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Affinity Rainbow Publications is now accepting submissions of romance novels for the 2020/2021 schedule, please see our submission page for details.
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 Before the Light
Samantha Hicks
One year after, her long-time partner Meredith’s abduction, and their subsequent break-up, Kathleen Bowden-Scott’s life is spiralling out of control. Her guilt over pushing Meredith away has her losing focus at work, causing her employer to recommend a sabbatical to sort her life out.
Meredith suggests volunteering to help others might allow Kathleen to move on and build a new life. At the local women’s centre she meets Bethany Jones and despite an instant attraction Kathleen shies away. Beth has her own reasons for avoiding a relationship. An ex out for revenge.
While each one thinks they have put aside their attraction, inside a slow burn ignites. Forced to put their feelings on hold when Beth’s problems escalate and life takes a dangerous turn.
In this fast-paced, romantic suspense, lies are exposed and hearts unite as Kathleen and Beth fight for their future.
Click here to read Chapter 1
Purchase from Affinity
Purchase from Amazon
Pages: 180 eBook
Word count: 54,638
Price: US $7.99 eBook
$16.00 Print
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The idea for After the Dark came to me in a flurry of thoughts and images as I walked to my local shop one night. I had the premise of one woman being abducted and then another and what their relationship would be like once they escaped. How would they fall in love? How would they overcome their trauma? The walk to the shop was about thirty minutes, there and back. By the time I had completed the journey the whole novel was set in my head and I couldn’t wait to get started on it.
The way in which I come up with stories feels very strange to me. I have never had to sit around for days and think of plot points or character development etc. The idea will come to me like a bolt of lightning and poof…the main characters are in my head and waiting for me to tell their story. To me it feels as if the story has already been written and I’m just tasked with copying it from the ether onto paper.
After the Dark came about like this and I’m thankful these two women got a chance at their happy ever after, especially with the horrendous start they had. For any one still not sure whether to grab a copy, I’d highly recommend it. The story may seem dark and traumatic, but there are no graphic scenes of violence. Things are alluded to but never detailed. This is a love story, a romance, after all.
Click here to read Chapter 1.
Click here to purchase from Affinity.
Purchase from Amazon.
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Don't forget last year's books!
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 Affinity's Audio Books
Now available The Trophy Wives Club, written by Ali Spooner and read by Desarae H. Holland. Purchase from Audible here. Or this Amazon link will show you the Audible option to purchase.
Our second audio book, Unknown Forces by Samantha Hicks, read by Renee Elizabeths. Purchase from Audible here, or this Amazon link will have the option to purchase.
Stay tune for the release date!
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The Trophy Wives Club and Unknown Forces Audio books are live!
Click covers to go to Amazon.
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Affinity Monthly Giveaway
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Congratulations to our giveaway corner winner- S Kohler - The Hidden Room.
Now the question on everyone’s lips is what’s the giveaway this month?
After the Dark by Samantha Hicks - eBook
Click on the cover to read first chapter.
Only those subscribers to the newsletter are eligible for the draw.
The draw will take place on the 15th of every month. Winner/s will be notified within 24 hours.
Tell your friends about this opportunity and have them become subscribers. They will need to go to our website and click on the subscribe to newsletter or go to the giveaway icon.
Author of the month Samantha Hicks.
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 One of the great things about being a writer is that I get to write about my hometown, the place I have lived in all my life. Bristol has a very diverse population, with amazing architecture around the city. It had also produced many great celebrities over the years. It is place I have never had the urge to leave. People are welcoming, kind, and friendly. It does have its downsides, just like everywhere. Homelessness and drug addiction are a problem but many organisations exist in and around Bristol to combat this.
I live on the outskirts now, in a little town called Thornbury. I’ve been here for three years and will be the  place I stay for a very long time. Finn, my springer, loves it too. We have a large patch of grass right next to my house which he has commandeered as his own, and plenty of countryside for him to roam. I sometimes feel guilty as he never wants to come back inside, preferring to run around all day. Which would be fine if I didn’t have work to do. My writing takes a back seat to Finn. The mornings and afternoons are his time. We walk, play, nap, and play again. Finally, once he’s settled for the night, I can get in front of my computer and get some writing done. We have our routine, it’s pretty boring, but we like it.
I never would have thought I would become a published author. Like a lot of authors, I struggle with self-doubt and am painfully introverted. Having the confidence to submit a manuscript for consideration is something I lack. It has gotten easier with each book I send and slowly my confidence is rising. The reviews I receive also help to bolster my nerves and believe in myself more.
I plan to be writing for the rest of my life, it’s a job I love, and holding a copy of my novel in my hands is an indescribable feeling. Having my name on the front cover is a dream come true. My advice for anyone debating whether to send off a manuscript or not is just do it. You never know what will happen until you try. If I hadn’t have taken that leap, I wouldn’t be doing what I love with Finn by my side all day.
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Happy Valentines Day!
Who was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine’s Day was a feast day in the Catholic religion, added to the liturgical calendar around 500 AD. The day was commemorated for martyred saints named Valentine. Differing legends celebrate three different saints called Valentine or Valentinus, but since very little was known about these men and there were conflicting reports of the Saint Valentine Day story, the feast day was removed from the Christian liturgical calendar in 1969.
According to legend, this is how Saint Valentine became affiliated with a love-focused holiday—Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who performed weddings for soldiers forbidden to marry, because of an Roman emperor edict decreeing married soldiers did not make good warriors and thus young men could not marry. This Saint Valentine wore a ring with a Cupid on it—a symbol of love—that helped soldiers recognize him. And, in a precursor to greeting cards, he handed out paper hearts to remind Christians of their love for God.
Because of this legend, St. Valentine became known as the patron saint of love. The Saint Valentine prayer asks Saint Valentine to connect lovers together, so that two become one, and the couple remembers their devotion to God.
Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, the era of courtly love, when broad, romantic statements of devotion—poems, songs, paintings—celebrated partnership. By the end of the 15th century, the word “valentine” was being used to describe a lover in poems and songs of the day. By the mid-19th century, mass-produced paper Valentine’s Cards were being created and Valentine’s Day as we know it was born.
Valentine’s Day history isn’t immune to trauma. In Prohibition Chicago in 1929, seven men were killed by a gang organized by Al Capone on February 14. The Valentine’s Day Massacre became a flashpoint in Prohibition history, with police and lawmakers going after the gangs and mobs that had formed in cities to control then-illegal substances like alcohol.
What is the meaning of Valentine’s Day?
Over the years, Valentine’s Day has been a religious celebration, an ancient ritual day, and a commercial holiday. All that change means the meaning of Valentine’s Day is truly whatever you want it to be: You can skip the celebrations completely, buy yourself some chocolate or flowers, or express your love and appreciation for the people in your life, whether they’re co-workers, romantic partners, friends, or family members. Some people love Valentine’s Day, and some people just love to hate it.
Galentine’s Day started as fiction in a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation. Leslie set Galentine’s Day as a festival that would fall, each year, on February 13: Valentine’s Day-eve. And she decided that the festivities should take the form of the thing that has brought women together for decades: a long and boozy brunch.
If you’re trying to figure out what to do on Valentine’s Day, just know that there are no rules: It’s a new era, and you can celebrate the day of love however you want.
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Enjoy our newest podcasts, with Annette Mori reading from both The Trophy Wives Club penned by Ali Spooner, and Annette's newest book, Pleasure Workers.
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Please check out our two new divisions of Affinity that complement our flag ship company Affinity Rainbow Publications. http://affinityrainbowpublications.com/
Affinity Publishing Services:
Affinity Publishing Services- So you have written your book but are not sure if you want to join a publisher or that the manuscript is good enough to put out there for a publisher. Well check out our website http://affinitypublishingservices.com/ for more details. Want a great edit, book cover, formatting, and even distribution, talk to us first. We do part or the full package quotations.
We are the Future of Publishing – Join Us
Affinity Fiction Press:
Affinity Rainbow is our LGBT site, Affinity Fiction covers all other genres. Check out our website https://affinityfictionpress.com/ for more details. We actively welcome submissions.
These additions ensure we can service the publication industry in most avenues. Check them out and let your friends know. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us at affinity@affinityebooks.com
We are the Future of Publishing-Join Us.
E noho rā–Goodbye,
Koru
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Books available on Kindle Unlimited.
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