Call for Billionaire Romance

Hello authors

We want to see stories in all genres but in particular ROMANCES that have a billionaire or millionaire in them.  It’s an old trope but a good one.  Change it up to make it fresh and new.  What are some examples of these?  The classic movie that comes to mind of course is Pretty Woman, or Maid in Manhattan was a good one.  A lot of old time harlequin romances featured the classic rich hero and the not so rich heroine.  Change it up or make it fresh and new.  If you write historical – that’s great too. 

I’m not going to give you any other parameters.  These can be hot or sweet, they can be long or short, they can even be part of any of our series. How about a Once Scoop or Two story with a billionaire twist.  Go for it.  Scarlet has Passport to Pleasure series happening now – let’s have some billionaires in there.  Did anyone strike it rich in Wylder?  Maybe a billionaire comes to Wylder?  Its an open call for submissions and no there’s no particular end in site but we’d like to get these out as early in 2022 as we can.

 

Happy writing.

Rhonda Penders

President/Editor-in-Chief

Call for submissions - Christmas Cookies Series

  We are happy to announce a brand new series at The Wild Rose Press.  Similar to our popular “Candy Hearts” series from a few years ago and our more recent “One Scoop or Two”, this series is open to submission from all writers not just TWRP authors. 

Details are below:
 
CHRISTMAS COOKIES!
 
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR A NEW SERIES FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS, INC.
 
We are launching a new series for Christmas 2021.
 
These are meant to be short stories, quick holiday reads 7,500 – 35,000 words.  They will be released electronically -  not in print.
 
All stories have to do with Christmas or holiday cookies.  It must have a Christmas cookie in the title – for example something like Murder and Mint-Meltaways.  Something unique but make sure it has a cookie in the title.  NOTE - We are not trying to discriminate against other holidays so feel free to make a Hanukkah cookie or some other holiday cookie.  But we want cookies – not pies, not cakes, etc. 
 
The story should take place during the holiday season - November 1 through January 1.  It must center around a Christmas/holiday cookie.  This crosses all lines in the company from historical to paranormal to romance. They can be any heat rating from erotic to sweet and any genre.  
 
The first stories will release in November 2021 so deadline for submissions to your editor or queryus@thewildrosepress.com is March 1, 2021.  You can submit after that but it will not be guaranteed a 2021 release – they will be held for 2022 holiday release.
 
Open to all.  Any questions, email your editor if you are a TWRP author or email Rhonda Penders  directly – rpenders@thewildrosepress.com  

Writing Resource

Hi Everyone

our behind the garden gate blog has been quiet but I wanted to share some resources with you as I discover them

Today I bring you Chris Fox

Check out his resources for authors on his website

https://www.chrisfoxwrites.com/

Stay safe and healthy
The Wild Rose Press

WRITING PLAUSIBLE PLOTS by Roberta C.M. DeCaprio

One writing tip I’ve heard over and over again from my editors is to write plausible plots. This is a hard task to accomplish when writing the paranormal or science fiction genre, because basically the content is far-fetched. However, even with that fact in mind, a writer of such works has to make the incredible, seem credible.

My time travel novel, ALTERED JOURNEY (ZLS Publishing) is about a man going back in time to save his family from being murdered. While he ventures back, through an attic portal, I have his life (as it would have been if his family hadn’t been killed) flash through his mind so he’d be prepared to exist in the past, know his place in the family and those individuals he was never privileged to meet.

My adult romantic fairy tale, A RIVER OF ORANGE (The Wild Rose Press) is about a young woman, ship-wrecked on an enchanted isle, falling in love with and inspiring a shape-shifting, young king to overcome his curse and reclaim his throne. To do this properly, the young woman had to do some soul-searching and reclaiming of her own.

My paranormal mystery, COMA COAST (Wings Press) is about a woman, left in a coma from an auto accident, falling in love with a man she meets while unconscious. Her journey to find him when she awakens brings forth a past she never knew and the friendly haunting by a helpful ghost. Again, the character’s inner reflections upon her own life, and coming to grips with who she really is, made the plot believable.

I do admire, though, the script writers of the classic horror film. They seem to get away with ignoring the “plausible” rule, effectively managing to scare the breath out of the viewer.
Let’s take apart the horror flick:

THE FALL – In every horror film the woman, while running from the creature stalking her, falls. First of all, a zombie or a mummy (which have many times been the horror creatures) walk so slow, it’s a wonder they could catch anything . . . let alone a woman running for her life. The irony of this is, the woman could do fine running over uneven terrain – then will suddenly lose her footing on level ground, just as the creature becomes the closest. And why is it always the woman who falls?

THE SEPARATION – I don’t know about you, but if I was being terrorized by something unexplainable frightening, the last thing in the world I’d do is separate from the other people in my group. What in heaven’s name do these characters think they can accomplish my diminishing their fighting unit to just one person?

THE BASEMENT – Now, I hate the basement on a normal, sunny, afternoon. If you think I’d attempt going downstairs at night, when the power’s been cut, during a thunder and lightning storm, and after hearing unusual activity, then you have a brain the size of a pea. What person in their right mind would have the courage (or stupidity) to try this? You can bet your last dollar I’d high-tail out of my home as fast as my legs could carry me (making sure not to fall), go to a neighbor’s house and call the police. Or get into my car and drive as far away as I could to get help.

THE CAR – And that brings us to the getaway vehicle . . . one that works perfectly fine throughout most of the movie, but suddenly develops ignition problems (after the character drops the key and takes time to find it) when its needed as an escape from harm’s way.

And yet, as implausible as it might be, we sit at the edge of our seats in terror – hands over our eyes and peeking through finger slots, while watching a horror film. We let it scare the daylights out of us. We look in closets, check behind the shower curtain, and beneath our bed before we go to sleep. We contemplate keeping a light on, check the locks on the doors (especially the basement door), and sleep with a cell phone in our hand (just in case the phone lines are cut). So, as far-fetched as the movie script is, it can still frighten us. The writers have hooked you, gotten you to picture this scenario as really happening. And it all starts to become plausible because you’ve begun to believe. It’s a hard job that’s well done . . . editors take note.
    
HAPPY WRITING!
Roberta C.M. DeCaprio

Writing Historical Fiction by David Wilma

If the story focuses on real personages like Julius Caesar or Abraham Lincoln the author should strive to be as faithful to the historical record as possible. Lincoln should be tall, Caesar should have epilepsy, and both should be skilled political operatives. The trick is how to put words in their mouths. There are no recordings, but they left writings. Witnesses wrote down what they said. Anything the author gives them to say should be consistent with all that. And the details of their time need to be accurate. Caesar rode a horse from Gaul to Rome while Lincoln took the train from Springfield to Washington. But did Caesar have stirrups on his saddle? Did Lincoln's train arrive at Union Station? Readers will jump on errors. Bill O'Reilly wrote about the Lincoln Assassination (non-fiction) and talked about the Oval Office. Buzz. The Oval Office did not come into being until Theodore Roosevelt. Lincoln conducted business on the second floor of the White House. Research, research, research. Read, read, read. I gave Abraham Lincoln the wrong color eyes until a colleague pointed out my error.

The librarian with a web browser is your best friend. Make friends with your librarian. Tell him or her what you are doing and he or she will love to help. You will get calls weeks later with some idea or tidbit. Even if you have access only to a tiny regional library, librarians are part of a network called Interlibrary Loan. They can find just about any book for you.

There is accuracy—detailing events as they occurred, and authenticity—getting the time and situation right. Sometimes you might have to fudge accuracy to make the story flow such as inventing a town or a person. Authenticity relates to what wood smoke smells like and what it is like marching through Pennsylvania in a wood uniform. If you can't be accurate, be authentic.


David Wilma
To Read more and to purchase click HERE

Writing Historical Fiction

I am first a historian (TWRP convention rather than an historian) with a passion for the past. I came across a story that was the foundation for my first novel and a series here at TWRP. The problem was the details were both sketchy and contradictory. Two of my ancestors were murdered in a disagreement over the ownership of slaves. There is a little information in the official record, the court order book, and the first historical account was penned 60 years later from oral tradition. Needless to say, there was much possibility of error. Other accounts contradicted the first.

How to tell the story? I've always been a fan of historical novels. These take several forms such as alternative history (Lee prevails at Gettysburg), a fictional character in real events (the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser), and getting inside the heads of real people (The Killer Angels). In the case of fiction it is less important to have absolute historical accuracy than to have the story and the scene to be authentic. An author can jigger around events to make the story more manageable (Fraser does this). The important thing is to leave the reader with a good sense of the time and the events and even educate the reader about real personages.

In the case of my first book, Down The River http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=6506 I had a list of the known players, only the barest details of events. The rest was all mine. I decided to tell the story of the murders and the times from the point of view of Phyllis (real person) the only eyewitness to the crimes. I needed to learn about the location Eastern Kentucky and its history, the history and legal structure of slavery, and concurrent events (War of 1812) that might influence the characters' actions. Research began in every book at the library, even the Library of Congress, dealing with local history. I even got books on the natural history of the region. I visited Colonial Williamsburg o see how houses were built, how ox carts operated, and what people made and ate.

More to follow
David Wilma

Christmas is Coming by Katherine McDermott

I recently boosted sales of the paperback version of my suspense romance Hiding by selling them
at an arts and crafts sale and providing Christmas wrapping. This was easy to do. Last year after
Christmas I bought rolls of papers at very low prices. I cut the paper with pinking shears about and
2 inches wider and taller than my book. Then I glued the backsides with rubber cement. Many different charitable organizations have sent me adhesive gift tags so I put them on my sacks as well. All purchasers have to do is slide the book inside, fold down the top and seal it with tape. They might want to add a bow.
Also, with Christmas in mind, I think we should all support each other and our wonderful publishers by giving books from TWRP to our friends and family for the holiday. So Merry Christmas and I plan to do my shopping at The Wild Rose Press website.

Band-Aids, Boo Boo's and Beefcakes-Ask A Registered Nurse

On Dec 1, 2015 we will be having a follow up chat with Kim Turner.

8pm ET in the Wild Rose Press chat room.

Have a question, medical related, post it here in a comment on this blog. Kim will answer in the chat on Dec 1st!

See you there.

Lobster Cove Series

Since the Summer of 2014, you've been swept away to the Seaside town of Lobster Cove, across genre and in all lengths of fiction. However, the time has come to close for submissions to this quaint community. Final deadline for submissions is Dec 31, 2015.

Thank you to all the authors who have brought Lobster Cove to life.

Look for future series from The Wild Rose Press.

Tossed Salad

or, Just a few words to the wise…

Okay, how many of you know what a tossed salad is?

Yep, thought so.

And why is it called a “tossed” salad?

Yes, you’re right — because you toss it with the serving utensils in order to mix the ingredients together, of course. Or, in some recipes, you put a lid on the bowl and shake the whole works.

So why would you write “He tossed the empty container in the wastebasket.”???

To me, that says he either picked up the wastebasket and shook it, or he used a stick or something similar to stir and “toss” or mix the contents.

That’s why I will edit that sentence to say “He tossed the empty container into the wastebasket.”

You write “She jumped in the car and slammed the door,” and I will edit it to “She jumped into the car and slammed the door” because otherwise you’re telling me she was hopping up and down inside the car (a convertible with the top down maybe? Or a child jumping on the seats?), whether slamming the door was a result of the jumping or simply happened with or after the jumping.

That’s just one of my picky little correction points.

#2

Do you know the difference between “wave” and “waive”? (Besides the extra letter in the middle, I mean.) Apparently some authors — and editors, I’m sorry to say — do not know there’s any difference, because I’ve seen it numerous times in final galleys.

You can wave your hand at someone either to catch their attention or as a way of saying goodbye. If you were to waive your hand…Wow! I don’t think you really can do that, although Lady Macbeth would have gladly done so, probably. Dictionary definition of “waive” is “to officially say that you will not use or require something that you are allowed to have or that is usually required.” You can waive your right to a jury trial, or the committee may waive the requirement of a fee with your application. But to waive your hand would mean you want to throw it away, relinquish it voluntarily, or put off immediate consideration of it (as in, just ignore the darn thing). Hmmm. 

That leads us to “waver” and “waiver.” A ghost may waver in front of you, or a person unsteady on his or her feet might waver from side to side. Neither would waiver, because, first of all, “waiver” is not a verb; it is not something you do. A waiver is a noun, a thing, usually a legal document that puts aside some otherwise restricting rule or necessary step in a process.

#3

Last but not least, let me make a recommendation. At some point before you say you’re done with a book and it has your approval, use the Search feature of your Word program and see how many times you have used the word “peek” — you might be surprised at how often it has crept in! And let me suggest that you try using “peer” in some of those spots if you really need to indicate to a reader that someone was sneakily looking somewhere or at something. Your homework for this evening is to look up the dictionary definitions for each:

Peek = ………..

Peer = ………..

And don’t you dare use “peak” or “pique” instead of “peek” — or vice versa.

Thanks!

~Nan

Steam punk and Coffee Time Romance

Do you write steam punk? Are you all excited about bicycles, balloons, steam engines, clock work and the Victorian Era transformed with a vast range of wild adventures shared by intrepid heroines and dashing heroes? Do you dream—and create tales-- about air ship pirates, hidden treasure to discover and a bit of magic and mayhem? If so, August’s Book Brew is for you! We’ll be hosting our day-long event in Monday, August 3 from noon until 8:00 PM EDT. The event takes place on our Coffee Thoughts blog page. Our participating authors can post one or two excerpts up to 1500 words, a cover or other picture and another post or two about your writing, the genre, or anything you think readers would enjoy. To sign up—and I suspect this will fill up fast—drop me an email at bookbrew@coffeetimeromance.com. Once I hear from you I’ll send you all the procedures and how to share in this fun event!

Help Wanted: A new series from the Wild Rose Press

Help Wanted: At times, everyone needs a bit of help. And love doesn’t always come easily.   The historical department at The Wild Rose Press is pleased to announce Help Wanted, an exciting new arranged marriage series where cupid gets a little push. 

Help Wanted stories should focus on the struggles of heroes and heroines who need a mate—fast!   Maybe it’s the lonely frontiersman looking for a wife to help him settle his claim.  The war widow who needs a handyman. The soldier eager to marry before heading off to war. The hippie posting a sign at Woodstock. Let’s not forget the Regency heroine thought to be past the marriage market, the lord who needs to sire an heir, or the heroine desperate enough to become a mail order bride.

An announcement or advertisement must appear within the first twenty pages to get the story started. Your characters may advertise on their own or have the advertised-for spouse thrust upon them. We are looking for fresh ideas and unique twists to bring about the arranged marriage rather than the same old tired plots.

Stories must be historically accurate and suited to one of the following lines: American Rose, Cactus Rose, Tea Rose, Vintage Rose**. Story length of all ranges will be considered, but we prefer to see 2ok and up to give the relationship time to develop. Please follow the general submission guidelines on the website for formatting and submit via queryus@thewildrosepress.com. “Help Wanted” should appear in the subject line, as well as your title.

**while this series was created with historical authors in mind, if you can find a valid reason and believable plot for a contemporary arranged marriage story, TWRP will gladly consider it for this series!  

Call for Submissions

REAL MEN WEAR KILTS - Call for Submissions - The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Whether he's the leader of his clan in the historical highlands, invited to a Halloween party, or your sexy next door neighbor, we’re looking for a hot hero in a kilt. The story can be any genre as long as it is erotic—contemporary, historical, time travel, paranormal, fantasy, futuristic, western, suspense, M/M, etc.

LENGTH: Preferred target is 20k-40k but will accept any length.
SETTING: Any setting though Scotland is preferred.
MUST: Hero must wear a kilt at some point in the story.
TARGET SUBMISSION DATE: October 1, 2015

 All titles are subject to change as we will focus on the Highland/Kilt aspect.

Query at queryus@thewildrosepress.com with "Scarlet Rose Series REAL MEN WEAR KILTS" in the subject line. Please list the word count and enter a 1-2 page synopsis in the body of the email. Email Diana@thewildrosepress.com for any questions.

A Wild Rose Press author talks about rejection

Mary Eleanor Wilson talks about rejection and her path to publication.

Check it out

http://www.wildwomenauthorsx2.blogspot.com/2015/03/rejection.html

About Mary Eleanor Wilson

I have been telling stories since I was a child. In school I was the kid who always had a 13-page dissertation on "What I Did During My Summer Vacation." I sold my first story to a romance magazine when my youngest son was two years old, and since then I've been waging the love/hate war of writing and publishing. My work has been featured in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, Snitch Magazine, and many other publications. After majoring in Journalism at St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana, I worked in newspapers for several years. I now concentrate on writing what I love most -- novels!

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