Prices Starting at Just 99 cents! Book Bargain Bonanza! September 21-25, 2023 from I Heart SapphFic. White background with rainbow heart.

Hours Left in Huge Sapphic Fiction Sale

Karin Kallmaker Book News, Checked Out, Knight of Nights 0 Comments

Twice a year, the team at I Heart SapphFic pulls together an aptly named Book Bargain Bonanza of mostly independently published sapphic fiction across all genres. There’s just a few hours left in the September event with 250 books as low as 99¢ and available in all Amazon marketplaces.

 
Go Directly to Knight of Nights
My medieval romance with a woman warrior, lady of the castle, and magical moonlight is 99 cents. It’s a short novel published through my own imprint, Romance and Chocolate Ink.

 
 
PAGE THREE: Check out stories in Genres that aren’t
Contemporary Romance or Erotica

It can seem like the only sapphic books out there are contemporary romance and erotica, but Page Three proves that wrong. Historical romance is one I love (obviously), and there’s collections of short stories, sci-fi, sword and sorcery, thrillers, young adult, whodunnits, and more.

 
 
Contemporary Romance and Erotica that’s 99¢
Speaking of Contemporary Romance and Erotica – here’s all the 99 cent sapphic love and adult stuff you can handle.

 
 
Contemporary Romance and Erotica that’s
$1.99, $2.99, or $3.99

And here’s all the rest of the contemporary romance and erotica titles. I love that every entry has a brief description, but you can click to read even more about the story. Clicking on the Amazon link will take you to your Amazon marketplace.

Cut Out the Middleman Algorithms

If my post here is the first you’ve heard about this sale, and that’s the kind of information you generally want to know, then your social media feed – try as all authors might – isn’t showing you information about new books and events. There are many reasons why, but suffice it to say, Facebook, eXTwitter, Instagram, and all the rest, want you to stay on their site, endlessly scrolling their ads.

Allow me to suggest that you’ll save time by simply subscribing to blogs, like I Heart SapphFic and Jae’s widely informative blog. Most authors also send out newsletters – sign up for your favorites! Bella Books carries most current releases and announces everything new before the first of every month. I have my own newsletter that talks about what’s new from me and where you can get it, and I am super serious about protecting your privacy.

Cut out the middleman algorithms and get your information firsthand and immediately.

blonde model "Irene" with Italian cut and cat's eye glasses, used for the cover of Wind in Her Hair by Karin Kallmaker

1952 – The Italian Cut, Juliet Caps, and the Touring Car featured in Wind in Her Hair

Karin Kallmaker Wind in Her Hair 3 Comments

If you’re a fan of fashion news and magazines, it’s probably not bewildering when names of hairstyles and types of makeup are dropped into conversations.

If you’re like me, however, the difference between a bouffant, poodle, and an Italian haircut for women escapes you entirely. Even after reading up on how they’re cut, layered, and styled I couldn’t tell you the difference.

It’s like that moment in The Devil Wears Prada when Andi rightly scoffs at people raving over the difference in color between two identical belts. (They’re identical, I tell you, identical!)

The Italian Cut

When creating the world that Irene Carson was going to inhabit, and having some fabulous cover art that immediately became Irene in my mind, I did some deep and often fun dives into fashion. For example, what’s the name of the haircut the woman in the cover art above is rocking?

It’s called the Italian Cut. Why “Italian”? Because among the first to wear it was Sophia Loren and other stars in Italian cinema. Dorothy Dandridge, Jacqueline Bouvier, Gina Lollobrigida, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly – they all wore the Italian Cut. Depending on a few simple tweaks, it can run the gamut from classy to sultry. For me, this portrait of Elizabeth Taylor is the ultimate.

Here’s a 1955 ad for Toni lipstick that has an Italian hair cut, plus cat’s eye sunglasses, which were all the rage then and are still very popular today. Irene acquires a pair.

 Vivacious strawberry blonde with cat's eye sunglasses and italian cut hair shows off Viv lipstick from Toni in a 1955 ad

FYI, $1.10 for a tube of lipstick was pricey. For example, $1.10 could have instead bought a Blue Plate Special meatloaf dinner with change left for a 20% tip and a gallon of gas. It was the 1950s and it was spend, baby, spend. Keeping up with The Joneses was in full swing.

Rabbit Hole Fun Fact about Eyewear

Interesting fact – did you know that the early 1950s revolutionized eyewear? One simple change made all the difference not just to how they looked, but how well they performed: the hinge was moved from the middle of the lens to the top. That’s it. This tiny design alteration brought the top of the lens closer to the eye than the bottom, and it improves the overall functionality of the magnification for the wearer.

Also, cute cat’s eye glasses, etc.

The Juliet Cap

They’re named after the style of hat that was worn often during productions of Romeo and Juliet, apparently. In 1910 they looked like this.

1910 Women's Encyclopedia entry of a woven Juliet cap over the top of the head with curls below.

In the 1950s, the Juliet met up with the French beret, got saucy with the Half Hat, and definitely fraternized with the Fascinator. Stylish and very fashion forward, this style of hat could be worn to the side, creating a rakish, eye-catching appeal.


 

The Car

I’m not a car enthusiastic, though I will always take a long look at a vintage car and say, “Sweet ride!” After a lot of searching for the right vehicle to change Irene’s life, I came up with this immediate post-World War II (or as Irene calls it, “the War”) 1949 Packard. Streamlined “rocket” design – and check out the front grill with matching detailed back bumper.

It had no power steering or power brakes or power windows or power anything, but it had optional air conditioning and push-button radio tuning. Sweet ride!

This photo features the driver’s wind wing slightly ajar. That’s the front portion of the side window that could be cracked open without having to crank down the entire window. It adjusted easily from “a little bit” to “full blast.” Back in the day, wind wings and 55 miles per hour was the only air conditioning we had.


 

Excerpt from Wind in Her Hair

All of these 1950s artifacts are referred to in Wind in Her Hair, along with the exciting new home-delivered Avon Cosmetics and humidity resistent Aqua Net hairspray – the hairspray that made the 1960s bouffant possible. Here’s the first chapter!
 

Learn More about the eBook!

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Sapphic World Book Club August 19, 2023, 2pm eastern, 11am pacific with Karin Kallmaker

Sapphic World Book Club – Saturday!

Karin Kallmaker Events and Appearances, Readers and Libraries 0 Comments

This Saturday, so set that reminder now – it’s the Sapphic World Book Club with Jamie and Caroline. August 19th, 11:00 a.m. pacific, 2:00 p.m. eastern, 6:00 p.m. GMT. Anywhere else use a time converter because I always mess it up.

They’re going to ask me questions. You can ask me questions.

  • Favorite ice cream?
  • Why romance novels are the ultimate suspense story?
  • The air speed of a European swallow?
  • Favorite ice cream?
  • Seriously what were you thinking when you wrote about ________________?
  • What’s the first book you read that had an impact on you?
  • Best and worst thing about being a writer?
  • Favorite ice cream?

I’m sure you’ll have more. The answers I don’t know I will make up, quite happily. Spoiler alert: I’ve been doing that all my life.

 
Click Here to Register for FREE
 

P.S. You can convert to your time zone right here.

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Images of cover Velvet in Venice by Karin Kallmaker. "It all started with a song. Now in Kindle Unlimited!"

Velvet in Venice – Now in Kindle Unlimited

Karin Kallmaker Book News, Velvet in Venice 0 Comments

If you’ve been waiting for a summer read that will whisk you away on a book-staycation, Velvet in Venice – set in Venice, see what I did there? – is now in Kindle Unlimited. If you’re a KU subscriber, grab it and enjoy the music, gelato, sites and sights of Venice, and a sweet and easy romance with a magical twist.

If you’re so inclined, check out the playlist at the end of the book that represents the wonderful very American songs that lure Artie Bryson to Nikki Velvet. If you do, an honest rating or review is always welcome!

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Head to Kindle Unlimited and Read a Sample

A glowing young black woman with natural hair and red lips looks over her shoulder through mottled light at the Grand Canal and skyline of St. Marcos Plaza in Venice. A glass of deep red wine is in the foregound. A Coin of Love Romance, Velvet in Venice, Karin Kallmaker, Goldie and Lammy Winning Author

What People are Saying:
I Heart SapphFic Book of the Month Historical Romance, Knight of Nights by Karin Kallmaker May 2023

Knight of Nights – Historical Romance of the Month!

Karin Kallmaker Knight of Nights 0 Comments

What a great way to wake up! I just saw the news that Knight of Nights was voted the Historical Romance of the Month for May 2023, topping off a run that included best seller lists for both Lesbian Romance and Medieval Romance categories.

Big Cheers for I Heart SapphFic!

A big shout out to I Heart SapphFic for their reader ranked voting that selects Books of the Month for numerous genres and ongoing Reading Challenge that invites readers to explore a wide range of genres. It’s really gratifying to see how much readers are enjoying this story of impossible love that survives anyway, with a little nudge from a magical coin.

Some of the other winners of this month!

You should check out all of the I Heart SapphFic winners here. It’s a great list of reads – you could find a new favorite!

Week 28 Reading Challenge is Historical Fiction!

What’s more, Historical Fiction is one of Week 28’s Reading Challenge categories. Knight of Nights certainly counts, and so do all these listed, with some on sale.
 
 
*Super happy for Quinn Riley, all around adorable person I met at GCLS in Denver. She’s done a great job with my One Degree of Separation and Above Temptation.

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Check out the eBook and Sample

A white woman with mottled skin and braided, shaggy red hair, is wearing a shoulder and chest armor. Her hands are resting on a double edged winged axe. Text reads, A Coin of Love Romance, Knight of Nights, Karin Kallmaker, Goldie and Lammy Award Winner

What People are Saying:
Logo for Golden Crown Literary Society Denver 2023 19th Annual Converence from June 28-July 2. Theme is "Pursue Your Passion"

Making Books, Telling Stories – GCLS 2023

Karin Kallmaker Craft of Writing, Events and Appearances 3 Comments

I am on the road to my favorite event of the year: The Golden Crown Literary Society Conference. This year it’s in Denver, a city I really enjoy. There will be fun and friends, learning and laughter, ideas and awards! Even if you’re not going, you can see the awards via livestream (see below).

Where I’ll Be in 2023!

I’ll be at all the usual sessions, like the welcome reception on Wednesday 6/28, awards, keynote presentation, etc. In addition, I’m either a panelist or moderating at these sessions: Read More

Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura, on the bridge of the Enterprise, Star Trek the Original Series

Audiobook News and a Personal Update

Karin Kallmaker Book News, Coin of Love Series, Frosting on the Cake Volume 3, One Degree of Separation 0 Comments

I don’t usually post the contents of a newsletter to my blog because they are for different audiences. However, this particular newsletter has news everyone may want to know with an update on future publishing releases.

First, the Audiobook News!

One Degree of Separationis available for pre-order at Audible! It releases next Tuesday. The summer heat and round robin dating pool in Iowa City must be why Marian the Librarian can’t stop watching the new femme in town, Liddy Peel. Delightfully, humorously read by Quinn Riley. Read More

love spelled in scrabble tiles

How Much He Must Have Hated Himself

Karin Kallmaker LIFE + STYLE 10 Comments

For more than four decades of my life, Pat Robertson heaped vitriol and invective on me and my kind. He unceasingly called us deviants and dangers to our country and the world. Every natural disaster, every plague, every ill in the world was our fault or the fault of those who tolerated our existence. We were the reason for the suffering of billions of people.

He mouthed the words “Hate the sin, not the sinner” — six short words — after “sermons” of thousands of words that hated the sinner.

His “Christian” credentials allowed violent people to claim beatings, torture, and murder were godly. He openly praised political opportunists using our lives – of late, our trans family’s very existence – as a way to make money and cultivate power and encourage cruelty. They claim godliness too, while many don’t even hate us. We’re convenient. Which is one of the aspects of abuse that leaves those on the receiving end feeling like they’re not human to their abusers. We’re just the thing that’s handy. Read More

quill pen and ink well on old book in library

Heart Set on a Signed Book at GCLS?

Karin Kallmaker Events and Appearances 0 Comments

How can it be June? It’s only a couple of weeks until I’ll be hopping in the trusty Subaru to head to my favorite event of the year. This year the Golden Crown Literary Society conference for all people who love sapphic fiction is in Denver, a city I’ve visited often and love.

Along with the many great panels and ways to interact with readers and answer questions is a huge vendor booth hosted by Bella Books that will have a wide variety of actual, real, smell the ink, pick-up-and-hold books. Every author present will have books there, including me. Read More

Scoop of Baskin-Robbins Chick'n & Waffle Ice Cream on a waffle

How I Know the Universe Loves Us – My First Post about Ice Cream

Karin Kallmaker Cheers & Chocolate, Favorite Things 4 Comments

Given that my food love centers around ice cream, it’s hard to believe I’ve never written a blog about it. Ice cream is such a part of my life that when I was researching food for my medieval romance Knight of Nights I was sad for an entire day that there was no way to include ice cream. It’s quite depressing to imagine a world without ice cream.

I’m Not an Ice Cream Snob. Seriously.

I like everything from soft serve to supermarket gelato to the artisanal goodies made in small batches in restaurants. I happily range from a Mickey D’s vanilla cone on a 105 degree day after running errands, to a Talenti pint of whatever chocolate, caramel, crunchy gelato concoction was on sale, to fancy plated desserts. Baseline, it has to have balanced flavors that work well together and a mouth-pleasing creaminess.
And yes, I stalk ice cream on sale and pounce on any brand that doesn’t use substitutes for the sugar or fat. They can use less of those two things, but not substitutes. There are concoctions that use molecular gastronomy techniques, emulsifiers, and stabilizers which can taste good. To me, they’re ice cream cousins. Not ice cream.
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