Wednesday, 7 September 2022

#IWSG September 2022 - Best and worst genres to tackle - IWSG Anthology, First Love, with pictures.

 Hello all! I might be a bit early for the IWSG post, but here I am, ready or not! I have some GREAT NEWS! (We're already halfway through Wed, 7th Sept Down Under!)


The awesome co-hosts for the September 7 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise - Fundy Blue! Please visit them if time permits!

Welcome to September's IWSG. A pretty exciting month for some of us with the publication of First Love, the latest IWSG Anthology. The writers have been participating in blog posts on the IWSG Anthology Website which has helped keep us focused while we waited for what seemed a long time to see the Anthology come into fruition. 

So it's related to the September 7 question - What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?

Ever since the IWSG Anthology was first announced by Alex J Cavanaugh back in the day, I've been waiting for a romance genre collection. There seemed to be a focus on sci-fi and fantasy which I have no interest in writing. I guess my Paranormal series is a fantasy, but it's not how I think of fantasy. That's just me. Sci-fi or fantasy would be 'the worst one for [me] to tackle'. Why? No offense, but I don't enjoy reading them as a rule, so no point writing them. I'm sure there are many who have an aversion to some genres - I'm not interested in military stories, cars (Fast and Furious) stories, erotica and so on and so forth. Which is good. Leave those to the experts in the field and concentrate on what each of us enjoys reading and writing.


I always knew a romance IWSG collection would be popular. I was told it had the most entries of any of the contests. Not surprised, seeing over half the books that sell are in the romance genre or sub genres of the same. Let's hope the IWSG's First Love Anthology sells well and many romance readers find hours of enjoyment in the pages.

My story, Marmalade Sunset, was set on Santorini in the Greek Islands. I just received an email from someone who just read it, and here is an extract: 

"It has been MANY, MANY, MANY years since I visited the Greek Islands and while reading your story, I was instantly transported back there again; walking up and down those graveled hills, viewing the whitewashed and blue buildings, and appreciating the bright pink bougainvillea against the azure blue skies. Sigh. I wish I was there now."


With love from Santorini, that blessed gem of a 
Greek isle. How could I not be inspired?

So grab yourself a copy. It's finally published!

I bought copies for family and friends. Here are two of my daughters proudly reading/holding their copies.

~*~

And of course there is a blog tour. To learn more scintillating titbits about the anthology, here is the list:

TOUR DATES:

 9/1 – IWSG Anthologies Blog, http://iwsganthologies.blogspot.com/

Book blurbs

 9/5 - Kelly F Barr, https://kellyfbarr.com/blog/

Interview

 9/6 - Kelly F Barr, https://kellyfbarr.com/blog/

Review

 9/7 – Diane Burton, http://dianeburton.blogspot.com

Interview

 9/7 - Cathrina Constantine, http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/

Book feature

 9/9 - Sandra Cox, https://sandracox.blogspot.com/2022/09/your-weekend-read-first-love-anthology.html

Book feature

 9/12 - Elizabeth s. Craig, https://elizabethspanncraig.com/blog-3/

Article - Working on an Anthology

 9/14 – C. Lee McKenzie, https://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/

Interview

 9/16 - Louise M. Barbour, https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/

Review

 9/19 - Susan Gourley, https://susangourley.blogspot.com/2022/09/first-love-art-of-making-doughnuts.html

Interview

Links:
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/First-Love-Art-Making-Doughnuts-ebook/dp/B09QH3Z28P/
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/first-love-insecure-writers-support-group/1140884369?ean=2940165751301
iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1605240999
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/first-love-the-art-of-making-doughnuts
Scribed - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844897&language=0
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60198262-first-love

~*~

                                                                         

It's a far cry from sweet First Love stories, but the WEP is approaching its horror fest for Halloween, in the form of the challenge, Thriller, based on the Michael Jackson song. Everyone's welcome to join our writing contest; horror is an option only.


 Denise