Untitled

[dkafterdark]

*I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Cover image from Goodreads*

August moves to New York City to finish her college degree and, hopefully, find a place where she belongs. Inherently distrustful, she doesn't expect much when she moves in with three quirky roommates - Niko, Myla, and Wes - but it's not long before they've pulled her into their orbit of queer and diverse friends. And hook her up with a job at their favorite diner, Pancake Billy's House of Pancakes. August feels like she's finally getting her footing in the big city when she meets Jane, an alluring punk rock goddess. Jane comes to her rescue on the subway and soon becomes a part of August's life, a friendly face on her commute and maybe something more. But the more August gets to know Jane, the more inconsistencies arise, leading her to discover that Jane is a person out of time, a 1970s rebel trapped on the Q train. August puts her unique set of skills to work in order to find a way to liberate Jane.

What a fantastic story! As a fan of Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue, I went into One Last Stop with high expectations and they were absolutely met and exceeded! I expected a good love story with unique and relatable characters and got so much more -- unsolved mysteries, 1970s history, drag queen parties, and Doctor Who levels of timey wimey strangeness.

I adore all the characters. August is a prickly minimalist who carries a knife in her pocket and expects the worst from the universe. Her new roommates - Niko the psychic, Myla the artist, and Wes the antisocial tattoo artist - give her a welcoming home and soon become her found family and entry into a diverse and queer network of New Yorkers. I loved the way their backstories are gradually revealed and how all of them help each other grow and flourish. And then there's Jane, a butch bombshell who has inspired a host of missed connections entries from dazzled subway commuters. Her story is absolutely incredible and offers a unique insight into queer history and resistance, as well as Asian-American history. And of course there's New York, a character unto itself, whose energy suffuses each page. Pancake Billy's House of Pancakes also deserves a mention as it is a major locus of the story and will make you crave breakfast foods at all hours. The plot is excellent and I enjoyed every twist and turn and shocking revelation.

One Last Stop offers a superb cast of characters and star-crossed love stories while diving into the struggles and complexities of new adulthood. I can't recommend this book enough! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🏳️‍🌈 OUT NOW!! 🏳️‍🌈

[novelwritingtrash]

The Structure of Romance - DIY MFA

DIY MFA columnist Robin Lovett shares her own structure for plotting the relationship in her romance novels, and how you can apply it to your own writing.

[mintycamaro]

Advance Review Copies for Small Town Charm by Juliet Holmes

Be the first to read Small Town Charm!

Hey guys! My latest novella is about an archaeologist and perma-student who tries to get out of his mother’s Senate fundraiser by pretending to date his (pink-haired, anarchist, failed musician) best friend. Free if you have a Booksprout account, and i’d love an honest review if you have the time 💕

[oddcoupler222-deactivated202601]

Those Who Wait

Hey all!

Amidst the absolute craziness that is going on in the world, here is the update on TWW, the novel -

I’ve finished my edits and I was in the process of going through to cut scenes to make it an acceptable-for-most-publishers length. But I’ve gotten a few messages wondering when it would be published, from people who are stuck at home and have been missing it.

In light of the fact that it would take months now if I sent to a publisher/assuming it got accepted for publication, I’ve decided to self-publish on Amazon so that it will be able to be accessed by everyone at home in this mess.

So!

Those Who Wait will be on Amazon on Friday, April 3 2020 Those Who Wait by Haley Cass

Thank you all so much for being patient and supporting my endeavor into turning this into a romance novel.

Please reblog to spread the word!

[cheshirelibrary]

Romance Readers Don't Actually Love Jerks—and Other Misconceptions Debunked by Experts

.

While trends in romantic fiction have come and gone, one thing remains constant: It’s always about the relationship.

Yet there can be a lot of stigma associated with romance, which stems from lack of knowledge. That’s why it’s so important to correct the most common misconceptions about romance novels.

Misconception #1 Romance novels are just about sex. 

At the end of the day, romance is about intimacy. In fact, there are plenty of books where the main couple never has sex on the page. The recommendations below show that falling in love is about much more than just hopping into bed:

Misconception #2 Bad boys in romance novels are adored for being jerks.

There have been many novels where the hero of a romance novel starts out a jerk, but that behavior isn’t celebrated. It’s part of his journey in growing into something more and better. The picks we included here celebrate the romance couple’s emotional journey toward their happy ending:

Misconception #3 Romance isn’t diverse.

One of the misconceptions that romance is working hard to overcome is not being diverse. Today you can find love stories featuring many ethnicities and cultures, including black, Asian, Hispanic, Polynesian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu. But while the genre has come a long way in the last 50 years, many readers will note that it still has further to go. Books like the ones below not only reflect the world we live in, but offer a glimpse of the world we aspire to live in:

…

Click through to read the full article.

[saltspray]

Gigantic M/M Romance Rec List

A gentle reminder that I keep an ongoing list of my favorite m/m romance books.

There are 50+ books on the list! I’m always adding more as I read.

Keep reading

[bisexual-books]

Interesting new bisexual Rom-Com

I’m…. cautiously optimistic about this book?  

Nick Fraser is a true romantic. He wants the guy instead of the girl, but other than that, he wants everything his favorite rom-coms depict: the courtship, the passionate first kiss, the fairy-tale wedding. But after breaking up with the love of his life, Nick wonders if anything fairy-tale will ever happen for him. Then he meets Katie, who’s just like a rom-com heroine. She’s sharp, funny, sweet, and as into music and punk culture as Nick is. What’s more, he’s incredibly attracted to her—even though she’s a woman. Nick has never considered that he might be bisexual, but his feelings for Katie are definitely real. When Katie reveals that she’s transgender, Nick starts to see how much he doesn’t understand about the world, queer identity, and himself. He is hopelessly in love with Katie, but this isn’t a fairy tale, and Nick’s friends and family may not accept his new relationship. If he wants it all, he has to have the courage to make his fantasy a reality.

Well…. So if they make it really clear that Katie is in fact a girl and don’t go with the transphobic “I like her because she’s really a dude” thing, then this could be good.  Usually Riptide is pretty good about these things so yeah…. cautiously optimistic.  

- Sarah 

[thedykeprincess]

Me: *innocently reading slowburn romance* hmm I wonder if these two will ever get together.

Author: .........aNd tHeRe wAS oNLy ONe bEd

Me:

[words-and-coffee]

Reading a unexpected sex scene in a public area

[nprbooks]

Here’s a story that … well, just read the headline: “KFC Has Published a Colonel Sanders Romance Novel in Honor of Mother’s Day and I Am Overwhelmed”

Needless to say, I am also overwhelmed. Apparently KFC has released a 96-page novella, called – WAIT FOR IT – Tender Wings of Desire as a free e-book on Amazon. There’s a Mother’s Day peg to it all, but I’m honestly having a hard time focusing on that, because … just look at that book cover. In the words of the article’s author, “I have never been so horrified and yet delighted in my whole, entire life, and you will not judge me for this.”

Now let’s go have a weekend.

-Nicole

[welcometoyouredoom]

[maddie-w-draws]

if you ever feel like it, please Geralt wolf sequel? Perhaps the bed meme "ah yes, me, my bard, and his 11 stone wolf that adopted him"

poor Geralt

[maddie-w-draws]

more wolf

[takingoffmyshoes]

modern-with-magic au where geralt is like a one-person paranormal home inspector team and yeah sometimes it's a wraith or whatever but do you know how many times he's had to explain, like, basic facts about wildlife. and plumbing. he's like "for sure you're not haunted" and people are like "haha no no no I'm definitely haunted there's no other explanation" and he just stares at them like. "buddy. listen. ghosts are real. wraiths are real. necrophages are real. shit, I had to clear out a lower vampire nest in someone's attic two weeks ago. I've been doing this job for 400 years and I am telling you, with absolute certainty, that your problem is squirrels."

[she-who-fights-and-writes]

I’m wondering, how do I come up with good ideas to write a sub-plot that actually fits into the story and won’t make the reader lose the connection with the main plot?

How to Write A Sub Plot

If you look back on every single bestselling book ever printed, the chances are that most, if not all of them, contain sub-plots.

A sub-plot is part of a book that develops separately from the main story, and it can serve as a tool that extends the word count and adds interest and depth into the narrative.

Sub-plots are key to making your novel a success, and, although they aren’t necessary for shorter works, are an essential aspect of story writing in general.

However, sub-plots can be difficult to weave into the main plot, so here are a few tips on how to incorporate sub-plots into your writing.

1. Know Your Kinds of Sub-Plots and Figure Out Which is Best For Your Story

Sub-plots are more common than you think, and not all of them extend for many chapters at a time.

A sub-plot doesn’t have to be one of the side characters completely venturing off from the main group to struggle with their own demons or a side quest that takes up a quarter of the book. Small things can make a big difference, and there are many of these small things that exist in literature that we completely skip over when it comes to searching for sub-plots.

Character Arcs

Character arcs are the most common sub-plot.

They show a change in a dynamic character’s physical, mental, emotional, social, or spiritual outlook, and this evolution is a subtle thing that should definitely be incorporated so that the readers can watch their favorite characters grow and develop as people.

For example, let’s say that this guy named Bob doesn’t like his partner Jerry, but the two of them had to team up to defeat the big bad.

While the main plot involves the two of them brainstorming and executing their plans to take the big bad down, the sub-plot could involve the two getting to know each other and becoming friends, perhaps even something more than that.

This brings me to the second most common sub-plot:

Romance

Romance can bolster the reader’s interest; not only do they want to know if the hero beats the big bad guy, they also want to know if she ends up with her love interest in the end or if the warfare and strife will keep them apart.

How to Write Falling in Love

How to Write a Healthy Relationship

How to Write a Romance

Like character arcs, romance occurs simultaneously with the main plot and sometimes even influences it.

Side-Quests

There are two types of side-quest sub-plots, the hurtles and the detours.

Hurdle Sub-Plots

Hurdle sub-plots are usually complex and can take a few chapters to resolve. Their main purpose is to put a barrier, or hurdle, between the hero and the resolution of the main plot. They boost word count, so be careful when using hurdle sub-plots in excess.

Think of it like a video game.

You have to get into the tower of a fortress to defeat the boss monster.

However, there’s no direct way to get there; the main door is locked and needs to have three power sources to open it, so you have to travel through a monster-infested maze and complete all of these puzzles to get each power source and unlock the main door.

Only, when you open the main door, you realize that the bridge is up and you have to find a way to lower it down and so forth.

Detour Sub-Plot

Detour sub-plots are a complete break away from the main plot. They involve characters steering away from their main goal to do something else, and they, too, boost word count, so be careful not too use these too much.

Taking the video game example again.

You have to get to that previously mentioned fortress and are on your way when you realize there is an old woman who has lost her cattle and doesn’t know what to do. 

Deciding the fortress can wait, you spend harrowing hours rounding up all of the cows and steering them back into their pen for the woman.

Overjoyed, the woman reveals herself to be a witch and gives you a magical potion that will help you win the fight against the big bad later.

**ONLY USE DETOUR SUB-PLOTS IF THE OUTCOME HELPS AID THE PROTAGONISTS IN THE MAIN PLOT**

If they’d just herded all of the cows for no reason and nothing in return, sure it would be nice of them but it would be a complete waste of their and the readers’ time!

2. Make Sure Not to Introduce or Resolve Your Sub-Plots Too Abruptly

This goes for all sub-plots. Just like main plots, they can’t be introduced and resolved with a snap of your fingers; they’re a tool that can easily be misused if placed into inexperienced hands.

Each sub-plot needs their own arc and should be outlined just like how you outlined your main plot.

How to Outline Your Plot

You could use my methods suggested in the linked post, or you could use the classic witch’s hat model if you feel that’s easier for something that’s less important than your main storyline.

3. Don’t Push It

If you don’t think your story needs a sub-plot, don’t add a sub-plot! Unneeded sub-plots can clutter up your narrative and make it unnecessarily winding and long.

You don’t have to take what I’m saying to heart ever!

It’s your story, you write it how you think it should be written, and no one can tell you otherwise!

Hope this Helped!

[cassianandfenrysaremyboyos]

[fablefire]

You got this. Cheermander says so.