What's Keeping You Going in 2022?

As I sit down to write this blog it's 9:02 pm the night it is due... publication is but a short three hours away, so it needs to get done.

Also open on my screen is the short story I mention further below (the one that's due to be published in January) which is not finished. That deadline sailed about six weeks ago and I'm embarrassed to have missed it. The publishers are GREAT, don't get me wrong, but it's not a good feeling to know that you've not met a commitment. For those who've taken the Strengths test with Becca Syme, I'm a #1 Responsibility, so missing a due date bites hard. I've sworn to myself it'll be done tonight.

And, I don't know about you, but I feel a bit like a mouse running on one of those little wheels... I'm working the day job, recruiting to replace two members of my team, managing lots family stuff, sitting down to write only almost falling asleep at the desk, trying to figure out how we're fitting everything in around Christmas and I'm TIRED! Pretty sure I'm still processing 2020 and we're almost into 2023! 

I just want to take to my bed with a good book or twelve and pretend the world doesn't exist until the New Year rolls around and we're all inspired to begin with a clean slate.

Hanauma Bay, Oahu. Author's photo

But that's not possible! 

Instead, I decided to plan a holiday. 

I mean, a holiday to Hawaii (who doesn't love Hawaii) is definitely something to look forward to, right?

And I've spoiled myself booking a four night stay at Volcano House with an extra special room overlooking Halema'uma'u Crater (part of the Kilaeua volcano). I CANNOT WAIT!

I also decided to give myself a little grace.

We are all only human, and we can only do what we can do. 

I'm trying to focus on the important things at work, and I'm looking for opportunities to ask for help. And I'm making sure I get a little fun every day - #WillowsDiner (link below) helps a lot with that!

All that being said, I'm still working on getting through one day at a time and so I thought this would be a good place to crowdsource some other ideas. 

Tell me below, what's keeping you going in 2022?

A little shameless self promotion

Dearest Breathless Readers, today I’m finishing my blog with a little shameless self-promotion, introducing you to The Billionaire Fling, a short story anthology which launches in January 2023.

My story – One Night with London’s Most Eligible Bachelor – is in the anthology with more than twenty other shorts from best-selling and award-winning authors.

This is an international anthology, organised by The New Romance Café/Romance Café Publishing and it is particularly close to my heart because all proceeds from sales of the anthology are donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Both my mother and sister have had breast cancer, and my sister (in the wedding dress!) is still fighting it, so anything that brings us closer to a cure is worth it in my book!

If you want to buy, The Billionaire Fling can be pre-ordered here.

Champagne, sports cars, private jets: these powerful billionaires can buy everything but love. 

With the world at their command, how will they cope with the one person who wants their heart, not their money?

Strap on your red sole stilettos, pop open the champagne, and dive into our billionaires' glittering happy ever afters.

Over twenty titillating stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors in a spicy billionaire collection curated by The New Romance Cafe, with ALL proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Kristine Charles writes sexy tales where coffee (and red wine) is abundant, designer shoes and handbags are cheap, chocolate has no calories, and men always put the toilet seat down. Find her at www.wordsbykristinecharles.com or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via Linktree.

LOVE TO LOVE: holiday planning... when I need to escape, I spend five minutes looking up something new to see or do in Hawaii. Bring on my trip in February!

LOVE TO LAUGH: Check out @saruh2themax on Instagram (or TikTok). Her #WillowsDiner videos are THE BEST. They cheer me up every day!

LOVE TO LEARN: from Sarra Cannon. I'm starting to think about my plans for next year and I'm using Sarra's HB90 method (which, in short, has you plan in 12 weekly chunks with a focus on what tasks move you towards your goals). If you want to check Sarra out, her YouTube channel is great. 

Excerpts from 'A Very Aussie Christmas' Anthology

By the Breathless in the Bush Bloggers

Restore your faith in the power of the human spirit with 6 warm-hearted romances. Celebrate the joy and occasional heartbreak of the festive season, where love shines through against the odds. For all lovers of a little romance at Christmas time, here are some excerpts from our Christmas anthology A Very Aussie Christmas.

Link to Buy

Endings, Beginnings by Enisa Haines

Ash-blonde hair fashioned into a loose bun framed a face deserving of an angel. Eyes the blue of sapphires. Wide eyes emanating an internal agony. He lost himself in the depths, in an emotion he’d never before felt.

Was it possible to fall in love in an instant? His sisters, ever reading those penny dreadful novels, would say ‘yes’.



Desert Fire by Sharon Bryant

White Cliffs. The battered black sign appeared on her right. Littered with holes as if someone had taken a shotgun to it. Emma turned the car. No more main road. Much safer. She frowned. She was being ridiculous. Her stalker didn’t know where she was going.

He couldn’t possibly know.



’Tis the Season by Lynne Boyd

Why the hell was Mr Immaculate going to her parents' place? Was he a salesman or someone from a mining company trying to harass them? On Christmas Eve! What if he was from the bank? Had her parents been keeping problems from her and her brothers?

Well, Kelly would find out soon enough.




Christmas at Castle Bay by Helene Cowan

A class reunion ball on Christmas Eve... Ella’s blood chilled. Callum Anders would be there! No way could she face him. Not even after ten years. The raw bitterness between their families, the public scandal, was still unforgettable. Having to confront him after all this time would be truly embarrassing. Yet how could she avoid the ball?




Millie’s Christmas Miracle by Cassandra Samuels

“Millie, hurry.” Her father’s booming voice broke through the hum of the dining room. “It’s Will.”

Her heart stopped. Will? A smile broke out across her face. Her William was back!

He’d left her twelve long months ago, promising to be back by Christmas. When no letters came, she’d feared something terrible had happened and she had fallen into despair. But Will always kept his promises and now here he was.



Home for Christmas by Marilyn Forsyth

Melissa had no right to begrudge her mother a life after Dad’s passing, but an invitation extended to Doc Bailey for Christmas lunch? What the hell? If she’d been uncertain about the relationship developing between her mother and the doc, that settled it.

Still, if she could finally allow herself to move on, she should allow her mother to do the same.

Shouldn’t she?

We Love to Love peace and joy at Christmas!

We Love to Laugh at animal Christmas gifs.

We Love to Learn what each of us will choose for our favourite 2018 Aussie Romance book (to be announced on the Breathless List in January). 

(All gifs and pictures in this post are free to use.)

15 Tips for Writing Short Romance

with Marilyn Forsyth

Image courtesy of Giphy

I wish I could remember where I read ‘Get in, get out, make every word count’ because it perfectly encapsulates what a short-story writer must aim for. Stories of 3000 words or less are increasingly popular among romance readers with limited time to indulge their passion.

Image courtesy of Giphy

But if you’re an author interested in writing short stories, be warned: their simplicity might make them appear easy to write but, trust me, they’re not! Prior to deciding to concentrate on single title romances I sold more than a dozen short stories to magazines, but I also had many rejections.The following suggestions are based on my experience.

1. DO keep to 2 main characters, maximum 4. The fewer, the better; there simply isn’t time to develop minor characters. And make sure those 2 main characters are sympathetic and believable.

2. DO draw the reader in quickly. Begin in a moment of conflict or emotional upheaval that will steer your protagonist down a particular path.

3. DO provide all the information needed to grasp the who, what, when and where of your story in the first few paragraphs. Ground your reader by establishing a recognisable setting then make it clear who your protagonist is, what she wants and why she wants it, while at the same time providing questions the reader must find the answers to by reading the story.

Not a good place to start! Image courtesy of Giphy

4. DO have your story take place over a short time span-hours or days work best, years are a no-no.

5. DO make it emotionally honest and heart-warming. Your protagonist should face a situation that almost everyone has experienced and can relate to, like rebuilding life after a breakup or falling in love for the first time.

6. DO trust the intelligence of your reader. By leaving gaps for her (or him) to fill in they’ll get more out of your story.

7. DO use a high proportion of dialogue in your story but only if it moves the story along. Pacing is particularly important in short stories.

8. DO ensure the resolution happens quickly but is also satisfying and believable. Coincidence shouldn’t feature.

9. DO minimise adverbs and adjectives, and make strong verb choices.

10. DO consider your title carefully. Look for key words or phrases within the story to use.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

1. DON’T include lengthy descriptions of setting or characters.

2. DON’T head hop. A of point of view change is okay with 2 characters, but with more than that, head hopping will detract from the reader’s connection with the main characters.

Photo by MF

3. DON’T end with a lifetime commitment. It’s just not believable in a short romance.






4. DON’T attempt a complicated plot. Your story should have all the elements of a novel i.e. character arcs, conflict and resolution, but on a much smaller scale.

5. DON’T include distractions like subplots. Just stick to the central theme of your story.

If you’re looking for a short story contest to enter, RWA’s Little Gems is a great place to start. 2017’s 'theme' gem is Onyx. Why not give it a go?

Photo by MF

Love to Love seeing my crit partner Cassandra Samuels receive her award for winning the Ripping Start Contest from Michael Hauge at the RWA Conference in Adelaide.

Photo by MF

Love to Laugh at some of the ridiculous places I've discovered a red feather from the boa given out at the Harlequin Author party.



Love to Learn more about short-story writing. Check out Kurt Vonnegut 's 8 tips for writing a short story.