A Tale of Two Box Sets by Joan Reeves

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was…

Ah, yes, Mr. Dickens knew exactly how to spin a few words into memorable lines. He could have been describing the situation in which I, and many other authors find ourselves, contributing to 2 box sets in the same time period.

What Was I Thinking?

What I learned from this challenging situation of writing and promoting for two box sets is that each box set, though sounding similar, has different personalities. The style or tone of the box set is determined from the title of the box set and by the authors and their content. Let’s compare the box sets I’ve been a part of this year.

Love Blooms on Main Street

This lovely romance collection is the latest offering by 10 of us Authors of Main Street. Each story is wonderfully romantic with most categorized as sweet romance. My contribution to this box set is Old Enough to Know Better which is definitely romantic, but much steamier than the other books in the set. My book is the romance between an older woman and a younger man.

The Love Blooms box set uses the symbolism of flowers to represent the premise of our stories. The set definitely comes off as romantic. For the most part, I think it’s safe to say this box set is not edgy or gritty.

The title of the box set, the box set conceit of flower symbolism, the art work, the books–titles, individual art cover, stories–descriptions, and the video I did, all represent this romantic, traditional concept. (Watch YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/Ar1xIipdK6o)

But, remember I said my book was steamier? Like most box sets, we want to appeal to a wide audience so we use the “something for everyone” concept with different kinds of stories offered so mine and a few of the others don’t toe that “sweet romance” line.

As I write this, Love Blooms on Main Street is on two bestseller lists in Japan. Since I lived in Japan for many years, I’m really psyched by this news. The Japanese, contrary to what many may think, are romantics. Japan is a huge reading market.

Love Blooms is doing well in the other markets also. If you haven’t got your copy yet, grab it quick while it remains priced at 99cents. Links are below.

Summer Fire: Love When It’s Hot

My next box set is pictured here with my individual cover for my contribution to the set, Heat Lightning., a romantic suspense.

Immediately, you’ll see the difference between the two box sets. It begins with the title, Summer Fire, and even the title of my book in the box set, Heat Lightning, a romance that’s sexy and a bit edgy.

You immediately know the kind of romance novels you’ll find in the Summer Fire box set. Hot. With double the number of authors, these 21 novellas are contemporary and steamy.

Except

They’re not all that way. Again, like most box sets that try to appeal to a wide range of genre readers, Summer Fire has the soft and sweet as well as the edgy. Mona Risk of Authors of Main Street is in the Summer Fire set with me as well as Helen Scott Taylor and other authors noted for their sweet romance.

So even though the Summer Fire box set appeals greatly to the large audience wanting sexy, steamy romance, it too has something for everyone even though the artwork, the books themselves–titles, cover art, descriptions–and the video I did for this box set all say hot contemporary romance. (Click to see YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/SfQwk3iJ4yU)

Bottom Line

I think box sets represent a win-win situation for readers and authors.

Readers get great books for low prices and have the opportunity to read different authors and sub-genres they may not have tried before.

Authors get their work in front of new readers who may buy the box set because they love another author in the set.

Buy LOVE BLOOMS on MAIN STREET

Amazon * Kobo * Nook * iBooks

 

Buy SUMMER FIRE: Love When It’s Hot

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iBooks

 

Giveaway

Readers, what do you think about box sets? Leave a comment with your email address and be entered in a random drawing for a free copy of Love Blooms on Main Street AND a free copy of Summer Fire: Love When It’s Hot Contemporary Romance Collection. Giveaway is open until May 20 midnight. Winner will be chosen on May 21 by Random Name Picker and notified by email as well as in the Comments section of this blog.

Post Script

Joan Reeves is a bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Available as ebooks and audiobooks, her romance novels all have the same underlying theme: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.” Joan lives her happily ever after with her husband in the Lone Star State. Sign up for WordPlay, Joan’s free email list for readers.

LIVE!!! Love Blooms on Main Street is LIVE TODAY!

Love Blooms on Main Street Every flower tells a story. Just as the first fragrant blooms of spring stir the senses, Love Blooms on Main Street is sure to touch your heart. Ranging from sweet to spicy, these stand-alone contemporary romances are inspired by the symbolism of flowers, with each story representing a different flower. The set can now be ordered from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iBooks for the limited time price of 99 cents. Here’s a closer look at the stories included in Love Blooms on Main Street:

Small Town Hot Shot Bride by Stephanie Queen, USA Todaybestselling author Red roses symbolize compassion and romantic love. Tammy is a hot shot in a small town, but she’s tired of getting left behind by guys just passing through. Will she get swept up by charming out-of-towner Roark and his runaway train attraction? Or will she derail him for good? Perfect Match by Carol DeVaney, national bestselling author Forget-me-nots symbolize true love and remembrance. Sometimes love needs a little push. Can two lonely hearts re-kindle their abandoned passion the second time around? Heather of His Heart by Leigh Morgan, national bestselling author Heather symbolizes admiration, beauty, good luck and protection from danger. Heather has given up on the idea of finding romantic love. Billy never had the idea in the first place. When circumstances throw them together, they find that love, like heather, blooms in the most unlikely places. To Have & To Hold by E. Ayers, national bestselling author Peonies symbolize compassion, happiness and prosperity. When Melissa meets Drexel, she realizes that the estate’s gardener has found something that she’s never had—happiness. But sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be, and she needs to follow her heart. Love at the Apple Blossom Inn by Kristy Tate, national bestselling author Scotch broom symbolizes overwhelming and everlasting love. Small-town girl Janey Tyler falls for Eric Roudell, the quiet and reclusive music teacher. But will she still love him when she discovers he is really Derrick Cordell, the rock star?

Forever Your Valentine by Susan R. Hughes, national bestselling author Daisies symbolize loyal love. Attraction crackles between Faith and Cole when they meet, but since Cole’s career takes him on the road most of the year, Faith resolves to keep their relationship platonic. Will one night together ruin their friendship, or could they be falling in love? Naomi’s Heart by Pepper Phillips, national bestselling author: Paperwhite narcissus has the most delicious fragrance, bringing spring into the room. Delighted that Ben is back in Boggy Bayou, Naomi teams up with him to enter the Egg Knocking contest. Can they win? Can Naomi figure out why Ben is kissing her? Can her heart stand it if Ben realizes that she’s not what he deserves? Mother’s Day Babies by Mona Risk, USA Today bestselling author White lilies symbolizes virtue. Can Love Bloom between a powerful TV Director who’s certainly not marriage material and a widow loyal to her late husband? Call Me Yours by Kelly Rae, national bestselling author Hydrangeas symbolize devotion and gratefulness. When Thad finds himself falling for Brianna, the only surprise is how natural it feels. It’s going to take more than words to convince her, but he will do anything to hear her say,Call Me Yours. Old Enough to Know Better by Joan Reeves, national bestselling author White roses symbolize new beginnings.Stormy Clarkson, on the brink of fifty, is crushing on sexy Sean Butler. He’s been after her for six months, but she’s resisted every advance. One night he kisses her. That kiss changes everything!

We are all so thrilled to present these stories to you; as we feel strongly about love and relationships and how important a little happily-ever-after can be in a our fictional lives. Enjoy and thank you for being our fans, our friends and our supporters, with each new boxed set we write and publish!

May I Have Your Autograph by Joan Reeves

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I received the autograph book shown below as a birthday present from my mom. I can remember taking it with me everywhere I went.

I collected “autographs” from my teacher in second grade, our neighbors, my parents, my mom’s friends, and my brothers. I was particularly thrilled with the autographs from the teenage girls who lived near us. I thought those girls were so beautiful, and I wanted to look like them when I grew up.

Fast Forward

Little did I know that a few decades later, those girls’ autographs would inspire me as a writer. In fact, I hadn’t thought about the autograph book in years. When my mom passed in 2010, I had to clean out her house. I packed boxes of books and papers and took them home with me. I planned to go through them later— when I could manage not to cry.

Later turned out to be last year. We’d sold our home too fast and ended up having to store everything while we waited for remodeling to be completed on the Houston townhouse we’d bought. Christmas of 2014, we moved everything into the new house. A year ago, I began unpacking. That’s when I came across all of my childhood mementos including the autograph book.

Inspiration Strikes

One of the autographs that inspired me.

When I read the autographs from those teenage girls, my imagination took over. Both had written sentiments like this:

2 Sweet2B4Gotten and Sweet4Ever

In my mind’s eye, I could see a couple of kids, desperately in love. A boy in a letter jacket, leaning against a locker, and drawing a heart on the back of his girlfriend’s hand. I imagined him writing, LuvU4Ever.

Story Wrote Itself

The autograph book from my childhood inspired not just 1 short story, but an entire series: A Moment in Time.

LuvU4Ever is the first romance short story in the series.

David and Noelle fell in love when they were eighteen. They promised to love each other forever. Now, it’s 10 years later, and Noelle is heartbroken because she thinks she’s lost David.

About LuvU4Ever

LuvU4Ever, that’s what David had engraved on the plain gold heart he gave Noelle when he proposed.

Can 9 little words destroy a Forever love?

I told you NEVER to call me at home.

Noelle faces the biggest decision of her life. Will she stay? Will she dish out some payback? Or will she just walk away?

I love this story and hope you’ll like it too. Want to watch the video book trailer? It’s getting a lot of views so it must be hitting some hot buttons. Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/P1WCB2yE04k (I’d be ecstatic if you’d click LIKE and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.)

LuvU4Ever, at These Ebook Sellers: All Romance eBooks * Amazon Kindle * Kobo * Nook * Smashwords.

Final Note

I didn’t think autograph books were still sold, but I was surprised to find several available on Amazon. Most have Disney characters on them, but I found a few autograph books that resemble the one I received long ago.

Post Script

Bestselling eBook author Joan Reeves makes her home in the Lone Star State with her hero, her husband. She lives the philosophy that is the premise of her romance novels: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.”

Visit Joan online: Blog * Website. Sign up for Joan’s free newsletter for readers or her free newsletter for writers.

Top 5 Christmas Favorites by Joan Reeves

Are you ready to sit down and put your feet up? I am. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, I always feel as if I’m in a timed track and field sprint event. Actually, I guess it’s more like a marathon than a sprint.

Best Laid Plans

I worked so hard to finish my next contemporary romance, but I failed to take into account that the various publishing platforms would be shutting down early and not reopening for uploads until after New Year’s. So, I finally just screamed loud and long and said, “Oh, fish!”

Then I proceeded to eat the last two chocolate-covered cherries in my Christmas candy stash to take away the sting of not getting this book back from the last proofreader and formatted well before now.

Chocolate Cures All Ills

But back to the chocolate-covered cherries. I buy one box every year because my wonderful grandfather always bought a box for each of us kids every Christmas. I mean, an entire box of chocolates was like my idea of heaven.  So I do this every year and think of him and how much I loved him.

Tradition

Most of the stuff we all do at Christmas is because of tradition. Either a tradition started in your family long ago or one that you started–or just some little thing that you carried on because it makes you think of someone you loved or something that made you feel loved. Like my grandfather and the chocolates.

Instead of getting back to work on a short story I’m writing, I started thinking of all the things I do at Christmas that I do every year. I grouped these into 5 Christmas Favorites.

Favorite Christmas Songs (And the version I prefer)

1  Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives)
2  Come Home for Christmas (The Eagles)
3  Santa Clause is Back in Town (Elvis)
4  Last Christmas (Wham)
5  Santa Baby (Bernadette Peters)

Favorite Christmas Carols

1 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
2 O Little Town of Bethlehem
3 Do You Hear What I Hear
4 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
5 Silent Night

Favorite Christmas Movies

1 Love Actually (Funny, wise, wonderful!)
2 It’s a Wonderful Life (I still cry!)
3 A Christmas Story (I have a Red Ryder BB Gun!)
4 Die Hard (Christmas at Nakatomi Plaza)
5 The Ref (The Dysfunctional Christmas Story)

Favorite Christmas Food

1 My Mom’s Chocolate Bourbon Bon Bons (Oh, how I miss my Mom. She loved Christmas!)
2 My Sister-in-law Judy’s Coconut Cake
3 Chocolate Covered Cherry Bon Bons (chocolate, cherries, creamy liquid, yum!)
4 Texas Trash (my version of Chex Mix made with Tabasco, Tony Chachere Seasoning, Pecans, Almonds, Cashews, Peanuts, and, oh yeah! Chex Cereals.)
5 Pralines (the candy of the South–instant inches to the hips but oh so good.)

Favorite Christmas Activities

1 Nighttime Christmas Eve service at church.
2 The wrapping paper fight we have after all presents are opened.
3 Playing games with the whole family after Christmas dinner.
4 Caroling–either doing it or welcoming carolers at the door.
5 New Year’s Eve party we give.

Traditions are just memories of Christmas past. They call to mind long ago moments that bring joy to the present. Fill the holidays ahead with joy, making memories with family and friends.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Post Script

I want to remind you of the free book available to everyone. I compiled Holiday Decorating as a companion book to the Christmas on Main Street Romance Collection.

Each of the authors in the Christmas Box Set contributed a favorite craft or holiday decorating idea to the book. You can even watch the YouTube video I created to show you what the craft book is about.

If you haven’t downloaded Holiday Decorating, free to all, get it now. It’s available at Amazon Kindle * iTunes * Kobo * Nook

Only 99 cents for 12 Novels
Then for only 99cents, buy Christmas on Main Street Romance Collection, a box set of 12 full-length novels, all set during the holidays. My contribution to the box set is Nobody’s Cinderella. (Amazon never put the right cover up on the box set so you won’t see my name on the cover image, but I’ve been promised that my book is in the set.)

Buy Christmas on Main Street: Amazon Kindle *  iTunes * Kobo * Nook

Joan Reeves, author of funny, sexy Romance Novels, lives her happily ever after with her husband in the Lone Star State. Her books are available as ebooks and audiobooks. All her books have the same theme that is her motto: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.” Joan publishes Writing Hacks, a free NL for writers, and WordPlay, a free NL for readers. Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, & other social media.

Let’s Decorate & Read by Joan Reeves

Happy Pre-Holidays!

This post may be a bit longer than usual because I want to show you a picture of each craft in our wonderful free book, Holiday Decorating, available at these ebook sellers:

Amazon * iTunes * Kobo * Nook

Although only 12 of us participated in the Christmas on Main Street Romance Collection, all 13 of us Authors of Main Street contributed a favorite holiday craft to the free Companion Book, with detailed supply lists and step by step instructions for each.

Here’s a cute video about Holiday Decorating.

Sneak Peak at the Crafts

In the order that each author’s Christmas story appears in the Christmas on Main Street Romance Collection, here are the respective authors and their crafts!

Joan Reeves, Book 1

Christmas Stocking Hanging System

Yes, this is my craft. Everyone always tells me what a great idea it is when they see all my stockings hanging from the mantel.

I invented this method of hanging Christmas stockings many years ago. Now, darling hubby and I hang 19 stockings every year.

My how my family has grown!

E. Ayers, Book 2

The Kissing Ball

Like most of us, E. Ayers first made her Christmas craft many years ago when she and her husband were first married.

If you’re a romance reader, then you absolutely must make a Kissing Ball this Christmas.

Be sure and hang it prominently!

 

Kelly Rae, Book 3

Waterless Snow Globe

These are delightful, and they’re super easy to make! Plus, kid-made presents are adored by parents and especially grandparents.

Kids love these, and they love to show off their handiwork so be sure you get several jars to make a bunch.

Shake them and watch the glittery snow fall!

Tori Scott, Book 4

Salt Dough Ornaments

The little boy next door just made Salt Dough Ornaments in pre-school. He was so excited and proud when he showed his creations to me.

These are so easy and adaptable for every skill level. Small children can easily do these, and adults can have fun embellishing them to make them rise above their humble origin.

 

Mona Risk, Book 5

Manger Built By Kids

Kids will love this craft, and parents will love it too because it takes a bit of time to complete which keeps the kids occupied on a cold winter’s day.

Building a manger is great team craft that the kids will want to do each year.

From year to year, you can see how their skills improve.

Jill James, Book 6

Crafty Gift Tags

I love this craft because it’s a wonderful way to recycle Christmas cards.

So many people send digital Christmas cards now that it’s a special treat to get a print card in the mail.

This craft will be a way to share the beauty of cards with those to whom you give presents. What a lovely way to make a present even more special.

Kristy Tate, Book 7

Fan Chart

This craft was something totally new to me. It’s a way of making a family tree and incorporating that genealogy with a Bible verse.

Be sure and visit Kristy’s Blog to see her own Fan Chart.

What better time of the year to make your family tree than at Christmas.

Leigh Morgan, Book 8

Christmas Fortune Candle

Leigh’s Holiday Craft was also new to me. It combines the warm glow of candles with the good wishes we give to our family and loved ones.

This unique craft is easy to make and sounds like a good gift idea too.

I plan to make some of these as party favors for our annual Christmas Open House.

Carol DeVaney, Book 9

Christmas Tree Photo Decoration

Carol combines recycling with a great craft idea: tree decorations made from photographs and/or old Christmas cards.

The sky’s the limit with this craft. You can make them simple or embellish to your heart’s content.

Show off your kids and grandkids with a photo tree ornament.

Pepper Phillips, Book 10

Holiday Decorated Mailbox

Pepper has inspired me to decorate my mailbox. I never thought about doing that before, but it’s such a clever and cute idea.

She gives directions for decorating a mailbox next to the curb or highway and also for a mailbox mounted on your house.

Genius!

Stephanie Queen, Book 11

Drum Ornament

Stephanie’s Holiday Craft celebrates the beloved Christmas carol “Little Drummer Boy.”

You’ll notice that Stephanie may not have contributed her craft to the book yet. She’s been away taking care of family. The book will be updated when she returns.

In the meantime, just know that you can get an updated book file when her content is added.

Susan R. Hughes, Book 12  

Kid Friendly Christmas Crafts

Susan offers not 1 but multiple crafts that the kids can do, and the kids from young to older children will like these.

A Snowman. A Reindeer. A Snow Globe.

Stock up on supplies and let the kids make at least one of each. Perfect for a cold winter’s day.

 

Bella Street

Christmas Card Putz House Ornament

Bella was not able to contribute a book to the Christmas on Main Street Romance Collection this year, but I’m thrilled that she was able to participate in the publishing of Holiday Decorating.

Her idea is so darling! The picture you see to the left is one of her Putz House Ornaments she made from a Christmas card. With her easy to follow instructions, we can all make this!

All the Links

Here are all the links mentioned above.

Holiday Decorating Video

Get free book, Holiday Decorating: Amazon * iTunes * Kobo * Nook

Buy Christmas on Main Street, a Romance Collection of 12 Novels, for only 99cents: Amazon * iTunes * Kobo * Nook

Post Script

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving with lots of great food, fun, family, and friends!

(Joan Reeves, author of funny, sexy Romance Novels, lives her happily ever after with her husband in the Lone Star State. Her books are available as ebooks and audiobooks. Joan publishes Writing Hacks, a free NL for writers, and WordPlay, a free NL for readers. Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, & other social media. Her motto is the underlying theme of all her books: It’s never too late to live happily ever after!)

Christmas on Main Street – Relaunch 2.0

This Tuesday, November 11th, we will be relaunching our Christmas on Main Street boxed set. This year we have added a new book, by Joan Reeves, an exceptional member of our group who was not able to participate last year. This means 12 heartwarming love stories, for a fraction of the cost, of getting them separately. It’s a real Christmas Deal! One that you guy gift OR even better, a special gift you buy yourself. 🙂

NOBODY’S CINDERELLA by Joan Reeves:

Darcy Benton is the oldest cliché in the world–a woman in love with her boss. Other than
that, she’s no-nonsense, practical, mature, and sober. She’s just the kind of woman Chase
Whitaker wants as head of accounting for his company. She’s definitely not the kind of woman he wants in his bed.
Enter Darcy’s meddling, matchmaking best friend who has a plan to transform Darcy into a hottie designed to attract Chase’s interest. All it takes? A couple of little lies.
And a wish on a Christmas star. Darcy should have heeded that old advice: be careful what you wish for

To read more, check out Christmas on Main Street, our buy links will be up on the blog, the right hand side,this Monday 11/11/14.

Christmas on Main Street 2.0

We are trying something new in the marketing world with this new book, it’s called ThuderClap. We would really appreciate your support. It’s easy and should be fun to see how far our reach can go with the help or readers, friends and such. Click on the link below and you will be able to participate. Thunderclap is using the power of social media to extend the reach of all sorts of campaigns, whether they be non-profit, social awareness of even book releases like ours on Monday. Your support on Facebook and Twitter would be greatly appreciated!

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/18561-christmas-on-main-street-11-11

Make you sure you also take advantage of our companion booklet, filled with design ideas, from the Authors of Main Street. It’s our gift, a thank you to every reader, reviewer and supporter of us individually and as a group. We could not do it without you!!

The link for this FREE gift to you will also available to you on our website on Monday. We hope you and your family enjoy our ideas and if you try them and we would love to see what you have created, please post photos on our Facebook page so we can ooh-and-aw, over your work!

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsofMainStreet

Christmas is Coming!

Thank you for visiting our blog today, in the spirit of Christmas, we would love to hear what decorations or prep work you are getting ready to do, for the holiday season. Do you decorate for fall and Thanksgiving first, or jump right into the red and green of the Christmas Season? Whatever your holiday traditions are, we are so grateful that you spend a little time with us here on the blog and in our books!

Wishing you well, in fiction and real life!

Kelly Rae 🙂

Titles Should Be Short—Or Long by Joan Reeves

Lots of southern charm, a 10-yr old betrayal, and a man and woman who should have ended up together.

There’s a rule that says book titles should be short. There’s another rule that says book titles should be long enough to attract attention. Sheesh! That’s the trouble with rules. No one can decide what the rule should be.

Readers will tell you that a great title attracts them. So how can an author come up with a really great titles? Some authors have a knack for this, and some struggle endlessly. Some authors have editors at publishing houses who decide what the title will be based on various factors.

Some of those factors might be previous use of the same title, some words in the title that the editor or someone in the editorial department doesn’t like, something in the title that was trendy or not trendy, etc. In other words, an author’s chance of using his own title was very small.

My first published book, Summer’s Fortune, which I’ll bring out as an indie published title next year, carried my title. No change. That was highly unusual.

Just One Look was my second traditionally published book. (Available at most ebook sellers; audio edition at Audible and iTunes.) That book’s title was changed 3 times. The third time proved the charm when the editor decided on Just One Look.

The only other title of mine that I was allowed to keep was Jane (I’m Still Single) Jones. I felt I had a good chance of keeping the title since it was highly unlikely that there were other published books with the same title. Plus, the editor liked the title a lot, and the title fit the story perfectly.

Popular Wisdom

The general opinion is that short titles are best — the shorter the better. Short titles can be memorable. Dean Koontz — or his editor — chose well with Phantoms, Lightning, Watchers, and so many other titles in his booklist. If you’ve read those books, you know those titles fit the books perfectly. Most of Mr. Koontz’s books bear short titles.

It’s hard to find an evocative 1 to 3 word title that gives a glimpse of even one of the important elements of a novel: the premise, plot, characters, theme, setting, etc. That’s when you start playing around with more words.

Long Titles Can Be Glorious

Forget short titles. Sometimes long titles just resonate with readers. Some authors gravitate to long titles over and over. Long, evocative titles that just sing like lyrics in a song. Who doesn’t love these titles?

Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke

Snow Falling On Cedars by David Guterson

Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Ecco

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen

and my friend Cynthia Wicklund’s In the Garden of Temptation which began her Garden series.

Let’s not forget the thrillers by Stieg Larsson that made such a splash a few years ago:

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl Who Played With Fire.

None of the books above could possibly have a short title as evocative and memorable as the name they ended up carrying.

The Short & Long Of It

For the most part, I’ve had success with the titles I’ve chosen. They all say what the book is about, and they’re “catchy” and attract attention. (Leave a comment today with your email address and win a copy of Jane (I’m Still Single) Jones, my longest-title book.) I do know that I leave no word unturned in my search for the perfect title.

What do you like? Short? Long? Somewhere in between?

( Joan Reeves makes her home in Texas with her hero, her husband. She writes sassy Contemporary Romance with the underlying theme that is her motto: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.” Her books are available at most ebook sellers and audio editions at Audible and iTunes. Joan publishes Writing Hacks, a free subscription newsletter for writers, and WordPlay, a free subscription newsletter for readers. Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

Small Towns and Humor by Joan Reeves

I love small towns. Because I grew up in a small town, I know a lot about these unique communities — the social structure, the economics, and, most importantly, the people who live in small towns.

Favorite Setting

A small town is my favorite place to set a story, and many of my contemporary romance novels are set in small towns. Small towns are like characters in a book and give color and depth to the story.

Even though I spend the week in a townhouse in Houston, we have a country home too so I don’t lose touch with my roots, and I even subscribe to the weekly newspaper in the nearby town that has a population of 719. My goodness. That makes my hometown where I grew up look huge with its boasted population of 5,000+. I also subscribe to my hometown’s newspaper.

Homage to Leno and Carson

One of my favorite segments when Jay Leno and Johnny Carson were the stars of The Tonight Show was where they would read the unintentionally funny items from newspapers and advertisements sent in from viewers.

Never fear! Since I subscribe to 2 small town newspapers, I see funny stuff in print all the time. Of course, it’s not supposed to be funny!

I just about fell out of my chair yesterday when I read in one of those papers about the man who planted a bomb in his wife’s car. No, that wasn’t funny, but the comment from the Sheriff’s Department (deputy’s name withheld to avoid embarrassment) was.

The small town reporter asked the Deputy about the explosive device. The Deputy replied: “The explosive device did not explode, and we can’t tell whether it was homemade or not.”

Excuse me? Homemade or not? Are there stores that actually sell car bombs? I mean, aren’t all car bombs, by their very nature, homemade?

Life Is Just Different

The following isn’t particularly funny, but it’s so far removed from urban life as to appear amusing, and a bit endearing, if you’ve ever lived in the oil patch as my husband and I did when first married.

Sign on a restaurant: We deliver to surrounding oil fields.

And I don’t mean Domino’s or Pizza Hut.

Life really is different in rural and small town America. The people seem more patient and kinder. It’s almost as if there are stock characters, and every town is required to have its requisite number of them.

The pace is definitely more relaxed. My Romantic Comedy series Texas One Night Stands is all about small town life where you sneeze and someone across town says, “God bless you.”

To Sheriff’s Deputy Susannah Quinn, the heroine of The Trouble With Love, that’s suffocating. She’s tired of the town knowing everything about “poor little Susannah” and plans to escape as soon as she can. The only thing standing in her way is tall, dark, and too darn sexy for her own peace of mind.

In the second book of the series, Romeo and Judy Anne, high school principal Judy Anne Palmer is tired of being up on that pedestal of respectability. She kicks over the traces one night in Dallas. When her one-night lover shows up in her hometown, she’s afraid her night of passion will end up being the biggest scandal her little town has ever seen.

Both of these books, along with my others, are available at most ebook sellers; audio book editions are at Audible.com and iTunes.

Book 3 of Texas One Night Stands

Next month, I’ll begin writing a book that I’ve been salivating over! It’s the third book in the Texas series, Forever Starts Tonight.

Allison Platt, from The Trouble With Love, adores Alton County, Texas, where her cousin Hogan first met Susannah Quinn and where Allison hangs out a lot. Ten years ago, when she was 18, Allison was married and divorced. She says, “It was the usual case of ‘young and stupid’ —  I was young; he was stupid.” While traveling in Mexico, things go horribly wrong. Allison’s father recruits her ex, Donovan Platt, to bring her home.

Maybe I’ll have Allison deliver lunch to an oilfield while she’s hanging out in Alton County.

But Wait! There’s More!

Small towns? Like? Dislike? What do you think about books set in small towns? Leave a comment with your email address, and I’ll send you a coupon code for a free copy of Old Enough To Know Better. A woman with a past. A man who wants to be her future.

Post Script: Joan Reeves makes her home in the Lone Star State with her hero, her husband, but you can find her online at: her blog SlingWords * her website * Facebook * and Twitter. She lives the philosophy that is the premise of all of her romance novels: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.”

Readers, sign up for WordPlay, Joan’s email list/newsletter, and receive a short story, not published elsewhere. Writers, sign up for Writing Hacks, Joan’s free newsletter, and receive a free copy of a nonfiction book.

Women & Men & Sex = Funny by Joan Reeves

Readers agree that this is one of Joan’s funniest romantic comedies.

I love romantic comedy which is one of the reasons I write it. When a reader tells me she laughed so hard her family thought she was crazy, that just makes my day. I guess I can blame all those old movies I watched as a child for my addiction to humor and romance.

Golden Oldies

In case you’d like to waste invest some time in advancing your appreciation of vintage films, let me give you a few suggestions.

It Happened One Night Made in 1934, it starred Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. Runaway heiress meets a reporter who wants to exploit her story. Key element? The walls of Jericho. Watch the movie and you’ll understand.

Bringing Up Baby Made in 1938 and starred Katherine Hepburn as a zany rich girl who turns uptight Cary Grant’s life into chaos. Key elements? A baby leopard and dinosaur skeleton.

Pillow Talk Made in 1959, it was the first pairing of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. Womanizing songwriter and uptight interior designer share a telephone party line, and that’s when the games begin. (Ask your grandparents if you don’t know what that is. We lived in the country and had a party line long after the rest of the world had private lines. A party line was a true test of one’s integrity. *g*) My cool hip daughter loves this movie so much she bought DVDs of it and the other Doris Day/Rock Hudson films. In several romantic comedies of that era, Tony Randall was the hero’s best friend and was hilarious in his second banana role in each film. He’s the kind of secondary character every romantic comedy needs.

Lover Come Back Made in 1961 and starred Rock Hudson and Doris Day again. In this flick, Rock and Doris are advertising executives who disdain each other’s client recruitment methods. When Doris decides to exact a little revenge, she gets way more than she bargained for. Oh, my! The scene when Tony Randall is driving a heartbroken Doris back to the city, and they stop at a diner is hysterical!

That Touch of Mink Made in 1962 and starred Doris Day and Cary Grant in a movie that confronts the virgin versus the player issue. He’s handsome, rich, and charming. She’s lovely and works though she’s not a career woman. They’re equally captivated, but she wants marriage, and, of course, he wants an affair.

Cactus Flower Made in 1969, this was Goldie Hawn’s film debut with Walter Matthau and the renowned Ingrid Bergman. What a romp this is! Yeah, it, and all the ones above are outdated in terms of our culture, but I bet you’ll laugh.

Fast Forward

In more recent years, there have been a lot of romantic comedy films made, but most of them fall short. They either throw in elements that are crude, not sexy–and they have no brilliant writers on staff to turn it into funny and sexy–or they’re derivative, lesser films with no freshness.

My Fave Romantic Comedies of Recent Years

In no particular order, here’s my list:

Pretty Woman
Notting Hill
About a Boy
Love Actually
Something New
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Sweet Home Alabama
The American President
Groundhog Day
When Harry Met Sally
The Princess Bride
Better Off Dead
Sixteen Candles
The Goodbye Girl

So, there you have it. A picture of my childhood and all the time I wasted invested in building my knowledge base of romance and humor.

Post Script

Joan Reeves writes funny, sexy Romance Novels. She lives her happily ever after with her hero. Joan’s books are available at most ebook sellers, with audio editions available at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. She publishes WordPlay, a free subscription newsletter for readers and Writing Hacks, a free subscription newsletter for writers.

Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Always remember Joan’s Motto: It’s never too late to live happily ever after!)

Looking for Love by Joan Reeves

This wedding season has been bountiful for romance readers. I hope you’ve been enjoying the 11 novellas, or short novels, of Weddings on Main Street.

Wedding: Ultimate Love Story?

In today’s world where couples live together and often have children without marriage, getting married seems to have become the ultimate commitment. Weddings are celebrated publicly in ceremonies ranging from small, family-only events to splashy galas costing as much as a house.

It wasn’t always like this. Ancient history tells us that marriage was first a private, domestic affair. According to Curious Customs of Sex and Marriage by George Ryley Scott (available at used book outlets), the basic function of marriage was to multiply and replenish the earth. Marriages were simply a way of regulating procreation.

It may come as no surprise, to women at least, that men in many cultures weren’t inclined to sign on for the concept of marriage. Perhaps that explains why so many nations (remember, just about all society was patriarchal) experimented with
Polygyny, a form of plural marriage in which a man is allowed more than one wife, and Polyandry, a form of polygamy whereby a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time.

Eventually, in most civilized nations of the world, monogamy was accepted almost universally, at least in theory, as the perfect form of marital union. Well, as we all know, nothing and no one is perfect, but monogamy was probably what kept the world rocking along for a couple of millennia—dragging all of the customs and superstitions created along the way into our modern world.

Bottom Line

Many marriage customs continue, with some slight alterations. Although some may still practice Marriage by Capture, that’s usually performed in an altered version called Elopement. Betrothal in Infancy and Arranged Marriages still survive as do matchmakers. Even Marriage by Purchase survives elsewhere. In our culture, cynics assert that it’s alive and well here too because wealthy sugar daddies are always looking for sexy young sugar babies. Or maybe all of them are just looking for love like the rest of us.

Post Script

I’m giving away a copy of Weddings on Main Street. To be entered to win, leave a comment with your email address (write it out don’t leave as a hot link for the web crawlers to gather). Also say whether you want it for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or iTunes. The winner will be notified by email no later than Sunday, July 20.

(Joan Reeves writes funny, sexy Romance Novels, available at most ebook sellers, with audio editions available at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. Joan publishes Writing Hacks, a free subscription newsletter for writers. Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Always remember Joan’s Motto: It’s never too late to live happily ever after!)