Are you in the mood for a little romance? You couldn’t have picked a better time. Spring may not be in the air, but you wouldn’t know it judging by the number of romantic writings collected at Gather right now.
That’s because the Gather First Chapters Romance Writing Competition is in full swing.
Romance authors have posted their own first chapters to their romance novels and are waiting for you to read, rate, and comment on their work. So go ahead and sweep them off their feet.
Some improvements have been made since the last First Chapters contest. To deter the effects of drive-by ones, the only votes that count are the 10s. In other words, you either think the chapter is worthy of moving on to the next round (a rating of 10) or you don’t (a rating of 1-9).
There are plenty of romantic beginnings in the contest. Far too many to wade through, unless you’re making this a full-time job. But here are a few first chapters that have caught my eye. Some of them need a little help. Others seem to be drowning in votes already. But they’re all worth reading, so give them a go.
In fact, everyone brave enough to bare their creative talents and enter this contest deserves a look. So, time allowing, read these entires and then move beyond them and explore to find your own favorites as well. And be sure to share them – your favorite first chapters, their titles, and their links – in the comments below.
As most successful authors know, a big part of your success as a writer is your ability to self-promote. So if you’ve entered the First Chapters Romance Writing Competition, feel free to post a blurb and link about your novel in the comments below. Invite us over for a little romance.
Here are a few romantic chapters to get you started:
Safe Haven by Judy T.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977093776
Dancing With My Dream by Dena S.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977084290
Courage of Fear by Barbara B.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977077737
Badeaux Knights by Stacy C.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977088828
In Over Her Head by Judi F.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977091973
Good luck to everyone in the competition!
---------------
Eric D. Goodman, Books Correspondent
Eric’s column, Lit Bit, is published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Books. Featuring bits on writing, writers, books, and literature, Lit Bit will fulfill your literary longings.
Eric is a full-time, professional, published writer and editor. His work has appeared in local, national, and international publications, including stories in the current issues of The Baltimore Review, Coloquio,and To Be Read Aloud. Listen to Eric read an excerpt from his fiction on National Public Radio on the WYPR website.
You can find all of Eric’s Lit Bit articles at www.Gather/LitBit.
Keep up with Eric’s other postings and Gather activity by joining his Gather network -- just visit www.edgewriter.gather.com and select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page. You’ll find Eric and other Book Correspondents, plus celebrity author content and plenty of other bibliophiles at Books.gather.com.
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Comments: 36
In Over Her Head
...just when you thought it was safe to fall in love...
When Erica Peck, one terrified-of-the-ocean marina owner, finds herself at the bottom of the sea conversing with a merman named Reel, she thinks she's died and gone to her own version of Hell. When the Oceanic Council demands she and Reel retrieve a lost cache of diamonds from the resident sea monster in return for their lives, she knows she's died and gone to Hell.
When they escape the monster and end up on a deserted island, she amends her opinion – she's died and gone to Heaven.
But when Reel sacrifices himself to allow her to return to her world, she realizes that, Heaven or Hell, with Reel, she's In Over Her Head.
Thanks so much for your time and have a great day!
-Judi In Over Her Head
to see the book trailer video, check out: In Over Her Head Book Trailer
And once again, good luck everyone!
Embracing Love - Chapter 1
Raj Malhotra, a shy scientist falls in love with his co-worker, an American Blonde. But he is unsure if he should pursue this happiness for fear of losing it to destiny like everything else he has lost in life so far. In his quest, he discovers the exquisite experience of immortal love and gets carried away by it only to feel the power of fate again. It was the only time he had challenged fate and it had come back with a vengeance stronger than he had ever known. So even though his love is at arm's reach now, he shudders at the thought of destiny snatching it away from him before he gets a chance to Embrace it.
Nora's Soul
Sharon Mack doesn't go to Bear Country looking for love. Nobody would. Bear Country is a beautiful, unspoiled world, but escaped convicts roam there among giant ice age predators, and even the most innocent-looking creatures can be deadly. Sharon goes to Bear Country to rescue her kidnapped seven-year-old daughter from Sister West's 'Church of the Second Chance'.
In Bear Country, Sharon and her daughter are trapped in a deadly game, with control of Bear Country and our own world at stake. Can Sharon rescue her daughter from the middle of that game? Will the feelings she has for the mysterious 'Leo' put her and her daughter in even more danger? Will she figure out the mysteries of Bear Country before she is trapped there? Will she find love in this unlikely place?
You can read the first chapter of Bear Country by clicking here.
Remember, only a rating of ten helps Bear Country get to the second round, though helpful comments and suggestions are always welcome too.
Please check out my entry!
A Scandalous Overture
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977092321
Sarah and James struggle with inter-conflict concerning different events that have taken place in their lives, but love...trust and respect win out in the end.
Thanks again,
Judy Turner
Here's the link to ALL THE OTHER FABULOUS ENTRIES
Enjoy!
~Natalie Neal
The Best in the Whole Wide World
Here's THE LINK to how all 296 entries are doing in this horse race!
~Natalie Neal
The Best in the Whole Wide World
Fate and Destiny
Discovering Destiny was the last thing Andrew Greer expected.
Alone in a desolate cabin, Andrew Greer was perfectly content to wait out the blizzard with his adventurous dog, Shadow, as his only companion. Fate decided differently. When Shadow discovers the unconscious and injured woman, Andrew has no choice but to take her to the safety and warmth of his retreat.
Destiny weaves a tale of kidnapping and murder. Is she the witness and victim to the crimes? Or is she really a conspirator getting away with murder? Andrew is determined to protect Destiny and find out the truth. Can he find the real killer before it's too late? Or has he already found her? Only Fate knows for sure.
YOUR GIFT TO ME
blatino.gather.com & bvale.gather.com
Years after Emily Meade's husband dies in a helicopter crash during the 1991 Gulf War, she is still so emotionally guarded, she is in danger of having a near-life experience. Mutual friends introduce her to charismatic F-16 pilot, Colonel Ted Foley. Despite her vow never to become involved with another man committed to a dangerous profession, she is drawn to Ted by the same inexplicable sixth sense connection she shared with her husband. Ted Foley makes the ordinary feel sacred. Emily lowers her emotional guard and a relationship evolves.
After unexplained, fatal F-16 crashes occur in Ted's squadron, their relationship plummets like a jet with a stalled engine. During their topsy-turvy courtship, Emily's outrageous girlfriend offers wacky, but wise, advice about life and love. Thus begins a mystical love story that includes empowering female friendships and a gripping subplot of military intrigue.
Your Gift To Me
~~DARK OBSESSION~~
Ray Chavez has just been given a foreboding message by his long deceased great-grandmother. But Ray, a 33 year old farmer from the Rio Grande Valley, does not believe in visions or omens or the necromancy of his Mexican/Indian heritage. Although, Ray feels he's doing his part by humoring his sister Sylvia, a practicing Spiritualist, and his grandmother Maria, a non-practicing Curandero, he ultimately dismisses the vision as a bad dream.
However Ray may reconsider his position when Lexie Solis stumbles into town, in search of a new life. Ray feels an instant attraction, as well as a connection, to the skittish young woman, and he pursues a relationship with her. But what Lexie does not tell Ray and his family, is that she is running from an abusive ex-boyfriend and he may be more powerful then even she wants to believe.
When Lexie is assaulted by an unseen force, they soon learn that Jerry Kemp's obsession with Lexie goes beyond his need to control her; he wants to possess her soul as well. Lexie's only hope for salvation lies with Ray. But will he be able to embrace his destiny to save the woman he loves as well as his own soul?
Terri
1st Chapter Entry-Dark Obsession
The terror is only beginning when her homicidal ex-boyfriend finds her and sends thugs after her and the brothers. Last time she ran from him, he threatened them. This time he is acting upon those threats trying to force her into weakness. Trying to force her back to him. Will the strength she found to leave him be strong enough to protect those she loves? Or will love get them all killed?
Eric,
I am so flattered that you included me in your article! I can't thank you enough!
I'd as well like to 'pay forward' the kindness.
Tracy beat me to mention hers, as well as the others above to give a nice mix of the genre.
When you are done with all those, try these too.
Trust Me
Beyond the Shadow of Fear
Lacey Took a Holiday
Maybe someone will do a fantasy novel contest.
Layla, thanks for reminding me (and readers) about YOUR first chapter in the contest, Peace, Love and Chocolate! I knew I was forgetting some! I hope you get some more votes as a result of this article.
And thanks to all of the readers and bystanders for giving these novelist a shot!
After being a semi-finalist in the first First Chapters Writing Competition, I know how it feels to spend my free minutes counting votes, scores, and comments!
Here's to happy endings for for your books!
I'd be pleased and honored for all of you to view my entry.
Safe Harbor
Adding a few of my personal favorites would be.
The Wolf Huntress
Daine's Dream
Lacey took a Holiday
There are too many more to go on.
Best regards to all
My own entry is: Summer Days of Desire. An intro to the chapter follows:
Grab your passport and join Jack Riley and his childhood friend Perry as they take their first vacation trip to Europe. They soon meet two attractive young women from Canada, Nicole and Barbara, in a Parisian cafe. Together, the four explore the charms of Paris and friendship blooms into romance.
Will this truly be a life changing experience for the newfound couples, or will the summer romances fade with the change of the seasons? Follow the story in Summer Days of Desire. Bon Voyage!
I also suggest people read several of the fine chapters referenced above or elsewhere, which include The Wolf Huntress, Bear Country and Wife Seeking Wife.
While Spike waited for morning he thought back on those days when Tomorrow was his nurse, when she'd care for him with every need no matter how miserable the task might seem. The short order of it was that Spike loved her with more than mere mortal enthusiasm. He had loved her with every rising of the sun, every cloud that swam by the by, and every syllable which crossed her breath and precious lips… He had loved her when she held his hand when death seemed more of a friend than a foe, and he wanted to welcome death in.
To supp with.
To pray with.
To drink with.
And somehow take him away to some spiritual netherworld as far away from the place of pain as possible, and she was the cure. She was the cure for everything, even the temptations of death and the promises he whispered wasn't enough to pull Spike away from Tomorrow. He would spend eternity in Pain or Hell itself if necessary; it'd be a town worth suffering for. Only, Tomorrow never promised anything but comfort and love. It was good to be with her, she'd done more to help than the doctors had in two years of therapy. When she came into Spike's life Spike was on the verge of death. Somehow she changed all that. He never realized how beautiful the night sky is.
Falseworlds, The
Click on this book cover
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977080023
It is so hard to have the time to read them all and it doesn't seem fair. I believe gather should limit the number of entries just because not everyone is getting read with 296 entries I wouldn't be able to do much else. Oh what is three or four hours. lol
Blessings
Thanks for promoting the contest! Here's a brief blurb for my entry, My Fantasy Spy:
Reilly Peterson is just looking to learn a little self-defense. An extreme week at a Fantasy Spy Camp seems just the thing to help her learn how to protect herself from a stalker ex-boyfriend. A week of hot spy guys, guns, and gadgets.
But when she checks in for camp, she finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue, pursued by a murderous group of thieves, professional hit men and lawyers. And she has no idea why.
To make matters worse, she's falling in love with the one man who's not hot on her tail. Her fantasy spy.
My Fantasy Spy
In the world of Aliesse, in a time before the advancement of technology, humanity is on the brink of extinction. After generations under siege from the predatory Bitkeys, the peaceful Aliessans have been forced to war to defend themselves and the land that they cherish. The final battle for survival looms close on the horizon.
Enter Daine, our heroine. Without explanation or warning, this modern-day history teacher from Seattle wakes to find herself in Aliesse's last surviving community. Torn from a life she loved and thrust into the coming Armageddon, Daine develops a stubborn disbelief in her new surroundings. She takes refuge in silence while learning to fight for a world not her own.
Larson, one of the leaders in Aliesse's army, becomes both intrigued by her silence and sympathetic to her plight. His attempts to ease Daine's transition between worlds break down her reserve. In spite of the battle to come, their thoughts turn to romance.
But the path to love is interrupted by a shocking revelation from Aliesse's sorcerer. The next attack by the Bitkeys will result in annihilation of the human race, unless Daine can show them the 'way' to survive.
Will Daine and Larson be able to find this 'way'? And when Daine discovers a path back home, will she take it and leave love behind? Or will she stay to guide the army into a battle that may cost them all their lives?
If you found this intriguing, please take the time to stop by Daine's Dream, my entry into the First Chapters Romance competition. I'd appreciate your comments and your vote!