Why I'm Writing Romance

If you’ve read my first book, The Secret of the Codex, you know that I love romance. Kayla and Grady are #couplegoals, and I just loved writing their story.

But except for some fairly steamy-but-still-clean kissing scenes, I didn’t get too much into the romance part. It didn’t feel true to the characters or the story.

In the second book, The Prophecy of the Codex, I explore this a little further. Don’t worry — I don’t get into a lot of details, but you definitely get the point.

I suspect the subsequent books will stay in that same vein.

You have to write what works for the story.

But on February 9th, I started a new book. And this one’s a romance. Like a full-on steamy romance. For mature audiences.

Why the switch?

First of all, I LOVE the Codex series. It was my first foray into writing, the characters make me happy, and the story has been so fun to tell.

But over the past year or so, I’ve been falling in love with romance. You’ve probably been able to tell by the book recommendations I’ve made and the authors I follow.

I started a supernatural romance in 2019, but I put it on the back burner. I’m certain it will get resurrected and finished, because I love the characters and the story (and the setting — D.C.!), but it’s on hold for now. I have plans to release a bunch of books this year, so it is getting pushed to another year.

I think I expected this new project to be the same. Write a couple of scenes that were flowing out of me, get my thoughts on the page and the story started, then let it sit until the Codex series was complete.

Best laid plans…

But this story is not letting me go. These characters are not letting me go. And y’all, I’ve written over 16,000 words so far on it, with a burning need to write every day. I haven’t felt that in forever.

So I decided to see where the muse took me. That girl can be finicky, but she also knows my innermost desires. This is a story I’m meant to tell, and I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t tell it.

It is quite different from the Codex series, but both are still true to who I am as a writer and a person. I actually considered publishing the romance books under a pseudonym, but then I realized it would be hiding a part of myself. So I’m boldly claiming this work as my own.

Sometimes that’s the hardest thing you can do.

Now on to the good stuff…

I wrote up a synopsis/book excerpt about it last night and did a book aesthetic. It seems only fair that I’d share it with you here.

But before I do, let me announce the title! It fits the story so perfectly that I don’t see it changing, but it’s possible! I always reserve the right to change it up. haha

Here’s the title: Even After You’re Famous. It’s a friends-to-lovers, second-chance movie star romance with a touch of supernatural thrown in. Gah! I love it so much. In it, I deal with mental health issues (that was a complete surprise to me!), and I suspect the theme will show how love heals even deep wounds. I’m not sure — it’s not done yet! 😝

I’ve already done a ton of research on making a movie, and I’m having so much fun learning about the process! It’s really involved, as you might expect.

Okay, okay — I promised the aesthetic and the synopsis/book excerpt, so here you go! Enjoy!

Even After You’re Famous Synopsis

Raven

Ryder was my first—love, lay, whatever—and naturally I’d assumed we’d be together forever.

Then my parents split. January, senior year.

I barely held it together. Ry was there for me, as he always was, but I could feel myself pulling away, feel myself imploding. Hiding.

But that boy was determined. My senior year in college, after four long years of the long-distance thing, Ryder showed up at my doorstep. With a ring.

But I couldn’t marry him. As much as I loved him, I couldn’t stomach the thought. Marriages, even good ones, ended every day. And I couldn’t take that chance, not with him.

So I told him no.

Ryder

Twenty years.

Twenty long years since . . . I can’t even think her name. Even twenty years later, just her name still hurts.

I get why she said no. I get why we couldn’t be together. But I’d do anything for a do-over. Anything to apologize, make things right.

Anything to get her back.

And yes, you did read that right. I plan to release this book THIS YEAR. 😱

Moral of the story: Write the story that needs to be told in the way it needs to be told. Don’t hold back. Don’t shy away. Be true to yourself but don’t run scared, either.

Time to be brave, people. I am.