No, it’s not time for the Oscar’s or anything normal people care about. I’m talking about the extremely niche category of mystery short story awards. The Short Fiction Mystery Society, a volunteer-lead group of short fiction writers annually hosts the Derringer Awards. Any member is welcome to submit a short story that has been published in the previous year in four categories. The stories are judged by volunteers from the society membership and ranked on a standardized score card.
The Rage Cage
While novels are my primary format for writing, periodically I do try to stretch my skills and do some short story writing. The format is different and it makes it much easier to try out some different genres. This year I only submitted one of my short stories – The Rage Cage. It’s a brisk little story about re-evaluating life, questioning self-narratives, Chuck Norris, and of course… revenge. It’s also about the manager of a Rage Cage, a business that allows you to suit up and go smash whatever you want. Mostly it was a chance to try out the Rural Noir genre and write a story about telling yourself the right kind of personal narrative. The year that I helped judge I was impressed by both the quality and the variety of stories and I know that the story I submitted is up against some tough competition. However, judging for the Derringer’s runs from February through March, so I know I’ve got until April to find out if my story picks up a nod.
Anthology Awards
However, in a break from previous tradition, this year the SFMS is trying a new award for anthologies and Larceny & Last Chances, the anthology containing The Rage Cage has been listed as a finalist. With 56 anthologies nominated, getting to the finalist stage is pretty impressive, and I’m extremely happy for all of the authors and our editor, Judy Penz Sheluk. Final awards for the anthologies will also be in announced in April, so send some thoughts and prayers our way. In the meantime, if you’re interested in checking out some award-worthy short stories check out Larceny & Last Chances!
Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, chance.Â
There’s a lot of “New year, new plan!” going around in January. And to be fair I’ve been working on the plan since last year, but this month it’s time to get some of the details worked out. I know a lot of writers like to wing their social media calendar and a few who like to plan to the last detail. I’m somewhere in the middle. Social media works best when it’s responsive and done live. However, my life works best when it’s scheduled and I don’t have to think about it. And marketing generally works best when it’s coordinated and scheduled in advance, so working out a calendar of what happens when becomes more crucial.
What is the New Plan?
Coming out in 2025 is the complete Valkyrie Brothers Trilogy. This Seattle rom-com mystery series specializes in happily ever afters, witty dialogue, and bad guys who get punched in the face. And also, somehow meeting your true love in an elevator. Elevator Ride—Book 1 of the Valkyrie Brothers Trilogy—is an age-gap romance with a sexy ex-Marine and a feisty paralegal who may have gotten herself chin deep in trouble. Between Floors—book 2–is an action-packed, grumpy-sunshine romance with a wealthy single dad who gets stuck in an elevator with the hippy nanny candidate he just rejected. And Emergency Exit—book 3—is a fake engagement romance with a savvy tech investor and a quirky emergency management specialist who has a very good reason to hate jumbotrons. Laugh along with the Valkyrie Brothers as they fend off the bad guys and find love.
And while the Valkyrie Brothers are making their debut, I’ll be working on more paranormal romances! Some of you who follow me on social media may have heard me mention this fabulous idea I had about a giant demon exploding through the floor of a charity gala. (Trust me, it’s going to be great!)
So, the plan is to market, advertise, and shove the Valkyrie Brothers at everyone, while I type my little fingers off on next years paranormal romances. I’m also excited to see the Stiletto Gang’s new feature “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Books” come to life as we take one day a month to feature a new book from one of our Gang members. And I’m hoping to be accepted into a few anthologies with some romance and crime short stories.
That Sounds Like A Lot.
It does, doesn’t it? But, I’m hoping that by scheduling in advance and scheduling some down time in advance as well, that it won’t be overwhelming. We’ll see what I say in June. Possibly by then I will be chucking everything out the window and heading for the beach. Wish me luck for this new year. I’m sure I can use it!
***
Learn more about the Valkyrie Brothers
ELEVATOR RIDE
Twenty-six floors. Two professionals. Sometimes love only needs one Elevator Ride…
Vivian Kaye has been tasked with serving a cease-and-desist letter to Rowan Valkyrie—the most hated tenant in Seattle’s Hoskins building—but when she ambushes the seasoned security professional in the elevator, she ignites a powder keg of tempers and attraction.
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Maines-Arsenic-600x600-1.jpg600600Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2025-01-08 05:30:312025-01-06 11:34:35New Year, New Plan
And I am not ready. I’m not ready for Christmas, I barely made it through Thanksgiving and New Year’s is barreling down on me like a freight train. In 2025, I’m trying something new as an author—a release schedule that doesn’t sync up with my work conference season, and a “long” quick release schedule. In romance publishing it’s not uncommon to see authors releasing books in a series mere weeks or a month apart. But I tried that in 2022 and I think I’m still recovering.
In 2025 I’m planning on releasing a complete trilogy, but I plan on doing them three months apart — March, June, and September. This will off-set them from peak seasons at work and also give me a little breathing space, while hopefully keeping readers engaged. But that means that I’m setting up a lot of marketing now in 2024. And if I’m putting my time toward one thing then I’m taking time from somewhere else.
So what should you be doing – if not preparing for 2025?
Christmas shopping! I don’t even have proper list or a spreadsheet! I’m just randomly buying crap and hoping that I’m getting closer to wrapping.
Upon reviewing those last few sentences, I have come to the conclusion that I might be a giant nerd. Does anyone else have a shopping spreadsheet? Just me? OK, well, if you do… nerds unite! You are my people.
But I haven’t even put up a tree. The stockings are up, so we’re not totally without Christmas, but still… The days are ticking by too fast! Although, I can’t tell for sure if that’s true since we didn’t get an advent calendar either. How can I really tell how close we are to Christmas without small amounts of chocolate being continually fed to me?
Meanwhile, I feel like I’m ADHD as I try to wrap up all my writing goals for the end of the year. There’s all the marketing I need to do, a contest I want to submit to that means I have some pages that need polishing, a novel that needs polishing and a paranormal romance that is begging to be written. And every time I work on one I feel guilty that I’m not working on the others.
How am I supposed to get enough family time, let alone Christmas cookies, into my December with that many projects? If you’ve got time saving tips or great gift ideas–I’m all ears.
But what I hear you saying is that there is a new series coming?
Yes. There is! The Valkyrie Brother’s Trilogy! Half rom-com, half mystery and all fun. The series features three brothers navigating reuniting their family, fighting off bad guys, and coincidentally meeting their true loves in elevators all across town. Book 1 – Elevator Ride – will be released in March of 2025 and is currently available for pre-order. If you want to learn more, it was recently featured over at Dru’s Book Musing Blog! And while you’re over there check out Dru’s fabulous reviews and other content.
Next week will see the release of Luckless Love, a contemporary “enemies to lovers” romance with a hint of “mistaken identity” set in Eastern Washington with a “happily ever after” ending. This standalone novel was fun to write, but more fun to research. The story revolves around a winery and it’s head enologist (that’s wine maker for us less fancy people) who falls for a new-to-town photographer. To be fair, Juel Lugo, my co-author did the most research, I just tasted the wine. And I was very much OK with that division of labor.
Did I Learn Anything?
Yes, I did! Dom Perignon is not just the name of expensive champagne. He was a real person who helped in the invention of champagne. The people of Champagne wanted to make it more bubbly and Monsieur Perignon figured it out. This fact is of zero relevance to the plot of Luckless Love, but I still enjoyed learning it. Each section of Luckless Love does come with a wine recommendation and I hope that readers enjoy trying new wine as much as my co-author and I did.
So What is the Book About?
Photographer, Simone Laurent is homeless, loveless, and luckless when her motorhome conks out on the last leg of a year-long road trip. Arriving at Ryan’s Garage in the small town of Luckless Washington, Simone meets Jordan Ryan, the grumpy wine-maker from the Amante Winery, and mistakes him for a mechanic. But while sparks and tempers flare, normally sunshiney Simone is still unable to pay for repairs to her motorhome. Simone sets out to get a job, vowing to dismiss all thoughts of the sweaty “mechanic” from her mind. But that’s hard to do when Jordan turns out to be her new boss. But while Jordan and Simone are determined to focus strictly on the big wine event coming to town, their friends, family, and Cupid have other plans. With the crush coming from more than grapes, this hapless duo will need all the help they can get to make sure they end up in Luckless Love.
Luckless Love is a wholesome standalone rom-com, full of quirky characters, laughs, true love, and a guaranteed happily ever after. The print edition is now available! Follow the links below to get your copy!
Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of action-adventure and fantasy tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. She participates in many activities including swearing, karate, art, and yelling at the news. She can usually be found chasing after her daughter, or glued to the computer working on her next novel (or screenplay). You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LucklessLove-3DinVineyard-02.jpg10811081Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2024-11-13 05:15:362024-09-03 11:14:34Luckless Love
In my upcoming release, Luckless Love, my heroine is returning from a year long road trip and searching for someplace to belong. Wanting to belong to a community is a universal theme that I think appeals to readers, but when I started to write the book, I didn’t immediately leap to that theme. I had to explain my reasoning for using it to my co-writer—Juel Lugo.
Luckless Love started out during COVID when Juel who is my business partner in real life and I took a script writing seminar on how to write a Hallmark movie. We both felt that we could write one, and with too much time on our hands and since we were in each other’s COVID pods, we gathered around a computer and took notes on how to write a Hallmark movie.
What Are Your Co-Writer Goals?
Juel is not particularly interested in being an author. She doesn’t want to do the work of putting words on a page, but she is endlessly interested in stories and structure. As a life-long reader, and marketing expert, she knows that stories are what move the human psyche. So our deal was that she would do the bulk lifting on inventing the plot. I would walk her through how to outline and then I would do the actual writing. But that meant that we had endless discussions on our characters, their motivations and how to get them to fulfill their plot obligations.
I don’t know how other co-authors work together, but with over ten years of experience in working with each other, we managed to make it through the outline with very little disagreement. Having both taken the seminar we both could recognize when we were deviating from the Hallmark pattern. And then we could also agree when we were fine with leaving that path. Hallmark has a lot of constraints about how serious or realistic things can be (don’t mention divorce or cancer!), which is understandable for their brand, but for writing a novel it can feel like the characters are lacking in depth.
Did We Make it the End?
So did we make it through the writing process with our friendship and partnership intact? Absolutely. It was a fantastically distracting project during a time when we very much needed one. It was also fun to take on a challenge that neither of us had done before. The script version achieved a PNWA Literary Contest Finalist ranking and we are quite proud of our little romance novel. We’re looking forward to it’s upcoming release on November 18. Check out the links below if you’re also interested in a sweet romance, all about wine, second chances and finding some place to call home.
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/LucklessLove-titleb-square-04.jpg10811081Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2024-10-09 04:15:112024-09-03 11:17:30Can I be a Co-Writer
Awards!
/in Anthology, General Writing, mystery, Rejects Pack, The Stiletto GangAwards Season is Here!
No, it’s not time for the Oscar’s or anything normal people care about. I’m talking about the extremely niche category of mystery short story awards. The Short Fiction Mystery Society, a volunteer-lead group of short fiction writers annually hosts the Derringer Awards. Any member is welcome to submit a short story that has been published in the previous year in four categories. The stories are judged by volunteers from the society membership and ranked on a standardized score card.
While novels are my primary format for writing, periodically I do try to stretch my skills and do some short story writing. The format is different and it makes it much easier to try out some different genres. This year I only submitted one of my short stories – The Rage Cage. It’s a brisk little story about re-evaluating life, questioning self-narratives, Chuck Norris, and of course… revenge. It’s also about the manager of a Rage Cage, a business that allows you to suit up and go smash whatever you want. Mostly it was a chance to try out the Rural Noir genre and write a story about telling yourself the right kind of personal narrative. The year that I helped judge I was impressed by both the quality and the variety of stories and I know that the story I submitted is up against some tough competition. However, judging for the Derringer’s runs from February through March, so I know I’ve got until April to find out if my story picks up a nod.
Anthology Awards
However, in a break from previous tradition, this year the SFMS is trying a new award for anthologies and Larceny & Last Chances, the anthology containing The Rage Cage has been listed as a finalist. With 56 anthologies nominated, getting to the finalist stage is pretty impressive, and I’m extremely happy for all of the authors and our editor, Judy Penz Sheluk. Final awards for the anthologies will also be in announced in April, so send some thoughts and prayers our way. In the meantime, if you’re interested in checking out some award-worthy short stories check out Larceny & Last Chances!
Larceny & Last Chances: https://amzn.to/3xUNg7Z
Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, chance.Â
New Year, New Plan
/in General Writing, The Stiletto GangNew Year, New Plan
There’s a lot of “New year, new plan!” going around in January. And to be fair I’ve been working on the plan since last year, but this month it’s time to get some of the details worked out. I know a lot of writers like to wing their social media calendar and a few who like to plan to the last detail. I’m somewhere in the middle. Social media works best when it’s responsive and done live. However, my life works best when it’s scheduled and I don’t have to think about it. And marketing generally works best when it’s coordinated and scheduled in advance, so working out a calendar of what happens when becomes more crucial.
What is the New Plan?
Coming out in 2025 is the complete Valkyrie Brothers Trilogy. This Seattle rom-com mystery series specializes in happily ever afters, witty dialogue, and bad guys who get punched in the face. And also, somehow meeting your true love in an elevator. Elevator Ride—Book 1 of the Valkyrie Brothers Trilogy—is an age-gap romance with a sexy ex-Marine and a feisty paralegal who may have gotten herself chin deep in trouble. Between Floors—book 2–is an action-packed, grumpy-sunshine romance with a wealthy single dad who gets stuck in an elevator with the hippy nanny candidate he just rejected. And Emergency Exit—book 3—is a fake engagement romance with a savvy tech investor and a quirky emergency management specialist who has a very good reason to hate jumbotrons. Laugh along with the Valkyrie Brothers as they fend off the bad guys and find love.
And while the Valkyrie Brothers are making their debut, I’ll be working on more paranormal romances! Some of you who follow me on social media may have heard me mention this fabulous idea I had about a giant demon exploding through the floor of a charity gala. (Trust me, it’s going to be great!)
So, the plan is to market, advertise, and shove the Valkyrie Brothers at everyone, while I type my little fingers off on next years paranormal romances. I’m also excited to see the Stiletto Gang’s new feature “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Books” come to life as we take one day a month to feature a new book from one of our Gang members. And I’m hoping to be accepted into a few anthologies with some romance and crime short stories.
That Sounds Like A Lot.
It does, doesn’t it? But, I’m hoping that by scheduling in advance and scheduling some down time in advance as well, that it won’t be overwhelming. We’ll see what I say in June. Possibly by then I will be chucking everything out the window and heading for the beach. Wish me luck for this new year. I’m sure I can use it!
***
Learn more about the Valkyrie Brothers
Twenty-six floors. Two professionals. Sometimes love only needs one Elevator Ride…
Vivian Kaye has been tasked with serving a cease-and-desist letter to Rowan Valkyrie—the most hated tenant in Seattle’s Hoskins building—but when she ambushes the seasoned security professional in the elevator, she ignites a powder keg of tempers and attraction.
Pre-Order on Amazon: CLICK HERE
Read more: bethanymaines.com/valkyrie-brothers/
2025 is Coming!
/in General WritingAnd I am not ready. I’m not ready for Christmas, I barely made it through Thanksgiving and New Year’s is barreling down on me like a freight train. In 2025, I’m trying something new as an author—a release schedule that doesn’t sync up with my work conference season, and a “long” quick release schedule. In romance publishing it’s not uncommon to see authors releasing books in a series mere weeks or a month apart. But I tried that in 2022 and I think I’m still recovering.
In 2025 I’m planning on releasing a complete trilogy, but I plan on doing them three months apart — March, June, and September. This will off-set them from peak seasons at work and also give me a little breathing space, while hopefully keeping readers engaged. But that means that I’m setting up a lot of marketing now in 2024. And if I’m putting my time toward one thing then I’m taking time from somewhere else.
So what should you be doing – if not preparing for 2025?
Christmas shopping! I don’t even have proper list or a spreadsheet! I’m just randomly buying crap and hoping that I’m getting closer to wrapping.
Upon reviewing those last few sentences, I have come to the conclusion that I might be a giant nerd. Does anyone else have a shopping spreadsheet? Just me? OK, well, if you do… nerds unite! You are my people.
But I haven’t even put up a tree. The stockings are up, so we’re not totally without Christmas, but still… The days are ticking by too fast! Although, I can’t tell for sure if that’s true since we didn’t get an advent calendar either. How can I really tell how close we are to Christmas without small amounts of chocolate being continually fed to me?
Meanwhile, I feel like I’m ADHD as I try to wrap up all my writing goals for the end of the year. There’s all the marketing I need to do, a contest I want to submit to that means I have some pages that need polishing, a novel that needs polishing and a paranormal romance that is begging to be written. And every time I work on one I feel guilty that I’m not working on the others.
How am I supposed to get enough family time, let alone Christmas cookies, into my December with that many projects? If you’ve got time saving tips or great gift ideas–I’m all ears.
But what I hear you saying is that there is a new series coming?
Yes. There is! The Valkyrie Brother’s Trilogy! Half rom-com, half mystery and all fun. The series features three brothers navigating reuniting their family, fighting off bad guys, and coincidentally meeting their true loves in elevators all across town. Book 1 – Elevator Ride – will be released in March of 2025 and is currently available for pre-order. If you want to learn more, it was recently featured over at Dru’s Book Musing Blog! And while you’re over there check out Dru’s fabulous reviews and other content.
Learn more about Elevator Ride: https://drusbookmusing.com/cover-reveal-elevator-ride/
Pre-order: https://amzn.to/3AnaMLQ
Luckless Love
/in Life, The Stiletto GangNext week will see the release of Luckless Love, a contemporary “enemies to lovers” romance with a hint of “mistaken identity” set in Eastern Washington with a “happily ever after” ending. This standalone novel was fun to write, but more fun to research. The story revolves around a winery and it’s head enologist (that’s wine maker for us less fancy people) who falls for a new-to-town photographer. To be fair, Juel Lugo, my co-author did the most research, I just tasted the wine. And I was very much OK with that division of labor.
Did I Learn Anything?
Yes, I did! Dom Perignon is not just the name of expensive champagne. He was a real person who helped in the invention of champagne. The people of Champagne wanted to make it more bubbly and Monsieur Perignon figured it out. This fact is of zero relevance to the plot of Luckless Love, but I still enjoyed learning it. Each section of Luckless Love does come with a wine recommendation and I hope that readers enjoy trying new wine as much as my co-author and I did.
So What is the Book About?
Photographer, Simone Laurent is homeless, loveless, and luckless when her motorhome conks out on the last leg of a year-long road trip. Arriving at Ryan’s Garage in the small town of Luckless Washington, Simone meets Jordan Ryan, the grumpy wine-maker from the Amante Winery, and mistakes him for a mechanic. But while sparks and tempers flare, normally sunshiney Simone is still unable to pay for repairs to her motorhome. Simone sets out to get a job, vowing to dismiss all thoughts of the sweaty “mechanic” from her mind. But that’s hard to do when Jordan turns out to be her new boss. But while Jordan and Simone are determined to focus strictly on the big wine event coming to town, their friends, family, and Cupid have other plans. With the crush coming from more than grapes, this hapless duo will need all the help they can get to make sure they end up in Luckless Love.
Luckless Love is a wholesome standalone rom-com, full of quirky characters, laughs, true love, and a guaranteed happily ever after. The print edition is now available! Follow the links below to get your copy!
***
Can I be a Co-Writer
/in Craft, Life, Romance, The Stiletto GangA Co-Writer Spills the Beans
Luckless Love started out during COVID when Juel who is my business partner in real life and I took a script writing seminar on how to write a Hallmark movie. We both felt that we could write one, and with too much time on our hands and since we were in each other’s COVID pods, we gathered around a computer and took notes on how to write a Hallmark movie.
What Are Your Co-Writer Goals?
Juel is not particularly interested in being an author. She doesn’t want to do the work of putting words on a page, but she is endlessly interested in stories and structure. As a life-long reader, and marketing expert, she knows that stories are what move the human psyche. So our deal was that she would do the bulk lifting on inventing the plot. I would walk her through how to outline and then I would do the actual writing. But that meant that we had endless discussions on our characters, their motivations and how to get them to fulfill their plot obligations.
I don’t know how other co-authors work together, but with over ten years of experience in working with each other, we managed to make it through the outline with very little disagreement. Having both taken the seminar we both could recognize when we were deviating from the Hallmark pattern. And then we could also agree when we were fine with leaving that path. Hallmark has a lot of constraints about how serious or realistic things can be (don’t mention divorce or cancer!), which is understandable for their brand, but for writing a novel it can feel like the characters are lacking in depth.
Did We Make it the End?
So did we make it through the writing process with our friendship and partnership intact? Absolutely. It was a fantastically distracting project during a time when we very much needed one. It was also fun to take on a challenge that neither of us had done before. The script version achieved a PNWA Literary Contest Finalist ranking and we are quite proud of our little romance novel. We’re looking forward to it’s upcoming release on November 18. Check out the links below if you’re also interested in a sweet romance, all about wine, second chances and finding some place to call home.