Rainbow Romance: Writing Steamy Scenes in LGBTQ+ Love Stories

Join us on Friday, February 21, at Lovestruck Books for Rainbow Romance: Writing Steamy Scenes in LGBTQ+ Love Stories.

M.A. Wardell, a LAMBDA Literary Award nominee, will share insights on writing spicy queer rom-coms with adult gay love stories featuring deeply flawed, yet lovable characters who find healing through love and connection.

USA Today bestselling author Xio Axelrod will discuss queer love stories including the editing and publishing of the Love is All books, an annual anthology that celebrates diverse love stories and happily-ever-afters for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Xio will also highlight her latest release, Girls with Bad Reputations.

Award-winning LGBTQ+ author Anna Burke will lead a discussion with both authors and take questions from the audience.

Tickets Include: Take home one of the following books after the event:

1. by M.A. Wardell (co-written with A.J Truman)
2. by Xio Axelrod

When purchasing your ticket, select which book you'd like to receive. If you'd like to add the second title, you can purchase it in-store at the event!

EVENT DETAILS:

• 6:30 PM: Doors Open, Welcome In!
  Arrive early to find a seat, grab a drink at the bar, and get ready to dive into a night of steamy romance!
• 7:00 PM: Romance on the Rainbow
  Join Anna Burke as she guides a lively conversation with Xio Axelrod and M.A. Wardell about the craft of writing steamy scenes in LGBTQ+ romance. Explore their featured titles and discover what makes these queer love stories sizzle! An opportunity for audience questions will be held at the end.
• 8:00 PM: Signatures & Snapping Pics
  Meet the authors, get your books signed, and snap a photo with your favorite writers!
• 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Shop the Shelves
  To cap off the night of bookish fun, shop the featured titles and exclusive merchandise at Lovestruck Books.

Tickets are limited, so don’t wait!
If the event sells out, you can add yourself to our waitlist. If any spots become available, you'll have 24 hours to register before we offer them to the next person. All ticket sales are final purchase. Refunds are not offered.

ABOUT M.A. WARDELL
Writing as M.A. Wardell, LAMBDA Literary Award nominee Matt writes spicy queer rom-coms.

His goal is to tell adult gay love stories with a diverse representation of flawed and damaged characters who find healing through love.

Matt loves rom-coms and has always wished for better representation, so he's writing the stories he wishes existed. The queer men in his stories are flawed and messy. Helping them find their HEA is Matt's passion.

ABOUT MARSHMALLOW MOUNTAIN
What’s worse than being snowed in with your ex? Nothing.

Marshall (Data) and Marshall (Marsh) couldn’t have been more different—Data was all about spreadsheets, Marsh was chaos personified—but for eight years, they were in love. Then Marsh ended things with a flimsy excuse.

Six months later, Data gets a text from Marsh: they need to clean out their cabin in Maine. Data agrees to one last weekend with the man who broke his heart.

Marsh regrets never living up to Data’s expectations and wants to let go of their shared past. But when a snowstorm traps them in the cabin, old feelings resurface, and they’re forced to confront their breakup—and the sizzling chemistry still between them.

Can they make it through the storm and find a second chance, or will they be stuck on Marshmallow Mountain forever?

ABOUT XIO AXELROD
Xio Axelrod [she/her] is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary fiction and romance. Growing up in the music industry, Xio began her recording career at a young age. Her experiences bring a lyrical quality to her writing and vibrancy to her characters, offering a unique perspective that adds depth and authenticity to the worlds she creates.

Xio’s award-winning novels have earned both critical acclaim and a passionate readership. Her Lillys series, including The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes and Girls with Bad Reputations, explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The “Lillyverse” extends beyond the books with merchandising, music, and art that her readers can enjoy.

A completely unapologetic, badge-wearing, fic-writing fangirl, Xio actively connects with her readers through social media, fostering a dedicated and supportive community. Xio is also a passionate advocate for various causes, including human rights issues and mental health awareness, and that is reflected in her stories.

ABOUT GIRLS WITH BAD REPUTATIONS
The second book in THE LILLYS series. Kayla Whitman spent her life being told to be quiet, calm, and small—until she picked up a pair of drumsticks and joined an up-and-coming rock band. Now, with her band on their first tour, the pressure to balance her past and present is overwhelming. Finding comfort in quiet tour bus driver Ty Baldwin, Kayla feels a deep connection, but as the press begins to scrutinize their every move, she’s faced with an impossible choice: pursue her dream and risk everything, or give up on who she’s meant to be.

ABOUT ANNA BURKE 
Anna Burke lives in Massachusetts with her wife and their assorted animal friends. She is the award-winning author of the Compass Rose series, the Seal Cove Romance series, and several fairy tale retellings. Her most recent work is In the Roses of Pieria. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found walking in the woods, teaching creative writing, or drinking too much tea, which she prefers hot and strong—just like her protagonists.

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PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Your presence at the Lovestruck Books event acknowledges that you have been informed of the potential to be documented as part of a video or photo release, and that you grant permission for your likeness to be included in publication of any footage.

Host or Publisher Lovestruck Books