Heya, friends and fellow wordsmiths! Welcome back! I’ve had quite the exciting week, but I’ll share more on that after another excerpt from Steeped in Love! Ya ready? Here we go!
Continuing from where we left off….
Ethan missed those days—when his fingers could barely keep pace with the words flowing from his brain. It was hell to find inspiration when you knew what you were writing would tank before it even hit the shelves. Releasing a heavy sigh, he rubbed his temples. He could be bitter and cynical all he wanted, but the fact of the matter was that he needed to rebrand himself if he had a hope in Hades of selling anything. He’d still be a thriller author, but his stories were about to take on an entirely different spin. Every successful book nowadays had ‘girl’ in the title: Gone Girl, The Good Girl, The Girl on the Train…The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
He glanced up, suddenly curious beyond all reason if Addie had any tattoos. She didn’t. At least not from his angle. But even more intriguing, she wasn’t sitting alone anymore.
Here’s the blurb:
Addie Mitchell is a pie-on-the-fly entrepreneur who’s finally ready to settle down in the big, empty house her late great-aunt Edna left to her. Frustrated with her lack of success in romance, Addie turns to another gift her great-aunt passed on to her—the art of reading tea leaves—to aid her in her search for the ideal mate.
Novelist Ethan Holtz is having a hard time sinking his teeth into his next project, but he finds Addie fascinating. Mainly for her ability to make her dates disappear in fifteen minutes or less. He can’t help but eavesdrop on her dates in the local coffee shop, his writing haven, and soon finds himself taking pointers on what not to do from her failed suitors.
Though her methods seem nothing short of mad, he falls fast and hard for the pixie-haired pie-pusher. She thinks they’re all wrong for each other, but Ethan teams up with the tea leaves to prove they’re so right.
Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors!
So, about my exciting week. For starters, I became acquainted with my new car–a 2016 Subaru Forester named Bubba Gump! I picked him up on Thursday and we’ve been inseparable ever since. He has air conditioning, a CD player, satellite radio, a back-up camera, even heated seats! Welcome to the modern world, moi! In other exciting news, I’m packing (*giggles* Okay, at least thinking about packing) for my trip to Connecticut next weekend for Fiction Fest! I’ve always wanted to go to Connecticut, mainly because of its connection to Gilmore Girls, so this conference (and my new car!) have given me the perfect reasons to take a road trip! But the ultimate reason why I’m going to Fiction Fest? My fabulous friend, Kristan Higgins, will be there, and we’re going on a date Friday night! *dances* Oh, and of course I’ll be pitching to agents and editors while I’m there, schmoozing with fellow authors, and doing a whole bunch of other amazing things, no doubt! I can’t wait! Have a wonderful week, my friends! 🙂
Award-winning romance author & PE teacher who plays sports, sings, juggles, dances, has a sneaker obsession, & lives on PB! 
Haha, I know- what is it about all the “girls” in thrillers? I think Ethan’s on to something. Have a great time at Fiction Fest!
Hee! I agree. It’s high time we start putting some ‘boys’ in those titles. 😉 Thanks so much, Christina!
I can definitely relate with Ethan’s frustration. It’s a hard industry out there. Great snippet and have fun at Fiction Fest!
Amen to that. Many thanks, Elyzabeth! 🙂
I’m feeling his frustration, Julie! So hard to muster up enthusiasm for something doomed from the start . . . rather like Addie’s relationships.
So true, Nancy! And nice insight into Addie’s relationships. 😉 You’ll have to see how that plays out. Thanks!
This story is as delightful as you are, car and all. Safe journey to the wilds of Connecticut. The agents will love you.
Aww, Charmaine. You’re so sweet! Thank you, as always, for your endless enthusiasm and encouragement! xo
Good thing I was drinking my soda when you said you were packing. I might have choked on my DC. We’re all going to be road trippin.’ I bet you will have loads of stories to tell from your travels.
I expect I’ll start packing on Wednesday night…say, around 11 PM. I’m leaving the next morning, so, yeah, that sounds about right. 😉 I’m sure you’ll have plenty of stories to share, too! Till we meet again!
Have a great time at Fiction Fest! Enjoyed the snippet, love your ‘voice’.
Thanks so much, Veronica! I’m sure I will! 🙂
I feel his pain. I wonder if who she is sitting with? :3 …great snippet as always!
You’ll find out next week! 😀 Thanks, Rin!
You’ve got to find a gazebo and a diner while you’re in Connecticut, that’s all there is to it. Best of luck and have fun! I hope Bubba Gump takes good care of you!
Can’t wait to hear about Addie’s mystery guy!
Okay then, I will! 😀 Thank you so much! I’ll keep you posted on all my adventures in CT! 🙂
I like his abrupt shift from writerly despair to obsessing about Addie’s tattoos. From the snippet and blurb I can tell this story will be a very fun read.
So happy you think so, Alexis! Nice to see you again! 🙂
This snippet is guaranteed to appeal to the Weekend Writing Warrior folks.
Seems to be the case, Ed! 😀 Thank you!
It’s tough to write when you feel like you’ll fail before you even have a word on the page. But you do have to balance writing to the market with writing for you–or you’d end up churning out pulp and hating it, I’m sure.
Very true, Caitlin. If there’s no passion in what you’re doing, then there won’t be any on the page, either. 🙂
Great snippet that certainly resonates with many authors. Sounds like you’ll be driving up in style! Best wishes at the convention!
Thanks very much, Amy! I’ll definitely be driving in style! Can’t wait to hit the road! 🙂
I think you’ve captured his frustration quite well. And also, how easily she distracts him. Now, who has joined her???
Your car sounds wonderful! I hope you have a blast on your road trip!
That is the ultimate question, isn’t it? 😀
Thanks, Teresa! I’m completely in love with it. I’ll be sure to post all about my trip next week! 🙂