12 Days of Yule: Day Three

 

Welcome to Day Three of the 12 Days of Yule! Today's book is a short-short story I wrote as a prequel to This Winter Heart. 

Since This Winter Heart is traditionally published, I am unable to make it free. So instead, here's a look at Dario and Ophelia at a happier time in their relationship...

Here's the download link:

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/iymu382rl9

I still remember how excited I was when This Winter Heart was accepted for publication. I wrote it in about six weeks, in response to an open call that Carina put out for a holiday anthology it would be running the following winter. Then it was selected! But I missed getting "the call" because that was the day my dog was neutered and I  didn't have cell service. It was published by Carina Press, which is and was so surprising to me. It was edited by the fabulous Angela James! And my antho sisters were (and continue to be) amazing authors! 

But, like with most second chance romances--especially when they're fairly short novellas--I  wasn't fully able to explore the sweetness that marked the beginning stages of the couple's relationship. 

As a result, a few readers ended up not caring very much for Dario; and not understanding why Ophelia took him back. And then there were other readers who questioned how Ophelia was able to conceive a baby--to which I say: suspend your disbelief. It's Science Fiction, not Science Fact. lol!

But anyway...

This Winter Night was written as part of a "Twelve Days of Christmas" blog hop and was originally titled: Eleven Pipes for a Winter's Night. But I also wrote it, in part, to provide answers (albeit somewhat supernatural ones) to the above mentioned questions. Also there are cookies! I never pass up a chance to write a holiday cookie scene!

I would also like to say that if you are inclined to purchase This Winter Heart, you might want to consider purchasing the anthology it's included in: A Clockwork Christmas. 

For the same low price as the individual novella you get FOUR sweet steampunk stories (and no, I don't mean sweet as in "sweet romance" although the heat levels do vary from story to story). 

The anthology is also available as an audiobook, which is nice--even though the narrator pronounces my last name wrong. Grrr).

https://books2read.com/u/md1pg5

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas. 

Anthology includes: 

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.