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Race and Romance
I’ve decided to write a few blogs posts regarding Race and Romance, to be housed in another section of this site. I hope to put up the first post this Saturday, since I’m using the long weekend off from work to hunker down and get more stories finished.
A few novellas I’ve created covers for that I’m currently working on are below, and they feature a number of older characters. I think all these models are stunningly beautiful women and I’m committed to the creation of works that feature diversity, but also making certain my covers represent not just African American women, but women of color from around the globe who are far too often under-represented in romance:
Valerius Rex, a sword and sandals tale set during the Fourth Crusade -
The unlikeable lead character -I Luv ’em!
Love Stories 3 Danni Ahmed from UNBROKEN could best be described as bat shit crazy when the reader first gets a look at her:
The stench of alcohol invaded his nostrils even before he saw the girl, the screen door blasting open with such force it almost swung back and clipped her.
He was out of his chair with a bobble head nod in greeting, holding the glass in his hand. “G-good afternoon Ma’am.”
“Oh just shut the fuck up.”
It goes downhill from there for Alex Campos, in a role reversal where he’s the hot new guy trying to land the girl. But Danni’s used to guys like Alex, suckups who want to play for her father. Her dad’s considered the kingmaker where they live, a high school coach who’s sent more of his players to the pros than any other. Why he’s not coaching at the college level is anyone’s guess, but most people would probably say it’s because of his wayward daughter. UNBROKEN is a contemporary romance featuring a strong willed young woman who refuses to kowtow to anyone, even an iron willed father and the boys who’ve fallen under her spell.
By comparison, tough as nails Layla Reeves from DRAWN TO YOU/JUST THE WAY YOU ARE has a new body and a new attitude, only so called friends want to keep her down. Before her weight loss she was the girl they could call at the last minute to babysit, or the one who had their back in a fight. Now that she’s no longer the chubby funny girl, people say she’s different. But the truth is, they never really knew her:
“Promise you won’t look. I want this to be a surprise.” His voice returned to the soft tenor she remembered from high school.
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Help pick the cover title!
Please vote on the title of this novella after reading the book blurb:
Just the way You Are OR
Drawn to You A secret tryst results in an acclaimed portrait that ties a model forever with the artist.
Akeel’s a gifted artist who gets raves for his web site designs and graphic comics, only he can’t seem to win over Layla. He’s drawn to her in more ways than one, especially after Layla disrobed on a dare and let him paint her, and now it’s his best known work.
But Layla’s no longer the girl in that painting, the one where her voluptuous curves were proudly on display. After dropping over sixty pounds, guys who used to taunt her in high school now want to date her, and so-called friends are only too quick to remind her of how heavy she used to be.
Trapped between the snarky girl she once was and the femme fatale many assume she’s become, Layla’s not sure she’s ready to risk her heart again, even though Akeel’s more certain than ever that they belong together.©