My Pseudonym and The Real Me

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Do you write under a pseudonym? If so, why? If not, would you ever consider it?

Well, yes and no. Lyndell is my name, but not totally. My family’s last name is Williams, and I grew up Lyndell.

There are other Lyndells out there, but the old English name is rare. Unlike my sister, Deborah and brothers, Barry and Dwayne, I never saw my name in a store on a shelf with novelty items garnishing their more common names. It irritated the hell out of me. I spent my childhood and teen years correcting teachers, doctors, anyone who struggled with my unusual name and couldn’t stand whenever someone tried to shorten it to something like Lynn. 

When I converted to Islam at age eighteen, people encouraged me to change my name. Continue reading “My Pseudonym and The Real Me” →

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MFRWSteam – Muslims Do That?!

Book Blog Promos (2) Hey, ravished romance readers! Depicting Muslim couples navigating love and sensual scenes continue to be a key inspiration in my romance writing. While I do not write Muslim characters exclusively, I do want to convey some of the unique social factors driving romance and union in parts of American Muslim culture, keeping the bedroom door wide open for readers. Yeah, things can get pretty steamy in my books, no matter the portrayed backgrounds of the characters.  In my book, Open to Love, the main characters Hafsah and Faheem struggle to keep their hands off each other until marriage. Once they sign the wedding contract, all bets are off! DIY Guide Blog Banner (2)

Excerpt

Continue reading “MFRWSteam – Muslims Do That?!” →

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#BookTeaser – Chasing Sisyphus by JL Peridot

Mis Quince Años (33)Guest Post by JL Peridot

Hey, everyone, my name is JL Peridot. I’m a sci-fi/futuristic romance writer from Australia. More specifically, “retrofuturistic” romance. I have a mild obsession with old technology, especially when it’s projected hundreds of years into the future where it really has no business still hanging around. Some writers (and readers) call them anachronisms. I call them beautiful.

Today, I’m sharing a teaser from my very first novella, Chasing Sisyphus. It’s set in a retro-futuristic city on a distant planet, where eyeball implants and sleek technology coexists with chunky handheld devices and guns that still fire bullets. I hope you enjoy!

Chasing Sisyphus [The Basilica Conspiracy] (Siren Publishing Allure) by [JL Peridot]Chasing Sisyphus
JL Peridot
$2.98, 92pp, Kindle
Genre: Scifi Erotica

Excerpt

Adria hadn’t counted on the tripwire. This kid knew someone would follow him home one day. He’d strung a line of empty soup cans across the apartment hallway. When she kicked that out, a hefty serving of iced water came down squarely on her head. Gooseflesh prickled her neck and shoulders. The muscles in her jaw seized in the cold. Against the shock, she scrambled to her feet, fired up to catch the stomping and crashing in the other room before it got away.

A figure ran past the doorway. Continue reading “#BookTeaser – Chasing Sisyphus by JL Peridot” →

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Writing Real-life in My Books

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What's the most unusual experience you've ever had? Have you included it in one of your books?

Authors, like most creatives, often use their talents to weave stories reflecting their lives, I am no different. I have included some wonderful, horrible and pretty strange things that happened to me over the years in books.

In Sweet Love-Bitter Fruit, Toni’s struggle with infertility and getting the people around her to understand her pain reflects my own years of frustration. It was difficult, but I was able to channel a lot of pain to connect with readers with similar experiences and giving those who haven’t to empathize with the hurt that comes from unfulfilled desires. Linking fiction with real-life motivates my writing.

In My Way to You, I created a scene with the main characters, Regina and Simon similar to an unusual situation I found myself in with my husband when we first married. Continue reading “Writing Real-life in My Books” →

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LWL #Interview – Ann Raina

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Hey, beautiful ones. I am excited to introduce the author, Ann Raina. Ann lives and works in Germany with cats and a horse. Riding and writing are her favorite hobbies. Her latest series, starting with Twisted Mind, turns around an FBI-agent, his demanding lover, and a bad case getting worse.

In all of her books, she combines romance, suspense, and humorous elements, for no thrilling story can stand without comic relief.

Her latest novel is Famous Murders, the second in the series featuring main Nicolas & Jacklyn. check it out! Continue reading “LWL #Interview – Ann Raina” →

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#MFRWHooks-Resisting Arrest in Romance

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Marcus Kent is a brilliant lawyer and loving son, brother and husband. He is handsome and muscular, standing at about 6’4″ tall, which can be dangerous for a man with his skin tone.

Education, economic comfort and leading the life of a law-abiding citizen doesn’t insulate Marcus from police who see his stature and Blackness as a threat. In the excerpt below , after a horrible fight with his wife, Marcus has a run-in with police while he’s minding his business in the hall of his friend, Quinn’s apartment building. 

Sweet Love – Bitter Fruit
By Lyndell Williams
$ 2.99, 332pp, Kindle
$12.99, 343pp, Paperback
Genre: Urban Professional Romance

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Excerpt

Marcus opened his eyes and jumped at the poke on his arm. He blinked and looked up and moaned. Great. Two uniformed police officers loomed over him looking none too pleased. “What’re you doing in the hall?” asked a cop with a thick mustache. “You live here?” The cop grumbled and jabbed him harder. Continue reading “#MFRWHooks-Resisting Arrest in Romance” →

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The Literary Pilgrim – a Writer’s Journey

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Have you ever gone on a literary pilgrimage? If so, where and why?

Pilgrimage is an important part of my faith. In Islam, traveling to the venerated city of Mecca (known as Hajj) is a sacred journey that provides those blessed with the chance to perform Hajj rites expiation of their sins and closeness to the creator.

Some people save for their entire lives to make the holy trip. Others go on Hajj to die. It is an arduous trek. Every pilgrim has their Hajj stories, telling of illnesses, injuries, and challenges to finishing everything without blowing their cool. Despite the physical obstacles, many Muslims through the world strive to go on Hajj. The emotional and spiritual benefits far outweigh any difficulties.

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Continue reading “The Literary Pilgrim – a Writer’s Journey” →

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#OpenBook Building a Stand Alone Universe, Connecting Characters

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Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

One of the great things about storytelling is that the worlds that authors create can be as simple or involved and complex as they want. Although I have some stories with less porous worlds, I do like to have some characters show up in other plots, which can be important in the romance genre.

Many romance readers end up falling in love with characters in a book, wanting to see more of them. I developed a series based on the desire for readers’ requests to see more of one character or another. I initially wrote the book Open to Love as one book, when beta readers asked me to also tell the stories of secondary characters Tarika and Aqil. I also got feedback asking what the deal was with Rahma. I hit the keyboard and framed the Open to Love series. Queen of the Castle joined book one, and book three is coming soon.

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Continue reading “#OpenBook Building a Stand Alone Universe, Connecting Characters” →

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#newrelease Finding Love by Amelia Rucker

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Finding Love (Finding Series Book 1) by [Amelia Rucker]Finding Love
By Amelia Rucker
$0.99, 219, Kindle
Available at Amazon

Blurb

Adriana Robinson is on the journey to start life all over again. A single mother and hardworking nurse, Adriana soon comes upon a small town where she meets new friends as well as a new guy. Everything seems to go well as soon as her past comes back to haunt her.

A.J. Bowman is looking for a new home, not love. The once-successful golf player wants to leave behind all of his accomplishments and start over as well. It isn’t long that he runs into the sassy Adriana, and a spark starts to fire. Although both start on rough patches, it isn’t long that love blossoms and drama unfolds.

Will Adriana and A.J come together to battle past demons or will they be torn apart for good?

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#MFRWHooks, Hot New Romance, Queen of the Castle

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Hey, readers! I’m so excited to share a little of my latest, steamy book, Queen of the Castle. It’s a sensual interracial romance that tests the limits of love and desire.  Check out the blurb, then get ready for a taste of 🔥heat🔥!

Queen of the Castle by [Lyndell Williams, FoolProof Editing]Queen of the Castle
$0.99, 112pp, Kindle
Genre: BWWM Romance
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Blurb

Tarika is happy living single. She loves her home—her castle—and is not looking for some man to try and take over everything she has built. When her best friend, Hafsah throws Aqil her way, Tarika makes it clear that she is not interested in the shy man, who barely speaks to her. When she needs his help after an accident, she allows Aqil and his daughter into her life, making it difficult to resist his sexy gray eyes and sultry smile. The more time she spends with him, the harder it is to keep her distance. Continue reading “#MFRWHooks, Hot New Romance, Queen of the Castle” →

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