Back to Bayou Sabine, Free on Amazon!

Our author Lauren Faulkenberry offers you a taste of what's to come with this free novella! Back to Bayou Sabine is a prequel to Lauren's novel Bayou My Love, set for release early next year.

When Enza Parker’s mother abandoned her and her father fifteen years ago, Enza abruptly stopped spending summers with her grandmother in Louisiana. Her father removed all traces of the two women from Enza’s life.

Now, thirty-one-year-old Enza is drawn back to Bayou Sabine to attend her grandmother’s funeral. In the bayou, memories surge forth, and questions about her past and her family’s intentions flood Enza’s mind. And an encounter with an enigmatic young man offers a hint of what her future may bring—if she doesn’t turn her back on her roots.

Get Back to Bayou Sabine for free on Amazon!

And stay tuned... Bayou My Love is set for release in March 2016.

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Stuff your stockings with these Christmas picks!

Make your season merry with some of our favorite holiday-themed books!

Christmas Confessions & Cocktails, by Vicki Lesage
American-turned-Parisian Vicki tells it like it is, from her crazy Christmases growing up in the Midwest to her even crazier holidays in her new home in France. Bizarre gifts, stomach-turning food, and holiday travel disasters are just some of the tales you'll chuckle at in this installment of the Paris Confessions series.

This Christmas-themed memoir features 25 funny and heartwarming essays, all with a tenuous tie to Christmas, and pairs each with a delicious drink recipe. So grab your martini shaker and get ready for tasty cocktails and hearty laughs this holiday season!

Christmas, Actually, by Collected Authors
You never know how Christmas will turn out! Festive and fun, or dreary and dull? While the holidays are magical for some, they are somber for others. Christmas, Actually is a holiday collection that runs the gamut of seasonal emotions: humor, hope, joy, confusion, excitement.

Curl up next to the fire, and laugh, cry and dream along with the characters in this collection of holiday tales. Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future... All play a part in Christmas, Actually.

Survival of the Christmas Spirit, by Aimee Horton
“Cooking for nineteen people will be a cinch!” Ever-optimistic Dottie Harris is preparing for the biggest and best Christmas celebration ever, and nothing—not even unexpected guests or running out of gin—will get her down.

But as always, things don't run smoothly for Dottie, and it's not long before her two energetic children, hapless husband and a nasty stomach bug wreak havoc on her carefully planned spreadsheets.

Can Dottie throw the perfect family Christmas (without so much as a swig of gin to help her through) or will preparing for the festivities get the best of her? One thing's for sure: This will be a Christmas to remember!

Mistletoe Mansion, by Samantha Tonge
When Kimmy’s Sensible Boyfriend told her he didn’t approve of her longing for the high life or her dream of starting a cupcake company Kimmy thought she could compromise – after all, she did return those five-inch Paris Hilton heels! But asking her to trade in cake-making for a job sorting potatoes is a step too far.

So, newly single - and newly homeless – Kimmy needs a dusting of Christmas luck. And, masquerading as a professional house sitter, her new temporary home is the stunning Mistletoe Mansion. Soon she’s best buds with glamorous next door golf WAG Melissa, and orders are pouring in for her fabulous Merry Berry cupcakes! The only thorn in her side is handsome handyman Luke, a distraction she definitely doesn’t need. And talking of distractions, something very odd is going on at night…

Kimmy is finally living the life she’s always wanted. But will her glimpse into the glittering lifestyle of the rich and famous be as glamorous as she’s always imagined…?

A New York Christmas, by Anne Perry
Anne Perry’s new Christmas novel is an irresistible tale of love, betrayal, greed, murder, and selfless devotion. For the first time, Perry’s annual yuletide offering is set in New York City—a sparkling young metropolis bursting with life, promise, and subtle menace. Once more, Anne Perry delivers a suspenseful, deeply moving novel that captures the essence of the holiday spirit.



This is Christmas, by Talli Roland
Four warm and witty Christmas novellas by bestselling author Talli Roland. Mistletoe in Manhattan: Holly will never forget this Christmas... even if she wants to. Last Christmas: Sometimes, the best Christmas present is forgetting the past. Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts: Does every relationship deserve a happy ending? Married by Midnight: Christmas is coming, and so is the biggest decision of Kate's life.



Festive Feast, by Michele Gorman
As regular as that ugly jumper from your auntie and fights over the last mince pie, each year Michele's feel-good novellas have entertained us over Christmas, and now all three are available in a single collection!






Tovi the Penguin goes away for Christmas, by Janina Rossiter
Tovi and his friends are going away for Christmas. They're very excited! But will Santa find them? Let's find out...

Great for the 2 to 6-year-old on your holiday list!




The Repeat Year, by Andrea Lochen
Everyone has days, weeks, even months they wish they could do over—but what about an entire year? After living through the worst twelve months of her life, intensive care nurse Olive Watson is given a second chance to relive her past and attempt to discover where she went wrong…





The Surgeon's Christmas Baby, by Marin Thomas
After a tour in Afghanistan and years as a trauma surgeon, Alonso Marquez needs to get out of Albuquerque and away from his past. A trip seems like the perfect solution, but he doesn't make it far. Sparks fly when Alonso stops to help a gorgeous rancher fix her car, and just like that his road trip is cut short by one very hot night…with some very real consequences.

Hannah Buck didn't plan on starting a family that night. Her hands are already full managing the ranch and helping her troubled half brother. But Hannah sees the good in Alonso and knows he will be an incredible dad to their baby—if only he could see it, too. Alonso has spent his life saving others. Now, with Hannah at his side, can he finally save himself?

Scary Mommy's Guide to Surviving the Holidays, by Jill Smokler
From New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed “Scary Mommy” blogger Jill Smokler comes a funny and practical guide filled with essays, recipes, and tried-and-true tips sure to get any parent through the holiday season—without losing your marbles.





Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat, by Jen Mann
In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mann’s naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who can’t take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (“Joyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.”). And on her nice list... well, she’s working on that one.


Pick up one (or more!) of these books for your or for that special someone on your list! And Happy Holidays from Velvet Morning Press!

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VMP Celebrates Black Friday Early With this Great Deal!

It's time to start the holiday shopping! And we've got the perfect gift for the reader in your life... CHRISTMAS, ACTUALLY, an anthology of holiday stories, is on sale for $0.99 today through Nov. 23. 

CHRISTMAS, ACTUALLY includes stories from six Velvet Morning Press authors.

You never know how Christmas will turn out! Festive and fun, or dreary and dull? While the holidays are magical for some, they are somber for others. CHRISTMAS, ACTUALLY is a holiday collection that runs the gamut of seasonal emotions: humor, hope, joy, confusion, excitement. 

Curl up next to the fire, and laugh, cry and dream along with the characters in this collection of holiday tales. Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future... 

Find CHRISTMAS, ACTUALLY on Amazon! (Deal also available in the U.K.)

Happy Reading!

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Laugh Your Way Through November for $0.99...

Love parenting humor? Well then you'll love Dottie Harris, the so-British mom whose life is filled with hilarious adventures. And you can meet her for just $0.99... on sale today through Nov. 20.

SURVIVAL OF THE GINNEST 

by Aimee Horton 

Meet Dottie Harris. Dottie spent her late 20s working her way up the career ladder, but things are about to change. In this modern-day diary, Dottie, after announcing her pregnancy, turns to social networking to build a new social life. She quickly begins to rely on it—along with gin—as a way to reach out and remind herself of the funny side of the frustrations of motherhood.

Find SURVIVAL OF THE GINNEST on Amazon! (Deal also available in the U.K.)

Happy Reading!

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Amazon U.K. Lightning Deal... SURVIVAL OF THE GINNEST

Ready, set, go! You have from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. UK time today to pick up a print copy of SURVIVAL OF THE GINNEST by Aimee Horton for only £5.00 as part of an Amazon "Lightning Deal." 

So don't wait a second longer to discover this hilarious book and its spunky heroine Dottie Harris! 

Meet Dottie Harris. She was living the self-indulgent lifestyle of every childless couple... and then she had kids.

Struggling through pregnancy and motherhood, Dottie turns to social networking. She quickly becomes reliant on it, using it as a way to reach out to others and come to terms with the funny side of motherhood, whilst realising she’s not the only person to consider anything after 7 a.m. a lie in.

Follow Dottie on her journey—made up entirely of Facebook-style updates—spanning four years of her sleep-deprived life. She bluntly shares her worries, insecurities, tears and tantrums, along with the things nobody ever tells you about motherhood!

Full of humor and honesty, Dottie's modern-day diary gives a glimpse into motherhood as she trades in her social life for the sofa and a bottle of gin, watching her children grow older while she grows less enthusiastic.

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Curl Up With a Book (or Two) for $0.99...

November is a great time to stay out of the cold and curl up with a good book. And we've got two great ones on sale for $0.99 from today through Nov. 16...

LEGACY: AN ANTHOLOGY features stories from New York Times best selling author Regina Calcaterra, Sherwood Anderson Award winner Kristopher Jansma and Canadian best selling author Marissa Stapley, along with 11 others. 

A rock 'n roll concert that will forever be etched in the minds of the fans who witnessed it. An adult orphan searching for a "forever home." A survivor from World War II, on a journey to find one last memory of her mother. 

What do these stories have in common? They all answer the question: What will you leave behind? This chilling, stunning, eerie, and hopeful collection of fiction and nonfiction stories will stick with you long after you've finished reading it. 

Find LEGACY for $0.99 on Amazon! (Deal also available in the U.K.)

**

CHRONICLE OF THE MOUND BUILDERS: AN ANGELA HUNTER MYSTERY

by Elle Marie

Archaeologist Dr. Angela Hunter discovers an ancient codex at a Mississippian Indian dig site. Knowing these Native Americans, the Mound Builders, had no written language, she is eager to solve the mystery of the 700-year-old, perfectly preserved artifact. Angela races to translate the Aztec pictograms but other forces want the codex and will do anything to get it. Can she uncover the secrets of the chronicle before the tragic events of the past are repeated today?

Find CHRONICLE OF THE MOUND BUILDERS for $0.99 on Amazon! Deal also available in the U.K.)

Happy Reading!

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An Enchanted Giveaway: Win 5 books with a touch of magic!

Forget about the gray days of November with five books that will transport you—with a bit of magic. The stories involve magicians or time travel or magical realism, along with fascinating characters and settings. Please enter via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post. But hurry -- the giveaway only runs through Nov. 17th. One winner will be randomly selected to win paperback copies of all five books. And now for the enchanting books!

The Magician’s Lie

By Greer Macallister

"This is a book in which storylines twist, spiral and come together again in an ending as explosive as a poof of smoke from your chimney...or a top hat." ? Oprah.com

The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. One night in Waterloo, Iowa, with young policeman Virgil Holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an all-too-real murder? 

When Arden's husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, the answer seems clear. But when Virgil happens upon the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a very different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless-and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free... and it will take all he has to see through the smoke and mirrors.

**

Close to Destiny

By Adria J. Cimino

"Adria J. Cimino accomplishes something that is beyond difficult to do—she successfully blurs fact and fiction, reality and fantasy, to keep not only her main character, but also the reader, guessing." -- Erin Celello, author of Learning to Stay

Alternating between the reality of day and the mystery of night, CLOSE TO DESTINY is a magical realism story of déjà vu and righting past wrongs that will delight fans of authors like Sarah Addison Allen and Erin Morgenstern.

Kat is struggling to get her life back together and put a past of anorexia and suicide attempts behind her. She needs to expel the inexplicable inner demons that have plagued her for years, and patch up the rocky relationship with her fiancé. But when she arrives in London for a therapeutic art project, an encounter with an enigmatic woman named Destiny upsets her views of reality and plunges her into a quest for the truth about her past—an astonishing past that reaches back well before her birth.

After midnight, Destiny leads Kat to extravagant parties at an eerie luxury hotel and introduces her to a man who seems to know her better than she knows herself. Kat tries to convince herself this is all part of a strange dream. But as evidence mounts suggesting otherwise, Kat is torn between fascination and fear.

Will Kat run away, or will she seize the fleeting opportunity to change her life and find true love?

A story of the role of destiny in life.

**

The Last Will of Moira Leahy

By Therese Walsh

"[W]rapped in luscious, dark atmosphere. A magical debut . . ."  - Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells

Maeve Leahy is a busy professor of languages at a university in upstate New York. So busy that she leaves little time for memories of her lost twin, Moira; her fractured family in Castine, Maine; and the music she left behind in the wake of tragedy nine years ago. Until a childhood relic and series of anonymous notes resurrects her long-dead dreams, a lost language, her most painful recollections, and prompts her to cross an ocean in search of ancient history. 

There, Maeve will learn new truths about her past, and come face to face with the one thing she truly fears. Only then can she choose between the safe life she's built for herself and one of risk, with bonds she knows can be wrenchingly delicate and more enduring than time.

**

Lemongrass Hope

By Amy Impellizzeri

"Amy Impellizzeri is a bold and tender writer, who makes the impossible feel not only real, but strangely familiar." -Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times #1 Best-Selling Author

Set in the past, and present, LEMONGRASS HOPE is a captivating and unpredictable love story, with a dose of magical realism and time travel, that fans of authors such as Audrey Niffenegger, Alice Hoffman, and Toni Morrison will appreciate and embrace. Like Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret, Lemongrass Hope weaves together ordinary lives and events to tell an extraordinary tale of connection, loss, renewal, and of course, hope. 

As Kate Sutton's decade-long marriage to Rob erodes and unravels, Kate fears that the secrets she guards from the world, including Rob's emergency room proposal, and a whirlwind love affair from her past, have always doomed her fate. When she unwittingly receives a glimpse at what her life could have been like had she made different choices all those years ago, it is indeed all she could have ever wanted. A confirmation of her greatest hope, and her greatest fears. 

LEMONGRASS HOPE will draw you in with characters so relatable and real, you will cheer for them one moment and flinch the next. A tale that invites you to suspend disbelief-or perhaps decide to believe once and for all-in the potent power of love and connection over time and choice. Oh, and the dress. There's this lemongrass dress . . .

**

Imaginary Things

By Andrea Lochen

“Cleverly written with a perfect touch of magic, Imaginary Things will take you on a journey of the unexpected, and leave you contemplating the power of your own mind.” -- Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, authors of Your Perfect Life

Burned out and broke, twenty-two-year-old single mother, Anna Jennings, moves back to her grandparents’ rural home for the summer with her four-year-old son, David, in tow. Living next door is Jamie Presswood, Anna’s childhood friend, now much more handsome and hardened than she remembers. Jamie reminds her of simpler times—Ferris wheels and sparklers, picnics and Neapolitan ice cream—long before she met her unstable ex, and everything changed. 

But the sudden appearance of shadowy dinosaurs awakens Anna from her small-town spell, and forces her to realize that she’s either lost her mind or can somehow see her son’s active imagination. Frightened, Anna struggles to protect David, but what she uncovers along the way is completely unexpected: revelations about what her son’s imaginary friends may truly represent, and long buried secrets about her own childhood.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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In the Mood for Humor? Check Out Our Latest Release!

Dottie Harris, who we got to know and love in SURVIVAL OF THE GINNEST by Aimee Horton, is back in a full-length novel!

Velvet Morning Press announces the release of MOTHERS RUINED by Aimee Horton in ebook and paperback. 

Dottie Harris has a knack for stumbling into chaotic situations, gin & tonic in hand!

When Dottie and Henry Harris move to their new house, Dottie’s only desire is to make friends in the neighbourhood. But Dottie, just home from delivering her third child, is struggling to adjust to village life. Recently promoted Henry travels a lot, and the neighbours aren't very welcoming (although that could be because when Dottie first met them, she had dyed her children green).

So when Dottie accidentally hears her neighbours’ conversations over her baby monitor, she can’t help but use the information in her quest to build new friendships.

Of course, eavesdropping never ends well, and when Dottie discovers that two of her neighbours are having an affair, she’s horrified. Worse still, the locals are convinced she’s the one who’s doing the cheating. It’s up to Dottie to clear her name and expose the real cheat—in her signature haphazard way!

Check out MOTHERS RUINED on Amazon!

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Parisian Encounters... PARIS, RUE DES MARTYRS is on Sale for $0.99

Stroll along a Parisian street and into the lives of four unforgettable characters... Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria J. Cimino is on sale for $0.99 on Amazon through Oct. 13. (Offer also available on Amazon U.K.)

Amazon Bestseller in Literature & Fiction 

Some encounters 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. 

Find Paris, Rue des Martyrs on Amazon!

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1990s Hollywood and a Complicated Friendship: ENTANGLEMENT on Sale for $0.99

Entanglement by Katie Rose Guest Pryal is the perfect book to curl up with this fall... And now you can do that for only $0.99! Until Oct. 8 on Amazon. (Offer available on Amazon U.K. as well.)

Awkward, 21-year-old Greta Donovan, the fiercely intelligent daughter of a philandering physics professor, doesn’t relate to people nearly as well as she relates to facts and figures. While Greta gets quarks and string theory, she hasn’t a clue where men are concerned. 

Which is exactly why she doesn’t see it coming when someone tries to kill her. 

Newly transplanted in L.A. after being kicked out of her father's house, Greta moves in with her best friend Daphne Saito, a troubled girl with an abusive past. The charismatic Daphne teaches Greta how to wear stilettos, apply lip gloss, and navigate 1990s Hollywood nightlife. Daphne is determined to succeed, and she drags an unwilling Greta into the limelight with her. 

When Greta walks out on her, Daphne tries to win her back. But Daphne’s desperate tactics just push Greta further away. Reeling, Daphne betrays her friend. Can Greta survive? Can she forgive? 

Find Entanglement on Amazon!

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A Taste of Paris for $0.99? Mais, Oui!!

Feel like a trip to Paris? Well this book will transport you there! 

That's Paris: An Anthology of Life, Love and Sarcasm in the City of Light is only $0.99 on Amazon through Oct. 7. (Find the same offer on Amazon U.K.)

#1 Hot New Release in Essays & Travelogues

Paris—the most romantic, beautiful and frustrating city in the world!

If you've ever traveled to Paris, lived in the City of Light or dreamed of setting foot on its cobblestoned streets, you'll enjoy escaping into this collection of short stories about France's famed capital. From culinary treats (and catastrophes) to swoon-worthy romantic encounters (and heartbreaking mishaps), this anthology takes you on a journey through one of the most famous cities in the world.

View this cosmopolitan metropolis through the chic eyes of Parisians, francophiles and travelers who fell in love with the city and haven't quite gotten around to leaving yet... That's Paris: a glimpse into living, loving and surviving in the City of Light.

Author proceeds benefit the charity Room to Read, which promotes literacy and gender equality in education. Thanks for supporting the cause!

Find That's Paris on Amazon!

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VMP Authors Offer You a Free Sample...

Get to know the writing of VMP authors with these great FREE books! Available for download on Amazon now. If you enjoy the books, please consider leaving review and recommending the books to the readers in your life!

LOVE AND ENTROPY
by Katie Rose Guest Pryal

One hot North Carolina summer, Daphne Saito and her boyfriend, Sutton James, encounter awkward physics geek Greta Donovan, a fellow college student at elite Cameron University. But while Daphne sees that Greta is someone worth befriending, Sutton’s motives are far from pure.

A retelling of Shaw’s classic Pygmalion, and filled with unexpected heroism, Love and Entropy reveals what can happen when we let our vision of what others should be cloud our vision of who they are.

Love and Entropy is a prequel to the novel Entanglement, which picks up the story of Daphne and Greta in LA.

Click to download.

SURVIVAL OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

By Aimee Horton

“Cooking for nineteen people will be a cinch!” Ever-optimistic Dottie Harris is preparing for the biggest and best Christmas celebration ever, and nothing—not even unexpected guests or running out of gin—will get her down. 

But as always, things don't run smoothly for Dottie, and it's not long before her two energetic children, hapless husband and a nasty stomach bug wreak havoc on her carefully planned spreadsheets. 

Can Dottie throw the perfect family Christmas (without so much as a swig of gin to help her through) or will preparing for the festivities get the best of her? One thing's for sure: This will be a Christmas to remember! 

Click to download.

PETITE CONFESSIONS: A HUMOROUS MEMOIRETTE

By Vicki Lesage

#1 Amazon Best Selling Author 

From champagne bottles to baby bottles, this memoirette offers a humorous look at an American mom's decade in Paris. 

Party girl Vicki moved to the City of Light hoping to drink her fill of wine and fall in love. She accomplished her goal, but not without bumps along the way: romantic encounters gone awry, absurd French bureaucracy threatening her sanity, and two adorable yet energetic kids keeping her on her toes. This memoirette takes you on a journey of the ups and downs of Vicki's life abroad. 

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to open another bottle of wine. 

Click to download.

BEFORE PARIS

By Adria J. Cimino

A prequel to Amazon Best Selling Novel Paris, Rue des Martyrs 

Before the lives of four strangers collided in Paris, there was one young man. 

Before Paris, a prequel to novel Paris, Rue des Martyrs, tells the story of how Rafael, son of an emerald broker in Colombia, found his way to the City of Light. One fateful and dangerous night in emerald territory, he learns his father was carrying a secret. And the key to unlock it can only be found in Paris. 

Click to download.

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FROSTED COWBOY Cover Reveal!

It’s cover reveal time! And here is the cover for our upcoming Chick Lit book FROSTED COWBOY by Charlene Ross… Stroll on over to Traveling With T for the official cover reveal with an excerpt from the novel! 

“Frosted Cowboy is a smart, sassy, hilarious debut novel, and Charlene Ross is a writer to watch!”—Claire Cook, New York Times bestselling author of Must Love Dogs

Laney Delaney was living the dream. She had a fabulous fiancé and a career as a couture wedding dress designer. But after catching her (not-so-fabulous) fiancé cheating and being accused of upstaging one of her brides at a wedding, Laney finds herself with no boyfriend, no job and no plan.

After some serious soul searching, Laney is determined to start over. She embarks on a design career that takes her from a Rodeo Drive boutique to a flea market stall, but it’s worth it—even if it means she has to suck up to her childhood nemesis for help.

At the same time, three very different men vie for her attention: a masseuse/screenwriter with an unfortunate reputation, a stable fireman who just doesn’t spark a romantic flame, and the fireman’s ridiculously hot co-worker whose illicit under-the-mistletoe kiss still burns Laney’s lips.

Professionally and romantically, Laney is on the verge of reinventing her life and finding her true passion—but can she learn to trust again and believe in herself?

FROSTED COWBOY, set for release in February 2016

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VMP Announces Five New Titles for Winter/Spring Release

Fall is in the air… just the right time to settle down with a good book! At Velvet Morning Press, we’re preparing enough new titles to keep you reading through spring. Here’s a sneak peek at our upcoming titles!

Frosted Cowboy by Charlene Ross (Chick Lit)

Laney Delaney was living the dream. She had a fabulous fiancé and a career as a couture wedding dress designer. But after catching her (not-so-fabulous) fiancé cheating and being accused of upstaging one of her brides at a wedding, Laney finds herself with no boyfriend, no job and no plan. After some serious soul searching and a few intriguing encounters, Laney is determined to start over. But can she learn to trust again and believe in herself?

Bayou My Love by Lauren Faulkenberry (Women’s Fiction)

Thirty-year-old Enza Parker is struggling to change the trajectory of her life. To prove to her overbearing father she can flip a house on her own, she takes on a project much too ambitious for her––and it puts her in the path of the most alluring man she’s ever met. Set in Louisiana’s romantic Bayou Sabine, Bayou My Love is a story of passion, family and finding oneself. (Part I in a series)

Mothers Ruined by Aimee Horton (Mom Lit/Humor)

Survival of the Ginnest’s Dottie Harris is back with more hilarious adventures—this time in a full-length novel. Dottie, her husband and two toddlers move to a new neighborhood just as baby-on-the-way arrives. As Dottie juggles her newly expanded family and an endless list of daily tasks, her only desire is to make friends with the coffee clique across the street. But the road to friendship proves to be bumpy, filled with mishaps, secrets and plenty of gin!

Letters for Scarlet by Julie Gardner (Women’s Fiction)

Corie Harper is twenty-eight years old when she is first visited by a ghost—in the form of a graduation letter she forgot she wrote. Although she spent a decade burying that desperate girl and her regrets, each page resurrects the past, dragging Corie back to a time when all she craved was Scarlet Hinden’s friendship and Tuck Slater’s heart. But she couldn’t keep them both and keep her word. Letters for Scarlet traces one friendship from deep roots to branches torn by broken promises and loss.

A Perfumer's Secret by Adria J. Cimino (Contemporary Fiction)

The quest for a stolen perfume formula awakens passion, rivalry and family secrets in this story set in the fragrant flower fields of the South of France... Perfumer Zoe Flore travels to Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, to collect a formula: her inheritance from the family she never knew existed. When the formula is stolen from her, Zoe sets off on a search for it. But Zoe isn’t the only one seeking the formula...

Watch this space for details! Happy reading!

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It's Never Too Early for Holiday Spirit With These New Releases!

Jingle bells, jingle bells… OK, we know it’s only September, but it’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit.

Velvet Morning Press announces the release of two books that you’ll want to add to your holiday shopping list!

Christmas, Actually: A Holiday Collection

This multi-author anthology, featuring Velvet Morning Press authors, is a collection filled with Christmas humor, Christmas spirit, and even a little Christmas romance.

You never know how Christmas will turn out! Festive and fun, or dreary and dull? While the holidays are magical for some, they are somber for others. Christmas, Actually is a holiday collection that runs the gamut of seasonal emotions: humor, hope, joy, confusion, excitement. 

Curl up next to the fire, and laugh, cry and dream along with the characters in this collection of holiday tales. Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future... All play a part in Christmas, Actually. 

Find it on Amazon! 

Christmas Confessions and Cocktails: A Humorous Holiday Memoir with Sassy Drink Recipes

By Vicki Lesage, No. 1 Amazon Best-Selling Author

American-turned-Parisian Vicki tells it like it is, from her crazy Christmases growing up in the Midwest to her even crazier holidays in her new home in France. Bizarre gifts, stomach-turning food, and holiday travel disasters are just some of the tales you'll chuckle at in this installment of the Paris Confessions series. This Christmas-themed memoir features 25 funny and heartwarming essays, all with a tenuous tie to Christmas, and pairs each with a delicious drink recipe. So grab your martini shaker and get ready for tasty cocktails and hearty laughs this holiday season!

Find it on Amazon! 

Happy reading! 

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Foreign Rights & Film News: Meet Our Agent...

Can you imagine one of our books on the silver screen? Or how about one of our novels translated into Italian?

Well, Velvet Morning Press has some exciting news… The Lora Fountain Literary Agency will be representing VMP books for foreign rights sales as well as film. 

Lora, an American in Paris, founded her agency in 1985. The translation rights agency sells rights primarily to the French, but also to the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch markets. Clients are publishers and agencies from all over the English-speaking world.

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For all queries regarding VMP books and foreign rights/film rights, please contact:

Lora Fountain 

+33 (0) 1 43 56 21 96

agence@fountlit.com

http://lorafountainagency.com

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Five Things a Debut Author Needs

Today, we welcome Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, with some survival tools any new author will love! The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is currently on pre-order and set for release tomorrow. Check it out on Amazon! 

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Five Things a Debut Author Needs

By Amy E. Reichert

As I write this, I’m eleven days away from the debut of my book, so that’s pretty much all I’m thinking about. My poor family has been neglected as I try to be creative on a deadline (I have multiple guest posts to write and book two revisions to get done). So, here is my advice to other debut authors on five things you need to make it through.

1. Bookmarks. They are handy, inexpensive swag. I created cute bookmarks with my cover on one side and important information on the other (website, twitter, release date, where to buy, etc…). I made them for free on Canva.com and printed them up. I keep a stack with me at all times. They’re my version of a business card. It has all the information someone might need if they want to buy my book, plus you can never have enough bookmarks. 

2. Caffeine and/or booze. You’re going to need something to keep you going during the last few weeks pre-launch and water doesn’t cut it. Coffee works just fine for me, plus a run to Starbucks makes for a nice break when I need to get out of my cave and see people. Some folks swear by McDonald’s Diet Coke. I also keep splits of champagne chilled in the fridge—that way I’m prepared when some unexpected good news arrives (and I’m not forced to drink an entire bottle—even I have my limits)!

3. Supportive Friends and Family. Those last few weeks are busy and nerve-wracking and everything is all about you! And you know what, it should be. You wrote a book, dammit. And it’s going to be released into the world for everyone to read (and judge). This is stressful. Having people around you that will love you no matter how unwashed and manic you become is important. Just remember to thank them when things return to normal, maybe with massages and mountains of delicious baked goods.

4. Sleep. This can get tricky because your brain won’t want to cooperate. You’re going to lie down, close your eyes, and then you’ll start thinking about all the posts you need to write and brainstorming new book ideas (because two weeks before a book launch is exactly when you’ll come up with an idea for a trilogy that you need to sketch out right now!). I recommend some light meditation and this amazing pillow spray. It might be bunk, but it helps me relax at bedtime. When I’m desperate, I’ll go so far as to take some Tylenol PM. Bottom line, figure out your trick to getting some reliable shut eye.

5. A Sense of Humor. Things are going to go wrong. This is life. You are going to miss a deadline, you’ll spill red wine on yourself during your launch party, or you’ll have a booger hanging out of your nose during a TV interview. Something seemingly awful is going to happen, but DO NOT let it ruin your debut. If it’s an error you made, a sincere apology and immediate action to rectify should help smooth the situation. For some things, like the dangling booger, all you can do is laugh it off—and have another glass of champagne.

Amy Reichert earned her MA in Literature from Marquette University, and honed her writing and editing skills as a technical writer (which is exactly as exciting as it sounds). As a newly minted member of the local library board, she loves helping readers find new books to love. She's a life-long Wisconsin resident with (allegedly) a very noticeable accent, a patient husband, and two too-smart-for-their-own-good kids. When time allows, she loves to read, collect more cookbooks than she could possibly use, and test the limits of her DVR.

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VMP Spring Events... in Photos!

We at VMP spend a lot of time writing, editing, social networking: all behind the computer screen! But we love going out and about too, especially if the outing involves our books. Check out these photos to see what we've been up to this spring...

Author Katie Rose Guest Pryal at ENTANGLEMENT launch party, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill

Katie Rose Guest Pryal reads from ENTANGLEMENT at Flyleaf Books

Authors/publishers Adria J. Cimino and Vicki Lesage sign their books at WHSmith Paris

Vicki Lesage signing CONFESSIONS OF A PARIS PARTY GIRL at WHSmith Paris

Adria J. Cimino with novel PARIS, RUE DES MARTYRS at the Dîner en Blanc, Paris 

(photo: Lindsey Kent, Pictours Paris)

THAT'S PARIS contributors Vicki Lesage and Stephen Clarke at the launch party, The Pure Malt, Paris

THAT'S PARIS contributor Frédérique Veysset and her companion

Alicia Barclay, president of the British & Commonwealth Women's Association, hosts Adria J. Cimino for a reading of PARIS, RUE DES MARTYRS

Adria J. Cimino and Vicki Lesage at the Paris Book Fair

OK, now let's get outside and enjoy this summer weather!

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