Kathryn Nolan's Blog, page 7

Books I'm really excited about!

Is it just me, or are these extremely vibrant and colorful book covers giving you fun, beachy, summer vibes? The weather is getting warmer which means I’m looking forward to so many amazing romance releases coming so soon!

A few notes on some of these, including hyperlinks!

Yes, I may have just received an ARC of ONE WEEK TO CLAIM IT ALL and I did literally scream I’m that excited.

Alyssa Cole’s next F/F novel is basically my idea of a perfect book 😂 Read the blurb and you’ll see why.

Helen Hoang’s THE HEART PRINCIPLE is Quan’s story and I know like everyone I have been waiting very, very impatiently for it.

….also Leah Johnson wrote one of my favorite books last year (You Should See Me In a Crown) and her next book, RISE TO THE SUN, is set at a music festival so sold!

Farrah Rochon’s THE DATING PLAYBOOK is about a personal trainer and her client, a former football player, so sign me up.

Alexis Daria’s next book, A Lot Like Adiós, is a second chance romance that involves childhood best friends omg also sign me up!!!

The Power of Community

Last month I was very, very lucky to help organize a three-week canvassing event here in my South Philly neighborhood called #VaccinateSouthPhilly! ❤

As the Covid-19 vaccine distribution got underway in the city, it became clear that there were some barriers in place for seniors (who were the priority age group at the time) to access this life-saving medicine. With the help of our local elected officials, our neighborhood group was able to identify more than 3,000 seniors (75+) in our neighborhood who did not have a reliable phone, did not have access to the internet and/or had not received information about the Covid-19 vaccine in the language that they speak.

Not having internet, a phone or translated materials is a huge barrier for many of my neighbors - and the majority of the folks in this area are essential workers and still working on the front-lines. So for three weeks, more than 250+ volunteers were recruited and trained in a rapid canvassing effort that led to more than 6,000 doors knocked on: people were able to get signed up for the vaccine on the spot if they needed, they received vaccine information to share with their family and neighbors, as well as resources for food and other community services.

Every volunteer we spoke to was pumped and excited and looking forward to doing the most beautiful and simple act of all: taking care of one another. So if you need a reminder of the power of community, of lifting up every person on your block, street and city, of the awesome power of organizing and volunteering - this is it!! What an honor it is for all of us to both ask for help, and to do the helping. Both are privileges, both make our neighborhoods whole.

Thank you to the all of the industries (science, medical, etc.) that have made the vaccine possible! I know the roll-out effort has been a monumental amount of work — from administering the vaccine, to providing administrative support, working long days at community health sites, translating documents, getting appointments for your loved ones and doing everything you can to keep people safe from the virus. What a heroic effort!

Even as someone who has been politically active and worked in nonprofits/social justice for most of my life, I *still *need the reminder that every big event, every canvas, every social change, every get-out-the-vote effort, every march or protest involves a group of people who are tediously filling out spreadsheets, doing call reminders, sending emails, cutting flyers until midnight, having a few breakdowns, sending mass text messages, etc. etc. etc.

This is the case for so many of the good things we have in this life -- and I take it for granted sometimes until I'm doing it and reminded of the tedious- (but vital) work that exists behind every splashy event or leader getting elected or new park campaign (and on and on). And I know many of my readers -- from vaccine efforts to school campaigns to volunteering with food banks or helping your kid's soccer team raise money -- are often behind the scenes in some capacity -- you are literally heroes too!

One last thing that's very important to mention: the neighborhood we were canvassing - my neighborhood - is the 184th district in South Philly, a district home to a very large population of immigrant families. Many of my neighbors are from China, Indonesia, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Asian American and Pacific Islander population in Philadelphia has received an incredibly large amount of hate, violence and discrimination since the pandemic began (although sadly this bigotry is not new for the AAPI community at all, merely amplified by the media right now). Combined with rising job loss and the highest rates of food insecurity in years, this neighborhood has suffered loss after loss after loss.

I would like to uplift the neighborhood organization who has been doing the work to serve the AAPI and refugee community in South Philly for more than forty years - SEAMAAC. They've been dedicated long before other folks were paying attention, and their efforts to get the vaccine to our neighbors have been extraordinary.

From feeding elders, to community gardens, to voting rights (and so much more) they are truly incredible. I know many folks are making donations to different AAPI organizations this week, but if you need a recommendation straight from the heart, SEAMAAC is it: https://www.seamaac.org/

#OOTB has a playlist!

This wasn’t a tender moment of reuniting lovers.

This was a wild sexual frustration that demanded we submit, this was every un-finished disagreement, every dream and fantasy, every stolen glance and connection we couldn’t deny.

Did someone say hot, angsty, second-chance, romantic suspense? You’ll be getting a cover, blurb and release date for this very book (which I’m calling #OOTB for now) in just a few weeks!

I’m already counting down the seconds…

Until then, I’ll keep mercilessly teasing you with juicy, out-of-context teaser lines, promise! And, of course, I made a gorgeous playlist!

I created it to fit the vibe of this book: summer sun, beach bonfires, swaying palm trees, young-love-nostalgia, late-night-parties, adrenaline, euphoria, salt water, sweat, yearning.

Give it a listen if you want to feel like you’re on a mini-beach vacay, with a frosty drink in your hand and a hot romance novel to keep you company while you watch the waves. Or to remember summer nights, block parties, trips to the shore and walks on the boardwalk…

Take me to the playlist!

Big book recommendation!

THIS BOOK! I’ve been a huge fan of Carmen Maria Machado’s writing for a couple years now - her short stories in Granta are stunning and a few are in this collection.

There’s no way to place this book of incredible, eclectic, brilliant stories into one specific genre - the stories are about queerness and sexuality, feminism and women’s bodies, power and archetypes; it’s science fiction and horror, fantasy and dystopia, all written lyrically and provocatively.

Sabrina Sol - Delicious Temptation

Morgan Rogers - Honey Girl

Talia Hibbert - The Princess Trap

Nicola Davidson - Her Virgin Duke

Happy (sparkly) Friday!

Hiya babes and happy Friday! 🌼

It’s a sunny and sparkly day here in the city! And you know I plan on celebrating by drinking a cold beer on the stoop in the sun while gossiping with my neighbors (it’s a South Philly tradition!)

I’m currently a very happy romance author for two reasons: I’m in the “daydreaming and plotting” stage of my next book (which will be my fall release). And on Monday, I’ll get my manuscript sent back with final line edits and tweaks, so I can polish it off and send it to my publisher for good!

You can expect a cover-title-blurb reveal in 2-3 weeks (!!!) and let me tell you: I’ve peeked at some of the couple pictures we’re considering and they all give me butterflies. I literally cannot wait!

Also my friend A.M. Johnson has a gorgeous new M/M romance out this week - Not So Sincerely, Yours - and she’s swinging by for an interview with me in the Hippie Chicks at 6:30 pm if you want to come hang!

Miscellaneous Grab Bag of Random Things!

^^^ This is my ‘I’m dreaming of hot love stories’ face! I’m pretty squirreled away for the next couple weeks, polishing up my spring release and day-dreaming about my next book. If you need me, I’ll be wandering around the city of Philadelphia with my mask on and this notebook. ❤

The website Women of Color in Romance just released their list of new March romances for you to gobble up! Click here and scroll down to see those gorgeous new-and-shiny titles.

The Ripped Bodice turns five years old today! They are the only romance-focused bookstore on the West Coast, owned by sisters Bea and Leah. I am obsessed with them! Their shop has new bookstore swag, including their Mask Up for Love shirts that I own two of. Click here. Not only are they passionate and out-spoken members of the romance novel community, they are dedicated to promoting diverse romance novels written by diverse authors with characters that reflect the world around us. And their Instagram account is totally rad.

How have I been spending my free time, you might ask? Binge-watching The Handmaids Tale and doing my paint-by-numbers painting (which I totally recommend for soothing, relaxing creativity!) This is the painting I’m working on. And yes - watching feminist, dystopic science fiction while painting flowers on a deer pretty much sums up my whole personality.

Right now I’m reading Lucy Score’s newest romantic suspense novel FOREVER NEVER (it is amazingggggg also right now it’s #3 in the Amazon store!) And my beautiful #TacoTwin was plotting and outlining this book during our writer’s retreat in the Poconos in October, so it’s been so awesome to see the whole creative process — from dreams, to ideas, to outlines, to drafts and publishing. I also wrote about our retreat and you can read it here: I got fake engaged at my writer’s retreat.

New book reviews are up!

Like every writer, I’m a huge, mega bookworm! And I love to read across all genres, from romance to poetry, science fiction to memoir. On my Bookbub profile, I review most books I read as often as I can — so if you’re in the mood for recommendations and what I’m loving, you can follow me there to get new release alerts when I have a new book out. And get recommendations of books making my heart happy.

I was a little behind on my reviews because of being stuck in the writing cave, but I just added six new reviews for six books so incredible I’m still thinking about them…

Follow me on Bookbub!

The Codex series is coming to audio starting in April!

*plays dramatic music* I have release dates for all three Codex books in audio!!

If you haven’t read the Codex series yet, I describe these steamy romantic suspense novels as Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Da Vinci Code. Private detectives hunting down stolen rare books. Sexy undercover vibes. Glamorous locations, secret societies, underground tunnels and charming villains abound! Plus, since *I* wrote these books, all three include steamy, swoony sex in unique places (limos! closets! cars!) All three are interconnected standalones, but they are best read in order.

Tantor Media will be releasing the books on:

Behind the Veil (Codex Book 1): April 27th

Under the Rose (Codex Book 2): May 18th

In the Clear (Codex Book 3) : May 25th

That means you’re going to hear every deliciously dirty word, every flirty-argument, every secret shared, every passionate declaration, every book stolen, every fight, every chase scene, every bookshelf that contains a hidden passage, every covert society and glamorous dinner party…

And you’ll hear:

Moments from  Behind the Veil  like:

This entire week had become a personal study in self-denial. Which was technically good, since before Codex I’d made an entire career of studying; deciphering information, taking every detail apart, assembling it back together. I’d once spent two days cataloging every unique imperfection in a manuscript’s gilded edges. I knew study—the way Delilah’s instincts pointed her toward corruption, my instincts pointed me to obsess over any beautiful piece of history that captivated my attention.

Delilah was not a piece of history. She was no object, no book to be labeled and shelved. But from our first night in the field until now, I was painstakingly aware of my fascination with my partner. I studied that fascination, understood it to be wrong and complicated, unprofessional and potentially dangerous.

Focus was the priority while undercover, I knew that much to be true.

So as Delilah strode toward me, I didn’t notice the silk of her gown and the way it clung to her hips. I didn’t regard the contrast of her raven hair and the white diamonds that dangled from her ears. Her blood-red lips were of no concern to me—and the distinct way my body had begun responding to the sight of my coworker was something to be ignored.

Moments from  Under the Rose  like:

“I don’t want to kiss you,” I said. “I want you to acknowledge that I’m right and come with me.”

Freya sized up her opponent. “You’re lying through your teeth, Agent Byrne.”

She wasn’t wrong.

It was taking every remaining shred of my willpower not to claim Freya’s lips with my own. They were so full, the bottom lip so plump, and the red of her lipstick was luring me in like a siren song. I could read the twists and turns of her mind. I knew Freya was remembering how we used to spar. Our sweat-slicked bodies pressed tight, muscles alive, chests heaving as we panted.

I used to pick a stupid fight with Freya right before a training session just to work us both up. There was no better release than going toe-to-toe with your equal - the woman who pushed you more than any other.

Moments from  In the Clear  like:

For the millionth time since meeting her, Sloane Argento had bested me. Cutting through my best defenses and scaling my walls with ease. Maybe my fortress-high walls were there for reason. Maybe Sloane was the woman meant to climb them—her, and only her.

Besides the overpowering desire, the fraught lust, the total pleasure of finally kissing her was a deeper emotion. Deeper, troubling, and absolutely complicating.

My heart.

The organ in question thrashed wildly against my ribcage—so untidy, so chaotic. The exact opposite of what I thought I’d wanted for my life. Yet what I wanted was the raven-haired goddess writhing beneath me right now as our lips bruised each other.

Read Alyssa Cole's 'The Loyal League' series- I'm obsessed!

These are the romance novels currently capturing all of my attention right now. I finished An Extraordinary Union a week ago and immediately jumped right into A Hope Divided (and there is a third and final book called An Unconditional Freedom). These gorgeously written historical romance novels are about men and women who spy for the Union Army (and fall in passionate love along the way) - so they’re the perfect blend of romance, history, action and mystery with evocative prose and heart-aching tension.

Take me to the Loyal League

I did it!!

Happy Friday! 🌈

I have emerged, victorious, from my writing cave! (I told the members of my reader group on Tuesday that I have been dancing around my house to this song, non-stop, which I think is the perfect ‘training montage’ music for finishing a big ole book!)

As usual, no matter how tediously I schedule and plan out these drafts, I somehow end up writing 10,000 words or something on deadline day, which is exactly what I did! I squeezed it off to my beta readers just under the deadline, at, like, 11:55 pm. It’s about 102,000 words of steamy, second-chance yearning/angst but also fun action and adrenaline (eeep!). I currently believe it is the most gorgeous, beautiful and hot book I’ve ever written. I also hate it with the fire of a thousand suns! So this is right on schedule, feelings-wise.

My intrepid beta readers have it in their very skilled hands right now, so after another round of edits, polishing and more tweaks, it’s off to my line editor (more tweaks and polishing) and then a few copy-editors (tiniest of tweaks!) Just a very important reminder that when you’re holding a romance novel, you are holding a story that whole teams of people have gently nudged, shaped, scrapped and re-read to within an inch of its life. And its always worth it.

A rare shot of a romance author while in her writing cave, mere hours before her deadline.