(There's no story here, just an author's note. Proceed to Chapter 2 if this doesn't interest you. You won't miss out on anything.)

A Labor of Love

Kiss #0

"A Shower of Kisses" began in August 2007, as an attempt to practice writing romance, a genre which I had never seriously attempted before. My love life was practically nonexistent, and I've always believed that good writing draws from personal experience. Maybe that's why writing these stories has been so challenging, and so colored by my own life's story. Perhaps I relate to Yoh, a young man who tries so hard to do right by the one he loves yet never seems to reap the rewards of his behavior. Perhaps, to a somewhat embittered person such as myself, every love interest seems like Anna – the unobtainable, intimidating woman of few words and fewer kind gestures. Whatever the reason, I found that I enjoyed the challenge of writing a genre I had never before explored.

Over ten years after its inception, this collection has grown to encompass over 35 stories. I've gained some life experience, and tried to filter my work through it. It might surprise you to learn that I, like many of the readers for whom I am so grateful, have my favorites too. It's clear to me that my writing style has changed over the years. Some of the older stories here don't feel like something I would write today. But that's part of the fun, at least for me.

I'm busier than I once was, and updates won't come with the monthly or weekly frequency that they once did. But I'll do my best to keep chugging away. I know that I owe it to you – the fans who have patiently waited for eight years for a new chapter – to continue my stories to the best of my ability. I humbly request that if you enjoyed a story or have any other feedback, please take a few minutes to pass that along. It'll make my day.

Ah, heck. A thousand reviews or none at all – thank you, every one of you, for reading. I always wanted to be a professional author, and although my vocation has diverged from that path, the dream lives on with each and every reader I'm lucky enough to get.

-"Kefra," December 5, 2020

Latest Updates

7/13/21 Kiss #40, "A Beachy Gathering"

1/8/21 Kiss #39, "Double Dribble"

12/12/20 Kiss #38, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"

12/5/20 Kiss #37, "A New Beginning"

12/3/12 Kiss #36, "The End"

1/31/12 Kiss #35, "Exorcism"

1/18/12 Kiss #0, "A Labor of Love" (Author's Note)

1/13/12 Kiss #34, "Restless Spirits"

7/17/11 Kiss #33, "Neatness Counts"

8/6/10 Kiss #32, "Valentine's Day Meltdown"

2/6/10 Kiss #31, "Punch Drunk"

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