Hey all! Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. The family issue taking priority since the new year began has continued to do so through February, but that situation is stabilizing (fingers crossed, and may I not jinx it by saying so, lol). As a result, by the next newsletter I hope to report REAL progress on Bastion, Ren and Swan’s story. As we all know, life happens and taking time to care for others is never wasted, so thanks for your patience. I hope all is well with you and yours!
For this issue, I’ll mention my FREE nostalgia reading library you may not know about (or you might enjoy the reminder if you do). Also check out the end of the newsletter to browse this month’s 📚📚 FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS. 📚📚 We have some good ones for those who love vampire and demon stories!
FREE STORIES REVISITING YOUR FAVORITE JWH CHARACTERS
Do you ever love the characters in a story or series so much you want to spend more time with them? Not necessarily for a full length book; we just want to drop in, maybe share a day in their lives or a special event like a birthday, baby shower or Christmas get together. Just like we do with good friends or beloved family members.
I have a library of TWENTY short stories and novellas like that. They’re FREE and available for download in your preferred format from easy BookFunnel links. There are NO strings attached. No email signups, no requirement for you to profess undying love for my work in a post that goes viral to a million book lovers and catches the attention of major film producers and directors (though that of course would be nice). 😄😹
I wrote these stories as an ongoing and very heartfelt THANK YOU to my readers for supporting my work, through your genuine love of the series and characters.
Many of you are aware of these “vignettes,” but you might enjoy a re-read or wish to check for any new ones you’ve missed. For instance, "Road Trip" features Ben and Marcie of Hostile Takeover (Knights of the Board Room) and Cyn and Mick of At Her Pleasure (Mistresses of the Board Room). An amazing event takes place during the journey (the cover offers a not-so-subtle hint).
SO WHERE DO I FIND THESE?
Go to my website, storywitch.com, choose the Cantrips (Vignettes) menu item at the top of the page (or just click this link), and browse to your heart’s content. Download however many you wish, as often as you wish. And thank you again! Here’s a summary of most the stories you’ll find there:
VAMPIRE QUEEN SERIES 🦇🧛🏻
“One on One” and “The Bet" - Daegan and Gideon of Vampire Mistress/Vampire Trinity have to resolve some issues between them - in a very steamy way.
“Taking the Gloves Off” – Jessica of Beloved Vampire does something drastic to prove to her Master, the stern and protective Lord Mason, that she is ready to lay past fears aside and stand with him as a true vampire’s servant should.
“One Night Only" - Thomas, Lyssa’s servant before Jacob, breaks his celibacy vow one time to prove his loyalty to her.
Christmas stories GALORE – Back in 2011, a short piece where Lyssa and Jacob went Christmas shopping at the mall kicked off the whole vignette library, and writing a Christmas story revolving around the Vampire Queen series characters became an ongoing thing for quite a few years.
NATURE OF DESIRE SERIES ⛓️⛓️💥⛓️
“Tyler Tied Up” - Tyler gets a very special birthday gift from Marguerite.
“The Baby Shower” – the Nature of Desire women give Violet a fun party to celebrate the upcoming birth of her first child.
“First Christmas” – Marcus and Thomas of Rough Canvas have a bumpy first Christmas together.
KNIGHTS OF THE BOARD ROOM ⚜️⚜️⚜️
“Retribution” – Celeste finds out what being a submissive is really about at the hands of the formidable Ben O’Callahan (pre-Marcie and Leland, of course!)
“Doms and Sisters” – Lucas and Ben have a very special evening planned for Cassandra and Marcie – which just so happens to fulfil their fantasies as well.
“The Proper Punishment” – Dana has acted out AGAIN and Peter has decided that Ben can help him administer the right kind of scolding for her.
MISTRESSES OF THE BOARD ROOM ⚜️⚜️⚜️
At the end of At Her Command, there’s a mention a barbecue is about to happen at Dale and Athena’s home (Unrestrained). “The Barbecue” lets us attend it!
DAUGHTERS OF ARIANNE 🧜🏻♀️🪽
“Dark and Light” – our seawitch Mina and angel David of A Witch’s Beauty have to work through an important change in their lives together.
STILL WANT MORE?
On that same home page, under the MORE dropdown menu, you’ll also find a library of Character Interviews with many of your favorite heroes and heroines! These can be read in your browser.
THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. Reader recommendation is the best kind of marketing an author can have. So thank you - it's ALWAYS appreciated. Side note: If you have a BookTok or Instagram presence, I'm trying to get more exposure on those platforms, so I am delighted if you feel inspired to help with that.
So are you ready to check out this month's 📚📚📚 FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS?!📚📚📚 Let's do it! 💗💗💗
KEEPING YOUR SOUL INSIDE A BOOK
Last week, I listened to an interview where an actor from one of my favorite shows (The Chosen) said he keeps a small box he calls a soul box. It contains sentimental trinkets, and wherever “I lay my hat, it lives with me there. It contains things like a picture of my grandmother, the last gift from a friend who passed away…it helps remind me how far I’ve come and those that are no longer with us. And if I’m ever lost, it’s my compass to say, ‘this is your soul, this is what you have accumulated and therefore don’t feel lost. You’re exactly where you are (meant to be), and put the next step forward.’” [Abe Bueno-Jallad, interview with Elijah Alexander).
It occurred to me that feeling is accessible when I do one of two things: pick up a good book to read, or work on a story that’s calling to me. It’s a space I step into where I can let out a relieved breath, no matter what else is going on, and think, okay, here, it makes sense. Here I know who and what I am, who and what made me, and I'm on the path that needs to be taken.
2026 has brought my family some difficult challenges, and we have a ways to go to get it figured out. Having that space available to me, whether it’s reading a quick few pages in a grocery line or doctor’s office, or jotting down notes at bedtime for the characters who want their story told, is my version of the soul box.
I hope whatever challenges 2026 is putting in your path, the stories you choose to read (or write) are bringing you balance, joy and especially smiles when you need them. Oh, and happy almost Valentine's Day! My sister-in-law found this canvas bag while out shopping, and I think it is EXCELLENT advice for those who love us quirky readers/authors:
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?
"And what kind of notes ARE you jotting, Joey, for those of us who want to know?" Well, I'm in the really early stages, but I can give you a glimpse (with the caveat that it may totally change when the book is written, lol). It involves Bastion's Mfm book (Bastion is the Dom admin in the Mistresses of the Board Room series). An opening scene recently came to me, where I have Ren Borgata, the senior account manager who was hired by the Thomas Rose Associates firm in At Her Will, sitting at the bar in Club Progeny. Bastion notices he's staring at something intently, and sits down next to him...
"See something you like?"
Ren nodded toward the bartender. "Yeah."
Well, shit. That bartender was Swan Foster, a woman as off limits as any woman could be. Bastion had brooded on the dilemma himself, and knew he should be discouraging Ren. But because Ren was interested, and Ren interested him, Bastion didn't shut him down. Instead he re-opened the gate of his own curiosity about Progeny's live-in barkeep with another question: "So what's the problem?"
Annnd, that's what I can share right now. Sounds kind of general, but in my head the scene is charged with sexual tension and a lot of electric possibilities -- between Ren and Bastion, Ren and Swan, Bastion and Swan. Swan represents WAY more than one problem, but when Bastion gets pulled in by Ren's fascination with her, this uber-Dom finds he might have discovered the three-way chemistry he's been looking for in his life. Oh, and Ren is a Dom himself, but has a hidden desire to occasionally switch for the right Dom (wink - we can all guess who will be pushing to be that Dom). Keep you posted!
WHAT IS THE INTEGRATED READING ORDER OF YOUR BOOKS AND VIGNETTES?
I occasionally get asked that question, and since I SUCK at timelines, my response is usually a very calm "OMFG, I don't know!!! And where is my extra strength Excedrin!!"
Well, one of my readers, Aza T, gave it the latest shot, and sent me this amusing note with it: "So Joey - I finished the Daughters of Arianne series, and as I was reading David and Mina's book I was totally questioning if David was Marguerite's brother, and then when I read 'Dark and Night' you confirmed it. This started me thinking about what is the proper reading order of ALL your books to avoid spoilers, since the Muse insists on having your characters pop in and out of your series. I have attached what I think is the best order based on recent reading, skimming books, and memory. I'm good with you sharing this however you would like to get input from other obsessive readers like myself.Note: You will notice I put Dark and Night with A Mermaid's Ransom since it basically happens in the middle of Chapter 23, and Arcane Knight after about Chapter 9 in Arcane Chaos."
I think she did a brilliant job, and so am sharing it with you all here. If you have any ruminations on it, don't hesitate to speak up. I'll shoot her any feedback.
THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. Reader recommendation is the best kind of marketing an author can have, because it's HONEST and HEARTFELT. So thank you - it's ALWAYS appreciated. Side note: If you have a BookTok or Instagram presence, I'm trying to get more exposure on those platforms, so I am delighted if you feel inspired to help with that.
So are you ready to check out this month's 📚📚📚 FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS?!📚📚📚 Let's do it! 💗💗💗
HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIND MORE TIME TO READ IN 2026?
That was a question I asked my readers recently, and I received many good tips about how they do it now (including a couple humorous ones):
"Going to walk more to listen to my books, and when weather is bad, read while on my bike inside. More motivation to workout with my books."
"I have discovered that I need to read 1st thing when I wake up. Even if it is 2 pages, this keeps my kindle record per day up (because sometimes I go to bed too late to have it count the same day). And reading helps me fall asleep. I do enjoy my kindle for the portability. And still get a few physical books in, too..."
"I leave 30 minutes early to wait in line to pick up my grandson from school. Perfect reading in a quiet car all by myself."
"Take a relaxing bath with a book instead of a shower."
"I’ve already booked 3 weekends for camping. I’m planning on booking more as dates are available. I read while everyone else is doing whatever they want. No one bothers me, unlike at home!"
"I go into my car to get away from distractions and lie down in the back seat; I find it to be very relaxing. And my dog enjoys sleeping in my car while I'm in there reading." [I related in a slightly different way to this, because sometimes when I'm on deadline and the pet children are too distracting (I have six), I write in my car IN the driveway.]
"Honestly? I avoid everything else and read."
"Even while working full time, I try to read as much as I possibly can. I don't really have reading goals. I just desperately need to escape reality as often as possible, lol."
"I read wherever and whenever I can. I always have my phone (cell phone) with me and have multiple ebooks loaded on that."
This last response is what I do; I carry a print book, iPad, or notebook/pen wherever I go, so I can make use of any single spare minute to jump back into a book or write. When I did an appearance on the After Dark Social Club, I shared my best "taking-any-opportunity-to-read-or-write" anecdote:
One night when I was driving home from visiting my aunt, I was passing through the tiny town of Chadbourne, North Carolina. They have a serious speed trap in Chadbourne, and I fell right into it, so I was pulled by a pair of cute young police officers. When they returned to their car to process my info, since I was in the middle of the final proof on a book-in-process, I picked up my iPad.
About ten minutes later (maybe longer, I lost track), I hear a throat clearing and look up to see one of those cute officers standing at my open window. “Are you bored?” he asked, looking a bit incredulous that I was reading. I gave him a sheepish smile and replied, “Well, I have a hard time sitting still without doing something.” (which is also very true). He chuckled, nodded courteously, gave me my ticket, and sent me on my way.
The point of this story is either we avid readers/authors are nuts (which we already knew, lol) or we should never waste a moment that could be used to read (or write) a story. I hope your 2026 is filled with ample reading time!
READERS ARE STILL LOVING DJ AND ROY
"Raw, amazing, and psychologically dynamic" "Hill keeps to her usual high writing standard" "The BDSM Master/sub dynamic wasn’t sensationalized; it was tender, stabilizing, and deeply necessary." Thank you to so many of you for taking the time to share your reactions to Naughty Dreams at Amazon, Bookbub and other groups! 🥰 If you haven't read it yet, when you do, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as these readers have.
SO WHAT’S THE NEXT BOOK? While Bastion, the Dom admin from the Mistresses of the Board Room series, seems to be at the top of the list (and appears it will be a menage story – please give me tranquilizers NOW), the muse hasn’t given me a definite thumbs up. Instead, I’m getting the message I received around the same time last year: “Joey, for the next several months, it’s all marketing, marketing, marketing.” So I’ll keep you posted.
Up until 2-3 years ago, the muse was always VERY obvious about the next book. I’m a control freak (shocker, right?) so the quiet unsettles me. In my head, I do the hamster wheel thing and try to control the narrative, saying “Well, if the muse does this, I’ll go this way, and if she does that, I’ll pivot…etc.” However, while it’s taken decades (and I still stumble over it), I’m finally starting to accept that life will unfold as it’s meant to do.
When I shared this on social media shortly after the release of Naughty Dreams, my readers were as supportive and wonderful as you all always are. Thank you for that. While the muse may be the primary driver for an author's creative inspiration, the love and encouragement of our readers are the passengers that make that challenging journey far easier.
ANNUAL CHARITY GIVEAWAY!
As always for my annual charity giveaway, my spirits were lifted by hearing about the charities my readers support. In addition to the well-known ones, like Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army and K9s for Warriors (woof! woof! woof!) I learned more about some local efforts that work just as hard to make a difference and ease suffering.
Like HouseN2Home in Ann Arbor, MI. They work with agencies helping the unhoused and use donations of furniture and home goods to furnish apartments for people coming out of homelessness. To date, they have furnished over 1800 homes for 3900 people! This reader noted that when she and her family sold their long-time house to move to a condo, they donated a lot of the surplus household goods and furniture to them. At our house I keep a Salvation Army/Goodwill thrift store box going for the items that I've enjoyed but am now ready to offer someone else, and it always feels good to know they have been rehomed rather than trashed.
Then there was my randomly chosen WINNER, the reader who sent in Team Rubicon as her charity choice. They are a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves communities experiencing disasters and crises. The reader who submitted that had personal experience with the group. She said in February 2023, when the San Bernadino Mountains were hit by an unprecedented snow storm, their home was buried behind 12-16 feet of snow! Her husband is a disabled senior veteran, and the Team came and completely shoveled them out. She said, "With my limited mobility and my husband's disabilities, it would have been a month before we were able to dig ourselves out. Team Rubicon was incredibly kind and helpful to us and others here in San Bernardino Mountains. We were and are so thankful."
I'll be sending my $100 donation to Team Rubicon, but I thank you all for your generous and kind hearts. May that spirit of giving prevail wherever it's needed in the coming year!
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THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. It's the best kind of marketing an author can have, and ALWAYS appreciated. Side note: If you have a BookTok or Instagram presence, I'm trying to get more exposure on those platforms, so I am delighted if you feel inspired to help with that. I wish you all an amazing 2026! Let's check out this month's 📚📚📚 FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS!📚📚📚
Naughty Dreams is now out!! Are you enjoying Roy and DJ's story so far? I'm delighted to say the ARC reviewers did, which always makes an author feel great (and highly relieved - no more need to chug my calming herbal tea like whiskey). 🥰
If you have (or will) feel inspired to leave a review for Naughty Dreams at Amazon or Bookbub, I enthusiastically thank you. First, because I appreciate you taking the time, and second because reviews help push a book further into the spotlight, where new readers are more likely to see it. As always, readers are the key to any author's success. 🥰🥰🥰
If you feel like talking about the book, we have a pinned-to-the-top spoiler post at the JWHMembersOnly fan group on Facebook. You're welcome anytime! There's always fun stuff happening in that community, as well as behind-the-scenes posts about my writing process. I do some parallel posting of these on my other social media platforms, if you prefer one of those. I also include some behind-the-scenes highlights in my newsletter - see the next topic below!
PLAYLIST!!
Playlists have always helped me write my scenes -- action, erotic, intense emotion -- but for this book, music was an integral part of the story. The biographies I read of Eddie Van Halen, Dave Grohl and Bono had me listening to their music more closely, and chasing down the work of musicians who'd inspired their careers. Maartje, my invaluable band expert beta reader, also increased the scope and depth of the band's sound with her suggestions.
In addition to the songs noted in the graphic, I listened to metal/rhythm/blues artists in random mixes on the Internet. For the first time in my life, I heard the instruments separately from the music, and appreciated them in a way I hadn't before. I mentioned early in the writing of this book that my family thought I was losing my mind, not only listening to heavy metal songs over and over, but acting like I was enjoying it, lol! I hope the list below will increase your own appreciation or give you new options for your own playlists.
Maartje also noted that Yungblud reminded her of DJ, and when she sent me the music video of him singing "I Was Made for Loving You" I had to agree - the mannerisms and style seemed very DJ-like! You can click on the picture of YungBlud if you'd like to hear the KISS cover he did of the song and decide for yourself.
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MAC AND VIOLET ARE STILL WINNING HEARTS
One of the wonderful readers I've been privileged to know for many years, the silver-haired "Mouse," is a dedicated fan of Mac Nighthorse of Natural Law. Some time back, her daughters gifted her a fleece blanket with the cover image. This month, she reached out to me with a wonderful anecdote, as follows:
Do I have a story for you! I was on a plane from Atlanta going to Baton Rouge. The guy beside was about 6'2" tall, a body builder type, about 35 years old, reading a book and hiding the cover. Well, he lays it down to get his water, and I spy Natural Law, with Mac on the cover!
I told him that was my favorite book. He turned red in the face. He asked if I had read At Her Service and that series [Mistresses of the Board Room]. I said "Of course," and told him I knew you. He was excited. Then he asked me, “Are you a Domme?”
I patted him on the leg and said, “No, I'm not, but I am dominant.” Then I showed him my blanket. He said he wants one.
Best story ever!!
Thanks to her anecdote, several people were interested in ordering their own. You can do so at Snapfish (60x80 Plush Fleece Blanket option) with any hi-res cover file you like, but if ever you want to order one as a gift or for personal use with one of my covers, just contact me and I can provide you a hi-res file. Tip - put it inside a picture frame INSIDE the bleed lines to give you a wider border, and you can change that border to any color you want. In this pic, we picked up the blue. Snapfish's bleed lines aren't reliable; they have a tendency to come too close to the edge. I found that out the hard way when I recently ordered another myself (and it explains why we did it that way back in 2022, when I was ordering them for promo giveaways).
ANNUAL CHARITY GIVEAWAY!
It's that time of year, when I will donate $100 to one person's preferred charity! All you have to do is email me your favorite charity at storywitch@storywitch.com. I'll randomly choose a winner before the next newsletter. The opportunity to honor the spirit of the season by helping those in need makes this my favorite giveaway offer of the year, and I always look forward to hearing what charities you support. Kindness is an act I believe is never wasted, not only because of the direct help it provides, but for the good energy it puts into our world. Thank you for all you do to fill that vessel.
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THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!
AGAIN, I THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. It's the best kind of marketing an author can have, and ALWAYS appreciated. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas/Winter Solstice season. 🌲❄️🌲
Now, let's check out this month's 📚📚📚 FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS!📚📚📚
It's release month - Naughty Dreams comes out November 30! Have you preordered your copy? I hope so, and hope you are looking forward to the release of Roy and DJ's story as much as I am. 🥰
I'm facing my usual dilemma when I have a newsletter due right before the final manuscript deadline. "OMG, what the heck should I put in my newsletter, other than 'buy my newest book, please!'" 🤣😂😹
Thank goodness I happened to notice thatBOARD RESOLUTION turned TWENTY this year! In 2005, Matt and Savannah's book kicked off the now fan-beloved Knights of the Board Room series. How did the book come to be? Ellora's Cave, my publisher at that time, was doing a 3-author anthology called Behind the Mask. I was invited to be a part of it with fellow authors Lacey Alexander and Elizabeth Lapthorne, and the idea percolating in my head was Matt and Savannah's. Since the connecting theme was Mardi Gras and the beautiful masks associated with the holiday, I based the story in New Orleans. At the time, I'd never been to the city, and since the entire story takes place in a board room, it wasn't that relevant, except for the reference to the Mardi Gras celebration there.
I wouldn't visit New Orleans until Book 5, Hostile Takeover, which had the unforgettable Ben O'Callahan - swoon - and his spirited kickass submissive Marcie. I fell totally in love with NOLA. Books 2-4 were based in Baton Rouge, but I wouldn't visit that city until Book 6, Soul Rest, one of my personal favorites in the series, with police sergeant Leland Keller and news reporter Celeste Lewis. Their book turned 10 this year!
Prior to those visits, I researched the cities and gratefully accepted the firsthand accounts from readers who had been there. However, finally exploring them myself enhanced the subsequent books and other series, like Mistresses of the Board Room, which is primarily set in New Orleans. It also provided me memories I cherish to this day. I'm always eager to return to the area!
Anyhow, I thought you'd enjoy that little history snippet. Here's a glimpse at the multiple versions of the Board Resolution cover over the years. They're followed by a short teaser from one of my favorite scenes in the book. It occurs at the funeral of Savannah's father, where she starts to realize that Matt Kensington isn't just interested in her as a conquest (the man is seriously in love with her, but she doesn't accept that until later, of course). By the way, if you haven't read it in a while, or at all, remember Board Resolution is a FREE first-in-series download at most major vendors. Just click here.
📚📚📚 EXCERPT 📚📚📚
“I want to give you something for later.” Matt broke the charged silence between them. Withdrawing the handkerchief from the breast pocket of his jacket, he folded it into her hand, his own remaining over it.
“What, is my makeup running?”
“No. It’s for when everything about this day hits you, and you finally cry, even if it’s for no other reason than you don’t feel like crying and that breaks you down.” He rose. “Keep the coat until you’re warm. I’ll get it back later.” Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead, just a gentle brush of lips, his hands holding the lapels so she was in a light embrace within the jacket. “I’m here if you need me, Savannah. I’m always here. Come down when you’re ready. Lucas and Jon are in the foyer hallway, keeping people from coming this way. You don’t have to come down at all if you don’t want to.”
“Of course I do.” The dangerous temptation of such an image broke the spell. She rose to her feet, slid the jacket off her shoulders and handed it back to him. “I don’t need this.” But she kept the kerchief. It was a gift, after all.
She was on the step above him, so their positions put them at eye level. His expression had hardened with an emotion she couldn’t read as he studied her face. In a surprising move, he slid an arm around her back and legs, swung her up in his arms and turned, carrying her down the steps.
“Matt,” she hissed. “What are you doing?”
At the bottom, he let her feet touch the floor, but he held her elbow another moment. “That was to remind you that someday, you might need someone else to carry the load for awhile. And you can trust me to get you where you need to go, no matter how steep the hill is. Up or down.”
[NOTE: Did I mention Matt is one of my favorite heroes from all my books? He still gives me the shivers!!]
WIN A $175 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE!
Have you followed me on Bookbub yet? If you decide to do so during the month of November, you can be eligible for a $175 Amazon Gift Certificate giveaway from Get That Book! Just click here or on the graphic below and follow me to enter the giveaway (as well as any other authors on the list you'd like to follow). Remember, Niki NEVER sells email addresses to anyone. If you want to know why I LOVE Bookbub and think it's one of the most worthwhile options for a reader looking for new books, AND for an author to find new readers, just look below the graphic.
I am a strong supporter of Bookbub because they have one goal - supporting readers and authors. You can browse the site or sign up for bulletins tailored to the types of books/deals you want to know about. They are VERY supportive of the erotic genre. I don't deal with any of the restrictions I've had to handle with Facebook or Amazon, and their advertising options allow me to flexibly dedicate my efforts to readers with a genuine interest in books like mine. If you decide to check them out, I think you'll find they are a good way to learn about new want-to-reads. And THANK YOU if you decide to follow me there!
NAUGHTY DREAMS
26 days! Woohoo! 🤸🏻🤸🏻♂️🤸🏻♀️ I found a wonderful reader who has played in a progressive metal band, so she's reading through the manuscript to make sure my woeful lack of technical music knowledge doesn't result in terrible gaffes. While she does that, my proofer and I are doing the final read-through to ferret out typos, inconsistencies and other mistakes. Plus I'm doing my usual tweaks. It doesn't matter how many times I read a manuscript, I can find at least 2-3 things to change per page. It's a good thing I have a deadline, or I'd massage the life out of the poor thing! 😵🧟🪦
Did you catch that "NEW?" I changed the order of events in the book, so Chapter One is actually a NEW Chapter One, instead of the version I originally released as a sneak peek. So if you want to check that out before the book's release, just click on the link above. And don't forget to preorder your copy from your preferred link below!
Preorder your copy today, and it'll be waiting for you at the end of November!
The print book will come out about a week before the November 30 release date (we can't do preorders on print). There are no plans for an audio book at this time.
DO I NEED TO READ THE OTHER TWO NAUGHTY BITS SERIES BOOKS FIRST?
Not at all. All three books are standalones. But if you want to read the first two books in the Naughty Bits world prior to the release of Naughty Dreams, I hope you enjoy them!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. It's the best kind of marketing an author can have, and ALWAYS appreciated. Now, let's check out this month's FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS.
Since I've been busy getting the first edit round done, I don't have a lot of "new" news this month, but I do have four new featured ebooks (at the end of the issue) AND a new teaser graphic from Naughty Dreams. As you can see, writing dialogue for these two is endlessly entertaining!
I'm still immersed in rockstar/metal band research. My family thinks I've lost my mind, listening to Judas Priest's "Painkiller," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Metallica's "Master of Puppets," not once, but multiple times, to translate guitar riffs and drum solos to the pages of a BDSM rockstar romance. For my personal playlists, I've rediscovered the U2 songs I liked in the 1980s and found a new favorite, "Where the Streets Have No Name."
As I'm reading the Dave Grohl, Bono and Eddie Van Halen biographies, and watching a lot of garage band/roadie YouTube videos, I'm discovering the overlaps in writing books and composing music/lyrics. “I'm a musician. I write songs. I just hope when the day is done, I've been able to tear a little corner off of the darkness.” That's from Bono. Reading the creative process from a musician's perspective also puts me deeper into DJ's head when he's making music, which is where I want to go.
As a refresher, this chapter includes a nice revisit with Madison and Logan from Naughty Bits, Book One of the trilogy. Let me know if you like it! For those on my JWHMembersOnly FB forum, I should have the group's early Chapter 1-3 peek by the next issue of the newsletter (after I finish the second edit round).
Preorder your copy today, and it'll be waiting for you at the end of November!
The print book will come out about a week before the November 30 release date (we can't do preorders on print). There are no plans for an audio book at this time.
DO I NEED TO READ THE OTHER TWO NAUGHTY BITS SERIES BOOKS FIRST?
Not at all. All three books are standalones. The only connection between them is the characters in Books 2 and 3 visit the Naughty Bits shop and receive helpful advice from Madison, the proprietress, and her handsome Dom husband, Logan (the heroine and hero of Book 1). But if you want to read the first two books in the Naughty Bits world prior to the release of Naughty Dreams, I think you'll enjoy spending time with Madison and Logan, as well as Samantha, Chris and Geoff!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. It's the best kind of marketing an author can have, and ALWAYS appreciated. Now, let's check out this month's FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS.
Are you ready for a chapter sneak peek of NAUGHTY DREAMS? Since finishing the first draft of the manuscript a few days ago, I've been polishing the first chapter for your reading pleasure. So here it is! Click the link beneath the graphic or the graphic itself to download it to your preferred device via the BookFunnel link.
This chapter includes a nice revisit with Madison and Logan from Naughty Bits, Book One of the trilogy. While I'm still doing my research on rockstars and music (see the section below), if you see something I have wrong, don't hesitate to reach out and tell me. No matter how much research I do, it'll be the one little detail I don't think to check that bites me in the backside, lol. I apologize if you see a few more typos in this than you expect from me, even for an early draft chapter. It's been a busy couple of weeks, but I didn't want to delay getting this out to you all. ❤❤❤ I hope you enjoy it!
ROCKSTAR RESEARCH
The first edit round is when I dive into any research a book requires. For this one it's all about the world of rock stardom and music. Thanks to the recommendation of the lovely author VJ Summers, who is a fan of rockstar romance heroes, I now have biographies of Eddie Van Halen, Bono and Dave Grohl. I'm already thoroughly absorbed in the one about Eddie Van Halen.
I've also watched Becoming Led Zepplin on Netflix, and have a handful of other rock documentaries waiting in my queue. It was delightful to discover a treasure trove of YouTube videos from roadies and garage bands. The technical details are fantastic!
As I watch these things at night, I'm either scribbling in a notebook or typing the notes directly into MS notes on my computer to apply to the chapters/scenes during my first edit round. How much I get done depends on my cats. Some nights they put their paws down on doing any kind of work during what they consider THEIR couch time. When that happens, I catch up on my pleasure reading or enjoy my latest nostalgia binge show. Right now it's Supernatural - I love Sam and Dean! But once the cats are otherwise occupied (aka asleep) I sneak the notebook or laptop back out and start my research again.
A REMINDER OF WHAT NAUGHTY DREAMS IS ABOUT:
World famous rockstar Dorian “DJ” James is a wiseass (see the teaser below as proof, lol). He’s also stubborn, willful, talented—and a submissive.
While falling for his client is a dangerous conflict of interest, experienced bodyguard Roy Bloodwell realizes it will take an all-in, committed Master to keep this kid safe. Especially when a tragedy tears DJ’s world apart, and a nameless fan decides DJ is meant to be his.
Screw conflict of interest. Roy has a message for that fan, and anyone else who threatens DJ.
Preorder your copy today, and it'll be waiting for you at the end of November!
The print book will come out about a week before the November 30 release date (we can't do preorders on print). There are no plans for an audio book at this time.
DO I NEED TO READ THE OTHER TWO NAUGHTY BITS SERIES BOOKS FIRST?
Nope! All three books are complete standalones. The only connection between them is the characters in Books 2 and 3 visit the Naughty Bits shop and receive helpful advice from Madison, the proprietress, and her handsome Dom husband, Logan (the heroine and hero of Book 1). But if you want to read the first two books in the Naughty Bits world prior to the release of Naughty Dreams, I won't talk you out of it!
$150 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY - FOR INSTAGRAM USERS
Last month I mentioned I am working on having a more active presence on Instagram. As a result, I'm participating in Get That Book's Instagram and Threads Follow Giveaway. For the chance (or chances) to win a $150 Amazon gift card, just click on the graphic below and follow the participating authors you'd enjoy knowing more about, on Instagram or Threads. Including me!
Even if you're not interested in the giveaway, if you'd like to touch base with me on Instagram, don't hesitate to look me up at this link. Those desserts are making me drool, btw.
I'm still learning the platform, so if you have any helpful tips for me, don't hesitate to let me know!
THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. It's the best kind of marketing an author can have, and ALWAYS appreciated. Now, let's scroll down to check out this month's FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS.
I have LOTS of news about NAUGHTY DREAMS! How about a cover reveal, blurb AND preorder links? I'm up to about 80k words on the manuscript, and it's just roaring along. Is there anything more fun to write than a bodyguard/rockstar romance?
SO WHAT'S NAUGHTY DREAMS ABOUT?
World famous rockstar Dorian “DJ” James is a wiseass (see the teaser below as proof, lol). He’s also stubborn, willful, talented—and a submissive.
While falling for his client is a dangerous conflict of interest, experienced bodyguard Roy Bloodwell realizes it will take an all-in, committed Master to keep this kid safe. Especially when a tragedy tears DJ’s world apart, and a nameless fan decides DJ is meant to be his.
Screw conflict of interest. Roy has a message for that fan, and anyone else who threatens DJ.
You aren’t taking what’s mine.
The print book will come out about a week before the November 30 release date (we can't do preorders on print). No plans for an audio book at this time. Preorder your copy today and it'll be waiting for you at the end of November!
DO I NEED TO READ THE OTHER TWO NAUGHTY BITS SERIES BOOKS FIRST?
Nope! All three books are complete standalones. The only connection between them is the characters in Books 2 and 3 visit the Naughty Bits shop and receive helpful advice from Madison, the proprietress, and her handsome Dom husband, Logan (the heroine and hero of Book 1). But if you want to read the first two books in the Naughty Bits world prior to the release of Naughty Dreams, I won't talk you out of it!
GET THAT BOOK is doing their first FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY promotion! Would you like to celebrate July with TWENTY-ONE FREE books from your favorite (or new to you) authors? Plus get the chance to win a $50 gift card, just for grabbing new books? I've done promos with Get That Book before and they deal straight with their contest applicants. You can follow them on Instagram for future romance promotions. Click HERE or the graphic below for access to the 21 FREE books AND to be entered in the $50 giveaway!
INSTAGRAM PRESENCE...
Are you on Instagram? As of this month, I've added this platform to my ways to communicate with my readers! If you'd like to follow me there, you can find me at this link (or click the graphic below). I'm still learning the platform, so if you have any helpful tips for me, don't hesitate to let me know!
THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!
THANK YOU ALL for continuing to spread the love of my work to fellow readers, through reviews and discussions with friends, family, bookclubs, on social media platforms and more. It's the best kind of marketing an author can have, and ALWAYS appreciated. Now, let's scroll down to check out this month's FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS - and don't forget to order your copy of Naughty Dreams!
Well, May just FLEW by, didn't it? 🐤🐤🐤 Actually, it feels like time has been flying ever since February's release of AT HER WILL. I said I was going to do 3-4 months of marketing, and here we are, in month four. So what does this mean? As of June 1st, I'm back to my normal full time writing project schedule. On a typical writing day, I do first draft and heavy editing in the morning, lighter editing in the afternoon, and whatever time I have left in the afternoon and evening is for marketing.
Which makes a well-planned marketing strategy even more vital. Taking 3-4 months to enhance what I spent 2 months doing at the first of last year ironed out some things I learned since then. Because I took that time, I can now do more marketing with LESS time, which is hopefully good for my sales AND my writing.
But enough of that. What's of FAR more interest to you all (and to me, lol) is where we are on the next story!
MEET ROY AND DJ OF NAUGHTY DREAMS
So last month I told you about my next book, NAUGHTY DREAMS. It will be a standalone Book 3 in the Naughty Bits world (the opening chapter is in Madison's shop). It is a M/m story (Male Dom/male sub) - a rockstar/bodyguard pairing! The bodyguard is the Dom, the rockstar is the sub. This month I have NAMES for you. Roy Bloodwell is our tough, sexy bodyguard, and Dorian "DJ" James is the world famous rockstar he's hired to protect. This teaser gives you a DJ visual, as well as a taste of the dynamic between them.
But what does Roy look like? I ran a couple proposed visuals past the readers on the social media platforms this month, with this introduction:
ROY BLOODWELL: Dom and personal bodyguard to an intriguing, sexy, annoying kid (and submissive) named DORIAN JAMES, "DJ" to his fans. Did I mention he’s a world famous rockstar and going to be a big pain in Roy's ass?
WHAT DOES ROY LOOK LIKE?
"That" edged out "This" so That may end up in more teaser graphics. However, they both got love, so "This" may go into holding for another future character (wink). Which one do YOU prefer as Roy? Once I write the book, no matter how I describe him, you are welcome to imagine him however you wish!
Hope you've enjoyed these early musings about the current work-in-process. I will have a COVER for you in the July newsletter issue, and maybe even PREORDER LINKS and the OPENING CHAPTER!
SEVEN FREE FIRST-IN-SERIES BOOKS
I'm participating in a FREE first-in-series 🔥🔥🔥 STEAMY EROTIC ROMANCE 🔥🔥🔥 book promo this month. You may have already read MY offering in the promo (Board Resolution), but how about the other SIX? No strings attached - just click this link or the graphic below, browse the books, and make your choices - or download all of them! Clicking each book gives you your preferred vendor choice and you can download directly from them. The promo runs all month long.
ENDLESS GRATITUDE...
This recent and amazing Bookbub review for AT HER WILL came from the "Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile." What a fabulous reviewer name, lol. 🥂 THANK YOU ALL for continuing to post reviews and spread the love of my work to fellow readers, whether they're your friends or family, or those on your social media platforms. I will never stop thanking you all for that!! If you'd like to read BSB's full review, just click the graphic. Now, let's scroll down to check out this month's FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS!
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ AT HER WILL YET BUT WANT TO, HERE ARE ALL THE LINKS!
HAVE YOU READ ALL THE MBR BOOKS? There are FOUR other standalone Mistresses of the Board Room stories. Whichever one (or more) you decide to try, I hope you have a blast reading them!
[Note: If you are a reviewer or blogger who uses BookSirens, AT HER WILL is available there for your download, as well as several other releases of mine.]
In Charlotte, North Carolina (my old stomping ground), a bookstore called Tropes recently opened - and it is DEDICATED to romance! I haven't been there yet, but my sister-in-law told me about it. Can you imagine going into a store that is WALL-TO-WALL romance selections?
Since we can't all get to Charlotte this weekend (including moi), I have something similar for you. Welcome to the BookFunnel "I'M JUST HERE FOR THE SMUT" list! Click that link or the graphic below to browse a compiled listing of 295 EROTIC ROMANCES, waiting for you to download whatever grabs your interest. Just in time for your weekend reading! [Note: clicking on any book will take you to the purchase options/usual vendor links.] My book, Board Resolution, is included in the list as a free download, if you don't already have it!
This list is only available through the month of May, so be sure and check it out while all these titles are gathered up in one convenient spot.
Going back to Tropes for a moment, before the current owner established the store, she drove a mobile bookstore (The Smut Bus!) dedicated to romance. Read the article about that here. I love that she referenced The Ripped Bodice (stores in Brooklyn and LA) as an inspiration, because they are still a gem in the romance bookstore crown. Next time I'm in Charlotte, you can bet my sister-in-law and I will be making Tropes one of our stops!
BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD SERIES PREMIERE
Have you heard that Passionflix, the streaming service also dedicated to romance, is launching a BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD series starting June 5? I posted about it on my platforms this month. So many of us love JR Ward's BDB heroes, I'm sure we're hoping the series will honor the spirit of the books, even as we know it can't ever match them. JR Ward being involved in it gives me hope!
If you want to watch it, Passionflix is a $5.99/month subscription, and you can cancel anytime, so it's a relatively small investment to see how Wrath, Darius, Zsadist (my fave!), Butch, Vischous, Rhage, Phury and all the rest are portrayed. I'm going to say intensity-image-wise, they've done a good job on casting Robert Maaser as Wrath. He also looks like a good chemistry match with Olivia Applegate.
SO WHILE I'M DOING MARKETING, WHAT'S THE MUSE DOING?
As you know, I'm taking a few months to do dedicated marketing of my existing books/series, but don't worry, the muse isn't idle. Out of the blue, she gave me a storyline with two entirely new characters. They fit into the Naughty Bits world (the opening chapter is in Madison's shop) and it is a MM story (Male Dom/male sub) - a rockstar/bodyguard pairing! The bodyguard is the Dom, the rockstar is the stubborn sub, lol. I'm not setting any deadline pressure on it, since I REALLY need to focus on marketing right now. However, I wanted to let you know something IS percolating/being written -- and I'm having fun with it! I do wonder how I'm going to match the branding, since the other two books in the series have women in lingerie on the covers, lol... Oh well, we'll figure it out.
HAVE YOU POSTED A REVIEW OF AT HER WILL?
As always, your continued good feedback on AT HER WILL has been WONDERFUL to read. If you've enjoyed Vera and Rev's story, or any of the Mistresses of the Board Room books, and feel inclined to leave a review on Bookbub or at your preferred vendor, I thank you TREMENDOUSLY. Same if you talk about it on a book group, share images/reactions on BookTok or Instagram, or otherwise spread the word. Anytime you do that for ANY of my books, it helps and is so appreciated.
The links for the book and series are below the graphic (TRA is the firm headed up by Ros and the other ladies), followed by this month's FOUR FEATURED EBOOKS. Thank you again for all your support and love of my stories!
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ AT HER WILL YET BUT WANT TO, HERE ARE ALL THE LINKS!
HAVE YOU READ ALL THE MBR BOOKS? There are FOUR other standalone Mistresses of the Board Room stories. Whichever one (or more) you decide to try, I hope you have a blast reading them!
[Note: If you are a reviewer or blogger who uses BookSirens, AT HER WILL is available there for your download, as well as several other releases of mine.]
Have you been enjoying AT HER WILL? I surely hope so. My first month of working purely on marketing was slow off the starting block due to a couple of planned trips, one to Elizabeth City with my husband, and one to Atlanta with my sister-in-law, plus some family stuff. However, now I'm gaining traction on creating ads, doing ad testing, reaching out to reviewers and reader groups, and studying the marketing strategies that have worked for comparable authors.
Marketing my work was something I used to dread. While I'd still rather be writing, I've learned enough about book marketing to find it a reasonably fun challenge to apply those skills, and see what the results will be. For instance, right now I'm testing the two following ads on Bookbub, to see which one is "clickier" or has more "conversion" (clicks leading to increased sales). Once I get an idea of which one is the winner, I'll up my budget and see if it continues to pay for itself. Or, if the conversion isn't high enough, I'll test more variables and/or go back to the drawing board to create a different design.
The interesting part about ad testing is that sometimes the ad you think will be the most popular with the target readership isn't, and one you were lukewarm about becomes the star. Or they'll be equally ineffective or successful.
So far, these are in the no clear winner category. Both are doing decently well for my ad budget, so I've added more target authors (authors who write FemDomme) to expand my audience and see if that gives me a clear winner and better percentages. Fun fact: I pulled new names for that target pool from a jpg of favorite FemDomme authors an avid reader posted on a FB group. A big part of book marketing is paying attention to things like that and thinking: "Hey, I write that genre. How can I use that to reach new readers?"
I give major kudos to author Skye Warren, because a few years back I took her Ad Intensive and Mastermind classes, and it gave me a whole new grasp/approach to my marketing. I am still by far not the best at it, but I don't feel like I'm floundering or just throwing something at the wall to see if it sticks. In retrospect, that was the main source of my "dread." I didn't hate doing marketing; I hated feeling like I had no idea what I was doing, or that I was tossing money away on efforts with no real chance of converting into sales. If I'm spending valuable time away from my writing, I need to feel I'm pursing strategies that help my sales and overall career direction, not going off to spin my wheels in a mud bog. If that's all I'm doing, I'd rather literally go ATVing in a mud bog, lol. Me and Gretchen Wilson (Redneck Woman video - hell, yeah!). 🚗🚗🚗
So we'll see. Hope you all enjoyed this little high-level glimpse into how the engine works when it comes to driving the "business" side of increasing sales (aka paying my light bill this month).
SPECIAL REVIEWS FOR AT HER WILL
Several reviews of AT HER WILL echo the sentiments Crimson expressed in the graphic below, and they're bringing me joy every time I see them. I've often said my characters drive my stories, but since my heart and soul are part of the process, I'm sure the hopes I carry there are picked up by them. It deeply moved me that one of my reviewers found this reassurance in Vera and Rev's book. Thank you, Crimson, and all my other readers who have echoed these feelings. Here's the full review at her blog if you'd like to read it in its entirety.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ AT HER WILL YET BUT WANT TO, HERE ARE ALL THE LINKS!
HAVE YOU READ ALL THE MBR BOOKS? There are FOUR other standalone Mistresses of the Board Room stories. Whichever one (or more) you decide to try, I hope you have a blast reading them!
[Note: If you are a reviewer or blogger who uses BookSirens, AT HER WILL is available there for your download, as well as several other releases of mine.]
A GRAPHIC TO SHARE - AND BRING A SMILE!
Another thing I've been enjoying about marketing work is creating new teaser and promo graphics. I have so much to learn about Affinity, and this is another opportunity to increase that skill set. Scott is VERY adept at using it, so he can help me when I end up in graphic quicksand, lol. Btw, readers are ALWAYS welcome to share any of my promo stuff - in fact, I hope for and encourage you to do so!!
Note: The marvelous image above is credited to "nutriaaa" on Deposit Photos. His or her work is amazing. [I bought the licensing to use the graphic for promo purposes.]
THANK YOU...
THANK YOU for the many ways you all support my work, not only by purchasing my books, but by spreading the love to other readers, through reviews, participating in book discussions in online groups, doing posts about them on your social media platforms, or recommending my work to friends and family. It is the best kind of marketing any author can have.
Let's check out THIS MONTH'S FEATURED EBOOKS, right after you see my carpet bugle plants. Their spring blooms are spectacular, and they're a perfect match for the Mistresses covers, aren't they? Their nickname is the "chocolate chip" plant, because they have spotty leaves during the non-bloom months. Since I LOVE good chocolate chip cookies, when I found them at the nursery some years ago, they were definitely coming home with me. All right, enough of that - now drop down below all the purple to check out the featured EBOOKS!
AT HER WILL is LIVE! As you can see from the graphic, we've been getting some wonderful feedback on Vera and Rev, which I'm always glad (aka relieved to pieces, lol) to see. Thank you to all my readers who take the time to leave reviews at places like Amazon, GoodReads or Bookbub, or who share your reactions with friends, bookclubs, online groups and others. However, if you're not able or inclined to do any of those things, that is OKAY. Just purchasing the book is something I deeply appreciate as well, and I hope you ALL love the story. ♥💜♥
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET BUT WANT TO, HERE ARE ALL THE LINKS!
[Note: If you are a reviewer or blogger who uses BookSirens, the ARC is available there for your download.]
HAVE YOU READ ALL THE MBR BOOKS? Don't forget there are FOUR other standalone Mistresses of the Board Room stories. Whichever one (or more) you decide to try, I hope you have a blast reading them!
The other day, a reader asked for a list of my books with a Dominant heroine, and I figured those who love how I write FemDomme might want to make sure they've read them all. Or maybe you've decided to give them a try, and would like to know what those titles are. 📚📚📚 So here they are.
FEMDOMME BOOKS (as of 2/2025) - ⛓⛓ All can standalone unless otherwise indicated. ⛓⛓
VAMPIRE QUEEN Vampire Queen's Servant Mark of the Vampire Queen (read VQS first, this is part 2 of Lyssa and Jacob's story) Vampire's Claim Vampire Mistress (M/F/m - so there is some topping by the male Dom vampire) Vampire Trinity (Part 2 of Vampire Mistress - need to read Vampire Mistress first) Bound by the Vampire Queen (need to read Vampire Queen's Servant and Mark of the Vampire Queen first, as this is Book 3 of Lyssa and Jacob's journey) Nightfall (the book I co-authored with the much-missed Desiree Holt)
KNIGHTS OF THE BOARD ROOM Willing Sacrifice
MISTRESSES OF THE BOARD ROOM At Her Command At Her Service (Dom hero and Domme heroine; Dom hero does top her in some instances) At Her Call At Her Pleasure At Her Will
NATURE OF DESIRE Holding the Cards Natural Law Ice Queen (though heroine is a Domme/switch, with the switch being only for the Dom hero) Mirror of My Soul (Part 2 of Ice Queen, so same applies and Ice Queen should be read first) Mistress of Redemption Branded Sanctuary (heroine is vanilla adventurous, not a natural Domme, but hero is committed service sub) Divine Solace (F/m/f) Truly Helpless
Hope that list helps! And remember if you ever want a printable list of all my titles, all you have to do is go to my website and click on the Books menu item at the top of the page (not the drop down menu).
RELEASE DAY RECAP
On February 15, we had a good party at the JWHMembersOnly Facebook Group and Author pages on Facebook and MeWe to celebrate the release of AT HER WILL. Below are the post highlights, and I've included the links if you want to jump over and read them. These links are to my JoeyWHillAuthor Facebook Page.
Though you'll find some reactions under these posts, most discussions and more involved comments happen over at the JWHMembersOnly Facebook Group. If you're interested in those reactions, you can Join the group (if you haven't already) and find these same posts by scrolling down and looking for February 15 postings. They are also all on my MeWe page if you prefer that platform!
WHAT BOOK IS NEXT?
I did have a post about this on release day, but since it's often the question readers most want to know, I thought I'd recap it right here. So...what book IS next? Umm… I don’t know, lol. Wait! Don't be alarmed.
As of this year, I’ve written sixty books, the bulk of them full length novels, some of them long enough to do double duty as door stops – ha! That doesn’t include my three character-revisit compilations (Cantrips 1 & 2 and Knight Nostalgia).
I have been writing since the late 90s, published since 2000, and a full-time author since 2007, with small press and NY publishers. I migrated into self-publishing in 2015 and took over the non-subsidiary rights on all my books by 2019. So I’ve been a professional author for 25+ years.
It’s time to take a beat and determine where I am mentally in this amazing journey. As I constantly (tediously) mention, I’m a muse-driven author. So what is my muse saying right now?
MUSE: “Take a break, dearie, and do a few months of marketing while I eponymously muse – get it?”
ME: *carefully hidden eye roll* “Yes, get it. Though I’m not sure if that’s a perfect fit, grammatically speaking.”
MUSE: “Just because a coupling requires some work doesn’t mean the two don’t go together. Look at the enormous equipment on some of our male characters. Ben, Dev… It’s like puzzle pieces. If you keep pushing it in, eventually it works.”
ME: "Yeah, next time a reader questions my word choices, I'll mention that. I’m sure they’ll give me a thumbs up." *under my breath* “you crazy sadist.”
MUSE: *frostily* “What was that?”
ME: “Nothing. Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to market my books I go.”
Most of my series with natural ending points have reached them, if that’s where they wish to be left, and the open-ended ones, Nature of Desire and Naughty Bits, can stop or start at will, because their theme/setup makes them eternally open-ended. But all of my series still have characters with stories that could be told.
Bastion, my sexy office manager in the Mistresses of the Board Room series, is a very good example of that. He’s standing expectantly on that threshold, but he’s a patient Dom. If it’s not yet time, it’s not yet time. Over the years, you all have also given me plenty of input into characters whose stories you’d like to see happen. Some of them agreed enthusiastically. Others appreciated the interest, but have never volunteered to take center stage (or at least not yet). So a lack of material isn’t an issue. I just need a break to ponder.
There’s also a practical reason for this decision. The 4-6 week marketing breaks I’ve taken these past several years after reaching my “two releases a year” goal have resulted in good things, but where the market is right now, more is needed. I need a solid few months of dedicated effort to see if it will be enough to carry me forward, financially and creatively.
So I’ll keep you posted, and in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy re-reads of my books (or catch up on the ones you haven’t yet read) and help me spread the word about my stories to your friends who are avid readers. I’ll of course continue to be very present on my social media platforms and with my monthly newsletter so you can keep track of the latest status!
THANK YOU...
THANK YOU for the many ways you all support my work, not only by purchasing my books, but by spreading the love to other readers, through reviews, participating in book discussions in online groups, doing posts about them on your social media platforms, or recommending my work to friends and family. It is the best kind of marketing any author can have.
Now let's check out THIS MONTH's FEATURED EBOOKS!
Only a few more days until the release of AT HER WILL!!! I am as excited about this as I am about watching the movie Valentine's Day on February 14 and eating a bucketful of Dove Dark Chocolate Promises. I LOVE the ones that look like little hearts. For some reason they taste better than the normal squarish ones, even though those are fabulous, too. ♥💜♥
SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VERA AND REV? 💜⛓💜
WANT TO PREORDER YOUR COPY? Have it delivered and waiting on your device on release day - FEBRUARY 15!
HOW ABOUTPRINT FORMAT? It went live TODAY, which means yes, you can order and have it shipped to you IMMEDIATELY. We always release it about 10-14 days ahead of the "official" release date so readers preferring that format have a better chance of receiving it by the official release day. And it often arrives even earlier!
Are you a REVIEWER or BLOGGER at BookSirens? The ARC is now available there for your download, and I thank you in advance for reading and posting your feedback or review at vendor sites and/or at your own pages/groups. It's promo'ed there for THREE MONTHS, so you don't have to have it done by release day. It's appreciated anytime!
The FIRST ARC review has gone live on GoodReads, and it thrilled me to my toes!! 5 Stars from Tammi: "It was impossible to highlight my favorite passages, because the whole book would be pink or yellow. For all that's holy, what a marvelous, wonderful story. Heartbreaking, while pouring gold in the cracks..." The graphic below is the conclusion of her review.
RELEASE DAY FESTIVITIES: On February 15 I'll be doing simultaneous posts about the book at the JWHMembersOnly Facebook Group and my Joey W. Hill Author pages on Facebook and MeWe. I'll share behind-the-scenes tidbits, plus discuss the challenges of writing a Christian/Wiccan BDSM Romance (not a genre combination you see every day, lol). I'll also discuss what my next project will be, and anything else you all would like to talk about. Come on by! If you want to, but can't drop in on release day, I run the giveaways for about 48 hours and check back frequently to answer comments and questions during the same time span. So enjoy the posts whenever you have time.
If you're NOT on any of these platforms, never fear. I always do some highlights in the post-release newsletter issue.
HAVE YOU READ THE OTHER MBR BOOKS? Don't forget there are FOUR Mistresses of the Board Room books already out there to enjoy. They ALL can be read as standalones. As you might expect, these ladies play a key part in Vera's story, but so does a key member of the Knights of the Board Room series! (hint hint). Here are the links to the other books in the series:
Ben O'Callahan of Hostile Takeover continues to be a fan favorite hero. Case in point: A reader sent the following feedback to me just a few days ago (Ben and Marcie are key figures in Arcane Knight as well). I figured our "Ben" fans would appreciate and agree with her assessment.
That, and how close we are to Valentine's Day, also made me think of the "Ben's Valentine Letter to Marcie" piece I wrote in 2014 for SubClub Books. It's a personal favorite, and I always read it for my own pleasure around Valentine's Day. If you'd like to do the same, click here. I keep it on my website under the Character Interviews section. Happy Valentine's Day to you all. However you celebrate it, I hope it's a lovely day for you. 💘💌💕
FAN GROUP HIGHLIGHTS
The readers outdid themselves this month on the JWH MEMBERS ONLY FACEBOOK GROUP. They found so many funny book-related memes and reels. There was a "TED" talk between competitive fonts (yes, you read that correctly); an analysis of the incestuous nature of Folgers coffee commercials; a woman who came home to a hot shirtless male in her house and responded in a manner that would have done Lucille Ball proud...and the list goes on. It was hard to choose one for this issue, but I went with the "BookGoblin" reel posted by fantasy author Elisabeth Wheatley. I hope it will play for you, even for those who don't have Facebook, but even if it doesn't, check out Elisabeth's site. If she's that creative in her videos, I expect her books are even better.
If you click on the picture, it will take you to the video - it's less than a minute. It was making fun of "slow burn" books, which took me back to when I was writing Beloved Vampire. Mason and Jessica were in NO hurry to consummate things, even when the author kept whining about it being a freaking EROTIC ROMANCE. Lol...my characters don't listen to me.
THANK YOU...
THANK YOU for the many ways you all support my work, not only by purchasing my books, but by spreading the love to other readers, through reviews, participating in book discussions in online groups, doing posts about them on your social media platforms, or recommending my work to friends and family. It is the best kind of marketing any author can have.
Now let's check out THIS MONTH's FEATURED EBOOKS!
Happy new year, everyone!! We brought in the new year with a small family gathering, finger foods and an obligatory watching of the movie New Year's Eve. I love the whole trilogy of those movies, which you know means I watch Love Actually at Christmas and will look forward to Valentine's Day at guess when? I'm proud to report I stayed up until midnight instead of falling asleep and setting an alarm, lol. However you all brought in the new year, I hope you had a good time and that 2025 brings you many wonderful reads, joy and good adventures with loved ones. My local bookstore had a good suggestion for our new year's resolutions. What do you think? I'm on board for it!
WINNER OF $100 CHARITY GIVEAWAY
Thank you everyone who sent me entries for my favorite giveaway of the year. Animal charities, national parks, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Salvation Army, St. Jude's...and the list goes on. Thank you for being so generous and opening your hearts to those in need. My randomly chosen winner was Carol M, who asked for the donation to go to the Sparkle Cat Rescue in Burlington, NC! Which of course gave me a vision of sparkly Twilight vampire cats, lol... 😸🧛🏻♀️
SO WHERE AM I ON AT HER WILL? 💜⛓💜
The second edit round is DONE. Two rounds to go, including the final proof version where I read the whole thing aloud to my cats and dogs. They are usually quite unimpressed, but I try not to let it crush my fragile writer ego. Ha! Actually, when it comes to my writing, I have the skin of a rhinoceros, because you can't be an author and be thin-skinned, though you do have to keep your heart and soul open, to give the story its heart and soul. It's an interesting balance. I expect it's the same for any creative endeavor, whether it's writing, singing, acting, painting, etc. Here's a little teaser graphic to hold us over until release day. Just a little over a month to go!
ARE YOU ON THE JWH MEMBERS ONLY FACEBOOK GROUP? If so, I've posted their exclusive THREE CHAPTER early peek. It's a BookFunnel link, so you can load it on your preferred device. When you go on the group, it's pinned to the featured post section to make it easy to find. If you'll be joining us as a new group member, welcome! It's a wonderful, laid-back community, with posts celebrating my books, reading, and the erotic romance genre.
If you don't want to join the group, but would like to read an excerpt from Vera and Rev's book, remember the CHAPTER ONE preview is available to all, and includes the intriguing moment when Vera and Rev meet. Click here to get that through BookFunnel for your e-reader.
Have you PREORDERED the book? Use one of the links below to make sure you'll have it bright and early on February 15! Print format will be available a week or two before the February 15 release day.
Ros and Lawrence's clip was deemed "nice" and Matt and Savannah's was "naughty," lol. Though the books have plenty of both kinds, the clips had to be shorter, and all the naughty ones from At Her Command were 2000-3000 words. Oh well - erotic romance readers enjoy both, right? I know I do. There were SO many good excerpts posted throughout the month. If you're on Facebook, I highly recommend heading over there to browse and see if you can find your next good read.
THANK YOU...
THANK YOU for the many ways you all support my work, not only by purchasing my books, but by spreading the love to other readers, through reviews, participating in book discussions in online groups, doing posts about them on your social media platforms, or recommending my work to friends and family. It is so tremendously appreciated, and the best kind of marketing any author can have.
Now let's check out THIS MONTH's FEATURED EBOOKS!
Wow, it's been a fast month, hasn't it? I hope all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving last week enjoyed good times with loved ones. My brother and sister-in-law came to visit, and we had a good meal with them and my mother-in-law. Scott handles pretty much all the cooking, but me and my sister-in-law do all the grunt work (chopping, measuring, etc). As usual, we had way too much, but we're getting better about judging the amount we need, and it offers us the opportunity to give the excess to those who need it. A lot of our area civic clubs and churches were doing free Thanksgiving dinners. People often find their best selves at the holidays. And on that note...
$100 GIVEAWAY TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY
It's time for my annual charity giveaway! Email or FB DM me the name of your favorite charity at storywitch@storywitch.com, and before the next issue, I'll randomly select a winner and send $100 to that charity! (Email is for prize purposes only - it will NOT be sold or used for anything else.) This is one of my favorite giveaways of the year, because it reinforces how generous and kind my readers are, and how many organizations out there are trying to make life better for others. In short, it gets me in the Christmas spirit. I look forward to your entries!
SO WHERE AM I ON AT HER WILL?
I'll finish the first edit round this week and start on the second on Monday when my brain is fresh. Rev and Vera's story is coming together well, though as usual during the first edit I'm wondering if I've written a complete disaster of a story (see the meme below). Scott tells me this is ALWAYS my process. Second edit is where I start feeling more comfortable about it. So bring on the second edit!
HAVE YOU PREORDERED YOUR COPY OF AT HER WILL?💜⛓💜
Since I'm in the middle of the editing process, I don't have a lot of new stuff to share right now, but let me remind you there's a free CHAPTER ONE preview for At Her Will, which yes, includes how Vera and Rev meet. Here it is - you can choose your preferred download format from this BookFunnel link:
All preorder links are available now (look below the graphic). Have it waiting on your ereader when you wake up on February 15! Print format will be available a week or two before the February 15 release day. I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, here's another teaser for you all.
For those of you who have read one or more of the Mistresses of the Board Room books, you are familiar with Bastian, the six foot tall admin for Thomas Rose & Associates. When I was purchasing new images for my cover and graphic libraries, I stumbled on this one. Though currently Bastian has long locs, I could handle having him shave his head to look like this! What do you think?
I like the "memory" feature in my OneDrive, where it shows me things I posted a year or more ago. I don't know where I found this, but it's worth posting again. Hope it gives you a smile as you move forward. The late-in-the-month Thanksgiving Thursday can make the Christmas/Yule season a little chaotic, but remember to take a breath on the holiday Hamster wheel and remember what it's all about. Love, family, friends and being kind to one another.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU...
THANK YOU for the many ways you all support my work, not only by purchasing my books, but by spreading the love to other readers, through posting reviews, participating in book discussions in online groups, or recommending my work to friends and family. It is so tremendously appreciated, and the best kind of marketing any author can have.
