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Denise M. Colby

Historical Romance Sweetened with Faith, Hope, & Love

  • Welcome
  • Meet Denise
  • Blog
  • My Books
    • Best-laid Plans Series
      • When Plans Go Awry
      • A Slight Change of Plans
      • No Plan At All
      • A Whole New Plan – Book 3 in the Best-laid Plans Series
    • Short and Sweet Compilations
      • The Short and Sweet of It
      • Short and Sweet’s Family Album
  • Old Schoolhouses
  • Marketing For Authors
    • Marketing for Authors Newsletter
    • Resources & Tools For Authors
    • A Slice of Orange
  • How To Start A Prayer Journal
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  • Focus Word For the Year
    • Flourish, Word of the Year, Highlights
    • Grow, Word of the Year, Highlights
    • Change, Word of the Year, Highlights
    • Courage, Word of the Year, Highlights

OC Romance Writers Meeting 3.11.23 Handouts

PDF of the presentation slides

10-Ways-to-Improve-SEODownload

Below are some handouts that were discussed during our meeting

On-Page-SEO-ChecklistDownload
CategoryTagsOrgHelpBlankDownload
Blog-SEO-Tracking Excel FileDownload

Blog posts about SEO – Additional content/support

Testing out Alt Text Example

Adding SEO with Book Reviews

Custom URL and How To Make One

Using a Blog SEO Checklist to Streamline Your Blog Post

Bible Verse 1 Corinthians 13:7 written over a photo of a ranch entry with wood and dirt path

Bert the Rooster in When Plans Go Awry drawn by Kyle Colby

Meet Bert the rooster in When Plans Go Awry

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ACFW - American Christian Fiction Writers
Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers Online Group
Orange County Romance Writers Group

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This page in my bullet journal makes me smile! I c This page in my bullet journal makes me smile! I can't believe I've been choosing a focus word for over ten years now! Of course I need to add this years word in. One of the things I never expected was how each word has built on the one before it. Like an onion - there are many layers to how God is molding and shaping me. And even though this was originally a way for me to encourage myself in my writing (when I started in 2015), it has been very life-affirming in all aspects of my life.
Join A Whole New Plan’s Book Launch Team. I’m Join A Whole New Plan’s Book Launch Team. I’m looking for a small group of people to read an early ARC copy, write and post a review on GoodReads, BookBub, or other book site, and post graphics sharing about the book launch. If interested, please fill out this google form. Limited spots available! https://forms.gle/hASxdSUEmPRBDHzj8
Limited time Christian Romance Sale through April Limited time Christian Romance Sale through April 11. https://books.bookfunnel.com/easter-christian-romance/p2zyi93vck
He is risen. Happy Easter. He is risen. Happy Easter.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 - to everything there is a season Ecclesiastes 3:1 - to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Have you gotten your FREE reader's guide yet? No s Have you gotten your FREE reader's guide yet? No signup, or anything. Just download for free. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/a8xu6rlf66 The Bookworm is an online reader's guide featuring wholesome Christian and Clean books from indie, small press, and traditional publishers. Over 100 books are featured in a variety of genres, including When Plans Go Awry. check it out today!
We’ve gathered an incredible collection of faith We’ve gathered an incredible collection of faith-filled stories to help you celebrate the season. For a limited time, you can fill your e-reader with these premium Christian Romance titles. https://books.bookfunnel.com/easter-christian-romance/p2zyi93vck
A Whole New Plan releases May 26, 2026. It is the A Whole New Plan releases May 26, 2026. It is the fourth book released in the Best-laid Plans series (the prequel was the 3rd book to be released). It is titled as Book 3 because it is the 3rd teacher's story in the timeline. Can't wait for you to read Will and Lydia's story.
I love how this series has come together. Each sto I love how this series has come together. Each story a stand alone book, yet sharing the same story world. This is the order based on the timeline. #bestlaidplans #historicalromance #westernhistoricalromance
I just received the galley proof for A Whole New P I just received the galley proof for A Whole New Plan. This is what authors use to do their final proof/read through. This is always a fun step to see the book formatted for the first time. Two more months till it’s released - May 26, 2026! 🥳🤩🎂
As I've mentioned before, my focus word this year As I've mentioned before, my focus word this year is balance. I found a bunch of cool quotes related to balance and wanted to share some with you. Do you have a favorite of these four?
The Bookworm is an online reader's guide featuring The Bookworm is an online reader's guide featuring wholesome Christian and Clean books from indie, small press, and traditional publishers. Over 100 books are featured in a variety of genres (including my book When Plans Go Awry). ​Download yours for free today​ - https://dl.bookfunnel.com/a8xu6rlf66
My daughter in law gave me this devotional for Chr My daughter in law gave me this devotional for Christmas. In this past week’s focus, the topic was heeding God’s calling. There were some interesting points that reminded me of this writing journey I’ve been on for the past fourteen years. My writing journey began because of God nudging me. I wasn’t a fiction writer. My grammar is atrocious (ask my editors). Math was my best subject in school. But I’ve always a reader. When I picked up reading fiction again, something called to me every time I finished a book, to write one myself. I pushed back for a long time before deciding to give it a try. And then? It was hard. A lot of work, learning, and figuring out how to do it and do it well. The thing is … God has been with me through it all. Giving me the words. The right people to walk alongside me. The perseverance to keep going. Oh I wanted to quit. Many times. But he wouldn’t let me. Or I was too stubborn to give up. I pushed through. Motivated to show my kids to never give up. Well the verses and the message in this study show that too. What’s interesting is I’ve picked this theme to write about in my first series. God has a plan for each one of my characters. But by themselves they can’t make it happen. They need to align with God, and when they do, it leads them into more than they ever thought possible. You can have that too. It won’t be easy. The challenges are what help us grow. Listen to the NUDGES Step out of your comfort zone Align with God continuously What God leads us to will be so much better than staying in our comfort zone. I wouldn’t change the journey at all. It’s made me a writer. But it’s also made me a better person. What has God been nudging you about this week? I felt nudged to share, and so I did.
A Whole New Plan releases in May. I'm in the middl A Whole New Plan releases in May. I'm in the middle of line edits right now and being reminded of all the little details I added into the story. Secrets. A Journal. Timepieces. There's a bit of history, a bit of mystery, some suspense, and a romance all mixed together. Can't wait for you to read Will and Lydia's story! also - I had fun putting this graphic together.
Congratulations @author_christina_rich on your new Congratulations @author_christina_rich on your new release. This is a wonderful story and I love how you deal with an aging loved one who struggles with their memory. Honored to be in the dedication. And I love the embossed sticker in my special copy! Highly recommend.
It's Cover Reveal time! 🎉🤩🥳 A Whole New It's Cover Reveal time! 🎉🤩🥳 A Whole New Plan releases May 26, 2026. Sometimes God’s best plan is the one we never expected. California, 1870. Pastor William Baker built his life on steady faith and safe choices, but the arrival of Lydia Spencer upends everything. Independent, outspoken, and hiding a limp from a recent injury, Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. And she has no interest in church—or in sharing her secrets. What Will doesn’t realize is that Lydia is a Pinkerton detective, undercover as a schoolteacher while tracking a dangerous crime boss. She’s determined to protect her friends in Washton… even if it means keeping her distance from the kind, steadfast pastor who sees too much. When strange thefts strike the ranch and a frightened boy appears with ties to their past, Will and Lydia are thrown together in a search for truth—and find themselves fighting not only for justice, but for a future neither had planned. Full of faith, mystery, and romance, A Whole New Plan weaves a story of healing hearts, unexpected love, and God’s perfect design. #coverreveal #historicalromance #christianfiction #nospiceromance
Keep voting in this next round! I need to be in th Keep voting in this next round! I need to be in the top 24 to make it to the final round - go here to vote by Feb 20th! https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/20451/
Ultimate Christian Romance Reader Giveaway Februar Ultimate Christian Romance Reader Giveaway February 16-20th, 2026 FaithBooks is excited to present their 6th bi-annual Christian Reader Ultimate Prize Giveaway! They've curated a special collection of some of their favorite Bookish gifts and Bible study accessories just for you. They have over $150 in gift cards and 60 paperback books to give away along with other fun prizes! If you love reading Christian romance, you won't want to miss this! The Grand Prize package includes $50 Amazon Giftcard 5 paperback books from FaithBooks authors Book swag A matcha Kindle Reader Plus, 9 or more other winners will receive various prize packs including Amazon Giftcards, journals, Bible highlighters, paperback books, book swag and more. The giveaway will be hosted at www.faithbooksromance.com/giveaway
Happy Release Day to my writing partner Kimberly K Happy Release Day to my writing partner Kimberly Keagan! I'm so happy Risky Business is now available for everyone to read. Risky Business, A Sweet Gilded Age Romance (Hearts on Display Book 3) An American heiress. A British barrister with a need for speed. And a London season destined for trouble. The last thing department store heiress Lena Dennison wants is to travel to London to meet the grandmother who snubbed her family for thirty years. But her youngest sister begs to go, and soon Lena is navigating British nobility’s social expectations—with Bron Jeffers, a handsome barrister and celebrated motorcar racer, assigned as her escort. When a string of mysterious incidents threatens Bron’s family, Lena is pulled into his world as his unlikely ally … and the one woman he can’t charm—or ignore. Risky Business is perfect for romance readers who love: • opposites attract • fish-out-of-water heroine • slow burn • found family • faith arc • English aristocracy • romantic-suspense lite • the Gilded Age and Victorian eras https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0G2KB9T39
For Christmas I gave my husband a local coffee sho For Christmas I gave my husband a local coffee shop guide, so we are starting to check out new locations. Those had books attached to the wall like wallpaper. I had to get a closer look. Be a fun place to bring the laptop and write. What do you think?
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