Write Volumes's Blog

 

Chicago’sMaxwell Street Festival has roots stretching back to the early 1900s, whenGerman and Eastern European immigrants established the bustling open-air marketalong Maxwell Street. In the 1980s, the market’s legendary blues stages andtamales made it a cultural phenomenon. Chicago is reviving this event and WriteVolumes will be there for the last 2025 fest!

 

ThisSunday, October 5, step into history and visit our Write Volumes booth: browseour latest indie titles and snag our brand-new line of bookmarks.

 

Whetheryou’re hunting for your next favorite read or a perfect gift, our books andbookmarks promise to spark joy and connection.

It’sfinally here!

 

Shadesof Workplace Love, our brand-new ebook anthology, is nowavailable for pre-order on Amazon! As a heartfelt thank-you for your support,we're offering it at a special launch price of just $0.99 (regularly$4.99)—but only for a limited time.

 

Theanthology will be available to read starting September 9, 2025—mark yourcalendar!

 

Don’tmiss your chance to dive into these compelling stories of connection, ambition,and romance in the modern workplace—at a fraction of the price.

 

Now Searchingfor Readers and Reviewers Who Believe in Love That Works

Position: Romance Enthusiast

Department: Hearts & Sparks

Location: Anywhere with a Kindle

Salary: Emotional ROI + Swoon-worthysatisfaction

Start Date: Immediately (limited-time launchprice: $0.99!)

 

Job Description: Seeking passionate readers for acollection of workplace romance short stories where chemistry isn’t just in thelab—it’s in the breakroom, the boardroom, and even during late-night pestcontrol calls. From enemies-to-lovers tension to grumpy-meets-sunshinedynamics, this anthology delivers high-impact emotional payoffs in everystandalone story.

 

Qualifications:

Enjoys slow burns and fast banter

Believes love can bloom between deadlines

Has a soft spot for forbidden flings and multicultural connections

Thrives on paranormal surprises and feel-good endings

 

Perks:

No meetings, just meaningful moments

Flexible hours (read anytime)

Guaranteed sparks, zero HR violations

 

Apply nowby downloading Shades of Workplace Love, on Amazon

Link to preorderbook on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP9Z5M3K

 

$0.99 for alimited time—price increases to $4.99 soon!

 

OR

 

ForFREE review copy please click here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241017031-shades-of-workplace-love

 

Whetheryou choose to order from Amazon (thank you!) or download via StoryOrigin (alsofantastic), we want you to know how much your support means. Reviews are vitalfor small publishers—they help build visibility, drive sales, and createmomentum.

Youcan make a big impact by clicking one of the links, sharing the anthology withothers, and leaving a review. We genuinely want to hear what you thought—whatresonated, what didn’t, and everything in between. Your feedback helps us grow,improve, and keep creating stories that matter.

Let’smake this launch unforgettable—thanks for being part of it!

 COVER REVEAL TIME!

Our 13th anthology, Shades of Workplace Romance, is inthe final stages and will be released THIS month in time for summer romance. 

August2025 – Shades of Workplace Love

Lovetakes work so why not find love at work?

Sometimes work life balance promotes love life issues. So, join usin analyzing high pressure situations with career advancements for highlymotivated people, evaluating water cooler talk spiked with gossip, and watchingas strategies are optimized for satisfying demands with a rate of return thatbecomes incalculable but leaves you wanting more! Whether love is on a deadlineor not even on your mind, hire Write Volumes to find you Shades of WorkplaceLove!

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for our 13th stunning coverdesign! (You’re fabulous, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com 

Ifyou would like to be a part of our ARC team and receive a free book we willhave details in the next post!

Did you think we were stopping? Don't be paranoid. 

We’ve been a little quiet lately since we are workingbehind the scenes on our 13th anthology Shades of WorkplaceRomance which will launch in early July!

Love takes work so why not find love at work?

 

And not to stop a good thing, we wanted toannounce our next open submission theme will be Paranoia Horror!

 

Anthology submissions due date Aug25, 2025

Shadesof Horrific Paranoia

Is there anything to truly fear? 

Send usyour stories questioning reality. These stories involve an atmosphere ofslow-building yet escalating unease exploring themes of fear, distrust, andpsychological instability while creating tension through isolation, distrust,unreliable narration, existential dread, societal pressure, alienation,surveillance, and unseen threats—whether supernatural or psychological. 

Horrorcan span apocalyptical, paranormal, serial killers, or ordinary people at theirbreaking points. Characters can include paranormal, human, alien, etc while thetime period can be past, contemporary, future, or anything in between.

SUBMIT TODAY!

 

Good news: 

The next theme deadline has been extended. Please spread theword. We want to read your work, so submit today!

 

WorkplaceLove submissions due February 23 !

 

Love takes work so why not find loveat work? Yes, workplace romance short stories! Explore complexities &challenges of finding love in contemporary urban professional settings wherethe workplace, business, or industry provides an extra layer to interact &develop relationships Email submissions: writevolumes@gmail.com

 

For more themedetails and submission process please go here for more info: https://www.writevolumes.com/p/submit.html

 

Submission fee is FREE, and we pay in fullyedited piece, gratitude, and community.

 

Please note next Horror theme will beprovided soon, and that deadline will be August 25, 2025.

For the rest of November, we’re lowering our Shades of Occult Horror ebookprice from $4.99 to $.99! So, buy one for your friends, or enemies, today!

Shades of Occult and Horror Anthology

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLG26YC5

7 writers + 7 choices = 7 ways to hide & shriek

Remember what hides in the dark, doesn’t always stay there…

Synopsis: With an otherworldly focus you never know if myths, alchemy, ornatural magic will help or harm. But you must make the choice yourself for youare in control of your fate… or are you?

 Please note, we’ve heard you and are working on the paperback for this book, too!

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for another stunning cover design! (You’re fantabulous, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com  

And if you could leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads we’dappreciate it!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200292065-shades-of-occult-and-horror

 

Withour new friends at Oak Park Art League (OPAL) we had a fabulous time at thespooky reading on October 19, 2024. Bryan and Phoebe worked tirelessly tocreate a scary good time at an all-day extravaganza. A haunted loft, intriguingartwork with an art fair, children’s games, even the house had a spooky felinemakeover. There were many delicious treats including smores over a campfire!

 

Margot McMahon, a member of OPAL and a Write Volumes’ author, read “Sorrows Whisper Still” found in Shades of Ghostly Horror.

Margot’s work can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margot-McMahon/author/B0983X68KG

We’regrateful Write Volumes was invited to join OPAL for this terror-rific event. Thanksto all of those who attended. And if you couldn’t make it, maybe you can comenext year!

Formore info on OPAL and their mission to be a welcoming center of artisticinquiry, creative expression and more click here: https://www.oakparkartleague.org/

12th ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH:

Shades ofGhostly Horror

6 authors + 6stories to haunt you = What you’re dying toread!

Let thespirits move you!

Price willincrease in November so grab your copy TODAY!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK8THWH9

 HappyNovember!

WhileHalloween has passed, we have a treat for you!

 

12th ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH:

Thanks to our wonderful staff and the supportfrom people like you, Write Volumes’ 12th anthology launched on 10/31/2024 witha special deal of $1.99 through November!

 

Shades of Ghostly Horror

6 authors + 6 stories to haunt you = What you’re dying to read!Let the spirits move you! 

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK8THWH9

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for another stunning cover design! (You’re incredible, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com 

 

Price will increase at the end of November so grab your copy TODAY!

 Happy October 2024!

 

It’s been busy not just for WriteVolumes but our authors as well. I think it’s important to celebrate, not justour successes, but hard work in general. Regardless of the outcome, hard workis hard and, while we may not see the fruits of our labor as quickly as onehopes, we did the work and that is the main area under our control! (Sometimes it’sthe only thing we can control… or is control an illusion?!!)

 

So, I thought you would enjoy:

·  Printer’s RowFestival with Fannie Price and Margot McMahon Pictures· Annette Cyr’sArt Show and Yale Women Talk Pictures

 

FESTIVAL PICS

 

Printers Row is a large outdoor book andwriting festival in Chicago which took place first weekend in September. On SaturdaySept. 7, 2024, Write Volumes and a couple Write Volumes authors were inattendance at the Chicago Writers Association table.

Fannie Price and Margot McMahon engaging with readers and other writers while having fun!

 

You can find Fannie Price’s books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Fannie%20Price/author/B002YSQO4M

 

You can find Margot McMahon’s books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margot-McMahon/author/B0983X68KG

 

A big THANK YOU to all of those who stoppedby. We appreciate your support!

 

ANNETTE CYR’S ART SHOW

In September 2024 Annette Cyr had an art showat the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art. “24 Hours” is amulti-canvas painting. Each canvas is of the same motif, painted a differenthour of the day and night, beginning with 1 AM in upper left corner, endingwith 12 AM in bottom right.

“24 Hours” becomes a study of awareness andperception, time and change. At its heart, “24 Hours” questions ourperceptions. What do we really see before the mind decides what must be there? “Thetrue mystery is reality.” — Annette Cyr

 

“24 Hours” is an extension of Annette’s "Yearof Light" painting series begun in 2020 during Covid times which Annette describesin her Shades of Positively Pandemic short story also called “Year ofLight” which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

 

You can find Annette Cyr’s story here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098RMFMGR/

 

 

You can find Annette Cyr’s website here:

http://annettecyr.com

 Thank you for sharing your time with me!

We have been busy preparing anthology #11 foryou. Shades of Adventures in Love launches September 30th,and we have an e-book pre-order deal for you!

 

As a THANK YOU, the preorder e-book price is $.99 for a limitedtime.

In October the price will increase to $4.99so grab your copy today!

 

Shades of Adventures in Love

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XRCYK

What comesfirst: the adventure or the romance?

4 authors + 4 heart-pounding adventures = Love the Journey

Book yourticket to love with Shades of Adventures In Love and enjoy the ride!

 

 

Thanksto @_1cupofjojo_for another stunning cover design!(You’re amazing, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com 

 

 

WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR REVIEW TEAM?

Ifyou’d like a FREE ebook, we are looking for reviewers – including for this ROMANCEebook. Let your voice be heard!

·        We’re always looking for free honestreviews (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, Twitter, social media etc)

·        Join the TEAM at the link and downloadthe FREE book TODAY: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/792be3fe-7792-11ef-a8cf-5f4b85b36ae1

BANNED BOOK WEEK INFO

·        Banned BooksWeek 2024 runs from September 22 to 28, 2024.

·        It is acelebration of our love for the right to read and the liberation found inbooks. This year’s theme is “Freed Between the Lines.” They are asking peopleto take action on Let Freedom Read Day, September 28, 2024! 

    If you’reinterested, ideas on what to do if you have 5 minutes or more, can be found onthis page: https://bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-read-day/

     Thank you for sharing your time with me!