Book Boyfriends - They do exist!

In my line of work I see a lot of men. A lot of men. That sounds misleading. I see a lot of images of men. 

All day long my Facebook news feed is one half-naked pretty man after the next. I'm not complaining, but I have wondered where in the hell these images are walking around in real life. Because it's not in my neighborhood.

But, with this current trend of 'bad boy' men covered in tattoos and rocking full beards - I have good news ladies. They are real and they're all hanging out in one place. I know this for a fact because I had dinner with all of them on Tuesday night.

For real.

The reason for my outing was to watch my brother perform. He's been a stand up comic for years, and after taking some time off, he was finally hitting the stage again. Needless to say, I didn't want to miss this.

My brother is exceptionally funny, if in a rather brutal fashion. He has perfected the art of making you laugh out loud while shaking your head mouthing the words 'that's fucked up' to yourself as tears of joy begin to stream from your eyes. He's twisty and dark and sick and damn funny while doing it.

So, there I was, ready for a night of laughs and good times. He'd warned me that some of his friends would be joining us and I'd spent a week mentally prepping myself for this (being uncomfortably shy and knowing that I'll spend all night wondering if I seem like a total bitch by not talking or making eye contact with anyone does tend to stress me out a bit). When I arrived however, he informed me that the party had grown substantially. We now had dinner reservations for twenty.

He would have called me to let me know ahead of time...but he wanted me to come, so he didn't.

Turns out, sitting down at the table with all of his friends wasn't half bad. And when I say half bad, I mean I was basically in current romance writer heaven with a surplus of future book boyfriends to choose from. Tall, tatted and bearded men sat all around me. Sanford, Ladies. That's where it's at.

So, I sat there, just taking it all in, watching and listening to this group of guys who have apparently become my brother's surrogate family over the last few years. They're good guys. Maybe even the kind of guys we write about (you can only tell so much from one dinner).

There were moments of conversation when the rose colored dream vision I was enjoying began to get a bit murky, primarily when it came time to examine the menu and order food.

"What's a shit-take mushroom? Anyone?"  Seriously.  

But then the best looking one in the bunch scowled at the idea of bowling and all my faith in real-life book boyfriends was restored in an instant.

So there you have it - the previously believed to be mythical bearded, tatted book boyfriend is real. They do exist. And all conveniently located in one place. 

Now...where are those pretty billionaires hanging out?

How my life is often the backdrop of my work...and why I'm okay with that.

 If you've ever felt that my use of horse related properties, bars and small beach towns was repetitive, well, there's a reason for that. Those are my go-to locations because they're the places I know inside and out. I know what they look like, smell like, sound like. I don't have to research them or think too hard about it while I'm writing. It just comes naturally...and in turn, hopefully, creates an environment within the story that feels real and alive to readers.

As well as the setting, the other things that naturally sort of weave their way into my work are habits. Routines. We all have them, right? So, it stands to reason that characters have them as well. Sometimes those of the characters mirror mine, whether it's intentional or not. Coffee. That's one. My coffee habit (or...addiction?) definitely appears throughout most of my books. Wake up? Make coffee. Have a bad day? Make coffee. Get together with friends? Make coffee. It's sort of the natural response to everything.

Some other things about my life that tend to surface in my writing...Motherhood. Military. Addictions. Loss. Abuse. Pets. Mental illness...Most people don't know the ways in which each of these topics has touched my life, but there are books of my mine my mother can't bring herself to read...because fiction or not, they tell the truth and that truth isn't always pretty. BUT, it makes for a never ending flow of writing material.

It's not so much that I set out to write about my life or myself (I'm not as egocentric as this post is making me sound), as it is that I strive to write things that feel alive and authentic to others. So, regardless of what the story is and who the characters are, I try to find some way to relate what I'm about to write to something I've already experienced. That way I can draw from those feelings. Recount those thoughts. Remember my actions and then create a story as real as humanly possible while still keeping it completely fictional. If that makes any sense at all...

Ironically, I think the only thing I write about pretty damn frequently and have no first hand experience with at all, is the love and happily ever after bit, which is sort of expected to be part of the story when you write romance novels ;-) 

Getting Braver...

Over this past year I've become a much braver writer. I've always felt I was very honest, but recently, I've definitely felt more courageous about taking chances in the stories I write.

As a result, I've received far more messages from readers containing words like crying and sobbing, and my most favorite phrases - 'You wrecked me.' and 'Your writing slays me.'

I can't deny, I get an overwhelming sense to do much of the same when I read such things. Nor can I make secret of the fact that I still don't ever know how to respond to such messages. "I'm sorry" is pretty much the first thing that comes to mind...but am I? Sorry? To evoke feelings in someone through story-telling is a pretty remarkable experience. One I didn't know I would ever get to experience so thoroughly. So, no. I guess I'm really not.

When I started writing, my goal was simply to entertain. I wanted to write relate-able characters, provide a healthy dose of sarcastic humor and then tie it all up in a happily ever after bow. But...I wasn't aiming high. I come by the sarcasm naturally. I wrote characters I knew were real and relate-able because they ARE real and relate-able most of the time. And Happy Ever After? It's easy. It's what we all want. It's what we all expect. From our fiction anyway. I mean, that's the whole point of writing, right? You get to create the ending you want. And who wants a bad ending?!

Now...my goal is still to entertain. I still want to write real characters, and the sarcasm isn't going anywhere either...but I'm not scared to tackle more than the standard romantic tropes anymore. I'm not afraid of reaching into the tough topics or unconventional plots with both hands and seeing what I pull out. And I know it's not always going to be pretty. It's definitely not always going to be easy. But man...so far it's been worth it.

So...I'm braver now about what I write.

And then I'm fucking terrified about sharing it.

But I'm more courageous too...so I do it anyway.

Some of my favorite writerly quotes...

I'm not going to go so far as to say that my hair has fallen out or my teeth have decayed, however, I wholeheartedly agree, that while fiction is a great deal of making shit up, the foundation of every piece of writing lies in total, sometimes soul crushing and/or soul baring, truth.

Absolutely not. Characters are real people, people! They've been known to show up uninvited, steal the girl who was meant for someone else, and even, on occasion, turn out to be the villain you never saw coming. So, when a character says something rude or offensive, seriously, that's like the least of our worries. 

This. All of this. The man's a genius. Period.

I love this. Not just in regard to the women I write, but also in regard to the woman I strive to be in my 'real' life.

This may be my favorite of all. For many years I wrote at least a poem a day because it gave me such insight into my own feelings and thoughts. 

Writing heals the spirit, clears the mind and frees the heart. 

(That one's all me by the way )

All of these awesome quotes and many more can be found right here.

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Summer is heating up with 14 traditional romances from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors, brought to you by Book Boyfriends Cafe. Foreword by USA Today bestselling author, Leanne Banks. 

Cora Rules by Mel Curtis, USA Today Bestselling Author. NBA coach Trent Parker is a stickler for the rules, until he meets Cora Rule, the biggest rulebreaker of the Rule clan. 

Surrender to Love by Raine English, USA Today Bestselling Author. When Tara Spencer agrees to spend the summer caring for her ailing grandmother, she has no idea how her life will be changed by the handsome stranger next door. 

The Merry-Go-Round by Author Donna Fasano, USA Today Bestselling Author. When Lauren divorces her husband, her life quickly turns into a 3-ring circus. Will she step off the merry-go-round--or reach out and grab the brass ring? 

Twist of Fate by Patti Forsythe, USA Today Bestselling author. Rebecca Perris is on a dangerous quest to find her sister, but when she meets Aaron al-Rashid again, it’s her heart that’s at risk. 

Her French Count by Mona Risk, USA Today Bestselling Author. A Da Vinci Code in a French Chateau. The lovely American architect has turned his life upside down, but are his chateau and a missing statue worth endangering her life? 

Love Me Forever by Ari Thatcher, USA Today Bestselling Author. Escaping to Maui to get over her divorce, Jen runs into her first love, who blew her off at the end of her vacation. Matt had given up hope of ever finding her again. Can he convince her to give him a second chance? 

Playing the Rookie by Rachelle Ayala, National Bestselling Author. A rookie pitcher and a sports intern on the rebound connect to get over their exes. Will their fling turn into true love or destroy both of their careers? 

Duke of Devonwood by Carly Carson, National Bestselling Author Sparks fly as Miranda plots to gain control of her inheritance from a modern day Duke who tries his best to resist her wiles. Can both of them win? 

True North by Kelly Collins, National Bestselling Author. Alexa leaves Los Angeles with a scarred heart, a beat up car and a secret. She’s fleeing her hopelessness to find her future. Can a sexy stranger mend her heart and be her compass? 

Fashion Victim by Suz deMello, best-selling, award-winning author: Hot isn't a hot enough word to describe corporate raider Fletcher Wolf, but since he's suing couturier Cara Fletcher for, oh, a gazillion dollars, she figures she shouldn't hit on him…at least not too hard. 

Season, Unforgettable by Keta Diablo, National Bestselling Author. He promised his mother he'd wrap up the Pine Bay project, and he would have if not for a nature lover who can't be bought at any price. Now he's fighting for the other side, fighting to recapture his abandoned dreams, and fighting to win her heart. 

Most Likely to Turn up the Heat by Cheryl Harper. Sue Walker’s “no soldiers, no cops, no coworkers” policy doesn’t stand a chance against injured cop turned high school security guard Max Holt. His mission to return to Dallas and danger could be the deal breaker. 

My Favorite What If by Lyssa Layne, National Bestselling Author. Jacob "Smitty" Smith and Sloan Talbott have both have been hurt. Neither is looking for love. Will one week in paradise be a fling to remember or could it possibly lead to something more? 

Relay For Love by Susan Ann Wall, National Bestselling Author. A cancer survivor who celebrates in silence…a widow who remembers the man she lost…a fight back where two hearts battle to be together.

Facebook Party

Don't miss out on the fabulous Facebook party on May 19!!

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SUNDAY BRUNCH and what my author bio would say if I was less worried about sounding professional...and more focused on just being me.

I suppose the mature thing would be to say that I'm a writer...but the more truthful thing to say is that I'm a make-shit-up-er...who has chosen to write the shit I make up down and call it fiction. 

Otherwise, I'd also be known as a pathological liar. And that's just not very nice. 

I've been a make-shit-up-er all my life. Because of this, I frequently enjoyed time to myself to indulge in my imaginary shenanigans, which naturally led to being labeled as 'weird' and 'a loner' at a very young age. 

This, however, did not bother me. If you knew my family, you'd understand. Being weird is the norm. 

While hanging out with my rather extensive imaginary crew allowed me to develop some insanely awesome social skills, I was never able to shake the weirdo shy girl vibe and would remain trapped under this umbrella of titles which would later come to include less enjoyable terms such as 'bitchy' and 'snobby' due to my lack of bubbles and sparkles and shit...but that's okay. 

I try not to care what you label me as in YOUR world...because I'm a make-shit-up-er who can make up her own, and I am a badass in MINE...but sometimes I still do care. Mostly, because you hardly ever seem to get it right. 

Making shit up has seen me through the worst of times and lifted me even higher in the best of times. It has allowed me to live when I was too depressed to leave my room or even turn on the lights. It gave me an escape from grief when I faced losses I wasn't capable of bearing, and it showed me what it meant to dream, and truly create the life I wanted and needed to be happy. And all it took was a little bit of imagination and the desire to use it.

So, I'm a make-shit-up-er. I've always been one. I'll probably be one 'til the day I die, and even then I'll be making shit up about what I'm doing instead that day...I just hope I get a chance to write it down before I go.