My newest release, Romancing the Princess, is now available, earlier than expected! Download your free e-book instantly, or purchase in paperback. Links and description below! Download the e-book, free everywhere! Experience a swashbuckling romantic adventure in a fantasy world,perfect for fans of Anastasia and The Princess Bride! Meg of Swansong Island was raised as an … Continue reading 🎉🎉Romancing the Princess: Release Day!🎉🎉
Romancing the Princess will be released on May 30, 2023! What are the differences between this all-new adaptation and the source material? Find out in the author's exclusive FAQ with Called by the Heart Publications! What happens when an author of retellings writes a retelling...of her own novel? Called by the Heart: Why did you … Continue reading What’s New? FAQ: Romancing The Princess Vs. The Duchess Quest
Ten years ago, as a 23-year-old new mother with no formal education, I had a dream of writing an epic, swashbuckling romance. With plenty of passion but not much by way of technique, I took on the ambitious undertaking of writing my first novel. Well, the original version was a disaster, collecting rejections by 164 … Continue reading A New Adventure Is Coming Soon…
When I was a little girl, my father, a dentist, used to travel to dental conventions around the world. From his travels, he would bring me back little trinkets and gifts. A doll, a genie lamp. A piece of petrified coral, a new dress. But my favorite of the presents he brought me was a … Continue reading Treasure
What is "Greensleeves"? "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folksong from the 16th or 17th century. You might better recognize the tune as the Christmas carol, "What Child Is This?" Trajan et Hadrian, Fair Use License. The lyrics are as follows: Image courtesy of Pinterest You can listen to an instrumental guitar version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wARiOb80Zr0 Who Was … Continue reading Who was Lady Greensleeves?
I'm so proud to announce that my YA fantasy novel, WHISPER, received Honorable Mention in the 2021 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Contest in the Holiday Fiction category! Thank you to everyone at Readers' Favorite for their support. #ReadersFavorite#yafantasy#indieauthorsView all 2021 Winners: https://readersfavorite.com/2021-award-contest-winners.htm Get the book: https://bit.ly/whisperckbrooke
My new novella is now available! Cover art by Dragonpen Press Designs “‘Tristan and Isolde’? More like stuff and nonsense…" At age eighteen, Isolde of Ayrland is expected to master the healing arts and uphold her mother’s legacy as a healer, but she’s nowhere near ready for the undertaking. Though her mother’s always urging her … Continue reading New Release: As Told by Isolde, A Mythic Maidens Novella (Mythic Maidens #5)
To all aspiring writers: Have you always dreamed of writing a book but aren't sure where to start? Do you know there's a story or message inside you, if you only had the tools to uncover it? Do you want to be an author but doubt whether you're talented, educated, or qualified enough?Anyone can write a … Continue reading Anyone Can Write! ✒
As the publishing industry is ever-changing in this increasingly digital landscape, we writers must adapt to new ways of sharing our words with the world. Earlier this year, an innovative app developer reached out with an offer I couldn’t refuse. I’m eager to announce that my newest historical romance, The Poet Bride, is now available exclusively … Continue reading My Newest Historical Romance, The Poet Bride, is FREE Exclusively on Readict!
I am delighted to announce that my novel, Marian, Princess Thief, has won the 2020 BiBA (Best Indie Book Award) in the Young Adult category! I want to extend my gratitude & thanks to everyone at the Best Indie Book Awards. I'm very excited about this win and am happy that so many people are … Continue reading Marian, Princess Thief is a 2020 Best Indie Book Award (BiBA) Winner!
🎉 It's Release Day! 🎉In the mood for Fantasy, Romance, and a spooky Christmas tale?Get lost in my newest book!Available in ebook & paperback:Buy NowAdd to GoodreadsThank you for helping Whisper reach #1!ABOUT THE BOOK:Featuring an exclusive interview with the author! Kestrel Rosemont just wants a place to belong. An artist at heart, stuck with a prim, practical family that doesn’t … Continue reading Whisper Release Day!
Lady Greensleeves, my novelized adaptation of the folksong "Greensleeves," is now a free audio book you can listen to on YouTube! Start listening here: https://youtu.be/Yb3DFiVOAVc
https://youtu.be/24e9no-a8p8 You can now listen to my #YAMermaid short story, Shell, as a free audio book on YouTube! Or, you can read the ebook right here.
Are you an avid reader, writer/reviewer, or book blogger? Seeking to grow your audience, get more reads, or simply fill your life with fun new books before they're released? Join my ARC review team and receive free ebooks and digital audio book codes for review! Complete the form to apply today Embedded link above not … Continue reading Review My ARCs
When I sat down to write this article, I originally wanted to title it, 'Why I Love Self-Publishing!' But when I really began to envision my preface about how much my publishers have taught me, and what an integral part of my writer's journey they've been, I realized pretty quickly that I am only a … Continue reading The Perks of Being a Hybrid Author
Writer's block is a lot like pain. And I don't just mean that it hurts. But, like pain, block is a sign that something is wrong. That something needs changing or repair. The body has an amazing nervous system designed to (among other things) alert us if anything's awry. If we couldn't feel pain, then … Continue reading The 10 Gifts of Writer’s Block
There will be many trials and many errors.There will be many failed attempts.Many experiments will go wrong, while some go nowhere at all.There will be false positives and silver linings.Frustration and hours of dullness and darkness will prevail, for a time.There will be lonely, listless days and electric, sleepless nights.Stay authentic, whatever you do.Don't write … Continue reading For writers who are stuck.
The following is a repost of a guest article I wrote for Jennifer M. Eaton's blog in December 2016, originally entitled "Handling historical attitudes in a millennial feminist world":Make no mistake, I consider myself a Feminist. I’m not old enough to have fought for it; I was simply fortunate enough to have been born into … Continue reading Repost: Handling the touchy topic of feminism in historicals
Let's clear up one thing first: "trope" is not a bad word. Neither is it an insult. A trope, for the purposes of this post, is a common theme or archetype that frequently appears in stories. The 'damsel in distress' has historically been a popular trope in storytelling - albeit, one that's losing significant steam … Continue reading Why enemies-to-lovers is my favorite romance trope
I'll never forget waiting three years between releases of the fourth and fifth Harry Potter novels. Rumor had it, we were finally going to find out WHY the evil Lord Voldemort had tried to kill innocent Harry as a baby. That was the crux of the whole series, wasn't it? The morning of Order of the … Continue reading Why Prophecy is the laziest literary device
I recently received this email from fellow Michigan writer, Jaclyn E. Dunlop. She had a very good question: Jaclyn's Email: Hey. Do you have any suggestions on how to write a combat scene? ...My main character is fighting a dragon to prove her worth, and I'm not sure how to go about it. C.K.'s Response:The … Continue reading Mailbag: Suggestions for writing action scenes
When I sit down to brainstorm or outline a new book, I always start with one question: What intrigues me?Reconnecting with my younger self, I recall the stories, secrets, mysteries, and phenomena that once sparked a burning curiosity within my adolescent mind. What was forbidden and what was taboo? What was sneaky and tempting and … Continue reading What inspires my stories?
Mary Lehnert is the narrator of The Golden Dove audio book. Today we'll learn a little more about her. Thanks, Mary! Born and educated in North Yorkshire, England, Mary now is an American citizen having traveled worldwide with her husband's job in the oil industry. She loved romance in her youth, living vicariously through all … Continue reading Meet the Narrator: Mary Lehnert
Some days, it's easier to be anything but a writer. It's easier to applaud others' accomplishments than to put our own stuff out there. It's safer to read someone else's work than to painstakingly compose our own, then release it and let it be rejected, criticized, or worst of all, totally ignored. It's easier just … Continue reading On Writing
I'm looking at a fascinating book for writers called 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them by Ronald B. Tobias (here's the link on Amazon). While scrolling through the table of contents, I realized I've used some of these themes, and thought it would be fun to list them here on my blog. The ones I … Continue reading How Many “Master Plots” Have I Written?
C.K. BROOKE 