of-the-art medical facilities, AI-driven infrastructure, and intricate security systems. Unfortunately, the sensory-rich urban environment can be overwhelming for the infected due to their heightened senses.

2. **Isolationism:** Fearing the possibility of genetic contamination, noninfected communities have adopted stringent isolationist policies. Entry into their cities is rigorously regulated, involving comprehensive health screenings and quarantines for newcomers. The infected are often misunderstood and feared. Noninfected individuals worry not only about the genetic alterations but also about the risk of not surviving the virus itself.

3. **Fragmented Governance:** The collapse of national governments has given rise to localized governance within these urban enclaves. Each city formulates its own set of rules and regulations, with limited cooperation facilitated by communication networks.

**Interactions and Conflicts:**

1. **Resource Disparities:** Tensions arise from disparities in resources between the infected and noninfected. Urban enclaves have access to advanced technology and abundant resources, while the infected clans grapple with adapting to these environments.

2. **Cultural Divides:** Profound cultural and genetic differences deepen the divide between the two groups. Noninfected individuals prioritize security, technological progress, and strict governance, while the infected place a premium on survival, community, and self-sufficiency.

In this divided world of 2124, humanity faces a complex tapestry of challenges and opportunities. The struggle for survival, the relentless pursuit of technological advancement, and the fervent quest to maintain the societal balance are all intertwined with the unforeseen consequences of genetic experimentation gone awry. The choices made by women like Pia, Cherise, and Cara, who seek to bridge this divide, hold the potential to reshape this world in unexpected ways. (Overview created with the assistance of Chatgpt)

True Mates: Introducing Alex Wolfe

Meet Alex Wolfe, alpha of the Raven Pack, one of the largest wolf-shifter packs in the United States. Alex is the only child of Mona and Thomas Wolfe, the original alphas. When he was a teenager, his parents became foster parents to Carol Scott, their Beta's daughter whose parents died in a car crash.

In preparation for becoming alpha, Alex studied hard and is licensed as both a medical doctor and veterinarian. He wanted to be able to treat the whole shape-shifter: human and animal. As you can imagine, this didn't leave the heir apparent with a plethora of free time. He's dated his share of women, seeking one who'd be the right fit as his mate, but alas, didn't find anyone suitable.

Alex is nearing forty when he's confronted by his parents about his lack of a mate. Their concern is real. He needs a partner to co-alpha the pack, and it's past time he gave birth to a heir. Alex makes the bold declaration that he's holding out for his one, his true mate.

Pressure is building from his parents and the pack. Alex holds firm and his prayer for a mate is answered in the most mystical of ways.

Alex's story can be found in the following books:

To read how Alex found his mate, read True Mates, my first book and the first book in the True Mates series.

To read about the birth of Alex's first child, read Alpha in Charge.

Both books are available in audiobook:

Alpha in Charge (new) https://www.audible.com/pd/True-Mates-Audiobook/B0CGMJTTWD

True Mates: https://www.audible.com/pd/True-Mates-Audiobook/B07J6TQ836

If you're interested in a free review copy of Alpha in Charge, please contact me. Limited copies available. Reviews must be posted within 30 days.