Love That Works: Grab Our New Ebook Anthology Before the Price Jumps!

It’s finally here!

 

Shades of Workplace Love, our brand-new ebook anthology, is now available for pre-order on Amazon! As a heartfelt thank-you for your support, we're offering it at a special launch price of just $0.99 (regularly $4.99)—but only for a limited time.

 

The anthology will be available to read starting September 9, 2025—mark your calendar!

 

Don’t miss your chance to dive into these compelling stories of connection, ambition, and romance in the modern workplace—at a fraction of the price.

 

Now Searching for Readers and Reviewers Who Believe in Love That Works

Position: Romance Enthusiast

Department: Hearts & Sparks

Location: Anywhere with a Kindle

Salary: Emotional ROI + Swoon-worthy satisfaction

Start Date: Immediately (limited-time launch price: $0.99!)

 

Job Description: Seeking passionate readers for a collection of workplace romance short stories where chemistry isn’t just in the lab—it’s in the breakroom, the boardroom, and even during late-night pest control calls. From enemies-to-lovers tension to grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamics, this anthology delivers high-impact emotional payoffs in every standalone story.

 

Qualifications:

• Enjoys slow burns and fast banter
• Believes love can bloom between deadlines
• Has a soft spot for forbidden flings and multicultural connections
• Thrives on paranormal surprises and feel-good endings

 

Perks:

• No meetings, just meaningful moments
• Flexible hours (read anytime)
• Guaranteed sparks, zero HR violations

 

Apply now by downloading Shades of Workplace Love, on Amazon

Link to preorder book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP9Z5M3K

 

$0.99 for a limited time—price increases to $4.99 soon!

 

OR

 

For FREE review copy please click here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241017031-shades-of-workplace-love

 

Whether you choose to order from Amazon (thank you!) or download via StoryOrigin (also fantastic), we want you to know how much your support means. Reviews are vital for small publishers—they help build visibility, drive sales, and create momentum.

You can make a big impact by clicking one of the links, sharing the anthology with others, and leaving a review. We genuinely want to hear what you thought—what resonated, what didn’t, and everything in between. Your feedback helps us grow, improve, and keep creating stories that matter.

Let’s make this launch unforgettable—thanks for being part of it!

Workplace Romance Cover Reveal

 COVER REVEAL TIME!

Our 13^th anthology, Shades of Workplace Romance, is in the final stages and will be released THIS month in time for summer romance. 

August 2025 – Shades of Workplace Love

Love takes work so why not find love at work?

Sometimes work life balance promotes love life issues. So, join us in analyzing high pressure situations with career advancements for highly motivated people, evaluating water cooler talk spiked with gossip, and watching as strategies are optimized for satisfying demands with a rate of return that becomes incalculable but leaves you wanting more! Whether love is on a deadline or not even on your mind, hire Write Volumes to find you Shades of Workplace Love!

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for our 13th stunning cover design! (You’re fabulous, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com 

If you would like to be a part of our ARC team and receive a free book we will have details in the next post!

Next HORROR Submissions Deadline - 8/25/25

Did you think we were stopping? Don't be paranoid. 

We’ve been a little quiet lately since we are working behind the scenes on our 13^th anthology Shades of Workplace Romance which will launch in early July!

Love takes work so why not find love at work?

 

And not to stop a good thing, we wanted to announce our next open submission theme will be Paranoia Horror!

 

Anthology submissions due date Aug 25, 2025

Shades of Horrific Paranoia

Is there anything to truly fear? 

Send us your stories questioning reality. These stories involve an atmosphere of slow-building yet escalating unease exploring themes of fear, distrust, and psychological instability while creating tension through isolation, distrust, unreliable narration, existential dread, societal pressure, alienation, surveillance, and unseen threats—whether supernatural or psychological. 

• Horror can span apocalyptical, paranormal, serial killers, or ordinary people at their breaking points. 
• Characters can include paranormal, human, alien, etc while the time period can be past, contemporary, future, or anything in between.

SUBMIT TODAY!

NEXT ROMANCE SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE 2/23/25

 

Good news: 

The next theme deadline has been extended. Please spread the word. We want to read your work, so submit today!

 

Workplace Love submissions due February 23!

 

Love takes work so why not find love at work? Yes, workplace romance short stories! Explore complexities & challenges of finding love in contemporary urban professional settings where the workplace, business, or industry provides an extra layer to interact & develop relationships Email submissions: writevolumes@gmail.com

 

For more theme details and submission process please go here for more info: https://www.writevolumes.com/p/submit.html

 

Submission fee is FREE, and we pay in fully edited piece, gratitude, and community.

 

Please note next Horror theme will be provided soon, and that deadline will be August 25, 2025.

OCCULT DAY OCCULT BOOK $O.99 DEAL

For the rest of November, we’re lowering our Shades of Occult Horror ebook price from $4.99 to $.99! So, buy one for your friends, or enemies, today!

Shades of Occult and Horror Anthology

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLG26YC5

7 writers + 7 choices = 7 ways to hide & shriek

Remember what hides in the dark, doesn’t always stay there…

Synopsis: With an otherworldly focus you never know if myths, alchemy, or natural magic will help or harm. But you must make the choice yourself for you are in control of your fate… or are you?

 Please note, we’ve heard you and are working on the paperback for this book, too!

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for another stunning cover design! (You’re fantabulous, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com  

And if you could leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads we’d appreciate it!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200292065-shades-of-occult-and-horror

Spooky Reading Pics

 

With our new friends at Oak Park Art League (OPAL) we had a fabulous time at the spooky reading on October 19, 2024. Bryan and Phoebe worked tirelessly to create a scary good time at an all-day extravaganza. A haunted loft, intriguing artwork with an art fair, children’s games, even the house had a spooky feline makeover. There were many delicious treats including smores over a campfire!

 Margot McMahon, a member of OPAL and a Write Volumes’ author, read “Sorrows Whisper Still” found in Shades of Ghostly Horror.

• Margot’s work can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margot-McMahon/author/B0983X68KG

We’re grateful Write Volumes was invited to join OPAL for this terror-rific event. Thanks to all of those who attended. And if you couldn’t make it, maybe you can come next year!

For more info on OPAL and their mission to be a welcoming center of artistic inquiry, creative expression and more click here: https://www.oakparkartleague.org/

12^th ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH:

Shades of Ghostly Horror

6 authors + 6 stories to haunt you = What you’re dying to read!

Let the spirits move you!

Price will increase in November so grab your copy TODAY!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK8THWH9

Halloween Launch – Shades of Ghostly Horror Anthology

 Happy November!

While Halloween has passed, we have a treat for you!

 12^th ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH:

Thanks to our wonderful staff and the support from people like you, Write Volumes’ 12th anthology launched on 10/31/2024 with a special deal of $1.99 through November!

 

Shades of Ghostly Horror

• 6 authors + 6 stories to haunt you = What you’re dying to read!
• Let the spirits move you! 

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK8THWH9

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for another stunning cover design! (You’re incredible, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com 

 

Price will increase at the end of November so grab your copy TODAY!

Fall Festivals and Pictures!

 Happy October 2024!

 

It’s been busy not just for Write Volumes but our authors as well. I think it’s important to celebrate, not just our successes, but hard work in general. Regardless of the outcome, hard work is hard and, while we may not see the fruits of our labor as quickly as one hopes, we did the work and that is the main area under our control! (Sometimes it’s the only thing we can control… or is control an illusion?!!)

 

So, I thought you would enjoy:

• ·  Printer’s Row Festival with Fannie Price and Margot McMahon Pictures
• · Annette Cyr’s Art Show and Yale Women Talk Pictures

 

FESTIVAL PICS

 

Printers Row is a large outdoor book and writing festival in Chicago which took place first weekend in September. On Saturday Sept. 7, 2024, Write Volumes and a couple Write Volumes authors were in attendance at the Chicago Writers Association table.

Fannie Price and Margot McMahon engaging with readers and other writers while having fun!

 

You can find Fannie Price’s books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Fannie%20Price/author/B002YSQO4M

 

You can find Margot McMahon’s books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margot-McMahon/author/B0983X68KG

 

A big THANK YOU to all of those who stopped by. We appreciate your support!

 

ANNETTE CYR’S ART SHOW

In September 2024 Annette Cyr had an art show at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art. “24 Hours” is a multi-canvas painting. Each canvas is of the same motif, painted a different hour of the day and night, beginning with 1 AM in upper left corner, ending with 12 AM in bottom right.

“24 Hours” becomes a study of awareness and perception, time and change. At its heart, “24 Hours” questions our perceptions. What do we really see before the mind decides what must be there? “The true mystery is reality.” — Annette Cyr

 

“24 Hours” is an extension of Annette’s "Year of Light" painting series begun in 2020 during Covid times which Annette describes in her Shades of Positively Pandemic short story also called “Year of Light” which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

 You can find Annette Cyr’s story here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098RMFMGR/ 

 You can find Annette Cyr’s website here:

http://annettecyr.com

 Thank you for sharing your time with me!

COVER REVEAL AND $.99 PREORDER DEAL

We have been busy preparing anthology #11 for you. Shades of Adventures in Love launches September 30^th, and we have an e-book pre-order deal for you!

 

As a THANK YOU, the preorder e-book price is $.99 for a limited time.

In October the price will increase to $4.99 so grab your copy today!

 

Shades of Adventures in Love

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XRCYK

What comes first: the adventure or the romance?

4 authors + 4 heart-pounding adventures = Love the Journey

Book your ticket to love with Shades of Adventures In Love and enjoy the ride!

 

 

Thanks to @_1cupofjojo_for another stunning cover design! (You’re amazing, Jojo!!!) Check out her website: www.jhoselindominguez.com 

  

WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR REVIEW TEAM?

If you’d like a FREE ebook, we are looking for reviewers – including for this ROMANCE ebook. Let your voice be heard!

·         We’re always looking for free honest reviews (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, Twitter, social media etc)

·         Join the TEAM at the link and download the FREE book TODAY: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/792be3fe-7792-11ef-a8cf-5f4b85b36ae1

BANNED BOOK WEEK INFO

·         Banned Books Week 2024 runs from September 22 to 28, 2024.

·        It is a celebration of our love for the right to read and the liberation found in books. This year’s theme is “Freed Between the Lines.” They are asking people to take action on Let Freedom Read Day, September 28, 2024! 

    If you’re interested, ideas on what to do if you have 5 minutes or more, can be found on this page: https://bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-read-day/

     Thank you for sharing your time with me!

 

You’ve Spoken: 2024 - 2025 Submissions Topics and Deadlines

 Happy Summer!

Who says democracy doesn't work? Your votes have been tallied and below are the themes you chose. 

FIRST TOPIC:

Anthology submissions due date Aug 25, 2024

Shades of Ghostly Horror

Who’s afraid of some ghosts?

Send us your stories of the corporeally challenged. These stories can involve insubstantial to realistic lifelike person/ animal forms which can haunt a person/ place/ object. Whether they are void of humanity or emotional concepts representing complex psychological experiences, let the spirit move you to relay tales of their exploits. Is there a chill in the air? Or is that simply a group of ghosts? Either way, it should be a phantasmic spooky time. Horror can range from apocalyptical, paranormal, or serial killers. Characters can include paranormal, human, alien etc while time period can be past, contemporary, future or anything in between.

SECOND TOPIC:

Anthology submissions due date January 31, 2025

Shades of Workplace Love

Love takes work so why not find love at work?

Send us your workplace romance short stories! Explore complexities & challenges of finding love in contemporary urban professional settings where the workplace, business, or industry provides an extra layer to interact & develop relationships (from high-pressure/ deadlines/ competition adding tension or relaxed/ casual environment allowing more time) with possible ethical concerns, power imbalances/ dynamics, career advancement, gossip/ rumors, and societal norms impacting the personal life to provide a compelling, relatable story with a satisfying happily ever after (HEA)/ happy for now (HFN) end. Characters can include paranormal, human, alien etc.

PLUS Shades of Adventures in Love is on the way. It will be a summer release so more news will be coming soon.

Now that you know, you can enjoy your summer and look forward to more Write Volumes!

Special Horror Update

 Special Horror Anthology Edition

 Our 10^th anthology, Shades of Occult and Horror is Available for preorder today!

It will be live on Halloween 10/31!

 

Shades of Occult and Horror Anthology (#10)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLG26YC5

 

7 writers + 7 choices = 7 ways to hide & shriek

Remember what hides in the dark, doesn’t always stay there…

Synopsis: With an otherworldly focus you never know if myths, alchemy, or natural magic will help or harm. But you must make the choice yourself for you are in control of your fate… or are you?

• Also note the amazing cover was created by Jojo Dominguez
• You can find her on Instagram _1cupofjojo

If you want a FREE ebook, we are looking for reviewers so contact me!

·        We’re always looking for free honest reviews (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, Twitter, social media etc)

Below is the Write Volumes Horror Collection

 

Shades of Fantastic Horror Anthology (#8)

• 9 authors + 9 killer imaginations = 9 terror-rific stories
• Available to read today! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGRKXP4F

Synopsis: Let your imagination run wild but don’t be surprised if it starts screaming too. Nothing twists fantasy better than horror. In this dark fantasy horror collection, we’ll send you to another world screaming in terror or scare you with the magic in this one.

Just because it's imaginary, doesn’t mean it'll let you go.

Shades of Horrific Humor Anthology (#5)

• 9 authors + 6 wicked senses of humor = 6 stories that slay
• Available to read today! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXF2Y3D

Synopsis: Find the brighter side of bad, the lighter side of horror, and the terrible side of funny. Write Volumes is adding shades of humor into horror, with 6 new short stories. Some stories have supernatural touches, while others have ordinary terrors. Yet all will bring a grin or a groan as you try not to die laughing. These frightfully funny stories will have you chuckle as you hide under the covers with the lights on… 

Just because you laugh, doesn’t mean you’re safe.

Shades of Horror and Strangeness Anthology (#1)

• 15 writers +15 stories =15 ways to scream 
• Available to read today! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YN6K1D

Synopsis: Don’t read this collection of short stories if you don’t enjoy jumping at every sound or looking over your shoulder from now on. With 15 different short story authors, Write Volumes is bringing the color back to horror. From potentially world ending to life altering individual short stories, view the many shades of fear but don’t say we didn’t warn you. Adults only and beware, the scare can be for real… and lasting.

Read if you dare…

Independence Day Wishes and the Freedom to Submit

 

Hope you had a happy Independence Day!

 

What is freedom to you? We are giving you the freedom to submit to us. If you always wanted to write horror stories but don’t know where to start, there are some Horror Writing videos to help.

 

Horror Submissions due 8/1/23!!!

The next 2 themes and deadlines have been posted. Please spread the word. We want to read you work so submit today!

·         Occult horror submissions due Aug 1! It will be a scary good time.

·         Adventures in Love submissions due December 15! Love in action!

 

The next 2 themes and deadlines have been posted. Please spread the word Occult horror submissions due Aug 1

More info: https://www.writevolumes.com/p/submit.html

 

Shades of Occult and Horror

• Witches, rituals, and cults, oh my! We’re peering into the dark corners and then seeing what peers back. Will it be bizarre or supernatural? The devil may be in the details, or did you call the devil to you? With an otherworldly focus you never know if astrology, alchemy, or natural magic will help or harm. But you must make the choice yourself for you are in control of your fate… or are you? Send us your occult horror story, where you never know if breaking the rules will hurt or save you. But can anything save you from yourself? Characters can include paranormal, human, alien etc while time period can be past, contemporary, future or anything in between. But protagonists should choose to enter a hidden world (not be accidentally thrust into it), pay the price for entry, and are either redeemed by later making the ‘correct’ moral choice or damned by not. Choose to send us your short occult horror story today…

 

 

Horror Writing Tips and Tricks

 

#1 Horror Framework Basics

https://youtu.be/C0uY7yQ1kHg

 

What makes a horror story? Discover horror stories basic framework tricks & tips in our 1st video. Watch now if you dare.

 

#2 Horror Tone & Mood

https://youtu.be/nSGz207_l8Y

The chill is in the air or is it in your writing? Descend into Shades of Craft Horror Writing #2 horror mood & tone. Stop dreading the weather change and have fun writing your fears with us. Don’t be scared to watch it now at

 

#3 Horror incidents & Endings

https://youtu.be/v7AsdMZaYgk

How do horror stories end? The final Shades of Craft Horror Writing video #3 is horror incidents and endings. All good things come to an end including this pre-Halloween writing treat, but you can watch and learn these tricks &tips first!!!

 

Please comment if you have any questions and tips. 

Would love to hear what works for you.

Happy writing, happy reading, happy freedom.

 

Thank you!