An Anniversary Worth Celebrating

I still can't completely believe that this last Christmas Eve marks the fifteenth anniversary of my first book, Naughty List, being published. Its insane to think about how long ago that was, or how much has happened since. I've moved to two different states. I've bought multiple properties. I've had multiple evil day jobs. I've survived a global pandemic. And the biggest change of all, I've become a mom.

And the publishing world has changed almost as dramatically since that time too. When I first published we were in the golden age of ebooks, spurred on by Fifty Shades of Gray and the kindle explosion, epublishers and self-publishing were booming. People couldn't get enough spicy books. And I happily got to join along on that ride. I enjoyed the benefits of everyone falling in love with smut books at the same time as I was. It was a great time to be starting out. So many people were excited and eager to join in, to help, to support each other. 

Over time the industry has changed. Some changes I really love. I love all the different books that are out there. Back when I first started publishing, the big publishers were still in charge of what books were being published, even self-publishing. Not directly, but we were still all getting our cues from the big guys. We really believed to be successful, we had to stay in their box. But so many amazing authors have proven that's not true. I don't know anyone back in those early days that would have thought to write a book where the main character falls in love with a priest, or a planet of horned six foot tall blue men, but Sierra Simone and Ruby Dixon have shown us there is a home for any kind of book, if the characters are amazing and the writing fantastic.  

But on the downside of these changes, there are more demands on authors than ever before. No longer can being with a good publisher, and just having that shelf space in the bookstore or on the digital shelves be enough. You need to be everywhere, do everything, just on the chance that you'll find the readers that love you. Its made it harder for authors, and for readers. 

I used to buy everything that Samhain published, because I knew everyone of their books would be fantastic. Now it takes me more work to find the authors I love. But when I do, its the best feeling ever. And with social media it feels like the book world has become more segregated. I love booktok and bookstagram, but it can often wish I could see more of the book world. I'm convinced there are so many amazing books and authors out there that I would love, if the algorithm would just reveal them to me. 

But regardless, it is still an industry I am proud to be a part of. And always will be. No matter what difficulties might be thrown in its way, an industry for women by women always rises to the top. The romance world is always at the forefront. Learning new things, embracing new concepts, showing the publishing world how its done. I've never met a more hardworking, determined, fun, creative, amazing group of women than I have in the romance community.

My life also looks completely different now than it did back then, except for one thing. My love of reading and books has never left me. Even now, when I'm more sleep deprived than I've ever been before, I still find time to read. I still love books.  

And I can't wait to see what the next fifteen years will bring me. And this amazing industry. If the last fifteen years have taught me anything, its that I couldn't possibly predict all the changes, opportunities and excitement that will be coming our way. And that is fine with me

In Defense of Hallmark Movies

You would probably think I’m not the biggest fan of hallmark movies. As a super spicy writer, you’d probably think I have no interest in the squeaky clean hallmark channel. And you’re not completely wrong.

I don’t spend a lot of time watching hallmark movies. Especially with everything I have going on in my life these days. If I have a little free time, I’d much rather read a spicy book. Or enjoy some good old-fashioned reality tv, like Real Housewives or Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I do have issues with the paper thin characters they create, and lack of character growth. I can’t stand the romances that end with an engagement, when they’ve only known each other for one week and only had one kiss. I’m not saying they need to get down and dirty like my books, but a little more time together before committing their life together feels necessary to me.

But regardless of all these complaints about hallmark movies, I will happily defend them. I’ll battle to the end of the earth for people to give them their due. Because Hallmark movies are no different than the entire romance industry. They are media created by women, for women’s enjoyment, and should be taken seriously as that. 

It’s so easy to mock media for women. To make fun of hallmark movies for their sappiness, romance novels for their spice, reality tv for its constructed pretenses. But how is that any different than any other media. How is The Kardashian any more produced than Survivor or The Amazing Race. They both have producers that decided where they story should go, that encourage the participants to speak out or act a certain way. The only difference I see is that the Kardashian’s is almost entirely about women, where these other shows are not. How are hallmark movies any more tropey or over the top than wrestling, with their staged fights and over the top characters. Once again, it’s the viewers that are different. The participants that change.

And it is for that reason that I will defend hallmark movies every day, even though I don’t watch them much myself. Because media focused on women, and their desires deserves to be valued. To be seen as much a part of the landscape of our television as any other programming. 

So this season, if you want to watch some Hallmark to enjoy the magic of the season, go for it. Embrace what you enjoy. Don’t feel shame. Don’t degrade it. Don’t justify it. Just savor it. Because media developed for and enjoyed by women is rare, and that alone deserves to be celebrated. 

And if you’re looking for something a little spicier than a Hallmark movie, but still filled with all that Christmas cheer, take a look at my Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball series. It’s filled with all the same joy and a whole bunch of the hijinks—only every one of my ladies gets to take two men home for the holidays.

Every Day Should Be A Holiday--and Discounted to 99 cents

Almost fifteen years ago when I first started writing the Naughty Holiday List series I had no idea what I was doing. I'd read a bunch of what we now call smutty books (back then the more common term was erotic romance), I'd written one (Wandering off the Path, which would not be published for a few years after this series started) and I knew I had a fun idea with tons of possibilities. As a devoted romance reader, I knew I loved series, and that other readers did too. And that was about all the knowledge I had when I wrote the first book in this series. 

A good idea. A dream. Enough knowledge to be dangerous, but not enough to realize I had no clue what I was getting myself into. 

I read a submission request for Christmas stories, and the idea just came to me (this happens to me a lot), and I quickly wrote a fun little story featuring a girl, her four best friends, and the lists they all created to bring love into their lives. 

I had no clue if the first book would ever get published (which was published by Cobblestone Press titled Naughty List). I didn't know if anyone would read it. But I was still naive enough to think I could write a whole series of women finding the man of their dreams using lists. It was only after writing Naughty List that I decided all the characters would use their lists at different holidays. And in different ways. (I also thought I would write the whole series in one year, which I definitely didn't do. I had no idea back then how long it would take to not just write a book but five). 

When I started out I didn't even know what holidays would feature in these stories. I started with the big hits. Christmas. New Years Eve. Valentine's Day. All popular holidays, perfect for romance. And I found the perfect stories for those special days. But that all changed with Foolish Desire. None of the remaining popular holidays really worked for the story I wanted to tell for Amy. She was shy, scared, stuck in her own shell. Drinking green beer or watching fireworks wouldn't change any of that.

That's when I thought to try an untraditional holiday. The type of holiday that is rarely written about. And probably seen even less in romance novels. April Fool's Day. 

And that changed everything about this series. It opened up new and different holidays to explore. New possibilities, not just for this book but for the final book in the series, Dirty Work, which was set on Labor Day. Holidays that aren't know for their romance, but had so much great untapped potential. It might be one of the things I love most about this series.

Before writing this book I'd never read a April Fool's holiday romance, but even now, after writing my own, I don't know why I haven't seen more. If every day can be a romantic, why not April Fool's? And if a mix up with a Christmas email, or a Halloween costume, can be the beginning of a beautiful romance, why not an April Fool's Prank gone wrong? Which is exactly what happens to Amy and Will. 

April Fools offered so much potential for romance, especially romantic comedy. All the hijinks that could occur, all the misunderstandings that could take place and lead to so much more. Without the cheesy music, crowded restaurants, or family meddling of the other holidays.

Just thinking about it makes me want to write a whole new series. Filled with even more obscure holidays, and even more delicious romances. Or maybe one where they are all set on April Fools. The ideas are endless. Because everyday is a great day romance. 

And for the next three days, on the anniversary of its original release, Foolish Desire is only $0.99 on bookstrand.com. There was never a better time to pick up a romance set on an untraditional, but so appropriate holiday, than right now. And that is no joke.

Buy Link: https://www.bookstrand.com/foolish-desire

Blurb : Amy Spear has never felt special. She’s shy, awkward, and clumsy to boot. No one ever noticed her, especially not hunky guys like Will, except for maybe when she was tripping over her own feet. Until an April Fools' prank goes too far, and for the first time Amy is the center of Will’s interest, and she's rather liking the arrangement. But does he want all of her, or just the woman who likes getting naughty to an audience?

Will Long has always been a joke. And he never minded playing the jester to a tee, until he met Amy. She’s far too sweet, too innocent, too serious for a guy like him. But when his April Fools' prank shows him a whole new side of Amy, he can’t pretend to look away any longer. But can a fool like Will keep a girl like Amy? Or will he end up being the butt of his own joke?