Sharon Wray's Blog, page 3

Pennhurst: The Smell of Memory

This is the fourth in a series about Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City, PA.Part 4: How Scent Keeps Memory Alive

Smell is underrated. We often think of history as visual or textual — photos, records, plaques, and tours — but scent is a powerful memory magnet. It cuts straight through time, pulling the past into the present without asking permission. At Pennhurst–aka the Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic–scent is a language.

When I walked between rooms and corridors, over floors stained and cracked, the odor shifted around me like a living thing. Damp plaster. Mold. Old wood. Rusting metal. Stale air. A faint chemical tang that might once have been disinfectant of the off-gases of old paint. Each room held its own dialect of decay. I breathed it in, trying to understand it, and it clung to me, to my hair and my clothes, to my camera bag, and even to my car.

It’s been weeks, and sometimes I still catch it in the car’s upholstery–that faint, metallic echo of a place that refuses to leave. I’m not sure whether the smell has truly lingered, or whether memory has tricked me into believing it has. Either way, the result is the same: I’m haunted by scent.

The Contradiction of Seasons

What makes this even stranger is that my visit fell in autumn, the season of cinnamon, bonfires, and woodsmoke. When I stepped out of Pennhurst’s tunnels, the contrast almost knocked the breath out of me. The crisp September air was filled with the scents of life: wet leaves, nutmeg, roasted coffee from a nearby thermos, the sweetness of woodsmoke curling into the sky. These are the smells we associate with warmth and memory, with nostalgia and belonging.

Inside Pennhurst, the smells were the opposite. They were sharp, stale, and heavy. They clung instead of invited. They felt like evidence of time arrested rather than time celebrated. Outside, fall was burning gold and copper. Inside, it was all gray and still. That contrast unsettled me deeply.

Maybe that’s what made the experience so powerful. It was the collision of beauty and sorrow. Autumn always feels like memory itself: sweet and fleeting, touched by decay. Pennhurst smelled of decay without the sweetness. And yet, standing between those two worlds, I realized both are part of the same human story. A story we keep retelling because it’s how we make sense of loss.

When Scent Becomes Story

As a writer, I’ve come to believe that scent is one of the most underused tools in storytelling. Readers remember what they can smell. The scent of damp stone in a crypt. The bite of cold air before a storm. The sweetness of apple pie cooling in a house that’s no longer a home. These are the kinds of details that connect the reader’s world to the fictional one.

When writing gothic fiction, especially, scent grounds emotion in the physical world. It’s not enough for a reader to see the crumbling wall. They should be able to smell the mold growing behind it, the iron in the rain, the wax from an extinguished candle. In a place like Pennhurst, scent tells the truth long after language fails.

That day, as I wandered through the empty wards, I thought about how every building carries its own perfume. Not just of what happened there, but of who was allowed to leave and who was not. The scent of Pennhurst is the scent of history that cannot be scrubbed away.

The Smell That Remains

Even now, when I open the folder of photos from that day, I can almost smell it again. That strange blend of age, neglect, and something human beneath it all. It’s an aroma of endurance and sadness, the ghost of what remains when time forgets to clean up after itself. And maybe that’s why I keep returning to my photos and my notes. Because scent, like memory, is fragile. It fades if we don’t pay attention. So I write. I photograph. I breathe in what lingers. And I remember.

Windswept Gratitude in Fall

November has always felt like a pause between seasons, the quiet moment after the rush of fall festivals and before the bright chaos of December. It’s a month made for gratitude, for looking around at what remains after the wind has stripped everything bare. But this year, gratitude feels different.

This year, I’ve been standing in the middle of too many storms including caring for/worrying about four elderly parents, managing a full-time job, keeping up with home and marriage, checking in with grown kids, and all the invisible tasks that fill the hours. Somewhere beneath all that, there’s also the writer in me . The writer who has many manuscript deadlines and still dreams of launching a Substack, recording a YouTube channel, connecting more deeply with readers. And yet, every time I take a step toward that dream, resistance whispers:

“Not now.”
“You don’t have time.”
“Who do you think you are to share more of yourself?”

That’s when gratitude becomes complicated. Because when life feels full — sometimes painfully full — it’s hard to be grateful for the winds that never stop blowing. But maybe that’s where windswept gratitude begins. Not in the calm, but in the courage to stand in the wind and say, I’m still here.

The Resistance We All Face

Every creative person knows this feeling, this tug between wanting to grow and wanting to hide. We dream of sharing our work, our voice, our stories… but the moment we stand at that edge, the wind rises. It’s the same wind that carries our fears: of being too much or not enough, of being seen or ignored, of failing publicly or succeeding in ways we don’t feel ready for. But what if we stopped fighting the wind? What if gratitude, especially in seasons of resistance, is not about control but surrender? Not about perfection, but presence?

Gratitude in the Wind

When I remember the parents who still need me, the work that keeps me grounded, the home that shelters love and chaos, I see the raw material of gratitude everywhere. Not tidy or picturesque, but real. Gratitude isn’t a list you write when you have time. It’s a way of seeing. It’s noticing the light through the kitchen window while the laundry piles up. It’s remembering that being needed is, in its own way, a gift.

And maybe the creative life — this fragile, hopeful thing we try to protect — is just another form of gratitude. Writing is how we thank the world for being beautiful and brutal at once. It’s how we hold on to something true while everything else changes. So this November, my gratitude looks windswept: messy, unpolished, and brave enough to begin again.

I’m learning that I don’t need a perfect plan for Substack or YouTube. I just need to show up imperfectly, vulnerably, and honestly. To share stories when I can, and let that be enough. Because gratitude, like creativity, doesn’t need quiet skies. It only needs the courage to face the wind and whisper: thank you anyway.

Rough Draft November: Week 2

Rough Draft November Week 2 (aka NaNo 2.0) is about to start. And while I’m excited about how my novel is going, today’s post isn’t about word count, plotting notebooks, or character names. This post is about our mental health while we scratch out our rough drafts while trying to live our daily lives.

Today I want to talk about something we often don’t do while on any deadline, whether it be our editor’s, our agent’s, or our own. That thing is having fun. Last week we talked about self-care, which is hugely important, but fun is also important. And yes, fun is different than self-care. But when I have fun, I don’t want to spend a lot of money–especially this time of year with all the entertaining and gift-buying, etc. So here are a few ideas to get you away from your keyboard and out in the world.

Movie night!

Either alone or with a friend. Put on a Hallmark Christmas movie, or a horror flick. Something that will get your mind off of your WIP and make you laugh, cry, or hide beneath the blankets. Throw in a huge bowl of buttered popcorn and your favorite drink and pretend you’re twelve.

Play outside!

Grab your friends to throw a football or hit a baseball. Maybe go for a run with your running buddy. Just do something that moves your body and gets you breathing in some fresh, fall air.

[image error]Hike the woods!

If you live in a state where there are woods, hike the local trails before all the trees lose their leaves. If you have no woods, I’m sure you have something just as lovely. A park or a desert setting. Anything that gets your heart pumping while taking in the beauty of a late fall afternoon.

Dinner with friends!

Host a pot-luck dinner with friends. Have your friends bring over their favorite foods, open some wine or beer or your favorite beverage, and hang out like when you were in high school. If you have a fire pit or a patio, sit outside while the weather is still nice.

Field trips!

Pick apples, have a picnic, and drink cider. Although Halloween is over, many farms still have apples that need to be picked and cider that needs drinking. Bring a picnic and enjoy one of the last fall hayrides outside.

Bake a cake!

If you like to cook or bake, do so. Pull out your favorite recipes and start your dough rising and get that crockpot going. The best part of having cooking or baking as one of your hobbies is that you always have something awesome to eat when you’re done.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but having separate hobbies and projects to work on helps keep your mind and soul balanced. It can also be motivation to finish your words so you can get back to your hobby. Whatever you choose to do, do it with a happy heart and no guilt. Your book will get written, regardless if you hit the magic 50K number. But ending November with a hunched back and crooked fingers serves no one–not you, not your family, and not your characters. So do yourself a favor by stepping away from your WIP and having some fun!

One Love Cover Reveal

Today I’m sharing the cover and preorder link for One Love, A Jamaica Hurricane Relief Charity Anthology where all the proceeds will go to hurricane relief agencies to help the country of Jamaica rebuild and meet the current needs of its suffering citizens. This anthology means a lot to me since we travel to the south coast of Jamaica every year, and the parish of Westmoreland, where we visit annually, has been devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

This anthology will come out on November 18, 2025, but because it is such a quick turnaround I didn’t have time to write a brand new story. So my romance in this anthology is Luke’s Last Hot Summer, a novella in my Kingsmill Courtships series that came out earlier this year. Because so many authors responded to the call for this charity anthology, there are three separate volumes at $2.99 each with over sixty stories. I don’t yet even know which volume I’m in, but it doesn’t matter. Even purchasing one volume will help raise money for Jamaica. Thank you all for your support!

One Love

Jamaica Hurricane Relief: A Charity Anthology Vols. 1-3

These romance stories celebrate love and hope, with 100% of the proceeds from this anthology going to aid the citizens of Jamaica after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

Information on which of the over 60 authors are in the three volumes is coming soon.

Preorder One Love here

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Although Halloween is tomorrow, tonight is our annual watching of the movie Hocus Pocus! So, to celebrate, I’m making my favorite Slow Cooker Pot Roast and serving it with my favorite Horseradish Mashed Potatoes and Toasted Hazelnut Green Beans. This is a super easy dinner to put together and the great thing is that most of it (except for the green beans) can be made ahead of time. I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween/Fall weekend!

PrintSlow Cooker Pot RoastThis is an adapted recipe from a classic Betty Wason/Home & Garden Magazine recipe from 1963. Course Main CourseKeyword BeefPrep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 6 hours hoursServings 8Ingredients1/4 cup flour1 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper5 pounds rump of beef or chuck roast3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil2 small sweet onions sliced2 carrots peeled and cubed4 baby red potatoes washed and cubed1 bay leaf1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme1/8 teaspoon ground clovesdash ground cinnamon1 cup beef brothInstructionsIn a small bowl, mix together the flour with the salt and pepper. Dredge the meat in the seasoned flour. Heat at olive oil in a large stock pot. Then brown the meat on all sides. Remove the meat and place in the crock pot. Then sauté the onions and carrots in the hot oil until soft, about 5-8 minutes. Then pour the onions and carrots over the beef in the crock pot. cover the meat with beef broth, bay leaf, thyme, cloves, and cinnamon. Cover and cook on low for 5 1/2 hours. Stir in the potatoes and cook for another 30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the meat is fork tender. Serve immediatelyNOTE: Depending on you crock pot, you may need to cook this for 8 hours on low. The older crock pots tend to cook at a lower heat–sometimes–so you need to watch the time.

November Book Fairs & Reader Events

November is one of my favorite months, and I have lots of book events, promos, and free books to help you celebrate this month of Thanksgiving and pumpkin lattes!

1The Isn’t it Romantic Book Club Group Monthly Livestream

The Isn’t It Romantic Book Club Group will be live-streaming on Thursday, November 20th at 3 pm EST, while we interview Michelle Major and her new book Someone to Hold. It’ll be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and we hope you’ll join us there!

2A Taste of Something Spicy Free Romance Novel Promo

This bookfunnel promotion will run through the end of November and includes free romances in most hotter genres including billionaire, paranormal/shifters, mafia, secret babies, lumberjacks/mountain men, and age gap romances.

3Secret Santa Days in Abbie’s Dangerously Dark Darlings Facebook Group

Abbie’s Dangerously Dark Darlings Facebook group will be hosting her annual holiday book giveaway event. It’s tons of fun and there will be over 300 authors giving away books and prizes and swag. I promise it will be tons of fun!

Free Books for NovemberDangerous Seal by Paige Tyler

Her plans didn’t include a Navy SEAL.

Au pair Talia Holland couldn’t deny that the handsome Navy SEAL who saved her employer’s family a few months ago is tempting enough to break all her dating rules, but what could a mousy nanny have in common with a sexy man whose job is as dangerous as a Tom Cruise movie? Besides, she’d grown up with a father who was always away because of his job.

Talia did not want to live that kind of life ever again. But when another au pair goes missing and Talia narrowly escapes an attack, she doesn’t know who else to call for help but the one guy who lives, eats, and breathes danger. Getting close to a SEAL might keep her safe, but how will she protect her heart if she falls for a man who spends more time on foreign soil than in her arms?

But best laid plans…

Petty Officer Lennox Thompson had been hoping for a phone call from the beautiful dark-haired au pair, but not a call from the police station that she’d been attacked.

Unwilling to let Talia go home alone, Lennox offers his guest bedroom for the night. However, once he hears the details, he realizes she’s involved in something more suited to a SEAL Team 5 mission than adventures in babysitting.

Someone is willing to kill to get what they want, and Talia and her young charge are in the crosshairs. It will take help from his Teammates to avoid an international incident, but when Talia and little Maria are kidnapped, Lennox will take on navy protocol, smug CIA, and deadly terrorists to save the little girl who makes him laugh and the woman who makes his heart pound.

Get it for free now!Broken for Us by Alessa Kelly

Saddle up for small-town feels, slow-burn kisses, and a hero worth losing sleep over.

I don’t mean to challenge the law.

But when your best friend’s unraveling from trauma, and the system turns its back, you do something reckless. One fake prescription. One wrong person watching. Now I’m running.

Then I crash straight into Logan Pierce.

The gruff rancher catches me trying to steal his horse—with a busted hand and more attitude than sense. He should’ve called the cops. Instead, he hands me a plate of food, bandages my arm, and lets me stay. In his house. In his clothes.

And I’m falling for him all over again.

But the people after me don’t play fair. And when they come knocking, it won’t just be my freedom on the line.

Includes a sneak peek of Book 1 in the Buffaloberry Hill series: Wrecked for Love

Get it for free now! A Shot Worth Taking by Tracy Brody

FBI Linguist Angela Hoffman is no stranger to high-stakes missions, but her current one raises a new threat. Sent undercover to track a dangerous terrorist, Angela’s past collides with the present when her mission converges with Sergeant First Class Tony Vincenti and his elite Bad Karma Special Ops team. Scarred by past betrayals, along with threats from her past, have made Angela swear off serious relationships. She and Tony posed as lovers in the past. Now, she is forced to confront her lingering attraction to the soldier she can’t allow herself to want.

On Tony’s prior undercover op with Angela, their lives depended on selling themselves as lovers. It also meant sticking to their roles. Now, as they race against time to prevent a terror attack, Tony has more on the line than the mission. He’s determined to prove to Angela that her past won’t stand in the way of their future together.

But when Angela becomes the target of a lethal threat, trust becomes a matter of life and death. As danger close in, Angela must reveal her secrets—and her heart—to Tony, or risk losing everything. Can Tony protect the woman he loves and convince her they’re worth the ultimate gamble?

Heat level: Steamy. Contains sexual content/on the page. Not overly explicit.
Profanity: Moderate (These are military characters)
Contains hunky heroes, a strong female heroine, and a military working dog.

Get it for free now! Someone in the Water by Katie Mettner

Spring Lewis knows death. As a nurse in the ICU, she has experienced more than her fair share of it. The difference is, she is acutely aware not everyone who dies stays in the afterlife.

Vince Roundtree is tired. Tired of living life alone and where his health takes a back seat to his career as a music professor. His nightly walks along the river help clear his head and strengthen his body, but he never expects to find his heart there too.

Spring and Vince find themselves walking a path of forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance, but their rose-colored glasses blind them to the dangerous shadow lurking in the darkness. When Spring breaks her silence about the people in the water, the reaper comes calling, and it will be up to Vince to save her from certain death before time runs out.

Get it for free now! Blind Sided by Gwen Hernandez

A hacker framed for espionage. A sniper hot on her trail. Enemies who can’t resist falling in love.

Framed for divulging state secrets, reformed hacker Valerie Sanchez has no choice but to run. Worse, when the proof of her innocence is destroyed, things turn fatal. She must decide if the sexy special operator who mysteriously turns up to protect her is an ally or the real threat.

Scott Kramer’s job was supposed to be easy. Follow the hot computer geek who stole plans for classified weapons until she meets her buyer, then let law enforcement take over. But when Valerie becomes an assassin’s target, Scott’s gut says she’s innocent. Now, he must risk his life—and his heart—to keep her safe.

Get it for free now! Challenge My Heart by Diane Wiggs

Hotdish isn’t the only thing heating up in Ashwood.

Restaurant owner Bel Holloway’s nana passed down her cat and café to her granddaughter when she died, along with two rules. #1- Don’t share the award-winning recipes. #2- Never share the secret catering client list.

Detective Tanner Malone strolled into Miss Mabel’s thinking this would be a typical attempted smash-and-grab, but it soon becomes apparent that someone wants more than delicious food from the savory café owner.

Bel might be sweet as pie, but is reluctant to share her client list, even if it’s vital to the case. Can Tanner protect her when she starves his investigation for details?

Get it for free now! In Paradise with Someone Like Him by Susanna Eastman

Floral designer Anna is desperate to break the bonds of her loving but smothering family, her boss’s empty promises, and the humiliation of a broken engagement months before the wedding. Except she has no idea how to change her life until she discovers a Caribbean sex club called Fantasy. Fantasy, a luxurious realm shrouded in secrecy, promises anonymous, consensual ecstasy and a chance for Anna to redefine herself. Amidst this newfound-yet-unsettling freedom, Anna encounters Jacob, a handsome man with secrets of his own.  

Jacob, a charismatic billionaire who owns the lavish Caribbean resort hosting Fantasy, has doubts. While his wealth and power have allowed him to create a haven for those seeking clandestine desires and untamed passion, he’s not sure if this is the right direction to take his company. Things become complicated when he meets Anna, a beautiful woman seeking to change her life, and he experiences a connection that challenges the foundation of his controlled, unforgiving world. Although Fantasy requires anonymity, Jacob knows his secrets could ruin his future with Anna. A future he didn’t know he wanted. A future he’s desperate to save, even if he has to break his own rules.

Will Anna and Jacob’s rendezvous of passion and discovery lead them on separate paths? Or will their powerful connection offer them a chance at love that transcends the bounds of Fantasy?

Get it for free now! It’s All in the Hips by Diana Munoz Stewart

Winning the Fit for The World prize money is Yolanda Vasquez’s last chance at saving her family business. But to win it, she’ll have to face show creator Easton Blake––a steamy one-night stand she’s never forgotten––while also taking on the big kids of fitness. One of whom isn’t playing fair.

Yolanda Vasquez

Ten-plus years ago, I spent one glorious night with a hot stranger visiting Puerto Rico. Today, that heartthrob is a global health icon giving away millions on a reality fitness show. I really need that money to rescue my family business, am pretty sure I can win, and mostly sure he won’t remember me.

Easton Blake

I spent a decade building Fit for The World gym franchises, but after a reputation-ruining mistake, my board wants me out. Vowing to repair my image on a groundbreaking reality show is a huge gamble. One that turns dicey when the hottest hookup of my life makes the competition, and the other contestants quickly see her as a threat. Yeah. This can’t be what my board meant by reviving my public persona.

Knowing the disaster any romance would bring, Easton and Yolanda struggle to ignore their flaming-hot chemistry, but when someone schemes to drive Yolanda from the show, they join forces to stop them. Will their undeniable heat catch fire and burn down their worlds before they can eliminate the threat?

Get it for free now!

Bonfires, Stories, and the Sparks Between

Remember, remember, the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent to blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below poor old England to overthrow
By God’s providence he was catch’d with a dark lantern and burning match
Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the King!

Every November, the scent of woodsmoke lingers in the air as a reminder that this is the season of bonfires. Long before we had electric light or central heating, people gathered around open flames to share warmth, food, and stories. Even now, there’s something about a fire that pulls us closer, both to one another and to ourselves.

The History Beneath the Flames

The most famous of these fires, at least in the English-speaking world, belongs to Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, celebrated on November 5th. In 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of conspirators attempted to blow up the English Parliament in what became known as the Gunpowder Plot. Their plan failed, and Fawkes was caught guarding the explosives beneath the House of Lords. In the aftermath, Londoners lit bonfires to celebrate the king’s safety, and the tradition took root.

Over the centuries, Bonfire Night evolved, losing much of its political edge and becoming more about community gatherings, fireworks, and the comforting ritual of standing in the glow of shared light on a dark autumn night. But the deeper symbolism remains. Bonfires mark transformation: the burning away of what’s old, the illumination of what’s hidden, the warmth of hope in the cold.

Firelight and the Creative Heart

For readers and writers, bonfires speak to something even more timeless. Every story begins with a spark such as a flicker of emotion, an image, a question that won’t let us go. Writing that story is like tending a fire in that it takes patience, attention, and courage to keep it alive. Some days, the flame burns bright; others, it smolders beneath the ash. But when we nurture it, it grows strong enough to warm us—and others—through the long dark nights.

And just as communities once gathered to tell stories around the fire, we still gather around books. Each story we read or write is its own small bonfire, a light that keeps loneliness and fear at bay. Stories remind us that even in uncertain times, the human spirit burns bright.

Tending Your Creative Fire During Rough Draft Challenge Month

So as the days grow shorter, think of your creative work—whatever form it takes—as your own bonfire.

Feed it with inspiration. Read something that sparks wonder or courage.Protect it from the wind of doubt. Don’t let criticism or comparison snuff it out.Share its warmth. Let your stories, your words, your light reach others who might need it.

November is not just a month to write 50,000 words of a new draft, or try to finish an old project. It’s a month of reflection, a time when the world seems to tilt toward darkness… and yet, we still light fires. Maybe that’s why bonfires feel so powerful to writers and readers alike. They remind us that creativity is an act of defiance against the cold. That even the smallest spark, tended with care, can light up the night.

October Book Fairs and Reading Events

October is going by way too quickly! Luckily, I have lots of book events and free books to help you enjoy the fall season.

1The Isn’t it Romantic Book Club Group Monthly Livestream

The Isn’t It Romantic Book Club Group will be live-streaming on Thursday, October 23rd at 6 pm EST, while we interview Jill Shalvis and her new book He Falls First. It’ll be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and we hope you’ll join us there!

Free Books for OctoberDangerous Seal by Paige Tyler

Her plans didn’t include a Navy SEAL.

Au pair Talia Holland couldn’t deny that the handsome Navy SEAL who saved her employer’s family a few months ago is tempting enough to break all her dating rules, but what could a mousy nanny have in common with a sexy man whose job is as dangerous as a Tom Cruise movie? Besides, she’d grown up with a father who was always away because of his job.

Talia did not want to live that kind of life ever again. But when another au pair goes missing and Talia narrowly escapes an attack, she doesn’t know who else to call for help but the one guy who lives, eats, and breathes danger. Getting close to a SEAL might keep her safe, but how will she protect her heart if she falls for a man who spends more time on foreign soil than in her arms?

But best laid plans…

Petty Officer Lennox Thompson had been hoping for a phone call from the beautiful dark-haired au pair, but not a call from the police station that she’d been attacked.

Unwilling to let Talia go home alone, Lennox offers his guest bedroom for the night. However, once he hears the details, he realizes she’s involved in something more suited to a SEAL Team 5 mission than adventures in babysitting.

Someone is willing to kill to get what they want, and Talia and her young charge are in the crosshairs. It will take help from his Teammates to avoid an international incident, but when Talia and little Maria are kidnapped, Lennox will take on navy protocol, smug CIA, and deadly terrorists to save the little girl who makes him laugh and the woman who makes his heart pound.

Get it for free now!Broken for Us by Alessa Kelly

Saddle up for small-town feels, slow-burn kisses, and a hero worth losing sleep over.

I don’t mean to challenge the law.

But when your best friend’s unraveling from trauma, and the system turns its back, you do something reckless. One fake prescription. One wrong person watching. Now I’m running.

Then I crash straight into Logan Pierce.

The gruff rancher catches me trying to steal his horse—with a busted hand and more attitude than sense. He should’ve called the cops. Instead, he hands me a plate of food, bandages my arm, and lets me stay. In his house. In his clothes.

And I’m falling for him all over again.

But the people after me don’t play fair. And when they come knocking, it won’t just be my freedom on the line.

Includes a sneak peek of Book 1 in the Buffaloberry Hill series: Wrecked for Love

Get it for free now! A Shot Worth Taking by Tracy Brody

FBI Linguist Angela Hoffman is no stranger to high-stakes missions, but her current one raises a new threat. Sent undercover to track a dangerous terrorist, Angela’s past collides with the present when her mission converges with Sergeant First Class Tony Vincenti and his elite Bad Karma Special Ops team. Scarred by past betrayals, along with threats from her past, have made Angela swear off serious relationships. She and Tony posed as lovers in the past. Now, she is forced to confront her lingering attraction to the soldier she can’t allow herself to want.

On Tony’s prior undercover op with Angela, their lives depended on selling themselves as lovers. It also meant sticking to their roles. Now, as they race against time to prevent a terror attack, Tony has more on the line than the mission. He’s determined to prove to Angela that her past won’t stand in the way of their future together.

But when Angela becomes the target of a lethal threat, trust becomes a matter of life and death. As danger close in, Angela must reveal her secrets—and her heart—to Tony, or risk losing everything. Can Tony protect the woman he loves and convince her they’re worth the ultimate gamble?

Heat level: Steamy. Contains sexual content/on the page. Not overly explicit.
Profanity: Moderate (These are military characters)
Contains hunky heroes, a strong female heroine, and a military working dog.

Get it for free now! Someone in the Water by Katie Mettner

Spring Lewis knows death. As a nurse in the ICU, she has experienced more than her fair share of it. The difference is, she is acutely aware not everyone who dies stays in the afterlife.

Vince Roundtree is tired. Tired of living life alone and where his health takes a back seat to his career as a music professor. His nightly walks along the river help clear his head and strengthen his body, but he never expects to find his heart there too.

Spring and Vince find themselves walking a path of forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance, but their rose-colored glasses blind them to the dangerous shadow lurking in the darkness. When Spring breaks her silence about the people in the water, the reaper comes calling, and it will be up to Vince to save her from certain death before time runs out.

Get it for free now! Blind Sided by Gwen Hernandez

A hacker framed for espionage. A sniper hot on her trail. Enemies who can’t resist falling in love.

Framed for divulging state secrets, reformed hacker Valerie Sanchez has no choice but to run. Worse, when the proof of her innocence is destroyed, things turn fatal. She must decide if the sexy special operator who mysteriously turns up to protect her is an ally or the real threat.

Scott Kramer’s job was supposed to be easy. Follow the hot computer geek who stole plans for classified weapons until she meets her buyer, then let law enforcement take over. But when Valerie becomes an assassin’s target, Scott’s gut says she’s innocent. Now, he must risk his life—and his heart—to keep her safe.

Get it for free now! Challenge My Heart by Diane Wiggs

Hotdish isn’t the only thing heating up in Ashwood.

Restaurant owner Bel Holloway’s nana passed down her cat and café to her granddaughter when she died, along with two rules. #1- Don’t share the award-winning recipes. #2- Never share the secret catering client list.

Detective Tanner Malone strolled into Miss Mabel’s thinking this would be a typical attempted smash-and-grab, but it soon becomes apparent that someone wants more than delicious food from the savory café owner.

Bel might be sweet as pie, but is reluctant to share her client list, even if it’s vital to the case. Can Tanner protect her when she starves his investigation for details?

Get it for free now! In Paradise with Someone Like Him by Susanna Eastman

Floral designer Anna is desperate to break the bonds of her loving but smothering family, her boss’s empty promises, and the humiliation of a broken engagement months before the wedding. Except she has no idea how to change her life until she discovers a Caribbean sex club called Fantasy. Fantasy, a luxurious realm shrouded in secrecy, promises anonymous, consensual ecstasy and a chance for Anna to redefine herself. Amidst this newfound-yet-unsettling freedom, Anna encounters Jacob, a handsome man with secrets of his own.  

Jacob, a charismatic billionaire who owns the lavish Caribbean resort hosting Fantasy, has doubts. While his wealth and power have allowed him to create a haven for those seeking clandestine desires and untamed passion, he’s not sure if this is the right direction to take his company. Things become complicated when he meets Anna, a beautiful woman seeking to change her life, and he experiences a connection that challenges the foundation of his controlled, unforgiving world. Although Fantasy requires anonymity, Jacob knows his secrets could ruin his future with Anna. A future he didn’t know he wanted. A future he’s desperate to save, even if he has to break his own rules.

Will Anna and Jacob’s rendezvous of passion and discovery lead them on separate paths? Or will their powerful connection offer them a chance at love that transcends the bounds of Fantasy?

Get it for free now! It’s All in the Hips by Diana Munoz Stewart

Winning the Fit for The World prize money is Yolanda Vasquez’s last chance at saving her family business. But to win it, she’ll have to face show creator Easton Blake––a steamy one-night stand she’s never forgotten––while also taking on the big kids of fitness. One of whom isn’t playing fair.

Yolanda Vasquez

Ten-plus years ago, I spent one glorious night with a hot stranger visiting Puerto Rico. Today, that heartthrob is a global health icon giving away millions on a reality fitness show. I really need that money to rescue my family business, am pretty sure I can win, and mostly sure he won’t remember me.

Easton Blake

I spent a decade building Fit for The World gym franchises, but after a reputation-ruining mistake, my board wants me out. Vowing to repair my image on a groundbreaking reality show is a huge gamble. One that turns dicey when the hottest hookup of my life makes the competition, and the other contestants quickly see her as a threat. Yeah. This can’t be what my board meant by reviving my public persona.

Knowing the disaster any romance would bring, Easton and Yolanda struggle to ignore their flaming-hot chemistry, but when someone schemes to drive Yolanda from the show, they join forces to stop them. Will their undeniable heat catch fire and burn down their worlds before they can eliminate the threat?

Get it for free now!

The Vampire Before Dracula

Before Bram Stoker’s Dracula ever stalked the pages of gothic fiction, another vampire haunted the European imagination who was beautiful, mysterious, and female. Her name was Carmilla, and she changed the shape of vampire literature forever.

A Forgotten Gothic Masterpiece

Written by Sheridan Le Fanu and first published in 1872 as part of his collection In a Glass Darkly, Carmilla is one of the earliest known vampire stories in English literature. It’s a chilling and deeply atmospheric tale set in a remote castle in Styria (modern-day Austria), blending mystery, sensuality, and the supernatural.

Le Fanu’s story broke boundaries for its time. Long before Dracula made Transylvania famous, Carmilla introduced readers to the idea of the vampire as both alluring and terrifying—a creature that draws its victims in through love and fascination as much as fear.

A Strange Visitor in the Night

The story is told through the eyes of Laura, a lonely young woman who lives with her father in an isolated castle. Her quiet life is upended when a carriage accident brings a mysterious young woman named Carmilla into their home. Carmilla is beautiful but strange, at times tender and affectionate, at others distant and unsettling.

As days pass, Laura becomes increasingly drawn to her guest. Yet strange events unfold around them: nearby villagers fall ill, whispers of a “plague” spread, and a shadowy figure is seen drifting through the night. Laura begins to suffer from disturbing dreams and unexplained weakness.

Eventually, the horrifying truth emerges. Carmilla is a vampire who preys upon young women, feeding on their life force under the guise of friendship and affection. In the story’s haunting climax, Carmilla is discovered sleeping in her tomb, her body preserved and beautiful, and finally destroyed by the men who seek to end her reign of terror.

A Tale Ahead of Its Time

Carmilla was groundbreaking not only for its depiction of vampirism but also for its exploration of feminine power. The relationship between Laura and Carmilla is layered with an emotional intimacy that was a bit too bold for Victorian readers.

Influence and Legacy

Le Fanu’s vampire set the stage for every elegant, seductive creature of the night to follow. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) was influenced by Carmilla, and even today, echoes of this story can be seen in works ranging from Interview with the Vampire to Crimson Peak. While Carmilla herself meets a tragic end, her spirit lingers in the Gothic imagination as an eternal flame flickering in the shadowed corridors of horror literature. Carmilla is currently in the public domain and is available for free on the Project Gutenberg website.

Rough Draft Preptober: Part 3

My absolute favorite way to plot and write is longhand. But as a working writer, that’s not fast enough. So I thought I’d give another honest review of the systems I have used extensively. 

Note: This list is for crafting novels. I use systems like Trello, Excel, Quicken, and Canva to help run other aspects of my business but this list below is just for writing. And, while I’ve added links to this post, I am NOT selling these programs and I’m not an affiliate for any of them. If you purchase any of these, please search the internet for coupon codes. There are ALWAYS coupon codes available for these systems. Some of the coupons can save you hundreds of dollars!

Favorite Rough Drafting Tools: Microsoft Word 365: My editor and agent expect my manuscripts to be submitted in Word. I write on multiple machines, sometimes in different places other than home, and I keep some of my manuscripts in a cloud to ensure I am always working on the most recent version. I save my work every night, and I email the manuscript to myself so there’s always a copy on my email provider’s server. Word can get expensive so make sure to check the internet for coupon codes. And a side note: I turned off Microsoft Copilot, the new AI helper, because it was annoying me. Scrivener: I’m not even sure how to describe Scrivener. It’s part word processor, part indexer, part visual editor, and part story & plot designer. Imagine taking all of your writing notes (sticky notes, journal pages, jottings on napkins) and placing them in Scrivener so you can keep track of everything! You can build book worlds, develop character and setting sheets, and break down your manuscript into the smallest scene that can be moved around on a virtual bulletin board. It is a complicated program and takes some time to learn, but it’s worth the time. When my trad books are done and ready to submit, I reformat the book in Word 365 for my editor and agent. If It’s an indie book, I’ll move it to Word 365 before uploading it to Vellum (noted below). In Word, I’m able to strip out extra, hidden formatting that makes it easier to use Vellum. Abbie Emmons, over on YouTube, has a great playlist on how to personalize Scrivener. Here’s the link to her YT playlist. But I’m warning you–this will suck up hours of your time! I especially love the video on how to change your Scrivener aesthetic to match your current WIP. Plottr : Plottr is a visual planner and outlining tool that helps you plan out your story. There are timelines, character and setting sheets, and scene builders. There’s also a free YouTube channel with tutorials so you can check out the program and how to use it. This software is for visual learners. So if you’re a hardcore journal scribbler, this may not work for you. There’s also an ability to create a limited story bible. I love this app’s timeline capability that helps me map out different books within series and across connected/shared worlds.Vanessa Keir has a great YouTube video on using Plottr to plan your project. And the Plottr YouTube Channel keeps adding videos on how to plan and structure your current WIP. Novelcrafter: Novelcrafter is one of the newest AI tool on the block. Although AI is still hugely controversial, I want to mention this program because of its Codex. This is an AI-driven story bible builder that has been super fun to play with, especially if you have a lot of world building, tons of characters, and hundreds of tiny details to track. They also have a YouTube channel with free seminars on how to hook your Codex up to your favorite LLM.This software, though, does require a basic understanding of how AI LLMs (Language Learning Models) work. But they do have a free 30-day program you can try before you purchase. I suspect they’ll be having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale this year–so definitely watch for that. For a new system like this, coupon codes are the only way to go just in case you don’t like it. This is another AI grammar checker and writing/style editing software. To be honest, I don’t write in this program but I’ve taken some of their courses. I especially loved the one on writing horror. While I don’t write horror, I love to read it and the course was fascinating. They also offer writing sprints to build community. Because it’s a lonely world for us writers!

ProWritingAid : This is a grammar checker and style editor software. You just dump your manuscript into the editor and it evaluates your writing and tells you everything you’ve done wrong. What I like most about this software is that it helps me identify reused phrases and word echoes. It also evaluates your writing style and gives you ideas to improve readability. Although this AI program is not a replacement for proof reading or copy editing.Grammarly: This is another AI-based grammar checker and style editor software similar to ProWritingAid. There’s a free level and sometimes I’ll use it if I’m struggling with how to structure a particular sentence. Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Word 325, and Google Docs all use proprietary AI systems and I’m always struck at how differently they evaluate my writing.

Adobe Acrobat Pro:  My publisher uses Adobe Acrobat Pro for copyedits and final galley proofs. While I hate paying the monthly fee, the software makes it easy to read through the final versions of the manuscript. For my indie books, I’ve yet to run into an editor who works with Adobe. But if you’re a trad author, or hope to become one, you may have to sign up. Luckily you can sign up month-to-month so during the months I’m drafting and revising, I turn it off. It’s easy to turn back on once I receive a final version of the manuscript. 

Vellum:  I use this software to format my indie books and get them ready to upload to vendors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It even has an option to load up paperback versions to KDP and IngramSpark. But if you’re not using it to publish right away, you don’t have to pay for it. I’ve used the free version of this software to read through early versions of my book because sometimes reading drafts in a book-style format helps me see grammatical errors and pacing issues.

Reedsy:  This is a free formatter (similar to Vellum) and AI manuscript checking program (similar to ProWritingAid). While it doesn’t offer all of the fancy things Vellum does, it’s easy to use and it’s free!

Google Docs:  This is a free word processor that works great, and is cheaper than Word 365. But I don’t use it to write. I use it as a free spell check because their AI system is different from Scrivener, Word, and ProWritingAid. I just upload the finished draft into a google doc and then run the spell check. You’ll be amazed at what the other AI programs have missed! 

Aeon Timeline:  I used to use this visual editor to help lay out my books in the Deadly Force series but I recently switched to Plottr. Aeon Timeline is a beautiful app and offers a ton of options but it’s too complicated. I’d rather spend my time writing. But if you are working on a large series, like a space opera or an epic fantasy series, this may work well for you.

A Note on Story Bibles: These software programs are for planning, plotting, and writing. But Novelcrafter, Scrivener, Aeon Timeline, and Plottr can also be used to build story bibles which is especially useful if you’re writing a series. A story/series bible is crucial if you’re writing a long series with a large world, like in the sci fi or fantasy genres. I’ll be honest–these all work okay as series bibles but I’ve yet to find a software that can be a plotting/planning tool and offer a full Wiki experience. I’ve seen videos that the productivity tool Notion can do this, but that seems super complicated as well. So I’m using what I have… until the next shiny app comes knocking on my inbox!

While I don’t use Trello as an outlining tool (it’s more of a Kanban-type productivity tool), I do love this YouTube video by Megan Tennant on how to use Trello as a WIP outlining tool. Two of my favorite author YouTubers also have great playlists for videos about the technology they use when crafting and editing their stories. Here is Bethany Atazadeh’s Playlist and here is Sarra Cannon’s Playlist. I hope this information helps and I can’t wait to hear about your journey on the other side of Rough Draft November.