The Seduction of Parodies by Diane Scott Lewis

Parodies are fun to create, and in Ladies and Their Lovers, two are combined in one book. First, the Shades of Grey torrent that swept the nation gave me an idea. Since most my novels and research are set in the eighteenth century, I decided to write a "grey" novel set in that time period. Miss Grey's Shady Lover. I used my research, and sense of the ridiculous to create the maid and master trope, but threw in erotica and a Libidinous Lord to entice my naïve heroine, Miss Grey. It is a short piece. But put with my romance parody, The Defiant Lady Pencavel, this double parody became Ladies and Their Lovers.

In a parody you're free to write silly situations, absurd dialogue, and hopefully your reader will get the implications and laugh along with you. In Miss Grey's Shady Lover I threw in modern exclamations and 'lines' to stir up the absurd. Yet tried to keep the idea of the eighteenth century limitation going. But your imagination can run free to enhance the farce.Here's a blurb:  In this erotic, tongue-in-cheek parody of the bestselling novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, Anya Grey enters service at Pretentious Hall in the eighteenth century. She meets brooding, dangerous, but strikingly handsome, Lord Libidinous who soon involves her in a sultry, sexual relationship to soothe his damaged soul. Prepare to laugh, and sigh, at their sexy, hilarious and explicitly steamy, antics.Review: Diane Scott Lewis has crafted a witty, short parody (Miss Grey's Shady Lover) that made me titter at the author's pointed euphemisms and veiled sexual overtones. The characterization of Anya and Libidinous is spot-on for the time period. What an amusing romp ensues as this tale unfolds!              ~ Angie Just Read for The Romance Reviews

Blurb: The Defiant Lady Pencavel. In 1796, Lady Melwyn Pencavel has been betrothed to Griffin Lambrick since she was a child—and s

she hasn’t seen him since. Now almost one and twenty, she defies being forced into an arranged marriage. 

She aspires to be an archeologist and travel to Italy during the upheaval of the Napoleonic Wars.  

Griffin Lambrick, Viscount of Merther, resents these forced nuptials as well, as he desires no simpering 

bride and wants no one in his nefarious business. For the thrill of it, he smuggles artifacts from Italy at 

his Cornish estate. Two reckless and stubborn people will meet—with chaos and humor—in this romantic

satire, and face their fears.

Review: "Fans of the English-style romance will have to put aside expectations and let 

themselves enjoy some silliness here - a worthwhile read (and nice change of pace)."

 ~ Long and Short Reviews 

To purchase my novels, and my other BWL books: BWL

Find out more about me and my writing on my website: Dianescottlewis

Diane Scott Lewis lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and one naughty puppy.

Why Did I Write a Memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir by J.Q. Rose

Arranging a Dream: a Memoir by J.Q. Rose

Official book launch January 1, 2021

Click here to pre-order now

Click here to discover more books by J.Q. Rose from BWL Publishing

Hello and welcome to the BWL Publishing Blog!

I have some breaking news for you! I am excited to announce my memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir is officially one of BWL Publishing's newest published books. The official launch date is January 1, 2021, but with this new way of releasing books using the pre-order opportunity, the eBook is available now and will be delivered to your reading device on January 1. 

Arranging a Dream is a step into the new genre, Memoirs, for BWL Publishing. 

Here is the Back of the Book information to let you know what this "feel-good" story is all about:

In 1975, budding entrepreneurs Ted and Janet purchase a floral shop and greenhouses where they plan to grow their dream. Leaving friends and family behind in Illinois and losing the security of two paychecks, they transplant themselves, their one-year-old daughter, and all their belongings to Fremont, Michigan, where they know no one. 

 Will the retiring business owners nurture Ted and Janet as they struggle to develop a blooming business, or will they desert the inexperienced young couple to wither and die in their new environment?

 Most of all, can Ted and Janet grow together as they cultivate a loving marriage, juggle parenting with work, and root a thriving business?

 Follow this couple’s inspiring story, filled with the joy and triumphs and the obstacles and failures experienced as they travel along the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.

I have written mysteries and romantic suspense to entertain readers. A memoir, also known as creative non-fiction, is so different from writing fiction where everything is made up. The writer can go hog-wild and write about alien worlds, space operas, contemporary romance and no one cares if it's true. 

A memoir tells the truth about real life. That is very difficult for a fiction writer!  A life story or biography covers a person's entire life, but a memoir is just a small piece of it. Think of all those life experiences as a delicious pumpkin pie. A memoir would be just a slice of it. 

I began writing my memoir thinking it would be for my kids. I wanted to encourage them to dream big for their lives. I chose to write about the first year we were in the flower business because leaving the security of family and friends and bringing our year-old daughter to a new home was challenging and life-changing for us. Our dream was to be entrepreneurs in the greenhouse business. 

We fell in love with the greenhouse operation attached to a flower shop in the charming town of Fremont, Michigan. Not only would we be growing plants, but also selling fresh flowers and everything that goes along with servicing customers during major events in their lives like weddings, anniversaries, new babies, illnesses and funerals.

I discovered the story had all the elements of fiction, Ted and I, the main characters, conflicts with the previous owners, and a beautiful setting in a small town in West Michigan.

 

"If you try, you might fail, but if you don't try, you'll never succeed."

I thought this story could inspire folks to pursue their dreams. To take a chance. That's when I decided to approach my publisher to see if she would consider publishing my memoir, and she said yes. So the book's official launch date from BWL Publishing is January 1, 2021. What a way to start the new year!

Memoir writing allows the writer to visit events in her life and see them through a new perspective--time. Life storytellers discover more about themselves during the journey. And that's what it is--a journey toward a new understanding. 

I hope you will try writing a few stories you remember about your life. Sharing the good old days with friends and family and getting their perspectives on what occurred so many years ago is fun and at times, eye-opening.  Believe me, each person will have a different recollection about past experiences and sometimes conflict with your memories. But since it's your story, you tell it the way you remember it! You are the author of your life.

November is National Life Writing Month

I offer workshops in life storytelling because I am a life story evangelist! I want to let you know November is National Life Writing Month. Take this opportunity to break out a journal or notebook and make some entries about your life. If you don't know how to begin, search online for "life story writing prompts" or "memoir prompts" to spark some memories. Have fun!

Arranging a Dream: A Memoir by J.Q. Rose
Click here to pre-order

About J.Q. Rose: 

Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.”  She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her mystery books. Her published mysteries are Deadly Undertaking, Terror on Sunshine Boulevard and Dangerous Sanctuary released by Books We Love Publishing. 

Author J.Q. Rose

Using her storytelling skills, she provides entertainment and information in articles featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and online magazines. J.Q. taught elementary school for several years and never lost the love for teaching passed down from her teacher grandmother and mother. She satisfies that aspect of her character by presenting workshops on Creative Writing and Writing Your Life Story. 

When J.Q.  isn’t writing, she enjoys photography, playing Pegs and Jokers board games, and traveling with her husband. They spend winters in Florida and summers up north with her four grandsons and granddaughter and their parents too.

Continuity by Helen Henderson

Windmaster Golem by Helen Henderson
Click the cover for purchase information.

The original inspiration for the title was the post,  My Grandmother by J. Q. Rose. It was expanded with the approach of the holiday season and the reflections and traditions that come with it. In many ways, I can blame (oops, I mean credit) my heritage for my writing in the fantasy genre. My mother and both grandmothers taught me a love of reading. I grew up knowing the simple life of a farm and my favorite hangout was the county library. Yet I had the contrast of technology due to the aviation flight crew career of my father.

The past may give way to the present and form the basis for continuity into the future, but not always. My one grandmother was a skilled seamstress. However that particular talent skipped not one, but two generations on one branch of the family tree. As you read through my books you might notice that I don't focus on food. Grammy B gave us her Old World recipes. While there have been many attempts over the years to re-create her halupka (filled cabbage), some dishes, especially lokse and pierogies just don't measure up. So in my writing I turned to another part of my heritage and the themes of duty and honor due to my kin (and kin-in-laws) who served in uniform from the Civil War to the present time.

A heritage recipee- Lokse

 

A question I worry about when writing these posts is not only sharing too much personal information, but also too much about my books, an issue with a series. Sometimes the characters can seem as real as the person next door. They have their own lives and family history and possibly their own version of continuity. However, their full story can give away a book's ending.

To celebrate the release of Windmaster Golem, let me introduce Kiansel, the lovely lady on the cover at the beginning of the post. I first heard of her when her father sent her away to protect her from the attention of the leader of the false oracle's mercenary troops. Now years (and books later,) she is an instructor at the Temple of Givneh, which is now led by her brother.

And for the future? Magic calls Kia with its siren lure. She has an intolerable decision for to study the Way of magic, means abandoning her heritage, her family, and rejecting the teachings of the temple. I don't like spoilers, so I'm not telling what the future holds.

~Until next month, stay safe and read. Helen

To purchase the Windmaster Novels: BWL

Find out more about me and my novels at Journey to Worlds of Imagination.
 

Follow me online at Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter.
 

Helen Henderson lives in western Tennessee with her husband. While she doesn’t have any pets in residence at the moment, she often visits a husky and a feisty who have adopted her as one of their pack.