Kathryn Nolan's Blog, page 11

Dispatches from the writing cave (Part 2)

Dispatches from the writing cave

*rubs face blearily and blinks into the setting sun*

Okay, here I am! I did get my hair dyed (see above) so I look less like a bog creature and more like a writer lady. But my coffee consumption is on high-alert levels and my desk is covered with a lot of post-it notes that have story ideas scribbled on them in a strange short-hand I usually can't remember an hour later. ("What does 'Max, sneakers, how does that affect mom relationship' mean anyway???)

Current word count of this second-draft: 53,835 (wheeee!) This is just over the halfway point, and as any editor will tell you, this is when your characters should start, um, breaking those hard-and-fast rules they've set for themselves (*wink*)

Days left to finish: 13

On-page flirt factor: Fuck, I don't know, like A BILLION. These two have bantery chemistry for days and it remains challenging for me to get them to a) shut up and b) go into their own scenes and do things on their own. 

Have they kissed yet? Um, no. But I did let them do some very sexy and breathy brushing of lips. Classic me. And there has been a sexually-charged hug! 

And because I am extra evil, here are literally the last lines I was writing before I closed out to send this newsletter. Unedited and subject to change, of course:

***
Since she couldn’t see me, I closed my eyes and let my body move with an instinct I wasn’t sure I trusted yet. I wrapped my arms around Fiona and held her tight. Let my lips drop to the crown of her head, where I inhaled sunshine and strawberries and literally ached with wanting her.
And not just in all the dirty and depraved ways I had her in my fantasies.
Like wanted her.
***

Dispatches from the writing cave

I'm deep in that "second draft life"! My WIP (work-in-progress) is a light-and-sexy contemporary romance about Fiona Quinn (Roxy's little sister) and her cocky, tattooed, bad boy hero, Max. 

In the Hippie Chicks, I described the feel of this book so far as "cocky bad boy + good girl who is immune to his charms + dirty talk + friends-to-lovers" so, as you can imagine, I'm having the MOST FUN EVER writing them. Although my current issue is that I can't stop Fiona and Max from flirting with each other all damn day long. And I need them to focus on their own sub-plots so they can become better people by the end. Right now they're just screaming LET US KISS ALREADY.

I surely will not.

BTS: That first kiss scene in IN THE CLEAR

Let's talk about that first kiss scene between Abe and Sloane (*ahem* MARSHMALLOWS) at Midnight Apothecary! Fun fact: Midnight Apothecary is 100% a very real botanical cocktail bar in London. And while I moved its location, the ambience and scenery is taken directly from the vibe and pictures they share online. (see cute pic below!)

I can't entirely remember how I discovered them, but I'm guessing I must have been googling trendy, unique bars in London. A place that had some texture and sensuality to it. Once I saw the name (such a Codex name!) and the pictures, I was sold. 

They make botanical cocktails, and are located on the rooftop of the Thames Tunnel - the first tunnel under a navigable river anywhere in the world. You can actually do a free guided tour of the tunnel when you're there!

From their website, regarding their menu: Think a Woodland Martini with Douglas fir vodka, smoked sage and wild vermouth with angelica seed bitters, or Bonfire of the Vani-Teas with burnt bergamot and scented geranium tea with Jensen's Bermondsey Dry and campari. Or a lilac and nettle tea mocktail with local honey. Or sea buckthorn and fermented birch sap. 

SO CUTE RIGHT! 

You can follow them on Instagram here: @midnight_apothecary 

I'm back in the land of cheesesteaks and liberty bells!

Rob, Walter and I arrived safely home on Sunday night after 10 glorious weeks in Southern Vermont. It was, hands down, one of the most beautiful places we have traveled to. Rob backpacked more than 100 miles on the Long Trail by himself, and the three of us hiked various forest and lake trails every day, weather permitting. We went paddleboarding on my birthday, and swam in big lakes and I did a lot of river-wading while searching for moose (we saw none, although I tried!) If you've ever considered going to Vermont, but haven't been yet, consider this my enthusiastic recommendation!

Thanks for following along on our travel journey with us! Don't worry - we're already planning our trip back. And already trying to figure out where we can (safely) travel and hike back here in Philly. I promise to bring you more fun travel pics when I can! 

However - this Philly girl did get a little choked up on 95, when I saw the skyline for the first time in 2.5 months. And I'm a hyper-extrovert, so the lack of people in the rural town we lived in wasn't something I'm used to. So Walter and I made our glorious debut again, walking our neighborhood circuit, and have been cheerfully greeted by our favorite folks (and dogs and kiddos!). 

We came home to a long list of "adult shit" (as I call it) and a house in need of some TLC. So I was distracted by our contractor today who, right before writing this, told me that the hole in our basement I've always been worried about is "big enough for a possum to fit through" (CITY LIVING GUYS). (Also, if you need a laugh, I did a very quick, very spontaneous FB live in the Hippie Chicks where I told this story and flashed around the IN THE CLEAR paperback.)

Behold: our final days in green paradise!

Watch me and Lucy laugh our way through a live interview

Last night, the lovely Dawn Luedecke and Dylann Crush interviewed me and Lucy for 90 minutes of pure silly fun and laughter. We talked Lucy's brand new release (Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door -- currently #6 in the Amazon store btw), our love for Taco Bell, our previous jobs, our dodgy writing processes and all the alcohol we've been drinking. Lucy read from her new release and I read Abe and Sloane's meet-cute at the bar in the Langham Hotel ("Don't you worry. You'll know when I actually kiss you."/ "And you'll never know if I was lying.")

Watch us on Youtube or subscribe to their podcast and hear us in your ears! 

Watch us be silly on Youtube

Listen to us on the podcast

Go read the hell out of these books

Hands down, the Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert is my favorite thing right now. Talia's prose is exquisitely crafted, hilarious and witty, pointed and sarcastic and smart as hell. These romances are feminist, inclusive, and full of sex-positivity. Bonus - the heroine in Take a Hint (Dani!) is bisexual (like me!) and you know I love that kind of queer representation!

Reading these books felt like eating a delicious and decadent slice of cake. Snappy banter, electric chemistry, hot sex, low angst, emotionally mature characters with real-life problems and big, swoony HEAs. Click here to go grab 'em. 

Making a difference in the romance novel community

Romance novels have always offered a joyful and happy escape for readers whenever they need them. There is no shame in wanting to slip into a world where a happily-ever-after is guaranteed. Reading romance, and writing it, is a privilege because of this. But I'll be honest that, like many people, my heart is incredibly heavy this week. And while below this message I packed in some happy escape-y fun, it didn't feel right not to address the loss and devastation our country has seen the past week - from the wildfires in Northern California (where my husband is from) to Hurricane Laura's destruction, from the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha and the killing of two protesters in the days after. 

I keep a quote from John Lewis on the lock screen of my phone and it has been my guiding light recently: "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" When I spent eight years working in the field of homelessness, one of my many coping mechanisms was to focus directly on the community in front of me. Looking up, taking in the gravity of the whole world's pain, often made me feel hopeless. Looking into my community, focusing on my neighbors and the women and children we were serving, helped stabilize my focus. Gave me goals, gave me clear action-steps and motivation to keep going. I said this in a previous newsletter, but I'll repeat it again: Our romance novel community reflects the world we live in. Which means our community is steeped in racism and bias (among many other forms of discrimination). The only silver lining to that egregious fact is that it means *you* can make a difference in the community you love so much. 

Black lives matter. Black joy matters. Black love matters and Black romance matters. 

Romance author Jasmine Guillory's TIME Magazine article on the role of Black fiction made it very clear: "Black lives are not a problem to be solved or an academic text that can be studied. To recognize Black lives as ones to celebrate, empathize with and care about, here’s your antiracism work: read more fiction by and about Black people...In the pages of the romance novels I read and write, I see the Black women I’ve seen my whole life. They are successful, respected and involved in loving, fulfilling and happy relationships. I want the world to know not just about our pain, but the whole of our lives, and especially our joy."

So here are some of the amazing spaces in our community offering a celebration of Black joy and love:

Join the #BrownNippleChallenge: Amazing romance author Nana Malone is hosting the #BrownNippleChallenge and it is an awesome way to stay involved. Romance readers: follow Nana on Instagram, where every month she hosts a read-along of a romance novel written by a BIPOC author and provides links to other authors in our community hosting their own read-alongs. Click here for her most recent post, support the authors she's reading and follow the other authors participating. Romance authors: if you want to host your own #BrownNippleChallenge click this link here. I'll be hosting in the fall in Kathryn Nolan's Hippie Chicks ❤

WOC in Romance: WOCInRomance is a place to promote Women of Color in romance fiction. This blog/movement is trans-inclusive and open to gender fluid and non-binary authors as well. (You can also follow them on Instagram at @wocinromance)

Hidden Gems Bookclub: Join in the fun! This monthly bookclub on Facebook focuses on BIPOC authors and main characters from marginalized groups. They've been reading some incredible romances recently. 

Two podcast recommendations:

Shelf Love: I love this podcast and the brilliant authors and academics featured on there! The central thesis for Shelf Love is that romance is a genre that deserves dignity and respect. As text that celebrates and centers marginalized voices, many romance books are individually complex, intersectional works of art.

Black Romance Podcast: This brand new podcast features weekly conversations with Black writers, editors and scholars of historical and contemporary popular romance fiction.

An awesome nonprofit to support: 

We Need Diverse Books: This nonprofit is doing amazing things in the world of publishing. Their mission statement is putting more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children. Their vision: a world in which all children see themselves in the pages of a book. From their website: "We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities*, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities" 

Click here to learn about the extent of their programs - and click the button below if you want to throw a little cash their way!
 

Donate to We Need Diverse Books

Thank you for all that you're doing to make our community better. ❤

With abundant love,
Kathryn

Birthday wishes!

Happy birthday to ✨ me! ✨

Today I am so very lucky to turn 34 - and so very lucky that I get to tell love stories for a living. It's a true honor, and an actual dream come true. I'll be off celebrating with my favorite things: my husband, my dog, a hiking trail, and a good book.

My only birthday wish is for folks to send a little cash to one of three nonprofits I’ll be donating to today. These organizations are doing vital work right now and every dollar helps. ✨

Your weekend is booked!

I've been reading up a storm up here, so I'm blessed to bring you FOUR recommendations! Buckle up, my buttercups! And if you've enjoyed any of these gems, let me know in the comments!

MEXICAN GOTHIC, Silvia Moreno-Garcia: For all you horror fans (

From the desk of Abraham Royal

Thank you for the outpouring of love and support for IN THE CLEAR and the entire Codex series. We got the damn book back! 

These characters have been with me for more than two years now. Their voices, their thoughts, their donut preferences – all six members of the Codex team have taken up permanent residence in my heart and I hope they never budge. 

When I walk around Old City, in Philadelphia, it’s easy for me to picture Henry and Delilah, strolling hand-in-hand down a cobblestone street while talking about their dreams. Or Sam and Freya on a bench outside of Federal Donuts, laughing through one of their many endless competitions. It’s extremely easy to picture Abe and Sloane, in glamorous attire, on their way to the opera – the dramatic skyline behind them as they both shine beneath the city lights.

I can see the six of them at used bookstores, at breweries and taco stands, in historic buildings and on front stoops. I feel their commitment to justice, their love of literature, and their devotion to each other. This series is as much a love letter to my hometown as it is to the magic of old books. Because all of us can attest to that feeling in your heart when you step inside a bookstore. There isn’t anything else like it in the world.
           
Before Codex was a series, it was a short story I’d written for KU Korner on Facebook – a short story that wouldn’t quit my imagination. A story that demanded to be told. When I look back at those old notebooks and scribbles, it’s overwhelming to understand that those scribbles became three novels, six characters and an entire world filled with secrets and code words, heroes and villains. 

My final send-off for Codex fans is a wish for your days to be filled with code words and clandestine tunnels, coincidences that are really clues, and an underground auction or two.

May your bookshelves reveal mysterious passageways and your perfume bottles contain absinthe. I sincerely hope Victoria Whitney sends you a love letter and the Alexanders invite you to a secret dinner party (but don’t forget your mask).

And if Humphrey Hatcher invites you to the pub, take him up on his offer.

As always, I hope to meet all of you at Reichenbach Falls one day.

xoxo
Kathryn