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Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Write Block Busted by Janice Seagraves

 I've finally busted out of the Writer's Block and boy did it end!

Words. Blessed words I can write down again.

It's such a relief.

I've started a three-book series and I'm on book three. 

This new story series just poured out of me.

I'm so excited that I'm writing again.

It's a different genre than I usually write, urban fantasy, and I'm having a ball with it.

I can't tell you much more than that, but I will soon.

Until then, here my last published book.

Amazon.com: Exodus Arcon Three in One: Chronicles of Arcon eBook : Seagraves, Janice: Kindle Store


The first three books in the Chronicles of Arcon Series.
Planet Arcon is in trouble. Before their planet tears itself apart, The Arcons built three colony ships to take them across the stellar reaches of space… towards Earth their new home. But, only the ruling class and the most brilliant minds can come. The rest must take their chances with the lottery.
One family cheats.
The Arcons are coming…. Are you ready?

Monday, September 18, 2023

My Top Ten Dark Romance Novels


1. Filthy Marcellos: Lucian by Bethany Kris 

This is the first book in the series focusing on three brothers. The series is great and continues with their children and grandchildren. I recommended all the books.

2.Gilded Cage: A Russian Mafia Romance (Kovalyov Bratva Book 1) by Nicole Fox:

I love this book. It’s set in Los Angeles with a Mexican heroine and a sexy hero. 

3. Gilded Tears: A Russian Mafia Romance (Kovalyov Bratva Book 2) by Nicole Fox:

This is the continuation of Book 1 so the previous number

4. Joey: A Brother’s Best Friend, Standalone Dark Mafia Romance by Sadie Kincaid: 

I love Joey (the nickname of the heroine). There are two other books that focus on her brothers. The last novel is not yet available but the first book deals with her brother, Dante, which is great as well. 

5. Underworld: The Complete Series by Sophie Lark 

Seven books dealing with a different hero and heroine but you can never go wrong with Sophia Lark

6. Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 1) by Cora Reilly:

This is the first in Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series. I recommend reading the series since they are all good. 

7. Twisted Emotions (The Camorra Chronicles Book 2) by Cora Reilly:

This novel stayed with me because I loved the tenderness of the hero behind this rough exterior. I recommend the whole series. 

8. Crow (Boston Underworld Book 1) by A. Zavarelli

Another series that I loved because of the setting and heroes. I liked the bonds between the heroes. It feels like a family story.

9. Pink by Bethany Kris 

I loved the hero, Pink (nickname) who is a man who falls on hard times and has rebuilt his life in the Mafia. You will meet Pink in Filthy Marcellos series. 

10. Loyalty by Bethany Kris (John and Siena Book 1) 

This is the first in a series of novels dealing with John and Siena. John is the son of Lucian from Filthy Marcellos. It deals with a hero with mental health issues but it has such heart as Bethany Kris puts in ever book I have read.  

Sunday, August 27, 2023

A Happy Goodbye to Summer by Janice Seagraves

I can't wait until the start of fall. I know some places are already enjoying summer weather, but here in California the heat of summer is still hold sway.

I had one fun filled trip to the beach a few weeks ago with my family.

The kiddos loved running into the waves. They also got to ride a carousel and a mini train at Casa De Fruita. 


I still have Exodus Arcon 3 in 1 on Kindle Unlimited. 

Please take a moment and click on my book. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Amazon.com: Exodus Arcon Three in One: Chronicles of Arcon eBook : Seagraves, Janice: Kindle Store


The first three books in the Chronicles of Arcon Series.
Planet Arcon is in trouble. Before their planet tears itself apart, The Arcons built three colony ships to take them across the stellar reaches of space… towards Earth their new home. But, only the ruling class and the most brilliant minds can come. The rest must take their chances with the lottery.
One family cheats.
The Arcons are coming…. Are you ready?

Friday, August 18, 2023

The Regency Era: A Love Affair

 When it comes to romance novels the Regency era is a fan-favorite sub-genre. This short period spans from 1811-1820 during what historians call the Long Eighteenth Century. This epoch is characterized by many notable events that change every part of the world. 

Britain is at war with Napoleon and America. Slave ships sailed from the African coast to the Americas with human cargo. People in the Western world believed themselves enlightened, embracing Ancient Greek ideals which were reflected in various areas of society including fashion. This was the era of Jane Austen, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley. It was also a time when the divide between the haves and have-nots that is not unlike our own time. 

So, why is the Regency era so popular with romance readers? 

One reason is that the time was one of decadence, and joviality before the moral Victorian age unfurled. It was a wild time.  A time period that we could see ourselves, the reader, being able to navigate yet the sub-genre still allows us to escape. 

Another reason for it popularity is that it was a time of opposing traits. The “world” (by world I mean Europe) is at war yet people are twisting every drop of joy from life. People are enlightened yet still harbor elitist, racist, sexist, and religious ideologies. Though those beliefs haven’t been eradicated from this world, most of them are not believed by a majority of people.  

Much like other books, the Regency sub-genre can entertain while opening our minds to the modern problems we face. 

Now if we could all get our own Happily Ever After in real life, all would be perfect. 


Thursday, July 27, 2023

Cover Reveal for Alien Fury by Janice Seagraves

 Cover reveal

The eighth book in the Chronicles of Arcon

 A book dedicated to Jerry Race.

I used Jerry Race’s name as a place holder name for the sheriff in Alien Fury. Before I could ask if I should leave him in my book, Jerry, unfortunately passed away, and leaving many of us in the writing community who knew him heartbroken.

I left Jerry’s name in as the Sherriff. I gave him a partner with the same name as his hero in his first published book, More Than a Stud, Shane. He always called me kiddo, so I have him calling the heroine that as well. I used to tease him about using “Oh my word,” instead of swearing in his stories, so there’s a little cookie for you to find.

Rest in peace Jerry. I miss you.

Alien Fury by Janice Seagraves

Coming soon.


Blurb:

           The Arcon, Thorn Grindstone, finds himself alone and injured, thawing in a disabled cryogenics tank. Making an impulsive deal for a fighter, he launches into a battle with a pirate ship before beginning his search for his people.

After Thorn crash-lands in the widow Roxie Carson’s back forty, Roxie nurses the injured Arcon. As tension worsens between Roxie and her brother-in-law, Thorn turns out to be an unexpected ally.

Roxie is grateful to the handsome alien, but what will happen when the Arcon government finally shows up and takes Thorn away? What will her brother-in-law do then?


Unedited Excerpt:

A knock rattled the door. Lights colored her curtains red then blue. She opened one side of the French doors, seeing a familiar face. “Hello, Jerry.”

Sheriff Jerry Race smiled at her, still petting Kit Carson. He looked past her into the house before turning his gaze back to her. “Hi, kiddo. You reported a downed jet?”

“Yup, I sure did.” She opened the door wider, inviting him in.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. As he studied her expression, his brow furrowed. “You’re not having a bit of fun with me, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Okay.”

“I have a visitor.” She smirked, with a hand resting on a kitchen chair.

“Oh really?” He smoothed his gray hair and resettled his hat. “Let me guess, Air Force or Marines.”

“Neither.” She shook her head, grinning wider.

“Is it someone from the Special Forces, and they’ll have to kill me now that I’ve found them out?”

“No.” Roxie giggled. “Actually, I have an alien sleeping on my couch.”

“Huh?” His blue eyes widened, and he rocked back on his heels. He rubbed his chin and chuckled. “Once upon a time I would have had you drug tested after saying such a thing, but we know better now, don’t we?”

“Oh yes.” She turned up her smile a notch. “I have a foster brother who swore he had been kidnapped and probed by aliens. He’s suing the Arcons for damages.”

“Really? You’ll have to tell me how that turns out.” He glanced back toward the window. “So that jet belongs to the Arcon on your couch?”

“More like spacecraft.”

He hung a thumb toward the door. “That itty bitty thing was in space?”

“Maybe it’s thrifty on fuel.” She jerked her shoulders. “All I know is it crashed into my soggy field, and I had a heck of a time digging it out. Want to see him?”

“Yeah, I better.” Jerry followed her into the living room. He stood over the Arcon a long moment. “He’s asleep.”

“Don’t wake him. He’s hurt and needs rest,” she whispered.

He jerked his gaze to hers. “How bad?”

“I’m not sure, but he was favoring his right side. Maybe ribs and a concussion. The ship hit the ground hard enough to dig a trench. I already called an ambulance.”

“A concussion can be serious. How are his ribs, broken or bruised?”

She shook her head. “Not sure. His ribs must not be too bad since he did climb out of that spacecraft by himself although he did have a few bad moments.”

“Okay, I’ll need to make some phone calls. Let his people know he’s here.” He took out a cell phone and took a couple of pictures of the sleeping alien. 


Coming soon.


Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Respect The Romance

 When I scroll through news apps or the internet, it seems the romance genre is receiving more attention from the media. But the attention isn’t the same type received just a few years ago. Bodice rippers that received sneers and snide comments are now talked about with respect the work deserves. And the fans don’t hide their books anymore but now proclaim themselves fans including the UK Prime Minister. It’s even a rumor Queen Camilla is a fan.

So, why the change? It may be because of money. That does always talk but it surely isn’t the only reason. I believe it’s because of the changes in society. The saying goes,  “Behind every great man is a great woman.” These days, when you look beyond the man’s shoulder you won’t see the woman there, she’s beside him or even a step ahead, or perhaps, she’s all on her own. Women are now running corporations and their—our stories are being explored. Our entertainments that might have received a pat on the head from the boys or a isn’t that nice, dear now earn big bucks. 


Women’s lives haven’t been the only change in society. The LGBTQIA community has also stepped into the light and fought for their place. Their stories are being told. No longer the angsty gay man hiding behind a fake marriage or a lesbian couple who are the focus of the male gaze. On the shelves, there are love stories featuring the LGBTQIA community such as Red, White, and Royal Blue and Written in the Stars (Just to name two of the most popular novels).  


So, what does this mean? It means that those businesses producing outlets for our entertainment are paying attention. We are finding more stories to help us escape, relax and just have fun. And that means us romance readers will find more stories and more books to add to our favorite bookshelves. 


Sunday, June 18, 2023

What Remains

 This week, bestselling romance author Julie Garwood passed away. While her family has the memories and love, we —her fans— have her books. And I love her books, especially her historical romance novels. 

Her books have a few spots on my keeper shelf with broken spines, crinkled covers, and yellowing pages. From The Bride to Ransom, I read her books over and over, always laughing out loud and turning each page enjoying each word. And when I read the last word and close the book, I feel happy, with a smile on my face, having had a great, entertaining time even though I know the stories inside and out. 


As an author, those feelings are all we can leave our readers. We yearn for nothing more than to entertain, and help you escape. We’re no different than rock stars or movie stars, but we authors are most likely introverts. 


Farewell, Julie Garwood. Thank you for sharing your talent and stories. 


To all the other authors out there tapping away with their works, I say thank you. Please keep turning them out. 

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Be a Stubborn Writer by Janice Seagraves

I once read that "writers need to be stubborn." [sic]

I quite agree with that statement. 

Be stubborn at keeping to your writing schedule. 

Be stubborn at working on your story and not get distracted by the "shinny" new story that will take you away from your story goals.

Be stubborn and fix your sight on your goal.

As a child, I learned a hard lesson in arts and crafts classes, I made a friend who didn't want to do the work and told me, "You can't do that." or "let's just walk around and not do anything."

If I listened to her, I didn't finish my project, so to do the crafts that I loved I had to ignore her and I lost a friend that summer. 

Funny but it was a good lesson learned. I found that to be true to myself I had to close my ears to negativity and be stubborn. 

Once I started writing with an eye toward publication, someone told me, "You'll never be published." 

My response, "Watch me!" 

A few years later, I had the privilege of telling him, "I'm a published author now."

I'm currently being stubborn about revising what will be the eighth book in my Chronicles of Arcon. I should be going through the editing process sometime in June. I may be publishing Alien Fury sometime in September 2023. 

Be a stubborn writer. :)


Here's the seventh book in the Chronicles of Arcon. 

Alien Collision: Alien Collision: Chronicles of Arcon - Kindle edition by Seagraves, Janice. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.


Heather Wood hasn’t had the best luck with her love life, or just life in general. After getting pregnant by her unfaithful lover, she’s kidnapped by aliens to be actioned off as a slave, and then the spaceship crashes on a deserted planet.

Things start to look up when two handsome aliens, Sky and Lance, rush to her rescue. She finds herself deeply attracted to both males, but you can only take one, right?

 

Excerpt: 

 

A deep voice yelled something, but it took a moment for her implanted electronic language translator chip to interpret the language. “Is anyone in here?”

 

Who is that? Heather tensed and sat up. A man’s voice, but there were no males on the ship. Even the little grays were sexless. Any potential response froze in her throat. She held her breath and listened. Footsteps clumped past the outer doorway, heading further along the corridor. He’s leaving.

 

Was she more afraid of being discovered or being left alone on a wrecked ship? A shiver of panic gave her movements speed as she scrambled to her feet. The hell with it. I’m pregnant, and I need help.

 

“Hey,” she croaked and cleared her throat. “Over here.” Placing her hands on the opening to her cell, she pushed hard. When the door moved, she flinched back. It’s unlocked? She stepped out. “Hello?”

 

The scrape of a boot sounded as the person turned and headed her way. “I’m almost there.”

 

The lights dimmed and the shadow of a tall, thin, hunched-back shape limped toward her. Hooded and cloaked, its eyes glowed eerily in the near dark.

 

As warning spasms of alarm erupted through her, Heather stumbled backwards, her heart pounding. “Who... who are you?”

 

“My apologies if I frightened you,” the man said in a soft voice and gazed at her for a long moment. “My name is Sky Starfinder. I’m sorry if I’m staring, but I haven’t seen anyone in such a long time. Years in fact.”

 

The lights flickered back on. He shoved off his hood and squared his shoulders. The man had shaggy green hair and a snowy complexion. He blinked pink eyes with vertical pupils at her. His face appealed to her despite its rawboned and beardless appearance. Leather pants sheathed his legs, and a long hooded unbuttoned jacket left his muscular chest bare. She’d mistaken his chocolate brown backpack for a hunchback.

 

“Years?”

 

Alien Collision: Alien Collision: Chronicles of Arcon - Kindle edition by Seagraves, Janice. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.



Thursday, May 18, 2023

All Through The Night


 I’m a night owl. I don’t go to sleep until six in the morning. Luckily, I don’t have to get up to go to work to live that “lark” lifestyle (Lark is the term for morning people). 

Traits of a night owl include a higher intelligence and are more creative than larks. We are also more likely to get high-paying jobs. We do lag behind “larks” in our academic performance (because we are tired and want sleep). We are also more likely to smoke and have unhealthy eating habits. 

But I love the night. The world is quiet. The rush and crowds of people are hidden behind their doors. It’s the time when I feel as if I can truly breathe. I swear my breathing is better. The air smells sweeter and the wind feels refreshing. It’s also the time when I feel free. I just come alive, listening to crickets and seeing the lightning bugs (both at risk). The daylight feels anxious, too fast, noisy, and crowded. Sometimes, I feel like I’m being pulled and dragged when the sunlight hits me.

I have no plans to fit into society’s demand to be a lark. I’m a proud night owl. 

Are you a night owl or a lark? Share what you love about it.  

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Writing what you know? by Janice Seagraves

 Writing what you know?

Does anyone follow that advice?

I'm a detail writer and what that means is I do a hell of a lot of research.

I write first and research later. But I do such a deep dive into research, I become an expert in that field. 

Do I use all my research? No. Why? Because that can be boring.

I don't mean to brag, but my first book was set in the Bahamas with an Australian hero. Have I ever been to the Bahamas? No.

I just did a hell of a lot of research. 

But my editor and publisher but through that not only had I been there, but I was from Australia. 

My current books are both magic stories i.e., urban fantasy and high fantasy. 

Again research.

I also write sci-fi romance. I've never been to space, nor have I ever been to an alien planet. 

Again research. 

Don't be afraid to write outside of your experience. You can do research to fill the gaps in your knowledge. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a three in one.

Exodus Arcon on kindle unlimited. Do me a favor and check out.

Amazon.com: Exodus Arcon Three in One: Chronicles of Arcon eBook : Seagraves, Janice: Kindle Store


The first three books in the Chronicles of Arcon Series.
Planet Arcon is in trouble. Before their planet tears itself apart, The Arcons built three colony ships to take them across the stellar reaches of space… towards Earth their new home. But, only the ruling class and the most brilliant minds can come. The rest must take their chances with the lottery.
One family cheats.
The Arcons are coming…. Are you ready?


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