Kelli’s Quill Newsletter - Welcome Summer 2021 Issue

 

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying life getting back to “normal” these days. It’s summer, and time to relax and have fun! In this issue of the Quill I’m showcasing my new blog series, still celebrating Pride month, sharing info on my hot summer romances, and more! Let’s get started….

Kelli’s New Blog Series…

This year, I started two new blog series. The first is called Behind the Scenes. Each Behind the Scenes blog examines my romance novels. I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book.

The second blog series is called Meet the Character Day. These blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances.

I’ll be blogging about all of my romances over the course of the year (and beyond). So far, I’ve blogged about the Royal Desires series (A Most Unusual Princess, A Most Intriguing Temptation, and A Most Unfortunate Prince), A Secret Match, and A Deceptive Match. The series is featured on both of my blogs. If you missed one, you can catch up here:

https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog or https://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/

 

Still Celebrating Pride Month

If you’re looking for some hot gay romances to read this summer, check these out. Follow the links to read book summaries, reviews, and order your copy today.

A Secret Match: My favorite M/M romance. Set in the world of professional wrestling, Ev and Josh learn lessons about honesty and self-acceptance. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-secret-match

Four Days with Jack: Best friends David and Jack embark on a sexual relationship. David has always loved Jack and has fantasized about being his lover, but he lacked the courage to admit his feelings—until now. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/four-days-with-jack

Killer in Wolf’s Clothing: This paranormal gay romance is a fun look at the werewolf legend and blends mystery, danger, humor, and sizzling love scenes. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/killer-in-wolf-s-clothing

June’s Not Just Pride Month… June is also Adopt-a-Cat Month

June is Adopt-a-Cat month, and as always, I’m advocating adopting pets (of all kinds) from shelters and giving them a loving, forever home. (Would you want to live out the rest of your life in a wire cage?)

Years ago, when I adopted my furry children, I went to my local no-kill shelter. The volunteer was happy to hear that I was interested in adult cats. Most everyone wants cuddly kittens because they’re cute now—but they do grow up. Sadly, adult cats are often overlooked and sometimes have a hard time getting placed. Older cats need love too!

Want to learn how you can adopt a loving feline friend? Check out this blog and see two cuties who are still waiting for their forever homes…

https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/save-a-life-adopt-a-shelter-cat

 

Kick off Summer with a Hot Romance!

If you love sizzling summer romances, why not add these to your reading list? Follow the links to read book summaries, reviews, and order your copy today.

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover: In this super-spicy paranormal romance, a vampire falls in love... at the beach. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/confessions-of-a-vampire-s-lover

A Deceptive Match: One of my favorite books. It’s got everything a good wrestling storyline needs: heroes, heels, action, drama, humor, betrayal, suspense—and in this case—hot love scenes. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-deceptive-match

Dangerous Indenture: An Irish indentured servant falls in love with her master’s son and tries to stay alive as she solves a murder. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/dangerous-indenture

Love, Lies & Redemption: In 1877 Nebraska, a stranger stumbles into the life of a feisty storeowner and changes their lives forever. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/love-lies-and-redemption

Trust with Hearts: A steamy contemporary romance about a sexy country music singer hiding who he really is and finding love when he least expects it. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/trust-with-hearts

Kelli’s Guest Blogs…

Why are vampires sexy? Kelli was asked that question back in February—just in time for Valentine’s Day! Read Kelli’s newspaper interview about vampires, lust, and love here:  https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/2021/02/09/valentines-day-cuddle-up-vampire/4236489001/

She also blogged about it here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/why-are-vampires-sexy

Another interview:

In Kelli’s latest interview she talks about the writing process, her historical western romance, her non-fiction guide to journaling, and more! http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/2021/05/author-interview-kelli-wilkins.html

 

Recent Release: Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing

In case you missed it… Earlier in 2021 Kelli released her latest non-fiction guide, Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing.

This fun and innovative book is filled with hundreds of journaling prompts that cover your childhood, friendships, beliefs and values, your career, coping with grief, fears, forgiveness, your purpose, and much more.

Whether you are experienced in journaling or completely new to the process, this book is designed to get you thinking about—and writing about—your life, relationships, patterns, goals, and some of your fondest memories. You’ll benefit from writing about these thought-provoking prompts and learn something about yourself along the way.

Journaling is a useful tool for self-discovery. In your journal, you can explore a wide range of subjects, themes, and ideas, revisit the past, and vent about anything (or anyone). In a way, you play counselor to yourself by digging deep into your innermost thoughts and emotions and writing about how you feel.

Journaling Every Week makes a great gift for yourself or someone you care about. Order it today and start journaling!

Learn more about the book, read reviews, and order your copy here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/journaling-every-week

 

I hope you enjoyed this summer issue of the Quill. I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Want to get in touch with me on social media? All my links are listed on the contact page of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/contact

Enjoy the summer!

Kelli A. Wilkins

Why are vampires sexy? Find out here!

 

Welcome to February! 

It’s Women-in-Horror month, and recently I was interviewed for an article on “what makes vampires sexy?” It’s a good Valentine’s Day/horror crossover, don’t you think?

Here’s the link to the article:

https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/2021/02/09/valentines-day-cuddle-up-vampire/4236489001/

What are your opinions of sexy vampires? Of paranormal romances? Who is your all-time favorite vampire? Write to me on social media and share your thoughts.

If you love horror, be sure to visit my Facebook Horror page: https://www.facebook.com/HorrorFictionbyKelliAWilkins

And don’t forget to check out the horror section of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror to read about my horror ebooks, sci-fi stories, and more!

If you’re looking for some hot romances to get you ready for Valentine’s Day, you’ll find just what you need in the romance section of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/romance

Until next time,

Kelli

Paranormal Romance… Where Love Meets Monsters

Hi Everyone,

To celebrate my favorite month, I’m writing about what happens when horror meets romance—paranormal romance!

Although I create hot and spicy romances, I actually started out writing horror stories. For some, that might seem like an odd combination, but it works for me. One half of my brain writes the horror, and the other half writes the romance. (In fact, I have published three horror ebooks. You can read more about them on my site or my Amazon author page.)

I like writing horror fiction because I get to explore different settings, plots, and characters that I couldn’t develop in romance. Sometimes after working on several romances, I’ll switch moods and write a horror story to give my brain and writing muscles a change of pace.

My horror short stories are more psychological/spooky/creepy than gory, but it’s always fun to add something scary (or strange!) into a romance. Sometimes it’s hard to keep a paranormal romance within bounds—you have to blend just enough horror elements into the love story without grossing out (or turning off) the heroine or hero… or readers!

Other times, the challenge to writing a good paranormal romance is creating a believable plot or finding a way to make a “monster” attractive/romantic/sexy. If one of your characters is a monster (of the non-human variety) you must believe your creature is real, whether he’s a vampire, a werewolf, or something else entirely.

If you don’t write the creature believably, readers won’t buy into it, and there certainly won’t be any sparks flying in your romance. As a writer, you need to make your monster as real as any other human character and flesh him out completely with a backstory, goals, motivation, and conflicts. (What kind of monster is he? How did he get that way? What is life like for him?)

My contemporary paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover started out with the premise “What if a vampire went to the beach and fell in love with a surfer?” The book is extra “unique” in that it’s told in first person from the male character’s point of view.

I made Anya (the vampire) sympathetic and sexy, and not overtly terrifying—yet she still flexed her vampire muscles when she wanted to. This story could have easily gone down the horror road and become a full-fledged vampire story, but I wanted to show a softer, kinder side to the Anya and embrace her once-human side.

My gay paranormal, Killer in Wolf’s Clothing is not your usual werewolf love story. Deke, the “werewolf” character, doesn’t actually turn into a “wolf-man”—he’s more of a shapeshifter who transforms into a super-aggressive Alpha male during the full moon. As I say in the book, “It’s more Incredible Hulk than American Werewolf in London.”

I almost had a problem writing Killer in Wolf’s Clothing because I’m “old-school” when it comes to creatures of the night. I expect my werewolves to be violent and vicious, and anything but cuddly. In my opinion, if a person is going to turn into a werewolf/wolf-man, he should look like the werewolves in Dog Soldiers. (A horror movie I highly recommend.)

As I wrote the book, I contrasted Deke’s harsh and demanding personality with that of his gentle alter-ego Greg. Greg understands his condition and does everything he can to keep Deke suppressed. But Deke is a badass with a serious need for revenge, and the antagonist, Blayne, is just about as violent and vicious as you can get (without fangs and claws). I enjoyed writing this story, and although it’s dark in places, Larry (Greg’s boyfriend) lightens the mood with his offbeat sense of humor.

Killer in Wolf’s Clothing is not your typical werewolf or werewolf/shifter romance. Some people might have a problem or take issue with the subject matter, the use of humor, and/or my treatment of shifters (what they expect a shifter to be could be quite different from my interpretation) in this book. Yes, it’s very different. Yes, it’s graphic. And yes, you either “get” it or you don’t.

And the same goes for Beauty & the Bigfoot. It’s a paranormal-comedy that starts with the premise: “What if a Bigfoot hunter’s daughter falls in love with Bigfoot?” I took a lighthearted look at the whole subject of Sasquatch, blended in some wacky lead characters, and added pretty hot love scenes. I don’t want to give away the ending, but not everything about Bigfoot is what it seems. He’s not the “monster” everyone thinks he is.

The Viking’s Witch is a historical romance with paranormal elements set in Scotland. The heroine, Odaria, is what they called a witch back then—nowadays we’d call her a psychic and a healer. Odaria’s “magic” is the catalyst that sets the story in motion. When the book opens, Odaria is about to be burned alive for being a witch. She calls down a spell and curses the villagers while unknowingly invoking a Viking raid. Or so it seems…

Odaria uses her “powers” for self-preservation and to get revenge on the people who hurt her. Rothgar (the hero) doesn’t believe in her “magic” and thinks she’s merely pretending to be a witch to frighten people. But after a highly-charged interaction with Brennan (the villain), Rothgar gets a taste of what Odaria could really do if she set her mind to it.

Vampires, shapeshifters, witches… no matter what subgenre of paranormal romance you write, readers need to be swept into the story and buy into the premise that you’ve created. Your job as a writer is to make the reader believe in the paranormal element (whether it’s a werewolf, zombie, vampire, or ghost) and take the reader on a journey with the main characters as they fall in love. The situations in the story need to be plausible and told in a way that grips the reader, even if the premise seems a bit far-fetched (at first).

When writing paranormal romance, don’t be afraid to break patterns, make your characters different, or have them go against stereotype. Give readers something unexpected, turn a cliché on its ear, or use a different point of view—it’ll make your work stand out.

Order Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover here:

 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IBYWYCI

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/49xp1J

Order Killer in Wolf’s Clothing here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3V9VWW

All other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/mYRB6x

Order Beauty & the Bigfoot here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SL9WT2

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4Dog0Q

Order The Viking’s Witch here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/%20ebook/dp/B07T15MHSW

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4EQe0o

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at paranormal romances. I like hearing from readers, so feel free to drop me a line with questions or comments. You can catch up on all of my writings and follow me on social media via the links on my contact page.

Happy Haunting!

Kelli

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover – A Paranormal Summer Love Story

Hi romance lovers,

Although I write in several romance genres (contemporary, gay, historical, fantasy), I also like to write horror stories. Many people think that’s an odd combination, but I like to say that one half of my brain writes the horror, and the other half writes the romance. So naturally, it was only a matter of time before I combined the two and started writing paranormal romances.

My contemporary paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover, is a different type of romance. For starters, the novella is told in the first person from the hero’s point of view. The story also makes use of a setting where you don’t normally find vampires—the beach!

I got the idea for the story while sitting on a nearly deserted beach at the end of the summer season. (I’m not a beach person, but I was there with my husband, a surfer.) As I sat there watching the few people milling around, I wondered: “What if a vampire went to the beach? And what if she fell in love with a surfer?”

I liked the idea of contrasting typical sun-worshipping beachgoers and surfers with a darkness-loving elusive vampire. Besides, what could be more mismatched than a die-hard surfer falling in love with a nocturnal blood-drinker?

I started toying with ideas and knew that although the book is about a vampire, I wanted to keep the central focus on Brian and Anya’s relationship and not on the ‘bloodier’ aspects of vampirism (show her feeding, etc.) There’s a fine line when blending horror and romance into paranormal romance. Too much gore or a “too terrifying” creature can snap the readers (and the characters) out of the romance and into a full-on horror story.

When I wrote the book I made sure that the love scenes were highly sensual and almost surreal. Aside from being a vampire, Anya is a woman with needs, and she makes sure Brian satisfies them. I don’t remember how I was inspired to have the story told by Brian, but it worked. Readers and reviewers like the first-person aspect—it pulls you into a story that would seem unbelievable.

Several people have asked me if it’s hard to write horror and romance. Not really. I enjoy it. Writing horror allows me to change up my writing style, use different settings, and create characters you wouldn’t find in a romance. My horror stories are more psychological/spooky/creepy than gory, and I like to explore darker plots and not always give the characters a happy ending (as I do in my romances).

Here’s the summary:

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover

The moment Brian spotted Anya sitting on the moonlit beach, he was hooked. Beautiful, smart, and sexy, Anya was the girl of his dreams. She didn’t mind that he spent the hot summer days riding the ocean waves, because once the sun set, he belonged to her—all night long!

Everything is perfect between them—until Brian discovers Anya’s shocking secret. Can Brian give up the sun, sand, and surf to be with the woman he loves?

Read Brian’s first-hand account of their unusual love story in… Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover.

Order Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Vampires-Lover-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B01IBYWYCI

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/49xp1J

Read more about my romances on my new site: www.kelliwilkins.com

Happy Reading,

Kelli 

Summer Romance Spotlight… “Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover”

Hi romance lovers,

Although I write in several romance genres (contemporary, gay, historical), I also like to write horror stories. Many people think that’s an odd combination, but I like to say that one half of my brain writes the horror, and the other half writes the romance. So naturally, it was only a matter of time before I combined the two and started writing paranormal romances.

My contemporary paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover, is a different type of romance. For starters, the novella is told in the first person from the hero’s point of view. The story also makes use of a setting where you don’t normally find vampires—the beach!

I got the idea for the story while sitting on a nearly deserted beach at the end of the summer season. (I’m not a beach person, but I was there with my husband, a surfer.) As I sat there watching the few people milling around, I wondered: “What if a vampire went to the beach? And what if she fell in love with a surfer?”

I liked the idea of contrasting typical sun worshipping beachgoers and surfers with a darkness-loving elusive vampire. Besides, what could be more mismatched than a die-hard surfer falling in love with a nocturnal blood-drinker?

I started toying with ideas and knew that although the book is about a vampire, I wanted to keep the central focus on Brian and Anya’s relationship and not on the ‘bloodier’ aspects of vampirism (show her feeding, etc.) There’s a fine line when blending horror and romance into paranormal romance. Too much gore or a “too terrifying” creature can snap the readers (and the characters) out of the romance and into a full-on horror story.

When I wrote the book I made sure that the love scenes were highly sensual and almost surreal. Aside from being a vampire, Anya is a woman with needs, and she makes sure Brian satisfies them. I don’t remember how I was inspired to have the story told by Brian, but it worked. Readers and reviewers like the first-person aspect—it pulls you into a story that would seem unbelievable.

Several people have asked me if it’s hard to write horror and romance. Not really. I enjoy it. Writing horror allows me to change up my writing style, use different settings, and create characters you wouldn’t find in a romance. My horror stories are more psychological/spooky/creepy than gory, and I like to explore darker plots and not always give the characters a happy ending (as I do in my romances).

Here’s the summary and a tame excerpt from...

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover

The moment Brian spotted Anya sitting on the moonlit beach, he was hooked. Beautiful, smart, and sexy, Anya was the girl of his dreams. She didn’t mind that he spent the hot summer days riding the ocean waves, because once the sun set, he belonged to her—all night long!

Everything is perfect between them—until Brian discovers Anya’s shocking secret. Can Brian give up the sun, sand, and surf to be with the woman he loves?

Read Brian’s first-hand account of their unusual love story in… Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover.

* * *

I first saw her on the beach. I came up over the top of a dune and spotted her right away. She was sitting on the sand, about ten feet from the water. It was almost midnight and the beach was deserted, except for us. The moon beamed down on her, and she seemed to glow with a strange luminescence.

I stood still, listening to the roar of the crashing waves. Seeing the girl had stopped me in my tracks. I felt drawn to her, like I had known her before. But that was impossible, wasn’t it?

A gentle wind ruffled the blonde hair cascading around her shoulders, allowing me to see her more clearly. Her head was bent down and she was staring at something she held in her hands.

I inched a little closer and watched her for a few minutes. She looked close to my age, somewhere near thirty. I longed to ask her some inane question to break the ice, but I froze. What could I say to her? Lone figures on the beach at night were probably not interested in making conversation.

I’d never had much luck with women. They thought history teachers were boring and considered surfing nothing more than a juvenile waste of time. Most of the women I had dated wanted successful, professional men like lawyers and doctors who drove fast cars and had money to burn. What kind of woman would fall in love with an unemployed thirty-year-old teacher who drove a beat-up car littered with sand and surf wax?

I turned and gazed out over the ocean. The sets were breaking just offshore. The surf would be good tomorrow morning if the wind didn’t shift.

A minute later, I glanced back toward the girl. She was gone. Not just gone from that spot— but gone, vanished. I looked up and down the beach, but I didn’t see her anywhere. Had I scared her away? Where did she go? I knew she hadn’t passed me, and there were no footprints leading off into the distance.

I wandered to where she’d been sitting and found a paperback book half buried in the sand. I picked it up and squinted at the cover in the dim light. A couple dressed in Victorian clothing was locked in a passionate embrace. Had she been reading this out here?

I heard a whisper behind me, and I whirled around. Nobody was there. The darkness and the roaring waves were playing tricks on me. At least, that’s what I thought.

I headed home. I couldn’t stop thinking about the girl as I gathered my surf gear together.

Who was she? Why was she alone on the beach at midnight? I wasn’t sure why I was so entranced by her. Maybe she—like me—was hoping to find some solace in the eternal ocean waves.

* * *

Order Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Vampires-Lover-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B01IBYWYCI

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/49xp1J

* * *

I hope you’ll check it out. It’s a perfect blend of steamy beach romance and mystery to heat up your summer!

If you haven’t started following me on social media, now is the perfect time. Here’s a list of where you can find me on the web:

Website: http://www.KelliWilkins.com

Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/ (Yes, you’re here - why not Follow this blog?)

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins

Facebook Historical Romances: https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1703805359922371/

Facebook Contemporary Romances: https://www.facebook.com/Contemporary-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1965702023664339/

Facebook Gay Romances: https://www.facebook.com/GayRomancesbyKelliAWilkins/

FREE READS: http://www.manicreaders.com/KelliAWilkins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelliwilkins2/

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb

Happy Summer Reading,

Kelli

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover – A Summer Paranormal Love Story

Hi romance lovers,

Although I write in several romance genres (contemporary, gay, historical, fantasy), I also like to write horror stories. Many people think that’s an odd combination, but I like to say that one half of my brain writes the horror, and the other half writes the romance. So naturally, it was only a matter of time before I combined the two and started writing paranormal romances.

My contemporary paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover, is a different type of romance. For starters, the novella is told in the first person from the hero’s point of view. The story also makes use of a setting where you don’t normally find vampires—the beach! 

I got the idea for the story while sitting on a nearly deserted beach at the end of the summer season. (I’m not a beach person, but I was there with my husband, a surfer.) As I sat there watching the few people milling around, I wondered: “What if a vampire went to the beach? And what if she fell in love with a surfer?”

I liked the idea of contrasting typical sun worshipping beachgoers and surfers with a darkness-loving elusive vampire. Besides, what could be more mismatched than a die-hard surfer falling in love with a nocturnal blood-drinker?

I started toying with ideas and knew that although the book is about a vampire, I wanted to keep the central focus on Brian and Anya’s relationship and not on the ‘bloodier’ aspects of vampirism (show her feeding, etc.) There’s a fine line when blending horror and romance into paranormal romance. Too much gore or a “too terrifying” creature can snap the readers (and the characters) out of the romance and into a full-on horror story. 

When I wrote the book I made sure that the love scenes were highly sensual and almost surreal. Aside from being a vampire, Anya is a woman with needs, and she makes sure Brian satisfies them. I don’t remember how I was inspired to have the story told by Brian, but it worked. Readers and reviewers like the first-person aspect—it pulls you into a story that would seem unbelievable.

Several people have asked me if it’s hard to write horror and romance. Not really. I enjoy it. Writing horror allows me to change up my writing style, use different settings, and create characters you wouldn’t find in a romance. My horror stories are more psychological/spooky than gory, and I like to explore darker plots and not always give the characters a happy ending (as I do in my romances).

Here’s the summary and a tame excerpt from Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover:

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover

The moment Brian spotted Anya sitting on the moonlit beach, he was hooked. Beautiful, smart, and sexy, Anya was the girl of his dreams. She didn’t mind that he spent the hot summer days riding the ocean waves, because once the sun set, he belonged to her—all night long!

Everything is perfect between them—until Brian discovers Anya’s shocking secret. Can Brian give up the sun, sand, and surf to be with the woman he loves?

Read Brian’s first-hand account of their unusual love story in… Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover.

***

I first saw her on the beach. I came up over the top of a dune and spotted her right away. She was sitting on the sand, about ten feet from the water. It was almost midnight and the beach was deserted, except for us. The moon beamed down on her, and she seemed to glow with a strange luminescence.

I stood still, listening to the roar of the crashing waves. Seeing the girl had stopped me in my tracks. I felt drawn to her, like I had known her before. But that was impossible, wasn’t it?

Who are you? I wondered.

A gentle wind ruffled the blonde hair cascading around her shoulders, allowing me to see her more clearly. Her head was bent down and she was staring at something she held in her hands.

I inched a little closer and watched her for a few minutes. She looked close to my age, somewhere near thirty. I longed to ask her some inane question to break the ice, but I froze. What could I say to her? Lone figures on the beach at night were probably not interested in making conversation.

I’d never had much luck with women. They thought history teachers were boring and considered surfing nothing more than a juvenile waste of time. Most of the women I had dated wanted successful, professional men like lawyers and doctors who drove fast cars and had money to burn. What kind of woman would fall in love with an unemployed thirty-year-old teacher who drove a beat-up car littered with sand and surf wax?

I turned and gazed out over the ocean. The sets were breaking just offshore. The surf would be good tomorrow morning if the wind didn’t shift.

A minute later, I glanced back toward the girl. She was gone. Not just gone from that spot— but gone, vanished. I looked up and down the beach, but I didn’t see her anywhere. Had I scared her away? Where did she go? I knew she hadn’t passed me, and there were no footprints leading off into the distance.

I wandered to where she’d been sitting and found a paperback book half buried in the sand. I picked it up and squinted at the cover in the dim light. A couple dressed in Victorian clothing was locked in a passionate embrace. Had she been reading this out here?

I heard a whisper behind me, and I whirled around. Nobody was there. The darkness and the roaring waves were playing tricks on me. At least, that’s what I thought.

I headed home. I couldn’t stop thinking about the girl as I gathered my surf gear together.

Who was she? Why was she alone on the beach at midnight? I wasn’t sure why I was so entranced by her. Maybe she—like me—was hoping to find some solace in the eternal ocean waves. 

Order your copy of Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Vampires-Lover-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B01IBYWYCI

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1135216230

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/confessions-of-a-vampires-lover-kelli-a-wilkins/1017484568 

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/confessions-of-a-vampire-s-lover

Page Foundry: http://www.inktera.com/store/title/a3d290b2-9c32-4a40-92ec-aac57fd0fcd7

24 Symbols: https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1565223

* * *

I hope you’ll check it out. It’s a perfect blend of steamy beach romance and mystery to heat up your summer!

Happy Reading,

Kelli

Kelli’s Quill Newsletter - Early Summer Issue

Greetings! It’s hard to believe that summer is just around the corner. Time flies, doesn’t it? 

In this issue of the Quill, I’m reflecting on the theme of “time flies” and taking a look back at my romances, sharing links to guest blogs and interviews, and answering a few FAQ in the Kelli’s Corner writing section. Let’s get started!

A Look Back…

Believe it or not, Amber Quill Press closed a little more than a year ago. Since then, I’ve re-edited, revised, and re-released several of my AQP romances. To date, eleven titles have been published on Amazon, B&N, iTunes, and other platforms. Here’s the list:

A Deceptive Match*

A Most Unusual Princess** 

A Most Intriguing Temptation**

A Most Unfortunate Prince**

A Secret Match*

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover 

Killer in Wolf’s Clothing

Loving a Wild Stranger

Midsummer Night’s Delights***

Midwinter Night’s Delights***

Ultimate Night’s Delights***

* A Deceptive Match and A Secret Match are related titles with shared characters. However, each novel can be read separately.

** These titles make up the Royal Desires series. Although connected, each book stands alone as an individual read.

*** These novellas complete the Naughty Nobles trilogy. It is recommended that they are read in sequence.

Visit my website (www.KelliWilkins.com) or Amazon author page (www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins) to read complete book summaries, reviews, and excerpts.

Special thanks to Eve Grinnell (www.grinnellgraphics.com) for creating these fantastic new covers!

What’s Ahead?

You might be wondering… what about the rest of your AQP books? Well, plans are in the works to re-release three of my contemporary romances (Four Days with Jack, Beauty & the Bigfoot, and Trust with Hearts) later this year or in early in 2018. Stay tuned to my blog and social media for updates.

Attack of the Blogs!

I’ve been blogging like mad! Follow these links to read “inside looks” at the making of my romances, catch up on interviews, and get some writing advice.

Read about the making of the Naughty Nobles trilogy. Each post includes an excerpt.

Midsummer Night’s Delights:

http://lushbookreviewss.blogspot.com/2017/02/guest-blog-midsummer-nights-delights-by.html?zx=b6d3ef70888a54fa

Midwinter Night’s Delights:

http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2017/02/guest-author-day-with-kelli-wilkins.html

Ultimate Night’s Delights:

http://saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/ultimate-nights-delights-erotic.html

Read a fun chat with Julian from the Naughty Nobles trilogy:

 http://saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/chatting-with-julian-from-ultimate.html

Like your romances HOT? Find out how to Spice up Romances with Menage:
http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2017/03/guest-author-day-with-kelli-wilkins_27.html

Learn about my historical/pioneer romance, Loving a Wild Stranger:

http://burgandyice.blogspot.com/2017/01/smokin-hot-loving-wild-stranger-by.html

Read an interview with Luther, the hero from Loving a Wild Stranger:

http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2017/01/character-spotlight-with-kelli-wilkins.html?zx=b15c39ccc2235266

Don’t miss my guest blog about writing historical romances: http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/2017/01/on-genres-with-kelli-wilkins.html

Romance lovers… read an excerpt from my historical/paranormal, The Viking’s Witch
https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com/2017/04/19/the-vikings-witch-by-kwilkinsauthor-is-a-historicalromance-gem-books-amreading/

Read an interview with Rothgar, the hero from The Viking’s Witch: http://bookreviewsbylynn.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/guest-blog-book-promo-vikings-witch-by.html

Get ready for a hot summer romance with Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover:
http://dbaileycoach.com/brightbooks/2017/04/inside-look-confessions-vampires-lover/

Catch my BOOK CLUB FRIDAY interview. I talk about the writing process, creating characters, and more!
http://anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-club-friday-guest-author-kelli.html

Read my new interview with Night Owl Romance:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Interviews/Night-Owl-Reviews-interviews-Kelli-A-Wilkins-on-Jan-26-2017

Check out Kelli’s NOR Author Tip of the Week:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Author-Tip-Of-The-Week

Kelli’s Corner…

In this issue, Kelli’s Corner shares a few FAQ from readers and interviewers.

Most authors write in one romance genre, but your books cover a lot of different genres and heat levels, why? Which genre or genres do you prefer to write?
I write romances in nearly every genre (historical, fantasy, contemporary, paranormal, and gay) at all heat levels. Some of my romances are mild (Loving a Wild Stranger) and others are super-sizzling hot (Killer in Wolf’s Clothing). I feel drawn to historicals, but I’m not “married” to the genre. If I’m inspired to write a character’s story, I go where and when the idea takes me. That could be in any time period, in any setting, and in any genre.

Although I’ve written several historicals, they all have different settings. For example, Loving a Wild Stranger takes place in the wilds of the Michigan Territory in the early 1820s; Lies, Love & Redemption is a western set in 1877 Nebraska; Dangerous Indenture takes place in Pennsylvania Colony, and The Viking’s Witch is set in 804 in Scotland. Setting books in the different locations and time periods lets me explore plot ideas and create unique characters for those settings.

What prompted you to write in the genres you do?
I like reading about history, watching historical movies, and visiting historical places, so all that plays a part in my interest in writing historical romances. I enjoy researching what life was like hundreds of years ago and learning about how people lived, what they ate, and how they survived in different time periods. I incorporate this information into my stories and use details to flesh out the characters and settings.


What obstacles do you have to overcome to begin creating your work?
I don’t have many obstacles when it comes to outlining, writing, or revising a book, but finding enough time to do all that can be challenging. Writing a book is a time-consuming process. Authors need to set aside time every day (even if it’s just an hour) to work on a writing project, and sometimes finding the time to write (while still having a non-writing life) can be hard. 

What gets your creative juices flowing?
A great idea will always inspire me to grab a pen and paper and start writing! Sometimes I’ll see or hear something that sparks an idea and that will give me the basis for an entire book. Of course, once I’m writing a book, the characters and the story keep my creative juices flowing. Even though I plot out my books and have a good idea of what’s going to happen next, every once in a while my characters will surprise me and take things in a different direction.

I hope you enjoyed this early summer issue of the Quill. Why not visit my Amazon page and add a few of my romances to your summer reading list?

I welcome questions or comments from readers and other authors, so feel free to contact me. Be sure to follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on social media. 

Here’s a quick list of where to find me:

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins

Website: http://www.KelliWilkins.com

Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb

Medallion Press Author Page: http://medallionpress.com/author/kelli-wilkins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123678.Kelli_A_Wilkins

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KWilkinsAuthor/

Enjoy the early summer weather!

Kelli