Hello dear ,

I was kind of shocked to realize that the last time I sat down to send you an email was almost a month ago. For the last three Saturdays mornings, I've sat down with my laptop and coffee but not felt any energy to tell stories. I've felt raw and sad to the bone about what people living in Ukraine are facing. I just cannot wrap my head around how a man and his army can have so much hatred in their hearts. It hurts mine.

But between spontaneous bouts of tears, I've been writing a novella for a charity anthology that is donating 100% of net proceeds to two charities: UNICEF-Ukraine and The Hunger Project.

All 19 authors in this anthology are forgoing their royalty shares for the three months the book will be available, so all the money from sales will support these two charities—because LOVE.

We need to show more of it.

We need the people of Ukraine to know our hearts break for them.

We need the families who are barely getting by to know we care and don't take our privilege for granted.

This is my small way to try to be a good citizen in a hurting world.

Let me tell you, it's both a challenge and a salve to write light romance when your heart is breaking. But that is what I hope I achieved in Her Seasoned Delivery, a later-in-life rom-com featuring a chef forced into retirement at 43 and a 39-year-old woman who wants kids and doesn't care if they come with a man snoring on the pillow beside her... in fact, she prefers to go it alone... or so she thinks.

Magdalena Stephens

All I had to do was make it through the last two months of my so-called ‘geriatric’ pregnancy and it would have been smooth sailing from there. Bedrest? That was not part of the IVF treatment contract. Nor was the clam smoothie craving that only one restaurant in the city could satisfy—but refused to blend for take-out or delivery. These twins are going to eat me alive before they even have birth certificates. 

Stirling Cox

Some kids are born with a silver spoon in their mouth—I was born with a silver spatula in my hand, the namesake of three generations of executive chefs in the only Michelin star-rated restaurant in Canada. But one lousy heart attack took that all away. Now I’m richer than Colonel Sanders with as much purpose in life as a broken wish bone. Until a gorgeous woman with a desperate desire for a secret recipe, and someone to make it for her, virtually lands in my lap.

Get all 19 stories and support 2 charities

Eat Your Heart Out 2 will be available on all the popular ebook platforms: Amazon, Kobo, Nook, Apple and a few others on April 1.

Pull up your chair and dig into a variety of drool-worthy stories! Whether you want to dip into something steamy, or nibble on something sweet, you'll find your perfect match amongst the pages. It doesn't matter whether you prefer your treats paranormal, contemporary or with a side of aliens, we have a dish for everyone.

Here are all the contributing authors—over half are USA Today bestsellers.

Skye MacKinnon, Laura Greenwood, Arizona Tape, Calista Jayne, Danika Bloom, Demelza Carlton, Erin Bedford, Gwyn McNamee, Christy Anderson, Jade Waltz, Jessalyn Jameson, K. R. Max, Lacey Carter Andersen, Linzi Basset, Margo Bond Collins, Mia Harlan, Rachel Everly, TB Mann, Zoey Indiana, Lexie Miers.

Want a free sample from the book?

If you'd like to get my story, Her Seasoned Delivery, for free, I can offer that to you in exchange for an honest review that you post on whatever platform you use to buy books, and/or Bookbub, and/or Goodreads. The review only has to be a line or two long.

Get your advance reader copy (ARC) from BookSprout.

If you don't have a BookSprout account, you will have to create one but the only email they'll send you is a reminder to upload your honest review on April 1st.

In other news...

The last time I wrote was the day of my darling husband's 60th birthday and his official first day of retirement. I have to admit that pre-covid, before he was forced to work from home starting in March 2020, I dreaded this noisy man being in my workplace (aka, the spare room off the living room) every day.

Happy to say, my fears were unwarranted. Since Mr. Bloom has retired, the house (and my office space) is even quieter then when he was working since he's spending more time in the yard and hiking with the dogs.

And... he's in the kitchen more! Gotta say, my man has perfected bread baking. If I was asked to make a list of the qualities of a perfect man, making me delicious food would be top the list. The number one spot!

Mr. Bloom may not be quite the chef that Stirling Cox is, but I have been known to moan in delight when he puts a bowl of his chicken stew or pork vindaloo or pea soup in my hands... yes, I have. Unabashedly.

I'm not the praying type, but I do hope that you are well—that your mental, emotional and physical health are all being fed with the kind of fuel that gives you hope and brings you joy, if even for a few minutes every day.

love & morelovestuff,

Danika

xo

Show your love by pre-ordering the Eat Your Heart Out anthology here.

Accept my love by downloading an ARC of Her Seasoned Delivery here.