My Holiday Titles

Happy Holidays!

I never realized just how many holiday-themed short stories/novellas/novels I've written over the years until recently. Then I thought, "Why not make a list of my holiday titles so people can find them easily all in one place?"  Since I write romantic fiction under two pen names it can be a challenge tracking them all down, but here they are in no particular order.

 Highlighted book titles and links should take you to the book's purchase page at the publisher. Yes, my publisher accepts credit cards and has Kindle books! Plus, I get more royalties if you buy directly from the publisher and not through another online store. Thanks for your understanding.

First off, my "sweet romances" written as Cynthianna.

 The Tinsel Timewarp

 http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1963-9-the-tinsel-timewarp/

Cici and John experience the true meaning of love when they help their friend Chandra deal with her grief on Christmas Eve by creating a tinsel time warp.

Cici wants everyone to have a perfect holiday, but she discovers things don't always work out that way. When a crying Chandra shows up at her home, Cici asks her alien boyfriend, the time traveler John Smith, if he can help mend Chandra's broken heart. John creates a time warp for Chandra where she can spend one more Christmas Eve with her late grandmother doing all the holiday things they loved to do, but, as usual, things quickly go south. The tinsel time warp grows and expands and threatens to take over the entire planet, and Cici is forced to go up a ladder when she's afraid of heights. Will time travel heal all wounds and make for a Merry Christmas for Cici, John, and even the melancholy Chandra?

Featuring characters from the Loving Who series. (PG rated, contemporary-romantic-comedy/SF/fantasy)

The Stocking

Adele’s lonely Christmas Eve on the prairie is made much brighter by the arrival of a mysterious silver-whiskered stranger.

(G rated, historical short story) 

Jonathan could do nothing to aid his wife’s losing battle with cancer. With twenty years into the ministry, he can't believe the Lord would leave him suddenly with both an empty nest and empty spot on the other side of the bed. Katrina, music teacher and mother of grown twins, feels settled in small town Texas. Life may be dull, but at least it's predictable--unlike her life with her late ex-husband. "Kat" has come to the conclusion that if nuns can live celibate for years, then why can't she make it the next fifty? One Sunday Jonathan sees a golden beam alighting upon a radiant Kat as she directs the singers. He hadn't noticed how beautiful she was before! From here on out he knows that he’ll be preachin’ to the choir. But will Kat—and his congregation—let him? - See more at: http://www.mojocastle.com/preachin-to-the-choir.html#sthash.euNixdC8.dpu

Jonathan could do nothing to aid his wife’s losing battle with cancer. With twenty years into the ministry, he can't believe the Lord would leave him suddenly with both an empty nest and empty spot on the other side of the bed. Katrina, music teacher and mother of grown twins, feels settled in small town Texas. Life may be dull, but at least it's predictable--unlike her life with her late ex-husband. "Kat" has come to the conclusion that if nuns can live celibate for years, then why can't she make it the next fifty? One Sunday Jonathan sees a golden beam alighting upon a radiant Kat as she directs the singers. He hadn't noticed how beautiful she was before! From here on out he knows that he’ll be preachin’ to the choir. But will Kat—and his congregation—let him? - See more at: http://www.mojocastle.com/preachin-to-the-choir.html#sthash.euNixdC8.dpufhttp://www.mojocastle.com/preachin-to-the-choir.html

The Fixer-Uppers

(I include my first published novel on the list since it features a holiday wedding.)


Can a single mom find happiness on a blind date--or at least dinner with a male who can cut up his own food? Cassie and Mike believe they're "in like" not "in love." But when down-on-his-luck Mike is evicted, Cassie takes him in. Mike starts fixing everything from window screens to broken hearts. Will Cassie let him fix hers?


(PG-13 rated, contemporary romantic-comedy)

My first ever Thanksgiving historical holiday short story! (G rated)

The Gift of the Songbird

https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way.

Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different.

Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.
 

 Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?

And now for my "adults-only" holiday titles written under my Celine Chatillon pen name...

Santa's Big Little Helper 
 http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1331-6-santas-big-little-helper/

Be careful what you ask Santa for—you just might get it. Suellen confesses to an angelic hobo she's befriended on Christmas Eve that she lusts after the cover model on her romance novel because he reminds her of Carlos, a shy, handsome trucker who frequents her coffee shop. Santa's helper Carlos is given instructions by his friend Ol' Nick to make Suellen's dreams come true, and when Carlos finds out what they are, he can't wait. A little snow, a bearskin rug, and some fuzzy handcuffs make it a very Merry Christmas for the two lovers!

(R rated, contemporary-fantasy erotic-romance) 





A Very Vampire Christmas 

How do you cheer up your vampire lover around the holiday season? Melynda wonders if maybe a few new traditions of their own are in order to bring a smile to Val's bite. Mel's time-traveling cousin Shelby and her horny boyfriend Quentin add to the fun of the season with their own brand of wild and free activities. Mel and Shel find it's time to get on Santa's "naughty girl" list. Ho, ho, ho!

Available at eXtasy Books:
 http://www.extasybooks.com/2016-holiday-countdown/a-very-vampire-christmas/

 Featuring Melynda and Val from my novel The Vampire Next Door and Shelby and Quentin from the Time Surfer series. 
(R rated, contemporary-fantasy erotic-romance)

Yes, Virginia, Here Comes Santa Claus

When Brad "The Rude Reporter" Rudner opens a letter to the editor from a lonely lady who says she doesn't believe in Santa after her fiance dumped her, he feels it's his duty revive her faith in the jolly old elf. A red garter belt and fishnet stockings help "good girl" Ginny get on Santa's "naughty" list, and Brad can't help but lose his heart to the dark, exotic beauty.

Click here to purchase this book at the best price!

(R rated, contemporary erotic-romance)

 
 
 






I do like the winter months--I have Valentine's Day erotic-romances as well!

Gifts Well-Timed

Trish Steelman always gives generously of her time and energy to her students, but it takes a blizzard and a friendly ghost to help her to receive the gift of love from Patrick Rodgers, a fellow teacher she has been mentoring.

“Pete the Poltergeist” brings these two sensitive and caring souls together in the empty halls of Harding High. Before long, Trish and Patrick realize that sharing “body warmth” with a friend in the midst of a power outage can ignite a fiery passion that has been too long contained…

Click here to purchase this book at the best price!
(R rated, contemporary erotic-romance)

Coming February 2020 from eXtasy Books: Aphrodite 1, a SF erotic-romance that celebrates Valentine's Day.

Come along with Giselle and the crew of space station Aphrodite 1 as they find romance, love and danger—as well as a mystery—in the upper atmosphere of Venus.

Here's to a happy holiday season to you and yours! And remember, there's always time for a good book. ;-)

Would you like to do a review? (Book Excerpt)

Would you like to do a review of my latest release, The Gift of the Songbird?

Since the holiday season is fast approaching, I thought why not "gift" my Thanksgiving short story to my readers who are willing to write a short book review for me?  If you'd like to write a review for Amazon, Goodreads or any other book review site, email and let me know so I can send you the e-format file of your choice. (cynthianna@hotmail.com )

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!  :)

The Gift of the Songbird
by Cynthianna
https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

Hannah has the chance to sing for the richest family in town, but is it worth disappointing Daniel, her childhood friend, who seems to expect more of her?

Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way.

Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different.

Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.

Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?

Excerpt from The Gift of the Songbird

Daniel raised one dark eyebrow. “I do want something, but it’s not a hot beverage. I want you to say you’ll help us at the Thanksgiving feast for the orphanage and give up this non-sense of entertaining our town’s wealthiest citizens. They own the mine and the miners’ souls. They don’t need to own yours, too.”

How like Daniel March to get straight to the point! He’d displayed this annoying habit ever since they were first introduced as children. Hannah felt like sticking her tongue out at him but wisely thought the better of it. She sat on the settee instead and frowned.

“You’re like a dog with a bone, and you just won’t let it go.” She sighed loudly for effect. “I told you that I’ve made my decision. I’m not going back on my word.”

“But you’re going back on your word to the orphans. You’ve entertained them for many years, and you’ve helped Eustace and I raise a lot of money with our Thanksgiving dance and auction. Folks come from miles and miles around to hear you sing.”

Hannah looked heavenward and shook her head. “Hardly. They come from the next valley over possibly, but that doesn’t qualify as any great hardship in this day and age of rail travel.”

Daniel harrumphed. “Lucky for them, I didn’t blow up any train bridges in these here parts then.”

Hannah clenched her fists in her lap. It didn’t bode well to remind war veterans of their time of service. Many suffered nightmares and drank heavily to deal with their pain. Daniel was more fortunate than many, as he had returned home soon after his injury and had been nursed back to health by his older brother and his wife. Still, any mention of the war brought on a dark mood she’d never witnessed in Daniel growing up.

Hannah cleared her throat and smoothed her skirt. “Let’s change the subject, shall we? What are you and Eustace thinking of making for the festivities beside that awful fruit punch?”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “What’s so awful about my brother’s award-winning recipe? It’s an authentic wassail.” 

“It’s authentic, all right. That’s the only thing that could be said for it.” She chuckled. “Good thing Carrie always brings a couple of her delicious cakes. No one really cares what they’re drinking as long as they have enough sweets.”

“And no one really cares what they’re eating if they’re with their friends enjoying an operatic concert courtesy of our resident entertainer.”

Hannah would not be persuaded. “I’m not the only entertainer. There’s Mr. Cletus and his fiddling. Miss Bucket can bang that tambourine and warble pretty good, too. It’s time you encourage a few others to perform. I won’t be here forever, you know?”

A dark cloud descended over Daniel’s expression. “Are you really thinking of leaving us so soon after your father’s passing? Can’t wait to leave this holler behind you and live in the big city?”

The hurt in his voice stabbed at her heart. Could Daniel’s brusqueness hide his true feelings?

The Gift of the Songbird
Available now from Devine Destinies Books (and soon from other fine ebook retailers).
https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

A Thanksgiving Historical Tale

 Coming in November...

The Gift of the Songbird

coming soon from Devine Destinies Books
https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way.

Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different.

Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.

 Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?

Off To MARcon!

We're off  this weekend to see our friends at MARcon. It's been two years since we've attended the convention, so we're excited to visit and catch up.

For a "gift" for those attending the con (and anyone else who happens across this page), I thought I'd share a short short story I penned just today. I wrote it alongside some students at an after-school program where I tutored this past semester. See if you can guess what was in the photo I had for the 15 minute writing prompt. 

Belly Flop

How could I say no? To say no would have hurt Aunt Maribelle's feelings and she had already been through so much this summer what with the chemo treatment and all. So, I said yes--yes, I'd go with Uncle Jeff to that fancy pool club that his boss had given him a couple of summer passes to in reward for all of his hard work. 

Don't get me wrong. Uncle Jeff is a great guy. He's a good employee and a great husband to my mom's sister. This past year had been tough for both of them after my aunt received her cancer diagnosis. If anyone deserved a break from the stress, it was my favorite Uncle Jeff.

The thought that I might run into some of the snooty rich kids from school didn't occur to me until  we arrived at the gates to the pool club. Oh no! That cute guy who 'd been in my science class was there--and so were half the cheerleading squad and the football team. Suddenly, I felt inadequate in my hand-me-down bathing suit with my faded and ragged beach towel on my arm.

But my embarrassment over my outfit was nothing compared to the sheer horror I felt when Uncle Jeff decided he couldn't wait to get into that cool water. I forgot to tell you that Uncle Jeff is more than a great guy--hes a great big guy. He's huge with a capital H.

Also, once Uncle Jeff gets an idea into his head, there's no turning him back. He will carry through with his plan no matter what. 

"Race you to the middle," Uncle Jeff yelled above the roar of the crowd. And then he took off.  For a large person, he's surprisingly fast on his feet.

"No, wait! It's too crowded. Don't go there yet. It's full of people, Uncle Jeff! Nooo!!"

It was too late. He'd already dove into the shallow end of the pool and displaced more than half the water and terrorized more than half the pool-goers in a split second of belly flopping. My face turned redder  than a third degree sunburn.

I thought I'd never live this stunt down.

But the rest of our swim turned out better than expected. The traumatized moms and dads and kids seemed to take belly flop in stride. Soon I relaxed and enjoyed myself and forgot my embarrassment over Uncle Jeff 's enthusiastic splash.

You know, even your craziest relatives love you. They invite you to the pool. We gotta cut them some slack now and then and let them be their crazy selves. Uncle Jeff taught me that.

The Tinsel Timewarp is here!

 For your holiday reading pleasure...

 http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1963-9-the-tinsel-timewarp/

Cici and John experience the true meaning of love when they help their friend Chandra deal with her grief on Christmas Eve by creating a tinsel time warp.

Cici wants everyone to have a perfect holiday, but she discovers things don't always work out that way. When a crying Chandra shows up at her home, Cici asks her alien boyfriend, the time traveler John Smith, if he can help mend Chandra's broken heart. John creates a time warp for Chandra where she can spend one more Christmas Eve with her late grandmother doing all the holiday things they loved to do, but, as usual, things quickly go south. The tinsel time warp grows and expands and threatens to take over the entire planet, and Cici is forced to go up a ladder when she's afraid of heights. Will time travel heal all wounds and make for a Merry Christmas for Cici, John, and even the melancholy Chandra?

Featuring characters from the Loving Who series (PG rated). Click on the series link above to find out more. And happy holidays!

Two Re-Releases and a Christmas Release!

Sorry for not posting much this quarter. Life happens. 

And for those of you who were wondering about my Doctor Who episode reviews: since I'm behind on watching the series, I figured I'd wait until the end of Jodie's first season and do one big wrap-up review.  In the meantime, be sure to check out my upcoming Christmas release (December 23), The Tinsel Timewarp, featuring Cici and John the Time Traveler from Loving Who.

Here's the lowdown on my big rush of book releases!

Now from Devine Destinies Books:

Country Boy, City Girl
http://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2135-9-country-boy-city-girl/

City girl Veronica "Ronnie" Hawthorn has found peace at last in the Missouri Ozarks town of Green Springs. She and her young daughter, Natalie, are excited at the prospect of running their own arts-and-crafts store in an old farm house. But when city girl Ronnie "falls" into her handsome neighbor's arms, she is surprised to discover that country boy Dave Darden is one of the most eligible bachelors in America. 

Dave is intrigued by his sexy new neighbor and simply adores "Nat," but his need to run every business he encounters efficiently gets in his way of impressing Ronnie. She wants to run her store--and her life--her own way without Dave's (or anyone else's) meddling. Can they get past their pride and acknowledge their love for each other?

Scrambled Eggs
now from Devine Destinies
http://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2134-2-scrambled-eggs/

Sharlene always wanted a baby, but her spoiled husband only wants a child to secure his position in his wealthy uncle’s will. A mix-up at the fertility clinic reveals his hypocrisy, prompting a pregnant Sharlene to strike out on her own. She's determined her child will enjoy the happy home growing up she was denied.

Single Sharlene “runs into” Zack on a busy street and falls for him--as he does for her. She takes the struggling student/small business owner Zack up on his offer to rent an apartment in his building. They become close neighbors, but good manners keep them at arm's length for longer than necessary. Even their best friends cheer them on!

Sharlene wonders could Zack ever love a child that isn’t his? Zack wonders will he ever find enough courage to tell Sharlene he’s the biological father of her child before she goes into labor?

Coming December 23...

Cici wants everyone to have a perfect holiday, but things don't always work out that way she discovers. When a crying Chandra shows up at her home, Cici asks her alien boyfriend, the time traveler John Smith, if he can help mend Chandra's broken heart. John creates a time warp for Chandra where she can spend one more Christmas Eve with her late grandmother doing all the holiday things they loved to do, but, as usual, things quickly go south. The tinsel time warp grows and expands and threatens to take over the entire planet, and Cici is forced to go up a ladder when she's afraid of heights. Will time travel heal all wounds and make for a Merry Christmas for Cici, John and even the melancholy Chandra?

What Makes a Story? Beginning, Middle… End?

I usually post a modified version of the book reviews I do for an established literary site on my blog and Goodreads, but this time I don’t feel comfortable doing so. I’m a different type of book reviewer, you could say. I’d rather say nice things about a writer’s work, or at least make some constructive criticisms of where he or she could improve it, but sometimes I’m at a lost for words. This is one of those times. Amazing, isn’t it?

Back in the day of the dinosaurs, those of us who had the pleasure of taking English composition classes and creative writing courses where taught the basic structure of fiction. Every short story, novella or novel has a beginning, middle, and last, but not least, an end. These are sometimes called by fancier names such as inciting incident, rising action, and resolution, but they pretty much mean the same thing. When a reader sits down to read fiction he or she expects to find character(s) who start a journey of sorts—physical and/or emotional—and after a series of incidents, which illustrate the personality of the character(s), the story comes to a resolution of sorts. A story may have a “happily ever after” ending or a “happy for now” ending or the merely satisfactory  “that’s the way it goes but tomorrow is another day and we’ll keep trying” ending. One thing is certain—the tale comes to a conclusion. 

I guess this isn’t the case anymore. How did I know my English professors back in the dinosaur days were wrong? After recently reading a “short story” collection by a recent graduate of an Ivy League Institution, I’m led to believe that strings of words thrown onto a page can qualify as a story. Okay, it’s not all that bad, but in a way it is. It’s a crime. A young author, with a strong voice and a talent for coming up with interesting characters and situations, has been taught that telling just the beginning and middle somehow equals crafting a complete story. To me, and probably the majority of humanity, it doesn’t. Who would knowingly mislead impressionable students?

Another sad observation—when did using passive “was” verbs and adding he saids all over the place equate to creating dynamic prose? I’ve learned a lot over the years from genre writing workshops, particularly that a good writer shows not tells the story. Readers don’t want to read a listing of dry facts. Readers want to imagine the characters in their minds taking action. In the process of exercising our imaginations, we readers walk away from the story feeling that we’ve learned something about ourselves or life and, better yet, were entertained in the process.

How can readers learn anything from being told the beginning and some of the middle of a character’s arc? We can’t. An incomplete piece of fiction breaks the cardinal rule of all artists, “Whatever you do, don’t be boring.” Maybe in Ivy League literary fiction circles the entertainment factor isn’t considered all that important and, subsequently, has been junked? Perhaps root canals are considered entertaining in those circles? Yikes!

 Throwing up academic credentials as an excuse for being boring reminds me of a conversation at a party a friend and I had with a man introduced as a creative writing professor from a local private university. My friend asked him what sort of creative writing the professor had published recently. This gentleman stated that he didn’t publish his fiction because, “It was too good to be published.” My friend and I continued talking about our recent novel ideas and book deals while the creative writing instructor looked at us as if we’d grown horns or a third eye.

I surmised the professor didn’t enjoy receiving rejection letters from publishers, so he simply didn’t even try to pen publishable fiction anymore. But then that begs the question—Why should parents pay tons of money to a college which employs an instructor with no interest in writing publishable fiction to instruct their children in the craft of creative writing? Shouldn’t the professor teach “creative ways to avoid rejection” classes instead?

After this recent book review, my impression of creative writing classes offered at prestigious and costly private colleges has not improved. I learned one simple axiom in many writer’s workshops: Writers write. And the sole purpose of writing for publication is to connect with readers—not to bore them. I liken offering incomplete works to the reading public to a master chef tossing uncooked ingredients willy-nilly onto a plate and calling it a culinary masterpiece. (I realize some enjoy sushi, but I want my fish cooked.) When you can’t finish the job, you’re not really a success, are you? 

I can’t boast an Ivy League education, but my books have received some great reviews over the years. Not one reviewer has ever said my fiction was boring or incomplete. I listened in English class and took notes at writer’s workshops and became a published author. Thank heaven I received good advice!

Click on the Cynthianna Mainstream Romance book link at the top to learn more about my PG-rated romance novels and novellas. You can even review one if you wish. ;)