Nancy: I am intrigued with your article's title. Explain?
Kristy: I had an uncomfortable experience a number of years ago when
I attended a workshop where a writer brought in pages and pages of sex scenes
to be critiqued. She read one steamy passage and then said, now, skip 70 pages
and then she’d read another libido boosting scene. After the workshop, after I
stopped blushing, I asked her why she’d saved and clustered her sex scenes just
for us. Her answer, my agent said the reason my novels aren’t selling is
because they need the sex scenes so I’m adding them. Since then, this writer is
self-publishing her novels, sweet romances, sans sex scenes, and she’s sold
thousands of her books. I think she’s financially doing much better than she
would have had she published within the traditional romance industry AND she’s
able to look her grandmother in the eye.
Nancy: I hear you. My mom reads my nearly complete draft, which is why the sexual tension and somewhat spicy lovemaking in my books is not what I would call erotic or graphic. My characters don't curse very much, either.
Kristy: This reaffirms my belief that there’s a giant gaping hole in
the publishing industry. I believe in the power of words. I believe in the
power of stories and I also believe not every story has to be powerful.
Entertainment is as valuable as enlightenment. Sometimes we just need to get
away. Go somewhere else--take our mind off of the nitty-gritty of everyday. And
even if we can’t afford an African safari or romp in the Amazon, those
experiences are available to us, FOR FREE, at the public library. We can have
romance, mystery and intrigue if we possess a library card.
I’ll admit I cried when the Border’s Bookstore closed.
Whenever I felt sad I’d go to Borders and buy a book and a chocolate. It didn’t
happen often, I’m usually upbeat, but when I’d feel trampled upon and world
weary, I knew that I could be lifted up just by going to the closest bookstore.
Chocolates and books were there, waiting.
Nancy: I feel this way, too! There was a lovely Borders near my house, and I miss it very much.
Kristy: My son couldn’t understand my loss. You made your choice when you bought your
I-pad, he said. I want libraries,
bookstores AND books in the clouds, I replied.
I want books with romance, mystery and intrigue, but I don’t
want books with titillation, excessive violence or gore. And that’s the genius
of anthologies like
Autumn's Kiss: Ten
Contemporary & Historical Sweet Romances.
Ten sweet stories of love. Ten great authors. Ten ways to
celebrate Autumn.
Falling in love is timeless. From a sexy medieval stonemason
to a small town shopkeeper - Regency England to Napa Vineyards, this selection
of Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal and Time-Travel short romance stories
is sure to capture your heart.
Featuring my novella, The Witching Well
THE WITCHING WELL. KristyTate. Time Travel
Celia Quinn holds Jason West responsible for the demise of
her grandmother's dress shop, so when she takes a sip of water from the
witching well and is transported back to Regency England, Jason West is the
last person she wants to see--or kiss.
Now available on
Amazon for only $2.99.
More About the Author
Kristy Tate is the mom of six incredibly brilliant and
beautiful children, and the author of several novels. Although many of her
novels have won awards and have ranked on Amazon's top 100 list,
Kristy has yet
to realize her lifelong dream of owning a Schnauzer farm. Kristy studied
English literature at Brigham Young University and at BYU's International
Center in London.
For updates on Kristy's upcoming novels, please visit her
BLOG
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