When you hear the term, writers’ retreat, what do you think of? Most people might imagine writers meeting to talk about writing. Makes sense, but a writers’ retreat is so much more. Writers need to write, even if they are never published. This need is something only other writers would understand. At its most basic level, a retreat allows a group of like-minded people to mingle. It also allows people who engage in a solitary activity to socialize. This is a snapshot of Crossroads Romance Writers 2015 Retreat.

A retreat is a chance to get away and refresh. A big part of this is preparing meals together. Sharing food, drink, and writing experiences bonds members. It also enlightens members that they aren’t the only person to struggle with challenges pertinent only to those whose secret fantasies involve New York Times Best Seller’s List.

In the ideal setting, a retreat is an opportunity for writers to help one another. It also allows more successful authors to encourage inspiring writers. It is a time to share motivation, experience, and the occasional rejection story. It is also a time to laugh aloud, fall asleep listening to friends tell ghost stories and wake up in the pre-dawn light with the soft breathing of fellow authors. This is what a writers' retreat should be.

All writers treated equally is the secret of a great retreat. Too often, writer retreats can be ruined by someone wanting to be a diva, or published author cliques that exclude non-published writers. I’m grateful to belong to Crossroad Romance Writers, who doesn’t do any of these things. Our 2015 retreat rocked. I can't wait for 2016.

What do you think should happen at a writers' retreat?

Writing is a solitary profession, which leaves writers with very little time to socialize and even learn about their craft. This is where conferences come in, but it is difficult to know how to pick the appropriate one. I’ve flown to conferences, spent the entire family’s vacation fund, and got nothing out of it, besides credit card bills. My criteria now is it as to be drivable and inexpensive. I’d also like to learn something, socialize, and sign books.  The Midwest Writers Conference held at The Clarion Northwest this past April certainly fit the bill.

The venue was easily accessible since it was right on the highway. This reasonably priced hotel and many amenities including a fitness center and bar on the premises. It also hosts a broad range of activities. While the conference was going on, there was a Toddler & Tiaras style competition and a Jamaican wedding. The staff handled all these events with ease. 


Ms. Littlejohn has some of the same issues I did with conferences and was tired of trailing across the country to attend them. Indianapolis is a decent-sized city with plenty of attractions and accommodations. Why not have a conference here?  Ms. LittleJohn had a vision and the extensive help of her family and friends to pull off such a large undertaking. Thank you, Ms. LittleJohn & Company.

There were workshops. I decided to downloadGrammarly as my first editor after listening to Alexa Grace stress the importance of editing. My husband, my second editor,  is glad,  as is my third and actual editor. From Catherine Castle, I learned the difference between sweet and inspirational romances. Shannon West reminded the group to keep on writing because a book has a six-month shelf life. There were so many other things I learned too.

Recently the topic of reader/writer conferences came up. Most authors/writers want to go conferences where they can meet readers, learn something, and possibly pitch to a publisher.  Unfortunately, many of the conferences advertised to do just that fail terribly.

Readers want to meet authors, converse with them, possibly eat with them, and get their books signed. Prizes, costume contests, and giveaways just make it that much more fun. There isn’t any place that I know about that provides all of these options for readers and writers better than Lori Foster’s annual Reader and Author Get Together at a relatively inexpensive price.

The boardrooms offer games, contests, oppotunities to converse with authors and chances to win prizes. Secret Cravings Boardroom had an amazing prize baskets for playing familiar games such as Monopoly, Password and Toss Across.

Readers win big with goodie bags stuffed full of books, along with various giveaways too. Several authors offered free eBook downloads. Some publishers gave discounted prices on books for those who were buying. Once again, registration provided you with a $10 gift card to use at the on site barnes and Noble book store. It doesn't get much better than that for a reader. 

The purpose behind RAGT, which is now in it’s eleventh year is to connect authors and readers. It gives new authors a chance to showcase their writing. In a glutted market, this isn’t easy.  It is one of the few face to face opportunities that authors have to sell themselves and their content. Although, the idea of selling can be off-putting to introverted authors, the atmosphere is low-key and welcoming. Conversations start organically between author and reader when in the food line or when commenting on raffle baskets.

Most conferences do raise money for different charities, but few raise the funds RAGT15 does. They collected $21,000 for One Way Farm, $2250 to Animal Adoption Fund, $3000 to Conducive Learning Center and $1200 to The Troop Project, which puts together boxes for our troops overseas. Several authors donated signed books to the troop boxes too.

In summary, I would recommend RAGT to both readers and authors. I’m already blocking out my schedule for 2016 conferences. RAGT was the first one on my list. To find out more, please visit RAGT.

Tagline:  Encountering ghosts and spirits is one thing, but what happens when you encounter love?

Blurb:

Shelly Barnes loved working for her father's business, Barnes Paranormal Society of qualified ghost hunters.  When the assignments began to be more than BPS could handle, they had little choice but to expand the business by hiring on other paranormal investigators.

Owner, Ed Barnes, prided his company for being  a successful, black owned business that started as a hobby and turned into one of the leading paranormal societies in the surround states.    When he hired, Kevin Bradford, he knew the man had years of experience under his belt and would make a great addition to the team.

When Shelly met Kevin, she was intrigued by him instantly and it had nothing to do with him being Caucasian.  After working assignments together, they meshed in every area of the job.  And for the first time in years, someone cared about her opinion, style and technique as well as her safety.

Until Kevin and Shelly hit a breaking point where the truth was demanded.  What exactly was this thing pulling at them?  Kevin wanted Shelly, But Shelly was hesitant to flaunt their interracial relationship status to the world, and she didn't know why.

Her insecurities from her past were threatening her future and she knew that  if she didn't overcome them, she'd end up losing the one man she'd ever loved.

In the world of Ghost hunting, they encounter ghost, spirits and possession, but no one expected to encounter and everlasting love.

Welcome LaNora, my personal friend & one of the busiest authors, I know.
Check out this parnormal romance, Love Encounters, you'll be glad you did. There is a direct Amazon link on the sidebar and below.

Morgan K Wyatt

Website:  http://jeanne1965.wix.com/finding-lanora
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLanoraMangano?fref=ts
Author FB:  https://www.facebook.com/LanoraMangano.Author?fref=ts
Twitter:  @jlm21965

Email address:  Lanora.mangano@yahoo.com

Melody’s work as a hospice nurse both gives her life purpose and rips her heart out when her patients die. Her latest client left her his lakeside home. After years of living in foster homes, Melody seizes the opportunity for a real home. 

Her happy residence comes to an abrupt halt when her benefactor’s missing nephew, Levi, shows up. A bomb shattered his leg and life, which left him in need of a safe place to figure out the rest of his life. The will leaves the house to both of them, but only if they cohabit for a year. Otherwise, the house goes to a third party. 

Melody detests Levi for never writing or visiting his dying uncle. Levi considers Melody little more than a gold digger similar to his ex-wife. There’s no way he’ll let her have his inheritance.

A rich baritone voice brought her back to the present. “Nice morning, isn’t it? The lake is smooth, making it perfect for an early morning row.” He nodded in the direction of the rowboat.

Melody automatically smiled back. “Yes.” The one word escaped her lips as her mind tried to translate what he meant. Was he going to row Roy’s boat across the lake? Did he invite her? The idea of sharing the close quarters of the boat tempted her, until she looked straight into his eyes. Her hand covered her racing heart. It couldn’t be, but she recognized the slate-color. Her breath hitched, testifying to his appeal, but if he knew who she was, he’d toss her overboard.

Turning up his smile a notch, he explained, “I was going out for a row and would welcome company.”

The idea tantalized Melody, but she knew better than to climb into the boat with Levi McDaniels.

Melody looked at his outstretched hand and took a step back even though something inside urged her to take his hand. She would have if he were someone else. Levi would push her out of the boat if he knew her name, though he’d have a hard time doing so. Being a strong robust female, as Roy like to call her whenever she swung him up out of his wheelchair, had advantages. Playing football with the neighborhood boys when she was younger, not only made her tough, but also willing to use any underhanded methods to secure the ball. A boy who cried foul when she bested him ended up ridiculed by his teammates. The brighter fellows soon learned to avoid her sharp elbows, gouging fingers, and troublesome knees.

Levi’s eyebrows winged upward at her refusal. His outstretched hand fell abruptly by his side.

Character Study

Melody has lived in a series of foster homes after her mother abandoned her.
She's found purpose in her life as a hospice nurse. She considers Levi's Uncle Roy as family. It's no wonder she's upset when Levi never visits his dying uncle.
She's grateful that she inherited old Roy's house, the first home she's ever had.
No way she'd give it up to a neglectful nephew.

Levi has had a close encounter with the gold digger type of female. The experience burned him good. When he returns home after his hospitalization, he finds his uncle dead, and a greedy female squatting in his uncle's house.  He's deteremined to move her out. The battle begins.

Book: Fake

Series: The London Series

Author: D.Breeze

Genre: Erotic / Contemporary Romance

Hosted BY: Francessca’s Romance Reviews


Synopsis 

*Can be read as a standalone*

She never wanted for anything. Beautiful, spoilt, loved.
Lydia Romero thought she had a taste of the good life - but do you really know any different as a child?
Looks can be deceiving.
When her world changes and everything she thought she knew turns out to be a lie, she makes a decision that changes the course of her life for good. 

Ruben Brent is her soul-mate. 
He’s the envy of every guy he meets and the crush of every woman, but his heart only belongs to one – Lydia Romero. 
She’s the most beautiful girl he has ever laid eyes on, and he’s been in love with her since they were kids.
But it all started with a lie.
And now he can’t escape the web of deception he’s weaved. 

Two lives.
Two hearts.
One huge mistake.

Add To Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24845014-fake?ac=1

 Purchase Links
Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/1czlNZp

Amazon USA – http://amzn.to/1IfTZol

 About The Author
 Danielle Breeze, twenty-five but some days I feel forty! I have two beautiful young children (makes finding the time to write challenging to say the least!) Born and raised in Coventry, England – don’t think I’d ever really have leave here because I'm a home-bird! I’m a romantic at heart, love a happy ending and I’ve been known to make up my own endings in my head to other books if I didn’t agree with theirs!

I have always read books, magazines...the back of the shampoo bottle...ANYTHING I could, since I’ve been able to form words! 
I wanted to write my own books for as long as I can remember, scribbling little pieces down when I was younger, anything to get my ideas out! I was at university when I decided I was going to stop wanting to do it, and actually do it! I have plenty of different works in the pipeline, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! X

 

Stalker Links:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDBreeze?fref=ts

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorDBreeze

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7215371.D_Breeze

Website - http://www.authordbreeze.com/about-me.html

 

Other Books in the Series

 Surreptitious (London Book 1)

Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/1FvZPPi

Amazon USA – http://amzn.to/1Fx29Ex

 Resist (London Book 2)

 Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/1APy87o

Amazon USA – http://amzn.to/1Fw00tK