Sharon Wray's Blog, page 27

Advent Traditions to Light up the Dark Night

Although I love Christmas, and go all out in decorating (I even put up three trees!), I come from a tradition where Advent–those four weeks before Christmas–were treated as a mini-Lent. My grandparents never decorated their trees until Christmas Eve, and the actual Twelve Days of Christmas started on December 25 and were celebrated until the Epiphany on January 6th. And our church kept their decorations up until February 2nd, St. Brigid’s Day.

Growing up, my parents slowly let the Christmas creep in and we started decorating earlier and earlier. But never before the first week in December. And we certainly didn’t decorate before Thanksgiving.  Now, with a family of my own, I take the holiday season slowly and appreciate what Advent has to offer. Waiting has been more difficult this year with the first Sunday of Advent falling a few days after Thanksgiving. It feels like we’ve lost an entire week of holiday prep time!

So, what is Advent? In Latin, Advent means “coming towards” (“ad” = towards, vent = coming) and around the middle of the fifth century, it became a 40-day period of fasting and spiritual preparation, starting on St. Martin’s day (November 12) and ending on December 25. Advent traditions became popular during the middle ages when candles were lit to show that despite the growing darkness, God would always provide a light for our spiritual journey, especially in the winter season. Advent is about waiting with faith for God’s promise, while Christmas is about the promise fulfilled. The former is a time of contemplation and prayer, the latter is about joy and celebration. And once upon a time my grandparents (and their grandparents) understood this.

Although the tradition of fasting during Advent has waned, there a number of devotions that support both prayer and contemplation during this time. The most popular are the Advent wreath, the Advent calendar, and setting up Nativity scenes. But others have regained their popularity, such as the Jesse Tree and celebrating St. Lucia’s Day. So in the spirit of today’s post, here are a few of my Advent traditions.

Advent Wreath #1

My first advent wreath sits on my kitchen table. It’s a simple wreath of greenery with four candles, three purple and one pink. We light the first candle on the first Sunday of Advent, then each week add another candle, allowing the day’s lections to guide us towards Christmas day. Purple is a penitential color, reminding us that the celebrations are yet to come–but not yet. And the pink candle, lit three weeks into Advent, is for Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, which means Rejoice in Latin, reminds us that in spite of the darkness, joy is coming soon.

Advent Wreath # 2

My second Advent wreath is much simpler. It is a wooden spiral wreath with 25 candle holes made by a family in Canada. A small wooden cut-out of a pregnant Mary on a donkey follows the lighted candles, reminding us of our own spiritual journey during this time of waiting.

Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree, which also dates back to medieval times, tells the story of Christ’s lineage. The Jesse Tree, named after King David’s father, represents a direct ancestral line from creation, up to King David, then straight through to the Nativity. Every night during advent, we place Jesse ornaments, representing Jesus’ ancestors, on the tree and read the corresponding bible story.

Saint Lucia Day

This is the festival of lights celebrated on December 13 in honor of St. Lucia of Sweden, a young girl who was martyred around the year 303 AD, during the reign of Diocletian. When I was a kid, we used to process around school (a public school!) holding real candles (how did we ever survive the 70’s and  80’s?!?) which represented St. Lucia’s triumph over darkness. Then we’d get hot chocolate and St. Lucia buns in the cafeteria. Now, in honor of this holiday, I plug in the lights on my Christmas trees and decorate them. 

Manger Scene

I bought this crèche not long after we were married, and we even took it overseas when my husband was stationed in Korea. A crèche or creche, from the Latin cripia meaning crib or cradle, refers to a group of small figures arranged to represent the nativity, aka the birth of Jesus Christ. When I put up our manger scene, I hide the baby Jesus until Christmas morning. And the kids, if they’re home, still move the Wise Men around until the Epiphany on January 6th. (Did I mention they’re grown and they still play with the manger scene?)

Dickens Village

Many years ago, my husband and I began collecting Department 56 ceramic houses that were part of the Dickens’ Christmas collection. The village has grown almost every year, and now I have an entire section of my dining room dedicated to these small ceramic houses. Although these houses are small, and the ceramic people oddly sized in proportion to the buildings, this village takes a lot of time to set up. By the time I’m done, I’m ready to move on to decorating the trees. Then, finally, I can sit back and relax while drinking cocoa and watching my favorite holiday movies and while I wait for Christmas Day to arrive.

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Nice Until Proven Naughty Release Day

December is finally here and I’m releasing another Christmas anthology. This collection, Nice Until Proven Naughty, is a steamy holiday collection that includes a sexy Christmas Eve novella in my Kingsmill Courtships series. This story, Eve’s Christmas Kiss, is a snowed-in, on-the-run, second-chance love story that will change their lives forever. I hope you enjoy it because I loved writing it!

Nice Until Proven Naughty A Limited Edition Holiday Romance Collection

Find the magic of the season under the mistletoe.

Spice up your reading with this collection of heartwarming and steamy Christmas romances featuring everything from sweet, snow-covered second chances to fiery nights by the fireplace. This collection of holiday romances delivers the charm and the magic of the holiday season.

Whether you prefer the nice or the naughty side of romance, there’s a story here to warm your heart or spice up your winter night. Are you ready to be naughty or nice this Christmas?

Buy now!Eve’s Christmas Kiss

To save his wife, he’ll have to let her go.

Kane Mosby, the former leader of an outlaw motorcycle club, is a sexy rebel with a cause. His unexpected return to Kingsmill, VA for his brother’s Christmas wedding has rocked the small town and caused a stir in the local MC. Except he doesn’t care about gossip and is counting the hours until he can leave. Until he discovers his estranged wife is involved with the man who betrayed Kane years ago, forcing him to abandon the woman he’s never forgotten.

Eve Crenshaw is a beautiful, brilliant accountant with a secret that could tear their tiny hometown apart. A secret with direct ties to her husband Kane. No one is more shocked than Eve when Kane appears at the wedding. But she’s even more distressed when she and Kane end up stranded together in a blizzard over Christmas and are forced to confront their past. A past that includes a failing marriage and a tragedy no parents should ever suffer. 

It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly and buried emotions to take over in a passionate-yet-tender way that will change both of their lives–until Eve’s secret drives Kane away again. And this time he may disappear forever.

Buy now!

The post Nice Until Proven Naughty Release Day first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Rough Draft November Final Days

I’m not going to ask you if you hit your Rough Draft November goals because it doesn’t matter. Rough Draft November, like its predecessor NaNoWriMo, is a great event to help spur your creativity and offers community in order to encourage writers to get their words down. It’s also a great way to build a writing habit alongside your peers. As a professional writer, I know how hard the fight is to get new words on the page.

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But Rough Draft November isn’t simply a month-long writing party. It’s a way to change the mindset, for the better, of writers who struggle, including all writers who write for a living and those who write as a hobby. It also helps those who scratch words in the dark to keep themselves sane. 

What I love about this event is the preparatory work in October that helps me focus on a new story or a story I’m currently working on. I also love the camaraderie in sprint groups on Facebook and Discord servers. I have hit my goals in the past and there have been some years that I’ve been editing a book and I didn’t add a single word. Yet the word count doesn’t matter. The most important thing this event does is validate the act of writing itself. Rough Draft November reminds us that writers can change how people think about the world around them. It reminds us that writers can change the world. But there’s a caveat–Rough Draft November reminds us that writers can only do those things if they actually commit the words to paper.

As for my check-in, I wrote a 22,000 word novella, twelve blog posts, and added words to my WIP, my next Deadly Force novel A Promise at Midnight. I also had three different novellas in three different anthologies come out this month. While I have no idea how many words I changed, cut, edited, and rewrote on my WIP, I was able to move forward with my plot. And, to me, that’s more important than word count. For the month of November, I reminded myself that my words count and the stories in my head will one day sit in the hands of readers. For the month of November, I reminded myself that writing is what I’m meant to do with my life. For the month of November, I reminded myself that, despite the difficulty in getting words down, I am not alone.

Rough Draft November ends on Sunday, but the act of writing down words continues because our words matter. Our words can affect lives. Our words can change the world.

The post Rough Draft November Final Days first appeared on Sharon Wray.

A Selkirk Grace for Thanksgiving

I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! The short grace below is traditionally said before a Scottish meal. While it is attributed to Robert Burns, it’s based on a much older prayer.

Some hae meat and canna eat, 
and some wad eat that want it, 
but we hae meat and we can eat, 
and sae the Lord be thankit.

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In 1794 (or maybe the summer of 1743), Robert Burns was visiting Galloway with his good friend John Syme. They were staying with another friend, the Earl of Selkirk, in his family’s estate at St. Mary’s Isle in Kirkcudbright. After dinner, Burns entertained the family and guests await songs, poems, stories. But before dinner, he’d offer the grace. One night he recited an edited version of a very old and traditional Scottish grace known as the Covenanter’s Grace or the Galloway Grace. He made changes to the original version to suit his own writing and recitation style. This new version was such a huge hit, he was encouraged to publish it and called it the Selkirk Grace, in honor of his hosts. Now it is known as the Selkirk Grace. It is so simple and elegant that it is often said before both casual and formal meals.

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A Bonfire Night to Remember

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving which means I’m spending the all day today cooking and baking and remembering to give thanks for all of my blessings. And one of the things in particular that I’m thankful for this year is the opportunity to have a story included in the Light My Fire Charity Anthology.

This new collection revolves around fall-themed activities like Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Thanksgiving with lots of swoony romance (both open and closed door). All proceeds from this collection go to Wounded Warrior Project and International Mental Health Association for suicide prevention. This limited edition collection includes a new novella in my Kingsmill Courtships series, A Bonfire Night to Remember, about a couple who had a one-night-stand that changed their lives forever… and how they find their way back to each other.

Since all the proceeds are being donated, I’m hoping we can raise enough to make a difference. But regardless of how much we make, I’m so grateful to be involved with this project and to be working with so many wonderful authors. I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved working on it!

A Bonfire Night to Remember

Can a scorching hot one-night stand lead to a love that burns forever? 

After a spark-filled one-night romance months ago, Ivy Lane and Trent Mosby never expected to be thrown together again. But when Ivy returns to Kingsmill, VA to help with the town’s bonfire festival, she’s unexpectedly paired with Trent to run the event. As they work together, their feelings reignite despite Trent’s emotional walls threatening to keep them apart.

For Trent, being with Ivy again isn’t just about rekindling a romance; he’s carrying a family secret that could change everything—if he can find the courage to face it. 

As Bonfire Night approaches, and the local outlaw MC inflames the already-tense situation, Trent and Ivy must confront their pasts and decide if the future they want is one they can build together—or if his secret will burn away their last chance at happiness.

It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly and buried emotions to take over in a passionate-yet-tender way that will change both of their lives–until Eve’s secret drives Kane away again. And this time she may lose him forever.

The post A Bonfire Night to Remember first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Winter Travel Emergency Plan

Since it’s that time of year again when so many people are driving to see friends and family, and there’ve already been large snowstorms in the mid-west and mid-atlantic, I’ve had a number of requests to edit and republish this post. A request I was happy to fulfill.

Two years ago, Virginia got hit with an unexpected snowstorm. It was one of the last big storms that hit the east coast and shut down Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia (below Washington, DC) for over 20 hours. At the time, the news didn’t mention until the next day that lots of people were stuck in their cars for hours, and many ran out of gas. That event was an almost tragedy since, while everyone was stopped on the interstate because of accidents and stuck snow plows, the temperature dropped to 11 degrees F. And the wind chill made if feel closer to -10 degrees F. So today we’re going to talk about building a Winter Car Emergency Plan.

That night, for those people stuck in their cars in the freezing cold, must have seemed like a nightmare. While I live in Virginia, my family and I were lucky that we’d made with home from Charleston, SC a few days earlier. So we were tucked and warm in our home and beds. Still, I couldn’t help but think about those people–and the children–trapped outside in a wintery and icy disaster. I knew the fear and worry that was a constant companion as night settled in. Many, many years ago I was in a similar situation. I ended up stuck on Interstate 287, in the Ramapo mountains on the border of New York and New Jersey. At the time, there were no cell phones, no internet, no emergency notifications unless you had an AM radio. 

A fast moving blizzard moved in and trapped me, along with hundreds of other cars and trucks, for over 12 hours. Honestly, it could have been longer but I’ve forgotten most of this terrible night. Because there were no cell phones or internet, and I couldn’t get radio reception in the mountains, I had no idea what was going on. I couldn’t reach my family to tell them I was okay. I had no idea how long this would last. And the snow fell faster and faster until it reached over two feet. Lucky for me, I had a father who always thought ahead. When I told him I was going to NY state for the day (and the weather showed no signs of snow), he threw a blanket in my car along with a flash light, some water bottles, and a few snacks including some Little Debbie snack cakes.

I will forever be grateful to my dad for his planning ahead. Because I had a blanket, some water, and a few snacks, I was able to get through the night mostly unscathed. And I used the flashlight when I needed to get out of the car, in the middle of the night, to head to the woods on the side of the road to go to the bathroom. I can’t truly explain the terror of trying to find my way through snowdrifts in the dark woods because I couldn’t wait to find a bathroom until we were rescued. While I saw others do the same thing, it was so windy that no one stopped to talk to each other. We were all worried about making it back to our cars while we could see them. Yes, the blizzard winds were blinding. 

The next morning, State Troopers (who’d parked miles away), hiked in with backpacks and were handing out water and small snacks to people in their cars. The snow had stopped and, finally, we were able to get out and assess the situation in the daylight. We were also able to talk to other people in other cars. We were told that the there were snowplows, and people with shovels, who were slowly clearing the roads and extricating the trucks who’d jackknifed and were blocking both the north and south lanes. A few hours later, I was able to turn on the car and follow the other slow-moving cars. While I was only an hour from home at this point, it took me another four hours to arrive at my parents’ house (mine was still another two hours south). Most of that extra time was caused by having to dodge cars left on the road because they’d run out of gas.

It was a major disaster and led to all sorts of new rules about closing roads in the mountains ahead of storms. As well as requirements for snow tires or snow chains for tires. While things are different now because we have so much up-to-date information, I still worry. Which is why, ever since that incident, I always prep my car (and my kids’ cars) for winter. While I may end up in another storm, like that one that hit this week and shut down I95, I will never be caught unprepared again. In fact, that event on 287 so many years ago is one of the reasons why I became a prepper-minded person before anyone had a name for it. It was a huge blessing that no one died during that ordeal, or the one here in Virginia.

Still, because we live in a world where anything can happen, being prepared improves my family’s chances of survival. And the more prepared I am in an emergency, the more I can help others by sharing what I have. So here’s my plan for when I travel by car in the winter throughout the U.S. (the rules are different for international travel, so this list is just for the U.S.)

First, before winter hits, my husband winterizes the cars by checking all the fluids (including wiper fluid), changing the oil and spark plugs, checking the all-weather tires, etc. I try to keep the gas tanks close to full during these months, as well.

While he’s doing that, I’m reloading the car’s Winter EDC aka the Winter Every Day Carry Emergency Bag. This is the list I use for my long distance travels (over 2 hours). While I don’t need all these things for shorter trips, I just keep them in the same duffel. I’d rather have a heavier bag than be caught without what I need.  For some of these items, you’ll need one item (or more, like food) for every person in the car.

Winter Every Day Carry Emergency BagCheck the car ~ Tires, fluids, etc. Check all the things before heading out.Tires ~ Depending on where you’re driving, research if you’ll need chains for your tires. In most cases, all-weather tires are fine, but in some areas of the country tire chains may be necessary.Cash ~ I always carry cash with me. During this recent emergency, by the time people got off the highway the closest gas stations were limiting gas and only accepting cash. Caffeine pills ~ These are available in any drug store, but if you’re alone in an emergency they help you stay awake. Depending on how cold it is, and if you have to turn off your car to save gas, you could freeze to death if you fall asleep and don’t keep moving.)A case of bottled waterA large, cozy blanket. More blankets if you have more than two people in the car.Winter boots and thick socks Heavy-duty winter jacketsHats and mittens and gloves (you need gloves to work outside the car, doing things like scraping ice and changing tires, but they’re not warm enough inside the car if you’re not moving)An ice scraper with a long handle, preferably that has a glove-type covered handle.De-icer for the windshield and mirrors. Granola bars/protein bars/other non-sugary snacks. Also cheese sticks, pudding cups, and mandarin oranges work well.Ibuprofen and acetaminophen HeadlampsFlashlight Swiss Army knife or something similarLifestraw to filter water you’ve melted from snow. UV purifying water bottle and/or water purifying pillsExtra cold weather clothing from your luggage. Sweatshirts, sweatpants, dry socks, long johns, etc. High quality First Aid Kit along with a pair of scissors (if not included). This is the one I keep in my cars.Paper maps for your location in case you lose cell service or run out of battery powerCell phone battery block with multiple USB slots and a small LED light, as well as the cords to hook up small electronics. This way you don’t need to run the car engine to charge you phone. Fully charge the block before you hit the road.Make a connection bag that holds the different types of cords you need for your electronics. Emergency weather radio with AM stations. Or a CB radio, if you preferA package of tissues to use as toilet paperConsider compact urinals (males and female) in case you need to use the bathroom but can’t leave the car. (I really wish I’d had one of these during my emergency. You can order them from Amazon, Walmart, or any camping supply store and they come in different sizes and models.)Extra medications ~ Bring extra if there’s a med you need to take daily. Especially things like insulin, etc. Identity documents in a plastic, waterproof bag. While I also have these on a thumb drive, you won’t be able to access them in an emergency from your car. These documents include Driver’s licenses, car registration and insurance information, medical cards for emergencies as well as anything else you might need quickly like prescription refill forms, etc. Don’t forget any licenses for weapons you have in the car. Here is an article I wrote about how to collect and stores this information.Sun protection ~ I know we’re planning for winter, but you can still get a sunburn on your face if you have to walk off the highway.Solar kit ~ I travel with a 25W solar panel with two USB outlets.Fire making kit ~ A small torch light and a regular lighter. Storm proof matches are nice if you know how to use them. Add a few small candles.Extra glasses ~ If you can’t see without glasses (for reading or driving), bring an extra pair. Same thing if you wear contacts. Duct tape and paracord ~ My husband was in the army and we always have these two things in the car. And we’ve used both of them in emergencies. Work gloves ~ to change tires, collect wood, etc. Gas. It’s dangerous to drive around with gas cans in your car. But if you end up in a traffic jam for hours, like the Virginia I95 debacle, you’ll need to turn off your car to conserve gas. One thing that helps is never letting your gas tank go below half full. But that also means you’ll need to stop more frequently to get gas, which can be a pain when you’re on a long haul trip. It’s just something to keep in mind. One of the biggest issues when a road reopens is that the lanes are littered with cars that have no gas which makes getting out a more difficult and dangerous proposition. Personal Protection: This can be a controversial subject. But if you carry a licensed weapon with you, make sure you know the legal requirements in each state you pass through. Some states/cities/localities ban tasers, pepper spray, knives as well as guns. So whatever you have with you, make sure you know the rules for every state you pass through. And, if you have a license for your weapon, keep it with you.Tips for long, long, long haul car trips: The list above is for a trip that may normally take up to 12 hours. But if you are traveling across the country, you may want to consider packing camping gear, a small fire stove, extra food/MREs, etc. Here is a great article about planning long haul driving trips across different terrain. Balance: When you are traveling long distances, with many people, and maybe staying someplace for many days, weight and space become a concern. So you’ll have to balance what you need at your destination versus what you need on your trip (or might need). That’s a personal decision you’ll have to figure out on your own after considering your situation such as distance, age of car, number and ages of passengers, etc. But if the goal is to get someplace safely, you may want to consider the above lists. Even just having a First Aid kit and some water could mean the difference between life and death. I am not being hyperbolic, just realistic. Information is your friend. When you plan out your trip, check the weather as well as the routes. Depending on where you’re driving, you may want to double check the crime rates of areas you’re driving through. Also, you could make a list of high-quality hotels along the route, as well as the locations of hospitals, ERs, police stations, etc. And write down any other critical information you may need if you don’t have access to the internet, due to a national or weather emergency. 

Although this is a long list of things to consider, the goal of traveling (hopefully) is to have fun. The great thing about a Winter Every Day Carry Emergency Bag is that once you build it, you don’t have to do much to maintain it. And switching things out for different seasons (like taking out mittens and adding bug spray) is easy. All you really have to update are the snacks. I hope you find this list helpful and not stressful. The point it to get prepared and then forget about it because you’ll know that no matter what craziness happens, you and your family will survive. And maybe you’ll be in a position to help others as well. 

The post Winter Travel Emergency Plan first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Rough Draft November and Shiny Object Syndrome

We have about a week and a half to go with Rough Draft November which means Thanksgiving is less than a week away. With the shortened Advent calendar, the December holidays are closer than they’ve ever been. And, if you’re trying to write a rough draft before the end of the month, you’re probably a bit stressed. Stressed about word count, doubting your story, and freaking out about your characters’ emotional arcs. That makes this last week a dangerous time for authors. It’s the time when Shiny Object Syndrome comes knocking.

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You’re in the murky middle of the book and it’s gotten really, really hard. You worry that the book stinks, the story is stupid, the characters hate you, and you feel like a failure. So why is this moment so dangerous? Because it’s during this stressful time that, inevitably, another story comes along with new characters and a new, exciting plot. This new project waves at you, holding a peppermint hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, trying to lure you away from your current WIP. This new project seduces you by saying, “Hey! I’m an easier book to write. Drop what you’re doing and pay attention to me! I have a great transformational arc and you can finish me in a few weeks and I’ll sell for big money!!”

Don’t believe me about SOS? Just ask any author! They will all tell you the same thing. Shiny Object Syndrome is real and it can derail your writing plan faster than a blink. Does that mean you should ignore the new shiny story? No. Most writers agree that when the new story is clamoring for attention, take a few minutes and jot down everything you know about this new story. Write in a journal or type it in notes on your phone. It doesn’t matter. Just grab as much as you can about this story and then tuck it away. Tell the new story, sweetly yet firmly, that you will return to it when the time is right. You can even thank the new story for showing up and encourage it to keep percolating in your subconscious until it’s time to be written. (Yes, I know writers are weird).

Then, gently yet firmly, force yourself to return to you current WIP. Trust me, by this time next year when that story is either for sale or up for auction, you’ll be so happy you didn’t bail on your Rough Draft November project for the shiny object. And your readers will thank you too!

The post Rough Draft November and Shiny Object Syndrome first appeared on Sharon Wray.

More November Book Fairs & Reading Events

It’s that time of year again when authors and reader groups are gearing up for their annual holiday book/reader events. So I have another post with another list of book promos and fun Facebook events in November and December, including one where over 350 authors are giving away books, swag, and gift cards. All of these events offer readers a chance to find new free books and new favorite authors.

1Naughty Christmas Reads

This collection of Naughty Christmas Reads is a curated collection of free/.99 preorder/$1.99 sale SPICY holiday romance novels in all contemporary sub-genres. There are steamy romantic suspense novels and darker romance tropes as well as other romance genres, all taking place during the holidays. This list also includes 2 anthologies I’m currently participating in: Winter Wishes & Holiday Kisses and Let’s Get Naughty 3.

2Collections, Anthologies, & Boxed Sets

Next we have Collections, Anthologies, and Boxed Sets, another collection of current and preorder anthologies and boxsets in all romance sub-genres. This list also includes an anthology I’m currently participating in: Winter Wishes and Holiday Kisses.

3The Isn’t it Romantic Book Club Group Monthly Livestream

Due to scheduling issues, we’ve had to change the date of this livestream. Now The Isn’t It Romantic Book Club Group will be live-streaming on December 13 while we interview Annette Chavez Macias and her newest release When We Were Widows! It’ll be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and we hope you’ll join us there! (I’ll update the graphic once I get the new one)

4The Tattered Page Book Club Thanks-Book-Giving 2024

Join Tattered Page Book Club on Facebook to participate in their fifth Thanks-Book-Giving on November 22nd, 23rd, and 24th! With Thanks-Book-Giving, it is all about giving back to the readers and authors in the group. It is their biggest giving event of the year. And, for readers, it’s totally free!!!

5Abbie Roads’ Secret Santa Days

Join Abbie Roads in her Dangerously Dark Darlings FB Group, along with The Isn’t It Romantic Book Club Group, to participate in Abbie’s annual Secret Santa Days Book Giveaway. This event is on Friday December 6th. There are over 350 authors giving away free books, book swag, gift cards, and more. I can’t wait to see you there. Oh, and it’s totally free!!!

64th Annual Holly Jolly Holiday Party

Join the Coffee, Cupcakes, and Contemporaries Facebook Group for their 4th Annual Holly Jolly Holiday Party on Friday, December 6th. There are over 100 authors giving away free books, book swag, gift cards, and more. I hope to see you there. It’s always a lot of fun!

The post More November Book Fairs & Reading Events first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Light My Fire, a Charity Anthology, Releases Today!

I can’t believe that last week I released another Christmas anthology (Winter Wishes & Holiday Kisses) and today I’m releasing a Fall-themed anthology. Publishing is so weird. Anyway, this new collection, Light My Fire, is a charity boxset that revolves around fall-themed activities like Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Thanksgiving with lots of swoony romance (both open and closed door). All proceeds from this collection go to Wounded Warrior Project and International Mental Health Association for suicide prevention. This limited edition collection includes a new novella in my Kingsmill Courtships series, A Bonfire Night to Remember, about a couple who had a one-night-stand that changed their lives forever… and how they find their way back to each other.

Light My FireA Contemporary Romance Charity Collection

Bonfire Night, Homecoming, Harvest Festivals, whatever the reason – ‘tis the season to sparkle.

Gather your nearest and dearest (or those who you wish were) close as we fan the flames in this collection of stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by The New Romance Café sure to warm your heart…and maybe other places.

All proceeds go to charity in the fight for mental health support. Our chosen charities for this anthology are Wounded Warrior and the International Mental Health Association.

Buy now! A Bonfire Night to Remember

Can a scorching one-night stand lead to a love that burns forever? 

After a spark-filled one-night romance months ago, Ivy Lane and Trent Mosby never expected to be thrown together again. But when Ivy returns to Kingsmill, VA to help with the town’s bonfire festival, she’s unexpectedly paired with Trent to run the event. As they work together, their feelings reignite despite Trent’s emotional walls threatening to keep them apart.

For Trent, being with Ivy again isn’t just about rekindling a romance; he’s carrying a family secret that could change everything—if he can find the courage to face it. 

As Bonfire Night approaches, and the local outlaw MC inflames the already-tense situation, Trent and Ivy must confront their pasts and decide if the future they want is one they can build together—or if his secret will burn away their last chance at happiness.

It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly and buried emotions to take over in a passionate-yet-tender way that will change both of their lives–until Eve’s secret drives Kane away again. And this time she may lose him forever.

Buy now!

The post Light My Fire, a Charity Anthology, Releases Today! first appeared on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Cream of Roasted Carrot Soup

Light My Fire, a charity anthology I’m in, releases tomorrow, and it includes my Kingsmill Courtships novella A Bonfire Night to Remember. (Our chosen charities for this anthology are Wounded Warrior Project and the International Mental Health Association.) I’m also busy getting ready for company and planning for Thanksgiving next week where I’m making dinner for 14 people. So that means, this week, I need an easy dinner that will last a few days.

Luckily, my husband likes soups and sandwiches for dinner. And he likes leftovers. So this week I’m making a roasted carrot soup made from fresh carrots and Vidalia onions. I may serve this soup with some grilled chicken, a salad, and a baguette. This soup also goes well with my husband’s favorite apple and brie grilled cheese sandwich. This recipe can also be frozen in smaller portions, but for my canner friends out there, it cannot be pressure-canned. It is too thick and has dairy in it. I hope you all have a great week!

PrintCream of Roasted Carrot SoupCourse SoupKeyword Autumn SoupPrep Time 30 minutes minutesCook Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutesServings 8Calories 185kcalIngredients2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1 medium onion peeled and cut into quarters1 stalk celery cut into 1/2" pieces5 cups chopped carrots cut in 1" chunks1 Tablespoon Kosher saltdash freshly ground black pepper1 Tablespoon butter2 cloves garlic chopped1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley2 cups water4 cups chicken broth½ cup half-and-half½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper to taste1 Tablespoon roasted and salted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seedsInstructionsPreheat the oven to 450℉ and line a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil.In a large bowl, stir together the carrots, onions, and celery. Stir in the 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt, and dash of freshly ground black pepper. Pour the vegetables onto the baking sheet and bake the veggies for 1 hour or until roasted and soft.In a large stockpot, melt the butter. Stir in the garlic and thyme and stir for 1 minutes. Stir in the roasted veggies and toss for 1 minute.Stir in the the water and broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from heat.Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth and creamy. Stir in the half and half and reheat the soup until ready to serve. Add salt and pepper, to taste, before serving. Garnish with roasted and salted sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Cream of Roasted Carrot Soup first appeared on Sharon Wray.