Celeste Vaughn loves everything about her new job at Clairborn University —except Alex Callahan, the old-school prof who loathes her. But a work trip strands them in Dallas for 48 hours. Soon, hostility thaws & passion burns hot🔥 On Amazon / KU 2/17 - preorders available now! 🌶️📚💙 #romancelandia

Do you love litfic, historical fiction, women’s fiction, or memoirs? 🖋️📚💙 / ⏰📚 Check out this sale I’m a part of with several excellent authors. Ends TODAY, don’t delay! books.bookfunnel.com/literaryficw... #booksale #womensfiction #literaryfiction #historicalfiction #timetravel #memoir #books

#WIPSnips WOTD is “academy” In my #exvangelical litfic WIP, Finn is trying to wrap his mind around why Micah quit grad school. #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #academy

Romance readers - ARCs signups now open for the upcoming forced proximity novella Lone Star Layover!

When a storm grounds their flight, desire takes off instead. LONE STAR LAYOVER 🌶️📚💙 Now available for preorder! Will also be on Kindle Unlimited (KU). ARC signups coming very soon. #romancelandia #bwwm #plussizeFMC #plussizeromance #romancenovella #bwwmromance #romance #indieauthor #books

#WIPSnips WOTD is “commit.” This is a heck of a snip! In my litfic WIP, Micah talks about Julian and the guardrails on their relationship, but then Jalisa, seemingly out of left field, asks her about her estranged husband Steve. Ope… #authorsky #writesky #amwriting #writingcommunit

#AwesomeCharacters Promises are a pain point. Steve promises to support the family financially if Micah quit grad school & they moved back to his hometown of Losanti. But in Losanti, he can’t keep a job & Micah’s forced to work at a local university, reminding her of what might’ve been. #writesky

#pretendpanel My first major work - in terms of full drafts, prob five or six. For my current novel-length project, likely two or three. I’m on a very edited draft 1.5, and I’ve been getting helpful peer and beta reader feedback. Heavy structural edits are coming soon. #writingcommunity #writesky

All that glitters is “gold?” Gold is today’s #WIPSnips WOTD 💜 Micah is helping Julian restore the town’s mansion. She’s washing walls when Julian reaches out and touches her. Is there a spark between them? #writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity #amwriting

“Current”ly, here’s today’s #WIPSnips WOTD 💜 Micah is talking with Nova, the history department head, when her hated ex-rival looks for her. Julia just can’t wait. #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #amwriting

Seeking *volunteer* beta readers for a 97k word litfic / women’s fiction manuscript. Samples can be found in older posts (Micah & Steve are MCs). 🖋️📚💙 Go here for more details and to signup here. No DMs. #betareaders #readers #reading #litfic

#AwesomeCharacters Micah is fairly self-aware. Her relationship with Julian in Marristone she is very aware is temporary, and that she can’t avoid addressing her failing marriage to Steve. But she is sometimes slow to move on what she knows to be true. #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky

#AwesomeCharacters Charlie has no close relationships. He’s a transactional person. Even when interacting with Micah’s pastor & his wife at the beginning of book 2 in my current series, Charlie trades tea for (live) bodies under the guise of religion. #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky

#AwesomeCharacters Steve and Julian never meet. Julian knows Steve exists, and Steve eventually learns of Julian in the (spoiler) way possible. It would be hella awkward (at best) if they did, as both are intimately connected to Micah. #lovetriangle #writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity

#WIPSnips WOTD is “fifth” Surprised I found instances in my WIP. Micah’s on a road trip alone, talking to Finn on speaker phone about “He Knows Your Name” billboards, but what does the message mean? 🤔 Ohioans might appreciate this passage 😆 #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #exvangelical

#AwesomeCharacters Micah *is* the weird wherever she goes. At her church in Losanti, she’s “too independent” bc she works outside the home & kept her maiden name. In Marristone, she’s the only one in her circle who truly knows the religious interests threatening the town. #writesky #amwriting

#AwesomeCharacters Micah likes kids. Besides trying for a child of her own, she brings thoughtful gifts to her bestie’s young son, who is a voracious reader. #writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity #amwriting

Still open to a couple more FREE beta readers for my litfic novel - limited time only - sign up now! 🖋️📚💙 #betareaders #freebook #exvangelical #litfic #BlackBookSky

#WIPSnips WOTD is “table” In a flashback, Cindy is none too pleased when Steve tells her Micah’s boundary. #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #amwriting

Happy New Year! #WIPSnips WOTD is “begin” — how fitting! Steve arrives at men’s Bible study, where Nathan, the imposing Bible study leader, is ready to “talk.” *gulp* #writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity #amwriting

#AwesomeCharacters It’s still in the concept / outline phase, but Steve’s “alpha” Bible study leader Nathan & his wife Diane will get their own standalone novel 😈 I didn’t decide that while writing my current WIP, but their dynamic pushed them to the forefront. #writesky #authorsky #amwriting

Happy 2026!

#WIPSnips WOTD is “end” Steve is scrambling to tell one of the older ladies of the church where Micah has gone. He can’t admit she walked out on him, can he? Here’s to the end of 2025 - happy New Year! #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #beta

Seeking *volunteer* beta readers for a 97k word litfic / women’s fiction manuscript. Samples can be found in older posts (Micah & Steve are MCs). 🖋️📚💙 Go here for more details and to signup here. No DMs. #betareaders #readers #reading #litfic

#AwesomeCharacters Current line of work =/= quest in my WIP. Micah’s an office manager at a local university’s history department. Her ex-bf Finn got her the job. Her quest begins when personal tragedy is church gossip fodder. Steve takes the church ladies’ side instead of Micah’s. She leaves.

#Smutcember Here’s a scene from early in my litfic WIP — Micah recalls losing her virginity in a flashback. FYI bc first time: Micah was 24 at the time & Finn was 25, so two consenting, unambiguous adults. CW: oral, handie/fingering, frank discussion & depiction of genitals #writesky #authorsky

#Smutcember In the beginning, not well. Steve doesn’t listen when Micah tells him her feelings about most things & he believes the marriage is great (and godly). She eventually bottles everything up, including how little effort he makes in the bedroom. By year 7 of marriage, she’s had it. #writesky

#Smutcember My characters drive their kinks. Micah’s a screamer & her lovers (particularly in the current timeline) get off on it, *spoiler* takes pride in others hearing her. Julian will do it anywhere. Steve is an undercover freak…Naomi calls him Father Stephen for a reason. #writesky #authorsky

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate 🎄🎅🏾

In this short essay, I share an update on my writing journey and some things coming down the pike - check it out! 🖋️📚💙 #WIP #womensfiction #blackbooksky #supportindieauthors #writers #vocalmedia

In my current litfic WIP, Steve isn’t a “bad” guy but starts out complacent & lazy in his marriage. He does the bare minimum & at times not even that. He has been socialized in a faith system that rewards male mediocrity. Later, his sense of security is shattered, deservedly so. #writesky #amwriting

#Smutcember I have a lot of family support for my litfic (w/smut scenes), tho it’s awkward seeing my mom (who has NOT read them) rec my novels to every relative, friend & coworker she comes across. I was surprised that my SIL (who’s a PK) liked my books so much she recommended them to her fam.

#AwesomeCharacters Micah has a masters. She went to school for her PhD, but Steve encouraged her to dropout to be a housewife & SAHM. Things didn’t pan out, she regrets not staying in school. Steve has a 2-year associates degree. He’s experienced so he doesn’t need more ed. #writesky #wip

#AwesomeCharacters High conflict / dramatic scenes, as well as spicy scenes, are my most fun to write. In my current story, I created one pure villain, Charlie, which is a rarity for me. I love writing his 1-on-1 scenes where the reader can really see his manipulation. #writesky #authorsky #WIP

While in edits and betas on my latest litfic WIP, I’ve been keeping my creativity flowing with romance novellas and short stories in between. If you’re into the romance genre and like short reads, follow my alter ego, Stevie Alison ❤️ 🌶️📚💙 / 🤏📚 #blackbooksky #romancenovellas #plussizeromance #bwwm

#Smutcember Kind of? In my litfic WIP, Micah’s ex, Finn, I really liked, and a part of me wanted to get them back together, especially in the beginning. But as I kept writing, it made less sense for the story 🤷🏽‍♀️ #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #amwriting

#WIPSnips WOTD is “default.” Steve wakes up to an unwelcome phone call with a demand. #writesky #authorsky #WIP #amwriting #writingcommunity

#Smutcember This is the closest I’ve got to an “almost” moment — it’s a kiss, but not so easy to interpret. In a flashback, Micah gets a friendly kiss from her European colleague Finn, who she has a crush on, but she doesn’t believe could be romantically interested in her. #writesky #authorsky

I would like to feel accomplished, in the sense that I will have hopefully become an even better writer, and that I’ve also improved on being able to hook and retain a loyal audience. #pretendpanel #writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity

My debut novel, Make Me Free, has been awarded Top Pick by Author Shout this year! 🖋️📚💙 #bookawards #authorshout #blackbooksky #toppick authorshout.com/top-pick-win...

I want to release unnamed Book 3 (a litfic / women’s fiction story), and publish a couple of romance novellas under a different pen name. Drafts are done of the litfic novel and the first romance novella, just need to prep them for beta readers. 📚💙 #pretendpanel #writesky #authorsky #WIP

#Smutcember In my 2nd novel, To Die Is Gain, I initially intended Luke’s long-lost love interest to be Morgan, his ex-gf from college who he couldn’t be with for reasons, but as I wrote, it made more sense for Luke to want to be with Ann, the FMC in my 1st novel Make Me Free. 1/2 #writesky

During this holiday season and beyond, check out these amazing books in literary fiction, time travel, memoir, and so so many other genres! 🖋️📚💙 / ⏰📚 books.bookfunnel.com/literaryficw...

#Smutcember This is tough to answer bc Micah is married & the story begins when she’s in year 7 of her marriage. Sex is rote bc she & Steve are facing fertility challenges & it’s putting a damper on things. Steve is a lazy lover in Chapter 1 & it contributes to Micah’s frustration. 1/2 #writesky

#AwesomeCharacters Micah is called “hun” & “genius” by Steve. Her friend/ex-bf Finn calls her “Moppie”, Julian calls her “beautiful.” Steve (short for Stephen) is called “Bear” by Micah, & “Father Stephen” by his high school friends & notably by his ex-fiancée Naomi. #writesky #authorsky #WIP 🧵

#Smutcember I like writing build-up most…how do we get there? How are the characters feeling & what enters their minds leading up to the act? I admit that as an early writer, I would skip aftercare. But I’ve learned there’s a lot of opportunity for storytelling I was missing. #writesky #authorsky

#AwesomeCharacters So much of Micah’s (and Steve’s) arc is about not paying attention to their limits — their personal limits & the limits of what their marriage can take. Their separation is the result of going beyond those limits & lacking boundaries. #amwriting #writesky #authorsky #WIP

#AwesomeCharacters It’s a realistic world, so I explore real-life religion, but from a critical, nuanced lens. Micah & Steve are Pentecostals, but while separated, both have experiences on their own that lead them to question & rethink their Christian faith. #writesky #amwriting #authorsky #WIP

In this short essay, I share an update on my writing journey and some things coming down the pike - check it out! 🖋️📚💙 #WIP #womensfiction #blackbooksky #supportindieauthors #writers #vocalmedia

#AwesomeCharacters Illness isn’t a subject in my WIP, but given their dispositions: Micah would tough it out, perhaps to her own detriment, like a lot of things (esp. early in the story). Steve is called a “whiner” by his ex-fiancée Naomi, so he doesn’t suffer well 😂 #writesky #authorsky #WIP