“You May Be a Romance Writer if ___” #romance #Gelato


This week’s guest is Sadira Stone. I have fallen in love with her stories. She is here to tell us What may make you a romance writer.

Hello Sadira!

It took me a while to figure out my true literary calling. My first full novel was a cozy mystery—with a romance thread. In fact, one scene between the teacher protagonist and her cop love interest was so steamy I cut it for fear someone I know might read it. Then came a women’s fiction novel—with a romance thread. And another cozy mystery—with a romance thread. You’d think I’d learn, right?

Finally, I read an article on how lucrative writing erotica can be. Fun! I thought, Let’s try! It turns out that sexy little story wanted to blossom into a full-fledged romance novel, one that got me my first publishing contract. Who’da thunk it? I thought I didn’t even like romance books—for the usual silly reasons: too predictable, too formulaic (like every other kind of genre fiction isn’t?), too fluffy, too girly (internalized misogyny, much?).

Just as an experiment, I began reading romance novels and—kapow! I’m now a happy citizen of Romancelandia, a member of Romance Writers of America, and a multi-published author.

So, with apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, here are seven signs you might be a romance writer.

If you mentally (or physically) write fanfic hooking up characters from every TV show or movie you watch, you might be a romance writer.

If you watch couples on the street, in parks, in cafes and bars and restaurants, wondering how they met and if they’re still hot for each other, you might be a romance writer.

If you spot good-looking specimens at the gym and mentally design romance novel covers featuring them in kilts or space-warrior getups or cowboy gear, you might be a romance writer.

If you want to hurl a book against the wall because the ending isn’t an HEA (happily ever after), you might be a romance writer.

If you read about a celebrity breakup and fantasize about the perfect grovel that will reunite them, you might be a romance writer. (We love a good grovel!)

If a trip to the zoo sparks an idea for a polar bear/puma shifter romance, you might be a romance writer. Or maybe wolf/tiger romance, or wolverine/eagle, or…

If you believe in your heart of hearts in the power of love to heal wounded souls, mend broken families, and polish the world to a glossy sheen, you might be a romance writer!

My latest book, an older woman/younger man romance novella, proves just how many barriers love can tumble.

Title: Gelato Surprise

Series if applicable One Scoop or Two series from The Wild Rose Press. Note: these are short stories and novellas by different authors, all beach reads involving an ice cream flavor and a seaside setting.

Author: Sadira Stone

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Cover artist: Rae Monet

Pages 155

Genre/heat rating Steamy contemporary romance novella rated R for explicit love scenes

She came to the beach to find herself—and found him.

Forty-two-year-old divorcée Danielle Peters ends up alone on her family’s annual beach vacation. Maybe time to herself is exactly what she needs. That and gelato from her favorite ice cream shop. But when the owner’s intoxicating young nephew offers more than sweet treats, she’s tempted to indulge in a hot summer fling before returning home.

Thirty-one-year-old Matteo Verducci craved a fresh start to mend his broken heart, and he’s found almost perfection in Ocean View, where he scoops gelato by day and crafts furniture by night. But when a sexy older woman stops to sample his wares—Mamma mia! He only has two weeks to convince her their passion is more than a delicious surprise.

Excerpt

Ciao, bella.” The unfamiliar voice snapped her reverie.

“Oh, uh.” She stammered at the gorgeous young man smiling behind the counter. Dark, curly hair, wide, lush-lipped mouth, cleft chin covered with dusky scruff, and espresso-brown eyes that twinkled with flirtatious mischief. Broad shoulders filled out his tight black T-shirt beautifully.

Like a scene from a Fellini movie, everything around her slowed and blurred as his gaze slid down her body before returning to her eyes. His glossy eyebrows flicked up, a flirtatious salute. “Welcome to Paradiso, signora. Tell me, how can I serve you today?” With his ice cream scoop, he waved toward the Italian ices. “Something tart to soothe the heat? Limone or mandarino? Or perhaps something richer.” He leaned onto the glass case and rested his perfect cleft chin on his fist. “Cioccolato fondente? Zabaglione? Tiramisu?” Rolling off his tongue, the words sounded far more like seductive foreplay than dessert options.

She swallowed hard, took a step back, and tugged her collar away from her suddenly sweaty chest. “Uh—so many choices. I can’t decide.”

His teasing smile widened, slow and sure. “Then place yourself in my hands. Just tell me how many scoops and let me surprise you.”

She was helpless to resist. “Okay. You choose. Two scoops, please.” She cleared her throat and found a bit of courage. “I place myself in your expert hands.”

Was that a blush darkening his sculpted cheekbones?

Buy Links: Amazon       Barnes & Noble    Apple Books    Kobo    Google Play Books

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089DPG2C9/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gelato-surprise-sadira-stone/1137093117?ean=2940162722762

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/gelato-surprise/id1517323937

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Gelato+Surprise+by+Sadira+Stone

Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sadira_Stone_Gelato_Surprise?id=OZjsDwAAQBAJ&hl=en_US

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53741908-gelato-surprise

Universal book link: https://books2read.com/u/bzjeBZ

Bookbub link: https://www.bookbub.com/books/gelato-surprise-by-sadira-stone

Meet Sadira Stone

Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance from her new home in Washington State, U.S.A. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays darts (pretty well), guitar (badly), and gobbles all the books.

I’d love to hear from you! Please visit me on all the socials.

Author Website   Facebook   Twitter  Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page   Pinterest   Instagram   Author Newsletter

More from Sadira

The Book Nirvana series: steamy contemporary romance set in a quirky bookshop in Eugene, Oregon, because bookshops are sexy!

Through the Red Door: Book Nirvana One Widow Clara struggles to keep her indie bookshop afloat. Professor Nick comes in search of historical erotica from her famed collection, but stays for the lovely bookseller–until a scandal from his past shatters her trust.

Runaway Love Story: Book Nirvana Two

Big city-bound, an aspiring artist detours to help her elderly aunt and finds fierce passion with a local teacher. Together they face family secrets, clashing dreams, and a Twitter storm. Her gut says stick to her plan. Her heart has other ideas.

Love, Art, and Other Obstacles: Book Nirvana Three She’s a free spirit. He’s a one-woman man. Competing for an art prize, they never expected to connect so hard and hot. Can he battle past her prickly defenses and prove he loves her as she is? Chosen family, bisexual heroine, rivals to lovers

Coming November 2020, Christmas on the Rebound: A Bangers Tavern Romance Strangling Dad would definitely land her on Santa’s naughty list, so when his injury brings her home to Tacoma for the holidays, Charlie takes a temp job at Bangers Tavern to blow off steam. It’s snark at first sight when she meets flirty, hunky bartender River—and maybe just a little spark? Both recovering from heartbreak, they strike a deal: each will help the other keep family off their backs during the holidays. But that pesky mistletoe sparks a fling hot enough to melt an iceberg. To save Bangers from greedy developers, they’ll have to work together.


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