Living in New York
Life in New York City
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Behind the Scenes: My Secret Snowflake
I’m excited to take you behind the scenes of My Secret Snowflake. When I write a book, I like to write in the season in which it is set, and I really enjoyed doing all the holiday activities when writing My Secret Snowflake in December 2023.
Here’s the blurb:
Burned by love, Sebastian has sworn to remain single, but he may have just met his match.
Sebastian: I admit I’m attracted to my co-worker Iris—and not just because she was wearing glowing cat paw underwear. But even though she’s breached my first line of defense, I’m set in my Grinch ways. I need to prove myself—and dating my co-worker is definitely forbidden.Iris is the Secret Snowflake for her perfect man—who is definitely not Sebastian.
Iris: No more naughty heartthrobs for me. Catching my rock star ex cheating cured me. All I’m asking Santa for is my work bonus and a nice—dare I say boring?—guy. And that’s my Secret Snowflake recipient: Ernest. My plan: Befriend Sebastian, Ernest’s colleague, to figure out the perfect gift for Ernest to spark his interest. But now our company has been hacked, and secrets abound. I’m working around the clock to figure out who and why—with our aloof, but oh-so-attractive company counsel, Sebastian—before I get a stocking filled with coal for the holidays. The last thing I should also be trying to decipher is him. But then I get blamed.
When things are definitely not what they seem, sometimes it takes the light of the holidays to reveal the clues to love.Take a behind the scenes tour of New York City during the holiday season
Of course, I visited the Rockefeller tree, where Iris and Sebastian go ice skating as part of a company holiday party.
Thank you to Kat Paige for this photo from 2025. But I also went with a friend to see all the decorations in Dyker Heights. I highly recommend checking that neighborhood out if you’re in New York City for the holidays. Here are some photos from Dyker Heights in 2023:
This is the house of the woman who started it all:
Here are some other houses:
And me:
One house created a green wonderland, which you can see live in this YouTube video.
But of course, there’s also hot chocolate at a cafe:
Sebastian and Iris also shop for Secret Snowflake gifts for their colleagues and then end the day with Iris’s sister’s party at her family’s bar in the Lower East Side. Iris organizes a scavenger hunt for her sister’s guests, and one of the clue answers is this metal stag. Here’s a photo of the one in real life:
Iris runs with her brother around the Central Park reservoir, and here is a photo from Central Park in January 2024:
Remember, My Secret Snowflake is available from my website and a signed, personalized copy makes a great gift.
Click on the image above or below to visit kathystrobosbooks. Plus we have gift boxes with a theme of cat paws (IFYKYK):
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
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Behind the Scenes: Rock Star RomCom
I want to take you behind the scenes for my rock star, fake dating, frenemies-to-lovers romcom, My Rock Star Neighbor!
Here’s the blurb:
When a rock star and a reporter fake date to bury a scandal, will true love be the real story?
Nick: I do my best songwriting while playing my guitar on the fire escape. Unfortunately, my in-bed-at-ten next-door neighbor, Maddie, is not a fan of my music. She clambers out on the fire escape to yell at me about making “noise.” In bunny slippers, no less. But then she trips and falls into my arms. That photo of Maddie plastered all over me hits the papers, just as my dream recording company wants to sign my band. Which is a problem, because an obsessed fan is claiming that I’m her boyfriend and now the media is blowing up that I’m two-timing them both. Good-bye recording contract, unless…
Maddie: I’m supposed to cover the story. Not be the story! But when Nick begs me to fake date, I can’t resist the chance to be Nick’s girlfriend—even if fake—the opposite of my life as a city desk reporter. But my ex said I’m a terrible kisser, and there’s no way I want Mr. Hot Rock Star saying the same thing. Hence, clause 11 in our contract: There will be absolutely no physical contact.
Nick: When Maddie receives a threatening photo of the two of us with an X over her face, my desire to protect her suddenly feels all too real. It’s either a troll or her undercover investigation has been compromised. With both our careers at stake, is breaking up the only way to keep Maddie safe?
As you know, when I write a book, I try to walk around New York City and visit the places I describe in my book, although of course some places are fictional, like the Books & Banter cafe.
Here is a photo of the Sticky Rice Cafe which is near where Maddie and Nick live on the lower east side:
Here’s a photo from the neighborhood where Maddie’s office is located:
And here are some photos from the Chinese New Year parade that Maddie covers as a reporter, with Nick by her side:
It was raining that day. And in the book, I describe how the streets are pretty with the papers from the poppers:
And here’s the lion that guards the park near them:
Here’s a photo of rowboats on Central Park:
I hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes tour. You can also buy My Rock Star Neighbor directly from me:
I’m so excited for this release. Here’s a video of me discussing it:
I also had a great time meeting readers at the Brooklyn Book Festival! Here I am with our club president, author Katy Berritt!
Remember that you can always buy signed paperbacks with bookmarks directly from me at my little shop:
Hope you have a great week!
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New York City Holiday Bingo Card
I am excited to share my New York City Holiday Bingo Card that I made when writing My Secret Snowflake, a holiday, workplace romantic comedy set in New York City! You can also use it for an icebreaker at a party (find someone at the party who has done what is mentioned in the box and write their name down – first person to get names for all the boxes wins a prize).
Saw the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Sent Holiday Cards
Made Holiday Cookies
Is done with their holiday shopping
Saw the Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden.
Drank Hot Chocolate
Visited Gingerbread Lane at Chelsea Markets
Participated in a Secret Snowflake exchange
Went ice skating
Went caroling
Visited a holiday market
Went to Dyker Heights to see the Holiday displays
Saw the origami tree at the Museum of Natural History
Saw the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Visited Macy’s
Attended a holiday party with friends
Rode the Holiday Nostalgia train
Has not started their holiday shopping
Saw the holiday windows at at least one department store
Saw Lincoln Square’s Magical Lights
Wandered around neighborhoods admiring deocrations
Is buying books for holiday gifts
Went to a Menorah lighting
Will watch a holiday movie (It’s Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard etc.) or see a holiday performance (Nutcracker etc.)
Attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
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Let’s do a scavenger hunt with Kiara!
Let’s visit the MoMA with Kiara and see some of the art that she and Finn found as the answers to the clues in the scavenger hunt in A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts!
A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts – the novella
In A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, Kiara jumps at the chance to dress up as a teacup work of art and participate in a scavenger hunt at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to win her favorite artist’s painting. She pairs up with a stranger dressed as Rembrandt.
He may not know much about modern art, but he certainly knows how to make her heart beat.
The Scavenger Hunt
So let’s visit MoMA with Kiara and Finn and go on a scavenger hunt!
The first clue is: They did not always leave… Who is the artist? What is the painting showing?
The artist is Jacob Lawrence and it is showing flooding of crops. It explains that people left the South because floods ruined the crops.
The second clue is: Construction by Means of Color — A painting with a red ball flower. What’s the name of the painting and the artist?
The answer is: The Blue Window by Henri Matisse.
Another clue is: Planes of Color. Which painting has a different date on the reverse side? What is the name of the painting and the artist? What is the date on the reverse side?
The answer is: No. 5/No. 22 by Mark Rothko. 1949.
Another clue is: Pantyhose R.S.V.P. Who is the artist?
Senga Nengudi is the artist.
From my prior post with our November 2023 scavenger hunt, here’s a clue: A shimmery painting with pink using industrial materials. “The shimmering, reflective surface she created oxidized and eroded, becoming a kaleidoscopic mirror in which we glimpse fragments of ourselves and our surroundings.” Who is the artist?
The artist is: Tsuruko Yamazaki.
And we can’t forget that Kiara is dressed as a furry teacup. Here is the work of art that inspired her costume:
This is Object by Meret Oppenheim.
And Remember to Check Out My Reading of A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts – click on the image below for the link to the YouTube audio!
Let’s Talk
I hope you’ve enjoyed viewing some of the art work in this scavenger hunt. Who are some of your favorite artists?
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MoMA Scavenger Hunt 2023
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the publication of A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, I created a new MoMA scavenger hunt 2023 for my readers and my newsletter subscribers! I was amazed at how many pieces of art that were on view for my original scavenger hunt were no longer on exhibit. I held the unofficial scavenger hunt event yesterday at the MoMA.
November 2023 unofficial MoMA Scavenger Hunt
- SECOND FLOOR
- Spiral for Shared Dreams. What is the name of the Aztec Goddess for fresh water, childbirth and sensuality?
- Doors with Bats. When was this work created? What is the name of the artwork?
- THIRD FLOOR
- What was the size of Picasso’s Fontainebleau studio? What is the name of one piece of art he created there?
- A shimmery painting with pink using industrial materials. “The shimmering, reflective surface she created oxidized and eroded, becoming a kaleidoscopic mirror in which we glimpse fragments of ourselves and our surroundings.” Who is the artist?
- Flag. Who is the artist? How many stars?
- Soup cans. How many panels? Why soup cans?
- Dial A Poem. What poet read you a poem?
- 10/27/69. “The works’ tension and free fall—subject to forces beyond the artist’s control—paralleled the social turmoil of the time.” This is part of a series called the Drape paintings. What is the name of the artist?
- Go for a swim. Take a photo in this room of cut-outs.
- FOURTH FLOOR
- Fish. What is the date of creation?
- In A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, Kiara and Finn enter a room called Motion and Illumination. A video fills a large screen hanging from the ceiling, with a “flying train,” inviting the viewer into a twisting aerial view of a street from 1902. What country is this filmed in?
- Pines and Rocks. When did MoMA acquire this work?
- An artist known for colorful paintings (sometimes with cows in them) who interweaves many of the visual elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Symbolism and Surrealism. What is the name of one of his paintings with a cow in it?
- Henri Matisse. Construction by Means of Color. A painting with a red ball flower. What’s the name of the painting?
- A bicycle wheel. Who is the artist? What is the date?
- Charlie Chaplin becomes a cog in this machine. What is the name of the film?
- Hotel Sauce Pots. What’s the name of the hotel?
- In what room are the water lilies?
- Luncheon in Fur. What is the actual name of this artwork and artist? What is the date of creation?
- They did not always leave . . . Who is the artist? What is the painting showing? What painting is underneath it?
- FIFTH FLOOR
- OOF. What colors are in this painting? What is the year of creation?
- ***Which of the above works of art are mentioned in A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts?***
Thank you so much for participating in this unofficial scavenger hunt to celebrate the publication of A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts! It made me so happy to try this out for real 😊
A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts Read Aloud by Author
My author reading of Chapters One and Two of A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts is now up on YouTube! I will release a new chapter every week.
Let’s Talk
Who are some of your favorite artists? I hope you have a wonderful November!
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Go on a date with Love Is an Art
Go on a date with Love Is an Art! The paperback is now out on Amazon!
Here’s the blurb:
He hates lawyers. So I’m a lawyer pretending to be an artist. Forgetting one tiny detail: I can’t paint.
Tessa: There’s something about the way the blond guy laughs and leans in to listen. My gaze keeps returning to him. The only problem is, we’re at an art gallery after work, and I’ve swapped my lawyer suit for a paint-splattered shirt. I’m pretending to be a struggling artist, acting as bait to entice a scammer who conned my friend out of thousands of dollars.
I look pathetic. But still, I approach Hot Guy.
Our glances meet, and an awareness shimmers across. He offers to buy me a drink–we’re definitely flirting–and then he asks me what I do.
Just when Scammer Guy is in earshot.
I have no choice but to say I’m an artist. I can tell Hot Guy later I’m not.
But then he says he hates lawyers. Now what?
Zeke: She’s the worst artist I’ve ever seen.
And I hate that that makes me suspect that she’s lying to me. After my ex-girlfriend cheated on me, trust is in short supply.
She makes me laugh, and it’s one adventure after another with her. Definitely different from my workaholic lawyer ex.
Maybe it’s time to give love a second chance.
All is fair in love and litigation, but when truth and deception clash, can you trust your heart?
I’d like to take you on a date with Tessa and Zeke in Brooklyn.
Go on a Date with Tessa and Zeke in Love Is an Art
Zeke and Tessa have their first date in DUMBO, Brooklyn. DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. That’s the Manhattan Bridge framed by the buildings.
Then Zeke and Tessa walk down to the waterfront and see this pathway, which has such a beachy feel.
And indeed it leads to beach down by the East River.
From there, let’s head back to the restaurants. Look at that beautiful Dutch architecture. I just love the rounded windows.
And walk up to rooftop of this building. There are more restaurants up top here so Zeke and Tessa grab dinner. Here’s a view out one of the windows.
Here’s one last view to leave you with! But the date continues now with a bike ride. And much more.
Thank you!
Thank you so much to all the readers, reviewers and bloggers who have already left such positive reviews of LOVE IS AN ART. I can’t wait for you to meet Tessa and Zeke!
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She loves her community garden. He wants to bulldoze it.
The short tagline for my next book, My Book Boyfriend, is: “She loves her community garden; He wants to bulldoze it for housing. When feelings grow, will they blossom or turn to rubble?”
A laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers, feel-good romantic comedy! It releases August 10. It will be on sale for 99 cents for August, and then the price will increase to $2.99.
(Thank you to my critique partner, Giulia Skye, for the short blurb, and I highly recommend her books.)
Conflict
In this book, I finally had my two love interests in direct conflict, as recommended by several classes on writing romance. As Linnea Sinclair says in her classes, “conflict is two dogs, one bone.” (I’m excited to take her upcoming classes this August and September.) It certainly makes writing that enemies-to-lovers snappy banter easier. But I have a hard time making them enemies such that they truly hate each other. I still think that the absolute best enemies-to-lovers is Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.
She Loves Her Community Garden
Community Gardens in New York City – the Elizabeth Street Garden
As a result, I researched community gardens in New York City. The website of the Elizabeth Street Garden in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City was particularly helpful. Here are some pictures of this lovely garden that is under the threat of demolishment.
We may have had too much fun blurring faces. 
No, the park was not filled with headless zombies! 
This article was also incredibly interesting and full of information: https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/07/us/elizabeth-street-garden-nyc-development-ctrp/index.html
If you read My Book Boyfriend, I think you will recognize many of Lily’s arguments for supporting the garden from the above article.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading all about how Lily loves her community garden and Rupert wants to bulldoze it!
Let’s Talk
What are you reading? What are you watching?
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The Bad Date in Partner Pursuit
And in honor of its e-book publishing anniversary, I want to share my bad date story that inspired Audrey’s bad date in Partner Pursuit (only I made it much worse in Partner Pursuit). Evil author chuckle. Someone once asked me what expertise I brought to writing romcoms, and I said that I was single for many years in New York City and I had quite a few bad dates.
In fact, the bad date in my first book, Partner Pursuit, was inspired by a real date.
The Inspiration for the Bad Date in Partner Pursuit
After meeting via a dating site, my date and I arranged to go for a bike ride around Central Park.
I thought this was pretty romantic—to go for a leisurely bike ride in the park and maybe stop for a picnic. So I dressed in a t-shirt and a skirt, and I wheeled out my blue hybrid bicycle with its basket.
But no.
As I was standing there at the entrance to the park, a guy approaches whose face looks remarkably like the photo of my date. But he’s wearing a full-body black Speedo outfit. Tight. With little left to the imagination.
His first line, after confirming my name, was “That doesn’t look like it goes very fast.”
Not compared to the racing bike he brought.
He wanted to race around Central Park. Then he told me he liked to combine his workout with his dates to be efficient.
I wondered how successful this strategy was.
When we stopped at one point, he said he saw himself as a modern-day monk. I didn’t know what to say to this. What had I put in my profile that attracted a modern-day monk?
I went back and checked my profile to confirm that I’d written that I was social and outgoing. I had.
We did not have a second date. But I did get in my exercise for that day so there is something to be said for that.
Let’s Talk
Winnie, Eve and Audrey having brunch! Have you had any terrible first dates? And did you still have a second date?
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Caper Crush is Out in Paperback and E-book!!
Caper Crush in paperback! Caper Crush is out in paperback on Amazon and e-book!!! I am so happy. I LOVE this book so much! It will also be available in Barnes & Noble later this summer.
Here’s the blurb again:
A feel-good, opposites-attract, slow-burn romantic comedy
Somebody stole my painting! The one I need for the career-defining Vertex Art Exhibit. This upcoming art show is my chance to finally be recognized as an artist—after ten years of waitressing and being asked if I still have that “lovely painting hobby.”
I have mere weeks to find my painting or lose my artist dream forever—but it’s going to mean working with William.
William Haruki Matsumura. Good-looking, if you like the Secret Service type. You know, law-abiding, protector of women and children. That’s all fine, but I can never tell what he’s thinking. Which drives me crazy.
He insists on coming along to do “damage control.” As if “accidentally” wandering into certain areas is “breaking and entering.” I may be an emotional artist, but William shouldn’t dismiss my investigative skills yet.
William is definitely my opposite, and if there’s one takeaway from my parents’ divorce, it’s that opposites might attract, but it doesn’t last. But detecting with William is kind of fun—and fluttery. I definitely can’t trust these feelings, or can I? However this caper ends, I think this may be more than a crush.
Caper Crush is out in paperback and e-book now– and it’s getting great reviews!
“KATHY STROBOS ONLY WRITES THE BEST BOOKS POSSIBLE! GODD I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! A ROMCOM MYSTERY?!?! MY FAVORITE THING EVER”
– Maddison O (NetGalley)
“Caper Crush by Kathy Strobos is a delightful rom-com with a heavy dose of mystery. The story revolves around Miranda, whose piece has just been accepted into a major art show. But what will she do when her painting is stolen from the show, along with a painting that was worth a lot more? She’ll have to team up with handsome Japanese-American William, the nephew of her uncle’s partner. Can they figure out who stole the paintings?
Here is a hilarious excerpt from Chapter 1:
“Pushing up my fake glasses on my nose, I shuffle closer to the two other women to listen in on their conversation about the ultramarine abstract painting in front of them. I resist the urge to touch my straight, gray hair. I’ve learned that once I put on a wig, I shouldn’t touch it.
This art gallery is a square, white-walled room in Tribeca with paintings hung a foot apart, about twenty colorful pieces in total. Between the cold air-conditioning and the pops of color, I feel like I’ve stepped into the middle of a vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. Next to the entrance, the gallery owner sits behind a shiny, white-laminate counter, typing on her laptop. Two large paintings are spotlighted in the storefront windows. My ultramarine painting, unfortunately, didn’t merit that prime real estate.”
Overall, Caper Crush is a lovely blend of romance and mystery. One highlight of this book is how it features a Japanese-American male lead. I rarely see this in romance fiction, and as a reader of Asian descent, I am so happy to support this book. Another highlight of this book is the adorable opening. The main character dressed up as an old lady to get people to buy her art.” –– Leighton, Layton’s Book Reviews
“I adored Kathy Strobos’ Partner Pursuit debut and it’s follow up Is This For Real? In this third instalment in the New York based series featuring loosely connected friends, I loved how there was absolutely no formula to the connected stories. Caper Crush delves into the world of abstract art, and is a romance-tinged whodunnit story. Similarities include the strong backdrop and intimate knowledge of New York City, a deep dive into a topic (in this case the art world and lost artwork, detective-ing), and an awesomely entertaining read. This story had me hooked! ❤️”
– Donna of Read.athon2021 (Instagram)
“Kathy Strobos writes yet another excellent book filled with sweet, funny and laughable moments. Caper Crush hits all the right spots, and leaves you with a good feeling.”
-Julie of JSGoldenBooks (Instagram)
Thank you all. I am so happy with these reviews.
And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for my magnet releasing in late July.
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Blog Tour Continues!
The blog tour of Is This for Real? continues! It’s very exciting.
Blog Tour Reviews
Splashes Into Books gave their review in a poem that even rhymes! I am so impressed. Here’s a short excerpt:
The story is fun, with many parts that bring laughter
But is really a search for their happily ever after
Splashes into Books BlogAnd here are some more snippets from positive reviews, but check out the whole review at the ChickLitCentral blog:
Is This for Real? was funny and charming, particularly with the premise of Penelope and Rory’s friendship turned pseudo romantic relationship.
…
Is This for Real? reminded me of how tough it can be to put yourself out there, and how much you can gain (or sometimes lose) by doing so. It was an enjoyable experience, and a side note: I thought some of the subjects in the book were really interesting; I didn’t know much at all about miniatures before reading about them in this story, and even how that’s incorporated along with Penelope’s writing was pretty fascinating!
Sara of ChickLit CentralAlso check out this 5 star review from HTDK2002 Reads:
If you want to know what a feel-good rom-com is . . . this is it!
HTDK2002ReadsBlog Tour Interviews
If you want to hear more about my passion for making miniatures, check out this interview with Reading Tonic.
In Is This for Real?, Penelope makes miniatures to sell on Etsy as a way to support herself and she does dollhouse soap operas on Instagram. (I don’t do either of those, but I admire those who do. It takes so much patience and skill.)
I also have an author interview with B for Book Review with questions like who would I like to interview and how do I do my research.
Partner Pursuit is a Quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Competition
Partner Pursuit is a Quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Cinematic Book Writing Competition. So thrilled!
Giveaway
And don’t forget to sign up to my newsletter for a chance to win these miniature tulips on February 8. I will pick one winner from my newsletter subscribers:
Let’s Talk
I am so thankful to Rachel’s Random Resources and all the bloggers and bookstagrammars on the Is This for Real? Blog Tour! Thank you!
I hope you are doing well. What are you reading or watching?