February Update
Mar 07, 2024 1:00 pm
Hey y'all!
For those of you who are new to my newsletter, welcome! I appreciate you all! I have exciting news to share as well as books you should read from my author friends.
What's going on?
Award Nomination - Final Round!!
Great news! Draft Pick Season I: Carver has advanced to the final round for the It's Lit Literary Award in the category of Best Interracial Romance Book by a Black Author.
Please go and cast your vote for Carver and Alyssa's story. I sincerely appreciate you! To make it this far is an honor, but I won't say I wouldn't mind if my book baby brought home the award.
Winners will be announced March 19, 2024
https://www.blackgirlswhowrite.com/bgww-2023-awards
Writing update
The Glassmaker's Helper is out in the world. Thank you to everyone who has purchased it. If you've finished reading, please don't forget to leave a review. It helps other readers discover the book. You might just introduce them to their next favorite love story.
This week, starting on March 4th, we began rolling out the cover reveals for the Preacher's Kid series. Me and my writing partner, Author Niccoyan Zheng are spearheading this effort, and we have some amazing authors joining us on this endeavor. So, be on the lookout for those amazing covers designed by Covers In Color, from authors Michel Prince, L. Loren, Dahlia Rose, Brianna Q. Price, Cereza, J. Nell and Niccoyan Zheng.
In case you missed it, I'll post mine below along with an unedited excerpt from my contribution to the series, Tangled Reverence.
Writer's Retreat
During February, I not only celebrated a birthday, but I did so by going to commiserate with my author pals at Murrells Inlet, SC (Near Myrtle Beach). A great time was had, and we sharpened our writing saws. I even managed to get some words written. Also, it was great to see my writing partner in person instead of via our laptop screens. I'm posting a few pics of our adventures. Who knows, a story may sprout from one of these places as it did with the glassblowing class we took last year in Phoenix.
We learned to make and decorate chocolate covered strawberries at Sweet Julep's, then we went to the Charleston Tea Garden and learned about the tea making process. Our last stop on field trip day was a Ghost Tour with Miss Chris' Inlet Walking Tour.
Our last night was spent around the fire pit at our rental home toasting a productive retreat and planning to get together again in 2025.
Subscription Service
Thank you to everyone who's joined me on Ream Stories and Patreon. I'm enjoying the opportunity to interact and give readers an chance to read along as I write. I've also been able to offer exclusive content and opportunities to paid members.
If you're interested in more personal interactions and frequent updates, join us. Tiers start as low as $5 monthly.
https://reamstories.com/dariemccoy
https://patreon.com/DarieMcCoy
Thank you for rocking with me!
Until next time, happy reading! Keep scrolling below for some awesome book recommendations and free downloads!
If you haven't had a chance to read the Newsletter Exclusive bonus scenes and epilogue, click the button below to get your free copy.
Tangled Reverence Excerpt (unedited)
Pastor Atarah Cox stood behind the lectern in the pulpit of the church she dearly loved and let her gaze travel over the members of the congregation assembled. Her message this Sunday was designed to convict but also remind the membership of their first duty as believers—being helpers. So, she’d preached from the gospel according to Matthew. Specifically, on the topic surrounding why Jesus entered the temple, turned over tables, evicting the money changers and all were doing business inside.
When her eyes landed on Cyrus Lauder, she noticed the firm set of his jaw beneath his neatly trimmed beard. Even if she hadn’t, the rigidity in his shoulders as he sat ramrod straight in the pew was hard to miss. Unlike some of the parishioners who were visibly squirming, he was stock still. No. He wasn’t uncomfortable. He was angry. His cognac-colored eyes appeared darker as they flashed with his discontent.
Good.
Tangled Reverence: Preacher's Kid Series
Pastor Atarah Cox and President of the Church Board, Cyrus Lauder, are like oil and vinegar. Mixing them together could be great, but it will take a great deal of work. They each have their own ideas about how things should function at Harmony Haven. Of course, they both think their own way is the right way.
For the past two years, they’d managed to maintain a professional distance, despite the heat simmering between them. That is until said heat boils over. The two find themselves in a compromising situation, which forces them to join together to maintain their reputations.
They strike a bargain to save their positions within the church. But will it be enough? Will their heat blaze until it erupts into a full-fledged fire? If not, their reverence could remain forever tangled.
The Glassmaker's Helper
Rylan is a Glassmaker. One whom the goddess has chosen to proclaim the special gifts, blessings, she bestows on special persons within the realm.
Ophelia was born under a prophecy. One which said her blessing would one which hadn't been given in millennia.
Only Rylan is able to read the sparks and declare her blessing. But once he does, he's not willing to let her just walk away.
Draft Pick Season II: Andrei
Andrei Antonov spent years on the ice honing his skills as a Defensemen in the Professional Hockey League. His life as a professional athlete taught him many things and afforded him many more. Now, he’s putting those lessons to work as the owner of his own hockey team as well as one of Las Vegas’s most exclusive casino resorts.
Zaria Coleman has her life worked out exactly as she wants it. As the managing partner of her own successful law firm, she aims to live life to the fullest. That doesn’t include getting mixed up with the elusive Andrei Antonov.
When they meet through mutual friends, sparks fly between them. They have one passionate night together. But when Andrei awakens, Zaria is gone. Can Andrei convince Zaria they can have more than a passing fling? Can Zaria move past her fears to give their relationship a real chance?
Draft Pick Season III: Denzel
Denzel Reyes went from breaking records in the NFL to breaking barriers in boardrooms and on camera as a sports analyst. What he can't afford to break is the heart of the woman who stole his...Dominique Truman.
Dominique is accustomed to breaking barriers. A super star on the rise, she's kicking down doors previously closed to actresses who look like her. Plus-sized. Dark skinned. With natural hair. She has no plans to become one of Denzel's many conquests, but Mr. Reyes has other plans.
Chaser: A Courageous Love Novel by Terreece M. Clarke
A plus-sized, billionaire heiress finds herself entangled in a sizzling friends-with-benefits affair with Xavier, a devoted cowboy businessman. Can they navigate the treacherous path to love amidst mysterious happenings and their own emotional walls?
William and Emiko: A Station 74 Novella by: Tamika Brown
William McCormick has found his perfect match on Rightly Swept. He's been head over heels ever since. But now that he's been promoted to Captain of Station 74 a huge responsibility has fell squarely on his shoulders. Finding out who the arsonist is who's targeting his men and the women they love is his top propriety. He'll do whatever he needs to do to keep Emiko safe, even if it means pushing her away until all this is over. This raging fire may be Station 74's last to fight.
Emiko Jones is in love. She's found her one hundred percent match on Rightly Swept in William McCormick with his bright green eyes and shocking red hair. The past few months have been going fantastic. He doesn't care that she has a strict Japanese mother, whose sole goal in life is to make sure her daughter becomes a nurse. With the arsonist targeting William and his men, Emiko fears for his life, but will their new relationship weather the fire storm coming?
Who says you can't find love on a dating app?
Snaring Her Man by Melverna McFarlane
A war is brewing in Escondido Bay, and I’m smack dab in the middle.
In our small town, Mayor Sala’s Fangirling Grannies don their armor in the east, while the Silver-Haired Baddies sharpen their weapons to the west. The only thing they seem to agree on is interfering with my life.
I moved back to Escondido Bay, a fully-matured veteran of adulting. I thought that would give me a pass; let me live my life as I want.
Single.
Independent.
Alone.
In a town this small, there are meddling grannies behind every palm tree, and they have plans for me and the handsome undercover rockstar renting my bungalow.
But between planning Founder’s Day, and trying to broker a cease-fire between the grannies, all the while protecting my boarder from their designs, my plate is officially full.
Then calamity slams into Escondido Bay, and of course, there aren’t enough beds to go around. If I thought it was hard ignoring the burning attraction my boarder stirred up before, I don’t think sharing one bed is going to help.
Not. One. Bit.
Sexy Scenarios by Midnight Locke
A collection of short stories following different couples in sensual/erotic scenarios. These aren't sweet stories. The subgenres and tropes will vary, but they are all steamy, bite-sized shorts.
Right (Family Secrets and Lies Part 2) by Niccoyan Zheng
A brother he betrayed... A son he denied... The woman he lied to... A family he's just discovered... Leonardo Baldi's life is one full of regret. He has a lot to make up for. It's tempting to walk away from all the upheaval he's caused. He has so much to make right. Can he correct it all and claim what should have been his? Disclaimer: Although this is a standalone, it is strongly recommended you read the Kindle Vella Left prior to reading this one.
Nikkō by Brianna Q. Price
Fallon fell hard for the tall, quiet Ryo Watanabe only to find out that it had all been a game. Now, he made it his mission to get back the first woman to ever get under his stoic exterior, whether she wanted him or not. She'd made him a promise and he would hold her to it. As Ryo faced the challenge of earning Fallon's trust again, he delved into a journey of self-reflection, determined to confront how his past hurts had influenced his actions and were hindering his potential future with her.
