Hello, Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me to discuss my new release!  Love in Mission City: The Four Seasons is my fourth box set in the Love in Mission City world.  The box set has five short stories that all appeared previously in other anthologies.  Four seasons and five stories?  Well, four seasons and a bonus story.  I have a tale to share, though, about how this came about.

As you may know, 2024 was my year of saying Hell yes to every opportunity that came my way.  Let me tell you, there were a lot.  I joined some shared worlds, I poked my head down rugby rabbit holes, and I wrote about gay rockstars.  I also signed up for about twenty anthologies. Yep! Twenty.  That number was split between charity projects and for-profit ones.

I hit the ground running with several stories coming due within weeks.  Undaunted, I had fun with Plot Whisperer as she whispered plots to me.  I put my head down and wrote the stories.  The second story I wrote was Christmas Courtship.  The story of two men meeting — and falling in love — at a Christmas market.  Okay, so winter.

At that point, I was starting to think about what I would do with the short stories once the anthologies were delisted and my rights reverted.  To that point, I’d sort of been doing things haphazardly.  Kind of all over the place.  I had my first box set, which, of the five stories, only had two that were at all linked.  Readers still enjoyed the five stories, but they lacked cohesion.  My second box set was two novellas that were connected. So that worked.

My third box set started a little chaotically, but the final novella drew everything together nicely.  Readers have appreciated that.

Which brings me to this latest.  I had a Christmas story.  I’d signed up to write an autumn/bonfire story.  Okay, two seasons.  Beyond that, I had two more planned in Mission City — an office romance and an instalove.  Why not set them in spring and summer?  Okay then…done.  Except, I wrote: Christmas, Summer, Autumn, and then Spring.  In my head, I had to hold what I’d written and what I was going to write.  Plus, I had to integrate the stories into an existing world.

I managed.  I did give the box set to a couple of ARC readers who are familiar with Mission City to ensure I did everything okay — which, apparently, I did.  The bonus story was one I wrote for a charity anthology that didn’t have a home.  Interestingly, I’m not even certain which season I set it in — that was one of the more rushed projects, and at only 5k words, I had to get in and out quickly.

The stories range from 5k to 15k.  The total is about 55k — which is generally (although not planned) — the length of my boxsets.  I want readers to feel like they’ve received some value for their hard-earned dollars.

That’s it!  The story of how I got my stuff together and put out a cohesive box set.  I have three more coming, and I’ve already sat down and mapped them out.  The New Romance Café has moved away from anthologies and are doing multi-author themed series.  My two rugby books were part of the first one.  I’ve signed up for three more (because, of course I did) and we’ll see what my brain puts out.

Okay.  Thank you for letting me visit!  I love sharing the writing/marketing process with your readers.

Contest: As a special thank you, I would love to gift copies of my first two boxsets: Love in Mission City: The Shorts and Love in Mission City: The Boyfriends Duet.  Just let me know – do you prefer themed anthologies or boxsets or does there have to be a cohesive throughline?  Just drop a comment – Random will select a winner!  Good luck!

Love in Mission City: The Four Seasons

Love in Mission City: The Four Seasons includes five short stories…

Mission City is tucked in the charming Cedar Valley in southwestern British Columbia. If you love heartwarming, contemporary small-town gay romances, then come home to Mission City and fall in love with the men who live there. Romance shows up in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them…

Christmas Courtship

Johnson takes great pride in his homemade apple cider, and the Christmas market is the perfect place to find new customers. As he scans the holiday craft booths, his eye is caught by some exquisite fairy figurines and he’s intrigued. But Henry, the artist, is excruciatingly shy. It will take all of Johnson’s charm, and a little holiday magic, to make this more than one fleeting encounter.

Christmas Courtship is a 12k gay holiday romance short story with a quiet artist, a boisterous cider-maker, some nosy matchmakers, the magic of Christmas, and a zany border collie named Zeus. The story previously appeared in the anthology Mistletoe and Markets.

Anything’s Pawsible

Carter can’t resist saying hi to every cute dog he sees, but his neighbor’s two, Sheffield and Rosebud? Totally adorable. So’s their grouchy owner, even if Byron seems to avoid human contact. Carter will just keep on being himself, and maybe even a man who has given up on love will find he has space in his life for some sunshine.

Anything’s Pawsible is a 15k instalove age-gap, opposites-attract, grumpy/sunshine gay interracial romance short story with a curmudgeon accountant, a Gen Z writer, and two of the cutest dogs ever. The story first appeared in the anthology Just Add Love.

The Office Hotshot

Successful architect Knight assumed he could trust his sister-in-law to complete the interior decoration on his latest project, as she always has. Instead, in walks a flamboyant, cheerful stranger who announces he’s her maternity leave replacement.
Orlando’s just out of school, and he wants to make a good impression in this dream job, but something about uptight Knight pushes all his buttons. Seducing the boss definitely isn’t a great idea, but he just can’t help himself.

The Office Hotshot is a 15k word gay romance short story with a successful architect, a quirky younger interior designer, and a cantankerous photocopier. This story first appeared in the anthology On the Clock.

Pumpkin Spicy

Clay is at the Fall Market selling his super-secret pumpkin spice. When a handsome man keeps coming around to chat, he’s intrigued. Ashton is a mystery Clay definitely wants to solve before he sells his last jar.

Pumpkin Spicy is an 8k sweet gay romance short story with a shy stranger, nosy friends, and a chance meeting that might just lead to a happily ever after. This story first appeared in the anthology Light My Fire.

Returning to You

Cullen walked away from Gil to marry the woman he’d gotten pregnant, and Gil encouraged him to do the right thing. Now, years later, Gil answers the door and finds Cullen on his doorstep. The man Gil once loved is now widowed, a single dad, and ready to beg him for a second chance. Is it too late, or does Gil have the courage to risk his heart again?

Returning to You is a 5k gay second-chance romance short story with a single dad and a successful-but-lonely lawyer who find their way home. This story first appeared in the anthology Second Time’s A Charm.

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Mission-City-Four-Seasons-ebook/dp/B0FG13HX2P
Universal Book Link:  https://books2read.com/FourSeasons
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237518407-love-in-mission-city

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

I learned of missionary teacher, Maria Fearing, this year while posting Black Presbyterian facts during Black History month. Once again, I came away awestruck by the resilience and determination of another 19^th century African American woman who refused to let circumstances or the dictates of others determine her destiny.

Maria was born enslaved on the William O. Winston Oakhill Plantation in Gainesville Alabama on July 26, 1838. She served as a house slave there.  She learned bible stories and about missionaries in Africa alongside the children of her owner. Thus, were planted the seeds for what she hoped and dreamed to do with her life if she gained her freedom.

After emancipation, her father, Jesse, took the surname Fearing for his family from a former owner. She learned to read and write when she was thirty-three years old and became a teacher through the Freedman’s Bureau School in Talledega, Alabama.

In 1891, Maria responded to an appeal for volunteers from the presbyterian African American missionary, William Sheppard, to work in Luebo, the Congo (now Zaire). However, she was rejected by the denomination because of her age, fifty-six. Undaunted, she went anyway as a self-supporting missionary in 1894, thanks to her own finances and support from the women of a local congregational church.

She labored in Luebo for two years before finally receiving full missionary status and a salary. While there, she learned the Baluba-Lulua language and helped to translate the Bible into it. She also founded the Pantops Home for Girls. The Home provided shelter and support for orphaned girls and girls she helped rescue from enslavement. She continued there for more than twenty years, finally retiring from the mission field at the age of seventy-eight.

She returned to Selma, Alabama, where she taught in a church school until age ninety-three. She never married or had children and died in 1937 at the age of ninety-nine. For her achievements, she was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000.

In her poem, “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou describes herself with the line “I am the dream and the hope of the slave.” Maria’s story proves that not all slaves left their hopes and dreams to be fulfilled by future generations. Once freed, she lived out her hopes and dreams in her own time. She made her life her legacy.

In the face of societal attempts today to erase the achievements of people of color and women of all races from American history, I’m proud to be among those spreading the accomplishments of women like Maria Fearing far and wide.

Contest: For a chance at a $10 Amazon gift card, leave your impression of Maria and/or other women like her that you know of in the comments.

Put It In A Book
Inside Stranded: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology

Trapped in a book by a sorcerer for rejecting his sexual advances, an ex-slave’s daughter discovers her one hope of rescue – a nosy thief.  

Excerpt:

A multiple volume encyclopedia stood on shelves at chest level in a far corner. Morlu would want his wealth within easy reach. Sekou pulled down the first volume and rifled through the pages. Paper currency of all types fluttered to his feet like leaves whirling from the branches of bombax trees in winter.

Clever, Dibia. But not clever enough.

Sekou chuckled and rifled through volume after volume. By the time he reached Z a pile of money lay on the floor. He scooped the cash into his swag sack, laughing quietly at his haul.

He thrust the last volume back into place, knocking a slender manuscript off the shelf.

The Story of Aziza.

He recognized the title of the book with which Morlu had taunted him. He picked it up, fanned the pages with his thumb. A sigh drifted past him. Startled, he crouched and looked left then right. Only the night breeze disturbed the silence. He fanned through the pages again. This time a scent – light like rain, sweet like honey – graced the air.

He stared at the face of a withered old hag on the book’s cover. The image had repulsed and fascinated him. The gaze in her eyes shone with intelligence and defiance, so unlike the villagers lionizing the dibia at this moment.

Sekou opened to the flyleaf. There the image of a black beauty stared back at him. Her skin was as smooth as the hag’s was wrinkled, but the same intelligent defiance shone in her eyes. He traced the outline of her chin jutting forth with pride.

“So, ladies…” He feathered his fingers along her full lips then examined the woman on the cover again. “To which one of you does this story belong?”

Buylink: Amazon – https://amzn.to/3dLd9rM

Summer was always a favorite time for me when I was a teen. Looking back, I can see how those summers shaped not just me, but the young adult novels I write as well. I thought I’d share some photos of places I spent time at as a teen that ended up in my books.

First is an ice cream shop in Saugatuck, Michigan that appears in both my novel Next Door to a Star, and also the “meet cute” location where Cagney meets hockey player Max Brazil in Summer of Possibility. It was such a cute setting that I thought it’d make the perfect spot for teens to hang out. We used to go there for ice cream in the summer, so I thought I’d have one of the characters, Sam, work there and flirt with Cagney and cause an embarrassing meet cute with her and Max. Sam was always the guy she crushed on from afar every summer, and I thought it’d be interesting to have him take notice of her when she goes to visit her aunt.

The next is a pier in Grand Haven, Michigan that has featured in Competing with the Star where Hadley and Nick go for a walk on their date. It also serves as a setting in my fictional town, Bloomington Shores, where in Falling for a Star in the City, Paige and Viktor go for a walk when they begin to grow closer. I spent year after year walking down that pier in the summer. I’d see people walking hand in hand and thought what a great spot for a teen couple on a date. The scene with Paige and Viktor is one of my favorites because she gets nervous going that far out and he helps her conquer her fear.

Lastly, this is a place overlooking the water in Holland, Michigan, where I spent countless summers at the beach and watching the sailboats. This place helped make up Bloomington Shores which features in When Stars Collide in the City, Falling for a Star in the City, and Summer of Possibility…and more to come as Summer of Possibility is the first book in the Bloomington Shores Series and the hometown for many of the girls in the Stars in the City Series. It also inspired Blue Arbor the setting of the YA pop star Cecily Taylor Series.

All my books are free in Kindle Unlimited.
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/author/B00L2JC9P2
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/author/B00L2JC9P2
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/author/B00L2JC9P2
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/author/B00L2JC9P2
Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@krystenlindsay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

I will begin this post with a plea and disclaimer: Please don’t shoot the messenger. I understand that the topic may be polarizing for some. I write from a place of nonjudgment and, to the best of my ability, objectivity.

It has long been said that authors should not read reviews because reviews are for readers and not authors. Should an author violate this golden rule, they are warned to never interact with any poster or make comments on the thread. I won’t say that I disagree with this…for the most part. I agree reviews are for readers and not authors. I also believe any author reading reviews should only do so if they have a thick skin. Negative reviews (whether valid or not) are all part of the writing gig, and every reader has a right to have and voice his/her opinion. Also, authors should avoid commenting regardless of how egregious he/she believes the comment is. In short, book review sites should be viewed as readers’ safe spaces.

However… There is a reason authors may reader reviews, and it may not be for reasons many people think. Here’s the real tea. Some authors read reviews not to stroke their egos (although I’m sure some do) but to hear the voices of their readers. That’s right. Many authors want to know their readers’ opinions whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent. And they may not hear what readers are saying unless they go to review pages, and here’s why.

If a book is getting slammed or trashed (or the opposite—praised and all kinds of accolades), the author may want to know what about the book is working or not working; what to fix the next time around, and what to keep doing. I know; I know. I hear you. That’s what beta readers are for. Yeah, but…

I heard someone make a very eloquent argument regarding this very point. He/she argued that if authors want to know what’s wrong with their books, they should get more beta readers. However, he/she omitted something extremely important. Actually, I’m willing to bet it wasn’t an intentional omission. Rather, I don’t think the person making the argument knew what I’m about to say. See, many authors who are traditionally published do not get to select their beta readers or how many. That is done by the publisher, and this occurs after the manuscript is completed by the author and has entered the publishing house editing phase. It is edited by professional editors and then given to betas.

Second, some publishers do not allow authors to share their work with betas other than the ones selected by the publisher. And it makes sense. It makes no sense to have betas read it before it’s edited. The version the betas read may differ from the final version the publisher approves. For example, entire scenes or characters may be deleted. Betas need to read the draft as it nears its final form.

So, when the reviews of a book are different than the feedback given by betas, the only way the author understands what is happening is by going to the source. The source is book review sites. That is where authors bridge the gap between readers and betas.

Oh, did someone ask about ARC readers? Okay, here’s the skinny on that. For traditionally published writers, ARC readers are receiving the final version. This means the book is in production, and changes cannot be made at that point. So, using ARC reader feedback for future reference is perfect. But again, as with beta readers, for traditionally published authors, most ARC readers are selected by the publisher. The number of ARC books the author is allowed to give is limited.

Now, let’s put this into a scenario. Jane is a traditionally published author. Her publisher selects 20 betas. All the betas give excellent feedback (excellent in that they point out mistakes, issues, inconsistencies, and give valid/poignant feedback. Jane listens to this feedback and tweaks the issues. The book is then sent to 10 ARC readers who give Jane mostly positive feedback. Then, the book is released, and it is dragged in the reviews. Jane is baffled as to why. To find the answer, she reads the reviews. If she doesn’t read the reviews, there is a risk she will never know what went wrong. Low and behold, what she reads in the reviews is nothing that has ever been mentioned by editors, betas, or ARC readers. The author is in the dark. The only way for her to step into the light is to read the reviews.

By far, the biggest issues occur when the author interacts, and there’s a disagreement in opinions. All I can say is that authors are people, too, and sometimes emotions get the best of them. But I did hear one person express that authors have “all of the power” and it’s a “punch down” if they respond negatively to a reader. This is really only the case if an author is well-established and has a large following. When negative reviews are left for less established or new authors, the impact and affect is more devastating.

Remember grades back in school? If a student has 4 tests and makes 100, 100, 100, 40, his/her average is 85. If another student makes 98, 98, 98, 95, 95, 95, 95, 95, 95, 95, 40, 40, his/her average 86.5 or 87, which is slightly higher. When there are only a few scores, each one matters a lot. With lots of scores, a bad one gets lost in the crowd. In short, if you’re baking with just 4 ingredients, one bad spice ruins the whole dish. But if you’re cooking with a dozen ingredients, that one odd spice barely changes the flavor.

So, when it comes to less established or new authors, the power dynamic usually isn’t in their favor. It truly is in the hands of readers who can very easily destroy their writing careers before it starts, especially if what is expressed is incorrect, malicious, or done by bully. And while this is not a justification for authors to interact/respond on review threads, it is to dispel the ideology that authors have an “upper” hand in the balance between the reader-author relationship.

For authors, writing is their job. They put their creative effort (a.k.a., their babies) out there for the world for readers to consume. Many times, it opens a vulnerability, and it’s difficult to watch (especially to do so quietly) one’s hard work being ripped to shreds, especially if unduly so. It’s difficult not feel the need to defend. Yet, this is the position authors must take. It is an accepted liability when an author publishes a work that it becomes fair game. They are expected to handle criticism (and should) professionally. So, this isn’t to ask for forgiveness for those authors who have violated this or acted poorly, but it is to ask that maybe they be shown a tad bit of grace for being human with a full range of emotions who may have in the moment gotten into their feelings. Authors love their readers (all of them). Without readers, authors are… Fill in the blank.

Much love and respect to all readers.

And that’s all I’ve got for today. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. Let me know your thoughts below in the comment section. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. And if you like this post, consider clicking the like button and sharing.

Demon Rodeo

If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.

Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.

Order
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

*Note: All of my books can be purchased from brick-and-mortar bookstores (e.g., Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million, etc.) as well if requested at the checkout counter.)

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

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Want to chat about writing, mental health, Cajun cuisine, Creole culture, or just spill some tea? If yes, let’s get connected. Follow me on one of my social links. There’s plenty to choose from.

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Locker Room Love
Locker Room Love Series

Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.

UPDATE: The winner is…Colleen C!
*~*~*

Hello, Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new short story in a great anthology!

You’re thinking…gay Cinderella? And the short story is entitled, Finding Mr. Rogers?

I’ll explain.

When The New Romance Café put together their list of 2025 anthologies, I did what I do best — I signed up for ALL of them.  Which meant Plot Whisperer and I had to get busy.  Some were easier than others.  For instance, for paranormal Jane Austen she did a retelling of Pride and Prejudice involving supernatural creatures.  Only she had the entire thing planned out in great detail.  I was like, you know this is 15k words…right?

She paused.

I asked is she’d like the story for herself.

Twenty-four hours later, she said she would.

I pushed, nudged, and shoved her until she wrote that book. Fingers crossed, she eventually publishes it because it’s freaking brilliant.

But I needed a story.  She helped me with a paranormal retelling of another Austen book (coming in October, stay tuned).

I said Fairy Tale.

She said…what’s it now?

We went back and forth. I’d done a gay retelling of Beauty and the Beast, so that was out.  She said, “How about Rapunzel?”  Since I was in the middle of my “hell, yes” year, I said, “Sure.”

Probably should’ve read the story first.  Anyway, Plot Whisperer whispered me a plot I couldn’t figure out.  I was tired, stressed, working on a full-length novel, so I pulled out of the anthology.

Yeah…that lasted a couple of months.  Then, I was talking to Plot Whisperer.  I asked what scenario, in modern times, could you be caught with someone and not see their face? Interestingly, I was the one who came up with an elevator.

BOOM. I had my story.

But what could “Cinderella” leave behind?  When they’re rescued, why does “Prince Charming” not see him?  To find out, you’ll have to read Finding Mr. Rogers which is contained in Love’s Forever Tale.  No magic…just real-life fairy tale situations.

Thank you for letting me share the genesis of my short story.

Contest: As a gift to one of your readers, I would love to give away a copy of my gay retelling of Beauty and the Beast, titled The Beauty of the Beast.  It’s a grumpy/sunshine story with an Aussie, a Canadian, a dog named Chip, and a diffident cat named Maurice.  Just comment – what was your favorite fairy tale growing up? Or, which fairy tale would you like to see as a story?  Random will select a winner. Good luck!

Love’s Forever Tale: A Contemporary Fairytale Retellings Collection

Classic fairytales reimagined for the modern world—where happily ever after is just a kiss away.

In Love’s Forever Tale, beloved fairytales are transformed into contemporary romance stories that blend timeless lore with today’s love stories. From swoon worthy kisses to fierce heroines finding their own way, each tale delivers a fresh twist on the fairytales you know and love.

From skyscraper castles to bustling small towns, these stories weave love and laughter into tales of passion and redemption.

Perfect for fans of fairytales, romance, and second chances, Love’s Forever Tale is a collection that will make you believe in happily ever after all over again.

Authors:
Marley Reese
Gabbi Grey
S.M. Potter
Faye Byrd
Lisabel Chretien
Jewelz Baxter
Michelle Moncrieff
MacKade
C.J. Laurence

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2025lovesforevertale
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DMMN15GV
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221428451-love-s-forever-tale

Finding Mr. Rogers by Gabbi Grey

Jameson

This is the day from hell. My reviewer Robin rejected the paperwork I spent days finishing. And now the power’s cut off, trapping me in an elevator with a stranger. I hate confined spaces. I hate being helpless. My vision tunnels in, I’m shivering, and damn, I’m about to hit the floor in a panic attack. Only the soothing voice of the man I’m stuck with keeps me from falling off the emotional cliff. But then the doors open, and he’s gone, leaving me clutching the sweater he wrapped around me. I have no clue who he is. All I know is, he was kind and strong and compassionate in my toughest moment, and I want to thank him. If I can just find him again…

Finding Mr. Rogers is a 13K gay romance retelling of Cinderella about searching for the elusive stranger after that one perfect moment.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

I’ve loved reading novels set in cute beach and lake towns for as long as I can remember. Show me a book set at a lake cottage and I’m one-clicking on it faster than you can imagine. These books serve as a getaway vacation for my mind, body, and spirit as I mentally transport to the town I’m reading about. So when it came to writing another book set in a beach town, this time I decided not to use a town I had visited, like in my Star Series, which is set in Grand Haven, Michigan. Instead, for Summer of Possibility, I decided to create my own lake town with everything in it that would make it my ultimate calming and fun vacation destination.

Welcome to Bloomington Shores, a lake town inspired by the many vacation destinations where I spent my summers over the years. There’s a little of the Great Lakes beach towns I went to in Michigan over the years like Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, South Haven, and Charlevoix. There’s also a bit of Praia da Vitória in Portugal. You have the pier from Grand Haven, and the ice cream shop in Saugatuck and the adorable shops in downtown Holland, Michigan along with everything I need to make a beach town a destination I’d want to go to—like a bookstore!

The bookstore was inspired by a library in Holly, Michigan that had an amazing fish tank as well as lots of cozy nooks to read in, as well as a library in Mackinac Island, Michigan. I remember spending time in both those libraries and knowing one day they’d find their way into a book. I put a fireplace in that I had seen at another bookstore over the years. And Stargazer island, from the writing workshop Cagney goes to in the beginning of the book, that is Mackinac Island.

Aunt Emily’s lake cottage is a mix of all the cottages I’ve fallen in love with reading lake cottage magazines over the years. The wrap-around porch came from an Instagram photo. The cottage was my mental getaway when I was going through a tough time. I’d pull out my notebook and start writing as a way to escape the very scary reality and go someplace calmer at least for a little while. I hope you find solace and calm at Aunt Emily’s lake cottage, too. You can read an excerpt to get that cozy feel below!

Summer of Possibility

Cagney Innes thinks all her dreams are about to come true as she’s accepted into a prestigious summer writing workshop with her boyfriend. It softens the sting of the fact she was wait-listed by almost every college she applied to. Everything seems perfect until the workshop head dashes her dreams during a critique session. Her Aunt Emily invites her to the family lake cottage where she can relax at the beach and think over her plans for the future.

In Bloomington Shores, Cagney finds a tight knit community that supports one another and a bookstore that needs saving. The owner of the bookstore’s grandson, Max Brazil, is a college freshman hockey player who Cagney starts off on the wrong foot with, but ends up becoming the guy she starts falling for. Max is dealing with a reoccurring injury that threatens his playing days. He’s trying to figure out if there’s life without hockey if his injury doesn’t properly heal. The two begin a friendship and become each other’s biggest supporters. Then Max leaves for a summer hockey program and the two continue talking long distance. With her family and Max’s support, Cagney’s got a new lease on life and her writing. However, her ex comes to town just as Max comes back early eager to see Cagney.

Not only does her ex complicate things, but then Max is offered a position covering hockey overseas, which might be the perfect solution for him if he can’t play anymore. Right as Max is making his decision, Cagney gets accepted by two of the colleges she was wait-listed for—her dream school that’s across the country as well as the school Max currently attends and is closer to her aunt and Grandpa in Bloomington Shores. Cagney needs to make the decision to either stay near her family and focus on her writing (and possibly her relationship with Max if he stays), or take the chance to attend a prestigious university that will open doors for her in the big city. Will Cagney follow her head or her heart?

Excerpt:

After dinner, I sat with a cup of mint tea on the enclosed part of the porch. A storm was coming, and I loved listening to the water. There was something beautiful about a storm on the lake with the unpredictable surface of the rough, crashing waves and dark skies. It was magical to watch, and it gave me a good reason to stay indoors and get cozy all day.

Aunt Emily walked over. “Well, it’s a perfect night for some hot chocolate, a bowl of popcorn, and a movie. Tonight we’re watching a classic and one of my favorites. It’s Agatha Christie’s first Miss Marple movie and, fun fact: Agatha wasn’t sure about the casting choice, but she ended up loving the actress in the role.”

“Sounds like the perfect movie for tonight.” I got up and followed her into the living room where she had the popcorn and hot chocolate ready.

Aunt Emily handed me a blanket. “It’s always cool in here at night, but I’ve grown to love the changing temps. Although I admit I’m not always so thrilled when it gets muggy the farther we get into the summer, and the mosquitos make a buffet out of me. For years I’ve wanted to get a dog, but on hot days it wouldn’t be fun having to take a puppy out for walks with the bugs. Although now I have you here for companionship, so no need for a pet.”

I scrunched up my face. “Um, I’m going to take that as the compliment that I assume you meant it as.”

She laughed. “You know what I meant. It’s just that I like solitude, and houseguests have never been my favorite thing, but I love having you here because of how we just mesh so well. We like the same shows, and you take time to yourself so my introvert side never feels tired. In fact, I plan to destroy your suitcase if you ever attempt to leave.”

I laughed. “This is the most comfortable I’ve been in years. Honestly, the only time I ever feel truly at home is when I’m in Bloomington Shores.”

She smiled. “That’s exactly how I felt when I’d come here to visit my parents. There’s something about this cottage, but not everyone appreciates it the way we do. Your mother just sees mismatched furniture, wonky floorboards, things that need fixing, and thinks it all looks old.”

“But that’s part of its charm. How could you not love this place? It’s like a cozy, quiet oasis away from the loud and chaotic world.” I pulled the blanket tighter around me.

She nodded. “I thought the same thing when I came here as a kid. I never wanted to leave.”

Pick up your copy of Summer of Possibility here. It’s free in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCDYZZLN/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
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UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy!
*~*~*

Hello, Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new short story in a great anthology!

Signed, Sealed…Deceased isn’t the kind of anthology my readers are used to finding me in.  I write romance; therefore, I tend to contribute to romance anthologies — there’s a logic there.  So let me share this story with you.

I’m in a Facebook group where publishers put out calls for authors to submit their works to publications.  I sort of skim the lists now and then.  Truthfully, I’m so busy, I rarely have time to take on any other projects.  I noticed a call from a Canadian publisher for short stories.  I have Canadian friends and shared the link with them.  The first anthology coming up was a cozy, while a romance anthology is coming next year.

Me being me, I left the tab open in my browser for almost a month, intending to note the information about the romance anthology.

As you can probably guess, I have a ton of tabs open in my browser.  When I checked this one, I realized the deadline for the cozy mysteries was just a day away.  Since I didn’t write cozies, I didn’t think much of the date.  And yet…I read the call again, and inspiration struck. I had a story come to me nearly fully formed.  I call moments like those thunderclaps.  Just BOOM.  Here’s what you’re going to write.

The next morning, I sat down and wrote.  I wrote a 5k-word story in five hours.  The words just flowed.  Everything worked.  The ending felt a little rushed, but I had a strict word limit.  I mentioned the story to my freelance editor, and she offered to do a quick pass — if I could get the story to her within the next hour.  I did my self-edit pass and sent it to her.  She returned it less than an hour later. I polished it up, and to my immense pleasure, I had it submitted hours before the deadline.

Phew!

The next morning, I received a conditional acceptance.

I’ll admit, that was a new one.  They said barring any unforeseen issues, I was in.

My first thought was wow, they didn’t have many people submit.  My second was, wow, they must’ve been reading them as they came in.  My third thought was yeah, but writers are notorious procrastinators (see above with my submission going in with only seven hours to spare). Finally, I wondered which time zone the editor lived in.

My last thought was hey, maybe I just wrote a fricking awesome story.

Turns out the anthology had more than thirty submissions from around the world.  I was chosen as one of the twelve.  Six of us are Canadian authors and six are international.

That was it.  For a half day’s work, I was going to be in a cozy mystery anthology.

Phew!

I had a blast working with the editor to get my story into pristine condition.  I’ve had fun sharing news of my release.  I’ve taken pride in telling a story within the confines of cozy mystery but adding a subtle LGBTQ hint.

Only after I finished the story did I remember I’d seen something similar on the news recently.  Well, a letter being delivered almost 100 years late.  I put my own twist on it — including a murder mystery.

I love this story sooooo much that, I think, when the rights revert next year, I might transform it into a novella or even a novel.  There’s so much I didn’t get to explore.  There’s also a ton in this story that’s close to my heart, including Leonard’s relationship with his grandmother.  Made me miss my “nannies” even more.

I hope readers will snag the anthology and read the twelve very diverse stories!

Thanks, Delilah, for allowing me to share today.

Contest: As a thank you to your readers, I would like to offer a prize!  Either a copy of my latest MM novel Gideon’s Gratitude or a copy of my Love in Cedar Valley novel The Making of Marnie Jones.  Both books are really close to my heart and have parts of me in them — much as If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered does.  Please leave a comment — if an author veers not just into another subgenre, but an entirely new genre, would you consider following them?  Or do you stick to the genre you first found them in?  One commentor, chosen by Random, will win a book.  Good luck!

Signed, Sealed…Deceased Anthology

When the mail arrives, murder follows.

From mislabeled 1940s love letters to rare stamps worth killing for, these twelve mysteries prove that the most dangerous deliveries are the ones you never expected.

What awaits you:

• A mail carrier discovers Prohibition-era treasure and modern murder on a remote island
• A wheelchair-bound historian uncovers deadly stamp fraud in historic Quebec City
• Threatening letters reveal organized crime secrets in New Orleans
• Time capsules, missing packages, and messages from the past—each hiding deadly secrets

Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Agatha Christie, and Elizabeth Peters.

Twelve international stories spanning Canada to New Orleans, featuring amateur sleuths, postal puzzles, and the cozy mysteries readers crave. Whether it’s a retired teacher’s embroidery circle solving cold cases or a postman’s impossible delivery to a haunted house, each tale delivers murder, mystery, and satisfying solutions.

Your special delivery of murder and mayhem awaits.

Authors:

• Andrea Barton – Death by Memoir
• Melissa Behrend – Lab’s Labours Lost
• Rachel Desiree Felix – The Tiffin-Box Thief of Rue des Jasmins
• Daniel Fox – The Stork Brothers Thing
• Gabbi Grey – If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered
• Albert N. Katz – The Road Trip
• Denise Landry – Stamped, Sealed and Duval
• Daisy Landish – Dead Letter Day
• Iris March – The Mystery of the Missing Merchant
• Flora McGowan – The Postman Always Delivers…Eventually!
• donalee Moulton – Bon Ami
• Andrea Tillmanns – A Letter from the Past

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/vqvm3dauvh
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHDSRFH2
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238656419-signed-sealed-deceased

If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered by Gabbi Grey
Inside Signed, Sealed…Deceased!

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey