Happy Friday Everyone! It's February of 2022! February. Let that sink in a moment. February makes me a bit nervous this year. Last year, on February 15th, we lost power and water, got displaced for about 4.5 months (due to water pipe bursting and needing to fix parts of the house). With the talks of winter storms and things, I'm doing a lot of praying for this year not to have another Snowmeggeddon. (Yes, I'm praying for those who DEFINITELY will be dealing with bad parts of the storm, but I'm also praying that we don't have to go through what we did last year). In between all this, I'm editing. My freelance editor, the incredibly helpful Deb Ewing finished all passes on my manuscript and now it's down to me doing the final read-through and little nit-picky things. Deb warned me not to get so hung up that I lose the way my story works, which is a fair point. As a writer, you don't want to poke and prod your work into a oblivion and lose the voice that ...

Happy Friday Everybody! Recently I finished writing a Romance that features shape-shifters. This is not a YA (Young Adult) novel. Considering that my aim is not YA with this novel, and I'd been thinking about it for a long time, I decided to develop another pen-name strictly for those types of novels. Bethany Averie will remain associated with the Immortal Dreams series and any other YA novels I write. Jeannie Averie will be for the NON -YA Romance novels (Paranormal and Fantasy) that I write. The Jeannie Averie novels will be for ages 18/21 and up. Bethany Averie novels are high school and up. There isn't a drastic difference, except that the Jeannie Averie novels are a bit different in style and tone. Slightly "hotter".  So they need a different pen-name. Now, why do I use pen names? I like to keep my personal life separate from my professional life. Yes, tiny details of my personal life seep into my professional life, but the two are not exactly the...

Happy Tuesday Everyone, I've been back from RWA Nationals 2018 in Denver, Colorado for about a week now. It was all right, but I liked last year's better. But that's okay. (Part of it was that I had bad heartburn 2 days in a row. I've spoken to my doc about it, and I'm fine, now). Moving on, I'm way behind in my "promise to read and review on my blog" books, so let me get right down to today's: A while back, I won in a fun little giveaway a signed copy of It Wasn't Always Like This by Joy Preble . Joy is an imaginative and talented author behind the amazing Anastasia trilogy (that I loved). She didn't ask me for a review, but I promised her one. Joy took the idea of "the fountain of youth" and added murder, mystery, suspense, romance, and a quick-witted, smart heroine. After drinking a tea mixed with a herb found in a disappearing-reappearing-in-different-places spring, Emma O'Neill and Charlie Ryan find themselv...

Happy Monday All, We're getting closer to Romance Writers of America's National Conference (aka "Nationals" or "RWA18"). It's interesting to me how the longer I'm in the genre, the more of the stereotypes and comments that come my way. For instance, last year, I was in the elevator going up to get something from my hotel room, and this person who was attending another event said to me, "Oh, you're with that book thing." Now, I played it off. I mean, technically it is a "book thing", but this illustrates some of what we romance novelists encounter. Nationals are so much more than just a "book thing". We have a ton of writers there, sure, but we also have people in other capacities. There are agents, editors, bloggers, sometimes cover artists/models, and well, it wouldn't shock me if someone from film showed up...oh wait, they already did... PassionFlix . Darling readers, any of you who have followed me (o...

Happy Monday All, Like I've said before, my posting on here is inconsistent. Blog topics are hard to come up with and my life is full of being mom, wife, and writer. But enough of excuses! I'm gearing up for RWA Nationals 2018. I think I've been gearing up for it since Nationals ended last year. I can't help it. I had such a blast in Florida, I'm looking forward to what Colorado will bring. I'm also excited to see some friends I haven't seen in a long time. Particularly one who was a year behind me in high school. We hung out in the same social group and had one class together my Junior year. She's a sweetheart and I've missed her. We're going to get manicures and hang out. I think it's going to be a ton of fun! Nationals is a great way for authors (particularly Romance authors) to get together, find out what's new in the publishing world, and network. Publishers, agents, and other industry professionals come from all over as well...

Happy Wednesday All, As the time draws closer, I'm working on the edits from my publisher and getting ready for the big day... RELEASE DAY for Perfect Love . In preparation for the June 2017 release, here are 5 things you should know about Perfect Love : 1. It takes place years after the events at the end of Immortal Love . 2.  Hailey and Arion are the main point-of-view characters. 3.  Laney and Jason make cameos. 4.  There is a special surprise at the end of the story. (No, I'm not dropping any hints). 5.  I don't know whether or not it's the last book in the Immortal Dreams series. I haven't decided, yet. So, I've left myself an opening in case I continue the series. I'll let you, the reader, see if you can figure out the opening...you probably will...a lot of readers figured out Hailey's story was next. I'm sure you readers figure out the room I left myself in this one. (And no, this isn't the surprise, the surprise is somet...

Happy Monday Everybody, Last week on Facebook I revealed one of the songs from Hailey Banks' play list . Hailey's story is the one that's releasing in early summer/late spring this year. To get to know Hailey, read the Immortal Dreams Trilogy-- Divine Love , Astral Love , and Immortal Love , she's Laney's best friend. Play lists can reveal some of the moods of either the author, the scene, and/or the characters involved. To see the play lists from my Immortal Dreams Trilogy, click here . Music has a way of inspiring a lot of writers. When I wrote my stand-alone Fantasy Romance, All's Fair In Love & Lion , I listened to a lot of Chris de Burgh 's music. There was something so beautiful and stirring in his ballads. Interestingly enough, I didn't listen to very much of his music for the Trilogy (except for one song for Immortal Love ) but that's because Immortal Dreams  novels are a different story. All's Fair In Love & Lion is s...

Happy Tuesday One & All, So, are you all ready? Today I have an official blog book review for you...the very first one of 2017. Pretty cool, huh? I think so, anyway. This one came about when I requested the ARC of her upcoming book one of her new series. I agreed to do a review in exchange for the ARC (Advanced Readers Copy).  When March 2017 hits, readers and Kerrelyn Sparks fans will embark on a brand new journey into a Fantasy Romance. Kerrelyn weaves a world of imagination, magic, adventure, suspense, danger, intrigue, and romance. As always, her story is well-mapped out and she handles the details well.  Lord Leofric (Leo) is an interesting leading man--he can be hit and survive a lightning strike, while absorbing the power and in turn, wielding it for his own purposes. Unfortunately, he can't TOUCH anyone. Luciana's character arc takes the journey of her taking a step that looks brave, and showing her actually becoming determined and brave. She's no ...

Happy Monday All, Did you have a good weekend? A great one? Mine was full of recovering from my ear/sinus infection. It sounds like a blast, doesn't it? Well...it wasn't what I'd call the most fun I've ever had. But I did enjoy a little time with my husband, so that was a plus. Interesting question occurred to me as I was watching a Hallmark Channel movie ( Love By The Book ): What is your idea of Romance? What is something that happened to you that you consider romantic? This is interesting to me on more than one level. For one thing, I'm hopelessly romantic. I even like some of the cheesier stuff. Or heartwarming. It's also questions Romance novelists (such as yours truly) strive to answer when they write their novels. So, you tell me. What do you consider romantic? Have A Marvelously Magical Monday!

Hi Darling Readers, While my blogging right now is going to be a bit on the sporadic side, but to make it up to you, I have a special surprise...an official blog book review! Author C.C. Hunter has the final installment of her Della stories on sale today. Della is a vampire on a mission: to clear her father's name. She doesn't believe for an instant that he killed his sister. But between secrets and lies, how is she supposed to uncover the truth? Then there's Chase. The vampire who saved her life. Is her attraction to him real or just part of the blood-bond they share? Can she even trust him after he lied to her? Truths will be revealed and secrets discovered. Lives will change forever. But is it a good thing or should it all have remained Unspoken ? You can get your copy of the exciting conclusion to Della's story on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Happy reading and have a tantalizing Tuesday!

Happy Friday All, I've decided to do an impromptu book review. Recently I finished reading Stacy Hoff 's Desire In The Everglades . When I read Anne B. Cole's blog post where Stacy made a guest appearance , her story and the background behind it intrigued me. Stacy and I emailed each other and decided to exchange books. She sent me a copy of Desire In The Everglades , and I sent her a copy of my novel, All's Fair In Love In Lion . Anyway, I finally got to sit down and read Stacy's story: Stephanie Lang has enough stress being a producer for Teleworld Broadcasting Company without being forced into working on the insane new show her boss and the Board of Directors have come up with. Seriously...a guy armed ONLY with a knife surviving in the Everglades? Have the higher ups lost their minds? But between being strong-armed and then catching the photo of Colin, who they plan to contract to be The Everglader , she finds herself agreeing to the whole idea. L...

Happy Thursday All, I'm overdue for posting this, but I plead life and other things as the reason this hasn't gone up. I don't have an assistant, so I probably need to start keeping a log of To Do list for this blog. (Hey there's a New Year's Resolution right there!) Anyway, I do want to introduce to you all a novel by author Larynn Ford . Since this is a promised review, it's an official blog book review. Lynzi Lancaster didn't figure herself for a target until several life threatening incidents happen...all in one week. Who would want to hurt her? Then there's the dreams. Layne Brady has been long gone out of her life for twenty years. Now all of a sudden she can't get him out of her mind or her dreams. Magic and reality clash as Lynzi works to make sense out of what's happening to her and Layne struggles to prove that he is very much alive, and still loves her deeply. If you like a twist on contemporary/western with a hint of the F...

Hello Darling Readers, This is actually for Monday, but because I'm writing, and doing a bunch of other things, I wanted to make sure I got it up in plenty of time. Hope everybody had a great weekend! I was sick on Saturday, but got better on Sunday, so that was good. I'm working on Book Three of the Immortal Dreams Trilogy, but I figured everybody would want a little peek at what's to come (especially for anyone who has already read Immortal Dreams Book One, Divine Love ). So here we are, the cover art for Immortal Dreams Book Two, Astral Love ! I love it, don't you? Book Two is due to release Fall of 2014 (yes, this year!) Here's wishing you a great work week/new school year! Have A Marvelously Magical Monday!

Happy Friday All, I've been thinking about what kind of post to write, and well several ideas have been floating in my mind. I couldn't nail down one, so I waited until I could. And I still haven't, but I thought I'd give it a go to see what happens. (Bear with me LOL). I'm awaiting 1st round edits for Immortal Dreams Book 1: Divine Love . I'm still waiting on the paperback version of All's Fair In Love & Lion (I'm sorry that's been taking so long). I'm waiting on the cover art for Immortal Dreams Book 1: Divine Love .  The form has been turned in to the artist, so I guess just waiting on them. I am so looking forward to this cover you have NO idea. I love this Trilogy. I do, I really do. There's just something about Erich and Laney that has me going bonkers. My beta reader is awaiting Book 3. She's loved the first 2 and is ready for the third one.  If you're a member of Goodreads , all 3 Immortal Dreams Trilogy ...

Happy Thursday Everybody, I can't tell you how excited I am that you all have been enjoying Classics Week. When I got this idea I wasn't sure what would happen, but it's turned into a lot of fun. Yesterday's posts by Mina Khan got many comments (thank you for supporting Mina!) Which is great. It's always nice when readers support an author. Today I welcome an author who is on one of the email loops I'm on. Like Mina, when I sent out the call for certain authors, (mostly Paranormal and Fantasy, but I welcomed a couple of other genres, too) author Tina Bausinger answered the call and I was delighted to have her come aboard for this blog series. So please join me in welcoming Tina Bausinger as she talks about Emily Bront ë : The windy heights—a horrifying thunderstorm and a choice between a love-crazed, revenge-seeking rogue or a beautiful aristocratic pretty boy. Who can resist the world of  Wuthering Heights  by Emily Bront ë? I know I can’t.   ...

Happy Tuesday All, Did you all enjoy yesterday's post? If you haven't checked it out, please do so by clicking here . Today I welcome author Marie Hall to Write By Bethany. Marie is an author I came across while browsing E-book options. I read Her Mad Hatter and was hooked. Now several more titles later, and having interviewed her , plus chit-chatting on Facebook (she's a Once Upon A Time show fan, too). I'm delighted to be able to welcome her once again to my blog as she discusses her love of Jane Austen, and other period romances. Take away, Marie Hall... I guess it’s no surprise that I as a romance writer would love romances. And I hardly doubt I’m in the minority when it comes to loving Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters. I’m also very partial to Dickens, but he didn’t write the traditional romances. So for the sake of this piece I’ll stick with romance period writers. I first picked up Pride and Prejudice in high school. It was a school as...

Happy Monday Everybody, Welcome to the first ever Classics Week on Write By Bethany. Each day I will feature a different author. The author for the day will talk about which classic author and book they enjoyed and why, plus whether or not it influenced them. At the end of the post, they will feature one of their own publications for your reading pleasure. To kick off Classics Week, I've got author Patti Korbet . I met Patti through author Marie Hall's Facebook page. As it turns out, we're both avid Once Upon A Time fans (as well as fans of Marie Hall's work) and started chatting. She's got some interesting things to say about JRR Tolkein, so I'll hush up and let Patti take over... My childhood memories are filled with moments of fantasy and science fiction, from the cartoons that started our Saturday mornings to the films we saw in the movie theater. Many of those stories were classics of childhood for kids of the 70's and 80's –   E.T., ...