The sometimes awkward life of a romance writer
Jan 28, 2024 10:30 pm
Have I ever told you about the time...
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Hello !
While I'm sitting here behind my desk writing Two Pucks, I have to remind myself that sometimes the romance writing life isn't so sedate. Sometimes I do get out (though not much lately).
There was that time I met Malala's father...awkward! Malala is the Pakistani girl who got shot by the Taliban for going to her father's school and she won the Nobel Peace Prize at 17 years old.
Find out why that meeting was awkward and what it had to do with romance writing.
Check out the story below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
If you remember, last week I asked for suggestions about what kind of dog Lady--the pet in Two Pucks--should be.
A Big thank you to all of you who shared your dog recommendations, photos and stories with me!
I thoroughly enjoyed hearing all about your special pets. I loved the pics!! You all totally inspired me. Especially Debbie Weaver's labradoodle pictured here. ➜➜➜➜
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Join the Hockey Romance Book Club! See the details below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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This week's Sizzling Snippet
🔥🔥🔥 *adult audience only* 🔥🔥🔥is an excerpt from Some Girls Like It Cold.
Check out the 🔥 snippet below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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At SQ's House
The highlight of the week was going to book club because we read a book that was universally enjoyed. Here's the book. ➜➜➜➜
Turns out Marjorie was the richest lady in the world, had 4 husbands and ran the company her father started--General Mills!
Usually we're lucky if half the people enjoy the chosen book of the month! Lol
I don't know about yours, but at my book club people are not shy about sharing their real opinions! It's a loud vocal and fun group! ❤️
My diet/exercise, you ask?
I'm stuck at 8 lbs lost since I started tracking my weight loss months ago!
That must be some kind of accomplishment--for consistency. Right?
Didn't do as well on the exercise this week other than going to Yoga and doing a morning stretch routine fairly regularly.
(For me that means 6/7 days and I call it a win!)
Next week... I double swear I'm going back to the Gym!
How about your week? Feel free to drop me a note. I especially enjoy your pics!
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If you enjoy talking books with like-minded romance lovers, and especially if you enjoy sports or my books, I would love to have you join my group. I share exclusive looks at covers-in-progress and you can join my ARC team there.
Getting to know the members of my group personally is everything! 💜
➜➜Join the SQ Team on Facebook Here
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Awkward Moment from the Life of a Romance Author
You might remember Malala Yousafzai--she's the Pakistani girl who got shot by the Taliban for going to her father's school and won the Nobel Peace Prize at 17 years old for her work as a human rights activist.
I was at a women's leadership conference in Dublin a few years back--another story about how I got there--and Malala was one of the speakers, but she was teleconferenced in on a big screen because she was at school in London.
She looked surprisingly good for a girl who'd been shot in the head, and very well spoken.
But because she was remote, they recruited her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai
to attend the conference in person, I guess as a substitute.
Turns out he had a pretty heroic story himself as her father and running a school for girls in pakistan against the Taliban's laws and Pakistani customs. There was a cocktail reception after the conference program and there he was, standing near the bar talking to one person who I knew.
I said to myself I'd love to meet him. He's the most interesting person in the room. But my natural reserve held me back. For a minute.
Then I told myself to go for it. And I listened. So I walked up to the man, figuring what's the worst that could happen? and introduced myself.
He greeted me with a big smile and I found myself having a conversation with one of the nicest men I've ever met. I wanted to ask him about his life and his book, but he kept asking about me!
So I had to confess that I was a writer and he was thrilled to talk writing. Of course, he inevitably asked me what I wrote. Uh oh.
Now you have to understand, Pakistan isn't exactly noted for their liberal views on romance and male-female relationships in general, so I was very hesitant to talk about my books.
But he was so genuine and persistent in asking, that I told him. "I write romance, but of course my audience is women, nothing you'd be interested in."
Sigh.
He insisted he was interested and coaxed me to tell him my pen name. Now we're getting into dangerous territory and I tried to deflect the conversation. I told him I wanted to read his book.
That was a mistake. Because he was genuinely flattered and then insisted he was going to buy one of my books! Eek.
"No, you don't have to. My books are romance books for woman you might not--"
He couldn't be stopped and took out his phone to look me up on Amazon while I looked around for escape. Awkward.
I tried to warn him. I couldn't stop him. What was I supposed to do? Tell him no, you can't read my books because they're full of sex and swearing and you might be shocked and appalled?
Well, I guess I could have said that, but I didn't.
As much as I enjoyed meeting Mr. Yousafzai and as truly lovely a person he was, I was very glad I would never see the man again.
Just imagining him reading one of my steamy books makes me cringe to this day.
It's worse than the scenario where you imagine your grandma reading your steamy romance.
I only hope Mr. Yousafzai isn't too easily shocked--or at least that he has a good strong and tolerant heart.❤️
Stay tuned for more moments, awkward and otherwise, from the life of a romance author...
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My favorite review of the week!
"a fun story... who doesn’t love a Cinderella tale?... a feel good story with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you wondering where it is going next. It even has a “fairy grandmother”, I just loved it!"
Nancy Peach--Amazon reviewer
I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to leave reviews.💜
READ THE ONE TIMER FREE IN KU
for a limited time
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WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT!
🔥🔥Today's Sizzling Snippet 🔥🔥
Some Girls Like It Cold - a hockey rom-com set
from The Do-Over Girl
Nash
"I…want you so much, but I can’t have you. You’re all wrong for me, Nash, like forbidden fruit.”
“What would you do with my fruit if you could have it?” My hand shakes as I hold the phone, fear and excitement mingling to bring me to the sharp edge of fucking delirious need.
“You know what I would do. I would lick your dick until you—”
I suck in a breath. Jesus fucking Christ. My mind explodes with memories playing like an endless reel of fucking porn, taunting me. I pump my hand as sweat breaks out everywhere on my body.
“Nash?”
“I’m okay.” My raspy voice trembles, proving me a liar.
“I’m not okay.” Her voice shakes. “I’m so worked up and confused. How can I want you so much when I shouldn’t?”
“How much do you want me, Kali?”
There’s a beat of silence, and my heart pounds so loud in my ears I’m afraid I won’t hear her answer.
“So much…that I’m soaking wet and swollen, thinking about you on the other side of my wall, not being able to touch you, wishing you could touch me.” I hear her breath catch.
Fuck. “I want to suck up every last drop of your...
Read the rest now.
Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON
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RELEASE DATE February 29th
TWO PUCKS
a fake relationship forced proximity accidental pregnancy billionaire hockey rom-com
What does a billionaire hockey player and a down and out dog walker have in common?
Nothing besides my dog--unless you count the sizzling attraction between us.
Which makes our arrangement to live together and carry off a fake relationship all the more ridiculous.
But I desperately need to appear like I'm settling down and Cherry needs a place to live, so my agent--under loud protest--goes along with the deal and writes up a contract.
It’s possibly the stupidest deal ever imagined according to my agent, but once it's done, Cherry and I are in bed together--literally--for the duration of the hockey season.
He insists on only one condition--once the season is over, we make a clean break.
No contact allowed.
Sounds good to me--right up until the moment Cherry drops a world-changing bomb on my head. Surprised? Maybe. Shocked? Getting closer.
More like mind exploding...
Now what?
PRE-ORDER NOW!
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Coming in May 2024
Tricky Puck - a fake fiancee hockey rom-com
Link
I'd never heard of a real life matchmaker before, but grandma insists on introducing me to one and makes sure it's really real when she tells me I'm her matchmaker's new client...
Normally, I'd do anything for grandma, but this is a big ask.
I'm not ready to settle down. Not even close. I'm only twenty-six and a rising star in the NHL - otherwise known as a chick-magnet.
After all the hard work and focus I've put in to get this far, I've barely begun to have fun. No way am I going along with the matchmaking plan.
Sure.
Fast forward to when my attitude changes real fast after grandma informs me her clock is ticking and her time's almost up.
And her dying wish is to see me settled down with a nice young woman.
Shit.
She goes on about babies, but my mind is spinning with the knowledge that I have no choice. I need to go along with this matchmaking deal for grandma.
Unless I can come up with a way to give her the comfort she wants, the illusion that I'm settled down--without actually settling down...
Pre-Order Now!
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More books for your reading pleasure
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The winter here is cold and the perfect time to get cozy with a book--or that's my go-to anyway. Enjoy whatever weather you're having and your favorite pastime.
It was fun to share one of my awkward romance author moments with you. I'd love to hear your thoughts and memorable stories from your life! 💜
Warmest Regards,