K. Webster's Blog
April 16, 2023
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November 14, 2022
The Tangle of Awful is Coming Soon!
Pre-order The Tangle of Awful Today!
Releases February 21, 2023!
AmazonBarnes & NobleAppleGoogleKoboEden BooksFrom USA Today Bestselling Author K Webster comes a new steamy age-gap, enemies-to-lovers “why choose” forbidden romance!
He’s a successful attorney with a secret craving for his too-young stepdaughter. He wants her badly. But his wicked son wants her too…
Love is an illusion. In my world, collecting the shiniest trophies is what I do. Beautiful wife. Swanky home. Expensive cars. Successful firm. Future attorney general. Add in the Park family name and I’m the envy of every man in town. True love, however, was never attainable, no matter how much I secretly wanted it.
The desire to be loved isn’t my only secret. My wife is missing. With my life under scrutiny as I run for office, I’m finding it difficult to lie away her whereabouts. People are starting to notice. My political opponent. Her best friend. And worst of all, my wife’s daughter, Aubrey.
Aubrey is finally back home after two long years with her dad, but she’s asking questions I don’t have answers to. Yet, that’s not all she’s doing… She’s invading my thoughts and my heart, driving me insane with her beauty and vulnerability.
I want her. She’s barely legal and my wife’s daughter. Forbidden and morally wrong. I can’t have her. I can’t.
My son, though, doesn’t live by the same code I do. He wants her too. But not to love…to destroy.
I’ll risk everything to keep him from her. Even if this tangle of awful costs me my reputation, my campaign, and my son.
***This is a complete mfm standalone novel with a happily ever after. Characters are of legal age and there is no romantic involvement between blood relations. ***
Make sure you check out the brother’s story in The Teacher of Nothing which is now available!
The Teacher of NothingFrom USA Today Bestselling Author K Webster comes a new steamy age-gap, student-teacher forbidden romance!
He’s a grumpy teacher with a chip on his shoulder. She’s his much, much younger student who’s completely off-limits.
Love broke me when I was a teen.
My dad not only slept with my girlfriend, but he knocked her up and made her my stepmom, t…
September 27, 2022
A Small-Town Romance That’ll Have You Falling Inn Love!
Erin Branscom’s debut, Falling Inn Love, was a heart-melting, fall-themed small-town romance 5-star read!
Are you the type to snuggle up under a blanket with your pumpkin latte and a good book at the first sign of an autumn leaf dropping? Maybe you’ve even got the Hallmark channel all queued up and ready to go, eager to watch this season’s most heartfelt stories. There’s just something about this time of year that has us feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside, festive, and hopeful. This book will certainly get you in the mood!
Please note this post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a commission or referral fee if you click and purchase. I only share products I love and my links are at no cost to you.
Falling Inn Love Should Be a Hallmark Movie!
This book hit me right in the feels. Everything about it was just so perfect and sweet. When I was given an advanced reader copy, I wasn’t sure what to expect. From the cover, I could tell it was going to be cute, because duh, the dogs totally gave it away…ha! It was so much more than a cute love story, though. It was romantic and emotional, even making this ol’ girl tear up a time or two!
What’s Falling Inn Love About?
Beth is a struggling romance author who’s been trying to find her place in the world after the unbearable tragedy of losing her family. Unable to find peace other than in her writing, she ends up stranded by the side of the road in Freedom Valley, New Hampshire, where a strikingly hot, green-eyed, bearded flannel wearing innkeeper rescues her.
Evan, a former marine who took over his family’s inn after the sudden loss of his father, is struggling to keep afloat.
Running out of money, Beth agrees to help Evan run the inn in exchange for room and board, but she has no intention of staying too long and letting her guard down or anyone into her heart.
But there’s something about Beth that makes Evan believe he can be the man to give her the love that she deserves.
The more emotional walls Beth tries to put up, the harder Evan works to tear them down, using everything he can, including a pair of puppies he finds abandoned by the side of the road, to make her want to stay.
Will Evan be able to convince Beth to take a second chance at love?
*Falling Inn Love is a complete stand-alone and can be read without reading any of the other books, but if you prefer to read in order, start with Falling Inn Love as the characters and families are connected.*
“Falling Inn Love should be a Hallmark movie! This sweet, small-town romance will melt your heart and make you smile! Falling Inn Love by Erin Branscom is the perfect fall treat. This may be her debut novel, but it’s a total winner! The romance builds beautifully and I was there for every second of it! The author paints such a rich, vivid picture of this town, that at times, I honestly felt as if I were there experiencing the loveliness right along with the characters! The side characters, especially the puppies, were lovable and will have you wanting their stories too! If you’re looking for a heartwarming romance novel that’s just good for the soul, then look no further. Falling Inn Love is a five-star read and I absolutely encourage you to read it right now!” – K Webster, USA Today Bestselling Author
Conclusion
In this day and age, we don’t get too many escapes. This book offers you a mini vacation, some sweet romance, and puppies! What more could you ask for in a book?
Fun fact: The author, Erin Branscom, is an awesome YouTuber with over 50k followers and does her own Amazon Live shows! We met when she invited me onto her show for an interview. Little did we know, we only lived ten minutes apart. Now, we’re the best of friends!
I really hope you read this book! Please share this review on your socials so everyone can go and read Falling Inn Love! It’s available on Kindle Unlimited, too, which is awesome! Thanks for reading this blog post! If you enjoyed this one, make sure you check out my other reviews including Fantastic Gay Romance Book You Will Devour and Sinful Older Woman Younger Man Romance Book!
September 21, 2022
Fantastic Gay Romance Book You Will Devour!
Wow. All I have to say is wow. Cali Boy by Charlie Meadows absolutely blew me away. It hit all the marks for me! Bi-awakening, stepbrothers, super steam, angst…it had it all! Keep reading for all the goodies about this book!
Please note this post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a commission or referral fee if you click and purchase. I only share products I love and my links are at no cost to you.
Finn
One devastating night. One tragic accident.
I survived, but the boy I used to be didn’t.
And I’ve been on a downward spiral of anger and resentment ever since. That is until my father makes a selfish decision that changes the course of my life and my future.
It brings him into it.
Golden-haired surfer boy, Oliver Chase.
Sunshine personified and my new stepbrother.
I want to hate him, but his shy smiles and endearing dimples have me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself. I definitely don’t deserve him, and I’ll probably hurt him, but the ease with which he breaks down the walls surrounding my battered heart might not leave me with a choice.
Oliver
I don’t look back when Mom moves us from our sleepy California beach town to the wealthy suburbs of Chicago. I need a fresh start, to leave all the negativity and hate behind me, and I’m taking it.
But I wasn’t expecting the grumpy, brooding, hurt boy that bangs on my bedroom door. Nor was I expecting the toxic relationship he has with his dad, my mom’s new husband.
With mounting tensions at school and home, I’m not sure how to feel about this fresh start anymore. But what I do know is that Finn’s tender touches and growly commands make me want him. And you should never lust after a straight boy… especially your new stepbrother.
Cali Boy is an 86,000 word M/M stepbrother romance. It is a standalone, and you can expect grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, and steamy first times. This novel is intended for 18+ readers and touches on some sensitive subjects.
“A 2022 favorite read! It’s no secret that MM romance is my absolute fave, so I went into Cali Boy by Charli Meadows assuming I’d enjoy it. But I more than enjoyed it…I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Finn and Oliver were just so sweet and precious! Their love made me smile and my heart sing! This book had all the juicy stuff I love, too, like the forbidden element of them being stepbrothers and also the hurt/comfort element. Cali Boy was a five-star read for me and I highly recommend it!” – K Webster, USA Today Bestselling Author
All in all, this book was amazing. I really do hope you give it a try and read it. I know I’ll be buying the paperback next to add to my collection! Please share this review on your socials so others can give this book a read too! It’s available on Kindle Unlimited as well. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this review, check out my other blog post called Sinful Older Woman Younger Man Romance Book.
September 20, 2022
This Enemies to Lovers Romance Will Steal Your Heart
It was a joke that got out of hand. A silly attempt to catfish the weird girl. I wasn’t supposed to actually like her. And I certainly never meant to hurt her…Keep reading for an exclusive excerpt of The Day She Cried, some awesome book reviews, and all the information on how to get more of this book!
The Day She Cried was a book I wrote when my emotions were extremely raw after the internet stress that went on with The Wild. Rather than letting it get me down, I channeled all of my thoughts and feelings into this story. I really believe you can feel the pain and heartbreak in this story, but since it’s a romance, I also give you lots of love, steam, and the ultimate happily ever after!
“I’m just going to get straight to the point. This story was raw, tragic, gut-wrenching, beautiful, sad, and so damn good!”
– Beneath The Covers Blog, Blogger
Here’s the blurb for The Day She Cried:
From USA Today bestselling author K Webster comes a gripping new adult, bully romance standalone!
It was a joke that got out of hand. A silly attempt to catfish the weird girl. I wasn’t supposed to actually like her. And I certainly never meant to hurt her.
Yet, that’s exactly what I did.
I destroyed Raven Murray’s heart, and ultimately her life.
Now I’m paying for my part in her demise. Jail time. Restitution. Guilt. I’m no longer the happy, popular girl who had everything.
I have nothing and it’s absolutely what I deserve.
Her brother, Rome, thinks I deserve less than nothing. He wants me to hurt. To feel the same pain she felt. For me to drown in my own tears.
He’ll stop at nothing to get his justice.
His obsession with tearing me down consumes him. I become his single focus.
Somewhere along the way, the line between love and hate disappears.
I can’t fall for the guy whose sister I killed, because he’ll never be able to love me back. But my heart says I already have…
**The Day She Cried is a new adult enemies-to-lovers romance standalone. There are triggers in this story including suicide, self-harm, catfishing, bullying, and some sexual violence.**
“This is a heartbreaking love story with love that was never meant to be, love that grew from grief and hate. It brings to light how cruel the world can be and how you can never judge a book by it cover, never see a smile and always believe it’s real.” – ReviewerYou can buy The Day She Cried here:AmazonAlso on…
Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Amazon ES, Amazon IT, Amazon NL, Amazon JP, Amazon BR, Amazon CA, Amazon MX, Amazon AU, and Amazon IN.Barnes & NobleAppleKobo Google PlayEden BooksAudibleSigned Paperback (New Cover or Original Cover)
“I don’t know where to begin with this review. I don’t know how to fully explain this book. Because in all honesty, I can’t. There is so much to it, so much raw, brutal hurt and so much breathtaking beauty.”
– Sophie, Reviewer
“The Day She Cried by K. Webster brought me to a speechless state. I sat there on my couch afterwards simply replaying this book in my head. It spoke volumes and tugged on my heartstrings.”
– Colleen G, Reviewer
Here’s an excerpt of The Day She Cried:
Rome looks harder than I remember. Edgier. Meaner. He certainly didn’t have the giant raven tattoo on the side of his neck last time I saw him. One wing of the bird spreads out over the front of his throat just under his Adam’s apple and the other wing wraps around the back of his neck. His black hair is less shaggy than I remember. It’s buzzed short on the sides and back, but the hair on top is longish, flopping down across one of his brows. If I wasn’t afraid of him, I’d be captivated by him.
“I, uh, um,” I choke out as I drop the menus on the table with a trembling hand.
Rome sits on one side of the booth alone and his eyes bore into me. I chance a look at him. Last time I saw him was months and months ago at the hearing. Tonight, I’m shocked to see him wearing a fitted tank top. No hoodie. No long-sleeved shirt.
Bare arms.
Tattooed, muscular arms.
I always assumed he was thin and twiggy, but now I can see I was wrong.
He looks like he could crush me.
The evil glint in his glare says he’d like to.
“I want a vanilla shake, Diner Barbie,” one of the guys opposite of Rome says with a laugh. The guy has a shaved head but has a burly brown beard. He’s older, maybe late thirties. His stomach is rounded from probably drinking too many milkshakes.
I frown but scramble to get my pad out from my apron. “Uh, sure. And you?” I ask the other man. This guy has nearly black eyes. He’s not as jovial as his friend.
“Coke.”
Swallowing, I turn to regard Rome. His eyes have never moved. He continues to stare unabashedly at me. “Do you have any specials? Like resurrection of the dead?” he sneers.
I’m so taken aback by his question that I stumble back a step. Heat floods up my throat and settles on my cheeks, but it’s the tears I have trouble containing. His words make me think of her. His sister.
“The writing as always is amazing, the characters so well developed you find yourself connected to them almost instantly – liking some of them may be another matter, but through a tragedy a story is born.” – Teri, Reviewer
Erin Mallon and Noah Michael Levine do such a great job narrating this story! They manage to pull out all the emotions while also making the steamy times in the book SUPER HOT!
If you’re looking for an enemies to lovers, emotional, college-age romance with some heat, you definitely need to check out The Day She Cried. Hope you enjoyed this fun book spotlight! This story is one that will always be special to my heart! Please share this post with all your book loving friends or let me know in the comments what other books of mine you’d like to see spotlighted! Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, make sure you check out 9 Best Romance Books for Adults in 2022!
September 16, 2022
Ultimate Midnight Dynasty Reading Order, Yes Please!
You’ve asked for it and I finally got my hands on the complete Midnight Dynasty reading order list! Whether you’re Team Morelli or Team Constantine, or unsure as of yet, this reading order provided by Dangerous Press will send you on the right path to reading all the books in this awesome world!
Please note this post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a commission or referral fee if you click and purchase. I only share products I love and my links are at no cost to you.
What is the Midnight Dynasty world?
This world is a series of loosely interconnected books revolving around two main families: the Morellis and the Constantines. These two families are mega rich, super powerful, and ruthless as can be. They also pretty much hate each other which makes for fantastic tension, especially when people from the “wrong side” fall for someone on the other side. The Midnight Dynasty collection is growing and filled with fabulous, steamy, and intriguing stories you’ll love.
Yeah, I said it. I’m Team Constantine. Why? Winston Constantine, that’s why. How can you not be Team Constantine when he’s the hottest, filthiest billionaire to ever live…ha! I’m bias because I wrote him, though. His story is a modern-day Cinderella retelling, but it’s no fairy tale, and he’s no Prince Charming!
Stroke of Midnight by K Webster (You can grab the ebook for free!)
The Glass Slipper by K Webster
This family actually grew on me. Because I wrote Winston Constantine first (before I read the other books), naturally I chose them. However, after getting to know the Morellis, like Leo Morelli, in Amelia Wilde’s series, you can’t help but fall in love.
I actually wrote another duet in which my characters were Team Morelli. In the Deception Duet, we dive more into the Morellis, and shocker, I didn’t like Winston at all from their point of view!
Dangerous Press continues to add more books into this fantastic and entertaining world, so it can be a bit overwhelming wondering where to start. But, you can print off the reading list here, and start with Stroke of Midnight. Get to know Mr. Constantine… Let him lure you into his filthy world! These Morelli Constantine books are going to consume you!
If you’re a fan of the Dangerous Press books, then you seriously should check out their Patreon! There are multiple tiers offering different types of access. I’ve even written some exclusive, Patreon-only stories for them with my characters, so it’s worth checking out!
Thanks for reading and please comment to let me know if this was helpful! I love hearing from you all! Also, sharing helps get the word out and is much appreciated!
To read a blog post about the Cinderella Trilogy (Winston Constantine’s books), check it out here.
To grab Stroke of Midnight for free, check it out here.
September 15, 2022
A Student Teacher Romance Novel to Make You Blush!
If you’re looking for a smoking hot, taboo romance book about the forbidden love between a student and teacher, then look no further! The Teacher of Nothing by K Webster is an age-gap romance between a grumpy high school teacher with a major chip on his shoulder and his sweet, innocent, virginal eighteen-year-old student.
Student Teacher Romances Are So Hot
I don’t know about you, but reading a story about falling for your super gorgeous teacher who is caring and protective underneath all that gruff makes me giddy. There’s just something overly delicious about the imbalance of power and position of authority these types of novels have. You know it’s forbidden and wrong because of him being her teacher and their huge age gap, but you can’t help but root for them anyway.
From USA Today Bestselling Author K Webster comes a new steamy age-gap, student-teacher forbidden romance!
He’s a grumpy teacher with a chip on his shoulder. She’s his much, much younger student who’s completely off-limits.
Love broke me when I was a teen.
My dad not only slept with my girlfriend, but he knocked her up and made her my stepmom, too. Nearly two decades later and I’m still not over it.
How can I be when they’re a daily reminder of what was stolen from me?
Being a teacher isn’t necessarily my passion, but pissing my dad off is.
He thinks teaching is beneath our family and I love watching him squirm.
But the joke’s on me.
I’m completely obsessed with the quiet, beautiful girl in my class.
Always staring at her perfect lips when no one’s looking.
She’s so young—too young for me.
Something about her, though, is just so sad and I can’t seem to stop thinking about her.
I want to comfort her. To hold her.
To teach her filthy lessons while in the sanctity of my bedroom.
And yet, I can’t.
Not only would I lose my job and bring humiliation down on the others in my family who don’t deserve the heat, but I’d be just like him. My father. A sicko chasing some girl he has no business going after. I refuse to let that happen.
Until I’m forced to protect her when no one else will.
Everything changes and I cross a line I’m not sure I can come back from.
It turns out, I’m exactly like my father.
A selfish man hell-bent on ruining everyone’s lives over a teenage girl.
***This is a complete standalone novel with a happily ever after. Characters are of legal age.***
Keep reading for an excerpt of The Teacher of Nothing at the end of this blog post!
You Can Pre-Order The Teacher of Nothing by K Webster
This book will be available for purchase on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Eden Books, Google Play, and of course, my website.
Signed paperbacks are up for pre-order now! You can grab them here: The Teacher of Nothing Signed Paperback Pre-Order
**Characters are of legal age.**
Callum
Lips shouldn’t be so captivating. They’re a part of the body, not twins made of magic and beauty. But her lips are a work of art. I want to study them and discuss them. Marvel over their perfection—the exact light red shade of the inside of a sliced strawberry. Probably just as sweet too. Each time she licks them, I stifle a groan of need, wishing I could lick them too.
Look away, you fucking creep.
Somehow, I manage. I dart my gaze along every face in the room, lingering on the other fifteen or so females, wondering if it’s me who’s the problem here or her. When no one else captures my interest, I know the answer.
Her.
Always her.
The urge to drag my hungry stare back to her pretty mouth is almost uncontrollable. With each passing day, I find it more and more difficult to remain unaffected.
She makes it impossible.
Someone laughs and attempts to stifle the sound. This draws my attention to Levi Paulson. He’s a little shit who gets on my last nerve. Normally, I’d be irritated, but I’m almost grateful for the distraction.
Almost.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Paulson?” I lean back in my desk chair and it creaks from the movement, echoing in the otherwise silent classroom. “I’m not sure what you think is so funny about your test.”
Levi rolls his eyes but won’t look at me. “No problem, Mr. Park.”
“That’s what I thought.”
A few students snigger at my reply. Levi’s features harden. I don’t care if kids like Levi think I’m a dick. I am a dick. I have no problems with being a dick. It’s kind of my thing.
Which makes this…obsession…so complicated.
Because I don’t want to be a dick to her. Not even a little bit. I want to pull off all her petals, expose whatever hides beneath her outer layers, and know every sweet piece of her.
But I can’t.
I won’t.
She’s a student. My student. This makes her untouchable. I refuse to be like my father.
Don’t look at her. Don’t look at her. Don’t fucking look at her.
Against their own accord, my eyes abandon the shit starter, Levi, to travel their way back to her.
Willa Reyes.
My dick stiffens as soon as my gaze is back on her lips. She has her plump bottom lip captured between her teeth, her brows furled in concentration. Willa is the best student I have in any of my classes. Not because I crave her mouth like my next breath. It’s because she’s quiet, studious, and always outperforms everyone else.
It’s not her performance that has me so captivated, though.
There’s just something about her that taunts me. It provokes carnal desires inside me that have no business being poked at. Her innocence is like blood dragging its way through dark ocean waters. I’m the shark desperate for a taste—the predator who will tear through her sweetness and devour her whole.
Fuck.
My dark gray slacks tighten around my cock, the material unable to keep the hard flesh from straining for freedom. Beneath my desk, I push against it with the heel of my palm, needing relief but unable to find it.
I’m going insane.
All semester, this girl has lured me closer and closer. She doesn’t mean to do it. She can’t help it. She doesn’t know I’m a monster with an unquenchable thirst for her. Her only fault is being present, day after day, and chewing on her supple lip that distracts me beyond reason.
Levi coughs and I’m forced to look at him. He’s smirking at one of his friends in class. He’s seventeen and on his way to prison. At least, that’s my deduction. I’m not usually wrong. I have the foresight of knowing where kids like him will land well before they do. A teacher’s sixth sense.
“If you’d rather take your test to the office, I’m sure Mr. Erickson would love the company,” I grind out, my patience withering like a flower without sun. “That’s two, Mr. Paulson.”
His nostrils flare, but he gives me a clipped nod. I’m still glaring at him when warmth washes over me. I cut my eyes over to Willa just in time to see her wide dark green eyes fixated on me.
She immediately glances down at her paper and her skin colors to a soft pink. My unruly dick twitches. Is she embarrassed? Was she checking me out?
I try to ignore that line of thinking, but it won’t go away. A million thoughts tangle together in my mind.
How old is she?
Does she find me attractive?
Was she thinking about me inside her?
I’m out of control. A selfish fuckwit like my dad. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was supposed to be everything he’s not. The exact opposite. Yet, here I am lusting over a girl half my age and who’s still in high school.
There’s a special place in hell for men like us.
Did you enjoy the excerpt? Don’t forget to pre-order The Teacher of Nothing! Comment and let me know if you’re looking forward to this book!
Want more student teacher romances? Check out these titles:
Coach LongRenner’s RulesSchooled by a SeniorTorn ApartWant more age-gap romances? Check out this blog post for a huge list of them!
28 Best Age-Gap Romances Books
September 14, 2022
Sinful Older Woman Younger Man Romance Book
It’s no secret that I love anything that Misty Walker writes. She nails the tropes every time, especially the juicy forbidden romance tropes! Her newest book, Gracie’s Mom, releases September 21st, 2022 and I was given an early copy to read! As per usual, she sucked me in right from the first page, but this one just hit different. Right out of the gate it was HOT and I was so there for it!
At thirty-nine years old, I have my life together.
I’m a successful photographer, own my own home, and thanks to a teenage pregnancy, I’m already an empty nester.
The only thing missing is love. And who has time for that?
That’s my thought process the day my daughter, Gracie, calls to tell me she’s bringing her roommate home with her for spring break.
Dax Shelton is charismatic, funny, and ridiculously sexy. And for some reason, whenever I’m with him, he aims all that charm my way.
I try to keep my space and not take him seriously, but when he pins me against the kitchen counter and whispers all the dirty things he wants to do to me, I can’t ignore him any longer.
So, at thirty-nine years old, I have a secret fling with a man seventeen years my junior.
Or at least I think it’s just a fling until our late nights become less about sex and more about our feelings, and I accidentally fall in love with my daughter’s roommate.
Things are about to get messy. Not only because Gracie won’t understand how I let this happen but because she’s in love with him too.
Here’s my review of Gracie’s Mom by Misty Walker:
“Gracie’s Mom by Misty Walker is a total 5-star taboo read and I’m not just saying that because Misty is my bestie ha! I’m telling you this because it’s soooo good. Forbidden, steamy as hell, and full of delightful angst! You need to put this one on your TBR! It’s the best age gap romance in 2022 that I’ve read! Don’t walk…run!” – K Webster, USA Today Bestselling Author
You can grab Gracie’s Mom on Amazon here and it’s in Kindle Unlimited too!
September 8, 2022
How to Write a Romance Short Story RIGHT NOW!
Imagine this: You’ve been offered $1,000 to write a 2500–5000-word short story, but you only have 3 hours to complete it. Would $333.33 an hour be a worthwhile endeavor to you? Could you actually pull it off?
If you’re like me, or anyone for that matter, three-hundred bucks for an hour’s worth of work is fantastic money. Most of us would jump at that chance. I know I would. In fact, I have.
Need a step-by-step guide to make this happen for yourself? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right person, and luckily for you, I have a plan. I’m going to teach you exactly how to write a romance short story RIGHT NOW! Grab a notebook, a pen, and don’t forget to pin this post so you can refer back to it time and time again until you’re a pro. Let’s dive in!
Please note this post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a commission or referral fee if you click and purchase. I only share products I love and my links are at no cost to you.Here are the steps to write your romance short storyBrainstorm a topic/story idea (5 minutes)Divide and conquer by sections (5 minutes)Give yourself a roadmap (10 minutes)Start writing (40 minutes)Read your story (20)
Vague, I know. So, let’s break each one down. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to start your short story, and three hours later, you’ll be done! As a bonus, at the end of this blog post, I’ll share some proven marketing techniques on what you can do with these short stories once you’ve written them!
Brainstorming a Topic/Story Idea (5 Minutes)
Spend about five minutes brainstorming a topic. Think of it like a TV episode. Something that has a beginning, middle, and end. You’re going to want to start strong or with a bang, and of course, end strong. This is more vital for short stories because your words are limited. Since you’re writing a romance short story, you’re going to have instalove, instasex, or they’re going to need to know each other already and have some sort of relationship. It’ll also need to end happily ever after or happy for now. Often, with short stories, a happy for now works great!
Divide and Conquer by Sections (5 minutes)
Next, you’re going to need about five minutes thinking up how you’ll break down your short story. A great length for a short story is around 5k words. I’ve done tons of these. And, since I write about 2500 words per chapter give or take, that equates to approximately 2 chapters.
2500 words x 2 = 5000 words.
Both chapters need to be fast paced as you don’t have much room to work here with.
Chapter 1 needs to have a strong beginning, middle, and then cliffhanger that leads to Chapter 2. Think of this like the commercial break on your television episode that has you sitting on the edge of your seat for more.
Chapter 2 will need to have a middle, end, and then close with a bang that can be a happy for now for romance.
Give Yourself a Roadmap (10 minutes)
You’ll need about 10 minutes mapping out the key plot points that will happen to keep yourself on course for your short story. I like to give myself a couple of sentences reminder of what needs to happen and in which chapter to keep myself on track.
Start Writing (40 minutes)
I like to spend about an hour per chapter writing. The average person can write 40 words per minute which equates to around 2400 in an hour. This should get you to your goal. Remember, you’re going to want to jump right in, don’t go too deep, cut the fluff, and keep it moving with punchy dialogue or action.
Read Your Story (20 minutes)
This should take about 20 minutes or so. Make sure it all flows and that you feel satisfied by the end. You can always tweak a little here and there, just make sure not to get heavily wordy trying to fluff parts up as it probably doesn’t technically need it. A short story is just a different breed than regular novel or novella writing. You can also run it through Grammarly to help clean it up a bit. Remember not to stress out too much over this. Short stories are great practice! 3 hours of your time is super easy and doable. Your whole goal for a short story is to give your reader a sample of your writing. You want them to crave more of the story or your stories in general.
If you follow these steps, you’ll actually write your short story in less than three hours, but if this is your first time, you’ve got some wiggle room!
What Can You Do with These Short Stories?
Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for! I have several awesome ideas for what you can do with your short story once you’ve written it.
Newsletter Magnet
Use your ebook as a newsletter magnet. Have them sign up for your newsletter in order to get the story. A smart thing to do would be to use this short story as a lead into a series you already have. I’ve done this before and it works well.
Print Mini Paperbacks
Print the small books to sell on your website. These are great to sell on your website or even do as add-ons. My readers love collecting these tiny books! I print mine at at 48hrbooks.com . They’re super fast, great quality, and their customer service is outstanding…highly recommend. Recently, they did an author interview with me where we discussed some great tips for newbie authors. You can read the interview here.
To take a better look, you can check out Wild & Free Collector’s Edition Paperback with Add Ons here or you can check out the Short Story Bundle I have available here.
FreebiesPut them on the freebie section of your website. I love having a freebie section. (Check out my freebie section here to see an example). You can either have them download from your site or refer them to another source like BookFunnel. BookFunnel is great for allowing you to choose certain criteria for them to be able to download the story, like require them to sign up for your newsletter. The great thing about BookFunnel is they show how many downloads you get from your short stories which is helpful in deciding if your short story has gotten any interest. Laska, though more horror than romance, continues to grab tons of downloads and even found me a huge audience in Brazil!
You can read more in depth about BookFunnel and their capabilities in this blog post: https://www.self-publishing-journeys.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-bookfunnel/
BookFunnel explains how to do even more with your books in a blog post here: https://blog.bookfunnel.com/2022/send-a-book-in-seconds/
Exclusive Content for MembersUse your short stories for exclusive content for subscription platforms like Patreon. This could even be dripped out to your members on a weekly or monthly basis. It’s a great way to get your readers salivating for more. To learn more about what I use for Patreon rewards, read my blog post called Top Patreon Reward Ideas for Authors.
Wattpad, Radish, and Others
You can put your short story on places like Wattpad or Radish to find new readers. Wattpad is a free-to-read platform, but Radish will pay you royalties for reads if they accept your stories. You can also use your stories on places like Wattpad to enter contests. Once, I did a 500-word short story that won me a $500 Visa gift card. It was the easiest $500 I ever made and took me half an hour to write.
Want the Printable Guide to Writing a Short Story?
Make sure to grab a free copy of your guide so you can start writing short stories in just a few hours.
If you want a more detailed how-to, check out my YouTube video on the subject:
ConclusionNow you have all the tools and knowledge on how to write a short story and quickly! I promise it doesn’t have to be difficult and all you need to do is practice. Comment below and let me know if you’ll start a short story. Were any of these ideas helpful? Let me know what you’ll be doing with your short story or if you have other ideas to share with others. I love hearing from you all and am happy to answer questions!
If this blog post was helpful, make sure to check out:
September 1, 2022
Top Patreon Reward Ideas for Authors
Top Patreon Reward Ideas for Authors by K Webster
This year I decided to try something new to me. Shocker. I’m all for dabbling in new areas to see if it strikes a chord with me or adds to my overall author growth and success. So, after months of research, I took the leap and started a Patreon for my superfan readers on January 1, 2022.
Defining a SuperfanI imagine this definition is different for everyone. But, for me, since I run a decently successful online bookstore (that offers ebooks, signed paperbacks, signed hardbacks, and book bundles), means those readers who keep coming back over and over again for all the different variations of books I offer. These superfans are the ones who collect paperbacks or hardbacks or limited editions or collector’s editions on the regular. They show up time and time again to purchase all the things to add to their collection.
Rewarding a SuperfanWhen embarking on this journey, I wanted to do something for those readers who craved more of what I had to offer. This helped shape how I set up my Patreon and the tiers I offer. Research led me in all sorts of different directions on what rewards I could have for my readers. I knew that whatever I decided, three things were incredibly important when creating my membership subscription model:
ExclusivityValueConsistencyI needed to choose and choose well because this was a commitment. I didn’t want to do anything half-assed or fizzle out after the excitement had worn off. My rewards needed to be something I could maintain and would be worth my time and my Patrons’ money.
When choosing your rewards for each membership level (or tier), Patreon likes suggesting ideas to you. At first, if you’re like I was, you will get excited, selecting all their options. They have all sorts of things to choose from. Anything from something basic like viewing posts or receiving a newsletter all the way to one-on-one phone calls with readers. It was all too easy to build on each tier, adding and adding as I went along. You’re going to want to refrain from doing that. I want you to take a long, hard think about what you’re actually capable of delivering.
At first glance, Patreon seems like it might could be a way to make passive income, but I assure you, there’s a lot more involved than that. Since these are your superfans (or at least the ones who are willing to pay a premium for extra access or unique goodies from you), you’re going to want to give them value. It’s best if you can underpromise but then deliver more than expected. This’ll leave both you and your reader feeling pleased. I suggest committing times of the week or month to do certain actions or posts so you continually provide content for those paying for it.
Additionally, if you’re offering physical item rewards, you’ll need to factor in time for ordering said items and packaging them to mail out. My sister and assistant always dreads what she calls “Patreon Week” as that’s the week we bust our butts getting everything ready for the club members.
Newsletter creationMonthly updatesOrdering merch, books, supplies for the following monthSigning and mailing out books for the current monthOnce we get past the chaos of that week, it settles down until we do it all over again a few weeks later. It’s just important to realize this isn’t a one and done membership program. It has moving parts that change over time. Those parts will need maintenance and fine tuning.
Top Patreon Reward Ideas for AuthorsNow, for the part you’ve been waiting on. These are the ones I use and love, but you can totally get creative here, coming up with reward ideas that better suit your brand and supporters. This is to help get your brain ticking!
Free Ebook – Easy to deliver and a great option for lower tiers if you’re trying to pull in new readers.Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) – A way to give your members access to reading your newest books before they go live.Discounts for Author Website Store – Readers love their monthly discounts and absolutely use them frequently.Sticker of the Month – This is a physical item, but inexpensive as it’s just the cost to make the sticker and a stamp.Book of the Month – Another physical item, but definitely eats into your budget significantly.
Those are my favorites, but I do have some others that I enjoy offering. Here are those as well:
Bonus Content (or Deleted Content) – This could be portions of your stories you edited out for whatever reason or extra short stories.Sneak Peeks – A small excerpt of the book you’re currently writing.Exclusive Voting Rights – Allow your members to vote on anything related to your work: ie) Character names, next book of the month, etc.Lens Access – The opportunity to view picture/video type stories that disappear after a day.All of these are great items to offer that don’t take a lot of time, too.
Conclusion – Main TakeawayThe main thing about my Patreon is I want the supporters in each tier to feel special. I want to give them that connection and access to me that maybe I don’t have the capacity to do anywhere else. This is crucial to your Patreon being successful. If the supporters feel ignored or feel as though they aren’t getting some type of value for their money, you’ll have a harder time keeping them. Your goal is to keep the relationship going for months or even years to come! And don’t get discouraged if it starts slow or dips up and down. Again, this is a moving machine and is to be expected.
To check out all of my tiers, head over to my Patreon page. https://www.patreon.com/authorkwebster
Recently, I was interviewed on the Subscriptions for Authors podcast where I deep dive into all of these things and more. You can check them out here:
Here’s the link to watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FkxNJRD6ETw
Here’s the link to the audio on your favorite podcast app: https://rss.com/podcasts/subscriptionsforauthors/595738/
And here’s the transcript on their website: https://subscriptionsforauthors.com/podcast/8-how-k-webster-makes-8k-month-from-80-readers/
Enjoy this blog post?Make sure to subscribe to my blog so you never miss a post. You can also subscribe to my newsletter if you want all the updates on everything I do! Thank you for reading! Scroll to the bottom for more great articles for authors!
K Webster
