Public domain images, book covers, illustrated quotes, and outlining

Guess what’s now available in eBook (KU, even!) print and (self narrated) audio? Nevermind, I’ll tell you. CALCULATED RISK is free from the exclusive giveaway chains and now available to the masses! Meet Desmond, a former inmate working hard to stay on the straight and narrow and Imani, a financial analyst assigned to complete her pro bono hours at his youth centers in this cross-class, #felonbae, #blackromance. Pick it up at Booksbydlwhite.com/calculatedrisk

ISSA COVER REVEAL! COMING OCTOBER 28, 2025 I’m so delighted to share a cover reveal for DH Refroe’s upcoming novel! Let’s get into it! The Tropes * Best Man x Maid of Honor * Friends with benefits… until it isn’t * He falls first (and hard) The Story Planning a wedding party is easy—if Nina Scott can manage to stay out of Angelou Porter’s bed. Nina has built her career managing other people’s reputations. Guarded, confident, and determined, she doesn’t have time for love—especially not with a man like Angelou, whose tattoos, swagger, and smooth charm hide grief he hasn’t quite learned how to let go. But when they reconnect in Paris during her best friend’s engagement and return home as maid of honor and best man, sparks reignite fast. What was supposed to be casual quickly becomes complicated, and what started in secret soon feels impossible to ignore. Between champagne toasts, wedding chaos, and late-night confessions, Nina and Angelou find themselves standing at the edge of something real. But love isn’t simple—and neither of them knows if they’re ready to fall. Because sometimes the biggest risk is believing you deserve the happily ever after you never planned for. BUT HAVE YOU READ CREATIVE DIFFERENCES? GET IT HERE!

His eyes rolled back, and his body stiffened. Davis spilled his release onto the towel as he let out a hoarse, satisfied groan. We lay there, panting together. My heartbeat pulsed between my ears like frantic drums. “I’ll take the real thing any day, but that was…” I heaved a sigh, too tired to finish my sentence. “Outstanding,” he offered. I giggled. “Did Mr. Scott wake up?” “Briefly. He sensed someone having fun. I put that nigga back to sleep.” I howled at that. “Davis! I didn’t think you knew that word!” “Oh, but I do. Only a few people know the real Davis Scott. You’re getting a crash course. Sorry if it’s a rough one.” “I like this ride. Remember what you said when you put me on your bike? I’m always safe with you.” I curled up, feeling the cool air of the room as the sweat dried on my skin. “Thank you for the helmet, by the way. I can’t wait to try it out with you. Dionne said to go back to that spot where…uh—” “You let me get you off on the beach?” “Yes. But at night.” “She would know. Jason was the one who showed me that spot.” “I’m looking forward to trying that out.” “As am I. I can’t wait to show you all the places you haven’t seen. And some you have, just not with me.” My heart fluttered at the thought. “You look cold,” he said. “And tired. You should get under those covers and get some rest. Let me know what happens tomorrow. And when you’ll be back so we can resume whatever it is we’re doing.” “Wait. Hold. Pause. Whatever it is we’re doing?” I repeated, working to keep irritation out of my tone, especially after I’d defended not having a label to Dionne. “That’s what you call us?” “Well, what do you call it, Kari? Fucking your boss?” --- ABOUT THE PEARL AT BLACK DIAMOND, BLACK DIAMOND ROMANCE BOOK 3 Guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a warm, sandy feeling in your heart. Davis Scott runs The Pearl resort with iron fist, but his luxury hotel is hemorrhaging money and his demanding owner threatens his job daily. Marketing director Kari Savoy arrives as his last hope—brilliant, confident, and determined to prove herself. Kari Savoy, expert event planner and marketing strategist, needs this job. Raising her teenage siblings while building her career, she can't afford to fail. Their clashing work styles spark immediate tension, but Kari's innovative festival concept shows her true value. Professional respect ignites into personal attraction neither can ignore. Set against the backdrop of a luxury beachfront resort, their story unfolds through high-stakes business meetings, romantic motorcycle rides, and stolen moments that threaten to expose their secret affair to the entire staff. Perfect for fans of Kennedy Ryan, Brenda Jackson, Talia Hibbert, Kianna Alexander, Rebekah Weatherspoon Heat Level: Steamy Romance Content Advisories: Parental loss, drug arrest storyline, workplace power dynamics, adult language, explicit intimate scenes Book 3 of Black Diamond Romance Publication year: 2024 TROPES: Workplace Romance Boss/Employee Romance Enemies to Lovers Protective Hero Strong Heroine Slow Burn Romance Small Town Romance Second Chance at Love Read The Pearl in eBook or Print

Anthony and Booker were across the room at a table dressed in a red-and-green checked plastic tablecloth, both plates loaded down with food. Now that I wasn’t distracted by the shit show that was brunch, our newest employee could occupy my thoughts. Anthony hadn’t said a thing about a new trainee. Well, he could have, but Anthony had been long-winded since college. I tuned in and out. So… Booker was good looking. Let me be honest—that man was fine. In a way I wasn’t used to. Tall, but not a giant like most of my exes. A rich reddish-brown skin tone, not a dark mahogany or a light caramel. Stocky, muscled, but not in a trying-to-get-cast-as-the-Black-Panther way. Booker was a strikingly handsome, random guy I might pass on the street. But I wouldn’t expect to see him on the street, so I’d trip over myself on the double take. More than his outward, Sterling Brown-esque appearance, it was the little things that niggled at that sensitive spot in the small of my back—the gentle strength in his hand when I shook it; the baritone of his voice and the light accent when he spoke that told me he wasn’t from around here. I’d never made a habit of dating coworkers, but allowances could be made for exceptional cases. When you’ve dated the same guy for ten years, not from around here counted as exceptional. I slid a paper plate with my paltry selections into a spot next to Anthony and dropped into a chair. “You have a death wish,” I commented, directed at Anthony’s plate. “You too,” I added, angling my chin in Booker’s direction. “What I have,” answered Anthony, around a mouthful of food, “is a system. See, I found out who was bringing what. And from that, I deduced who can cook and who has a clean kitchen—” “There’s no way you can know—” “You can if you don’t hide in your office all the time.” “I have the largest accounts, half of which are yours. I don’t have time for potluck investigations.” Anthony laughed, biting off a chicken wing. “If you get to know people, you know whose food you can trust.” “I trust Faith’s food, my mama’s food, and my food. What about you, Booker? You don’t seem scared.” “Well,” he drawled, stretching out the word while stirring a bowl of red beans and rice, “I figure it like this: I’ve eaten boudin, frog legs, alligator, cracklin, Tasso—” “Do I want to know what Tasso is?” “It’s a delicacy. Made from hog shoulder. Usually we eat it with—” “Nope, I don’t want to know,” I said, closing my eyes and holding up a hand to stop the description before he could go further. “Anyway, I figure if I can survive eating all of that on the regular, I can withstand some questionable food at a company potluck. Plus”—his eyes flicked up to mine while he held a spoonful of beans and rice—“I’m hungry. Sometimes you just got to be brave.” “Sometimes you got to have a will to live.” --- ABOUT THE KWANZAA BRUNCH A fated brunch and an unlikely Cupid... Sienna Charles is tired of the same old, same old. Same old job, same old city, same old friends. Same old men. Just when she’s relegated herself to living Groundhog’s Day, romance edition, Booker Lasalle swaggers into her life, courtesy an open position at Precision Software. He’s new— to the company, to the city, and, most importantly, new to her. Booker LaSalle is turning over a new leaf, leaving behind a stressful job and an ex-wife for a new city and a job with growth potential. No more falling for the first pretty woman that crosses his path—like the witty, acerbic, and obviously interested analyst at Precision. Everything about her tempts Booker to throw that “new leaf” plan out of the window. Read The Kwanzaa Brunch in eBook or print HERE. This is book 3 of the holiday shorts and slightly spoils Book 1, Unexpected.

I used my key and stepped inside. All the lights burned bright despite the empty desks. Papers and photos littered every surface, a testament to a day spent chasing leads. Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison” pumped from the Bluetooth speakers on top of the file cabinet in Yvette’s office. She still played loud music after hours. She used to say it helped her drown out distractions, that it was a kind of mental white noise. These days, I was sure it drowned out a lot more. Yvette sat cross-legged at her desk, her boots kicked off, reading glasses perched on her nose. This was my favorite version of her—guard down, comfortable in her own space. I knocked on the door frame, but she was already aware that I had arrived. The volume on the music lowered to a reasonable decibel. “I hope you remembered crispy spring rolls,” she said without looking up. “And extra soy sauce.” I dropped the bags in the kitchen and started pulling out containers. “Young, when’s the last time you ate?” She thought about it too long. “Define ate.” “Consumed more than a donut and coffee.” I eyed the pink box sitting on the counter in the kitchen. I flipped it open, shaking my head at the crumbs and tissue paper sitting at the bottom. I tossed the box into the garbage. “What’s with all the paper? Is this all Miller Creek stuff?” “Yup. Deep dive into public records…” She trailed off, obviously not intending to answer my question. Which was fine; attorneys never ask questions when they don’t already know the answer. ABOUT MISSING PERSONS Three years ago, a man vanished. Days from being declared dead, his wife refuses to give up hope that he'll be found. Enter Yvette Young: a skilled investigator and a pro at building emotional walls and Wesley Payne, a relentless and uncompromising attorney whose only weakness is Yvette Young. Get it in eBook or paperback: Missing Persons --- Browse and buy books at my website or my direct store.

#fridaykiss is a prompt game where writers respond to a word with a selection from a WIP or published book. Today's prompt is trade. I'm quoting from THE NEVER LIST. --- ESME "What are you thinking?" Trey and I sat on the floor between the couch and…

The Never List is a standalone Black Romantic Comedy that centers a modern, mature virgin. --- "I thought we'd eat out on the patio. Saul is already out there." She nodded toward the pair of glass doors off of the kitchen and beyond them to the paver…

I’ve been working on this little romantic Valentine’s Day short for most of the month and it’s giving me fits but I am determined to finish it and get it out there. Enjoy your first glimpse at Simone & Sterling. I don’t have a Pinterest board for this…

Welcome back to The BookCast. Epi 109 is about all about the books, the projects and the shows I’m burying myself in to make it through the longest month ever. I added a little ranting for good measure. Grab a beverage and let’s get into it: 1. The Book…

When I first set out to write Shades of Purple: A Boy’s Journey Between the Lines , I knew that sharing my story would require a level of v...

Right around March—right in time for my birthday —I get hankerin’ (I am not southern, I just like the word) for somebody’s hot sun and white sand beaches. That is the spirit in which I penned Beach Thing, book 1 in the Black Diamond Bay romance series.…

The woman across from me had hope. She saw the light at the end of the tunnel and the thought that she might soon be free gave her face the sexiest expression. And I put it there. Vanessa Jackson isn't trying to fall in love. She wants to finalize her divorce, raise her two girls, and hold on to her last shred of peace while working at her uncle's restaurant, Sam's Bar & Grille. The last thing she needs is a handsome, well-dressed, too-smooth attorney. But Gibson Kincaid isn't just any lawyer. He's a cinnamon roll in a three-piece suit. Sweet, steady, with a kind heart, he quietly burns for a woman he shouldn't want. Helping Vanessa might put him at odds with his powerful family and the firm that bears their name, but Gibson always does the right thing, even when things get complicated. This steamy follow-up to Brunch at Ruby's, brings a slow burn, grown folks romance that explores second chances, emotional healing, and falling for someone who sees your whole truth and never flinches. Pick up this title at Booksbydlwhite.com/dinneratsams --- I pulled open the heavy wood door at Sam’s Bar & Grille, pausing to wipe my feet on the mat at the entryway. It was raining, so the mat was already soaked and wasn’t doing much to rid my shoes of leaves and mud. “Pull that door shut tight!” called a raspy male voice from behind the bar. I reached back and pulled the handle as the door caught a gust of wind. I wrestled with it, then overpowered it and pulled it shut with a slam. “Thank ya,” the voice called again. “If you don’t shut it real good, it’ll bust open and be like a tornado in here.” I moved toward the bar, hand outstretched. A new addition—a flat screen TV—had been hung above the bar, and the few restaurant patrons had their eyes glued to it. “Good to see you, Sam. How are you this evening?” He gripped my hand with a tight, strong grasp and gave it two polite pumps. “Rather be sittin’ next to my lady on an island somewhere, but this here ain’t half bad, I guess.” He chuckled, then leaned onto the bar. “You want some o’ them wings you order every time you come in here?” I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “And a side of fries, if you don’t mind.” “You the one payin’ for it; I don’t mind at all.” He barked my order to the kitchen. “I ‘spose it’s after business hours at whatever fancy job you got that makes you wear them shoes that ain’t for walkin’ in the rain. What can I getcha? Brown or browner?” “Not quite after business hours for me, Sam. Actually…” I leaned in and lowered my voice. “I’m looking for your niece, Vanessa. Is she around?” Sam’s expression morphed from friendly disinterest to a suspicious scowl. A large wooden bat appeared from somewhere behind the bar. He gripped it in one large hand. “What you want with Vanessa? You been in here spyin’ for her triflin’ asshole of an ex-husband? I ought to throw you outta here right on your—” “Uncle!” I tried not to let my relief show, but I’d never been so happy to hear a woman’s voice. “Stop it! Put that down. This is Gibson Kincaid. I hope he’s still interested in being my divorce lawyer.” Sam’s face relaxed—somewhat. “Alright,” he growled. “Good thing Vanessa was here. You almost got it, son. Never know who might be comin’ through and what they want. My policy is to beat that ass and ask questions later.” “Oh please. You haven’t hit anything outside of a baseball with that bat, and it’s been thirty years since that happened.” I was happy to see the bat lower and disappear behind the bar. “You ain’t got to tell the whole place my business, girl.” Vanessa laughed, then hooked a hand into my elbow. “I’m taking a break, Uncle. We’ll be in the back.” “You just got here, talkin’ about taking a break. And ‘sposin you want me to deliver his order to your table?” “That’d be great,” she said over her shoulder. To me, she winked. “Don't worry about him. He's all bark.” “All the same, I'll stay in his good graces.” At a corner booth, the table showed signs of a stakeout—folders, envelopes, loose papers. Vanessa slid in across from me and I joined her, setting my satchel at my feet. “I brought everything I could think of that might help. And I wrote up a summary of my… situation.” “These will probably be helpful. If we have to go to court, I may need it.” She mimicked my pose across the table, but I noticed her hands trembling. “You seem tense. How are you doing?” “Up and down since our conversation last night. I spent a lot of time on the internet, researching things.” Her eyes lifted to meet mine. “Not that I didn’t believe you. I wanted to see for myself…” She exhaled deeply. “I feel so stupid. Warren has a way of saying things that you don’t question. When he said I couldn’t make him pay because we weren’t divorced… and that I couldn’t divorce him because he’d never sign the papers—” “I’ve heard it all. The rantings of a man trying to maintain control. Hardly ever lawful or enforceable. That’s why you need a good attorney—one who’s interested in more than your wallet.” She laughed, but covered her mouth, a smug grin behind her fist. “What’s your mother going to say when she finds out you picked up my case? She said Kincaid couldn’t help me.” “Sylvia Kincaid can’t help you.” I opened a thin file from my satchel and flipped to the contract page. “Gibson Kincaid is going to do everything he can to make sure that you get your divorce.” “I like the sound of that.” Her eyes skimmed the contract. “So… there are a lot of blanks on this fee schedule.” “Because we need to talk about that. I’d rather work with a number you can afford than run up a tab you can’t. We'll figure out a rate and a cap if needed.” “Oh. Okay. That’s… different.” She smiled and signed without hesitation. “I’ve never heard of an attorney working it that way.” “Sometimes you have to think outside the box. I’m not free, of course. But I’d like to help you. If you’d like me to.” My voice. Too low, too smooth. I wasn’t trying to seduce her, I just wanted her signature. But with Vanessa, I couldn’t seem to turn it off. “I know I should read this first, but I feel like I can trust you. You’re telling me everything I want to hear and I don’t even care if it’s lies.” She signed the contract with a flourish. “I’m willing to take the leap.” “You won’t regret it.” I signed as well. “Take this home and read it top to bottom. If there’s something you don’t like, we’ll fix it.” She relaxed. Shoulders down, jaw loose, fingers steady. Her lips curved in a dreamy smile. “Cool. Everything sounds cool.” “So you work here, part time?” “Temporarily. My Uncle’s way of helping me out.” She reached for a glass of water and closed her lips around the straw. My brain short-circuited for a moment. She licked her lips and slid the glass away. I must’ve been staring, because she cocked her head. “So… lay this out for me, Mr. Kincaid. How will this work?” “Gibson. First…you can call me Gibson.” So I was attracted to her. So it affected how I handled her case. So I was offering her the lowest rate I’d ever offered a client. So my mother was going to have a screaming fit. But the woman across from me had hope. She saw the light at the end of the tunnel and the thought that she might soon be free gave her face the sexiest expression. And I put it there. --- Dinner at Sam's offers everything readers love about authentic Black romance: a strong sense of place, full-bodied characters, found family dynamics, and a handsome, hunky hero who stands firm in his principles while offering a steady hand. Watch the heat build between Gib and Vanessa in eBook, print, and audio formats at booksbydlwhite.com/dinneratsams.

Whenever I publish a book, my butt goes numb. I fully believe that people should be nervous for things—a big speech, an important event…publishing a book. I never want to be so blase’ and ho-hum as to not be nervous that I am baring my soul to the world and sending my creation out to be judged. Photo by Tonik on Unsplash Confession: I had never used professional editing before Elysium. I just knew that if I was throwing myself to the wolves at least they would not be able to find a single typographical error. Pick on anything but the grammar— this book is clean. So I was already nervous, right? This book…I hit publish and immediately left my body curled in the fetal position under my desk. Elysium, A Black Diamond Vacation Romance opens with Vance and Athena in the middle of a…virtual rendezvous. Page one, line one. Opening scene. No easing in, no polite introductions, no meet-cute. From the frying pan, straight into the fire. People…that is not how I write. I call myself doing a slow burn right. I like to build. I like to let readers sit with the characters, breathe their air, understand their voices, see their lives before it changes drastically— and hopefully for the better. Then, when the moment has been earned, I bring the intimacy. And like… I try to be bold with it. I’m no Alexandria House, but I try hard to be forward, bold, intimate, unafraid in my work. Why have intimacy on the page if it's going to be boring & uninspired? But never… *whispers* Right away. I am not an ACTION ON PAGE 1 typa gal! But with Vance and Athena, there was no way around it. By the time we meet them, they had months of history, trust, and intimacy and I wasn’t going all the way back to their super cute, innocent beginning. I was definitely bread-crumbing that in later. I had to start in the middle, on the cusp of what brought change to Vance and Athena. Believe me, I tried not to, but to start anywhere else would have an absolute drag of a story. Like I was trying to layer clothes on characters who refused to wear them. Tasha Harrison, Lead Troublemaker at (now defunct) WordMakers, can tell you how much I fought it. In our challenge chats, I worked hard trying to find a way for this book to not open with sex. She heard me complain and resist and knock down alternat ideas until she finally hit me with her signature blend of love and menace: “Stop fighting this. You know how this book has to start. Cold open fuck.” Reader, she was right. I knew it. I mean…I KNEW it. I just didn’t want to know it. I don’t write to turn people on. I don’t hope you close my book, roll over on top of your man and get it IN. I mean…good if you do. But my books are more than that. Too many people flip through pages or scroll looking for the sex and you will find it in my books but they’re way more than the spice. I write intimacy to show the truth of the characters—how they love, how they risk, how they let themselves be seen, how they open up and show vulnerability. For Vance and Athena, that truth was already on the page before I ever typed a word. The part that terrified me wasn’t the writing. It was the judgment. I don’t know if y’all know it, but I am clairvoyant. I can hear people saying things they aren’t saying. “She opened with what? That’s not how romance starts! Where’s the buildup? This scene is… I mean… she tried.” I had to sit with the fear of people thinking I’d done it wrong. Or… I was trying to be Alex House. Or Zane. And then I had to decide who I was writing for. Primarily… me. But also…I don’t write for people who want sanitized, predictable stories. I write for readers who want love in all its messy, complicated, grown folks, seasoned glory. That’s what Elysium is. Not a story about two people falling in love for the first time, but about two people who already found it once. Maybe it didn’t work out. Maybe, like many seasoned folks (the over 30 crowd), they hope lightning will strike a second time for them. Maybe they dare to step off the safety of the dream, the fantasy, the pretend world on-screen and into the real world. Elysium is for people who understand that love doesn't always follow a neat timeline. That sometimes you meet someone and within months you're planning a future. That virtual relationships can be just as meaningful as traditional ones. It is about taking a chance on love when the world tells you to play it safe. "You somebody's mama." "You're my dad." "You met them where? That ain't real." "You're too old for this foolishness." "That whole situation is cringe." Elysium is about taking the risk, trusting that it's the right choice and even tho it's terrifying, having the time of your life. The truth of their story is that they still want passion, partnership, and more life than the world says they’re entitled to. Here’s a scene from Elysium that captures the fear, the push-and-pull, themoment where Athena almost talks herself out of happiness but Valerie refuses to let her: --- “It sounds like you chickened out again.” “I did not chicken out,” I said, rolling my ponytail into a bun, then adjusting the cap over my head and tightening the straps so it was snug. “Oh? So you said yes, like you should have weeks ago?” I grunted in reply. “I thought you liked Vance. What happened?” “I do like Vance,” I argued. “A lot. That’s the problem.” “You’re thinking too hard for your answer to be no, so you must want to say yes. It’s a free trip to somewhere that is not Minneapolis, where the temperature is above freezing and it’s not still snowing in May. What’s stopping the word yes from flying out of your mouth?” I tucked my phone and my tools into the pockets on my scrub top and settled into a seat across from Valerie. I pulled my cup of coffee toward me and sipped the rapidly cooling brew. Then I unwrapped the slice of banana bread. It was still warm. “My son said it was cringe,” I said, recalling his words from our phone call a few nights ago. He was not a fan of…whatever I was doing with Vance. Valerie squinted, twisting her lips to the side. “What does cringe mean?” I hunched a shoulder in a shrug. “Hell if I know. It does feel silly, though. I’m not a hot young Instagram model trying to get something free off some man I met online. And I’m not trying to get clowned for doing obviously stupid shit. I mean…I don’t do stuff like this—” “Baby, you been doin’ a lotta stuff you don’t do!” Valerie practically squeaked. “Vance has seen more of you than your gynecologist. He knows what he’s getting. You sound scared, Thena.” I squirmed under her intense scrutiny. “Because I am. Getting on a plane, flying to meet a man I met on Instagram don’t sound stupid to you? Spending three nights all up under a man I met on the internet is a sound, mature decision that a woman damn near fifty should be making?” “Chile, who cares about decisions a fifty year old should be making? The best part about our age is that it comes with a deficit of fucks. You have already lived a full life. You’ve had a whole career as a staff nurse, got a grown ass son, a paid off mortgage, and a man on your phone who would eat you up if you let him.” She paused to grunt, then refresh with a sip of coffee. “Seriously, Thena…who cares if the rest of your days look funny and sound stupid? If folks talk, they’re mad it ain’t them. Shit, at least you gave it a chance.” She leaned and added, muttering, “And gave yourself a gift too. When’s the last time you…you know, rode that ride?” “Valerie, please!” I whispered, shushing her. I was thankful the lounge was still empty. “It has been a minute since I had the real deal, though.” “See now, that’s what we call a benefit,” she replied. “And it’ll be attached to a fine ass man who has been asking to take you somewhere warm so he can give you said benefit in myriad positions.” --- That right there is Elysium. The moment where the head says it’s impractical and the world says it’s cringe…but the heart says yes anyway. I keep asking myself would I do this again, and I don’t know. This was lightning in a bottle, a story that demanded a very specific intro for two very specific characters. I’m glad I trusted it. I’m glad I let myself do it scared. Because the books that scare me the most end up being the ones that mean the most. Elysium taught me that bold choices make bold stories. And bold stories are the ones that linger, long after the last page. I hope I have enticed you to meet my Instagram to Real life couple, Vance Griffin and Athena Wilcox. I love them so hard. I think you will too! --- ABOUT ELYSIUM What started with a flirty Instagram DM becomes nine months of scorching virtual intimacy that leaves Athena Wilcox craving more than her computer screen can deliver. The travel nurse has been playing it safe her whole life, but Vance Griffin makes her want to be reckless. The master travel coordinator knows exactly how to spoil a woman, and he's determined to fly Athena to paradise to prove their online fire burns even hotter in person. From steamy late-night video sessions to pulse-pounding virtual encounters, they've built an addiction to each other that demands satisfaction. Now Vance is ready to worship Athena's body the way he's been worshipping her mind—with his hands, his mouth, and every promise he's whispered through her speakers. Black Diamond Island's luxury suite in the Elysium tower becomes their playground as months of pent-up desire explode into days of uninhibited passion. But when real life crashes their fantasy, can two people drunk on lust build something that lasts beyond the bedroom? Get ready for a romance so hot it might melt your e-reader. Perfect for fans of Kennedy Ryan, Talia Hibbert, Brenda Jackson, Farrah Rochon, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Beverly Jenkins, Kianna Alexander, Synithia Williams, Donna Hill Pick them up in eBook or paperback: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/sfdq2eigky

Long story short… I have a lil holiday novella coming. My first release of the year. I’m REALLY excited about it because I think you will LOVE it. THE COVER (AIN’T IT CUTE?) THE BLURB (ISN’T IT ROMANTIC?) The last thing Opal Richardson needs…

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. A man without purpose or direction finds himself transported to another world and must rely on the help of a local energy worker and guardian to escape the clutches of a dark guardian in author Jody Norman’s “New Trails,” the first in the New Trails series.

Davis and Kari are playing it cool, but their secret connection is getting harder to hide, especially when temptation is just a glance, a tease, and one lingering moment away. Have you read Black Diamond Bay book 3, The Pearl at Black Diamond?…

Thanks to Grace Wynter for this spotlight! I got to talk about my fave subjects, books, writing and ME. Author Up Close: D.L. White—On Readership, Community, and Opting Out of the Amazon Algorithm GW: One of my favorite parts of this series is learning about an author’s origin story: the thing that propelled you from someone who only thought about writing to someone who actually wrote and has a book or books out. What’s your author origin story? DW: I’ve always been a writer. As a child, I wrote stories to amuse myself. My teachers and parents noticed this talent, and since I enjoyed it, I continued writing. During college, academic writing replaced reading for pleasure, though I occasionally found time for books. After graduation, my long commute gave me time to rediscover reading. Then I found fanfiction. I started writing *NSYNC fanfiction in 2008 and fell in love with this marriage of fandom and high-quality writing. The authors I followed on LiveJournal would blow traditionally published writers out of the water. Their characterization, settings, original characters, bringing people in… top notch. Fanfiction is where I learned to write, where I gained an audience, learned how to accept praise and measure criticism. In 2011, I joined a brunch group of ladies from all walks of life. I loved how we had this sisterhood—we always came together to support (or chastise) each other. During this time, I listened to NPR on my way to work where the Atlanta School District cheating scandal topped every broadcast. This huge, ongoing scandal got my brain going. What if a character in an influential position made a huge mistake and tried to keep it secret, but the secret was discovered? What if we watch the secret ripple out among her family, friends, job, bosses? My debut novel was born. It took 4 years to write and hit the book streets in March 2015. It’s been gangbusters ever since! My motto is always: The time is gonna pass anyway. Have something to look back on.Author D.L. White & the 10th Anniversary Edition of Brunch At Ruby’s. GW: Another thing that impressed me about your marketing and platform was that you not only have audiobooks, but you sell audio and eBooks directly from your website and you link to Bookshop for paperbacks. Can you share your reasons for selling directly from your site and through Bookshop? What have been the pros and cons of this strategy? Is this a strategy you’d recommend for all authors? DW: When I first launched, Kindle Unlimited was all the rage. Popular Black authors were in there making bank. I’d launch a book and it would be okay for about three weeks. Then the book would fall off a cliff, and I couldn’t PAY people to borrow it and turn those pages. I couldn’t sell that book anywhere else. I know the books aren’t bad because the same books go hard now that I’m not in KU. It made me feel like being an author who made bank meant I had to be in a clique I wasn’t part of. I had to write like those authors, market like those authors, and buddy up to those readers. I’m just not there. I am a quiet, introverted person. I am not shy, but I’m not gonna compete. I was also mad at how much retailers take for doing nothing but hosting. They didn’t write a word, record a thing, or edit anything. Why are you taking so much on payday, bro? My books are still on Amazon because the lion’s share of readers are there, but I pulled them out of exclusive programs because I wanted control over pricing, sales channels, and profits. I wanted Amazon to have less impact on my life and wallet. I wanted to survive if the Big A ever imploded. Nothing scares me more than being exclusive with all my books there and nobody shopping there. I was listening to indie fantasy author Katie Cross. Her goal is to build KCB—Katie Cross Books—and win readers over from Amazon. She never checked her Amazon rank or sales. She concentrated on building direct readership and connections. That became my goal too. I make it a point to never link Amazon if I can help it. Amazon does not need our help directing people there. What needs help is authors selling direct and indie bookshops. I wanted Amazon to have less impact on my life and wallet. I wanted to survive if the Big A ever imploded. Nothing scares me more than being exclusive with all my books there and nobody shopping there. I’m big on selling direct because I like control. If I sell a book today, I get paid tomorrow. I can put it on sale or give it away in seconds. I wrote the book—I should have maximum control. This strategy isn’t instant. It took 18 months before my wide/direct sales matched Amazon (now they exceed it). It takes training your audience to check your website and store. I want to sell based on me and my reputation, not Amazon’s algorithm. Find the full, totally fun written interview I did with Grace at Writer Unboxed HERE & don’t forget to leave me a comment and FOLLOW Writer Unboxed : Threads — @writerunboxedofficial Bluesky:‪ @writerunboxed.bsky.social‬ Website: https://writerunboxed.com

How to make time to read

Hey book people! I'm back with another Sunday catch-up on what I've been reading, writing, and working on. Plus I have some exciting personal news to share that I've been keeping under wraps! Reading Update Current Progress: 86 of 175 books (49% complete) Books Read This Week * Sinful Submission (Book 3) by Stephanie Nicole Norris * Her First Mistake (Noel Marshall #1) by Kendra Elliott * Good Neighbors (Alibis Collection #5) by Chad Zuncker * False Notes (Alibis Collection) by David Lagercrantz Currently Reading/TBR * August Lane by Regina Black * Fog and Fury (Haven Thriller #1) by Rachel Howzell Hall * The Ex-Wives Club (Alibis Collection) by Sally Hepworth Writing Update * Missing Persons novel at 57,000 words * New Music of My Heart fanfiction episode in progress Support the Show Books: booksbydlwhite.com/shop Buzzsprout: bookcast.buzzsprout.com Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite Full show notes, links, and more at: booksbydlwhite.com/bookcast/122 Support the show Visit my website–Booksbydlwhite.com Join my newsletter – booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter Follow me on Substack–Main Substack | Short Fiction Substack Buy books & merch – booksbydlwhite.com/shop Support this show with a recurring gift at bookcast.buzzsprout.com or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.

Cocker, Christie, Cthulhu and where the ideas live…