A few years ago, I became interested in scriptwriting. Like many people, I assumed that after a lifetime of watching movies that writing them couldn’t be that hard. I’ll pause here for your laughter to die down. Specifically, I was interested in Christmas movies and why they sucked. Which is unfair, one person’s terminally bland Christmas movie is another person’s soothing blankie that keeps the holiday season from emerging from under the bed and devouring them whole. I didn’t want gritty reality Christmas, but I did want something more. And since that didn’t exist, I set out to write it myself.
Cookies for Christmas
On the whole, I enjoy Christmas movies, but the problems arise from the Hallmark rules that keep Hallmark movies on brand — no cancer or dying, celebrate small towns, low stakes, etc. I get why those movies exist. Viewers want a sugar cookie movie, not a complicated dessert. But I didn’t understand why we couldn’t have Christmas stories with a little more… ass kicking. You see, I also love action movies — they are an excellent chocolate chip cookie of a movie. (Which is why I also stand firm in my belief that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, but that’s a topic for another blog.) So over the last several years, I’ve explored how to make the perfect Christmas cookie. They have all the sugar, fluff, and icing, but sometimes you need a few chocolate chunks and nuts. And I’ve accumulated three novellas worth of Christmas desserts.
Christmas Traditions
The challenge to writing a Christmas crime story was in finding the right mix of romance, holiday tropes, and humor to make people feel both awwww Christmas and Yippe-kai-yay MFers! This required research and I dutifully watched, Die Hard, It’s a Wonderful Life, Lethal Weapon, and White Christmas as well as many others. And OK, I also took a few classes on writing Hallmark and Christmas movies. But popcorn and couch time is way more fun than studying and learning from experts. So if you’re looking for a Christmas story that feels a little more hefty, but still hits that sugar craving, check out The Christmas Carols.
Blue Jones just stole Jake Garner’s dog. And his heart. But technically the French Bulldog, Jacques, belongs to Jake’s ex-girlfriend. And soon Jake is being pressured to return the dog and Blue is being targeted by mysterious attackers. Can Jake find Blue and Jacques before her stalkers do? For Blue, Christmas has never been quite so dangerous. For Jake, Christmas has never been quite so Blue.
Graphic designer Violet Harper is usually found at her local Starbucks. Handsome Roman Knox is usually carrying a gun. But tonight they’re both in a bank and there’s a body on the floor. It’s a mess, a robbery and almost the worst day ever, but maybe a Christmas miracle can get them out of the bank and into love.
When Marcus Winters, a photographer with a bah humbug take on the holidays, meets Larissa Frost, a set designer who loves all things Christmas, sparks are destined to fly. But when a famous diamond goes missing from the shoot they’re working on Larissa finds that Marcus may be the only one who can keep her from being framed for a crime she didn’t commit.
Try out the 12 Knights of Christmas anthology from Buttonhall Publishing featuring 12 delightful tales of Christmas, including my story “Carol of the Bells.” These stories are all romantic and certified sugar sweetness. (Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and as an audiobook.) BUY NOW:https://books2read.com/12Knights
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Christmas-Carols-LogoSquare.jpg22502250Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2025-12-10 05:00:012025-12-09 14:28:21Christmas the Movie Way
Last month, I blogged about having to scramble to pick a new pen name after the reader-tested and selected name was snagged out from under me. Cue the gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair. I was upset because I had every intention of using the pen name for a series of new novels that I had pitched to a publisher. And when that publisher came back with an offer, I was elated… until I tried to acquire the domain name. And then I discovered that my carefully vetted pen name had been taken while I dithered around. However, we managed to select a new pen name—Sirena Corbeau—and now I get to make the announcement that 2026 will be magical year!
New Publisher
Varus Publishing and I, writing as Sirena Corbeau, will be releasing four new paranormal romances in 2026. Varus Publishing is an imprint focusing on uplifting and championing romance authors and I’m excited to be able to bring a new world, series, and characters to life with them. This is the first time I’ve written in the romance genre with a strictly romance publisher and I am excited to learn from their experience.
About the Series
In this sizzling paranormal romance series, each book delivers a stand-alone, binge-worthy romance sparked by the meddling of Dante Montanari, a 400-year-old dragon shifter. Dante Montanari has a knack for bringing things together—supernatural deals, magical items, and even fated mates. The wealthy dragon barely cares for human laws, but he’s as protective of his employees as he is of his hoard. With pulse-pounding danger, passionate fated love, and a touch of dragon-forged magic, each book is perfect for readers who crave strong heroines, magnetic heroes, and happily-ever-afters that burn brighter than fire. Expect Book 1, Heart’s Curse, in March of 2026!
HEART’S CURSE – Lucas Kane is a talented telekinetic and ruthless casino boss looking to move up in the Montanari organization. Charlotte “Charlie” Auvray is a witch with no magic who believes she has nothing to offer. But when a curse drives the newest Montanari property, The Lucky Heart Hotel & Casino, into bloody chaos, Lucas realizes Charlie may be the only one who can stop the madness. What happens in Vegas might break the curse—and his heart.
Heart’s Curse will be followed by Forged in Flame, Curselocked, and Swamp of Shadows. Each book will expand this fantastic new world where humans and magical creatures mix, and bump into the problems of our modern world.
https://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NATB2025-Nov_general-square.jpg10801080Bethany Maineshttps://bethanymaines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Aug2016-Logo-op3-300x69.pngBethany Maines2025-11-07 10:14:402025-11-07 11:03:49Noir at the Bar November
Christmas the Movie Way
/in General WritingChristmas Strikes Back
A few years ago, I became interested in scriptwriting. Like many people, I assumed that after a lifetime of watching movies that writing them couldn’t be that hard. I’ll pause here for your laughter to die down. Specifically, I was interested in Christmas movies and why they sucked. Which is unfair, one person’s terminally bland Christmas movie is another person’s soothing blankie that keeps the holiday season from emerging from under the bed and devouring them whole. I didn’t want gritty reality Christmas, but I did want something more. And since that didn’t exist, I set out to write it myself.
Cookies for Christmas
On the whole, I enjoy Christmas movies, but the problems arise from the Hallmark rules that keep Hallmark movies on brand — no cancer or dying, celebrate small towns, low stakes, etc. I get why those movies exist. Viewers want a sugar cookie movie, not a complicated dessert. But I didn’t understand why we couldn’t have Christmas stories with a little more… ass kicking. You see, I also love action movies — they are an excellent chocolate chip cookie of a movie. (Which is why I also stand firm in my belief that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, but that’s a topic for another blog.) So over the last several years, I’ve explored how to make the perfect Christmas cookie. They have all the sugar, fluff, and icing, but sometimes you need a few chocolate chunks and nuts. And I’ve accumulated three novellas worth of Christmas desserts.
Christmas Traditions
The challenge to writing a Christmas crime story was in finding the right mix of romance, holiday tropes, and humor to make people feel both awwww Christmas and Yippe-kai-yay MFers! This required research and I dutifully watched, Die Hard, It’s a Wonderful Life, Lethal Weapon, and White Christmas as well as many others. And OK, I also took a few classes on writing Hallmark and Christmas movies. But popcorn and couch time is way more fun than studying and learning from experts. So if you’re looking for a Christmas story that feels a little more hefty, but still hits that sugar craving, check out The Christmas Carols.
The Christmas Carols
Blue Christmas: Buy Now • GET IT FOR FREE
Blue Jones just stole Jake Garner’s dog. And his heart. But technically the French Bulldog, Jacques, belongs to Jake’s ex-girlfriend. And soon Jake is being pressured to return the dog and Blue is being targeted by mysterious attackers. Can Jake find Blue and Jacques before her stalkers do? For Blue, Christmas has never been quite so dangerous. For Jake, Christmas has never been quite so Blue.
Oh Holy Night: Buy Now
Graphic designer Violet Harper is usually found at her local Starbucks. Handsome Roman Knox is usually carrying a gun. But tonight they’re both in a bank and there’s a body on the floor. It’s a mess, a robbery and almost the worst day ever, but maybe a Christmas miracle can get them out of the bank and into love.
Winter Wonderland: Buy Now
When Marcus Winters, a photographer with a bah humbug take on the holidays, meets Larissa Frost, a set designer who loves all things Christmas, sparks are destined to fly. But when a famous diamond goes missing from the shoot they’re working on Larissa finds that Marcus may be the only one who can keep her from being framed for a crime she didn’t commit.
Or get all three Christmas Carols in hardback: https://amzn.to/3Uj9PLh
Try out the 12 Knights of Christmas anthology from Buttonhall Publishing featuring 12 delightful tales of Christmas, including my story “Carol of the Bells.” These stories are all romantic and certified sugar sweetness. (Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and as an audiobook.) BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/12Knights
2025 Retrospective
/in General WritingRoad Blocks & an Announcement
/in General WritingAn Announcement
Last month, I blogged about having to scramble to pick a new pen name after the reader-tested and selected name was snagged out from under me. Cue the gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair. I was upset because I had every intention of using the pen name for a series of new novels that I had pitched to a publisher. And when that publisher came back with an offer, I was elated… until I tried to acquire the domain name. And then I discovered that my carefully vetted pen name had been taken while I dithered around. However, we managed to select a new pen name—Sirena Corbeau—and now I get to make the announcement that 2026 will be magical year!
Varus Publishing and I, writing as Sirena Corbeau, will be releasing four new paranormal romances in 2026. Varus Publishing is an imprint focusing on uplifting and championing romance authors and I’m excited to be able to bring a new world, series, and characters to life with them. This is the first time I’ve written in the romance genre with a strictly romance publisher and I am excited to learn from their experience.
About the Series
In this sizzling paranormal romance series, each book delivers a stand-alone, binge-worthy romance sparked by the meddling of Dante Montanari, a 400-year-old dragon shifter. Dante Montanari has a knack for bringing things together—supernatural deals, magical items, and even fated mates. The wealthy dragon barely cares for human laws, but he’s as protective of his employees as he is of his hoard. With pulse-pounding danger, passionate fated love, and a touch of dragon-forged magic, each book is perfect for readers who crave strong heroines, magnetic heroes, and happily-ever-afters that burn brighter than fire. Expect Book 1, Heart’s Curse, in March of 2026!
HEART’S CURSE – Lucas Kane is a talented telekinetic and ruthless casino boss looking to move up in the Montanari organization. Charlotte “Charlie” Auvray is a witch with no magic who believes she has nothing to offer. But when a curse drives the newest Montanari property, The Lucky Heart Hotel & Casino, into bloody chaos, Lucas realizes Charlie may be the only one who can stop the madness. What happens in Vegas might break the curse—and his heart.
Heart’s Curse will be followed by Forged in Flame, Curselocked, and Swamp of Shadows. Each book will expand this fantastic new world where humans and magical creatures mix, and bump into the problems of our modern world.
Interested in Paranormal Romance?
But if you want some paranormal romance now, now, now, please check out my existing Supernaturals series! https://bethanymaines.com/supernaturals/
Noir at the Bar November
/in General Writing, Life, mysteryA Romantic Craft
/in Christmas, Craft, General Writing, Life