bellabooks

[bellabooks]

“A novel that should be on your must read list” and “ridiculously good” the reviews of #BellaBooks are in and they are absolutely glowing!

Reviews of Bella Books are in—and they are truly glowing! From captivating romances to mysteries and thrillers and tremendous young adult fiction, our books are impressing reviewers who have so many nice things to say, you can’t help but blush. But don’t take it from us, read on to hear directly from them! Some of our reviews The Convincing Hour by Ann Roberts is getting so much love. Della Baczyk over at NetGalley gives it a 5 out of 5 and says: “This is a novel to be read and talked about. It should be on everyone’s must read list for 2021.” Jane Shambler also on NetGalley gives it a 5 and says: “It’s a great story and I’m routing for a sequel.”Meike Zande, van der on NetGalley also gives it 5 stars and raves: “This was so ridiculously good, I was glued to the book from the first to the last page and the prologue is an absolute wrecking ball!” Librarian Colleen Corgel on NetGalley says of Karin Kallmaker‘s Simply the Best: “Well, here’s another great one from Kallmaker.” Beyond the Smoke by Stacy Lynn Miller continues to impress. Laure D. over at NetGalley says: “And… She did it again!!! She released another book (a romantic thriller) that you can’t put down and that keeps you up all night long because you want to know how those characters you love beyond reason by now will get through all their ordeals and overcome all obstacles…: The audio book version of A Matter of Blood by Catherine Maiorisi, with Abby Craden narrating got a 4.5 stars from LezReviewBooks. “The audiobook version was read by Abby Craden who, as usual, did a fantastic job. There are a good number of characters, male and female, and Ms. Craden managed to make them all distinct in their voices and personalities. Her performance of the irascible and irritating Corelli and her inexperienced but supportive partner PJ was perfect.” The audio book version of Delay of Game by Tracey Richarson, with Anastasia Watley narrating also got raves from LezReviewBooks: “Who knew ice hockey could be hot? Anastasia’s overall narration, especially of the romance parts, is fantastic.” We’ll be back with more reviews soon! The post “A novel that should be on your must read list” and “ridiculously good” the reviews of #BellaBooks are in and they are absolutely glowing! appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S8RmNB

[bellabooks]

Author Ann Roberts talks about how her latest work is a love letter to students

Several years ago during my tenure as an educational consultant, I was sitting in a classroom watching an excellent teacher engage every student in his room. They volunteered answers, respectfully commented on each other’s opinions and seemed genuinely thrilled about learning. No one acted out and no one refused to do what the teacher asked. It was the dream lesson teachers strive to achieve every day they teach. It was the ideal classroom. Then I remembered where I was sitting: juvenile detention. I scanned the room, noticing the gray sweatpants, various-colored T-shirts, and the slip-on Vans. No one held a pencil longer than three inches since it could be used as a weapon. Many had tattoos creeping up their respective necks or down past their wrists. When it was time to do their independent work, they focused on their computers while two correction officers strolled down the aisles. I knew each child had a heartbreaking story and to be sentenced to detention meant the kid had done something horrible or couldn’t stop committing a minor infraction and detention was the last resort. Yes, these were the bad kids but they sure didn’t act like it. What was different? As a school principal, I knew kids like this—in fact, I saw one there that had been at my school. They were constantly in trouble and consumed dozens of hours in finding services, working with the courts, supporting the families, and working with the police. Still, very little improved. When I asked the detention principal why these habitually unsuccessful students were suddenly finding success, he explained that once the temptations were removed, as well as poor role models and a culture of the streets, many of the kids thrived. We spoke about life after jail and he shook his head. While some of the students would never see the inside of a cell again, many would return and a decent percentage would face prison. A lot of the kids hated the idea of leaving detention because they knew what waited for them. I thought about those kids and what it would take to change the trajectory of their lives so they could thrive and be successful. It would take a lot of money, changing a lot of laws that keep down the poor and people of color, dispelling some long-held notions about “family,” and admitting that for many of our kids, the current educational system is broken. The Convincing Hour is both a love letter to all of my students and an answer to the question I asked myself. Story Black is a survivalist, taking care of herself and her genius-I.Q. mother, Patty, a meth addict. Story wants something better for herself and she realizes that road leads through the local juvenile detention facility to a school designed by Charlotte Barnaby, a former principal who wins the largest lottery ever. The only person standing between Story and her future is Patty. Can Story stand up to Patty, the smartest person she knows, and rewrite her predictable future? The Convincing Hour by Ann Roberts releases September 16th Ann Robert’s YA novel The Convincing Hour will be available from Bella Books on September 16th. Ann Roberts is the author of numerous romance and general fiction books, as well as the award-winning Ari Adams mystery series. Ann is a native Arizonan who should have been born near an ocean and a lighthouse. She loves to find a beach whenever possible and has set several of her stories near the Pacific Ocean. The post Author Ann Roberts talks about how her latest work is a love letter to students appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S7d5WG

[bellabooks]

Author Katherine Rupley talks about merging her love of rock climbing with storytelling

Leslie’s story has been in my head for years and now it’s written in this book. It brings together some of my loves, strong women doing cool things, rock climbing, movies, Joshua Tree National Park, and supportive communities. Before time and wandering attention distracted me, I spent many happy hours in climbing gyms and outside climbing crags. I loved rock climbing because unlike my real life, there was a problem to solve with a beginning, middle, and end. I have so many fond memories of climbing. My first experience climbing was with a group of women camping in Indian Cove, a campground on the north side of the Joshua Tree National Park. I just thought it was going to be a fun weekend but I got my first taste of climbing. First lesson: hiking boots are not the best climbing shoes but are way better than bare feet. I got so into climbing that I took my climbing gear with me when I traveled for work and hooked work buddies into going to local climbing gyms or outdoor crags. I even conned my non-athletic wife into climbing but mostly into being my belay babe (the woman on the other ending of the rope keeping me safe). Wanting to learn more about outdoor climbing, I took a three-day private lesson with a young world class climber who’d been featured in Climbing Magazine. He was nineteen, whipcord thin, over six feet tall, and amazingly strong. He’d set 5.8 climbs for me, climbing in flip flops and he made everything look so easy. He’d show me a move and then expect me to repeat it. Well, I’m five-four. Even accounting for the fact that he was being able to reach all of the holds with his elbow, our inequities in body length and strength still made most of the moves tenuous for me. Writing Calculated Risk gave me the opportunity to share a small fraction of the climbing world with you. Calculated Risk releases September 16th Katherine Rupley’s debut novel Calculated Risk will be available from Bella Books on September 16th. After a successful engineering career in aerospace, Katherine Rupley decided to try her hand at writing, utilizing the skills she learned while taking UCLA extension classes. The post Author Katherine Rupley talks about merging her love of rock climbing with storytelling appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S7TsCS

[bellabooks]

“Epic Romance” and “High Suspense” Bella Books reviews are in

Reviews of Bella Books are in—and they are truly glowing! From angsty romances to romantic fantasies, our books are impressing reviewers who have so many nice things to say, you can’t help but blush. But don’t take it from us, read on to hear directly from them! Latest Reviews Simply the Best by Karin Kallmaker has received some very strong reviews. Over on NetGalley, reviewer Emily A , writes “Simply The Best scream Devil Wears Prada to me in many beautiful ways.…” Over at Rainbow Literary Society, reviewer Jude Silberfeld gave the book 4 stars: “Neither fluffy nor too heavy, Simply The Best hits the right balance, incorporating current news and societal themes in what remains, fundamentally, a romance novel. Jen Lawrence’s Guardian continues to draw raves. Lex Kent over at Goodreads gave the book 4.5 stars: “This book was a pretty epic romance, with plenty of angst that got me running for the tissues. This was a very strong debut and I can’t wait to read Lawrence’s next book.” Andi Kent at NetGalley gave the book 5 stars, writing “Fantastic fantasy novel. Great worldbuilding – parallel universe between a land of magic and that of humans, fated love, destiny and soul mates, and badass women with swords and their partner shields who protect them.” Betty Harmon of Rainbow Connections gives Guardian 5 stars and says: “I’m very impressed with this debut novel, and I can’t wait to read more in this series.” Talented Amateur by Maryn Scott is also getting its fair share of glowing reviews. Andi Kent over at NetGalley says: “Great, high suspense read.” While Betty Harmon over at Rainbow Connections says: “Talented Amateur by Maryn Scott is an intriguing mystery and suspense story with a dash of romance added in. It is also a good solid debut novel.” Betty Harmon over at Rainbow Connections also loved The Commiment by Virginia Hale and gave it 5 stars. “It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance with as much angst as The Commitment by Virginia Hale. It’s almost dripping from the pages like tears…and I loved every one of those pages.” We’ll be back with more reviews soon! The post “Epic Romance” and “High Suspense” Bella Books reviews are in appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S7B4HZ

[bellabooks]

If you are missing Wynonna Earp or love Discovery of Witches you’ll love these novels.

Star-crossed lovers have always been near and dear to our hearts. Not all love stories are rooted firmly in our world, however. Love stories between vampires and humans, werewolves and their sworn enemies, even witches and demons. If you love romance, but also fall for fantasy and supernatural themes, then you’ll want to check out these novels. Right now, we are having a limited time sale on these and other fine novels, so fill your library with fantastical tales of love that knows no limits. Here is just a taste of what we’re offering during this sale, with ebooks starting at just $5.99.   Terrible Praise by Lara Hayes This haunting love story is full of thrills and chills. Author Lara Hayes introduces us to the world of Stela, a 500 year old vampire who has had to trade in her warrior skills for financial ones in the twenty-first century. When she meets human nurse Elizabeth Dumas, their connection is undeniable.  All Together Stranger, book two in the amazing Redamancy series is also on sale. Bet you can’t just get one.   Keepers of the Cave by Gerri Hill Bestselling author Gerri Hill weaves a thrilling tale of two FBI agents, who are sent on an undercover mission to infiltrate a secretive town and discover the dangers that lurk beneath their insular community. The women share a past together that will either bond them together or tear them apart. While you are at it pick up the thrilling sequel Weeping Walls.    Five Moons Rising by Lise MacTague Mary Alice Nolan has dedicated her life to protecting humans from the unknown world of supernatural creatures that live beside them. Werewolf Ruri Samson witnesses the slaughter of her pack by a rival Alpha wolf and his followers, and is on their run. When Mary Alice (aka Malice) and Ruri meet, they must join forces to take down the Alpha, and face their forbidden attraction head on. We know this won’t be enough and you will want to pick up the sequel too. Grab Hunter’s Descent on sale too! And visit our website and found more books to love.   The post If you are missing Wynonna Earp or love Discovery of Witches you’ll love these novels. appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S59P8S

[bellabooks]

Karin Kallmaker: That Time When I Was Saved by a Drag Queen

That title sounds so dramatic, but when it comes to 2020 and beyond, life has been dramatic to the point where it feels like the new normal. So there I was struggling to write Simply the Best, finding joy in very little beyond my closest circle of family and friends, beloved books and games, and reruns of old familiar TV, when a foray into something new and a visit from my son led me to HBO’s first season of “The Doom Patrol.” Which led me to Danny the Street, and the cast cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us.” This rendition fell on my ears like something new. In the story, it lifted Danny the Street’s depression, and saved a haven for people too fabulous to survive elsewhere in the world. Alan Mingo Jr. (Kinky Boots et al) as Maura Lee Karupt created a showstopper with powerful, colorful, soulful drag queen fabulosity. It felt like it had been ages since I’d tapped my toes along with music. Hello Spotify (another entrant into my life, thanks again to my son). I queued up that version and was immediately recommended yet more songs by drag queens and divas. So that’s how I got from Maura Lee Karupt to this gem: Official video “I Am America” by Shea Diamond There it is: exuberance in spite of adversity. Proud authenticity, irreverence, and survival in answer to the endless hostility, violence, and demonization aimed at drag queens, transpeople, and the rest of us nonconformists. Shea Diamond’s declaration “I am America” got through the fog of the daily news and sounded a chord in me that had fallen silent. Because I am America, for all its glory and faults, baby, I am America too. This how America walk. This how America talk. This how America is. Simply the Best by Karin Kallmaker – available for pre-order now and purchase on 8/12! I cranked it in the car every chance I got from New Year’s Day 2021 onward. Simply the Best, the book I’d been struggling to write for more than 2 years, was off to the editor 3 months later. I haven’t stopped singing “This how America is.” Because #WEREHERE. This song and more is what showed me how Alice Cabot’s despair over both the state of the world and her seeming inability to do anything about it could be eased. Like me, she needed an out, proud, drag queen to remind her that it is enough to be queer, here, and daring to show our love. That’s how we change the world. Karin Kallmaker’s new novel, Simply the Best, will be available from Bella Books on August 12. She’s always written about women who love women and isn’t likely to change. Her addiction to TimTams, coffee, and Taytos won’t likely change either. The post Karin Kallmaker: That Time When I Was Saved by a Drag Queen appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S55HSJ

[bellabooks]

New releases for July are mysterious and thrilling

New releases for July are in and they’re mysterious and thrilling! From a body found floating in a sleepy Texas town to a P.I. in San Francisco investigating the murder of her rescuer, we’ve got the stories that will keep you up late flipping pages! Don’t miss out June new releases, which are delightfully romantic! Red Tide at Heron Bay by Gerri Hill Lauren enjoys her quiet, orderly life on the Texas coast where she runs her grandmother’s resort. Having left behind a bad break-up three years ago, she’s kept to herself avoiding both romance and friendship. When the clubhouse of the Heron Bay Resort is vandalized, she meets a detective who changes her life. Detective Harley Shepherd ran to a small town to escape a tragedy. Now that she’s embraced the simple life, she no longer faces homicide daily, but instead catches a simple case of vandalism. A body found floating near the resort’s pier convinces Harley that there’s more to this case than she first thought. As Lauren warms to Harley and the two become friends, they find themselves facing a killer who threatens the peace of their small town. Don’t miss Gerri Hill discussing her new release and her love of its setting: Rockport, TX. Beyond the Smoke by Stacy Lynn Miller Manhattan Sloane and Finn Harper have become private investigators and are facing their first major job: San Francisco’s unsolved crimes. On day one, they step into a political chess game—and Sloan feels like a pawn. When she discovers that the police officer who rescued her from her parents’ accident was murdered, she decides to solve the case. Political games, old flames, and new secrets threaten to unravel the life Sloane has built with Finn and her daughter Reagan. Check out this great essay from Stacy Lynn Miller about being an oddball and her new release. Illusion Lake by Sheryl Wright When Elliott inherits her great-uncle’s failing aircraft restoration business, she leaves her home in Toronto for New Mexico and Illusion Lake. Once she arrives, someone makes it clear they want her gone yesterday. She never planned to stay in the first place, but Illusion Lake has a draw—as does her hot lawyer. Kiva has a thriving criminal practice and is just in Illusion Lake for the winter to help her dad’s general law office. When Elliott walks into Kiva’s dad’s office, Kiva cannot deny the way she makes her feel. It’s not her job to be invested in Elliott; she’s only supposed to manage Elliott’s inheritance. She can’t help but get involved—even in the face of everyone gunning for her new client. Thanks for joining us to learn about these great stories! Come back next month when we’ll have more new releases to share! The post New releases for July are mysterious and thrilling appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S3mY8V

[bellabooks]

Gerri Hill on her love affair with Rockport, TX

Gerri Hill discusses her new novel Red Tide at Heron Bay and her deep love of its setting: Rockport, Texas. If you’ve read most of my books, you’ll find a number of them that take place along the Texas Coast, mainly in the Rockport area. Rockport itself, Port Aransas on Mustang Island (Port A to the locals) and even Corpus Christi (Corpus to the locals). You’ll find yourself there in Gulf Breeze and Love Waits. You’ll be there in Pelican’s Landing. The Midnight Moon and The Scorpion will take you there. And Moonlight Avenue too. Now comes Red Tide at Heron Bay. Red Tide at Heron Bay by Gerri Hill – available for pre-order now and purchase on 7/15! My obsession didn’t start until my mid-20s when I made my first trip there. A friend took me to an old, rundown (think cheap) motel, The Surf Court. It was right on the bay with rooms on stilts that made you feel like you were in the water as high tide lapped against the wooden pillars. Goose Island State Park is there too. Subsequent trips involved camping. If it were the rainy season and the mosquitoes were too bad in the woods, we’d always have a fallback plan…The Surf Court. (Sadly, it was demolished a few years ago and replaced with a public park and pier that juts out into the bay. Not that I would have actually stayed at the place! It’s solely for nostalgia.) I spent my 30th birthday in Rockport. Alone. My girlfriend at the time was supposed to go with me. Something came up and she said she’d join me the next day, that I should go ahead without her. The next day came but she didn’t. She also wasn’t answering her phone. I remember walking on the beach near Port A on my birthday, alone, and stumbling upon a fist-sized rock with shells imbedded in it. It was a chunk of flint and I picked it up, wondering what the hell flint was doing washed up on the beach. I would have thought someone had dropped it there if not for the shells on it. I still have it, sitting on my desk. It’s a reminder. (And yes, she soon became an ex GF!) (In my fantasy, I imagine a long ago traveler, hundreds are even thousands of years ago, dropping the flint rock, just waiting for me to find it.) My visits to Rockport became more seasonal after that. Usually the week between Christmas and New Year’s was spent there. Oftentimes Thanksgiving too. It was there that I became interested in birding and a trip during April and May was a must to catch migrants! And it’s remained a favorite place to spend my birthdays. It’s a touristy town filled to the brim in winter with people escaping the snow, yet it retains its smalltown charm. Art festivals, market days, music festivals, oysterfest, fireworks on the 4th, the hummingbird festival and on and on it goes. Any excuse to celebrate anything! Who doesn’t love wearing shorts and flip flops year ‘round as you meander Rockport Harbor during festivals? (BTW, the beer tent is a big draw!) Whether it’s sitting at a pier on the bay or walking the beach and watching the waves, it allows my mind to wander. Many a book was formed there as I strolled along, and not all of them having to do with the coast. Storms was born there, a story that takes place far away, in the mountains of Montana. It was also there that the idea for After the Summer Rain hit me, a story that takes place in the desert southwest of New Mexico. And it was there that Gillette Park came to life, a story set in the Rocky Mountains. I’m sure there’ll be more, either set there or born there…but Rockport feeds my muse and I let it. The post Gerri Hill on her love affair with Rockport, TX appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S3Yy2v

[bellabooks]

Good and Gay: LGBTQ TV news from Flack to Betty

LGBTQ TV news fills this week’s Good and Gay! We’ve got a gaggle of shows with queer representation that are returning for a sexy, sapphic, second season including Flack featuring out actor Anna Paquin, queer witch show Motherland: Fort Salem, and HBO’s skater show Betty! Also, GALECA, the LGBTQ critics association, announces their TV awards nominations. So, kick back, relax, and get ready to see which of you make a list of much-watch TV! Bisexual PR series Flack returns for Season 2 Flack has returned for Season 2 and this British series about a messy PR agent is just getting messier. Picking up where Season 1 left off, we see Robyn grapple with the collision of her personal and professional life as she helps famous people deal with their PR nightmares. All the while, she’s grappling with her own addiction. Robyn may be all about spin, but when her sister and mother get involved, she’s the one being spun. Robyn is a bisexual character played by bisexual actor Anna Paquin, who recently stood up for herself and other bi folks on Instagram. Flack Season 2 is available to stream on Amazon Prime. Queer witch series Motherland: Fort Salem returns for Season 2 Motherland: Fort Salem returns for Season 2 this week. Season 1 saw the trio, Raelle, Tally, and Abigail, enlist in witch military training—this year sees them enter War College. Set in an alternate U.S., the series features a romance between Raelle and Scylla, girlfriends who find themselves on opposite sides of an ongoing conflict between the military and The Spree, an enigmatic terrorist group. While Season 1 saw Raelle and Scylla driven apart, the Season 2 trailer suggests we might be in for a sapphic reunion. We’ll also see the addition of a new nonbinary character named “M” who is a second-year at War College. Here’s hoping this season is just as queer, just as witchy, and just as intense as Season 1. In the lead up to the season premiere, there’s even a fun Witch Test you can take to see if you would qualify as a witch. Motherland: Fort Salem premieres on June 23 on Freeform and streams on Hulu the following day. Queer skater series Betty returns for Season 2 Betty is back with Season 2 and our favorite queer skater crew returns in style. This season was filmed during the pandemic and explores the impact of it upon their home city of New York. Plus, Honey Bear and her girlfriend Ash have become more comfortable as a couple and decide it’s time to explore polyamory. And Kirt has a lady love interest as well! Betty Season 2 is available to watch and stream on HBO. ‘Pose,’ ‘WandaVision’ Lead GALECA LGBTQ Critics’ Dorian TV Award Nominations https://t.co/gpBG22enVI via @Deadline— GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (@DorianAwards) June 18, 2021 LGBTQ critics association GALECA announces Dorian TV awards nominations This week GALECA, the LGBTQ critics association, announced the nominations for their TV awards, honoring queer series like Pose, I May Destroy You, It’s a Sin, Girls5Eva, and more. Saturday Night Live cast members Bowen Yang, Punkie Johnson, and Kate McKinnon, alongside guests Anya Taylor-Joy and Lil Nas X also received a nod for their song “Pride Month Song,” a hilarious song both celebrating and critiquing Pride. Also of note is the fact that the association recently moved to gender inclusive performance categories for both lead and supporting roles to become more inclusive of nonbinary actors who might otherwise be excluded. “I’m so proud,” says the Society’s newly elected president, Monika Estrella Negra (who also writes for us!!). “Our group’s nominations are diverse and fresh, signaling the overhaul of invisibility of marginalized communities and the heralding of a new generation of entertainment journalists.” The post Good and Gay: LGBTQ TV news from Flack to Betty appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S1ysvj

[bellabooks]

June new releases promise romance

New releases for June are in and they’re heartfelt tales of intrigue, mystery, and romance! From a young Jewish girl’s queer awakening in a dystopian former-U.S. to an older woman solving a mysterious death to win back her first love’s heart, we’ve got the romantic stories you crave! Make sure to check out our May new releases while you’re at it! The Papercutter by Cindy Rizzo The United States of America has finally become so divided it can no longer be governed. In its place rise two separate nations: the God Fearing States and the United Progressive Regions. Judith Braverman is a teenager living an Orthodox Jewish community in the God Fearing States. She’s a talented artist who has a gift for papercutting and a gift for being able to tell instantly if someone is good or evil. When she and her friend Jeffrey befriend an openly queer girl from the United Progressive Regions, Judith feels herself pulled toward the new girl despite the danger their clandestine meeting poses. This YA new release will make you rethink the impact of the division we experience today. Old Love by Nancy J. Hedin Mary loves the annual Midsummer Carnival and is heartbroken when it seems the festival might be canceled this year. Each year she hopes her mother might return with the carnival crew. She also hopes she’ll get a second chance with her first love Sadie who left town thirty years ago. When Sadie returns to town for a job, Mary thinks her dreams might all come true. Then it is revealed that the rights to the barbecue sauce recipe for the carnival are in question. Oh and two dead bodies have been found. Sadie is implicated in both deaths. Mary is determined to win Sadie’s love, exonerate her, solve the case, and save the carnival, all while helping the pregnant teen that works at her grocery story. Luckily, she has the help of her thieving, talking crow and her dog. Don’t miss author Nancy J. Hedin’s great essay about how her new release evolved draft by draft. Swipe Right by Tagan Shepard Kieran has never been lucky in love. With one marriage ended after she came out as pansexual and another love lost in the wake of that breakup, Kieran has been firmly avoiding all attempts at dating. She’s had her heart broken enough. But when her comfortable, but very lonely life stops being enough, she decides to get back on the dating scene. Her friend Penelope gets her set up on the dating apps and helps Kieran recover after each disaster. Kieran really enjoys the time with her BFF until one of her dates asks if she’s sure that she doesn’t want more from Pen. Has love been by her side this whole time? Check out author Tagan Shepard discussing how her new release showed her that there’s nothing like falling in love. Save the Date Bella Books’ new release Save the Date is here and in this romantic anthology, our authors celebrate weddings! Weddings are more than parties. They’re a rare gathering of friends and family, the start of a new adventure, and they celebrate love. This short story collection is sure to make you want to say “I do.” From a woman who realizes she was supposed to decline an invitation only after she’s arrived at a wedding to Death’s 700 year-old Head Minion turned bride, we’ve gathered the sapphic wedding stories that will make you laugh and cry from the following Bella authors: * Tagan Shepard * Jessie Chandler * Louise McBain * M.B. Guel * E. J. Noyes * Celeste Castro * Kay Acker * Dillon Watson * Cade Haddock Strong * Kate Gavin * Jaime Clevenger The post June new releases promise romance appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S1xNBk

[bellabooks]

My lesfic novel Swipe Right showed me there’s nothing like falling in love

Lesfic author Tagan Shepard takes us behind the scenes of her new novel Swipe Right. There’s nothing like falling in love. Especially if it’s with someone you already know. Someone you care about, but learn to care about in a new way. It’s why we love friends-to-lovers stories, but it’s also why my new lesfic novel Swipe Right was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Lesfic novel Swipe Right by Tagan Shepard is available for pre-order now and purchase on 6/17. We’ve all had a tough year. Everyone keeps saying that. To the point that it loses meaning. The way you say “Fine” in response to “How are you?” But the kicker is—it really has been a tough year. For me, writing has been really hard. It isn’t just COVID, though that has been a huge stressor, of course. My wife and I both changed jobs in the last year. We’ve moved twice. We’ve sold a house and bought a house in this manic market. It’s been hard to find the time to write. It’s been harder to find the emotional space to write. Then Kieran stepped back into my life. I hate editing. I do anything to avoid it. My most successful strategy to avoid editing is to write another book. I finish a manuscript, then put it on a shelf and start a new idea. Six months or a year later I come back to the first one and force myself to edit. From outlining to publishing is usually about two years, most of that time spent pointedly not looking at the unpolished pages sitting in a corner, waiting to be seen again. So when the stress of my life sucked all the creativity out of my body, I looked through old files and found my first draft of Swipe Right. I’d written it in 2019 (feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?) and hadn’t really thought about it since. Editing takes arguably more creativity than writing a first draft, but I needed something to do with my writing time where I didn’t have to report a word count. I opened the manuscript and was reintroduced to Kieran. And I fell in love all over again. I think when you meet Kieran, you’ll see how and why she saved me. Kieran is passionate and brave. She takes chances and she’s endlessly optimistic. That doesn’t mean she never gets down on herself and the world. We all have highs and lows. We all have doubts and fears. It’s how she attacks those low moments that defines Kieran. People have hurt her. They’ve taken advantage of her big, open heart. They’ve shown her people can’t be trusted with her heart. But she gives it anyway. Kieran is a romantic. She knows there’s someone out there for her. Someone who will love her like she loves them. Someone who is loyal and warm. Someone who will treat her the way her best friend, Penelope, treats her. If only she could find that person. The best friend and lover wrapped into one. This year has been hard on me as a writer. I wasn’t sure if I would get through it. If I could get the books in my heart onto the page anymore. Just like Kieran, I had to ride out the lows and believe. Just like Kieran, the answer was right there in front of me the whole time. The post My lesfic novel Swipe Right showed me there’s nothing like falling in love appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/S1pCvF

[bellabooks]

May new releases are all about romance

New releases for May have arrived and they’re perfect romances for spring! From horse girls finding love to a wild weekend in Aspen, these beautiful and entertaining romances demonstrate how powerful, funny, and cool queer women are. Pas de deux by E.J. Noyes With the Rio Olympics just ahead, Caitlyn feels like the world is hers for the taking–with her trusty horse, of course. She won’t let anything stop her from her lifelong dream of winning an Olympic medal in dressage, not even the unexpected arrival of her childhood frenemy. A successful veterinarian, Addie jumped at the change to fill in last minute for the US Olympic Dressage Team. Her crush from youth is on the team, but that won’t be distracting, right? The two women have very different memories of their Pony Club days and when their paths cross, they clash. Can they set aside their differences and learn to work together? And are all the frustration and hard feelings actually a sign of something else? Don’t miss author E.J. Noyes talking about her own Pony Club romance and how it inspired her new release. Love’s No Joke by Cheri Ritz Mara’s only commitment in life is to her stand-up career and she’s long accepted the role of the player among her friends. Now she’s got a chance to serve as an emcee at a fundraiser that will not only give her exposure, but also help her meet some cute ladies. Victoria isn’t ready to get back into dating after her disaster of a relationship ended, but she does need a date to her grandmother’s birthday gala. When she’s forced to represent her family at a local fundraiser, she’s on the lookout for date material and meets a charismatic comedian. The two are paried on a planning committee and Victoria knows this is her chance. She proposes the Fake Date Deal: Victoria gets a date and Mara gets a break from her player reputation. No way this will lead to anything like feelings or romance or a deep, deep desire to stare longingly into one another’s eyes. Never. Check out author Cheri Ritz’s article about how TV inspired her new release. One Weekend in Aspen by Jaime Clevenger Emily wants to let loose after ending her ten-year relationship. The only probably is that she’s not really the type to let loose. When she’s invited to spend a no-strings-attached weekend in Aspen for a sex party with eight other women, she takes the leap. A fling with a charming stranger might just be what she needs to shake things loose. The charming stranger in question is Alex, a jet-setter who travels the world for work and finds friendly faces to date wherever she goes. Finding someone to build a life with, though, feels elusive. Until one weekend in Aspen makes her want many more… Don’t miss this new release! In This Together Stories of romance and survival during the pandemic Do you ever wonder how the characters from your favorite novels would deal with the pandemic and life today? We asked Bella Books authors this very question and the result is this anthology of 15 short stories and poems that feature your favorite characters from books like Mulligan, Backstage Pass, Choosing Grace, The Trees in the Field, Begin Again, Thursday Afternoons, Bait and Switch, Breaking Out, Take Only Pictures, Right Thing Easy, Cowgirl 101, Such Happiness as This, and more.  Catch up with characters you love, meet a few new ones, and learn how these women cope with the pandemic that turned our world upside down.  This new release features stories from the following authors: * Jamie Anderson * Kat Jackson * Regina Jamison * J. E. Knowles * RJ Layer * KG MacGregor * Lise MacTague * Catherine Maiorisi * TJ O’Shea * Melissa Price * Tracey Richardson  * Ann Roberts  * Riley Scott  * Laina Villeneuve  * Blythe H. Warren The post May new releases are all about romance appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/RzXYm5

[bellabooks]

Where do ideas come from? A lesfic author’s perspective

Lesfic author Laina Villeneuve discusses where her ideas come from and the strange interaction that made its way into her new novel Cure for Insomnia Many of the ideas for my lesfic books are drawn from my own experiences and interesting or funny things I’ve heard people say. I’ve written before about the experiences that have contributed to my books, and the same was certainly true for Cure for Insomnia. (To read more about the story of meeting my wife lead and my new book, check out parts one and two of “Science is Sexy.”)  In my newest lesfic romance, Karla Hernandez is a research scientist in a diabetes lab. Her mentoring of young scientists provides the answer to her troubled sleep patterns. Some of the ideas I incorporated into this book have a very clear genesis while others are harder to place.   I don’t fully trust my memory and often jot down a brief conversation or anecdote that might make its way into a story. The thing is, I rarely go searching through those notes. I did to write this blog and found a bunch of things I hope to use someday. For example, once my sister said, “Sex is sex.” Our mom answered, “Shows what she knows.” One exchange I don’t recall, like this one: “We’ll be there before you know it.” “What? We’ll be there and I won’t know it?” Who said that? One of my children, I think. I wrote it down thinking it will make good dialogue someday. I absolutely do remember that I got teased so badly by my peers in high school when I drove my grandma’s Ford Tempo to school for a week. She had a vanity plate that said LEZ TMPO. Her name was Ellie. But not one of my peers read “Ellie’s Tempo,” not one. Cure for Insomnia by lesfic author Laina Villeneuve, available for purchase now! I never dreamed that I would be able to use the experience that sneaked into Cure for Insomnia. More than twenty years ago, I sat down with the director of human resources at the college that was hiring me full time. I thought it was a temporary one-year position and was utterly shocked when I saw the words Tenure Track at the top of the contract. “Oh, yes,” the woman said. “You will absolutely get tenure. Unless you have sex with a goat in front of the library at noon, you’ll have tenure in four years.” Being the person I am, I talked about that with the other new hires. The director had not given any of them that warning. One woman said that the director told her she’d get tenure if she didn’t pop movies in and go back to her office for the class session. I guess she looked at me and thought I might have a weakness for goats. I’m just tickled that whatever trick of memory brought the goat one back at just the right time. It earned me a coveted happy face from my editor in the first round of edits for Cure for Insomnia. When you get to the bit about the goat in the story, you’ll have some insight to where we authors come up with our ideas… At least some of them! The post Where do ideas come from? A lesfic author’s perspective appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/Ry8vCz

[bellabooks]

Science is sexy from the lab to my new lesfic book Cure for Insomnia

Lesfic author Laina Villeneuve explores the scientific elements of her new novel Cure for Insomnia in part two of this three-part series. (Read part one here.) In the years I’ve been writing with Bella, I’ve taken you horseback riding through the Sierra Nevadas and shown you around some places I’ve loved–Quincy and Arcata where I went to college—and around my childhood home. Cure for Insomnia entered the whole new territory of a research lab. You remember that when I met my wife, she was intrigued by the research hospital in Southern California and was interested in switching grad programs. If you need to go back and read part one to hear how we met, I’ll wait. Caught up? Great! We spent the months between meeting in December and our U-Haul date in June flying back and forth for long weekends and spring breaks. LAINA VILLENEUVE’S CURE FOR INSOMNIA, AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NOW! For Louisa’s spring break, she was interested in taking a tour of the campus I’d told her about. She had sent in a late application and had heard nothing from them but thought it would be fun to check it out. A student of mine had told me that her girlfriend was actually part of the graduate program there and could meet Louisa on campus to give her a tour. Valerie was game and met Louisa in the parking lot. She took Louisa to the graduate school coordinator. He looked up Louisa’s late application and asked if Valerie could drop everything and escort Louisa to impromptu interviews with faculty on campus. It’s one thing to meet someone and be wowed by her intelligence. It’s another thing to hear that she impressed the people she met at the graduate school. I appreciated her on a whole new level when she excitedly told me about meeting with several Principal Investigators, especially since she’d met all those important people in a tight black T-shirt and low riding khakis that had been her standard attire when she worked as a chef. The next day, Louisa had already set up an interview at another nearby university to check out their graduate program. She wasn’t due back until dinnertime, and I was making dinner when Valerie stopped by my house to deliver a letter of acceptance to the graduate program at the research hospital. Shortly after she left, Louisa called to say that the university made her promise not to accept another offer until they had a chance to put together an offer for her. She had visited both campuses hoping to get a feel for what they could offer and suddenly had her choice of the two. So many stories feature protagonists with glamorous jobs: doctors, lawyers, movie stars or rock legends. Waiting for Louisa to get home, I was as starstruck as someone might be in the presence of someone famous. Today, scientists are getting a little more airtime as they work so hard to deliver the vaccines for COVID-19, and I am hoping that my characters in Cure for Insomnia help to promote the brilliance of intelligent women focused on solving a problem. The fact that they look hot doing research in their lab coats is an added bonus! The post Science is sexy from the lab to my new lesfic book Cure for Insomnia appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/RxlCF3

[bellabooks]

Science is sexy in my lesfic novel Cure for Insomnia

Lesfic author Laina Villeneuve explores the scientific elements of her new novel Cure for Insomnia in this three-part series. I’ve mentioned before how much my wife helps me when I write. She encouraged me chapter by chapter when I tackled my first lesfic story, Take Only Pictures and since then has helped me develop character backstory (remember how distraught she was when Hope sprung on us that she was Mormon when we were writing The Right Thing Easy?) and answer the what happens next? (especially in Such Happiness as This) Our first six books are set in places dear to my heart, my college towns and the High Sierras where I spent many summers, and even my childhood home. Laina Villeneuve’s Cure for Insomnia, available for pre-order now or purchase on 4/15. Cure for Insomnia is different. This lesfic novel we decided to build around the culture of science which is my wife’s domain. I could not have told you a single thing about how a research lab worked until I met Louisa. I met Louisa the day after Christmas in 2003. I had only very recently ended a long-term relationship when a colleague of mine said she was having a dinner party the day after Christmas. Her sister-in-law, Louisa, was in town from Tennessee. Louisa was single and lesbian and almost thirty. I was single, lesbian and in my early thirties. In other words, we were a perfect match, despite the fact that I lived in California and Louisa in Tennessee. My colleague had told me Louisa was getting a PhD in biology, and she must have told me that she worked with fruit flies because a lightbulb went off in my head. My cousin was about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in science and had done her senior project on the very same Drosophila! I immediately called her and asked her to come give me a quick lesson about her project, so I would be sure to have something to talk to Louisa about. My cousin tutored me for several hours on the subject of viral warts in fruit flies the weekend before the dinner date. I wish I could tell you that what I had learned about warts and Drosophila was key to the courtship that began with our first handshake. It wasn’t. Apparently, Drosophila are inexpensive, easy to propagate, and complex enough…what? creatures? on which to perform experiments, so while Louisa’s lab used Drosophila, it was for wildly different reasons. In brainstorming for this blog, I asked Louisa if she remembered talking science with me that night. She did not. She said that the world of virology had nothing to do with the genetics and meiosis in sperm that she was researching. The important part of the night came from mentioning that my cousin was working at a research hospital in Southern California that had recently started a graduate program. Louisa shared that she was not very happy living in Tennessee and had been thinking about relocating to live closer to her brothers; three had settled out here on the west coast. She wanted to work in a lab whose research contributed directly to advancing medicine, and the research hospital ended up being a much better fit than the University of Tennessee. Louisa changed grad-programs and spent the next several years in a lab that researched metabolic memory. I did my best to understand her experiments and the papers she read. Even though I didn’t always understand the details, I was constantly impressed with what she knew and what she was learning. I loved listening to her talk about her work. I found it incredibly sexy to listen to the language of science that was completely foreign to me. Cure for Insomnia is set completely in her world save for one chapter. While you won’t recognize any characters from former lesfic stories of ours, you’ll know the one scene I didn’t have to ask her for help with. I hope these characters stick with you much longer than my cousin’s lesson on warts stuck with me, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of Karla and Remi’s story. The post Science is sexy in my lesfic novel Cure for Insomnia appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/RxCRbp

[bellabooks]

March new releases are reluctant romances

New releases for March are in and they’re filled to the brim with reluctant romances! From a one-night stand turned something more to grieving hearts finding solace to a chance encounter leading to love, these fantastic new romances showcase queer women who are strong, resilient, and maybe not that interested in love…until they are. And, don’t forget to check out our February new releases if you haven’t already—they’re all about fresh starts and healing hearts! On the Rocks by Riley Scott Alex is a free-spirited artist trying to outrun her ghosts. When she arrives in Florida, all the way across the country from California and her past, she meets a bar owner who changes her life. Lennon has seen it all in her bartending days, but after a one-night stand with a newcomer, she has to wonder if she’s willing to feel it all. Can a booze-fueled night of passion ignite a lasting romance? Or will whiskey and self-desctruction lead to their downfall? Author Riley Scott recently wrote about the role of cocktails in her new release. Don’t miss out on our epic sale on author Riley Scott’s backlist! Leaving’s Not the Only Way to Go by Kay Acker Lauren moved to Vermont to take care of her dying father, but now that he’s gone, she feels adrift. She should return to her old life, but how can she? After clashing with another woman at a work meeting, Lauren doesn’t know what to do. Georgia has always felt out of place as a bisexual autistic woman. When her best friend dies and leaves behind a daughter to care for, Georgia struggles to make her way in an unwelcoming world. A disastrous work meeting opens up new possibilities when Georgia’s daughter Hannah brings Lauren and Georgia together. Can they open themselves up to love or to heal, will they have to move on? New release Leaving’s Not the Only Way to Go is Kay Acker’s debut novel! Table for Two by Kate Gavin Looking for respite, Reagan grabs the last table at a restaurant. When she sees another woman looking for a table at the crowded restaurant, she offers to share. Jillian just wants to grab a quick bite before getting back to her unrelenting deadline. Hangry and annoyed by the wait, she accepts a stranger’s offer to share a table. One disastrous, shadey lunch later, Reagan is grateful she’ll never have to see this awful woman again. Until Jill becomes one of Reagan’s catering clients. Can they navigate a professional relationship outside of their smoldering…hate? This is hate, right? Or did Reagan and Jill just find the romance they’ve been looking for all along? Don’t miss author Kate Gavin’s fascinating essay about how a dream led her to the concept of her new release Table for Two. The post March new releases are reluctant romances appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/Rvvqzm

[bellabooks]

A dream inspired my new lesfic novel Table for Two

Table for Two is a new lesfic novel inspired by a dream the author had. Here Kate Gavin tells us more about how she comes up with her ideas. Ideas…they’re a funny and fickle thing. Some might come to me fully formed and I can’t help but sit down and write. While others might be a little vague and that leads to lots of brainstorming sessions. No matter what, I write them down in my Google Doc brilliantly titled “Story Ideas.” My ideas often come from random places. I started writing Full of Promise for a queer studies class. The assignment was to use any medium to explore any aspect of the LGBTQ+ community. After thinking about stories that I would’ve wanted as a teenager coming to terms with their bisexuality, I started writing a short story. For my current work in progress (which is at the very, very early plotting stage), the idea came from a tweet that came across on my feed. Table for Two by Kate Gavin, available for pre-order now and purchase on Thursday! For my newest release, Table for Two, the idea came from a dream. It didn’t have a lot of detail, but all I remembered when I woke up was that there were two women who clearly didn’t like each other and needed to share a table at a busy restaurant. Enter my favorite brainstorming partner—my wife, Andy. On most mornings…okay only some mornings because when she wakes up for work, I’m usually a zombie. On some mornings, we often wake up and check in with each other, asking each other if we slept well. Then we ask about dreams. My wife can have many dreams throughout the night and they’re often pretty vivid. I, on the other hand, have dreams every so often and usually don’t remember much about them. But one morning, I told her, “I had this dream where two women were forced to share a table at a busy restaurant and they absolutely hated each other.” Then the brainstorming began in force. What if they eventually didn’t hate each other and fell in love? How could I get them together again to develop some sort of relationship? How could I make it that readers wouldn’t hate either character? As soon as I got out of bed, I immediately opened up the Google Doc and wrote out everything we talked about. Over the next several days and weeks, I continued adding to the idea, including some basic scenes I already had brewing in my mind, until I sat down at my computer and began the process of creating character profiles and outlining. Once I started writing the actual meat of the story, the words flowed much more easily than I anticipated. Sure, I might have had a few weeks (or maybe even a month or two) where I didn’t get as much writing done as I would’ve liked, but I fell in love with these two characters and had a strong drive to write their story. I hope readers will fall in love with Reagan and Jill as much as I did. Table for Two is a contemporary romance novel where two women meet by chance and they don’t hit it off in the least. But through working together, they find out that first impressions don’t have to last as long you learn how to be vulnerable with each other. Now as I sit down to work on my next book, I just wonder…what will my brain think of next? The post A dream inspired my new lesfic novel Table for Two appeared first on Bella Media Channel. http://dlvr.it/Rvm6bT