I have a surprise book released today!
You’re gonna fall in love with me. You’re already halfway there.
October 2, 2016, a little after noon, I created a new document titled, October Surprise. I had high hopes I’d be able to get this story ready to go before I left for GayRomLit because I wanted something new. After all, it was only supposed to be a 12-15K story. Not too long. Nothing complicated. Just fluff and fun to help celebrate Halloween and to break up the monotony that had been my work life.
My writing started off slow. I was lucky to get 500 words a day out in between all my prep work for GRL and editing jobs I’d taken. And then something amazing happened. Words started pouring out of me. I was managing 5-7K days and more. And then I found the perfect cover image and created a cover I adore!
By the time I sent October Surprise to my editor on October 13, it came in at 25,000 words. It was a solid novella with a title that fit, but I worried people would think the story was about politics. And OMG, are we not all so sick of politics we could puke? I know I am. So after a little bit of brainstorming while I waited for the edits to get back to me, I came up with something better.
Stroke of Luck is a Meet-Cute, Contemporary MM Romance between two bisexual men. It’s a sweet story with a little bit of kink that deals with the themes of friendship, relationships, consent, refusing to make assumptions, and love.
Tuesday as I rode in the car toward Kansas City for GRL, I sorted through my edits. When we got to the hotel on Wednesday, I finished the edits, read through the story, listened to it, and then formatted the ebook for my proofreaders. Then I partied with my friends at GRL and met amazing people.
I got home Sunday, essentially collapsed, and then on Monday got back to it again. Today is Thursday, and the last of the proofing arrived in my inbox this morning. I fixed all things, listened again, and then uploaded to Amazon just after noon. If you’re keeping track, that’s twenty-four days. I started a book 25 days prior to hitting publish on Amazon.
I have no clue how I did it, but I fricking love this story. I really do. I swear most of it came from my muse. I love her so.
After everything Marc owned burned to a crisp, he’s living off the kindness of others. A model condo is his temporary home, and his last dime went to essentials. He doesn’t need another distraction, but the fates conspire against him, setting up a chain of encounters that bring him face to face with Cas.
Cas’s love life has been in limbo for years, lovers moving on as soon as they discover how close he is to his best friend, Maisie. Then he meets Marc. The attraction between the two men can’t be denied, but Cas isn’t sure he can risk his friendship for a guy who will only end up leaving when he sees how close he and Maisie are.
When Marc and Cas discover they live in the same building, it’s kismet. But Marc has to invite chaos into his life if he and Cas stand a chance, and Cas faces a choice between friendship and love. Luck may be on their side… if they’re willing to risk it all.
