“Sweet Dreamers, this love story is a spoiler for book #6… 2 B with U. but it’s oh so worth the read!” – Emmy
“That Feeling” by Emmy Z. Madrigal is of the unexpected type. In this modern tale, rock front man Greg Stang, falls in love at first sight (or is that first hear?) when he overhears the melancholy piano playing of the hauntingly beautiful Raven. Will she return his affections? Or is he just another guy blindly following her?
And it also includes a story from a new Regency author, Lela Bay.
“The Unusual Manners of Mr. Aarons” by Lela Bay is of the unplanned variety. In this Regency tale, Emmaline is taken by Mr. Aaron’s good looks and peculiar interests, but it appears like he’s after her cousin. Beautiful Catherine Connersfield is the more sensible choice, but will she have him? More to the point, will Emmaline stand by and let her?
As a bonus, if you’re searching for stories to love, get to know the characters of some of our other Meant to Be authors in the 21 Questions section of this book.
Whether you are in love with your soulmate or still searching, we hope these stories inspire hope, imagination, and love.
I’m excited to announce Lord Harrington’s Lost Doe
is now only 99 cents on Kindle!
Last day to buy for 99cents
November 28th
Lord Alexander Harrington’s life is rather tame until a shoeless, coatless waif is found wandering his estate with no memory of who she is. Despite his stoicism, Lord Harrington finds himself drawn to the lost girl who he compares to a scared doe. Caring for her illness despite speculation of her mental state, he develops feelings for her.
Is she an escaped lunatic, or simply a lost woman desperately in need of his help? A revelation about his own family’s history with the mental asylum down the road causes him to question his feelings. When a massive fire breaks out on estate grounds, will he lose her forever?
#ilovemrgrumpy
Also, meet Mr. Grumpy’s friend, Mr. Gloomy in… Meant to Be…KISSED
Meant to Be Press announces the release of Meant to Be…KISSED (Love Notes Book 2). This is the second collection of sweet of stories from Meant to Be Press authors. This heartwarming collection is themed around winter kisses. The two primary stories are historical romances, with a bonus contemporary flash fiction piece from Meant to Be Press’s newest author, M. M. Genet.
“Miss Montague’s Winter Kiss” by Emmy Z. Madrigal turns sadness into hope. Grayson is a man who has lost everything, but Cecelia saves his life and rekindles his belief in love. Broken ice and traumatic losses give way to the start of something new, if only the hero can give up past hurts. As Emmy writes, “It was more of a feeling that, if the flame between them was fanned, they could be happy for the rest of their lives. He’d endured so much grief, she longed to bring him joy.”
Come for Jane Austen book geekage.
The Fall meeting of the Jane Austen Society.
Gain a deeper understanding of Catherine Morland by looking at her horror fan side. Was she just a silly young miss innocent of the real dangers of the world, or did she enjoy horror literature on a more intimate level in a way that fans of horror media today can relate to? Author Emmy Z. Madrigal will give insight on this most misunderstood heroine.
Frankenstein and the Problem of Exile Professor Omar F. Miranda of USF will talk us through what Mary Shelley’s readers might have thought 200 years ago, when Frankenstein was published. What did it mean to be exiled, to be cut off from society? Displacement, banishment, as well as alienation and exclusion all figure into the narrative. How does the creature use exile for auspicious ends? Can Victor Frankenstein break free from what…
An opera diva is haunted by a dangerous secret which threatens to end her career and her life.
I was seventeen when I saw my first Broadway production. Our choir class sponsored a trip to Los Angeles to perform at a university-sponsored choral event and see the production of The Phantom of the Opera, my favorite musical. It was a trip of firsts. The first time riding on a luxury bus, the first time I’d performed on a real stage, and the first time I’d sat in a theatre seat.
When the lights dimmed and the music began, it was a surreal moment. My heart pounded hard in my chest, like the drumming of the enormous timpani drums. I stared through my borrowed binoculars at the stage and the costumes, candles, and fog consumed me. I was lucky enough to see the original cast with Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine. Tears collected in my eyes as the performers sang the beautiful music because I was hearing greatness—live. But also because I wanted so badly to be a part of their world. What a stunning, horrific, lovely, dramatic world where anything could happen.
In my short story “Last Lullaby,” Claire has the same yearning to be included in this magical world. She is an opera chorus girl when fate—or perhaps something more sinister—rockets her into diva-hood. For a girl such as her, who loves music with her whole being, what will happen when the gift is ripped from her? Will she survive? Or will she put her life at stake to sing one last time?
Find in this Phantom retelling, “Last Lullaby” in Crescendo of Darkness. Sometimes, it’s better to travel the hard road to gain respect than to make a deal with a demon.
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Music has the power to soothe the soul, drive people to obsession, and soundtrack evil plots. Is music the instigator of madness, or the key that unhinges the psychosis within? From guitar lessons in a graveyard and a baby allergic to music, to an infectious homicidal demo and melancholy tunes in a haunted lighthouse, Crescendo of Darkness will quench your thirst for horrifying audio fiction.
HorrorAddicts.net is proud to present fourteen tales of murderous music, demonic performers, and cursed audiophiles.
FOPAL invites the community to meet published authors of
different genres as they take the microphone &
read selections from their work!
Saturday April 21, 2018 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Mitchell Park Community Center – Adobe Room
3700 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94303
Award Winning Podcaster – Emmy Z. Madrigal aka Emerian Rich will be reading from her Regency Novella, Lord Harrington’s Lost Doe.
Other featured Authors:
Legendary Hip-Hop Artist, Entrepreneur, MA – Suga-T
Poet Laureate of the City of East Palo Alto – Poetess Kalamu Chaché
Award Winning Journalist – Minu Dave
FOPAL Event Organizer – Tina Gibson
Prized Poet, Actress, Author and Educator – Venus Jones
President of the California Writers Club, SF Peninsula Branch – Lisa Meltzer Penn
Award Winning Writer – Patty Somlo
Award Winning ‘Hall of Fame’ Journalist – Doug Sovern
Audio Fiction Prize Winner – Dave M. Strom
In Chapter 19, Derek plays street football with Cyn and her family. Mr. Porter has a talk with Derek.
Voices in this chapter by Emmy Z. Madrigal.
In Chapter 20, Victoria and her friends face off against thug Bianca. Victoria calls Cyn to let her know what’s going on. Cyn and Derek discuss the situation and call the police.
Voices in this chapter by Camellia Rains, Rish Outfield, DJ Pitsiladis, and Emmy Z. Madrigal.
In Chapter 21, Bianca and crew track Cyn to her house and attack.
Voices in this chapter Camellia Rains and Emmy Z. Madrigal.
In Chapter 22, Derek holds Bianca off with a gun as police and ambulance arrive. Derek sits by Cyn’s die in the hospital.
Voices in this chapter by Camellia Rains, David Barrett, Angela Estes, and Emmy Z. Madrigal.
Before I begin writing, I often create a playlist with the mood of the book. Unlike many authors, I don’t mind lyrics. I know I’ve been in the writing zone when I pause and suddenly reawaken of the music and singing that’s been playing all along.
Movie musicals know what they’re doing. They start with a powerful opening number. Just consider the release of La La Land, where an entire Los Angeles freeway becomes a thumping, mardi gras party for those stuck in traffic. It’s an easy daydream to have:
More recently, The Greatest Showman grabbed hold of the audience with its pulse-pounding opening number. The multi-talented Hugh Jackman owns the stage with his presence, and the tempo builds with the marvelous stomping effects.
However, even in non-musicals the soundtrack plays an integral role setting the tone of the movie. If you love music and romance, prepare to be blown away. The opening scene of A Perfect Man, with Liev Schreiber and Jeanne Tripplehorn, is the ideal of using music to set up the story and inspire the audience. It’s a beautiful, mysterious and powerful sequence. When I heard the music, I needed to know more. Hints in the lyrics sounded familiar. It nagged at me. In searching I discovered the opening lyrics were from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 57. The director filmed the movie but ran out of funds and didn’t finish it. Later, he showed a rough cut to a film class, and they were so impressed they insisted he complete the movie.
I couldn’t find a clip of the opening scene from A Perfect Man on Youtube for you. Ideally, go to Netflix and stream just the first 5 minutes of the movie (sorry film students, the movie is good but never lives up to those opening minutes). Alternately, you can hear the music here but it isn’t quite the same without the amazing scene. “For This Sin (featuring Jules Larson)” by Jeff Cardoni.
As a writer, I wish I could use music to instantly tell my audience the tone, genre, and energy of the story they were about to read. I find it entirely believable that our reading devices of the future could come embedded with soundtracks to match the pace of the reader.
Until then, here are a few songs that I listened to while working on my Regency romance novella, Ruined Reputations. Since it’s a period piece, I chose music that didn’t use too many modern instruments (not too much electric guitar and synth for this soundtrack). The two tales, “The Unusual Mr. Aarons” and “Virtue’s Temptation” are sweet and sometimes funny with an undertone of longing.
For This Sin (feat. Jules Larson) by Jeff Cardoni
Earned It by The Weeknd from 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack
The Look of Love by Diana Krall
Everywhere by lissie
On Less Bell to Answer/A House is not a Home – Glee Soundtrack
Issues (acoustic version) by Julia Michaels
Lela lives in a modest house with her husband, children, and pets. Despite living in the far north, she requires a certain amount of sunshine each day or she gets grumpy. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys strolling, gardening, reading, and tea time with friends.
“A tantalizing pair of Regency tales.” ~Emmy Z. Madrigal
“Ruined Reputations is a love letter to high romance of the Brontes with the meticulous eye for detail that readers crave like oxygen itself.” ~MJ Sherry-author of the Back Page Babylon series
–The Unusual Manners of Mr. Aarons–
Rumors of Mr. Aarons unconventional ways are confirmed when he nearly yanks the bonnet off Emmaline’s cousin’s head. Drawn by his charm and good looks, Emmaline finds herself assisting him in his mysterious mission.
His obscure search appears to lead to her cousin, beautiful Catherine Connersfield. She is the more sensible choice, but will she have him? More to the point, will Emmaline let her?
–Virtue’s Temptation–
Experience has taught Eleanor it’s better to be practical than passionate.
When she discovers Bitsy eloping with her French tutor, scandal threatens to ruin the girl.
To keep her reputation intact, Eleanor reluctantly chaperones the rebellious heiress.
Eleanor’s spotless character protects Bitsy, but behaving respectably proves difficult when tempted by the dangerously attractive Mr. Stinson.
If she fails it will end with … Ruined Reputations.
Photo by Michael Chien.
Free Book December 1-5
I was seventeen when I saw my first Broadway production. Our choir class sponsored a trip to Los Angeles to perform at a university-sponsored choral event and see the production of The Phantom of the Opera, my favorite musical. It was a trip of firsts. The first time riding on a luxury bus, the first time I’d performed on a real stage, and the first time I’d sat in a theatre seat.
