• RLF Gems

    Saying goodbye to the Romance Lives Forever blog #RLFblog

    As of today, Dec 1, 2023, I am closing Romance Lives Forever. Why? I'm organized and efficient, but with as much as I want to do going forward, I can no longer maintain RLF. I used Triberr to amplify the blog on social media, especially Twitter. The new requirements and limits from Twitter cut exposure by a huge margin. Triberr brought 80%+ of all readers to the blog. Since it's no longer active, that cost another huge drop in traffic.

    It costs a bit to run the blog, register its domain name, pay for the signup/reminder service, and it takes time to chase down people who send things last minute (or not at all). Plus I have to let authors know the service is available. Then I format the material, resize the images, upload everything, and schedule its promotion. Alas, time and money won out.

    I started the blog in 2009, and went to daily posts in 2010. I've explored many ways to do all this and still find time to write and market for myself. I hired an assistant last year, but only I can write the stories in my heart. I am loath to give up, not being a quitter by nature.

    When it's Time to Quit

    Last month, I heard Becca Syme (one of my mentors) say that it's time to quit when you no longer love what you do. Becca is brilliant. I took her Strengths for Writers and Write Better-Faster courses in the last 12 months. Each came with 6 months of follow up calls and targeted counseling. Changed my life in so many ways. Here's the video I'm referring to if you're curious. https://youtu.be/GRG5UeFYihE

    Daily monitoring this blog is not what I love. What I love is supporting other authors, and the blog was how I did that. I will still support them but in ways that leave time for my own priorities. It took more than a year for me to decide to do this (or rather, stop doing this). I almost didn't commit to 2023, but felt guilty for quitting. It wasn't until I heard Becca's comment last month that I gave myself permission to do what I had to do. She wasn't talking about blogging, or anything even close to what I was doing. She was talking about writing in the golden age of publishing (the new era we've recently entered), and how to know what to do next (or stop doing).

    The video was from Ream, which is a new subscription platform for authors. I've just launched mine. I attended an accelerator class with a handful of other authors in a small-group setting for mentorship. Wonderful support and I learned things I never expected.


    Some of the Many Authors Who Made RLF a Success

    Adriana Kraft, Alexa Aston, Alina K Field, Amber Daulton, Anne Kane, Brenda Sparks, Daryl Devore, Dee S Knight, Effrosyni Moschoudi, Faye Hall, Iris Blobel, J Arlene Culiner, Jami Gray, Jana Richards, Karen Cino, Kate Hill, Kris Bock, Linda O'Connor, Lisabet Sarai, Livia Quinn, NJ Walters, Seelie Kay, Tena Stetler, Tina Donahue, Veronica Scott, Vicki Batman

    I'll miss the blog. It's been a part of my life during most of my career as an author. I look forward to what comes after this, and having the time and freedom to pursue the next steps.


    Thank you for being part of my journey. If you'd like to support me and keep up with what I'm doing next, here's how:

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    Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.


     
  • Do It Write,  Paranormal

    Who needs an alpha when you can have a lone wolf? 🐺 Do It Write: Where NJ Walters writes @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNR

    Do It Write: Where NJ Walters writes @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNRAn immortal lone wolf and a human woman battle werewolf assassins, magic, and obsession while falling in love with each other in NJ Walters’ latest paranormal romance book, Taming the White Wolf, the first book in the Lone Wolf Legacy trilogy.

    NJ, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Before we talk about your office, please tell us about your latest book.

    Taming the White Wolf by NJ Walters

    Genre paranormal romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): Adult

    The lone wolf answers to no alpha or pack. From his first transformation, he knows his destiny: to be both judge and executioner for rogue werewolves. Welcome to the spellbinding first book in New York Times bestselling author NJ Walters intense new werewolf series.

    White wolf Devlin Moore has spent nearly the last century following his destiny: hunting rogue werewolves. His fate is to be the only one of his kind—hardened, feared, and brutally ruthless. Only now, Devlin’s not alone. There are two others. And if that wasn’t unsettling enough, Devlin is drawn to New York City for what appears to be a human…

    As far as Devlin can tell, vibrant artist Zoe Galvani is no threat. But there’s something about her—from her unusual eyes that look similar to the same shocking hue as his own, to his growing need to mark her as his that suggests magical forces may be at play.

    Now there’s no escaping each other, or the attraction that grows stronger by the second. But no one, especially a human woman, should have this effect on a lone wolf. And just when he’s sure that having her could be his undoing…the truth steps out of the shadows.

    How long have you been writing?

    I didn’t actually write my first book until I was in my thirties. I wrote two books in the mid-1990s, tried to find a home for them, put them away, and didn’t write again until late 2003. My first book was published in October 2004, a month shy of my fortieth birthday.

    Tell us about your writing space or home office.

    All but my first two books—which weren’t my first published books—have been written in an office nook I created in the corner of my living room. It’s cozy, but it works for me. I write on a desktop computer, not a laptop.

    What do you love most about that area?

    I like that it’s a small and cozy space. It helps keep me focused. When I sit there, there’s nothing to do but write. I have a small shelf behind me and a tall screen tin front of my computer desk that acts as a “wall.”

    What office equipment do you use most, other than your computer?

    Other than my computer, I am the queen of the file card. I know most writers organize their book or series notes on computer programs, but my brain works better with a physical copy. I have a row of file cards propped up on the top of my keyboard, sometimes taped to the wall, all in an effort to keep me organized. They contained brief character sketches I can refer to, as well as other details I need to remember. On larger series, I’ve used notebooks to organize details, but I still primarily rely on my 4″X6″ file cards.

    What’s the last book about writing that you read?

    I honestly don’t read many books about writing. I get frustrated because my brain doesn’t want to follow the “rules” set down in most books. I do love the Writers Helping Writers Series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. They’re reference books I use often.

    What book or books about writing do you recommend for new authors?

    I’d recommend Becca Syme’s QuitBooks for Writers series. They’re more about the writing life and the writer than about how to write a book. Also, any books in the Writers Helping Writers series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. They’re a great reference.

    What do you like to read for relaxation?

    Romance books are at the top of the list. I started writing them because I love reading them. I change it up with self-help books and the occasional biography. Basically, whatever interests me.

    Where to buy Taming the White Wolf

    Publisher https://entangledpublishing.com/books/taming-the-white-wolf
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7NTXG92/
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-the-white-wolf-n-j-walters/1143634327
    iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/taming-the-white-wolf/id6450183902
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/taming-the-white-wolf

    NJ Walters Social Media

    NJ Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
    Website njwalters.com
    Blog https://njwalters.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
    Get to know NJ Walters better by signing up for an email newsletter https://eepurl.com/gdblg5


    Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.


     
  • Book Release,  Paranormal

    Read Hunter Avenged the new #ParanormalRomance by NJ Walters @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #RomanceBooks

    Read Hunter Avenged the new #ParanormalRomance by NJ Walters @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #RomanceBooksAn angelic librarian falls for the Immortal Viking tracking her in NJ Walters’ new paranormal romance book Hunter Avenged, the next exciting book in the Forgotten Brotherhood series.

    NJ, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Hunter Avenged.

    Hunter Avenged by NJ Walters

    Genre paranormal Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    It’s taken Viking hunter Sven Knutson six frustrating months to find her. To track down the angel responsible for compromising the Forgotten Brotherhood and waking the drakon. She may be clever. Resourceful. But no one ever gets away from Sven. Ever.

    All Rivka longed for as an angel was a chance to serve on Earth and help humans. Instead, it all went impossibly, horribly wrong, and she still doesn’t understand how or even why. All she knows is that she’s on the run—not only from Heaven’s dangerous elite guard, but also from the Brotherhood, who want answers.

    She might just have to trust the immortal Viking whose icy blue eyes make her feel almost wickedly human. Because someone wants Rivka dead and the Brotherhood eliminated. Someone powerful enough to take on the most dangerous assassins who have ever lived. Someone who could unleash the fury of both Heaven and Hell…and Rivka is the key.

    Why did you write this book?

    When I met Sven in book 4 of the Forgotten Brotherhood series, Bjorn Cursed, I knew he had to have a book of his own. Hunter Avenged can be read as a standalone, but the storyline is connected to the previous books in the series. I love the Brotherhood so much. The series was originally planned to be four books, but I had more stories to tell.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    Romance! I skip around between contemporary, historical, suspense, and paranormal romance. So many amazing books to choose from.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    It’s impossible to pick only one. I have about a hundred—Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb’s In Death series, Kaleb Krychek from Nalini Singh’s Heart of Obsidian, Rhage from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Vane Kattalakis from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Night Play, and on and on and on…

    What are you working on at the moment?

    I’m working on the first book in a new paranormal romance trilogy—a great way to start the new year. As I’m a pantser, not a plotter, I’m curious to see where it will take me.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    I’ll have two books in a new werewolf trilogy releasing later this year. It’s totally self-contained and unrelated to any of my other series.

    Where to buy Hunter Avenged

    Publisher https://entangledpublishing.com/books/hunter-avenged
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMYKZQ2T/
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hunter-avenged-n-j-walters/1142718008
    iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/hunter-avenged/id6444414711
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hunter-avenged-2

    NJ Walters Social Media

    NJ Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
    Website njwalters.com
    Blog https://njwalters.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
    Get to know NJ Walters better by signing up for an email newsletter https://eepurl.com/gdblg5

  • Is It True,  Paranormal

    Is It True: Wolf in the Night by NJ Walters @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNR

    Is It True: Wolf in the Night by NJ Walters @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNR

    Emma Matheson is a pawn in a game of revenge between her father and his old alpha. Her unlikely protector—the alpha's son, Dmitri. Read Wolf in the Night by NJ Walters the exciting next book in the Salvation Pack: The Next Generation series.

    Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I'm Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Let's play Is It True with today's guest, NJ Walters. This is a game with yes and no questions. Writers can elaborate on answers as much as they choose.

    Wolf in the Night by NJ Walters

    Genre paranormal romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Driving home from a trip, Emma Matheson is run off the road in an abduction attempt. Seems the alpha of her father's former pack never forgave his defection. To settle the old score, he plans to force her to mate with a male of his choosing—his son, Dmitri.

    Dmitri Gribkov wants no part of his father's revenge. A loner by choice, nothing has prepared him for sexy, stubborn Emma. He'll do whatever it takes to protect her—even if it means losing her.

    Determined to control her destiny, she does her best to escape, even as the attraction between her and Dmitri sizzles. Doesn't take long for her to realize this huge, sexy wolf is a protector at heart.

    Tracking and killing are what he does best. Before this is over, he'll have blood on his hands, but winning her love will be the hardest battle.

    Is it true:

    this is your first book?

    No. I think I'm up to 115.

    this book is part of a series?

    Yes. It's book 5 of the Salvation Pack: The Next Generation series.

    you lost sleep while writing this book?

    Nope.

    you did research for this book?

    I've been writing about the Salvation Pack for over a decade, so I've done the research for the area. The most difficult part is trying to keep the details consistent from the earlier books.

    some characters in this book are not human? (pets for example)

    They're all werewolves.

    this book has more than one genre?

    It's a contemporary paranormal romance.

    you speak more than one language?

    Unfortunately, I only speak one. I admire anyone who can speak more than one.

    you grew up where you live now?

    I grew up about a four-hour drive from where I live now, so not too far away.

    you love to read?

    I can't go a day without reading!

    you are never late?

    On time is late. I'm always early. It makes it easier for me to relax.

    you love pizza?

    Absolutely. And pineapple DOES belong on pizza. LOL

    you love sushi?

    I've never had it. It just doesn't look appealing to me.

    you have a pet?

    I don't have one. I had a dog growing up, but I live in an apartment that doesn't allow them. I get my pet fix because both my siblings have them—cats and a dog.

    NJ Walters Social Media

    NJ Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it.
    Website njwalters.com
    Blog https://njwalters.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
    Get to know NJ Walters better by signing up for an email newsletter https://eepurl.com/gdblg5

  • Book Release,  Paranormal

    Read Wolf Meets His Fate the new #ParanormalRomance by NJ Walters @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #RomanceBooks

    Read Wolf Meets His Fate the new #ParanormalRomance by NJ Walters @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #RomanceBooks

    Jesse Broussard is on the run for her life when she crosses paths with Aaron LaForge. Now it's not only her life at stake it's also her heart. Read Wolf Meets His Fate by NJ Walters—the exciting next book in the Salvation Pack: The Next Generation series.

    NJ, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I'm Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Wolf Meets His Fate.

    Wolf Meets His Fate by NJ Walters

    Genre paranormal romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Orphaned at birth, Jesse is raised in the Louisiana swamp by powerful witch Lottie Broussard. Hated by her father and shunned by the pack that should be hers, she is forced to run for her life after Lottie's death.

    Searching for his life's purpose, Aaron LaForge has left his pack and is living on a farm in West Virginia.

    When their paths cross in a local bar, he sees it as fate. At first, he only wants to help but quickly realizes she's his mate. Jesse isn't ready or willing to trust anyone—let alone a male wolf. But Aaron is as stubborn as he is convincing. As their relationship heats up, the dangers around them mount. Can their love survive their fight to stay alive?

    Why did you write this book?

    The Salvation Pack: The Next Generation series has been a labor of love. It's hard to believe I first met the Salvation Pack wolves a decade ago. After the original Salvation Pack series ended after nine books, I thought I was done. I was wrong. I couldn't stop thinking about the children of the original pack members. What would their lives be like when they grew up? Who would they become? Since readers kept asking the same questions, I dove into the Next Generation series.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    Romance, of course. Whatever mood I'm in, there's always a book to suit. There are so many sub-genres to choose from. I love suspense, contemporary, historical, contemporary, and not surprisingly, paranormal. There really is something for everyone.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    It's impossible to pin it down to a single one. I could list dozens. There are so many amazing characters out there. So many incredible writers. One of my favorites is Rhage from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I do love a wounded hero with a huge heart.

    What are you working on at the moment?

    I'm currently working on the fifth book in the Salvation Pack: The Next Generation series—Wolf in the Night.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    Wolf in the Night will be out this year, for sure. I have two more books contracted for my Forgotten Brotherhood series, but I have no dates from my publisher yet.

    NJ Walters Social Media

    NJ Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it.
    Website njwalters.com
    Blog https://njwalters.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
    Get to know NJ Walters better by signing up for an email newsletter https://eepurl.com/gdblg5

  • Book Release,  Paranormal

    Read Wolf Claims His Pack the new #ParanormalRomance by NJ Walters @njwaltersaurhor #RLFblog #RomanceBooks

    Read Wolf Claims His Pack the new #paranormalromance by NJ Walters @njwaltersaurhor #RLFblog #romancebooks

    A wolf wasn't meant to be alone. A wolf needed his pack. Read Wolf Claims His Pack by NJ Walters--the next book in the new paranormal series Salvation Pack: The Next Generation.

    NJ, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I'm Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Wolf Claims His Pack.

    Wolf Claims His Pack by NJ Walters

    Genre Paranormal Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Half-breed wolf and blacksmith, Bailey Smith's life is complicated. She's alpha of a small pack consisting of her teenage brother and three other kids. Her grandfather—a pure-blood wolf—wants her and her brother dead. And now a confrontation with two human males has brought Child Protective Services to her door. If that wasn't enough, she's caught the attention of an unknown, sexy-as-hell, male wolf.

    Nicholas LaForge has found his mate and purpose. Being a full-blooded wolf is a strike against him, but she marries him to protect her kids. He'll use whatever sneaky methods necessary—including sex—to convince her they belong together. First, he has to deal with the threats to his new pack. That's the easy part. Winning her love and trust might be impossible.

    Why did you write this book?

    I love the original Salvation Pack series. Like my readers, I wanted to know what happened to the kids of the original characters when they grew up. Nicholas is the son of Jacque LaForge, the alpha of the original pack. I knew it would take a very special woman to capture his heart.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    Romance! I read it all—contemporary, romantic suspense, paranormal, historical, and some sci-fi/fantasy. It's such a diverse genre.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    I'd have to say, right now, it's Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb's In Death series. I've followed that character for more than 50 books and can't wait for the next one.

    What are you working on at the moment?

    I'm currently working on the next Salvation Pack: The Next Generation and the next Forgotten Brotherhood book.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    There will be at least two more Salvation Pack: The Next Generation series books. Forgotten Brotherhood books are in the works. No dates yet. I'll post to my social media as soon as I know them.

    NJ Walters Social Media

    NJ Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it.
    Website njwalters.com
    Blog https://njwalters.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
    Get to know NJ Walters better by signing up for an email newsletter https://eepurl.com/gdblg5