Victoria Foyt's Blog, page 2

12 Cool Facts About Sea Turtles

Sea Turtles play a role—almost like that of a supporting character—in Valentine to Faith, an award-winning contemporary romance book published in 2020. They’re so magical and fascinating, we thought we’d share some of the features that make them so awesome.

Here are 12 cool facts about sea turtles.

1. They Have Their Own Holiday

June 16 is World Sea Turtle Day! This special holiday honors and highlights the importance of these unique and astonishing creatures. World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated ...

Excerpt From Valentine to Faith

SANIBEL ISLAND, FLORIDA
SUMMER 1985

From her kitchen, Angel clocked the sound of Max’s wagon heading home. She cleared her supper and went to the porch to wait until six p.m., the time she judged best to arrive on his doorstep. Any later would put her in the way of his class, any earlier gave them too much time alone together.

Pulling on her smoke, she surveyed the artistic display in the skies. God had dipped a paintbrush into buckets of rich red and peony pink and zesty orange, layering them o...

5 Reasons Why Mermaids Are So Cool

Throughout history, little girls and adults alike have been obsessed with mermaids. They’re the subject of everything from art and films to graphic novels and contemporary romance books. Mermaid toys and dolls top the best-sellers list in children’s stores and there are even mermaid schools across the globe, a testament to how many of secretly wish they could be one of these iconic, magical beings.

Here are five reasons why mermaids have so much appeal.

1. They Can Swim Forever

Mermaids live and...

The History of Yemaya—The Ocean Goddess

Yemaya is a truly universal goddess—and one with many names. She is celebrated with beautiful names like the Queen of the Sea, Goddess Mermaid, Sirena, Mother of the Fishes, Ocean Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) and Patroness of Witches. Yemaya is a mythical creature, a demi-god and “Orisha,” which is a nature spirit believed to have much power and influence. It makes perfect sense that she is written about in history books, occult texts and contemporary romance nove...

The Allure of Contemporary Romance Novels

For decades, the best-selling fiction genre has been romance, with contemporary romance novels leading the pack. Even during economic downturns, readers of all ages and genders continue to buy romance books. Theyre a draw for bibliophiles across the boardwhile women make up the largest number of romance readers, studies show that men also enjoy the escape contemporary novels provide.

Once thought as simple fodder for vacation and beach reads, sales show that we read romance novels all year...

5 Reasons We Love Contemporary Romance Novels

As fans of contemporary romance novels, we often feel the need to defend our favorite genre. Even though romance is probably the most popular, best-selling genre, there are many who look down on it. But we know that those who shun the subversive world of romance books are truly missing out.

Contemporary romance readers hail from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and demographics—and they read a lot. In the Nielsen’s Romance Book Buyer Report, data showed that 25 percent of buyers read romance mo...

The Dangerous Allure of Mermaids

Mermaids have never gone out of style. From Ariel in The Little Mermaid to Daryl Hannah’s iconic performance of Madison in Splash, these amphibious beauties have captivated people of all ages for thousands of years. Yet everything from literature dating back centuries to recent films like The Lure and The Lighthouse, and even hit television shows like Siren, depict something sinister lurking underneath the mermaid’s beautiful façade. Is it all part of their allure?

Mermaids have long been associ...

POST SCRIPT—KEY WEST, FLORIDA, FALL 1985

Faith hurried across the parking lot at the College of the Florida Keys. She had decided at the last moment to apply for admission and had missed the first week of classes. Today, her waitress shift at Howard Johnson’s ran overtime. She checked the classroom number on the paper in her hand and pushed through the door, caught by a wave of attention.

“English 101?” said a young man at the front of the class.

Breathless, she looked at him, attracted by the openness in his face. Behind the tortoise-...

The Origin of Mermaids

Mermaids have fascinated children and adults alike for centuries. These mysterious creatures are the subject of legends, folklore and even contemporary books and films. To this day, modern religions including Hinduism and Candomble worship these half-woman, half-fish entities as deities and goddesses.

Where does the legend of mermaids come from and did they really exist?

While images of mermaids appeared in cave paintings dating back to the late Paleolithic era, also known as the Stone Age, Gree...

The Mermaid Chronicles: A Mermaid Finds Peace

By Angel del Corazón

Rocco and Willow landed in Key West, the southernmost point of the continental United States. My grandmother was seventeen years old in the winter of 1927 when she stepped onto the porch of her pretty new home. It was a “gingerbread house,” and in those days, families designed the woodwork trim that, according to unwritten law, was not to be copied. With a nod to his past—and a reminder to make good on his bargain with Mother Mary—Rocco had a special trim made of liquor bott...