Kathryn Nolan's Blog, page 9
December 18, 2020
❤ Cover and Blurb Reveal! ❤
Not the Marrying KindRelease date: January 8th!
Type A attorney Fiona Quinn has one goal left to accomplish before turning 30: A big, fairy-tale wedding. All she needs is a groom. So what if she’s never been in love—or even lust—before? She’s confident she can solve the problem the way she always does, with spreadsheets and an action plan.
When a family emergency brings bad boy Max Devlin swaggering back into town—with his cocky grin, tattoos, and wanderlust—Fiona has to remind herself that he’s as unsuitable as it gets. Nope. Not happening. No matter how irresistible his invitation is for a night or seven between the sheets. If she can’t tie him down—metaphorically, of course—her pants must stay on.
Max can’t remember the last time a woman turned him down. He’s a guaranteed three-orgasms good time, dammit. So what if he’s not the marrying kind? Those sweaty palms he gets when Fiona agrees to help him save his dad’s punk rock club are just an allergic reaction to her methodical march toward matrimony. Before he hits the road again, he’s going to prove to Fiona that life’s more fun when you play rather than plan.
No one gets hurt when it’s all just fun and games, right?
Author’s Note: A steamy, opposites attract standalone romance featuring a cocky bad boy (with a heart of gold) and a buttoned-up good girl (with a secret wild side). 1-click if you’re into dirty dancing, swoony first kisses and hot trysts in supply closets. This book comes with a guaranteed (and very romantic) Happily Ever After.
Photographer: (c) Regina Wamba
Designer: Kari March Designs
December 11, 2020
Kathryn's Best of 2020 (Non-fiction and Memoir)
Today I bring you my “best books of 2020” list. As I was compiling this (very long) list, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by the poet Mary Oliver: “Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry.”
For many, many reasons this year has been one of the hardest, most tragic and unbearably stressful times of our lives. And like many of us who are starry-eyed bookworms, novels were a necessary escape I clung to every day of 2020. Like many authors, I treasured the privilege to write those escapes into the two romance novels I released this year. But after every finished draft, I’d grab my books and my Kindle and camp out on my couch, or by a pretty stream in Vermont, or on my back stoop here in South Philly. And I’d read for hours ❤
All of that to say - I am unbearably grateful to the incredible authors who gave me strange, unique, mysterious and romantic worlds to slip into. They were truly the rope I know many of us cherished.
Category: Memoir
“It seemed that way in the 1960s, at the height of the civil rights movement, when America itself felt as if it might burst at the seams - so much tension, so many storms. But the people of conscience never left the house. They never ran away. They stayed, they came together and they did the best they could, clasping hands and moving toward the corner of the house that was the weakest.
And then another corner would lift, and we would go there. And eventually, inevitably, the storm would settle, and the house would still stand.
But we knew another storm would come, and we would have to do it all over again.
And we did. And we still do, all of us. You and I. Children holding hands, walking with the wind. That is America to me.”
John Lewis’ memoir is 500+ pages of his life, the civil rights movements and his belief in non-violence. I sat down over my birthday weekend and read the whole thing over three days. He believed his whole life that hope and anger could exist together and that is this book: optimism and tragedy, action and heart-break, community and pain, hope and anger. And through it all: inspiration.
Category: Non-Fiction
This memoir should be mandatory reading. It's enthralling - I read it in one sitting - and Austin's memoir tells the story of being a Black woman in America. It spotlights the impact of white supremacy from massive institutions to micro-aggressions, and truly emphasizes the antiracist actions that make real change, not just words that become empty promises. It's important and vital and I really believe it should be on every single bookshelf.
Very Close Runners Up:
I loved this book and think it should be required reading for (especially) white women like myself who have always been active in the feminist movement. This book is a powerful critique but also full of solutions and real-world policy change and efforts -- both are needed. Highly recommend as a book to re-visit as folks work to dismantle white supremacy.
An excellent and incredibly important read on racism, white privilege, and intersectionality. From the preface: "We have to look racism in the eye wherever we encounter it. If we continue to treat racism like it is a giant monster that is chasing us, we will be forever running. But running won't help when it's in our workplace, our government, our homes, and ourselves." I absolutely recommend this critical and timely read.
Kathryn's Best of 2020 (Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror)
Today I bring you my “best books of 2020” list. As I was compiling this (very long) list, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by the poet Mary Oliver: “Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry.”
For many, many reasons this year has been one of the hardest, most tragic and unbearably stressful times of our lives. And like many of us who are starry-eyed bookworms, novels were a necessary escape I clung to every day of 2020. Like many authors, I treasured the privilege to write those escapes into the two romance novels I released this year. But after every finished draft, I’d grab my books and my Kindle and camp out on my couch, or by a pretty stream in Vermont, or on my back stoop here in South Philly. And I’d read for hours ❤
All of that to say - I am unbearably grateful to the incredible authors who gave me strange, unique, mysterious and romantic worlds to slip into. They were truly the rope I know many of us cherished.
Category: Historical Zombie Fiction
I heard 'Dread Nation' recommended by the author Elizabeth Acevedo and was immediately captivated by the concept. Let me tell you that Jane McKeene is one of the most amazing heroines I've ever read (as is Katherine, in The Deathless Divide) and the plot, the character-building and the dramatic pacing were sheer brilliance. These books, and this series, are utterly unique, utterly distinctive and some of the best story-telling I've read in years. I cannot recommend enough!
Category: Science Fiction
The first book in this series, GIDEON THE NINTH, was easily my favorite book of 2019. So I gobbled up this sequel voraciously and loved every single word. Like the first book, Harrow’s tale is gory, funny, pulpy, irreverent and one of the most unique voices I’ve ever read. It’s still about lesbian necromancers fighting skeletons for emperors in haunted space mansions. But, if you can believe it, the sequel was even more brilliant.
Very Close runner-up:
This dystopic sci-fi novel set in a future Baltimore was brilliant. It tackles the scourge of generational debt, the deep harm of capitalism and unpacks consent, fantasy, kink and power. Elijah and Alex’s love story is at turns startling and scary, tender and romantic - and set within a unique and terrifying world that looks an awful lot like our current one.
Category: Fantasy
Holy shit this book was perfect in every way. If you love witchy stories, but also loved the movie Heathers (who didn't??) and enjoy a heroine with a totally unique voice and a dark sense of a humor (and a penchant for magic) I cannot recommend this book enough! It's tough, funny, dark, queer, and absolutely the magical book I wished I'd had when I was a teenager.
Category: Horror
A dark feminist fantasy novel with bite to it. Read if you love witches/witchcraft, want to dismantle the patriarchy, and love a strong heroine. This book was creepy enough to be fun, atmospheric enough to suit the fall mood, and full of vivid imagery and precise story-telling.
Kathryn's Best Of 2020: Romance (all genres!)
Today I bring you my “best books of 2020” list. As I was compiling this (very long) list, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by the poet Mary Oliver: “Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry.”
For many, many reasons this year has been one of the hardest, most tragic and unbearably stressful times of our lives. And like many of us who are starry-eyed bookworms, novels were a necessary escape I clung to every day of 2020. Like many authors, I treasured the privilege to write those escapes into the two romance novels I released this year. But after every finished draft, I’d grab my books and my Kindle and camp out on my couch, or by a pretty stream in Vermont, or on my back stoop here in South Philly. And I’d read for hours ❤
All of that to say - I am unbearably grateful to the incredible authors who gave me strange, unique, mysterious and romantic worlds to slip into. They were truly the rope I know many of us cherished.
Category: Best Romance of 2020
Reading this book felt like eating a delicious and decadent slice of cake. Talia's prose is exquisitely crafted, hilarious and witty, pointed and sarcastic and smart as hell. This romance is feminist, inclusive, and full of sex-positivity. Bonus - the heroine is bisexual and you know I love that kind of queer representation! Danika and Zafir are in my romance novel couple hall of fame now. I smiled the entire time reading it.
Very Close Runner-Up
XENI is a marriage of convenience romance, with a bisexual, bad-ass heroine and a bisexual, plus-size Scottish hero. Seeing two bisexual main characters made this bisexual girl's heart so so so so happy! Their romance was sweet and aching and tender and hot-hot-hot-hot. I felt like I was being hugged the entire time and was grinning from ear to ear.
Category: Romantic Suspense
The first two books in Maria Luis’ Broken Crown Trilogy absolutely enthralled me this year. These dark, royal romances are packed with history, mystery and tons of action. The romances are gritty, angsty and raw. The world she’s created is dark and mysterious. And her prose, as usual, is vivid and stunning.
Very Close Runner-Up:
Holy shit, I finished this book basically in one sitting. This is the first in a trilogy (three different couples but one overarching story) and the suspense, the thrill, the stakes made this book such a page-turner. Plus a truly bad-ass heroine, a hot as hell hero, tons of steam, and TONS of action. A true escape and a marvelous one!
Category: Historical Romance
Brilliantly written and incredibly romantic - this dreamy, sexy historical F/F romance novel was truly amazing. Lucy and Catherine's love was real, beautiful, sweet and sultry. As they (literally) charted the stars together, I was utterly swept up in their love affair, their quest for science and equality, their curiosity and bravery. I'm new to this author's work but I'm a fangirl now!
Very Close Runner-Up
I would like to personally thank all of the amazing historical romance authors who created this anthology - it brought me an absurd amount of joy (and lusty thoughts amirite). Sexy dukes and scandalous meet-ups and Regency-era drama and corsets and so, so, so much more. Each story was, honestly, incredible on its own. And I'm not sure of the actual length of each - I'm guessing it was novelette or novella length - they were remarkable. Steamy, fun, tropey, sinfully sexy. This book was like some kind of balm for my soul right now.
Category: YA Romance
"I never needed this race or a hashtag or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown." '
I swooned, cheered, happy cried and fell madly in love with Liz Lighty and her crown. This queer prom romance was everything I've always wanted in a love story. The HEA was bright, sparkly and hopeful. I cannot wait for more books from Leah Johnson!
December 7, 2020
Tales from the writing cave
It’s going….okay, I guess!
December 4, 2020
Our vegan Thanksgiving was freaking delicious
This picture was *not* taken this year
Thank you for the opposites attract love!
Thank you for all the love for my ‘opposites attract’ sale!
I loved seeing three of my favorite couples find new readers. And I promise I will continue to write love stories where the main characters are really, truly, SO different and have *nothing* in common and really would rather just fight or not talk at all because why bother we don’t even like the same things oh whoops we’re kissing and it’s hot
November 26, 2020
Happy (vegan) Turkey Day!
A very happy Thanksgiving from my little pack to yours! ❤️
This picture was taken last year. This year, we're in our pajamas, and staying home with Walter, and video-chatting with our family and friends throughout the day! And we're even cooking a fully vegan dinner (Rob is vegan and I'm a vegetarian)...although our traditional morning cinnamon rolls might not be
November 25, 2020
I don't think we're just friends.
*shoots off air raid sirens that also shoot glitter*
Max and Fiona's final draft was sent off to my publisher around midnight on Monday night! I'll have a couple light rounds of copy-edits (the book is never truly done until release day
November 24, 2020
Hello from the writing cave (again!)
As we wait for news of Max and Fiona's January release (!!!) I'm happy to report that I am back in the writing cave again! I spent a few weeks plotting and character charting and doing a lot of research and then watching YouTube videos on said research. I'm now an expert on a lot of inane things that won't even end up in this book. But as nervous as I always get to open up my Scrivener file to a blank page and just...begin...again...I did so this Monday.
So far its been a lot of fun, and after months of revisions and edits, the wild, bat-shit freedom of first drafting feels joyful and off-the-rails in the best way. The only people who see this draft are my developmental editors, so there is no harm in letting my characters do whatever bonkers things they want
