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Do you worry about how to take vacation from work when you’re the boss?

By using the power of copywriting, your next vacation could be your most relaxing—and profitable!—one yet.

Planning to take a vacation from work is a double-edged sword for most small- and medium-sized business owners.

You desperately need the time away to recharge, and yet you can’t relax because you’re the boss.

At best, you won’t get any new customers while you’re away
At worst, you’ll lose existing customers because they can’t reach you when they need you
And your middle-of-the-road solution of a “working” vacation brings more stress than if you’d just stayed home (from customers and from your traveling companions)

Did you know you can take a vacation from work, keep your customers happy, and even recruit new business while you’re away? 

Keep reading for the step-by-step instructions. To make it even easier, I’ve included a checklist at the end of this post you can download for free.

Let’s get to it!

Step #1: Use Your Vacation as an Incentive for More Business

Timeline: 3 months in advance of your vacation.

Many business owners go about a vacation announcement the wrong way. They avoid mentioning it at all (and stay glued to their phones throughout their holiday), or they apologize profusely to customers beforehand as if they aren’t entitled to ever be away.

Some business owners never even take a real vacation because they’re afraid to lose business.

Does that sound like you?

(All of the above methods makes you the worst boss you’ve ever had, btw. You deserve better.)

Instead of apologizing or staying tethered to your business, use your upcoming absence to make more sales.

In the copywriting biz, we call this Scarcity. 

Scarcity is in play when you see the phrases “supplies are limited” or “time is running out” or the “early-bird discount ends soon.” The threat of a product or service or discount going away propels many shoppers to take out their credit cards. They don’t want to miss out.

Too often, the scarcity is false and consumers know it (as if there are “limited supplies” of digital products or the rug store down the street hasn’t been running a going-out-of-business sale for at least 10 years).

However, your scarcity is real.

You will physically be away from your business, unable to be reached for a number of days or weeks. And this scarcity can at the very least remind customers of your past value to them. Often it will encourage them to book some of your limited time. (Or to make an order, if you sell products.)

So why not play up that scarcity and book more business before you go on vacation? I patterned the below email after reading the book, The Wealthy Freelancer. Co-author Ed Gandia uses this strategy to fill up his schedule before he goes on vacation…and it works for me, too.

 

Why This Email Works

A mention of previous work reminds the customer of your value to their business
Your memory of the customer’s needs shows you’re paying attention and thinking about them. (Need help remembering client info? Keep notes in a CRM solution like Hubspot or 17Hats.)
Sometimes customers need a nudge to take action on their great ideas. You’re not asking for their business so much as you are reminding them of their own intentions
The low-pressure offer sounds more like a favor than a sales pitch—and people like favors
The “let me know either way” option invites a reply and at the least will often result in a “have a nice trip” email. When you return, this is a good starting off point to follow up

Send a brief yet personalized email to all your recent clients, as those are the ones most inclined to send you  more business. (Or simply steal my template above.)

You can also send a more general version of this email to your entire list as well as less recent customers using the same tone and message:

If you’ve been thinking about getting X, then book it now before it goes away for a while.

Remind your clients again at the 2-month mark, the 6-week mark, the 4-week mark, and the 2-week mark.

Step #2: Ditch Your Boring Out of Office Message

Timeline: 1 day before your vacation starts through the last day of your vacation 

What your out-of-office message does is capture new prospects, those who won’t likely come back if all they get is a boring: “I’ll be back in the office in 2 weeks.”

Does that mean you should get cutesy with your message? Don’t risk it. Prospects are likely to be turned off if you tell them you’re sunning on a beach in Mexico while they’re in the midst of a problem and looking for a solution.

The hard truth: Strangers don’t care where you’ve gone or what you’re doing or how much you needed this vacation. They want immediate help for their problem, and if you can’t be there to give it, you need to give something to tide them over until your return.

Offer them a freebie on your website that pertains to a need they likely have. Or a product that can ease their pain.

Why This Email Works

A tantalizing subject line compels them to keep reading (do you think they’d open one that said Out of office until June 13?)
Enticing the prospect with an unusual and hard-to-get perk like my “post-vacation creativity” plays on the scarcity we talked about in step 1.
Step-by-step instructions and expectations leave them with no doubt as to what will happen on June 13 if they give me 2 basic pieces of information. They can check this item off their to-do list for today instead of looking for another copywriter to fit the bill.
The blog post I linked to showcases my copywriting style as well as my strategic approach to content. Not to mention the article is insanely helpful on a topic many business owners find challenging.

I used this autoresponder on my recent vacation and came back with 2 new copywriting projects after 15 days offline. (In addition to those I booked before I left using Step #1.)

Several colleagues mentioned how much they loved the message (and asked for permission to steal it).  In fact, that’s what prompted me to share my system with you in this blog post.

Step #3: Reconnect with a Reward

Timeline: Within 1 week of your return to work

When you return from vacation, reconnect with your customers, prospects, and colleagues by sharing something valuable. It can be something you prepare before you go, a special offer, or a relevant news article or tip you discover.

Make your re-entry into their lives about them, not about you, and you’ll gain more business.

I send personalized emails to current clients and hot prospects, and then I send a more general email to my list. Everyone knows I’m back and gets a reminder of how I can help them grow their business using content.

Why This Email Works

You’re offering something of value that will help your customer with a problem
You’ve reminded them again of their goals and how you can help
You’ve shown how organized and detail-oriented you are

Ready to Pack Your Bags?

No need to hide your vacation from your customers anymore.

Instead, use your time away to remind past customers of your value and future prospects of the benefit of doing business with such a balanced and well-organized person.

Need some help setting up this system? Download your free vacation email prep list by clicking the image below. And if you need a copywriter to help you create revenue-generating systems for the rest of your business, you can reach me here.

One last piece of advice…don’t forget to pack the sunscreen.

Betsy’s Content Creation Guideline:
If you can’t repurpose a piece of content, then don’t bother creating it.

Want a copy of the infographic, including links to all the examples?

Just click the image to the right—no email address required.

My goal is always to get at least 3 uses out of every single page, email, post, or ebook I write for clients and for myself.

Why?

Because people have different preferences when it comes to consuming content and I want to hit as many of them as I can. I’m also strengthening the brand message because it gets repeated in slightly different ways across a variety of platforms and audiences.

Oh, and the final (and most loved) reason:

You get more bang for your buck…

Holla fo’ yo’ dolla…

Spread for your bread.

(See the corny things I’ll write in my own content to avoid using them in yours? You’re welcome.)

I created the infographic above one time and have so far used it as a:

Giveaway on my email list (along with a call-to-action at the bottom to schedule a free chat with me)
Blog post (you’re lookin’ at it!)
Quote cards on social media (I get 6 of those babies!)
Visual aid to show new prospects how I’ll treat their marketing budget (this helped land a pretty hefty gig last week)
Gift to new networking contacts in my post-meeting thank-you email (this makes me more memorable than the other 20 people they may have met at the event)
Bonus to first-time blog post clients (who doesn’t love knowing how to get more mileage out of something they’ve just bought?)
Bonus to strategy session clients who want to know how to attract clients via a blog (this works as a visual reminder of what we’ve discussed)

So how many ways can you repurpose your next blog post? I’ve given you 6 ways to get started…

Download your infographic here. No need to share your email address, just click and download to get all the live links.

One client told me he used the website content I wrote for his high-end consulting services in a cold pitch for a new client…and landed it!

Another made an ebook out of several related blog posts, while a different client took her ebook and broke it out into 35 blog posts! She’s pretty much done writing her blog for the year.

Clients are making videos, podcasts, ebooks, webinars, and more from a single piece of content. And they are landing more business because of it.

Once you start systematizing your content this way, you’ll see how fast and easy it is to gain more traction with your market.

Want to discuss how to repurpose and maximize the emails, websites, ebooks, or blog posts I write for you? No problem. This advice comes free with every single job.

The post How to Repurpose Your Blog (and Every Piece of Content You Own) appeared first on Home.

(Listen to this post by clicking the player above, or continue reading below. Or both!)

When you make life easier, better, or more profitable for your customers, they’ll be inclined to buy more from you.

Let me show you why.

A few weeks ago I walked into my favorite cafe in our Spanish village. The owners are pretty meticulous when it comes to the decor and ambiance of their place.

So I was a bit surprised to find a giant green beer refrigerator in front of the daily display of available tapas.

Frankly, it was unattractive. And it took up a lot of space.

So I asked:

“Why in the heck do you have this ugly thing out front?”

(Well, maybe I was a bit nicer than that.)

The owner’s response surprised me, but it shouldn’t have.

“Oh, that’s a loaner from San Miguel for the fiesta.”

You see, we were just a few days out from the biggest holiday of the year in my village. Thousands of people from all over Spain would throng the streets for 24-36 hours to take part in the village’s patron saint day and concert, and this cafe would do a booming business—if it could keep up with demand.

The beer company, San Miguel, loaned the cafe a giant beer refrigerator just for this fiesta.

She didn’t ask for it. They offered.

And when they did, she bought a huge order of beer from them to fill it up.

San Miguel won big for a few reasons.

Customer Score: They made it easy for their client to succeed on a big day
Business Boost: The customer naturally filled the cooler with San Miguel beer instead of the competition’s beer
Quick ROI: San Miguel’s initial investment in refrigerators can be shared among hundreds or thousands of customers for years to come

And all San Miguel had to do was anticipate client needs and come up with a simple way to make it easy to do business together.

What can you do to make life easier for your customers?

You don’t have to buy a warehouse full of beer refrigerators. You can anticipate customer needs in a variety of free and low-cost ways.

Here are some ideas:

Send Reminders: Mark your calendar to offer timely help in anticipation of holidays, tax season, start of school, new year, etc., as well what your individual clients specifically tell you about their future plans.
Solve Problems: What are the biggest hurdles to success for your customers? Offer them free checklists, problem-solving tips, and planning advice so they succeed.
Reveal Secrets: Show your customers how to gain the most benefit from what you sell in a step-by-step way. Videos, PDFs, and customer success stories are great tools for teaching.
Make Connections: Who provides what your customers need before or after they buy from you? Make those introductions and share those websites!
Share News: Read something new and exciting that applies to your customers? Share it! When you show you’re paying attention to their interests,they’ll have more trust in you.

Can I help you distill your best customer advice into a landing page, lead magnet, or email series for your clients?

Click here to check out my package and a la carte pricing. Or simply click the button below to tell me what you need. I’m ready to help you!

The post How to Sell More Products and Services to Existing Clients with One Simple Tip appeared first on Home.

If you’re struggling over how to write an About Me Page for your website, then I’ve got some news to ease the pressure a bit.

Your About Me Page isn’t really about you.

You see, when a new visitor comes across your website, she’s not looking for a timeline of your company’s history. She probably doesn’t care about the founder’s life story. And she doesn’t know what being “passionate about our clients” even means!

What your new visitor wants from your About Page is the answer to one simple question:

Are you the type of company that can help me solve my problem?”

The About Page is typically the second-most visited page on the average website.

So this overlooked piece of online real estate could be one of your best sales tools. (But only if you know how to optimize it!)

How to Write an About Me Page

If you include these 3 items, your About Me Page will be better than 85% of your competition:

A satisfying answer to this question: “Are you the type of company that can help me solve my problem?”
A low-commitment way to learn more about your solution. (Most often this is a PDF, video, or link to a special page on your site.)
An easy way to buy or take the next step, often called a Call to Action (CTA). (This is the “call for your free consultation now” or “click here to get your free checklist” type of action.)

Bonus points if you make the text visually appealing and easily scannable by using bullet points, bold, and plenty of white space.

And, of course, a friendly headshot of you or your team to show the humans behind your business.

Click here to see these 3 steps in action on my About Page.

The Same Rules Apply to Short Bios

Yep, same rules, just in a much shorter format. You can see what I mean by clicking on this post I wrote for the Queen of Newsletters, Elizabeth Case.

When used along with a helpful article, this mini bio follows the same guidelines as my About Page:

Reassuring the reader I know how to help her (a basic how-to to solve her problem)
Giving her a low-commitment example (to see a live example of what she wants for her own business)
Asking her to take our new relationship to the next level (subscribe to see how a pro does it)

That’s it! If you didn’t know how to write an About Me Page before this article, now you do. And if you want a wordsmith to help you land these 3 points with no stress on your part, then I’m ready to help.

From a simple and compelling About Page to a full Media Kit, I’ve got you covered. Click here to check out my package and a la carte pricing. Or simply click the button below to tell me what you need.

The post How to Write an About Me Page That Lands More Business appeared first on Home.

When I published English Ivy, author Jane Davis interviewed me for her Virtual Book Club series. She delved deep and got me to reveal things I’d never shared in an interview before.

So when I discovered Jane had a new book coming out, My Counterfeit Self—well, I had to get even! (This was especially important when I discovered her protagonist was such a bohemian, fascinating character).

Read on for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a novel from award-winning author Jane Davis. Then be sure to buy your copy of My Counterfeit Self. 

Q: How would you best describe your protagonist?

JD: Lucy Forrester is a radical poet and political activist who is a cross between Edith Sitwell and Vivienne Westwood. Having been anti-establishment all of her life, she’s horrified to find that she’s been featured on the New Year’s Honours list. (This is list prepared by the Queen for people who have made a considerable contribution to British life in some substantial way – arts, culture, business, charitable works and so on).

During the book we find out what has formed her. She was born in a time of war, then at the age of nine she contracted childhood polio. Staring death in the face defines a person. It alters their perception of life, whatever their age happens to be. Although she isn’t paralyzed, Lucy has that same stubborn determined streak that Roosevelt displayed when he refused to accept the limitations of his disease. The refusal to wear leg braces, to face the world sitting down. She also resented overhearing her father say that not much was expected of her, and it made her want to defy him. She became totally driven.

And then her parents behaved so shockingly that she was released from feeling under any obligation to live up to their expectations for her, and so she adopted a bohemian lifestyle. And into this new life she’s leading walked the man who became her literary critique and on/off lover for the next 50 years.

Q: Why this particular story (or, how did this character come to you)?

JD: To be honest, the idea of writing about the life of a poet came directly from reader reviews. Several commented that my prose was like poetry. I had no idea if I could actually write poetry, but this gave me confidence that I might be able to convince readers that I could see the world as a poet does.

Q: How does this story fit in with the rest of your work?

JD: It has all the hallmarks of a book written by Jane Davis: it has a non-linear timeline, it’s about big subjects, I throw my characters into impossible situations and unsettle them with moral dilemmas. I’m particularly excited by cause and effect, the way that the past impacts on the present. I hope that I’ve created a story that feels authentic, honest and, most of all, true. I want readers to believe that things happened exactly as I said it did.

Q: What is one thing you love about your main character and one thing that drives you crazy?

JD: I love her unconventionality, her defiance, her eccentricity, and especially her dress-sense. One of my early reviewers has called her fiercely moral, which I rather like. She’s my rebel with a cause. As for what drives me crazy… she can be quick to judge others but she’s blinkered when it comes to her own faults.

Q: Where do you write, and what does it look like?

JD: My office is the dining room and my desk is the dining room table. At least, I think the dining room table is under there somewhere. At the moment it’s littered with notebooks, notes written on the backs of envelopes, Sellotape, my diary, a calculator. It’s definitely not an ideal environment — I don’t live alone and the dining room is the highway to our kitchen and the bathroom! However, Stephen King describes in his book ‘On Writing’ about how he used to write at a small desk under the eaves, and it wasn’t until he had his first office that he first suffered from writers’ block. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Q: This is your seventh book. Do you think it gets easier to write and publish over time, or is every process a consistent “birthing” experience?

JD: Don’t tell anyone, but My Counterfeit Self is actually my eighth book. Half-truths and White Lies won the Daily Mail First Novel Award, but the real first novel didn’t make it as far as being a book. What it did was earn me the services of a literary agent and the words, ‘Jane, you are a writer’, which sounded far more glamorous than ‘Jane, you are an insurance broker’. I’d call that four years well-spent.

Half-truths sold 15,000 copies, but then I found myself wandering in the wilderness for four years. When I eventually self-published at the end of 2012, I had to build my readership from scratch, while teaching myself how to self-publish and market, and building my team of beta readers and finding the right team of professionals to work with.

As for the writing, getting a new novel out of the ground is always tough. Perhaps I make it tough by not outlining or plotting. I like George R R Martin’s quote: ‘I’ve always said there are two kinds of writers. There are architects and gardeners. Architects do blueprints before they drive the first nail, they design the entire house, where the pipes are running and how many rooms there are going to be, how high the roof will be. But gardeners just dig a hole and plant the seed and see what comes up.’ Personally, I think there are more than two types of writers. I want to be Mary Anning scouring the beaches at Lyme Regis for dinosaur fossils, or Howard Carter discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun, or metal detectorist Terry Herbert digging up the Staffordshire Hoard. What I don’t want to be is a parent deciding on my child’s future, telling my son which subjects he will study, arranging my daughter’s marriage.

It takes me three months to get to know my characters. By the time I reach the 50,000-word milestone I think to myself, ‘I might just have a book on my hands’, but by 75,000 words I’m wallowing in self-doubt again, unsure how to fight myself out of a corner. At 100,000 I may have an inkling of how it ends, but I won’t necessarily know how to get there. Every time you introduce a new angle, each ‘what if?’ question has to be pushed to its limits. Setting material aside and revisiting it is an excellent practice. It allows far greater objectivity. You have to analyze what isn’t working any why, then once you have the structure you go back and make every page shine. And then, of course, there’s the question of knowing when to stop.

That aside, certain parts of the publishing process are easier. I used to tackle all of the interior formatting and the creating of eBooks myself, but now I outsource and concentrate on making sure the proofs are as clean as they can be. The mechanics of publishing are far simpler than they were in 2012, because the process is familiar and technology is vastly improved, and getting better all the time.

The ‘self’ part in self-publishing is that it’s down to me when to push the button. That’s not something you can delegate. It’s exhilarating and nerve-wracking in equal measures.

Q: Your novel, An Unknown Woman , was awarded Self-Published Book of the Year by Writing Magazine. Does that put added pressure on your new releases?

JD: Definitely. The first edition of An Unknown Woman was (as far as I know) totally error free. I’ve never achieved that before and I expect it’s unrealistic to think I will again. I’m not saying it was a fluke, but with a 120,000 word novel, a few typos usually manage to slip past even the most eagle-eyed proof-readers.

Andrew Candy’s fantastic cover design had already won two awards. I don’t know if it’s my favorite, but I think it’s my most commercial to date.

The editor of Writing Magazine said that An Unknown Woman would happily sit on any of the Big 5’s lists, that the writing was exemplary and that my production standards were outstanding. And I only found out about the win when My Counterfeit Self was going into production! So yes, I’m biting my nails. But I’m learning. All the time, I’m learning.

Q: What are doing to celebrate the publication of your book? Do you go on vacation, take a long nap, get right back to work, or something else?

JD: Actually, on the morning of publication day, I’m running a workshop about self-publishing! There’s no let up. Autumn is a big time of year for events and literary festivals, so I’m really looking forward to getting out and meeting some more readers.

Get the Book Now

Many thanks to Jane Davis for sitting on the other side of the interview table! If you want to know how Lucy Forrester’s story turns out, you can buy My Counterfeit Self right now and start reading. (It’s on my Kindle now!)

About Jane Davis

Jane Davis is the author of seven novels. Her debut, Half-truths and White Lies, won the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was described by Joanne Harris as ‘A story of secrets, lies, grief and, ultimately, redemption, charmingly handled by this very promising new writer.’ The Bookseller featured her in their ‘One to Watch’ section. Six further novels have earned her a loyal fan base and wide-spread praise, and her 2016 novel, An Unknown Woman won Writing Magazine’s prestigious Self-Published Book of the Year Award.  Compulsion Reads describe her as ‘a phenomenal writer whose ability to create well-rounded characters that are easy to relate to feels effortless.’ Her favorite description of fiction is ‘made-up truth’.

Jane lives in Carshalton, Surrey, with her Formula 1 obsessed, beer-brewing partner, surrounded by growing piles of paperbacks, CDs and general chaos. When she is not writing, you may spot Jane disappearing up the side of a mountain with a camera in hand.

Find out more at her website, where you’ll also receive a free novel, I Stopped Time, when you sign up for her email updates.

 

This is what it looks like just before I let all the characters out of my head.

(I have to give them plenty of space to move around.)

Day One of a New Book Project

Just seeing the folder name Tiger Lily_Project on my laptop for the first time gives me goosebumps!

The day I open a new book project is always a biggie. This is the “official” file, the Scrivener version that will house all accumulated research material, notes, and the actual manuscript from now until the book is published.

Tiger Lily is officially underway!

I have several rituals for the start of a new book project (some dating back to my nonfiction days, some newer ones since I started writing The Late Bloomers Series).

Pick a theme song for the project.

For this one, it is Natalie Merchant’s “Wonder” from the Tigerlily CD which came out maybe 20 years ago. It’s a way to ground me in core of the character, and this one is certainly a wonder!

(Wondering about my previous books? At the back of Wild Rose I included a link to a playlist, of which the theme song is part. It is “Change of Season” by Hall & Oates. And for English Ivy, it is the song that even makes an appearance in the book —”American Woman.”)

Choose several images to represent my main characters.

Many of you tell me you don’t want to know because it ruins your own imagination, so I won’t tell what fabulous actress perfectly encapsulates my heroine…so much so that I knew from the very first seed of an idea of The Late Bloomers that she would be the incarnation of Lily.

Once I have these images I insert them into the character sketches. Then I go a step further and make a collage of characters and the book cover as my laptop screensaver.

Pull artwork, pictures, travel guides, music, movies, books, and more to “round out” my book’s world.

Throughout the process, I’ll use this information to stay in the mood of the story and immerse myself in the world of my characters. This may seem like overkill when the world of my books is the modern world, but I need to immerse myself in it, to remind myself what it was like to travel to those locations, eat those foods, and dance to that music.

Say hello to my characters.

It’s weird, and a little embarrassing, but it works for me. Day one is when I utter my first words to them, usually when I’m searching for their perfect images online. “YES, that’s you.”

Over the course of the book, we’ll have many conversations.

I start thinking about the FOOD of the book.

I realize there has to be romance, sex, drama, witty dialogue and more. But since my books are set in foreign locations, my mind immediately goes to the food and how I’ll use it in the book. The best part is finding recipes and giving them to Warren, who does his part for the creative process by cooking them for me!

One of my favorite lines from a book review states, “No one writes drama, food, and sex like Betsy Talbot!” Food is a huge part of my books because it is a huge part of my life. In Wild Rose, I even included a link to a little menu from Chef Aldo for the perfect romantic Italian meal as a bonus.

Book Three is Underway

That’s how I start a new book project. It’s a big day, one that makes me very happy (after all, I haven’t had time to run into any creative roadblocks yet!), and one I hope to repeat many more times in my life.

Look for Tiger Lily, Book Three in The Late Bloomers Series, in Autumn 2016. Until then, you can catch up on the adventures of The Late Bloomers with Unfolding (free when you sign up for email updates below), Wild Rose, and English Ivy.

And now—back to writing Lily’s story!

The post What the Start of a New Book Project Looks Like appeared first on Home.

Let me tell you a story…about telling stories.

Recording an audiobook was a strange experience. Almost every day for three weeks I sat very still, speaking into a giant professional microphone on a stand covered by a fuzzy purple sock. If I were a cheeky romance writer I’d say it looked like Barney the dinosaur wearing a purple condom.

Oh wait…I AM a cheeky romance writer!

So I spent a lot of time with Barney in my basement studio recording English Ivy for you.

I imagined YOU (and all your friends) sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows and drinking loads of wine as I told you Ivy’s tale.

(Side Note: Why don’t we have women-only camping parties on a regular basis? That sounds like FUN.)

Some days I drank tea with honey to keep my voice warm.

Some days it was harder to loosen up and I had a dram of whisky.

In the end, I had about 20 hours of audio, mistakes and all, which was then edited down to a more reasonable 9 hours and 11 minutes.

Would you like a spot around the virtual campfire? I’ll provide the story if you’ll roast your own marshmallows.

How You Can listen to English Ivy Right Now

You can buy it here.
If you’re a new Audible.com customer you can get it for FREE now as part of their new customer trial. Click here to get started.
If you were on my VIP email list you would have gotten a chance to get one of 25 free download codes from Audible.com. They went so fast! But if you want to be in on deals, previews, and more in the future, be sure to claim your place in the tribe by entering your email in the box below (I’ll even send you two sexy short stories as a hello!)

The post What It’s Like to Record an Audiobook (Announcing English Ivy’s Audio Debut!) appeared first on Home.

About This Series: This is part of a photo series of places romance authors write. Click here to view them all.

 

How I do it? In controlled chaos. My work space is always a disaster. Complete with clutter, my tiny voodoo doll, and my daughters glittery butterfly wings.

Where You Can Find Her: Check out L.P. Maxa’s The Devil’s Share Series here, and be sure to listen to an excerpt of Play Nice from her appearance on The Quickie Romance Podcast.

Want to know where other authors are doing it? Sign up below to get the Where She Does It series (plus more on romance writers and books) delivered directly to your inbox.

If you like love stories that revolve around food, then you’re going to love today’s delicious episode of The Quickie Romance Podcast, THE destination for romance lovers.

I’m your host, Betsy Talbot, and every week you’ll hear an excerpt from one of today’s hottest romance books, a quickie to entertain you on your commute, while you exercise, or while you do chores. You know, basically any time you can’t actually read a romance novel!

Listen to the Episode
http://traffic.libsyn.com/quickieromancepodcast/QRP_26_-_Taste_Me_Tempt_Me_at_story_by_Saskia_Blake.mp3

 

In This Episode

Sink your teeth into something delicious. Eight contemporary and historical romance authors offer tempting stories of love and lust through time, served hot. Some of these novellas are sweet, and some are spicy, but they’re all perfectly portioned! So pull up a chair and get ready to indulge in a feast of love…(today’s quickie is The Reawakening by Saskia Blake)

SUGAR & SUNLIGHT by Elizabeth Cole

In Regency-era Philadelphia, a wounded soldier is drawn to an aloof candymaker. Can he show her life will be sweeter with him?

BLACKBERRIES IN THE MORNING by Rebecca Brooks

A lonely cafe manager in the Adirondacks feasts her eyes on a stranger to her small town. But is he the type to stay past blackberry season?

THE REAWAKENING by Saskia Blake

Reeling from her husband’s adultery, Meg steels herself to cope with the annual maple syrup harvest… but her much-younger hired hand proves to be an infuriating distraction.

TROUBLE WITH TRIFLES by Madeleine Keane

A French girl in late 18th century Baltimore had her heart broken years ago. But when the young man she loves returns, will he be willing to offer her his hand again?

HEARTS & FLOURS by Jennifer Sable

A pastry chef meets her best friend’s smoking hot brother for the first time. Can she dream up a recipe that will tempt him to try something new?

LOVE IN THE LAVENDER by Amanda Gale

A man from busy New York City searches the woods for a reclusive writer. Instead, he finds a beautiful woman hiding in a field of lavender–and she’s got a surprise in store.

A TASTE OF AMBROSIA by G.G. Andrew

Jack, a young widower in 1963 American suburbia, can’t look away from his sensual new neighbor. Unfortunately, she’s got a recipe he needs. She may have everything he needs.

POP GOES MY HEART by Coco Quill

When Mimi gets the chance to compete for her desserts going big time, she is reunited with an old crush whose kiss still burns in her memory. Can she trust him, or are his affections meant to throw her off her game?

Take Your Quickie Home with You

Kindle

Here’s a sweetener: ALL PROCEEDS from this anthology will be donated to America’s Second Harvest and Food Banks Canada.

I bought 10 copies of this $0.99 ebook to send to friends this holiday season. Click the Give as a Gift button on the right side of the screen and you can do the same.

One Not Enough for You?

Oh, you voracious woman!

Click here to view more books by the authors in this anthology: G.G. Andrew, Rebecca Brooks, Elizabeth Cole, Amanda Gale, and Jennifer Sable.

Want Your Romance Aurally? Try Audiobooks!

Our sponsor today is Audible.com, where you can find a variety of romance books to listen to at your leisure. If you like this podcast, you’ll love audiobooks!

If you’ve never tried an audiobook before, you can get a 30-day free trial of Audible by clicking here. My latest book, English Ivy, is available in audiobook now!

About Saskia Blake

There are 8 authors in this anthology, and today’s quickie is by Saskie Blake. When she isn’t writing steamy romance, cooking up a storm, or doing yoga, Saskia loves to travel: she has explored over 30 countries on five continents, and has her sights set on a dozen more. By her side, through rainforest or tundra, is her gorgeous, steady husband.

Stay Hot This Winter

Cold weather is perfect for reading romance, and I’ve got a list that will keep you toasty warm all winter (especially if you get a little cabin fever from too much family togetherness!). Click here for the Winter Warm-Up, a curated list of books by my favorite authors—and soon to be yours, too!.

Make it a Standing Date

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See you next time, Sugar.