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Dahlia DeWinters - Author

Quirky Heroines, Happy Endings

Getting out of the Box

Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When I first entered the wide world of writing, the first thing I discovered was, for such a creative medium, there were a ton of rules. Some of the rules contradicted each other, others made no sense in certain genres.

I’m honest. I’m the dude in the movie “I, Robot” who yells out “What about the rules?”. Following this, I strove to follow each and every rule set out by the “learned writers” on the websites and books that I read to hone my craft.

This isn’t going to be any big reveal to anyone, but I learned something very simple. There are no rules. Write what makes your story work, BUT, be willing to compromise.

I’ve always read that a short story should have a conventional story structure, much like a novel. I tried to squish all the parts of a novel into a 5k story and failed miserably, ending up with a rushed, hurried mess that I eventually had to expand into full length novellas.

One day, however, I stumbled upon website that talked about modern short stories. This fine chap of a writer suggested that the short story need not have all the parts of a novel. As I read this blasphemy, I gasped. “What about the rules!!” As I read further, what he wrote made a lot more sense. He told me to think of the short story not as a mini-novel, but as a snapshot of the characters’ lives at one point in time.

Boy, did the light blink on and burn steadily then. The structure rule for the short story, the brick wall I had been beating my head against, now was gone, vanished. Of course, I understood I wasn’t going to write a story about someone going to the grocery store, then coming home and unpacking the groceries. But if while the person was at the grocery store, his wife was at home sharpening a knife with which to meet him at the door, then we’ve got ourselves a party.

I write all this to say to you writers out there: Know the rules. But don’t let the rules keep you from being creative.

That being said, I was able to actually write a story under four thousand words for Mocha Memoirs Press’ 31 days of Steamy Mocha. It’s about summer and a pool and a helpful neighbor.

Swimming Lessons at Amazon: On a warm summer day, a normally prudent woman makes a drastic change with the help of too much caffeine and her hot, younger neighbor.

 

Write with heart.

Dahlia

thesultryscribe


Filed Under: Uncategorized

Coming Soon – The Wisest Maiden

Writing is easy compared to the editing process.  It’s difficult to take words that you’ve already written, that you’ve already determined that they say what you want them to say, then tweak them to make them more evocative. But I tell you, the hardest part of the process of getting a book into e-print is the blurb.  So, here is the “work of art” that made me pull my hair out in the space of fifteen minutes:

After she is forced into marriage with a powerful ruler who deflowers and kills his brides, Issalia is compelled to use her wits to avoid the executioner’s axe.  But can she avoid having her heart captured by the deeply wounded king?

You have no idea (or perhaps  you do) how difficult that was to write!

Without further ado, here is the cover reveal and longer blur for The Wisest Maiden:

 


The Wisest Virgin – Liquid Silver Books – August 13th

Blurb:

Betrayed by his first wife, King Toridesh gives his new brides no
chance to deceive him. After he marries a virgin of his choosing and
consummates the marriage, he has them killed.

As an only child, Issalia has been sheltered by her parents in an
attempt to shield her from their king’s murderous intent. When her
mother falls ill, Issalia refuses to allow their market-stall be
closed for the day, knowing that this one day of income stands between them
and poverty.

While in disguise, the King spies the lovely Issalia in the
marketplace and takes her as his next bride. Will Issalia
succumb to the fate of the virgin brides before her or will she be
able to break the King’s curse?

 

See the Pinterest board.


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: dahlia dewinters, fantasy romance, interracial romance, multicultural romance

Missing New Orleans

It’s barely ten a.m. and the temperature outside as I type this is already 82 degrees.  Yep.  It’s totally summer.  I’m glad.  The hot weather gives me an excuse to stay in and write.  Strike that last.  I’ll use any excuse to stay in and write, who am I fooling?

Weather like this always reminds me of the time I spent in New Orleans, back in the early nineties, way before Hurricane Katrina and the casinos.  When it was hot like this, and that was all the time during the summer, you could go out to the daiquiri drive thru and get a strawberry daquiri.  That’s right.  In New Orleans, there were shops in strip malls that sold at least 10 different flavors of ALCOHOLIC daiquiris.

<—–Yes.  Alcoholic slurpees.  You’d go in (or drive up) and order the one you wanted.  Then you would drive off home sipping at your daiquiri WHILE YOU DROVE.  Yes.  Awesome, right? Oh, for you teetoalers out there, there was always the Bahama Mama down at the faaaaar end of the row and the server would always sigh heavily and cut their eyes when they had to serve up one of those.

That large jar?  That’s for tips.  Yeah, not gonna happen.  I just cleaned out the change holder in my Toyota to buy this daiquiri, boss.  There’s nothing left for you, sorry.  By the way, um, you’re NOT a waitress.  You’re getting paid at least minimum wage.

Also, I think there was a ton of a lot more going on in those shops than I was aware of back then.  People (guys) were always hanging around.  And not the cool kind either.  The kind that would ask you for a “ride”.  Uh-huh.  That’s another blog post.

Now I have to settle for a strawberry banana smoothie from Burger King.  No alcohol.  Le sigh.

When the heck is New Jersey going to get a daiquiri shop.  I’d even give up the drive thru.

 

 


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: dahlia dewinters

Schools out!

After a year of having most days to myself, schools out and intense mommy time begins.  The past week has been such a whirlwind of concerts, graduations and carnival days that I’m plum tuckered out.

However, there is always, always good news on the horizon.  My story:  The Wisest Maiden has been contracted by Liquid Silver Books.  How happy am I to be able to join that family!

For your reading pleasure, here is the blurb:

Betrayed by his first wife, King Toridesh gives his new brides no chance to deceive him.  After he marries a virgin of his choosing and consummates the marriage, he has them killed.

As an only child, Issalia has been sheltered by her parents in an attempt to shield her from their king’s murderous intent.  When her mother falls ill, Issalia refuses to allow their market-stall be closed for the day, knowing that one day of income stands between them and poverty.

While in disguise, the King spies the lovely Issalia in the marketplace and demands she become his next bride. Will Issalia succumb to the fate of the virgin brides before her or will she be able to break the King’s curse?

It’s a fairy tale with sensual elements set on the backdrop of a desert kingdom.  I had the best time writing this. Oh, and by the way, here’s the cover:

I think the cover artist did an awesome job!

So look for The Wisest Maiden in mid-August.


Filed Under: Uncategorized

Tell Me, Touch Me, Feel Me – Kassanna

Kassanna, my fellow author-in-crime has a new release!  Check out the hot, sexy cover and the blurb:

Luther Lexington didn’t question why his brother sent for him, but
knowing John, he was sure he had his reasons. What he didn’t expect
was to find a mocha beauty, in the guise of security personnel that
threw her fists first and asked questions later. From the moment she
laid him low, he wanted to get her lower, as in under him.

Tanya Babineaux did what she was supposed to do as a Club Lexx
security guard. Make trespassers leave by any means necessary. How was
she to know he was the owner’s little brother? Now he corners her
every chance he gets, and she doesn’t have time to play.

Tanya harbors a secret, and if Luther doesn’t stop chasing her…in the
end she could lose it all. That is, of course, if his brothers don’t
ruin everything first.

Excerpt:

Excerpt

After making sure all the lights were on, she took a good look at Luther. He’d removed his shoes and was stretching in the middle of the ring. With his chest bared she saw every ripple his muscles made. Cream filled her panties. Right now he’s the enemy, idiot. Stop letting him distract you. Tanya berated herself while trotting back to the ring. She climbed up and stared at him for a moment before crawling under the ropes.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Why, you scared?”

“Of you? Phhhfffttt.” She blew a raspberry at him.

“So how do you want to do this?”

“Pin me. Two out of three wins.”

“Remember you agreed to this so don’t get mad at me when I win.”

“Bring it on.” Tanya raised her and crooked her fingers.

Luther didn’t hesitate. Grabbing her around the waist he went straight for her body. Scrambling, Tanya gripped his forearms while pushing back against his chest to loosen his hold then she dropped, slipping from his grasp. Tanya rolled between his legs and came up behind him. Kicking at the back of his knee he went down. Turning over before she could jump on his back he came up quickly to face her.

“I’m pretty sure that is an illegal move.” He limped back and forth.

“You didn’t say we were playing by rules. I’ll have to remember that.” Tanya wiped a hand down her face, hiding her smile.

“No, rules aren’t necessary. Glad to know where we stand.” His eyes narrowed as he studied her.

They circled each other a few circuits around the ring. He tackled her legs, taking her down. They hit the mat with a thump. Pulling one leg from his grasp she twisted her body and tried to crawl from beneath him. Luther let go of her other leg and wrapped his hands around her waist to pull her back. He fell down on her body. She lay under his body, breathing hard and listening to his breath saw in and out of his lungs.

“You give?” His words came in short pants.

“Not even, you have to pin my shoulders.” Bucking, she got enough room between their bodies to slither free. He grabbed her ankle and flipped her, tugging her back toward him. Bringing her knees to her chest before he could fall on top of her, she heaved him up and off her. He didn’t move far, hustling to climb back on top of her. Tanya crab-walked to the side, eluded his grasp and rolled up onto her feet. Luther grabbed her shorts and pulled them down around her knees. Kicking her legs she shed her shorts and did a couple of hops to evade him. She looked down her body, and pursed her lips. Holding out her hand, she waited for him to throw her the clothing.

“No rules, remember?” Luther brought the crotch of her shorts to his nose. “Damn, you smell good.”

“Fuck you.”

“We did that already but I’d love to do it again.” He swung the material on his index finger.

She made a grab for it and missed. He swung her around and pushed her against the ropes. Covering her with his body, Luther lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers, hard. Her mouth opened under his assault. His tongue swept into her mouth, brushing pass her teeth, and tangled with hers. Her hands crept up his arms over his sweat-dampened skin and locked around his neck. He groaned into her mouth when her hands tousled his hair.

Luther lifted his head, looked her in the eye and flipped her around. Kissing the back of her neck and down her spine he pushed her over the top rope, bending her at the waist.

Slipping his fingers into the elastic of her panties, he tugged. The fabric gave way and his fingers dug into the soft cheek of her ass as he kept her from flipping over onto the floor below.

“I want you,” he whispered as he dropped minute kisses along her shoulder blades.

“You can have me if you pin me.” She slipped out of his grasp, naked except for her bra. She stared at the length of his cock straining against his jeans. Meeting his stare, she arched a brow.

“I’m motivated, what can I say.” He shrugged.

Tanya couldn’t suppress the laughter that bubbled up from her chest. “Come and get me, big boy.” She braced her feet in anticipation of his next move.

Luther charged for her, reminding her of a bull on the run. She held her ground, waiting to the last possible second. When he was within range, she gripped his bicep, and jumped off her toes. Wheeling around, she threw herself across his body, dropping him where he stood. The mat shook under their combined weight. Her breast pressed flat on his chest, she took two deep breaths before rising and shifting to crouch over him. With her arms straight and hands pushed against his shoulders, she leaned forward.

 

Buy Links:

 Evernight Publishing

Amazon

 


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: evernight publishing, interracial romance, kassanna, multicultural romance

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