Rue Allyn, one of my friends at the Bluestocking Belles is here today to share the Belle’s 2018  collection of holiday novellas, Follow Your Star Home 

What happens when eight authors get together and decide to write a collection of loosely connected tales?

Magic happens. Honest. I can’t describe it any other way. The traditional word is brainstorming, and that is where we start. What theme do we want? Several are thrown into the ring and somehow with a few ooh I like that’s and a no not that again comments we arrive at an agreement on theme. The theme for Follow Your Star Home is the return of the prodigal. Our interpretation of ‘prodigal’ is very loose essentially involving the return home of an important character and all the attendant emotions that go with the return for all the characters involved.

After the theme…

Then each writer retreats to her own favorite story making methods. When we feel we have solid story ideas, we come together again and pitch those ideas to each other. The exchange is pretty much the same as the theme discussion with a bit more detail and spontaneous thought thrown in. That’s the fun part.

After the magic comes the work of drafting, revising, beta reading, more revising, and more beta reading until we get to final edits and publication production. While some of the team works on production the rest of us work on marketing, seeking out reviews, and getting the word out that the Bluestocking Belles have once again produced a magical collection of holiday novellas.

With the really hard work finished, we get to have fun again sharing bits of our stories with readers, holding FB parties, doing take overs, and of course guest blogging with wonderful folks like Alina. Thanks to her you’ll find below more information about the box set, buy links, and enough information about the stories to help you decide if Follow Your Star Home is a book you want for your library. (I can tell you that the current $2.99 price is only good for pre-order. Once the Nov. 4, 2018 launch date passes the price will increase.)

Come to the Launch Party!

And I must mention our Nov. 4, 2018 FB launch party with many guest authors and a host of prizes. All who attend get entered into the main drawing, but individual authors may have separate drawings. You’ll have to be there to find out the specific details. You’re all invited, so here’s the link, https://www.facebook.com/events/1908064995954512/.

Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of box sets in general. Do you like them? Do you use them to discover new authors or for some other purpose? All the Belles are very interested in what you think, so please tell us.

Follow Your Star Home

Forged for lovers, the Viking star ring is said to bring lovers together, no matter how far, no matter how hard.

In nine stories, covering more than half the world and a thousand years, our heroes and heroines put the legend to the test. Watch the star work its magic, as prodigals return home in the season of good will, uncertain of their welcome.

A Wish for All Seasons: A MacKai Family Novella

by Rue Allyn

The past keeps Caibre and Aisla apart. Only Love and forgiveness can give them a future.

The last thing Caibre MacFearann wants is to return to Scotland let alone be forced to stay there. But the chance to rekindle the lost love of his youth is too tempting to resist.

Losing Caibre MacFearann’s love once hurt so much that Aisla MacKai wants nothing to do with him when a blizzard brings the man to her doorstep. Kindness and human charity require that she give him shelter, no matter that her poor heart had never mended.

Heat Rating: PG-13

Excerpt

She tumbled backward. Immediately clansmen surrounded her, and the man, who could only be her supposedly dead brother. MacKai gray eyes were so called because the color matched the hue of storm-dark seas in Dungarob Harbor. The color bred true through generations of MacKais and no one not a MacKai had eyes quite that shade of gray.

“Steafan?” She reached for him.

Murmurs circled the room. “Impossible. Risen from the dead. Alive?”

“Aye, I’m alive.” croaked a familiar voice. “I seem to have made it home at last.” At which point his eyes closed, and he slept as if he’d never wakened.

“Prepare the master’s chamber, immediately,” ordered Aisla.

“But Miss Aisla the laird’s been dead these . . . .”

A glare silenced all protests. “All of you listen to me. This man may look like a stranger, but the eyes do not lie. He is my brother, Steafan, your laird. The tale of his death at sea is obviously wrong. Now prepare his chamber and yourselves to serve him as is only right, for every MacKai in Dungarob owes living and allegiance to him.”

Satisfied that her brother was as well cared for as could be, she turned to examine the man with the MacFearann badge and received a second shock. All the joy at Steafan’s return fled before the certainty that she’d been cursed. What evil had she done to bring Caibre MacFearann to Dungarob?

Included in this box set:

Denmark 839

A Yule Love Story  by Nicole Zoltack

Life and love are never simple when a banished king must turn to a simple healing woman to survive

Scotland, 1170 & USA Present Day

One Last Kiss: The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time Novella by  Sherry Ewing

Sometimes it takes a miracle to find your heart’s desire…

Kopet Dag Mountains, 1794

Paradise Regained by Jude Knight

In discovering the mysteries of the East, James has built a new life. Will unveiling the secrets in his wife’s heart destroy it?

1807

Somewhere Like Home by Lizzi Tremayne

Highlands to Waterloo—can love prevail over fate?

1814

The Umbrella Chronicles: James and Annie’s Story by Amy Quinton

Prodigal duke seeks professional matchmaker for matrimonial assistance. Prefers foolproof plans in 10 parts. Magical solutions accepted. Missteps likely.

Scotland, 1869

A Wish for All Seasons:A MacKai Family Novella by Rue Allyn

The past keeps Caibre and Aisla apart. Only Love and forgiveness can give them a future.

1919

The Last Post  by Caroline Warfield

The Great War is over, but how can they marry if he can’t find her?

San Francisco 1922

A Fine Chance  by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

All he needs is a fine chance.

Buy links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Belles-Christmas-Title-Still-Under-ebook/dp/B07H4ZY517/ 

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/894110

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/nz/en/ebook/follow-your-star-home

25% of proceeds benefit the Malala Fund

About Rue Allyn

Rue Allyn is the award-winning author of heart melting historical and contemporary romances. A USN veteran with a Ph.D. in medieval literature, Rue has retired south of the US border where she enjoys sunny days and heated inspiration. She continues to enjoy professional relationships in the Romance Writers of America, The Maumee Valley Romance Authors Inc. and the (in)famous Bluestocking Belles.

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Alina here: To answer your question, Rue, I love discovering new authors via box sets, especially at the holidays. I’m heading over to Amazon to preorder my copy!