Jae's Blog, page 24

Looking back at 2020 and my writing goals for 2021

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I always do an annual review at the end of a year and set my writing goals for the coming year.

Oh boy! A year ago, none of us had any idea what 2020 had in store for us! A pandemic, two lockdowns, wildfires in Australia, natural disasters, BLM protests, murder hornets, a nerve-racking election in the US… In a nutshell, if 2020 had been a book, it would have been a dystopian novel, a thriller, or maybe a horror novel for sure!

But let’s take a look at how I did on my goals for 2020 anyway:

 

Write and publish two English books

I didn’t quite make that goal.

I had planned to write and publish two books in 2020—a novella titled Wrong Number, Right Woman and another novel, probably book 3 in the Portland Police Bureau series.

Well, I did write and publish Wrong Number, Right Woman, but it ended up being a full-length novel. In fact, at 116,000 words, it’s longer than the average romance novel, which is one of the reasons why it took me longer than expected to write it. I also struggled to get into a productive writing mood while we were in lockdown, but in the end, I was very happy with how the book turned out.

I didn’t manage to write a second book, and I feel it’s not the right time to write a sequel in the Portland Police Bureau series anyway. After what came to light about the Portland Police in particular this year, I need to find a way to address things such as police brutality and systemic racism in the book, without turning it into a depressing read, and that’s a big task that I’m not quite ready to take on yet!

 

Translate and publish two German novels

I did manage to translate and publish not two but three novels into German in 2020: Book 2 of Hidden Truths was published at the very beginning of the year, while the German versions of The Roommate Arrangement and Wrong Number, Right Woman were published in fall.

So at least my German readers got something positive out of the lockdown and me not being able to travel!

 

Publish a new writers’ guide

That’s another checkmark! I did publish a new writers’ guide, Write Great Beginnings, in March 2020.

 

Attend at least two book-related events in 2020

You can probably guess what became of that goal. Right—it fell victim to the pandemic. The book fair in Leipzig, which I had planned to attend in March, was cancelled just a few days before it would have started.

The GCLS conference and the book fair in Frankfurt were turned into virtual events, and I was part of several panels.

The plus side of both being virtual events is that you can still watch the panels online, including one on LGBT Representation in Romance Novels and the GCLS Chemistry 101 panel with Georgia Beers, Rachel Spangler, Carsen Taite, Elle Spencer, Jaime Clevenger, and me.

 

Continue to give back to the community of LGBT+ readers and writers

I think I can consider that goal accomplished.

With the pandemic and lockdowns affecting many people financially, my publisher and I decided to do something positive for our readers by giving away free books. I personally ended up giving away 10,714 ebook copies of my books (not counting short stories or our anthology, Glimpses, which is still available for free).

I ran the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge, a year-long event with book-themed crossword puzzles, which kept readers entertained during lockdowns and quarantines and gave them a chance to win books.

I also tried to mentor and promote as many of my fellow writers as possible, including helping new writers get started. For example, I added this page of newbie authors to watch out for to my website.

In addition, I put together a series of helpful webinars for Ylva Publishing authors, teaching them how to promote their books.

 

Become a more healthy writer

Ummm… well… I had planned to work out three times a week. Some weeks, I did. Other weeks, I didn’t. I also indulged in banana bread and pizza more often than I should have.

But I cut myself some slack because at least my mental health made it through 2020 in pretty good shape.

 

Read more books for fun

I actually think I did a little better on that one than in previous years. I went on a three-week vacation on Fuerteventura before the pandemic started in January, and I read pretty much non-stop.

I also found myself re-reading a lot of old favorites in 2020. Reconnecting with favorite characters was really comforting during this tough year.

 

Other accomplishments in 2020:

There were also some other accomplishments and highlights in 2020:

Audiobooks: 8 of my novels were published as audiobooks in 2020, which means that now all of my novels are available as audiobooks!
Awards: My books won several awards in 2020: Not the Marrying Kind won the IPPY Award in silver, and The Roommate Arrangement won an eLit Award (bronze) and a Golden Crown Literary Society Award. It was also a Lambda Award finalist.
Short stories: While I didn’t manage to write another novel in 2020, I did write two short stories. The first one, “Partners,” is a mini sequel to Under a Falling Star and was published in the Ylva anthology After Happily Ever After . The second, “Lucky Yellow Shoes,” is a continuation of Wrong Number, Right Woman, and you can download it for free in the anthology Glimpses .
Translation: My novel Under a Falling Star has been translated into French under the title Sous une étoile filante . Now I’ve got a novel available in four different languages! (English, German, French & Italian)
New covers: My Shape-Shifter series got new covers in 2020. Second Nature is now available in Kindle Unlimited, and Manhattan Moon has been published as a paperback for the very first time.

 

My goals for 2021

Here are my goal for 2021. I hope 2021 will treat us more kindly than 2020 did and not throw a wrench into my plans, but since I expect most of 2021 will be affected by COVID, I adjusted my goals accordingly.

 

Write and publish two English books

I’m hoping to go back to writing and publishing two books in 2021. The first one will be a friends-to-lovers novella with the working title Chemistry Lessons. But I know I’ve got a reputation for aiming for novellas and then ending up with a novel. If that happens, I wouldn’t mind…and I know my readers won’t mind either.

The second book for 2021 will be an opposites-attract romance novel featuring a character with a very unusual job.

 

Write and publish a short story

2021 marks the 170-year anniversary of Luke & Nora from Backwards to Oregon starting out on the Oregon Trail. Since the Oregon series is still one of my most popular, I thought I’d surprise readers with a short story about the Hamiltons to celebrate the anniversary.

 

Translate two German books

In 2021, I’d like to translate my friends-to-lovers novella and the first book in my Shape-Shifter series, Second Nature, into German.

 

Attend at least one book-related event

Organizations such as the GCLS are already planning their conventions for 2021. I haven’t booked trips for any events yet because, truth be told, I’m a little skeptical that they’ll be able to take place as physical events.

So for now, I’ll assume that I’ll attend at least one virtual book-related event in 2021.

 

Continue to give back to the community of LGBT readers and writers

As always, I’d like to find ways to give back to the community of LGBTQ+ readers and writers.

For readers, I’m organizing the Sapphic Reading Challenge, a year-long reading challenge that promises to be a lot of fun. The rules & categories are already up, along with a book journal giveaway, and I’ll post the suggestions for the first category the day after tomorrow. Make sure you check back or subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it!

For authors, I’ll be hosting a Newbie Author of the Month and one more established author in my Facebook group every month. I’ll also mentor another student for the GCLS Writing Academy to help them get their writing to a new level.

 

Become a more healthy writer

Staying healthy in the middle of a pandemic is a bit different from the same goal in previous years. For one thing, there won’t be a beach vacation in 2021—at least not at the beginning of the year, when I would have normally retreated from the world. Instead, I’ll aim for a vacation in an exotic place called “my living room” and spend two weeks catching up with my to-be-read list.

My living room is also starting to look like a mini gym, so regular workouts are back on my list of goals for 2021.

 

Read more books for fun

My reading goal for 2021 is to participate in my reading challenge and achieve a Book Squirrel badge, which means reading at least 20 WLW books. I’ll also try to keep track of what I’m reading with my new book journal.

 

How did you do with your goals for 2020? And what are your goals, plans, and hopes for 2021? Please leave a comment and let us know.

The post Looking back at 2020 and my writing goals for 2021 appeared first on Jae.

Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021

 

Happy New Year and welcome to the Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021!

After the popularity of last year’s F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge and the Lesbian Book Bingo in 2018, I decided to host a new reading challenge in 2021 that I hope will keep you entertained—and keep you reading all year!

 

What is the Sapphic Reading Challenge?

The Sapphic Reading Challenge is a fun, year-long event for readers of women-loving women fiction. It runs from January 1 to December 31, 2021. You can join any time you want.

 

The levels and badges of the Sapphic Reading Challenge

The Sapphic Reading Challenge offers five different levels plus a bonus level, so you can pick whatever suits you best, depending on how much reading time you have. You can move up or down to a different level at any time.

Each level comes with a badge. Feel free to download the badges by right-clicking on them. You can display the badge you’ve earned on your social media and/or your blog or website, if you have one.

Book Penguin:

The goal is to read 10 sapphic books in 2021. Each book has to fit one category listed below.

Book Squirrel:

The goal is to read 20 sapphic books in 2021. Each book has to fit one category listed below.

Book Bear:

The goal is to read 30 sapphic books in 2021. Each book has to fit one category listed below.

Book Dragon (level 1):

The goal is to read 50 sapphic books in 2021, one book for each of the 50 categories.

Book Dragon (level 2):

This is the level for our hardcore readers. The goal is to read 100 sapphic books in 2021, two books for each of the 50 categories.

Book Unicorn:

The Book Unicorn is a bonus level that you can pick either by itself or as an additional goal. The goal is to read 10 sapphic books from a list of 12 harder-to-find genres and themes. I’ll post book suggestions for one Book Unicorn category each month.

 

 

The rules

The reading challenge will run from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. You can join at any time.
Each book needs to have at least one main character who is a woman who loves women or a nonbinary character who identifies as sapphic.
Each book needs to fit one of the 50 categories (for the Book Penguin, the Book Squirrel, the Book Bear, or the Book Dragon) or one of the 12 extra categories (for the Book Unicorn). You’ll find the list of categories below.
Each book may be used only once, even if it fits several categories.
Pick the level that you think will work best for you. If you later change your mind and realize you’ll be reading fewer or more books than you initially thought, you can switch to a different level any time.
Every week, I’ll post a new category with a list of book recommendations. For the Book Unicorn, I’ll post reading suggestions for one category each month. You can either pick a book from those recommended reading lists or choose any other book that fits the category.
Only books you started and finished in 2021 count.
Books can be any format—ebook, paperback, or audiobook.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a novel. Novellas (usually around 17,500-40,000 words) count too, as do anthologies, short story collections, and graphic novels.
Re-reads of books you’ve read before count.

 

The prizes

The real prize, of course, is discovering a lot of awesome books and new favorite authors.

But there’ll also be a big giveaway at the end of the year. Everyone who sends in their reading list and made one of the levels will be entered into the drawing. There will be 6 winners—one for each level—and each winner will get a book bundle of either 10 signed paperbacks or 10 ebooks (winner’s choice, provided international shipping has resumed normal operations by then).

Email me your filled-in reading list—either the filled-in PDF you can download below or a screenshot/photo of it—by December 31.

I’ll draw the winners on December 31, 2021, at 10 a.m. Central European Time, using a random numbers generator.

 

The categories for the Sapphic Reading Challenge

I’ll post a total of 50 categories, with a new post going up on my blog every Thursday. I put together a mix of popular genres and tropes as well as categories that’ll push you to try new books and diversify your reading. I encourage you to read diversely, from a wide spectrum of authors and genres.

 

Here are the categories for the Sapphic Reading Challenge (Book Penguin, Book Squirrel, Book Bear & Book Dragon levels):

You can download a PDF of the reading list here. Fill it in with the titles of the sapphic books you read in 2021. You can either type in the PDF or print it out and fill it in by hand.

Enemies-to-lovers romance: The two main characters start out being enemies or rivals before falling in love.
Character with an everyday job: The protagonist doesn’t have a glamorous job such as famous actress but an everyday job such as waitress, cashier, mechanic, etc.
Return to hometown: A book in which the protagonist returns to her hometown after years away.
Character is a journalist or reporter: The protagonist currently works as a journalist, reporter, or newsperson.
From TLR’s “Best of the Best” list: Read a book from The Lesbian Review’s “best of the best” list.
Only one bed: There’s only one bed, so the two main characters have to share it (although they’re not a couple).
Character with a disability or mental illness: A book with protagonist who has a physical disability, a chronic illness, or a mental disorder.
Character is a book lover: The protagonist is a writer, librarian, book editor, or an avid reader.
One-night stand to forever: The romance starts with a one-night stand, a fling, or a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
Speculative fiction: A book with strong fantastical, supernatural, or futuristic elements, e.g., science fiction, fantasy, or paranormal fiction.
Ice queen character: The protagonist comes across as cold, aloof, and prickly (at least in the beginning of the book—the ice queen sometimes thaws a bit after falling in love).
Neurodiverse character: A book with a positive and realistic portrayal of a neurodiverse character, e.g., a protagonist who’s on the autism spectrum or has dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, etc.
Longer book: A book of at least 120,000 words. For an audiobook, that means 12 hours or more. Page numbers can be misleading since it depends on the font, the font size, the margins, page size, etc., but if you can’t find the word count, go for books that have 350+ pages.
Character is a medical professional: The protagonist works in health care, e.g., a physician, dentist, nurse, chiropractor, paramedic or EMT, etc.
Genre you don’t usually read: A book from a genre you normally shy away from.
Grumpy & sunshine: A romance in which a grumpy character falls for a character with a sunny, upbeat personality.
Character is a teacher or professor: Just what the category name says—a book with a protagonist who’s teaching for a living.
Coming out later in life: The protagonist is at least 30 years old and comes out as LGBTQIA during the course of the book, either because it took them longer to figure out they aren’t straight or because they were struggling to come out to friends and family.
Historical fiction / historical romance: A novel that takes place at least 25 years in the past.
Nerdy/geeky character: The main character qualifies as a nerd or a geek—meaning they are very enthusiastic about some kind of non-mainstream activity or specialized subject, e.g., a video games, science, technology, comic books, cosplay, collections.
Age gap romance: A romance novel in which one main character is at least 8 years older than the other.
Character of a different ethnicity, culture, or race than you: At least one of the main characters has to be of a different ethnicity, culture, or race than you. Please pick a book that is own voices, meaning the author shares the character’s racial background.
Recommended by a friend: Ask a friend to recommend a book for you to read. Feel free to drop by my Facebook group for readers and ask for a book recommendation there.
Character is a musician: The protagonist is a musician.
Your favorite author’s favorite book: A novel that is one of the favorite books of one of your favorite authors.
Character was adopted/in foster care: The main character was either adopted or grew up in the foster system.
Shy or socially awkward character: The protagonist is shy or uncomfortable/awkward in social situations.
Character rocks a power suit: A book about a main character who’s regularly seen and looking great in a power suit.
Book starts with the first day of a new job: A book in which the main character starts a new job in the first three chapters.
Mystery: A book that revolves around a murder or other crime to be solved.
Friends-to-lovers romance: The two main characters already know each other at the beginning of the book and have been friends for a while, maybe even for years, before falling in love.
Body-positive book: A book that celebrates women of all sizes and shapes, e.g., a plus-sized protagonist.
Disguised or living as a man: The main character is a woman pretending to be a man or an AFAB genderqueer person living her life as a man.
Character works in the food industry: The protagonist is a baker, chef, bartender, waitress, etc.
Re-read a favorite: Re-read a book that is one of your all-time favorites.
Road trip: A book in which the main characters take a trip together. They don’t necessarily have to take a car; any vehicle, including a plane or boat, will do.
Bisexual or pansexual character: A book with a bisexual or pansexual protagonist. Note: A character who has slept with men in the past before she realized she’s a lesbian is a lesbian, not a bisexual/pansexual woman.
Animal on the cover: A book that has some kind of animal on the cover.
Girl-next-door character: The protagonist is the “girl next door” type—sweet, kind, and everybody’s darling.
Adventure in nature: A book with a plot revolving around an outdoor adventure, e.g., hiking, kayaking, rafting, sailing, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, etc.
Mistaken identity: A character is mistaken for someone else for at least a part of the book.
Set in a country you don’t live in: Choose a book that takes place in a country that you don’t currently live in.
Part of a series: A book that is part of a series. It doesn’t have to be book 1.
Character is a business owner: The protagonist owns her own business, which can be a big company or a small business.
New-to-you author: A book by an author from whom you haven’t read anything before.
Set in the 20th century: A book that takes place 1901-2000.
Character who isn’t “Hollywood beautiful”: The protagonist doesn’t fit Hollywood beauty standards, e.g., they aren’t thin, toned, young, etc.
Character works in STEM: The protagonist works in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Forced proximity: The two main characters are forced to spend time together, e.g., because they are stranded or snowed in or stuck together for some other reason.
Anthology, short story collection, novella: Read a book that is not a novel. It can be an anthology (collection of short story by different authors), a collection of short stories by one author, or a novella (17,500-40,000 words).

 

The categories for the Book Unicorn level:

If you’d like to challenge yourself and read books from harder-to-find genres & themes, here are the 12 Book Unicorn categories. I’ll post reading suggestions for one Book Unicorn category each month.

The goal is to pick books from at least 10 different categories.

You can download a PDF of the Book Unicorn reading list here. Fill it in with the Book Unicorn titles you read in 2021. You can either type in the PDF or print it out and fill it in by hand.

Butch/butch pairing: A book about two butch women falling in love or being in an established relationship with each other.
Time travel: The book’s plot revolves around the protagonist traveling through time.
Character over 40: At least one of the book’s main characters is over 40.
High fantasy: High fantasy is a fantasy story set in a fictional world that is entirely different from our reality (as opposed to low fantasy, which is set in our world with some fantastic elements added).
Polyamorous relationship: The main character is in intimate, consensual relationships with more than one person.
Thriller: A fast-paced novel with high stakes—if the protagonist doesn’t stop the villain, her life or even the fate of the world might be in danger.
Sapphic nonbinary character: The character is nonbinary, genderqueer, or genderfluid person who is attracted to women or female-aligned nonbinary people. Ideally, pick a book written by a nonbinary, genderqueer, or genderfluid author.
Steampunk or gaslamp fantasy: Both are speculative fiction books set in a Victorian-style setting. Gaslamp fantasy adds supernatural or magical elements, while steampunk centers around alternate developments in technology.
Jewish character: The protagonist is Jewish. Ideally, pick a book that was written by a Jewish author.
Horror: A book that intends to scare you.
Character is a sapphic trans woman: The protagonist is a transgender woman who is attracted to women. Ideally, pick a book written by a trans woman.
Dystopian, apocalyptic, or post-apocalyptic fiction: Post-apocalyptic fiction is set in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster or war that made society as we know it collapse. In an apocalyptic book, we’re in the middle of that disaster happening. Dystopian fiction is set in a future society that is oppressive.

 

Sapphic Reading Challenge book journal giveaway

There’s one prize that you can win right now! I’m giving away 15 copies of a book journal I created for the Sapphic Reading Challenge. It has space for 100 books, a table of contents with a rating for each book, and pages where you can fill in what you are reading for each category of the Sapphic Reading Challenge. For more photos of the book journal, take a look at this post.

Anyone can enter the giveaway. To participate, enter your email in this form so I can email you if you win.

Entries close on January 7, 2021, at 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random number generator.

 

Don’t miss any of the Sapphic Reading Challenge posts!

To make sure you don’t miss any of the Sapphic Reading Challenge posts, subscribe to my blog, and you’ll get each post straight (or maybe not so straight LOL) to your in-box.

 

Leave a comment and let us know what level/badge you’ll be going for!

The post Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021 appeared first on Jae.

The F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge—wrap-up & the winners of the grand prize

 

What a weird year! I don’t think any of us are sad to wave 2020 goodbye. But I love knowing that the book-themed crossword puzzles were one of the highlights of the week for many of you, offering a pleasant distraction while you were stuck at home.

 

A big thank-you to everyone who participated in the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge

I’d like to thank all the participating authors and publishers who contributed books for the giveaways—among them Bold Strokes Books, Bella Books, Ylva Publishing, Desert Palm Press, Bywater Books, and many indie authors.

A big thank-you also to the readers who faithfully sent in their crossword solutions every week. We had 378 people participating in the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge, and 62 of them solved every single crossword puzzle correctly!

 

And the winners are…

For every crossword solution you sent in, I put the name of the participant into the drawing once. This morning, I randomly drew the 10 winners of the grand prize. Each of them wins 10 signed paperbacks or 10 ebooks (winner’s choice).

Winner #1: Sue H. Sue also wins the autograph book with autographs from some of the most popular authors in WLW & lesbian fiction.
Winner #2: Erika W.
Winner #3: Ana M.
Winner #4: Shannon A.
Winner #5: Connie W.
Winner #6: Nia W.
Winner #7: Emily T.
Winner #8: Rachel G.
Winner #9: Fiona M.
Winner #10: Cheryl L.

Congratulations! I’ll email all the winners today.

 

Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021

By now, you’ve probably heard what I have in mind for 2021: A new year-long book event called the Sapphic Reading Challenge. The goal will be to read 10, 20, 30, or 50 books from a list of categories I’ll post each week. Depending on how much time you have to read, you can pick one of 5 different levels, plus a bonus level.

I’ll post the rules and categories tomorrow. I hope you join us for the Sapphic Reading Challenge! If you aren’t already subscribed to my blog, sign up so you won’t miss it!

Jae

 

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Sapphic Reading Challenge book journal giveaway

In 2021, I’ll be hosting the Sapphic Reading Challenge, a fun, year-long event for readers of books about women-loving women. The challenge will start on January 1, when I will post the rules and categories.

To make the reading challenge even more fun, I created a book journal to help you keep track of all the sapphic books you’ll be reading in 2021. It’s a hardcover journal that includes:

A table of contents that lets you rate up to 100 books.
Pages to fill in what books you read for each category of the Sapphic Reading Challenge.
A to-be-read list so you can keep track of books you want to read in the future.
Space for 100 books. Each book gets two pages so you have plenty of space to write down your thoughts.
A wrap-up page where you can fill in the number of books you read in 2021, your favorite books, and what authors stoood out for you.

Here are a few photos:

 

 

I’m giving away 15 copies of the book journal. I’ll also throw in a fountain pen for each of the winners.

Anyone can enter the giveaway, no matter where you live. I’ll ship the book journals worldwide (provided COVID isn’t making international shipping impossible). To participate, enter your email in this form so I can email you if you win.

Entries close on January 7, 2021, at 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random number generator.

Best of luck and stay safe!

Jae

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WLW & Lesbian Opposites-Attract Romance Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #36)

 

This week’s F/F Fiction Crossword Puzzle features WLW & lesbian opposites-attract romance novels—a romance in which the two main characters have very different personalities.

 

So, here’s the WLW & lesbian opposites-attract romance puzzle:

You can either download the crossword grid by right-clicking on the picture below or download the PDF with the crossword grid and the clues. You don’t necessarily need a printer to play. You don’t need to send in the filled-out puzzle; all you need to do is email me the solution phrase.

 

Here are the clues for the WLW & lesbian opposites-attract romance puzzle:

Just for Show by Jae: What kind of car does Lana drive?
Hotel Queens by Lee Winter: What sort of creature does Amelia keep on her desk?
Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera: In what city does the Holiday Baking Challenge take place?
The Love Factor by Quinn Ivins: What does Molly want to write her thesis on?
Wooing the Farmer by Jenny Frame: What neurological disorder does Penelope suffer from?
Stargazing by Kathy L Salt: What is Star’s screen name?
Fire and Ice by Rachel Spangler: In which city does Callie Mulligan train with her curling team?
A Heart This Big by Cheyenne Blue: A type of candy that is also the name of a pony at Banksia Farm?
Listen by Kris Bryant: What is Hope’s music center called?
Sunsets and Shades by Erica Lee: What statue does Kinsley make Grace get a picture with as part of her “moving on” process?
Never Wake by Gabrielle Goldsby: What color does Troy expect the wall to be when she wakes up?
Finders Keepers by Karin Kallmaker: What’s one of the first things they tell clients to do?
Mulligan by KG MacGregor: What did Louise have removed recently that was previously keeping her from playing golf?
Kitten by Char Dafoe: What nickname does Rae call Christina by sometimes?
Breaking Jaie by S. Renée Bess: What literary prize is Jaie determined to win?
Love’s Portrait by Anna Larner: What is Josephine Wright’s maiden name?
Bring Holly Home by A.E. Radley: What name does Holly now go by?
Born out of Wedlock by Lyn Gardner: What school did Addison graduate from?
Up on the Roof by A.L. Brooks: What footwear is Lena wearing when she knocks on Megan’s door to ask her to turn the music down?
Exposed by Raven J. Spencer: What’s the name of Sunny’s boss-with-benefits?

 

Send me the solution to be entered into the drawing for the WLW & lesbian opposites-attract romance puzzle

Once you solved the WLW & lesbian opposites-attract romance puzzle, send me the solution phrase, and you’ll be entered into the drawing for:

Just for Show by Jae
Sunsets and Shades by Erica Lee
Fire and Ice by Rachel Spangler

To be entered into the drawing, send me the solution by December 31, 10 a.m. CET. I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator.

You’ll find my email address on my contact page.

 

It’s nearly time for the drawing of the grand prize

I’ll draw the winners of the grand prize on December 31, 2020, at 10 a.m. CET. 10 winners will each get a book packages of 10 signed paperbacks or 10 ebooks (winner’s choice). One person will also win an autograph book full of autographs of popular WLW & lesbian fiction authors.

You’ll get one entry into the drawing for the grand prize for each puzzle you solve, and you can still send in the solutions for the previous puzzles.

 

Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021

I’m planning a new reading challenge for 2021. The goal is to read books in 10, 20, 30, or even 50 different categories, depending on how much time to read you have. There’ll be badges for each level, and I think they’re pretty cute. Take a look at the badges here.

 

Happy reading and crossword-puzzling!

Jae

 

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WLW & Lesbian Young Adult Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #35)

This week’s F/F Fiction Crossword Puzzle features WLW & lesbian young adult novels—books about characters who are teenagers, usually 15-18 years old.

 

So, here’s the WLW & lesbian young adult novels puzzle:

You can either download the crossword grid by right-clicking on the picture below or download the PDF with the crossword grid and the clues. You don’t necessarily need a printer to play. You don’t need to send in the filled-out puzzle; all you need to do is email me the solution phrase.

 

Here are the clues for the WLW & lesbian young adult novels puzzle:

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi: What’s the name of the school where Sana Khan and Rechel Recht met?
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst: What is the name of Princess Amaranthine’s horse?
Undergrowth by Chel Hylott & Chelsea Lim: In which US state is the book set?
The Women of Dauphine by Deb Jannerson: What’s the name of the ghost, and eventual girlfriend?
Girls Who Pray by Evelyn Dar: What’s the name of Claire’s ex-girlfriend?
The Sun and Moon beneath the Stars by K. Parr: Who attacked Lavigata Palace?
Love/Hate by L.C. Mawson: What’s the name of Claire’s best friend?
Outlaw by Niamh Murphy: What is Robyn’s last name?
Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells: What is Maren’s brother’s name?
The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco: What is the name of the goddess Lan has been assigned to protect?
Pulp by Robin Talley: Who’s the ex-girlfriend Abby’s still hopelessly pining for?
Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor: What is the name of Anna’s village?
Book of Promises by Tammy Bird: What’s the name of the high school?
Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz: What does Etta’s former clique call themselves?
The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum: What’s the name of Ryann’s best friend?
My Year Zero by Rachel Gold: What was Sierra looking for when she met Lauren for the first time?
Something Tragic by Jessica Yeh: What adjective means “having golden or blonde hair”?
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour: What’s the name of Emi’s best friend?
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden: Where do Liza and Annie meet for the first time?
Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark by Karen Frost: In what region of Ilirya was Aeryn born?

 

Send me the solution to be entered into the drawing for the WLW & lesbian young adult novels puzzle

Once you solved the WLW & lesbian young adult novels puzzle, send me the solution phrase, and you’ll be entered into the drawing for:

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
Girls Who Pray by Evelyn Dar
Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells

To be entered into the drawing, send me the solution by December 31, 10 a.m. CET. I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator.

You’ll find my email address on my contact page.

 

It’s nearly time for the drawing of the grand prize

I’ll draw the winners of the grand prize on December 31, 2020, at 10 a.m. CET. 10 winners will each get a book packages of 10 signed paperbacks or 10 ebooks (winner’s choice). One person will also win an autograph book full of autographs of popular WLW & lesbian fiction authors.

You’ll get one entry into the drawing for the grand prize for each puzzle you solve, and you can still send in the solutions for the previous puzzles.

 

Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021

I’m planning a new reading challenge for 2021. This time, it won’t have anything to do with crossword puzzles and everything to do with reading books in a lot of different, fun categories. It’ll start on January 1. If you don’t want to miss it, feel free to subscribe to my blog.

 

Happy reading and crossword-puzzling!

Jae

 

The post WLW & Lesbian Young Adult Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #35) appeared first on Jae.

WLW & Lesbian Rich Girl/Poor Girl Romance Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #34)

This week’s F/F Fiction Crossword Puzzle features WLW & lesbian rich girl/poor girl romance novels—a romance in which one of the two main characters is wealthy, while the other has significantly less money.

 

So, here’s the WLW & lesbian rich girl/poor girl romance puzzle:

You can either download the crossword grid by right-clicking on the picture below or download the PDF with the crossword grid and the clues. You don’t necessarily need a printer to play. You don’t need to send in the filled-out puzzle; all you need to do is email me the solution phrase.

 

Here are the clues for the WLW & lesbian rich girl/poor girl romance puzzle:

Shaken to the Core by Jae: What article of clothing did Giuliana’s brother dismiss as “too mannish”?
Heart’s Surrender by Emma Weimann: What’s the name of the club Sam considers going to right before she meets Gillian?
Meet Me Halfway by Eija Jimenez: What’s the name of Alyssa’s son?
Romancing the Kicker by Catherine Lane: What position is Parker trying out for with the NFL team, the High Rollers?
Lucky by Kris Bryant: In what state does Serena win the lottery?
Contract for Love by Alison Grey: What kind of bird does Sherry’s son ask her about?
Reasons To Heal by Jenn Matthews: What is Kudzi’s sister Cat’s real name?
Under Her Skin by Lea Santos: What does Torien do for a living?
Made For You by K. Shantel: What’s the name of Drew’s football team?
The Lesbian Billionaires Club by KC Luck: What is the fake name used by the main character?
The Keeper’s Daughter by Susan X Meagher: What city does Torie live in?
Holly & Ivy by TB Markinson & Miranda MacLeod: What type of animal does Ivy have in the dog crate?
Pleasure Workers by Annette Mori: Why is Alex running?
Greengage Shelf by Emma Sterner-Radley: What object is mysteriously stolen?
The Longshot by Anna Cove: Which character convinces Carly it’s foolish to marry? (IMPORTANT: There’s a mistake in the answer for #15! The answer has 7 letters, not 6. Please leave out the third letter so your answer will fit into the grid).
Twice Upon a Train by K.A. Moll: What is the main character’s surgical specialty?
A Heart This Big by Cheyenne Blue: What’s the name of the program for children Nina runs?
Embracing the Dawn by Jeannie Levig: What is Jinx’s sister’s name?
London Holiday by Miranda MacLeod: What does Princess Abigail leave the ball at Kensington Palace to go in search of in the Duchess’s private quarters?
Freeing Her by Anna Stone: What kind of school did Faith attend?

 

Send me the solution to be entered into the drawing for the WLW & lesbian rich girl/poor girl romance puzzle

Once you solved the WLW & lesbian rich girl/poor girl romance puzzle, send me the solution phrase, and you’ll be entered into the drawing for:

Romancing the Kicker by Catherine Lane
Pleasure Workers by Annette Mori
London Holiday by Miranda MacLeod

To be entered into the drawing, send me the solution by December 31, 10 a.m. CET. I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator.

You’ll find my email address on my contact page.

 

It’s nearly time for the drawing of the grand prize

I’ll draw the winners of the grand prize on December 31, 2020, at 10 a.m. CET. 10 winners will each get a book packages of 10 signed paperbacks or 10 ebooks (winner’s choice). One person will also win an autograph book full of autographs of popular WLW & lesbian fiction authors.

You’ll get one entry into the drawing for the grand prize for each puzzle you solve, and you can still send in the solutions for the previous puzzles.

 

Sapphic Reading Challenge 2021

I’m planning a new reading challenge for 2021. This time, it won’t have anything to do with crossword puzzles and everything to do with reading books in a lot of different, fun categories. It’ll start on January 1. If you don’t want to miss it, feel free to subscribe to my blog.

 

Happy reading and crossword-puzzling!

Jae

 

The post WLW & Lesbian Rich Girl/Poor Girl Romance Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #34) appeared first on Jae.

WLW & Lesbian Action/Adventure Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #33)

This week’s F/F Fiction Crossword Puzzle features WLW & lesbian action & adventure novels. We’ve got books about superheroines, pirates, treasure hunters, mercenaries, elite operatives, and more!

 

Read up on the rules

If you are discovering the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge only now, read up on the rules and prizes, then come back here and try to solve the WLW & lesbian action/adventure novels puzzle. You can also still send in the solutions for the previous puzzles.

 

So, here’s the WLW & lesbian action/adventure novels puzzle:

You can either download the crossword grid by right-clicking on the picture below or download the PDF with the crossword grid and the clues. You don’t necessarily need a printer to play. You don’t need to send in the filled-out puzzle; all you need to do is email me the solution phrase.

 

Here are the clues for the WLW & lesbian action/adventure novels puzzle:

The Power of Mercy by Fiona Zedde: What city does Mai call home?
Escape to Pirate Island by Niamh Murphy: What is Cat’s last name?
Easy Nevada and the Pyramid’s Curse by Georgette Kaplan: What’s the name of the Frenchman who rescues Nevada?
Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi: What does Alana do for a living?
Compass Rose by Anna Burke: What color are Rose’s eyes?
Darkness Falls by KC Luck: Due to an apocalyptic solar storm, what is lost which dramatically changes the lives of the main characters?
Never Too Late For Heroes by A. L. Brooks: What item has Reed always wanted to own?
The Surrender by Terias McKlay: What’s the name of Mariska’s doctor?
Gold Star Chance by CJ Murphy: Sheriff Chance Fitzsimmons was burned in her former career as a …?
Breakthrough by Kris Bryant: What animal sits on Kennedy’s car?
Lethal Affairs by Kim Baldwin & Xenia Alexiou: What does ETF stand for?
Daughter of No One by Sam Ledel: What’s the name of the hedge witch who mentors Jastyn in magic?
Lost in Paradise by Rachel Lacey: What color dress is Fiona wearing when she and Nicole meet on the boat?
Leviathan by Erik Schubach: What is the name of Neith’s hyperactive Sprite sidekick?
Uncharted by Robyn Nyx: Whose tomb does Chase discover in Syria?

 

 

Check back for hints

If you are struggling to solve the puzzle, check back this weekend. I’ll invite the authors to post hints in the comments section of this blog that will help you solve the puzzle.

 

Send me the solution to be entered into the drawing for the WLW & lesbian action/adventure novels puzzle

Once you solved the WLW & lesbian action/adventure novels puzzle, send me the solution phrase, and you’ll be entered into the drawing for:

The Power of Mercy by Fiona Zedde
Darkness Falls by KC Luck
Never Too Late For Heroes by A. L. Brooks

To be entered into the drawing, send me the solution by December 19, 10 a.m. CET. I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator.

You’ll also be entered into the drawing for the grand prize at the end of the year, with a chance to win a book package, plus an autograph book full of autographs of popular WLW & lesbian fiction authors.

You’ll find my email address on my contact page.

 

Happy reading and crossword-puzzling!

Jae

The post WLW & Lesbian Action/Adventure Novels (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #33) appeared first on Jae.

WLW & Lesbian Books Featuring First Responders (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #32)

This week’s F/F Fiction Crossword Puzzle features WLW & lesbian books with first responders. These characters arrive first on the scene of an emergency. Some are paramedics or EMTs; some are police officers or firefighters, and there’s also a lifeguard.

 

Read up on the rules

If you are discovering the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge only now, read up on the rules and prizes, then come back here and try to solve the WLW & lesbian books featuring first responders puzzle. You can also still send in the solutions for the previous puzzles.

 

So, here’s the “WLW & lesbian books featuring first responders” puzzle:

You can either download the crossword grid by right-clicking on the picture below or download the PDF with the crossword grid and the clues. You don’t necessarily need a printer to play. You don’t need to send in the filled-out puzzle; all you need to do is email me the solution phrase.

 

Here are the clues for the “WLW & lesbian books featuring first responders” puzzle:

Indiscretions (Carpenter/Harding 1) by Barbara Winkes: What’s the name of Jordan’s ex-girlfriend?
Between the Lines by KD Williamson: What video game is Haley playing when we first meet her?
Trauma Alert by Radclyffe: What movie do Beau and her sister watch together?
Entanglement by Max Ellendale: What was the field of physics that began Mira’s career?
Under Parr by Andrea Bramhall: Where is the body found?
In Dyer Need by Claire Highton-Stevenson: Where in England is the secret HQ that Dyer and Johnson are trying to find safety in?
The Words Shimmer by Jenn Matthews: What is Ruby’s female dog called?
Landing Zone by Erin Dutton: What was Lauren’s best friend’s name?
In a Heartbeat by RJ Nolan: What occupation does Sam McKenna hold?
Burn It Down by K. Aten: What brand of lighter does Ash use?
Changing the Script by Lee Winter: What’s the name of the fantasy hero in the movie Alex is directing in New Zealand?
Being Hospitable by Meka James: What is Charley’s “real” name?
Double Down by MB Austin: What is the name of Spanish pop star Erlea’s cat?
Summer Desires by Emily King: What’s the name of Amy’s orange tabby cat?
Three To Tango by Raven J. Spencer: What is Colby’s profession?

 

Check back for hints

If you are struggling to solve the puzzle, check back this weekend. I’ll invite the authors to post hints in the comments section of this blog that will help you solve the puzzle.

 

Send me the solution to be entered into the drawing for the “WLW & lesbian books featuring first responders” puzzle

Once you solved the WLW & lesbian books featuring first responders puzzle, send me the solution phrase, and you’ll be entered into the drawing for:

Entanglement by Max Ellendale
The Words Shimmer by Jenn Matthews
Indiscretions (Carpenter/Harding 1) by Barbara Winkes

To be entered into the drawing, send me the solution by December 12, 10 a.m. CET. I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator.

You’ll also be entered into the drawing for the grand prize at the end of the year, with a chance to win a book package, plus an autograph book full of autographs of popular WLW & lesbian fiction authors.

You’ll find my email address on my contact page.

 

Happy reading and crossword-puzzling!

Jae

The post WLW & Lesbian Books Featuring First Responders (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #32) appeared first on Jae.

Award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #31)

This week’s F/F Fiction Crossword Puzzle covers WLW & lesbian fiction that won an award! Some of them won mainstream awards, others won awards from LGBT+ literary organizations such as a Lambda Literary Award or a Golden Crown Literary Society Award.

Lists of award winners are usually a great source of finding books that are worth reading, so take a look at the books in this puzzle.

 

Read up on the rules

If you are discovering the F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge only now, read up on the rules and prizes, then come back here and try to solve the award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction puzzle. You can also still send in the solutions for the previous puzzles.

 

So, here’s the award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction puzzle:

You can either download the crossword grid by right-clicking on the picture below or download the PDF with the crossword grid and the clues. You don’t necessarily need a printer to play. You don’t need to send in the filled-out puzzle; all you need to do is email me the solution phrase.

 

Here are the clues for the award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction puzzle:

Something in the Wine by Jae: What’s the name of Annie’s cat?
The Red Files by Lee Winter: What’s the name of the newspaper Lauren worked for as a copy kid in Iowa?
When the Stars Sang by Caren J. Werlinger: What’s the name of Kathleen’s dog?
Clean Slate by Andrea Bramhall: How old does Morgan Masters believe she is when she wakes up in the hospital?
Sappho’s Bar and Grill by Bonnie J. Morris: Who is the mystical bartender/owner of Sappho’s Bar and Grill?
Exception to the Rule by Cindy Rizzo: Who is Tracy and Robin’s best friend?
Frame by Frame by CJ Murphy: What nickname does Laurel call Val?
London Calling by Clare Lydon: What’s the name of Jess’s doctor flatmate in Sydney?
Gold by EJ Noyes: Ex-alpine ski racer turned ski coach, Aspen Archer is working at which Australian ski resort when she meets Cate Tierney
Paper is White by Hilary Zaid: What is the name of the three-cornered cookies Ellen bakes for her friend Fiona?
Tailor-Made by Yolanda Wallace: What is Dakota’s day job?
A Marine Awakening by Jax Meyer: In what city did Cam meet Sharon?
by Kathleen Jowitt: What’s the name of the hall of residence at the University of Stancester where Lydia Hawkins is Christian Fellowship representative?
Worth Every Step by KG MacGregor: What mountain do Mary Kate and Addison climb?
The Music and the Mirror by Lola Keeley: What does Victoria call Anna on her first day?
Great Bones by Lynn Ames: What main excuse/ailment did Goldie make up to get herself checked into a nursing home?
The Club by A.L. Brooks: What fragrance does Kath wear?
Judge Me When I’m Wrong by Cheryl A. Head: What’s the name of Charlie’s firm?
A Heart to Call Home by Jeannie Levig: What’s the pendant Jessie wears around her neck?
Compass Rose by Anna Burke: What’s the name of the Man o’ War’s first mate?

 

Send me the solution to be entered into the drawing for the award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction puzzle

Once you solved the award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction puzzle, send me the solution phrase, and you’ll be entered into the drawing for:

When the Stars Sang by Caren J. Werlinger
London Calling by Clare Lydon
Gold by EJ Noyes

To be entered into the drawing, send me the solution by December 5, 10 a.m. CET. I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator.

You’ll also be entered into the drawing for the grand prize at the end of the year, with a chance to win a book package, plus an autograph book full of autographs of popular WLW & lesbian fiction authors.

You’ll find my email address on my contact page.

 

Have you read our free anthology Glimpses yet?

Speaking of award-winning authors… Several of the award-winning authors in this puzzle have a short story in our anthology Glimpses, which is available for free. If you don’t already have an ebook copy, you can download it on Bookfunnel in the format of your choice.

 

Happy reading and crossword-puzzling!

Jae

 

The post Award-winning WLW & lesbian fiction (F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge #31) appeared first on Jae.