Jan 21, 2026 | Romance, Humour
Today, we’re talking with Erica Devon about her book, The One Who Ghosted Me
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I spent 20 years as a geologist and computer scientist in the energy industry before becoming a romance author—talk about a career pivot! My love of storytelling started when I raided my mother’s bookshelf as a kid and discovered sweeping multi-generational romance sagas. Those epic stories hooked me for life. These days, when I’m not writing, you’ll find me hiking Colorado mountain trails or binge-watching K-dramas, which taught me how to balance emotional depth with humor and hope—something my scientific training definitely didn’t cover.
Why do you write?
I enjoy the craft of building a story, and I enjoy sharing my stories with others. Love of story, pure and simple.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
My current book, The One Who Ghosted Me, was inspired by so many things. I knew I wanted to write a second-chance romance, and the first order of business was deciding why the couple needed a second chance. What happened to them the first time around? I landed on “ghosting” as the a phenomenon to explore, because it’s something that I find baffling. Why would someone just ghost someone and disappear? It seems an act of cowardice to me, and yet it is apparently very prevalent in society today. I wanted to more deeply explore the topic, and why someone might feel they had to ghost someone. Aside from that, I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest when I visited Olympic National Park many years ago … the giant rainforest and beautiful lakes, what’s not to love? That trip, coupled with the idea that I wanted main characters who work for the timber industry, inspired me to create my fictional town of Rainmere in the state of Washington, near Seattle. It’s the perfect backdrop for a workplace, second-chance romance! And the fake dating trope in my story? Well, that’s in there because it’s a fun trope and well, why not?
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I love stories about hope and finding your happily ever after, which is the core of romance stories.
How would you describe your writing process?
I’m an uber-planner! I love plotting and making sure all of the story elements fit together into a satisfying story for the reader. So I plot, then I write, then I scrutinize what might be missing and write some more. Then comes the dreaded editing, which seems to be endless, but so necessary! And I love my editors, they are invaluable and completely save my sanity. Thank goodness they are passionate about the editing process… someone should be. Lol.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
That’s a tough question. As an author, I really appreciate participating in facebook groups that are specifically designed for the author community. I have learned so much by engaging with other authors in this way and learning from their experiences shared and discussed. That said, I find posting about my books on social media to be a necessary evil, but not something that provides me energy and so I don’t have as much enthusiasm for that aspect of the business. I do it, but begrudgingly. So yeah, I have a love-hate sort of relationship with social media at the moment.
What advice would you have for other writers?
When I talk with other writers, the ones who are moving forward in their careers are the ones who prioritize making time for writing, not just talking about wanting to write more. If you’re serious about writing more books, then prioritize it. But realistically, don’t beat yourself up about it if you need or want to prioritize other things in life. Whatever your choice, own it, and be proud of the choices you make.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I spend a lot of time brainstorming my book titles. Since I write romance, the titles have to reflect the characters, and immediately make a reader go “Ooo, I want to know more about that!” As for covers, so far I’ve been using pre-made covers by The Cover Collection. I love Debbie’s covers and the response service from her is excellent. For the rest of my series, I may need to branch out a bit and have some custom tweaks added to the pre-made to indicate that the series is moving in more of a fantasy direction.
What’s your next step?
I just published Book 1 of a series … now it’s time to move on to writing Book 2!
What book do you wish you had written?
A Stitch in Time, by Kelley Armstrong. I LOVE time-travel romance, and this (first in series) book is my favorite.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
Haha, that depends on the review! I’ve heard a lot of authors say they don’t really read the reviews much, but honestly, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist reading them. I do go in with eyes wide open. What a reader likes or doesn’t like about a book is a very personal thing and unique to each reader, so I take it as an opportunity to get a glimpse into the thoughts of someone who decided to take a chance on my book. But I try not to take it too seriously if they don’t like it.
FIND ERICA’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 18, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Interviews, Mystery, Romance
Today, we’re talking with Donna B. Comeaux about her book, Breathe for Me
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
The most unexpected thing about me is my tenaciousness to complete and publish my novel. It’s quite an accomplishment. And I’ve enjoyed every moment of this journey.
Why do you write?
I write because there would be nowhere for the crazies to go that are inside my head.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
Because there are so many subgenres, writers now have the freedom to be more creative. Romantic suspense can encapture bad villains and include whimsical fantasies or unleash dragons. It really excites me to be able to explore this amount of creativity without the boundaries that once held us back.
How would you describe your writing process?
My writing ritual requires me to get up before sunrise to check my social media platforms, then begin work on the rewrites of my next novel. It’s literary fiction. I hope to launch it by early 2025.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
If you exude patience and do it right, authors can gain meaningful relationships through social media. But it takes time, one person at a time. Being authentic is key. I’m not at all good at this and it’s taken me a while to accept the fact that I must heavily invest in this part of book marketing.
What advice would you have for other writers?
I encourage all writers to do two things: never give up on their dreams, and perfect your writing in every way possible. Proofread your work. It’s the only representation of you that your readers see.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I usually begin writing a book with a theme in mind, and from that theme comes my title. I will sometimes sit for hours just working on the title. And there have been times that I won’t begin writing until the title is firm in my mind.
What’s your next step?
I’m presently working on a literary fiction novel that I hope to release in early 2025. After that, I have a crime and detective novel halfway finished that I would love to complete. I have many stories I’ve started, so I’m not short of ideas or projects to work on.
What book do you wish you’d written?
Not so much a book but a style of writing. I want to one day write a book that George Orwell refers to as windowpane writing. To write that clear and concise fascinates me.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
Nothing excites me more than receiving new book reviews. I get to hear everyone’s viewpoint of the book. I learn a lot from my readers. I’ve even thought of new ideas for a book while reading them. Most of all, they make me smile.
FIND DONNA’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 4, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Interviews, Romance
Today, we’re talking with Jamie Anderson about her book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
When I was young I wanted to be an actor and got a scholarship for the University of Regina Theatre program.
Why do you write?
I write to tell the stories that live inside my head like many authors do, but I also write to help me process things that are happening in my life now or have happened in the past.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
So far, for both books I’ve written, I’ve gotten inspiration from my own life.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I love the happy endings in the Romance genre. I love that things, more or less, get worked out and everyone gets what they want. It’s comforting to know what you’re going to get. That doesn’t always happen in real life.
How would you describe your writing process?
While I wish I was more of a pantser, I’m definitely a plotter. I like to have structure going in but sometimes as I write I surprise myself, which is fun.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Social media gives authors the opportunity to build their brand. There’s an opportunity to sell books but, more than that, there’s an opportunity to provide value in the form of book reviews, peaks behind the scenes, writing tips and sharing things from other authors. By providing that value, an author entertains and builds trust with their audience which allows them to build a relationship with the writing and reading community.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Don’t give up. If writing is something you love to do, keep at it. Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep working towards your dream. However, if you need to take a break, that’s okay too!
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
My titles just come to me, I don’t really have a process. As for book covers, they’re designed by an artist hired by my publisher. I do get some say in them, but I trust my publisher to guide the process.
What’s your next step?
I’m currently working on my third book, but I can’t say much about it yet. Mostly right now I’m working towards launching Love, Julie on April 30th and celebrating that!
What book do you wish you’d written?
Right now I’m reading The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo and I’m LOVING it. Her writing is so amazing, it’s like every word was given precise consideration and chosen perfectly. I only wish I could write like that.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I love it when a reader tags me on social and has something nice to say about my books. I realize that writing is subjective and not everyone will like what they read, but it warms my heart to know that someone took the time to write something kind if they happened to enjoy something I wrote.
FIND JAMIE’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Feb 9, 2024 | Editorial reviews, Fantasy, International Review of Books, Romance
Which line stood out from all the others in the book?
Rabbie arched an eyebrow arched an eyebrow in surprise and chuckled. “Och, aye? Now that is something we should go see about, wouldna ye say, Andy? I’m nigh on famished.” To understand why this is such a great line and a laugh out loud moment you would have to read the book!
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General Summary for Context:
This is a book that mixes genres, Romance, Historical, Time Travel, Comedy, and Fantasy. There are some laugh-out-loud moments that I really enjoyed. It is what I would call a tongue-in-cheek kind of novel for people who enjoy books that don’t take themselves too seriously; for example, it is much more a romantic romp through the Highlands than an educational historical novel.
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Concise Review:
Embrace the Lace by Shannon MacLeod was a pure delight from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down and was caught up in the magical romance from the very first page.
You might think that mixing Historical Romance, Time Travel, and Fantasy was a recipe for disaster… and you would definitely be wrong! It shouldn’t work but it does. Laird Andrew MacIver lives in Scotland, the year is 1659. After the deaths of his parents and his young wife, Andrew has had a year of mourning and now, for the sake of his clan, must choose a new wife. His uncle Alasdair is plotting Andrew’s downfall and moves in the shadows to bring disaster to Andrew and his loyal men. Thankfully, help is at hand with one of the most interesting characters in the book—a Brownie called Brown Tom. With a little magical interference, a potential partner for the clan leader is pulled through the faerie pond. Enter Evangeline (Van for short) Darling, all the way from present-day America! The three-foot mischievous Brown Tom dons the personality of a fairy godmother, but instead of sending Van to the ball, he dresses her as a warrior and sends her to battle!
The romance between Andrew and Van is intense and their banter is a sheer delight. There are several real laugh-out-loud moments as well as plenty of chuckle moments. But they are not the only interesting characters; the author has given everyone a unique personality that brings them to life. It is a fabulous romantic comedy—oops another genre! Don’t worry they all work perfectly well together for us readers who love both passion and a light-hearted historical romance. With swaggering men and simpering lasses, and one kick-ass heroine, this is an unputdownable read. I love the author’s tongue-in-cheek take and highly recommend this to people who love pure escapism.
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General thoughts on the Novel:
Enjoyable historical romance. I would definitely read something by this author again.
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