Saturday, December 20, 2014

On Saturday, December 20, 2014 by Adria in

Feel like treating yourself to something Parisian for the holiday season? Velvet Morning Press is pleased to announce that Paris, Rue des Martyrs, a novel about four strangers whose lives entwine in the neighborhood of Montmartre, is now available for preorder in ebook format. Click here to order your copy! 

The print version will be released on Jan. 5, 2015.

Paris, Rue des Martyrs, by Adria J. Cimino (co-founder of Velvet Morning Press), is about encounters that make a difference…

Four strangers in Paris. Each one is on a quest: to uncover a family secret, to grasp a new chance at love, to repair mistakes of the past. Four stories entwine, four quests become one, as their paths cross amid the beauty, squalor, animation and desolation of a street in Paris, the rue des Martyrs. 

Rafael's search for his birth mother leads him to love and grim family secrets. Cecile's view of herself as an unsatisfied housewife is radically changed by the promise of a passionate liaison. Andre, an aging actor, troubled by the arrival of the son he abandoned years ago, must make a choice, to either lose his son forever or put aside pride and seek redemption. Mira travels to Paris to begin a new life and forget about love... or so she intends. 

Four strangers, four stories, one riveting novel.

What reviewers have said about Paris, Rue des Martyrs

Adria Cimino proves a reliable narrator, guiding readers through a tangled maze, and rewards them with the realization of the interconnectedness of her characters’ lives, as well as the readers' own.” – Ivory Owl Reviews (4 Stars)

I was so riveted by this book that I stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish it and read it in one sitting. I really enjoyed how complex the characters were, each one had a dramatic backstory and vastly different personalities.” – Mom's Small Victories (4 Stars)


Happy reading! 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

On Wednesday, December 17, 2014 by Adria in
Velvet Morning Press, The Book Wheel and authors announce a month-long writing challenge... which will be published as an anthology!


Imagine a handful of authors locked in a castle for a month with one mission: to write a short story on the theme of legacy. Who are they? Many are from The Book Wheel’s 30 Authors event. Others are previously published authors or new voices you will be delighted to discover.

What will inspire them? What's the biggest challenge? How is their writing going? Follow the #30Authors hashtag on Twitter from Jan. 9 through the end of the month and find out! And feel free to tweet with us!

So once the stories are complete, what happens? Velvet Morning Press, in collaboration with The Book Wheel, will publish the anthology “Legacy” in spring 2015. It will be available in print and ebook form. All author proceeds will benefit the charity Paws for Reading! Thank you, authors!

Allison Hiltz, founder of The Book Wheel and creator of the 30 Authors event, will write the book's preface as well as participate in the tweeting and other activities. Thanks, Allison, for joining us in this adventure!
Want a sneak peek at our contributors? Here’s the list:

Regina Calcaterra, New York Times best-selling author of Etched in Sand
Kristopher Jansma, author of The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards
Jenny Milchman, author of Cover of Snow and Ruin Falls
Marissa Stapley, author of Mating for Life
Paula Lee, author of Deer Hunting in Paris: A Memoir of God, Guns, and Game Meat
J.J. Hensley, author of Resolve and Measure Twice
Maureen Foley, author of Women Float
Didier Quémener, contributor to anthologies That's Paris and Mystery in Mind
Stephanie Carroll, author of A White Room
David Whitehouse, author of In Search of Rwanda's Gnocidaires: French Justice and the Lost Decades
Piper Punches, author of The Waiting Room and Missing Girl
Lizzie Harwood, author of soon-to-be-released short story collection Triumph
Vicki Lesage, author of Confessions of a Paris Party Girl and Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer
Adria J. Cimino, author of Paris, Rue des Martyrs (re-release January 2015)

Watch this space for further details!

Monday, December 15, 2014

On Monday, December 15, 2014 by Vicki Lesage in
You saw our Gift Guide for Book Lovers and thought, "Wow, those would be great for my friend/spouse/dog," but then you totally forgot to buy them. You might still have time for them to arrive if you order now. Or, you can purchase an ebook and have it delivered wirelessly right away. No one has to know you waited until the last minute!

Check out our guide for some last-minute faves!

Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Last-Minute Gifts for Books Lovers:

Married by Midnight: A Christmas Story
by Talli Roland
A light, fun holiday read from one of chick lit's greatest writers. We dare you to not get in the holiday spirit after reading this!


The Big Book of Parenting Tweets: Featuring the Most Hilarious Parents on Twitter
by Kate Hall
The holidays are hectic, especially if you have kids asking every five minutes when they can open presents. Take a break with this book of bite-sized "we've been there" nuggets of parenting funnies.


Scary Mommy's Guide to Surviving the Holidays
by Jill Smokler
It may feel impossible but you CAN survive the holidays. This humorous collection will make you laugh as you countdown to December 26th.


The Outlander Series 7-Book Bundle: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone
by Diana Gabaldon
Hey there, big spender! Rather than struggle to find a bunch of small gifts, give this 7-book bundle and be done with it! It will provide hours of entertainment that your book lover is sure to thank you for.

We wish you all a happy and safe holiday season!

Friday, December 5, 2014

On Friday, December 05, 2014 by Adria in , ,

You’ve done it! With 50,000 words on the page, you have accomplished your National Novel Writing Month goal and written a novel (albeit a rough version). So now what?

I’ve already given some practical advice in an earlier post I wrote for medium.com. Check it out here

If what you have written in November is indeed a first draft (rather than a rewrite of an earlier idea), then my best advice is: Favor setting it aside and editing your text to the best of your ability. Have a look at Velvet Morning Press’ tips.  

At that point, if your novel falls into the categories we publish at Velvet Morning Press, how about submitting it to us? Check out our submission guidelines

And whether you’ve reached 5,000 words or 50,000, congratulate yourself. As long as you have an idea and feel inspired to write, you’ve won!

Monday, December 1, 2014

On Monday, December 01, 2014 by Vicki Lesage in
Cyber Monday is here! So if your typing fingers aren't worn out yet, we'd like to recommend a few gifts for the book lover on your list. Or, if you're a book lover yourself, you might want to add these to your wishlist!

Gifts for Book Lovers

Six Picks for Book Lovers

The French Kitchen: 200 Recipes From the Master of French Cooking
by Michel Roux Jr.

Exquisite photos, luscious classic recipes such as Lyonnaise onion soup and the charming French chef Michel Roux Jr. Who could ask for more?


Manhattan Transfer: A Novel
by John Dos Passos

Take a step back to New York in the '20s. One of our favorite places. One of our favorite eras. Enough said.


Electric Kettle with Tea Infuser

Nothing like curling up with a cup of tea and a good book. We've added this tea brewer to our list!


French Press Coffee Maker

For coffee + books, a French press is the way to go! Crack open your book and pour yourself a cup from this gourmet coffee press, and you'll be transported to a Parisian sidewalk cafe!


Kindle Paperwhite

We love the simplicity of the Kindle Paperwhite--we have enough distractions as it is, and when we sit down to read, we just want to read! The paperwhite is a great transition for print-book-lovers into the digital world.


Kindle Paperwhite Cover

The lucky recipient of the Kindle Paperwhite (above) will want to protect it. So throw in this cover as a bonus gift! The easy part? Choosing this cover. The hard part? Choosing which color!


Happy reading, and happy holidays from Velvet Morning Press!