Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Monica Goertzen Hertlein Character-driven fiction with a touch of spice. Author of romantic fiction, science fiction, romantasy, fantasy, speculative fiction, and historical romance novels. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://monicagh.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://monicagh.com/blog/) - Monica Goertzen Hertlein blog fiction novel writing, indie publishing, indie author, writing books, writing stories. - [The 80s are back!](https://monicagh.com/2026/04/the-80s-are-back/) - Latest novel by Monica is a romantic fiction set in 1980s Saskatoon - [Book's 7-year journey to publication](https://monicagh.com/2025/12/books-7-year-journey-to-publication/) - Romantasy science fiction novel from its genesis in November of 2018 to publication in November of 2025 - [Book birthday!](https://monicagh.com/2025/11/book-birthday/) - Romantic science fiction/fantasy debut novel first shipment of paperbacks held in author's hands. - [Happy Long Weekend](https://monicagh.com/2025/05/happy-long-weekend/) - Writing at the lake on May long weekend - [Yes, You Can Do Your Own Taxes](https://monicagh.com/2025/02/yes-you-can-do-your-own-taxes/) - File your own Canadian tax return using CRA-approved software - [Highs and Lows](https://monicagh.com/2024/12/highs-and-lows/) - Happy Winter Solstice! Writing life is ups and downs. From what I’ve heard, that never changes. Send a submission to a publisher, get ten rejections, then eventually (hopefully) an acceptance. Get five great reviews, then be devastated by a nasty review. I’ve had encouragements and setbacks since I began this writing journey, but the phenomenon - [On My Way to What I'd Dreamed Of](https://monicagh.com/2024/10/on-my-way-to-what-id-dreamed-of/) - During the weekend, I took a break from the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild annual conference to go for a walk (a break from crowded rooms full of people and a break from sitting). Walking in an unfamiliar city is tricky, because a block can separate commercial downtown with plenty of traffic from an unsafe area. But - [Happy Summer](https://monicagh.com/2024/08/585/) - Some people think mid-August is the end of summer. Maybe for teachers, facing back-to-work after 2 months off and parents of schoolchildren celebrating back-to-school shopping, but often for me summer vacation has been the last 2 weeks of August. It's a beautiful time at the lake. (Maybe less so when it's rainy and cool, but - [New Year 2024](https://monicagh.com/2024/01/new-year-2024/) - 2023 Year in Review - Goals Met; Looking Forward in 2024 - [NaNoWriMo Kick-off](https://monicagh.com/2023/11/happy-nanowrimo/) - National Novel Writing Month NaNoWriMo writing goals, target 50,000 words of a new novel in the month of November - [Choosing my Author Pen Name](https://monicagh.com/2023/06/choosing-my-author-pen-name/) - How did I choose my author pen name? Monica is my given name, but Goertzen and Hertlein are for my grandmothers. - [Writers of the Future](https://monicagh.com/2023/05/writers-of-the-future/) - I am thrilled to receive a Silver Honorable Mention in Quarter 1 of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future 40th year. - [Celebrating Rejection](https://monicagh.com/2023/02/celebrating-rejection/) - This month marks a milestone in my author journey: I received my first rejection! It was February 13 and not only did I receive a rejection, but it was a personal rejection with comments on my fantasy short story and an invitation to submit again. I was thrilled. As of February 26, I have collected - [Jeanne's Cakes](https://monicagh.com/2023/02/jeannes-cakes/) - Character-driven fiction with a touch of spice. Jeanne’s Cakes 2023 The Great Winnipeg Debate on Jeanne's Bakery - [Hot off the Press](https://monicagh.com/2024/05/hot-off-the-press/) - Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 8 Exciting news (for me): I received my author copy of S&S Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 8 with my story on page 85. This is the first paid story in a print book (also available as ebook) so holding it in my hands was a thrill. ## Pages - [Monica Goertzen Hertlein, Romantic Fiction Author](https://monicagh.com/) - Monica Goertzen Hertlein is a romantic fiction author of romantasy, science fiction books, fantasy stories, speculative fiction stories, and historical romance. - [Events](https://monicagh.com/events/) - Meet Monica Goertzen Hertlein, author, online and in-person for readings, book launches, and more for sci-fi romance and romantic fiction books. - [Hideaway](https://monicagh.com/books-by-monica/hideaway/) - Romantic science fiction western book from author Monica Goertzen Hertlein. - [Monica Goertzen Hertlein](https://monicagh.com/about/) - Biography of Monica Goertzen Hertlein, author of romantasy, sci fi romance books, fantasy stories, speculative fiction, and historical romance. Newsletters. - [Books](https://monicagh.com/books-by-monica/) - Books by Monica Goertzen Hertlein, science fiction romance novels by Monica Goertzen Hertlein, romantic women's fiction by Monica Goertzen Hertlein - [A Valley Girl Dilemma](https://monicagh.com/books-by-monica/a-valley-girl-dilemma/) - Romantic 1980s women's fiction novel by Monica Goertzen Hertlein set in Saskatoon. - [Star-Crossed Alliance](https://monicagh.com/books-by-monica/star-crossed-alliance/) - Romantasy science fiction book from author Monica Goertzen Hertlein. - [Women's Fiction Day 2026](https://monicagh.com/womens-fiction-day-2026/) - Special promotional offer ebook only 99₵ for Women's Fiction Day during June, 2026, for A Valley Girl Dilemma by Monica Goertzen Hertlein. - [The Cursed Coin](https://monicagh.com/books-2/the-cursed-coin/) - Short fantasy story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein in children's literature magazine Spaceports & Spidersilk. - [The Witch's Trial](https://monicagh.com/books-2/the-witchs-trial/) - Short fantasy story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein published in Anotherealm May, 2024. - [Swords & Sorceries Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 8 anthology](https://monicagh.com/books-2/swords-sorceries-tales-of-heroic-fantasy-volume-8/) - Fantasy stories in an anthology by Parallel Universe including Employment for Magical People by Monica Goertzen Hertlein. - [Search for the Any Key](https://monicagh.com/books-2/search-for-the-any-key/) - Science fiction dragon short story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein in a speculative fiction anthology. - [Illusion](https://monicagh.com/books-2/illusion/) - Flash fiction fantasy story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein with audio - [Evils of Sorcery](https://monicagh.com/books-2/evils-of-sorcery/) - Flash fiction fantasy story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein - [Short Stories](https://monicagh.com/books-2/) - Short romance stories, fantasy stories, and science fiction by Monica Goertzen Hertlein, fiction writer. - [Saskatoon Writers' Club Inc. anthologies](https://monicagh.com/books-2/swci/) - Anthology of short stories and poetry published by the Saskatoon Writers' Club Inc. including short stories by Monica Goertzen Hertlein. - [Get in Touch](https://monicagh.com/contact/) - Contact Monica Goertzen Hertlein, author of romantic science fiction, romantasy, fantasy, and historical romance. - [Tangent Romance](https://monicagh.com/books-2/tangent-romance/) - Flash fiction romance story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein in Micromance Magazine. - [Juniper](https://monicagh.com/books-2/juniper/) - Literary flash fiction story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein in The Best of CafeLit anthology 2025. - [Impulse - spicy romance anthology](https://monicagh.com/books-2/impulse-spicy-romance-anthology/) - Spicy romance short story by Monica Goertzen Hertlein set in 1920s Moose Jaw in a high heat romance anthology. - [Camelot Confidential](https://monicagh.com/home/camelot-confidential/) - Read online chapter one of Camelot Confidential, a romantic fiction novella by Monica Goertzen Hertlein. ## Categories - [General](https://monicagh.com/category/general/)