From Hidden Threat to Strictly Professional: My Publishing Journey Since 2010

 I recently celebrated my publishing anniversary. My first published novel was released on December 31, 2010. I wanted to share a little about that publishing journey and the evolution of that book.

The first book I ever published was through a small press publishing house called The Writer's Coffee Shop. It doesn't exist anymore, but it was best known for being the original publisher of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. 

My first book, Hidden Threat, released on the last day of the year. I'd never published a book before. I'd only ever written fan fiction, so I had no experience when it came to marketing.

The first cover we came up with for Hidden Threat, wasn't the best. This goes back to my lack of experience in marketing a book and unfortunately, the publisher was new as well and didn't have much experience in that area either. All the members of the publishing house were avid readers, but being a reader and knowing the right cover to put on a book are two different things.

Hidden Threat was an office romance with corporate espionage. The first cover depicted a woman grabbing hold of a man's tie with the Chicago skyline in the background. Then, we added someone holding a gun to denote the mystery/suspense parts of the story.

While the story did okay upon its release, it had two things going against it. One, I was an unknown author. And two, the cover.

Knowing what I know now, the light blue color scheme isn't really the best color for romance novels, especially steamy romance novels. It doesn't really scream suspense romance. 

I continued to publish books throughout the five years I was with that publisher and ended up being the second highest selling author behind E.L. James. This provided me with a lot of opportunities to go to events and really try to build my brad and my readership.

But after five years, the owner of the publishing house decided to close its doors. All the rights for my books reverted back to me and I had to decide what was next. Did I look for a literary agent and try to get a publishing deal from one of the New York publishing houses?

In the end, I decided to use what I'd learned during my time at TWCS and go down the self publishing route. We were given permission to use all of our edited material. The only thing we had to really do was add a new cover to the books and get new ISBN numbers, then we could re-upload them to retailers.

When I went to do this for Hidden Threat, I quickly realized the name and the vibe I was going for didn't work. Add to that everything I'd learned writing wise as an author and I came to the conclusion that the book needed a complete overhaul.

In the original story, there were five or six different points of view. None of my other books had that. They were all dual point of view between the hero and the heroine.

So of course, I had to fix that. I ended up rewriting the entire story, removing the extra points of view, and beefing up the mystery/suspense elements. By the time it was all said and done, I added an extra 15,000 words to the story.

With the re-write, I also decided to change the title to Strictly Professional, focusing on the office romance. 

This is Matthew and Cali's story. It still takes place in Chicago and is now about 60% romance/40% mystery suspense. It is my only standalone novel. 

If you're looking for a standalone office romance, I'd love for you to give Strictly Professional a try.

Currently Reading - After The Kiss

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and “I do”—she’ll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie’s “research.” But what Julie doesn’t know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he’s exactly what she wants.

 Amazon

Reflecting on My Writing Journey in 2024

It’s amazing to see how much has happened in my writing and publishing journey this year. Each milestone has been a step forward in my career as an author, and I couldn’t be more grateful to share it with you.

Finishing and Publishing Falling for the Boss's Son

One of the most exciting moments of the year was completing and publishing my 16th novel, Falling for the Boss's Son. When I wrote Daniel and Ali's story in Claiming His Kiss, I introduced Daniel's adult children. Cassie was the oldest and we got a glimpse of her relationship with her fiance, Jesse. I knew then I wanted to tell their story and from there, Falling for the Boss's Son was born.

Connecting with Readers at Book Festivals

This year, I had the privilege of attending two incredible book festivals: the Newark Book Festival and the Columbus Book Festival. Meeting readers in person, hearing your thoughts about my books, and connecting with fellow authors was an experience I’ll always cherish. These events reminded me of why I started writing in the first place – to tell the stories I would want to read and to share them with other readers who are looking for the same types of stories.

The Daniels Brothers Omnibus

Another major milestone was publishing the omnibus of my Daniels Brothers series. Bringing Behind Closed Doors, Red Zone, Crossing the Line, and What Might Have Been together in one collection was a labor of love. It’s a celebration of the journey of these characters and the readers who have followed them from the beginning. If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the Daniels Brothers’ world, now is the perfect time!

Exploring New Horizons on TikTok

This year also marked my foray into TikTok. As someone who loves connecting with readers, joining this platform has been a game-changer. From sharing writing tips to behind-the-scenes glimpses of my work, TikTok has opened up a new way to engage with my audience. If you haven’t already, come join me for some fun bookish content!

Starting the 6th Novel in the Finding Anna Series

While 2024 brought several endings, it also marked a new beginning: I started writing the 6th novel in my Finding Anna series. This series has been a cornerstone in my career, and diving back into these characters’ lives has been both exciting and emotional. I can’t wait to share the final chapter of their story with you.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As fulfilling as 2024 has been, I’m already looking ahead to 2025 with excitement. My primary goal is to complete and publish the 6th and final book in the Finding Anna series. This will be bittersweet as it marks the end of an era for me and my readers. Additionally, I’m looking forward to attending my first book signing event in Atlantic City, NJ. It’s an opportunity to connect with more of you face-to-face, and I’m counting down the days.

Thank you for being a part of my writing journey. Your support and encouragement fuel my creativity and keep me motivated to bring more stories to life. Here’s to another year of writing, connecting, and bringing stories to life!

Currently Reading - How To Kiss Your Grumpy Boss

Perry Hawthorne is my boss. Only my boss. And I do NOT have a crush.

When one of THE Hawthorne brothers—known by their chiseled jawlines and their family-run farm and event center—hires me to be his virtual assistant, I do everything I can to keep him firmly in the work zone.

His grumpy demeanor helps.

His smoking hot profile picture does not.

But even if I do have a crush (a very tiny one), I can’t catch real feelings for a million different reasons.

Besides the whole business part of our relationship, I’m a single mom. I have to think about what’s best for my son, Jack. And my grumpy, divorced, humorless boss isn’t exactly giving me “ready to be a stepdad” vibes.

When Perry upgrades me from virtual to in-person assistant, I wonder if I’ve gotten him all wrong. He’s actually pretty great with Jack. And with me? Let’s just say the chemistry crackling between us might vaporize all my reasons for keeping my distance.

Trouble is, after his messy divorce, I’m not sure Perry’s ready to bet on a new relationship. But it isn’t just my heart that’s on the line. It’s Jack’s, too. And after everything we went through before my husband died, I’m not sure that’s a gamble I’m ready to take, no matter how desperate Jack is for a daddy.

 Amazon

Holiday Romances

 Did you know I have two Christmas romances?

 

A Christmas Proposal is an extended epilogue of sorts for my steamy contemporary romance, Strictly Professional. If you've read Matthew and Cali's story, then you'll want to read A Christmas Proposal and see exactly how Matthew ends up popping the question.

 

 

Matthew Andersen knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cali Stanton. Since she came into his life just five months ago, his world has completely changed for the better. With everything in their lives finally coming together, he was determined to make their first Christmas a memorable one.

Get Your Copy Of A Christmas Proposal

 

My second holiday story is a second chance novella. This one is spicier than A Christmas Proposal. Gabby is Grace's sister from Longing for His Kiss. 

 

Jax Brooks has made a lot of mistakes in his life, but the only one he regrets is when he walked away from Gabby and their newborn daughter. Now he's back in St. Louis and he's determined to make things right. No matter what it takes.

 

Having Jax in her life again is both a blessing and a curse for Gabby Lewis. He's gone out of his way to spend time with their daughter, but it's also meant facing some hard truths—like the fact that she's never gotten over him.

 

Can Jax convince Gabby to give him another chance? Or has he left a hole in her heart too deep to repair?

 

Get Tangled in His Embrace

Cozy And Bookish

Last Sunday I set up a table at the Cozy and Bookish Marketplace in Miamisburg Ohio. This was my first time attending the event, so as with any new venture, I had no idea what to expect.

The weather was perfect for the drive Sunday morning. And as a bonus, there wasn't a lot of traffic given the early hour.

We had to be there to set up at 8:30am, and the first VIP readers began coming around to our tables at 9:30. It was a relaxing morning for both readers and authors as everyone took their time, enjoyed pastries, and chatted about books.

At 11:30, the doors opened to the general public and things began to pick up. We had a steady stream of readers for most of the afternoon. I even ran into a fellow indie author I met earlier in the year at the Newark Book Festival.

For this event, authors and vendors had the option to purchase a full 8' table or a half 4' table. I opted for the full 8' table. With 16 titles, fitting all my books in a 4' space, while doable, is tight. I'd much rather have the space to spread out and give some separation to my titles.

...and the subgenres.

 At book signings, I like to group my books by heat level. On the left are my steamy contemporary romance titles: the Daniels Bothers series, including an omnibus of all 4 books, Strictly Professional, and Seducing Janey.

Beside those, is my Finding Anna series. I used to display Slave on a stand, but it seemed to scare some people away, so now, I leave the entire series lying down. While there is a lot of heat in the series, it is definitely a slow burn given there's not much steam until toward the end of the second book.

Then, on the right side of the table, is where I put my spiciest titles: my Serpent's Kiss series, and my most recent release, Falling for the Boss's Son. I also bring a print version of my one and only novella, Tangled in His Embrace.

I find having my books arranged like this helps readers better find what they're looking for. I have a variety of tropes, but if they don't want a lot of steamy detail on the page, I know which side of the table to focus on. Same for those readers who are looking for spice. It helps me to pair the reader with a book they're more likely to enjoy.

This was my last signing event for 2024, but I can't wait to see what 2025 has in store.

Currently Reading - How To Kiss Your Best Friend

He's a hot high school chemistry teacher living in a small town. She's a globetrotting journalist running from her past. They used to be best friends. Then one kiss changes everything.

Kate Fletcher is my kryptonite.

She's also my best friend. Former best friend? I'm not sure what you call it when we grew up attached at the hip and then she left Silver Creek (and me) to travel the world.

The important thing is: Kate is back. (Temporarily.) And I'm still in love with her. (Permanently.)

But something is different now. The attraction doesn't seem one-sided. I don't think I'm imagining the heat in Kate's eyes or the chemistry crackling between us.

But will that be enough to keep Kate here, when, for as long as I can remember, all she's wanted to do is leave?

I'm determined to give her a reason to stay. Family. Connection. Roots. And me. I'll have to start with sparks and fire, but if I take this step, there's no turning back to simple friendship. And if she doesn't feel the same way, I might lose her again—this time for good.

 

 Amazon