Oct 10, 2025 | Blog, Coffee With, Lizzie C Koz, October 2025
Rae: Welcome to the café at Books I Love A Latte Lizzie C. Koz. Before we chat please grab a drink or treat from the barista. My beverage of choice this week is a Pumpkin Spiced Almond Milk Latte with a little Maple Cold Foam (thank you very much Trader Joe’s!) and a slice of chocolate chip pumpkin bread. What’s in your cuppa?
Lizzie: I’m drinking cold brew with oat milk!
Rae: I find that reading is best when I have a beverage and a few snacks as I’m usually in my cozy corner for a while. I’ve become a pro at reading while a baseball game is on or a playlist with music that enhances the book experience. What are your must have drinks and eats while researching or writing?
Lizzie: I almost always have my cold brew and a big jug of water. Occasionally in the evenings I’ll have an IPA, but depends if the toddler has been sleeping well the past few nights lol!
Rae: Do you listen to music while writing and if so, do you create playlists for each book you write? How do you select the songs to allow for maximum inspiration? I always listen to music while writing.
Music definitely inspires me, but I also use it to block out outside noise. Our house is very open concept, so there’s always a lot of distraction and noise (my toddler is always running around).
I create playlists for every book. It helps me get a feel for my characters and really dive into their emotions. I have a lot of large playlists that I’ll have on shuffled and certain songs will come on and I’ll be like YES this is X character. *Adds to playlist*. Or I’ll be like, you know, I think this character feels very like 2000s alt rock. Or this one would be a total Swiftie. So then I’ll throw on some of those playlists on shuffle and add songs that feel right from there.
Rae: When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
Lizzie: So, I should say up front, I am not one of those people who always dreamed of being a writer. I think when I was little I wanted to be a vet. And then when I realized I was really good at math, I pursued that. Though I was a huge reader from a very young age.
I would say December 2023 is when I knew. I had kind of lost touch with reading for a while when I got my degree and started my career. I dove back in, and it really hit me what I was missing. I would always read something and have ideas pop in my head about storylines or characters. So, I started learning some very basic things about writing and took some webinar classes. Then in November 2023 I did Nanorimo and wrote my first book. And everything kind of…clicked into place. The book wasn’t any good (lol) but I knew writing was what I should be doing. So, I just kept at it during 2024. Kept writing. Kept learning. Kept reading. And here we are!
Rae: How would you describe the books you write?
Lizzie: High heat, emotion heavy, with bursts of humor.
Rae: What is it within this genre that calls to you over all the others?
Lizzie: I started writing historical romance because that was the genre I knew best and enjoyed most. Since then, I’ve really expanded and diversified my reading. I plan to break out into other genres in the future. I love that with writing we have the opportunity to write different things. It helps keep us interested and the muse alive.
Rae: Regardless of the book I’m reading I always have a journal, sticky notes, and colored pens for notation. What writing tools do you need when starting a new project?
Lizzie: My earbuds, my phone, a notebook and pen, and my laptop.
Rae: What are your writing rituals?
Lizzie: I tend to start in my notebook where I just word vomit as I brainstorm and the story and the characters start coming to life. Then I move to my laptop (or phone if I can’t get into it at my computer). Sometimes a blank screen is daunting and adds pressure. So, I’ll do something mindless (like stack wood) and as things come to me, I’ll tap out some scenes on my phone and email them to myself.
Rae: When you start writing the first book in a new series do you plot out how many books there will be?
Lizzie: This is something that is kind of ever changing, so I’m not sure I have a good answer. My style of writing honestly can only be described as: Chaos. I don’t always write series in order. I write multiple series at the same time. I’ll write prequels last. I have excel spreadsheets and a One Note that documents my stories and characters and ages that helps keep me on track.
Rae: Are your books standalone reads with interconnected characters? If so, how do you maintain order making sure to keep the plot and character arcs from veering off-track? My books are definitely all standalone reads, but I try to make it so that there are little treats for readers who read the whole series (or whole world). I definitely weave all my books together, but write them in a way that if you read out of order or pick and choose certain ones you won’t be missing out on anything.
Rae: How extensive is your research before beginning a new story in a series?
Lizzie: Ooooh. I’m once again, chaos. It really depends on the story and how familiar I am with things already. Usually my research happens as I go, especially because I don’t plot too heavily and just let the characters lead me. Honestly, what tends to happen is, I’ll start writing a scene, realize I have no effing clue how whatever is happening occurred back then and then end up lost down a rabbit hole for days. But in Enemies with an Earl for example, I did a lot of research on valet’s and their duties, etc before I started writing because I needed that information before I could write anything about Sam.
Rae: Ruthless with a Rogue is scheduled to release on October 14th and I can’t wait to share my review with readers later this weekend. Without giving too much away…this is a spoiler free safe space 😉, can you give us a little taste of what we can expect?
Lizzie: I think you can expect it to be one of those stories where, as you’re reading it and you think you know where it’s going, it’s NOT going to go there. If my beta readers’ reactions are any indication, I definitely surprised them with some of the events that happened and how my characters acted in certain situations.
Rae: Was there any surprises with the character or plot arc that detoured from the path you thought they were on?
Lizzie: I essentially rewrote this entire story when I hit the revisions stage. So, there were A LOT of surprises. And my characters were very difficult and high-maintenance. But eventually we all got on the same page lol.
Rae: Were there any moments that you realized these characters were going to fight you for their happy ever after?
Lizzie: Pretty much the entire re-write of this book! They just didn’t want to tell me what they were going to do. Bit by bit I got new scenes (and usually not in order, they’d tell me what was going to happen at the end before they’d tell me what was going to happen in the middle). It was a mess. And stressful. But I’m so happy with how it came out. Sometimes it’s that much sweeter when you really have to fight for it.
Rae: Will you be publishing any novellas or short stories with a holiday theme this season?
Lizzie: Nothing specifically holiday based. And nothing historical romance.
Rae: Any new character art we can find in your shop?
Lizzie: You can expect some new character art though! It’s still in progress though.
1. What is your must-read book? Why? To Catch A Firefly by Emmy Sanders. It’s one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. I love that it champions neurodivergence and LGBTQ+ love with such care and heart.
2. If I visit your hometown, where are you taking me, and what’s the best place to grab a bite? My hometown is REALLY small lol. There are some great hiking trails, so we could do something like that. But otherwise, we’d probably venture to a neighboring town. Maybe go to the beach, or to a winery. I’d have us eat at Blue Cactus Grill. It’s this small, hole-in-the-wall place. But their wraps and sandwiches are SO good. And their homemade slaw and chips are to die for.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I’m a math nerd/math major and love nothing more than creating intricate spreadsheets and analyzing data.
4. What is your guilty pleasure? Reading spicy romance LOL.
5. What are you afraid of? Oh goodness. EVERYTHING. I have horrible anxiety.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? I don’t have any. YET. I’ll let you know what I choose when I get it 😉
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? Binge. I binge everything. Books. TV shows.
8. Is there a book you have read that you would love to see made into a movie (besides yours😊)? I think I’d like to see Emily Rath’s Pucking Around series made into movies. They’re just really fun and a little crazy. I think they’d be really entertaining as a TV Show or Movie.
9. What is the one thing you cannot live without? That’s tough. I’m not sure there’s any item I’m that attached to. I guess I’d have to say my books lol. Like I could live without them, but it would REALLY suck.
10. What is the one career that gives you the shudders? I would say surgeon. I could not operate on people. It’s why I did NOT become a vet lol.
11. If I opened your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? I honestly very rarely use my purse, and if we travel, I throw my laptop in my husband’s briefcase. Typically I just throw my wallet and phone in my son’s diaper bag lol. I live the toddler mom life.
12. What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? Definitely social media, kindle app, and my music app.
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out with me today and I can’t wait for everyone to read Ruthless with a Rogue. You can find Lizzie at: Instagram and Website
For those who wish to grab a copy before October 14th it is live on the author’s website! You can shop her most recent publication along with her backlist and other bookish goodies!
If you with to purchase any of Lizzie’s books they will be available on other platforms on 10-14-25.
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Apr 4, 2025 | 2025, April 2025, Blog, Coffee With, Jade Presley
Rae: Welcome to the blog Jade Presley. With the warm days of summer fast approaching I’ve switched up my drinks and am enjoying a Coconut Vanilla Latte with a drizzle of caramel in my mug. What is in your cuppa?
Jade: Right now, I’m hooked on a mix of cherry juice and Topo Chico!
Rae: I find that reading is best when I have a beverage and a snack, what do you need to have for yourself when you are settling in to read?
Jade: I usually squeeze reading in anywhere I can in between deadlines so I’m often reading on my device during lunch breaks or right before bed! I take the escape any way I can get it J
Rae: Before we start can you tell everyone about the books you write?
Jade: Yes! I write why choose romantasy (multiple love interests for the main character where she doesn’t have to choose) always set in a fantastical world with high stakes and tons of spice.
Rae: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be an author?
Jade: I’ve wanted to be an author since my second-grade teacher gave us a blank hardback book and told us we could write about anything we wanted. That assignment sparked a passion for storytelling that lives on to this day. From then on, anytime anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered author. Every move I made in school, college, and beyond was to achieve that, and I feel so lucky that I get to live out my dream every single day as a full-time author.
Rae: What are your writing rituals?
Jade: Plotting. I always spend a week or so meticulously plotting out any new project I’m working on, right down to a chapter-by-chapter synopsis. This helps me know exactly what I’m working on when I sit down to write and holds me accountable for my deadline goals. And music. I use music to help me get into the mindset of certain characters or scenes, so I’m never without a good playlist when writing.
Rae: Do you prefer pen and paper or type away?
Jade: A little of both! I’ve recently started to jot ideas down in my iPad, which has been a huge lifesaver for my notebook addiction. I like using the iPad for my early ideas because I can drop inspirational pictures in the notes and make aesthetic boards to go along with it. It really helps flesh out the ideas in those early stages. After that, it’s mostly typing but I’ve had to do my fair share of dictation recently (wrist surgery forced that learning curve but it didn’t stop me from writing!)
Rae: What is your writing process? When you start writing a book do you sort out if there is the possibility for it to evolve into a series or do you prefer to write standalone books?
Jade: Whenever I sit down to plot a book, I usually know if it has series potential or not. As mentioned above, I’m a plotter, so before I start writing I know where the book will end and how it will lead into another book or not. Of course, sometimes during the writing process new twists will pop up, but the general direction of the plot will still hold true. I’m a fan of series because there’s so much room for character development and fun side-quests.
Rae: I am so thankful to Entangled Publishing for introducing me to you when they sent me an arc of your upcoming release The Never List that releases on April 8th. I’m so excited for everyone to have the opportunity to read this. Is there a way you can share what inspired you to write this book without spoiling too much for readers?
Jade: Thank you so much! That means everything to me 🙂 The original idea for The Never List came to me after chatting with my publisher about the vibes of my next project. We wanted a rich romantasy with a heavy dose of steam and an empowered female lead who still faces incredible challenges. I played with several ideas but couldn’t stop thinking about a royal event where every woman on the continent wants a chance to be selected as the four princes’ mate…except my main character. She’s against the royal authority for so many valid reasons, but she ends up being selected and must navigate a dangerous set of circumstances to stay alive. The plot exploded from there and I dove headfirst into writing it. It took me three months from start to finish, and then several months of sharpening with my fantastic team of editors.
Rae: They say some readers not only see the words on the page but they also visualize the book with an entire movie playing out in their head each and every time they read. For me, this played like an epic miniseries that I did not want to end. What type of research did you do to bring Lumathyst, the Lords of Chaos and Rylee to life? Did you know from the start this would be a why choose adventure? Were there any challenges to creating a book with four main male characters and one strong female main character?
Jade: I love the idea of it being a miniseries! And that happens for me too. When I write, I always see it play out like a movie, and it’s such a fun experience every time. As for research, I spent weeks reading and researching different royal hierarchies throughout history, gobbling up all the royal facts and nuances I could. I wanted a solid—if not flawed—power structure to base Lumathyst off of. As for Rylee, she came to me fully fleshed out and with a story to tell. I’m always so grateful for my loud characters and she was screaming at me to tell her story. The Legends of Chaos came to me a bit more slowly, but I always knew The Never List would be a why choose. I have too much fun with a genre that is centered on empowering women and having the focus solely be on her. There’s always challenges when handling four different connections for the main character, but it’s something I love about writing the genre. There’s a delicate balance to strike when there are so many love interests and it brings out the most amazing, complex relationships.
Rae: While I have not seen any published details regarding future publications is it fair to assume after that jaw-dropping last page there will be more from the Lords of Chaos in our future? Readers, do not come after me…I am not spoiling anything rather informing you that this story is not concluded when you turn the last page.
Jade: Absolutely! The Never List will continue 🙂 I’m working on the sequel now!
Rae: If readers would like to connect with you in person, where can they find you?
Jade: You can find me on Instagram or TikTok and for in-person events please check out the events page on my website at jadepresley.com
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out with me today and congratulations on your upcoming release of The Never List.
Jade: Thanks so much for having me! It was so much fun chatting with you!
1. What is your must read book? Why? Oh my goodness, such a tough question! There are SO many amazing books out there right now! I just finished Quicksilver by Callie Hart and I legit couldn’t put it down!
2. If I visit your hometown, where are you taking me, and what’s the best place to grab a bite? I would take you to a small local Irish pub that is my absolute favorite place! Everything on their menu is perfection and the view of the Colorado mountains adds to the vibes.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I’ve never read Pride & Prejudice…or seen the movie…I know, don’t hate me! It’s on my ever-growing TBR! LOL
4. What is your guilty pleasure? Can pleasure be guilty? I’m of the mind that if it brings you joy (and doesn’t harm anyone) go for it! I suppose you could say marathoning Love is Blind whenever it comes out could be considered a GP lol.
5. What are you afraid of? On a basic level? Snakes. I’m Indiana Jones when it comes to those things—why’d it have to be snakes?
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? Tats! I just recently got my first two! My first one is a crescent moon with lily flowers around it (the flowers represent my niece) and my husband and two children’s names inside the moon. The second one is a paw print of my recently passed English bulldog. We had her for twelve wonderful years and I wanted to memorialize her this way.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? I don’t get to watch all the shows I want to, there are way too many good ones releasing ALL THE TIME. I try my best to squeeze them in whenever I have time. I devoured Shrinking recently and loved it!
8. Is there a book you have read that you would love to see made into a movie (besides yours😊)? Seeing Lumathyst on the screen would be an amazing dream come true, but I would love to see The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen as a movie or TV show. That book was fire, and I know it would translate to screen so well!
9. What is the one thing you cannot live without? My family, for sure. They’re my why. The reason I work as hard as I do.
10. What is the one career that gives you the shudders? Hmm, that’s an interesting one I’ve never thought of before. Snake handler?
11. If I opened your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? The sheer number of snacks I have in there. I don’t usually carry a bag, but if I am it’s because I’m out with my two kiddos and they always require copious amounts of snacks.
12. What app on your phone/iPad gets the most use? I have the Notability app on my iPad that I use daily, mainly for jotting down book ideas or to-do lists.
Thank you for hanging out today. To connect with Jade Presley you can find her at:
Instagram
TikTok
jadepresley.com
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Apr 19, 2024 | 2024, April 2024, Blog, Coffee With, Giveaway, Summer Hanford
Welcome to Books I Love A Latte where we provide spoiler free book reviews and share bookish content. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’re back for more fun – thank you for hanging out with us today.
Our ‘Coffee With’ is posted exclusively on our website and then shared across social media platforms by post links when we are having a cuppa and a chat in the lounge.
Continue to check the blog as we will be having new new additions to our chats, guests, and lots of fun surprises as we get ready to kick off celebrating our tenth year of bookish fun in the upcoming months. A gentle reminder if you want to make sure you don’t miss a single post please be sure to follow us on social media on your preferred platform here.
Today we are excited to have Author Summer Hanford in the lounge. Thanks for hanging out to chat about books and bookish tidbits. It’s time to grab a cuppa and settle in. My barista made me a Coconut Vanilla Latte with a drizzle of caramel.
Rae: What’s in your cuppa?
Summer: Hi Rae! Thank you so much for having me here with you. As to the content of my mug, I’m having Earl Grey tea to which I have quite scandalously added cream along with the sugar (even though I know that lemon and sugar are the only truly acceptable additions).
Rae: I find that reading is best when I have a beverage and a snack, what do you need to have for yourself when you are settling in to read?
Summer: I couldn’t agree with you more. I like to read with tea and a sweet. Generally shortbread cookies, or a slice of lemon cake.
Rae: Before we start can you tell everyone about the books you write?
Summer: I write in three genres, two of which seem similar but aren’t as much so as you would think. The dissimilar one is Epic Fantasy. The two similar ones are Regency Romance and Austenesque Variations. Regardless of genre, I love at least a bit of action and adventure, and in my two historical genres, I veer to lighthearted.
Rae: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be an author?
Summer: When I read my first novel, which was epic fantasy. I had a lot of trouble learning to write and to read. In fact, I repeated a grade because they couldn’t move me forward until I learned to do both. After several years of special classes, the letters on the page finally began to make sense. Once that happened, I was hooked. I love living inside a novel, and I can’t imagine a better way to spend my days than crafting stories that will, hopefully, be as entertaining and important to other people as many of the books I’ve read are to me.
Rae: How do you keep your historical, fantasy, classic fiction, and regency worlds from blending into the other?
Summer: There are small carryovers. There’s a lot of bowing and curtsying in all of them, as well as marriage contracts and dowries. Of course, in Regency Romance or Austenesque Variations, the marriage contracts are all about finding love, often despite the lack of a dowry. While in Epic Fantasy, marriages are born of forged alliances. For the most part, however, they are a foil to one another. Writing fantasy books about epic struggles of good and evil, punctuated by betrayal, murder, and heroism, allows me to fill my romances with the lighthearted, low angst fun my readers enjoy. I could never chop off Mr. Darcy’s head (and who would want to!), but I can cheerfully unleash a dozen wyverns on a besieged city.
Rae: Do you find it easy to switch your creative process when writing more than one genre? Is it difficult to keep your worlds separate?
Summer: I could say it’s easy but I’m not certain that’s true. Generally, I alternate book by book, meaning I don’t write more than one at the same time. When I first brought in the Austenesque novels, it was much more difficult. I recall that in two of the first books I co-authored, there was far more bloodshed than usual for the genre. That said, there’s plenty of room in the Regency and Austenesque worlds for wonderful sword fights, carriage chases, balcony scaling, and all sorts of action. It’s more in the nuance of how it’s described. Sort of like the difference between ‘closed door’ and ‘open door’ romance.
Rae: What are your writing rituals?
Summer: First, I make my tea and check my email and social media. I give myself thirty minutes for that, and then it all has to go away until lunch time, when I get another fifteen minutes. After that, it depends on the genre.
For my romance writing, I next ‘visit’ my Jacquie Lawson Country Cottage, because I have to play solitaire there. Regular solitaire simply won’t do. It’s not pretty or soothing enough. I like to win before writing but I also put a fifteen-minute time limit on that in case I’m having a terrible solitaire day for some reason.
If I’m going to write fantasy or even a fast paced, action-intensive historical, I listen to The Dragonborn Comes, performed by Malukah. If you don’t know it, it’s a wonderful, haunting piece written for a videogame. The sort with swords and dragons. The song never fails to fill my mind with the glory of how heroic individuals can reshape the world.
If for some reason none of that works, I get a second cup of tea, play a little more solitaire, and put Caribbean Blue by Enya on repeat, so softly that I can hardly hear it. I’ve mentally composed so many scenes in so many books to the sound of Caribbean Blue that it’s almost like hypnotism. In fact, all I really need to be able to write is to start playing that song in my head. I’m like Pavlov’s dogs with their bell.
Rae: Do you prefer pen and paper or type away?
Summer: I far and above prefer to type. I never did master writing with my hands very well, even with all the special classes. I can, when I’m working well, type as fast as I think the story. That said, I’m a terrible typist. When I edit, which is much slower, you wouldn’t believe the sentences I find. Actually, if you want to see some, just go to Facebook and search the hashtag #myproofreadingerrors. They’re a running joke.
Rae: When you start writing the first book in a new series do you plot out how many books there will be?
Summer: The short answer is yes. I’m a plotter through and through. I plot the number of books. I plot the number of chapters in each book. I do a brief, three-to-six-line outline of each chapter.
That said, adjustments are made along the way. Changes can happen. The opening outline is a line painted down the road, not train tracks the story is stuck on.
Rae: How extensive is your research before beginning a new story in a series?
Summer: Weirdly, more extensive for fantasy books than historical ones, at this point. I used to do a lot of historical research in the form of reading a ton in various Regency genres, going to all sorts of blogs, and buying books about the era. I’ve found that a lot of the information out there is directly contradictory. To combat that, I’ve established my norms for my novels. My readers are accepting of them. Within them, we can all enjoy the story.
For fantasy books, most of the research comes before the writing. I research languages. Ancient religions and cultures. Symbols. Plants and animals. All sorts of things. I like to do a lot of world and character building before outlining the story. Often, the world informs the characters and the plot. For example, are some of the nations landlocked? That’s often a good impetus for war, or for treaties (which brings us all the way back to marriages and dowries).
But I’m terrible about stopping my work to research. I’ve read all sorts of methods for overcoming that tendency. Now I just need a method to combat ignoring helpful methods.
Rae: What is next on the horizon?
Summer: I’m finishing the final book in my second Epic Fantasy series right now, with all the drama that goes into wrapping up six books worth of war, heroism, shifting loyalties, and treacherous gods. The first draft is exactly halfway done (plotter and all that). After that, there will be two new Austenesque books. A swashbuckling adventure and a murder mystery. Then, I have a Historical Fiction trilogy to finish and a Dracula retelling. Honestly, my to-do list writing-wise is super long. If someone likes my work and my writing style, they really don’t need to worry that they’ll ever run out of things to read.
As to events, my next in-person event will be Lori Foster’s Reader Author Get Together (RAGT) this June in Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m co-hosting the welcome party with Author Barbara Devlin Friday and Saturday, June 7th and 8th, from 3pm to 5pm, the book signings are open to the public.
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out with me today.
Summer: Thank you again for having me. It’s been a true pleasure. I am so excited to be here.
Rae: Readers we’d love to know when you are settling in to read do you have any favorite snacks and beverages? Have a bookish question for Summer…leave it below.
1. What is your must read book? Why? I’m sure you know this is a very difficult question, and my answer is likely to change based on the day, my mood, etc. I can narrow it down to one of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books, but I simply cannot choose amongst them. They have everything. An epic struggle to save the world. Politics. Romance. Coming of age stories. Books that will make you cry. Moments that will make you smile. A vivid, nuanced, and in-depth society that evolves throughout the history of their world. Dragons. Miniature pet dragons! As I said, everything.
2. If I visit your hometown, where are you taking me, and what’s the best place to grab a bite? I’m taking you to my family’s onetime dairy farm, now converted into a forty-acre garden. We can bring a picnic with us. We’ll want to bring food and water into the hedge maze, after all, in case we get lost.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? Summer is my real name. It’s my middle name, but no one calls me by my first name except telemarketers.
4. What is your guilty pleasure? Chocolate babka from Green’s in New York City.
5. What are you afraid of? Not having enough time and tidal waves.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? Not a one. That’s way too much commitment for me. I can’t even commit to a genre.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? I like to watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but a day late because I go to bed early. I watch Midsomer Murders while I’m cooking. If I’m doing goodie bags or giveaway items, I’ll put on an older film. Something funny like Clueless or Princess Bride. If I’m cleaning, I listen to Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
8. Is there a book you have read that you would love to see made into a movie (besides yours😊)? So many! There are lots of Lori Foster or Barbara Devlin books that would make amazing movies. Also, any of the old classic fantasy books like Dragonlance, the Pern books, the Belgariad.
9. What is the one thing you cannot live without? Earl Grey tea (with cream and sugar).
10. What is the one career that gives you the shudders? Behavioral Neurologist.
11. If I opened your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? The weirdest thing I carry around would be all the earplugs. I hate loud noise, so I almost always have earplugs. Although sometimes I’m carrying around chocolate babka.
12. What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? Sadly, my email, and the list goes on from there, work wise. If we eliminate work related apps, since it’s spring, it’s Merlin. Merlin is an app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that listens for birdsong. It tells you what birds it hears around you, with images, so you can identify them, and it reports what birds are around you (if you let it, which I do) to help them keep track of what birds are where. I’m a little obsessed with birds, something you may notice here and there in my work. Someday I want to see the raptor migration.
ONE Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected to receive a Black Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16 GB (This model does not have a trial of Kindle Unlimited) AND an ONE Amazon e-book of Mr. Darcys Bookshop by Summer Hanford **International winners will receive a gift card in lieu of kindle since they can’t receive a kindle**
FIVE Winners will be randomly selected to win an amazon e-book of Mr. Darcys Bookshop by Summer Hanford
FIVE Winners will be randomly selected to win a Signed Paperback of Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop by Summer Hanford **open to International readers**
GIVEAWAY is open 4/19/24 -4/27/24/ at 11:59 PM
Good luck to all!
Be sure to follow Summer Hanford on all social media platforms and Books I Love A Latte for announcement of winners.
Winners will be randomly selected and announced on the blog. An attempt will be made to contact the winners.
It is the winners responsibility to respond to notification.
If winner doesn’t claim prize within 24 hours a new winner will be drawn.
** For all giveaway rules read here.
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Summer Hanford writes swashbuckling Historical Romance, best-selling Pride and Prejudice retellings, and gripping Epic Fantasy. She lives in the Finger Lakes Region of New York with her husband and compulsory, deliberately spoiled, cats. The newest addition to their household, an energetic setter-shepherd mix, has been trying for six years to gain acceptance from the cats but is adored by the humans.
Since the moment she read her first novel, Summer’s passion has always been writing. As a child growing up on a dairy farm, she built castles made of hay and wielded swords made of fence posts. She is also passionate about animals, travel, and organizing her closet. Nothing pleases her more than a row of tops broken down by sleeve length and ordered by color…except working on her latest novel with her cats in her lap, her dog lounging on the rug, and a cup of tea.
For more about Summer, visit www.summerhanford.com.
Mar 14, 2024 | 2024, Blog, Coffee With, Craig Richards, Evie James, March 2024
Welcome to Books I Love A Latte where we get to share books and bookish content. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’re back for more fun – thank you for hanging out with us once again. Go grab a cuppa while we settle in. Our ‘Coffee...
Jan 26, 2024 | Blog, Coffee With, Eva Siedler, January 2024
Rae: Welcome to the blog. With the cold days of winter still upon us I have a Mocha Almond Coconut Milk Latte with a drizzle of chocolate and caramel in my mug. What is in your cuppa?
Eva: I am still in my peppermint mocha era. One packet of peppermint hot cocoa in a huge mug of coffee with a mountain of whipped cream. I need my coffee to taste like candy and rainbows.
Rae: I find that reading is better when I can pair my book with a beverage and a tasty treat while in my cozy nook. What do you need to have for yourself when you are settling in to read?
Eva: My absolute must is my emotional support water bottle, but a truly great reading binge requires the gooseneck holder for my kindle and the little miracle device that allows me to turn pages without lifting my arm.
Rae: When you start to craft your book do you prefer pen and paper or type away?
Eva: I need a keyboard for drafting. It’s the only way my hands can keep up with my thoughts. But for editing, I go old school with printed pages and a kaleidoscope worth of colored pens and tabs and highlighters. I am an absolute office supply junkie.
Rae: Do you have any particular rituals while plotting, or writing partners while you get all the words in?
Eva: I am, much to my chagrin, a total pantser. What my little nerd heart wouldn’t give to lay out a detailed plan with all those color-coded tabs and actually stick to it. Alas, If I know exactly how the story unfolds, I lose the will to write it. But I have been lucky enough to have the same two amazing critique partners for the past fourteen years. They are the ultimate sounding boards, and just reading their writing makes me better. But owing them pages helps me remain focused.
Rae: How extensive was your research while plotting out this book adventure?
Eva: This particular book is an interesting mixture of a ton of research and yet not much at all, depending on how you look at it. I have done exhaustive research into POTS and many of the commonly co-occurring conditions in the decade since my diagnosis. I also spent six days a week in a handful of private gyms during a five-year period. Those experiences were for me, though, to help manage my chronic illness. By the time I started this book, I felt comfortable that I could to do it justice. Though I did have to google a few things about caring for a pet pig.
Rae: Congratulations on your debut novel Work It Out. It is so refreshing to read a book with chronic illness represented, I think this book is going to connect with readers. What inspired you to write
a book with a character who has POTS?
Eva: I wanted to see someone like me, someone who goes to the gym knowing the chances they fall off the equipment and end up a meme are never zero, but who goes anyway. I also wanted to push back against the classic fitness industry toxic standbys that scream things like “No excuses!” That thinking make me very sick and very hard on myself for years before I was able to accept that accommodating my body and her needs was not an excuse and the fact that I will never be able to run a marathon or even climb a flight of stairs without feeling dizzy does not make me less than. I am enough just the way I am wherever I am in my journey. It’s time I own that. Also, with POTS diagnosis on the rise, particularly in long COVID patients, I wanted to shed more light on the possible cause of symptoms women especially are told far too often are “just anxiety.”
Rae: Both Jake and Rayah have had to worth through a past layered with pain and perception from others in their community. The tenderness and care to your characters allows readers to experience the highs and lows on an intimate level while enjoying plenty of banter, scorchin heat, and a satisfying happy ever after. Were there any unplanned events or characters that you did not anticipate while crafting this story? I feel there is always one character who decides to do something unexpected 😉.
Eva: The most entertaining part of being someone who writes by the seat of my pants is how frequently my characters surprise me. With Jake, as strange as it sounds, I never quite knew what outrageous thing was going to come out of his mouth next. But I think the scene that surprised me most was when the team gathers in the kitchen for a staff meeting. I always intended for them to be a family, but the way they teased and taunted and just obviously love one another in all their own weird, awkward ways—and the seamless way Jake had slipped into the family—hit me hard.
Rae: What was your biggest obstacle while writing this book and the series?
Eva: I wrote the first draft of this book during COVID shutdown. With my chronic illness and how medically fragile other members of my family were, it was a terrifying time. There were a lot of days that it was laugh or cry. Sometimes I did both. But spending time Jake and Rayah, and sharing their antics with my critique partners, was a great way to get through.
Rae: What hero or heroine do you connect with most?
Eva: There is always more of ourselves in our characters than we intend. I expected to connect most with Jake and his potsie struggles. But I walked away more than a little obsessed with Blaine too. 😉
Rae: What is next on the horizon? Will there be more fun from Explosion?
Eva: Book two has me back in Bigbone and loving it, with possibly the last two characters you’d expect.
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out with me today and I can’t wait for everyone to read Work It Out.
Eva: What fun questions! Thank you so much for having me.
Rae: Readers be sure to check back later today at 1PM for my review. Then, at 3 PM I’ll have an exclusive excerpt from Work It Out! Mark your calendar and be sure to check back later today.
1. What is your must read book? Why? Saving Grace by Julie Garwood. I read it for the first time over fifteen years ago, but the twist at the end of the first chapter still gives me goosebumps.
2. If I visit your hometown, where are you taking me, and what’s the best place to grab a bite? My hometown is a tiny blip, nothing but fast food for miles. My high school was literally one hundred years old and surrounded on three sides by corn fields. But Columbus is close and has so much to offer! Our zoo is one of the best in the country. For a casual lunch, you can’t go wrong with wings from Rooster’s.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I am probably the shiest person you’ll ever meet. I usually blame it on growing up as an undiagnosed autistic. I love having new friends, but I’m still learning how to put myself out there to make those connections. So, if you see me out in the world or on social media, please take mercy on my poor, omnivert soul and say hi!
4. What is your guilty pleasure? Amusement Parks. It’s an entire production now with my POTS, but I love the rides.
5. What are you afraid of? Letting people down. That part of Rayah, her need to care for all her chicks in all the ways, very much comes from me.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? I have one that I got on a whim right after I turned 18. Since that was in 2002, of course it’s a butterfly, though I opted for hip placement rather than lower back (thank goodness). I’m not opposed to getting more. I just have a hard time choosing!
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? Binge! I have to know the whole story. Cliffhangers are actual torture. My all-time favorite comfort watch has to be Lucifer, though I love all things Bridgerton too.
8. Is there a book you have read that you would love to see made into a movie (besides yours 🙂 )? I am dying for the Black Dagger Brotherhood series to finally come to Passionflix! I’ve been wishing for that one for years. #ZsadistForever
9. What is the one thing you cannot live without? Writing retreats. A couple times a year, my girls and I sneak away for a weekend to work and gab and eat amazing snacks. Prioritizing that part of my life makes me a better human all the way around.
10. What is the one career that gives you the shudders? Public speaking. It sounds so cliché, and I do it sometimes. But as a daily gig, it would leave me hallowed out and stressed.
11. If I opened your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? You’d be most shocked that I don’t carry one. I’ll carry a bag when I work away from home, but I stress too much about losing things. Most days I only carry the bare essentials.
12. What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? Tiktok. I get sucked in to book reviews and puppy videos, and before I know it, hours have slipped by.
Eva Siedler and her sexy aircraft mechanic husband have built a crazy home in Central Ohio filled with almost as much neurodiversity as love. By day she wrangles two teenage boys with the supernatural ability to misplace anything, her POTS symptoms, and carpools. By night she writes funny, spicy love stories packed with strong, sassy heroines, big-hearted heroes, and tons of wacky small-town shenanigans.
Represented by Jordy Albert of The Booker Albert Literary Agency.
For more info on Eva Siedler you can find her here
