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And they lived…ever after

January 10, 2024 by in category Writing tagged as , ,

                                                                       

My fourteen-year-old grandson, Isaac, writes movie scripts. He’s been reading voraciously since he learned to read, and I think it was a natural progression for him to write. I’m thrilled that we have these things in common, and even more, that he shares his work with me. I recently asked him what genre his latest story fit into, expecting him to say superhero or fantasy because those are the genres of movies and books that he most often enjoys.

But, he responded, “Dark comedy romcom.”

Hmmm, first of all I was surprised that he would write a romcom. But the preceding ‘dark comedy’ made me take a step back and think. Is there such a thing as a dark comedy romcom? What would that look like? I think of a romcom is a light, funny, feel good romance with a Happily Ever After. Of course, the heroine and hero have to overcome a lot of challenges to get to that Happily Ever After, but even the challenges are generally light in nature.

I write romcom. I’ve rewritten sections and subplots in my stories on more than one occasion when I saw that they were taking a darker or more serious turn.

But does that mean you can’t write a dark comedy/romcom?

So, we talked about genre, and the elements of certain genres. Where does his story fit? Honestly, I don’t think his script is a true romance, the story arc isn’t so much about the couple, and it doesn’t have a happily ever after, or even a happily for now. I’d probably categorize it action/adventure. I’m not surprised, he’s a fourteen-year-old boy, the only romcoms he’s read are the ones his grandmother writes, and yes, I feel more than honored that he’s read my books.

So back to dark comedy romcom. Does it exist? I’m currently seeking out books and movies that might fit into such a category. And while there are ‘rules’ for genres, there are always exceptions and crossovers.

When I first started writing fiction, I never considered the genre of my story. I just wrote. Publishing wasn’t my goal, I wrote for my own entertainment. Isaac plans to write movies. He attends an arts high school that with a film program, and he reads books on the subject. He watches movies and reads as a critic, rather than for entertainment. Which can make watching a movie with him an interesting experience, lol. But I’m impressed with his seriousness, and I think he’s got natural talent.

So, I guess my question is, have you watched a movie or read a book that you’d consider a dark comedy romcom? (If yes, please share titles!) Or, do you think this is even a genre? How do you feel when a book or movie is labeled as one genre, but after reading or watching, you don’t believe it was right? Do you feel misled? Cheated? Or does it matter at all?

I’m going to continue searching for dark comedy romcoms, while writing my light romcoms and darker women’s fiction. And I’ll let you all know when Isaac’s first movie releases. I plan to be at the premier.

Tell me what you think…and next week I’ll be giving away a free short romcom with my newsletter. If you’d like to receive a copy of #DumpsterFireLove, sign up here.

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Folk Around and Find Out Now Live on Audio

December 20, 2022 by in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Spotlight tagged as , , , , ,

★★Now Live on Audio★★

Folk Around and Find Out, a standalone contemporary romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid, is now LIVE on Audible! Narrated by Joy Nash and Chris Brinkley, we’ve got your next great listen right here!

★ ★Grab your copy TODAY★ ★

He needs to get her out of his system. Just once….

★★Blurb★★

Hank Weller doesn’t help people. He leaves that do-gooder nonsense to his best friend, Beau Winston. Hank does what he wants, when he wants, with whomever he wants—and Hank does not want to hire Charlotte Mitchell to be an exotic dancer at his club, The Pink Pony. Sure, he can’t help noticing the dips and curves of her, how shrewd, smart, and funny she is, the fire in her hazel eyes. He’s always noticed. She’d probably draw a crowd and entice the regulars. But after Charlotte’s messy, public divorce made Hank’s club out to be the culprit—and made her the single mother of four kids—he doesn’t need or want any additional bad press courtesy of Charlotte Mitchell. Or the distraction. Unfortunately for him, the town’s prettiest charity case doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words nopeno, and never.

Charlotte Mitchell doesn’t much like Hank Weller. Once upon a time, she used to. Years ago, she liked him a whole heck of a lot despite other folks in town labeling him as “eccentric” and “nonconformist”, which were polite Southern alternatives to “filthy rich” and “self-centered douchebag”. Her opinion of him changed dramatically after he volunteered to be her date to junior prom and then promptly stood her up. They haven’t so much as acknowledged each other in more than a decade. But a sudden family emergency means Charlotte needs access to Hank’s club ASAP. Unfortunately for her, the narcissistic fancy-pants doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words helpgenerosity, and compassion.

But he’s about to find himself schooled. Charlotte is going to teach Hank a lesson once and for all about basic human decency, whether he likes it or not.

Spoiler alert . . . he likes it.

★ ★Grab your copy TODAY★ ★

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Love & Mud Puddles

March 9, 2022 by in category Writing tagged as , , ,

From the moment that Paul and I met, thirty-four years ago, our life has been a constant stream of planned and unplanned chaos, and the last year has been no exception. Since this time last year, we’ve had the joy of welcoming our beautiful grandson, Milo, I’ve had two total knee replacement surgeries, we’ve been making a slow move to our retirement home in Arizona, which will be complete in November, and preparing our current home to go on the market, a number of extended family situations that have been heartbreaking, and as you all know there’s been a pandemic.

With all that’s happened, good and challenging, I spent very little time at my desk working, but I did manage to write   one book this year, a holiday romcom titled Love & Mud Puddles. I’m excited to announce that I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press, and Love & Mud Puddles will be released for the holidays this year.

This is not the book cover.

I had so much fun writing this Christmas cookie themed story about Hannah, a young woman who can’t bake, and is challenged to bring homemade Christmas cookies to her family Christmas Eve party. She and her best friend are on a mission to learn to make a fabulous holiday treat, and after several disastrous tries, they end up in a cookie baking class with an oh-so-cute instructor. Will Hannah learn to bake a fabulous cookie…or will they all go up in smoke? And why does the cute instructor always catch her in another disaster?

Mud Puddles are my name for my favorite double Chocolate Thumb Print cookies, and later this year I’ll share my recipe, and some of the other recipes that Hannah tries on her quest for the perfect holiday cookie. Actually, if you want it now, you can find it in my facebook group, Tari Lynn & Friends.

I’m pretty sure that for the rest of our marriage, Paul and I will continue with planned (and sometimes organized) and unplanned chaos, good, challenging and everything in between. In the meantime, I’m starting a new project, and I’m hoping to spend a little more time at my desk in 2022.

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Surprise!

November 10, 2019 by in category Charmed Writer by Tari Lynn Jewett tagged as , , , ,

I’ve wandered down the rows of bookshelves in libraries and bookstores so many times in my life, fantasizing about what it would feel like to see my book on one of those shelves, hold a book with my name on it in my hands, sign books for readers, and maybe, just maybe get fan letters.

Last year my first book was published, and this year it was released in print. I’m still excited to see my name on the front of the book…and inside. And, I’ve signed books. Yes, it’s true! I’ve signed dozens of books this year. But a couple of weeks ago, I got my first fan letter…from an unexpected reader.

#PleaseSayYes is book 1 in the 6 book #HermosaForTheHolidays series. It’s a sweet romcom. I wrote it for adults of all ages…think Hallmark movie. Sweet, light, hopefully a heartwarming read that might even make you laugh. And adults of all ages have read it, young single women, young mothers, a few men, and grandmothers into their 80’s have read this story, but what I didn’t expect was  kids reading the book after all it is a romance. I’ve had a review from a 12 year old, and my first fan letter was from a 9 year old girl. She wanted to share the book with her class.

So, of course, I’m sending her 6 books, so she can keep her copy. And what she doesn’t know, is that in the upcoming release of book 2 #SilverBracelets, she is a character in the story. I had so much fun including her, and I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed receiving her letter.

One more fantasy to fulfill, to see my books in bookstores. I’m feeling pretty good about the dreams I’ve checked off, but I think the one I’ll treasure most is this letter from my young reader.

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Book Review: Girls’ Night Out by Glynis Astie

November 27, 2018 by in category Book Reviews by Geralyn Corcillo tagged as , , , , ,

Girls’ Night Out by Glynis Astie is just released and available now! I adored indulging in this book – a hilarious and heartfelt romp that conjures up the bubbly glee of The Facts of Life and the sassy wisdom of The Golden Girls.

Amanda, Jayne, and Holly have been best friends since girlhood. And now, with their thirties on the horizon, they still have each other’s backs as they gossip, goad, and, well, get tipsy. Amanda has always been fabulous, successful, and in control – but can her besties help her navigate the unexpected curve ball life throws her way? It is such fun watching Amanda bulldoze her way through life in stellar footwear even as her playbook is being ripped to shreds.

Jayne has been working her butt off for years trying to get that promotion to anchor at her local news station. But her new boss Tony is determined to make her life miserable, treating her like a cub reporter who just fell off the turnip truck. Who cares if he’s really hot? He’s a total jerk. Okay, so maybe everyone can’t see what a jerk he is … but he totally is! As that anchor chair comes within her reach and she starts falling for Tony, Jayne realizes that as an ambitious reporter with goals of advancement, she will have to make a decision between her dream job and her dream guy. And she’s pretty sure that not even her best friends can help her out of this dilemma. Oh, how I feel for Jayne and her turmoil throughout this book, even as she tries to dodge the really tough decisions with some pretty spectacularly ill-advised shenanigans!!

Holly just wants life to feel right for a change. It always feels so wrong. Wrong job, wrong guy, wrong hairstyle. Can her best friends offer any guidance? They are such movers and shakers and Holly just … isn’t like them. It seems that Link, the nerd she’s been friends with since grade school, is the only one who truly gets her. And he’s not such a nerd any longer… Following Holly’s story is just such a charming delight!

As you lose yourself in this romcom, Astie will make you feel like you are sitting at the table with your own margarita, ready to jump in with your two cents that might be anything from warm to snarky. You will feel that you are a part of a an intimate circle of friends, always ready to laugh, cry, or pass the fries. Girls’  Night Out  by Glynis Astie, Available now!

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