• Happy Valentine’s Day

    Happy Valentine’s Day! Is This for Real?, my fake dating, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, is on sale for 99 cents! It was picked for an Apple, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble promotion!

    Here’s the blurb:

    Love is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Usually, me. I admit it. I’m a relationship recluse. Ironic, given that I write romantic comedies. So, I’m on a sabbatical from dating.

    Which is why fake dating my best friend, Rory, is foolproof. Rory suggested it because he needed a date for work functions. And I can use our experiences as fodder for my romcom novel. Plus, my sister doesn’t know it’s not real and she is thrilled that I’m not walling myself off emotionally. Her words, not mine. But I do wish she would stop saying that she always suspected there was something more between me and Rory. She should realize that we’ve been friends forever so I’m immune to his appeal. 

    We would never work. Rory is such a romantic; he still believes in that perfect love similar to his parents’ marriage. My parents fought bitterly. So, we are better off as friends. I can’t risk losing our friendship, even if this might be my chance—before his ex-girlfriend wins him back.  

    Those flickers of attraction? Easily extinguished by cold-water reality, like a two-mile hike in drenching rain over sand with wheelie luggage. 

    But our relationship is not sticking to the plot—or is it?

    #

    When I was on a blog tour for Is This for Real?, one blogger asked who would I cast for Penelope if Is This for Real? was made into a movie. My answer was: I think Lucy Hale would make a great Penelope. If you’ve read it, who would you cast as Penelope or Rory?

    Some Movies to Watch for a Happy Valentine’s Day

    Love to Hate You promotional poster

    I really enjoyed two recent movies/TV series: LOVE TO HATE YOU (Netflix) and SHOTGUN WEDDING (Amazon). LOVE TO HATE YOU is a Korean drama about a man who thinks women just marry for money, and a woman who thinks men just use women and hates the patriarchal double standard. I completely binged the latter. It was so good. SHOTGUN WEDDING is about a couple having a destination wedding when their wedding is invaded by pirates!!

    Some Book Recommendations for a Happy Valentine’s Day

    For YA romantic comedies, I absolutely loved Lynn Painter’s Better than the Movies. It is a perfect YA romantic comedy.

    For adult romantic comedies, I recommend ,of course, Is This for Real? or any of my other books. Lol. I plan to read my current draft WIP and Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter. I’m excited!

    And if you’re having a Galentine’s Day celebration, I highly recommend The Girl’s Guide to Fishing and Hunting by Melissa Banks, which is on sale for $1.99. It’s one of my favorites.

    Writer Plans for a Happy Valentine’s Day?

    The Romantic Novelists Association in the UK is having a FREE Mini Virtual LitFest tomorrow on Facebook (and one session on Instagram). The sessions are as follows (in UK time):

    10am-11am Respect RomFic

    11am-12 noon What Publishers/Editors want

    12-1pm The Key to Writing Bestselling Romance

    2pm-3pm Research and Writing Historical Fiction

    3pm-4pm Being a Hybrid Author (Instagram @romanticnovelists)

    4pm -5pm Editing Session with Hayley Milliman ( ProWritingAid)

    Here’s a link to the RNA Facebook page.: https://www.facebook.com/Romantic.Novelists.Association

    Thank you!

    Thank you to every reader, librarian, media reviewer, blogger, literary festival, influencer and champion of love stories. As a writer of Romance, I’m proud to support the #RespectRomFic Movement. Happy Valentine’s Day!

  • Cover Reveal: Is This for Real?

    Is This for Real? cover

    It’s time for the Cover Reveal for my second book, Is This for Real? It’s fake dating and friends-to-lovers and dogs and dollhouse miniatures! My cover was again designed by Lucy of Cover Ever After.

    Is This for Real? Cover and Blurb Reveal

    Here’s the blurb:

    An opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, fake dating romantic comedy

    Love is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Usually me. I admit it, I’m a relationship-recluse. Ironic, given that I write romantic comedies. So, I’m on a sabbatical from dating.

    Which is why fake dating my best friend Rory is foolproof. Rory suggested it because he needed a date for work functions. And I can use our experiences as fodder for my romcom novel.

    Plus, my sister doesn’t know it’s not real and she is thrilled that I’m not walling myself off emotionally. Her words, not mine. But I do wish she would stop saying that she always suspected there was something more between me and Rory. She should realize that we’ve been friends forever so I’m immune to his appeal. 

    We would never work. Rory is such a romantic; he still believes in that perfect love similar to his parents’ marriage. My parents fought bitterly. So, we are better off as friends. I can’t risk losing our friendship, even if this might be my chance—before his ex-girlfriend wins him back.  

    Those flickers of attraction? Easily extinguished by cold water reality—like a two-mile hike in drenching rain over sand with wheelie luggage. 

    But our relationship is not sticking to the plot—or is it?

    The e-book is available for pre-order (releasing January 11, 2022) and the paperback will be for sale in December 2021.

    Blog Tour Interview with Julie of A Little Book Problem

    Today, I’m also chatting with Julie of A Little Book Problem. Here’s one of my favorite questions, but check out her blog for the rest of the interview.

    What is your favourite thing about being a member of the RNA? What do you think you have gained from membership?

    I have gained so much. First, my favorite thing is the friendships I have made. I made so many friends when I was at the RNA Conference in Leeds. That was an amazing experience. Everybody was so friendly. I went not knowing anybody.

    I met my now-critique partner Giulia Skye on the train to Leeds, and we immediately clicked as we discussed The Hating Game and the novels of Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Now we email each other weekly, and she is the one who encouraged me to indie-publish. But I’ve made a lot of friends at the RNA (also online via the Facebook groups). It is great being friends with other writers.

    Second, I think the critiques in the NWS are invaluable. 

    Third, I also enjoy the camaraderie, friendships and mentoring in the Facebook groups. 

    Also, the RNA Conference, the online classes and the magazine articles are really helpful. I had a 1-to-1 consultation for my Partner Pursuit blurb at the RNA conference this past summer.

    Let’s Talk

     I hope you are all doing well. I just watched two fun romantic comedies LOVE HARD (Netflix) and THE LAST CONCEPTION (Amazon). Have you seen them? Any books or movies you’d recommend?