Greetings, rock 'n' rollers. I'm currently baking (and eating) oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and watching rain then sunshine then rain then sunshine out my window. It's sort of magical when it's sunny and raining, and that's the joy of California rain. It's rare, it's gorgeous, and we desperately need it!
How many of you like your contemporary romances with a little bit of woo-woo, kind of a Practical Magic vibe where magic is all around us ordinary folks and there for the taking? I've just finished writing a new Minded story, which will be out as part of the HEA Collective in early 2023, and for those of you new to my version of the Afterlife, it's got just enough woo-woo to add heart and hijinks. I find myself wondering how many of you are readers like me? Sure, I loved Wednesday, the new Addams' family spinoff on Netflix, where folks live in a magical world, but I also like it as a subtle little spice to a great story.
My good pal Avery Flynn has just such a book releasing today! Avery is queen of spicy rom coms, so her latest with a touch of magic is a nice addition to her repertoire! I hope you'll check it out. I asked her to clue us in about What Makes Avery, and here's what she had to say!
What makes me most ready to face the world on a daily basis is my ritual of coffee and cuddles in the morning. This is when I sit on the couch in my office, the dogs (I have five) all pile on top or next to me, and I stay there until I finish my cup of coffee. 10 out of 10. Highly recommend. (Here's a pick of four of the five post-coffee-and-cuddle time.)
What makes writing fun for me is coming up with the idea for a story. I love the brainstorming part. For Witcha Gonna Do? coming up with a world that looks like ours but is all magic was really, really fun. One of my favorite parts of that is that the character's magic all has a unique scent to it and that their love interest's magical smell is complimentary to theirs. For Tilda and Gil it's the scents of movie popcorn and melted butter. (Here's a pic of what my computer sees when I'm brainstorming.)
What makes me fall in love with the characters in a book are the little faults and quirks that they have that take them from perfect to relatable. Aspirational reading is great and all, but the characters who inspire me the most are the ones who I'd love to hang out with. That's why for Witcha Gonna Do? I went with Tilda and Gil talking directly to the reader. I really wanted the reader to feel like they had gotten stuck in line at the grocery store and this stranger was telling them the most hilarious story so they let other people cut in line in front of them just so they could find out how it all ended.
Thank you so much Avery for joining us on release day! I hope you'll all check out Witcha Gonna Do? Here's the blurb:
Could it possibly get any worse than having absolutely no magical abilities when you’re a member of the most powerful family of witches ever? It used to be that I’d say no, but then I keep getting set up on dates with Gil Connolly whose hotness is only matched by his ego. Seriously. I can’t stand him. Even if I also can’t stop thinking about him (specifically kissing him) but we’re going to pretend I never told you that part.
So yeah, my life isn’t the greatest right now, but then it goes straight to the absolute worst hell when I accidentally make my sister’s spell glitch and curse my whole family. And the only person who can help non-magical me break the spell? You guessed it. Gil the super hot jerk.
Now we have to work together to save my family and outmaneuver some evil-minded nefarious forces bent on world domination. Oh yeah, and we have to do all that while fighting against the attraction building between us because I may not be magical, but what’s happening between Gil and I sure feels like it.
Apple: https://buff.ly/3UKtiCO
Audible: https://buff.ly/3hNz34a
I love witchy stories, which is why I'm part of the Magic and Mayhem Universe, so I know I'm going to love this new book from Avery. I read her Parental Guidance and pulled something from laughing so hard, so I know I'm in good hands! Did you know she's one of the masterminds behind the Happily Ever After Collective as well? I love working with her and can't wait for my two novellas to come out next year! Want to know more? Join the Patreon. There's a level for everyone, you can go back and choose previously released novellas from some amazing authors, you can change your pledge level at any time for more or fewer books…it's awesome, actually! I'm currently reading the newest release in the collective from Mariah Ankenman, another queen of rom com, and I love it.
I hope your December has just enough magic to make it bearable. I'll see you soon. Stay tuned…
