Hello !

Since I last dropped into your inbox, I've spent my days imagining life as a botanist who is in love with a motivational speaker and a librarian in love with her best friend—who is secretly a romance author.

I love my job!

Like, I'd do it even if I wasn't being paid, which is a good thing since, when I did the math after filing my taxes last week, I calculated I make about $3.27 an hour. That's Canadian dollars! Eek!

But, since being a romance author is a relatively new path for me, I'm okay to live with that for awhile. Every new job I've done in my career has taken time to build.

Unlike Mr. Bloom. My man retired in February from the only career he ever had. He got a masters degree in a related field and had just one job before he was hired by the employer he spent twenty-eight years working for... the very thought makes me hyperventilate.

Me on the other hand? Well, aside from working for myself, I never stayed in a job for more than three years. Each one was a stepping stone to the next adventure. And even self-employed, each contract is an opportunity to do something new and different.

Police officer or nun?

In my high school, kids had to do career testing in grade 10. I don't remember the specifics of the actual tests, but I'll never forget the results since I actually wandered a few feet down both paths.

My results suggested that my personality would be best suited to either a police officer or a nun.

Now you have to understand that I am not Catholic. Never was. But my paternal grandmother, who helped raise me, was the grand-daughter, the daughter and the sister of Anglican church ministers. And since my dad opted out of service, my grandmother was delighted at the prospect of me following this path.

Like, thank the portrait of Pope John Paul II that she hung on the wall beside her television, kind of delight. I kid you not... Nonnie had Queen Elizabeth II looking down on her from one side and papal oversight on the other. I can't imagine what JP and Liz thought about her obsession with daytime soaps.

My dad was more inclined to support the idea that I might pursue a career in law enforcement, arranging for me to take flying lessons (a valuable skill for an RCMP officer in northern Canada, which I guess is where he saw me headed) and to take his rifle to a range to practice shooting.

I never did get my pilot's license; and shooting wasn't something I'd choose to do on weekends when the other option was to be hanging out with my best friend (our minister's son, no less!) playing backgammon and cribbage.

I am convinced that if I'd read best friend romance when I was a teen, I'd be married to that man today! Alas... romance novels were not be found in my house growing up.

After high school graduation, I spent a year in an all girls boarding school. My classes included one-on-one study, reading and analysing the King James bible. And what did this year away from home, living in a dorm with dozens of other young women and girls, teach me?

My biggest takeaway was that ...

When I'm forced to follow random rules that don't make sense, I rebel.

Big time.

So, for me to pursue a career enforcing either man-made laws or God's laws made as much sense as trying to become professional football player...

I have very narrow shoulders.

Forty years ago, I would never have guessed that writing romance would bring me so much joy. Heck, even ten years ago, this was not an option I'd considered. But I honestly can't imagine a better job at this stage in my life.

My colleagues—all the other romance authors I talk to daily—come to work soaked in the energy of love. What other job allows employees to talk in stupendous detail about sex without fear of a trip to HR and a pink slip?

My days are focused on match-making, taking the most unlikely couples and forcing them to smarten up and play nice. My personality traits, the ones that suggested I'd be a good police officer or nun, are probably pretty helpful in this part of the job!

My hours are spent inside the hearts of men and women (fine, imaginary men and women, but very real to me) who want the same thing we all do—to be seen, to be heard and to be loved for who they are, with all their quirks and wounds and silly behaviors.

I get to create the world in which everybody gets to have that.

No wonder I find stepping outside of my office into the real world so jarring... and why I always have a romance open on my e-reader! Last night I stayed up until 2 am, listening to an audio book by Christina Lauren—Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating.

I'd planned to sleep in, but a raft of at least twenty sea lions that have recently immigrated from California to the BC coast for mating decided to get amorous at 5:30 this morning... after ninety minutes of listening to their barking, I got up.

Love is in the air—and free on Amazon!

All of these book are by authors I enjoy. I'd love to know if you read any of these author, too. And if you don't... perfect chance to give one a try!

Romance authors love to give in others way too!

The charity anthology that I have a later-in-life romance in (Her Seasoned Delivery) has raised over $1,000 USD / £1,000 so far, to be split between Unicef Ukraine and The Hunger Project. We're shooting for $5,000 / £5,000.... we really need your support.

😍 The book is a beast with 1,117 pages and 19 stories...

🥳 It has a 4.7 star rating on Amazon.com because every story is fabulous...

🥰 It's just $4.99 and every penny of the royalties is going to charity.

😍 It's available on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Apple and more!

Please support Unicef Ukraine and The Hunger Project by buying a copy of Eat Your Heart Out 2.

Looking for a Mother's day gift?

One of my romance author friends, Lainey Davis, has put together a gorgeous gift box for the romance-reading mom, The Sweet Indulgence Collection.

Lainey partnered with local makers to curate a Pittsburgh-themed package to pamper any book-lover. This collection includes a signed copy of Sweet Distraction, book-themed tea, an exclusive bath bomb and lotion candle, and decadent chocolates.

This feel-good fiction, delicious diversions, and luxurious bath experience collection is valued at over $75. Shipped to your favorite mom's door (you are allowed to be your fave mom!) for only $50.

That's it from me, from the land of the lustful sea lions!

, I'd love to know if your career path was more like mine with a variety of jobs over the years, or like Mr. Bloom's, the guy who found his track and didn't stepped off until he retired!

I know I'll never retire. In part, because when you make $3.27 an hour you don't have money left-over to put into a retirement fund, but also because there is no no other way I'd rather spend my days.

if you don't feel like talking about your career, I'd love for you to write back, to say hello so I know I'm not writing into the void. Let me know what authors have been bringing you joy lately. That would bring me joy!

Be safe. Be happy. Be love.

love&stuff,

Danika

xo