Tracy Cooper-Posey's Blog, page 3

Smell the Coffee? What About That Turkey Stuffing?

This post originally appeared as part of a blog tour many moons ago, back when Blood Knot was freshly released. Some long-time readers may remember it fondly… or maybe just remember being very, very hungry after reading it. — t.

Hot plum pudding with brandy sauce. Pumpkin pie, fresh out of the oven, melting into the custard. Home-baked cookies, or a cake cooling on the counter. You can smell them before you even see them.

Or maybe it’s red wine steeped with cinnamon and cloves—the siren song of mulled wine calling you home on a winter’s night.

Croissants in Paris, still warm, with real butter and even more real European coffee—dark, rich, and blessed with that smoky caramel scent you only get from beans grown halfway across the world.

Roasts. Gravy. Toasted bread. Spiced fruit. Deep-fried anything.

If you’re reading this while a holiday feast is underway somewhere nearby, your senses are probably already on high alert. Food isn’t just survival—it’s memory, ritual, and a kind of social shorthand. The smell of toast in the morning. The hush of a room before the turkey hits the table. The cheerful chaos of a kitchen in full swing.

We eat three times a day (at least that’s the theory), but the cues to think about food? They never stop. Aromas, sights, the scrape of a fork on a plate, ads, someone unwrapping a chocolate across the office…you name it. We are constantly being reminded that food exists and wouldn’t it be nice to have some right now?

So what happens when you take all that away?

Imagine, for a moment, a vampire. One who lived for decades—maybe centuries—enjoying all the same food cues we do. Smelling, tasting, sipping, savoring…and then suddenly, it’s all gone. Replaced with only one option: blood.

Now, depending on the vampire mythology you subscribe to, they may not need human food anymore. But does that mean the wanting goes away? Does the memory of flavor disappear? Do the habits? What if their senses are sharper than ours? Does the craving double?

Poor Nial, my 1,500-year-old vampire from Blood Knot, has had to deal with exactly that kind of absence. His relationship with food—his loss of it—is one of many quiet struggles he shoulders, though not always quietly. Let’s just say, espresso might still be a bit of an emotional topic.

I’ve always said that if I were offered immortality, I’d need to think long and hard about the fine print. Because if I had to give up chocolate, cheese, hot buttered toast, and yes, coffee? I’d need reassurances. Possibly in writing. (And even then, I’d want a lawyer.)

Because food isn’t just nourishment. It’s the invisible thread stitched through our days, through our memories. We eat to celebrate, to grieve, to connect, to pass time, to heal, to remember. Without it, we lose more than flavor—we lose context. Anchors. Comfort.

And frankly? I’d miss it.

Want to revisit Blood Knot and meet Nial again (or for the first time)? You can find it here at Stories Rule Press.

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Still Flying: Why Amelia Earhart’s Mystery Might Be Better Unsolved

There’s something about a good mystery that just gets under your skin, isn’t there? The kind that makes you sit up a little straighter when it shows up in a documentary at 11:30 p.m. and suddenly you have to know what happened. Amelia Earhart is one of those mysteries. Maybe the mystery.

You probably know the basics: 1937, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappear over the Pacific during their around-the-world flight. Poof. Gone. Cue 85+ years of wild speculation, fuzzy photos, sonar blips, and more theories than you can shake a sextant at.

Then, back in 1940, bones were found on Nikumaroro Island—along with what sounds suspiciously like a list of Amelia’s travel gear: a woman’s shoe, a bottle of Bénédictine, and a sextant box. The bones were originally deemed male, but decades later, a forensic anthropologist named Richard Jantz re-examined the old records using modern science and declared, hey—these bones are way more likely to be Earhart’s than anyone else’s.

The catch? The bones are gone. Misplaced. Lost. Tossed in a box somewhere next to the Ark of the Covenant, maybe.

Fast forward to 2024, and another “Eureka!” moment—a sonar scan that looked like a plane wreck. Hope soared. And then… it turned out to be a rock. Womp-womp.

Now here’s where I start wondering: Do we really want to solve this?

Sure, closure is nice. But there’s something powerful about the not-knowing. Like the Mary Celeste drifting with dinner still on the table. Amelia’s mystery keeps her in the conversation, keeps her fascinating. It lets us imagine all kinds of endings—some heroic, some tragic, some so wildly romantic they belong in a time-travel novel (not that I’d know anything about that, of course).

And let’s not forget: she wasn’t just “the woman who vanished.” Amelia was a trailblazer. The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. She broke records, broke barriers, and did it all in a field where women were mostly expected to be spectators, not pilots.

Maybe we don’t need to know how her story ends. Maybe what matters more is that it started in a way that inspired generations of girls (and boys) to think a little bigger, dream a little wilder, and not let anyone tell them they can’t.

So here’s to Amelia. Still flying free, still making us wonder.

What’s Your Favorite Mystery?

What about you—are there other unsolved mysteries that keep you up at night? Lost colonies, ghost ships, secret codes, time slips? (You know how I feel about those.) Drop your favorites in the comments—I’m always up for a bit of a rabbit hole. And who knows? One of these tantalizing not-quite-true tales might just worm its way into a story I haven’t written yet. After all, mystery is fertile ground for fiction…

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Subsonic, Supersonic, Hypersonic—The Hidden World of Bullets in Romantic Suspense

Have you ever been curled up with a romantic suspense novel, flipping pages like your life depended on it, and paused just long enough to wonder, Wait, do all bullets do the same thing? No? Just me?

I came across this note in my notebooks last week:

Subsonic, supersonic, hypersonic bullets.

…and say what?  How cool are they?

So, buckle up, because I fell down a nerdy little rabbit hole (as I do), and it turns out that bullets are not created equal—and the differences can be seriously cool… and surprisingly important when it comes to who gets out alive, and who gets the kiss in the end.

Bullet Basics (That Are Actually Kinda Cool)

Let’s break this down quickly, because I promise it’s fun and not a physics lecture:

Subsonic bullets = Slower than the speed of sound. Think: stealthy, sneaky, perfect for silenced weapons.Supersonic bullets = Faster than sound. These are your everyday action movie rounds—loud and fast.Hypersonic bullets = Way beyond fast. Over five times the speed of sound. This is next-gen military tech level, but creeping its way into fiction for a reason.

That’s the science-y bit. Here’s why it matters to you as a reader.

It’s Not Just Speed—It’s Vibes, Drama, and Who’s Sneaking Where

Imagine this: the hero slips through a darkened hallway, every footstep silent, the room ahead full of danger. He raises his pistol. Click. Suppressed shot. The bad guy drops, never knowing what hit him.

Except… here’s the twist: silencers only really work if the bullets are subsonic. If he used regular (supersonic) rounds, you’d still hear a loud crack—the sonic boom of the bullet breaking the sound barrier. So much for stealth.

Subsonic rounds make those sneaky, high-tension scenes believable. They’re the secret weapon of spies, assassins, or those deliciously brooding anti-heroes who speak in gravel and smolder across the page.

Supersonic bullets? More power, more distance, more drama. Perfect for rooftop showdowns and last-second rescues—especially if someone’s leaping across a building while muttering something heartfelt.

And hypersonic? If you’re reading a story with shadowy government agencies, top-secret tech, or maybe a rogue operative with a code name and complicated feelings? Hypersonic might just make an appearance.

Why This Matters (and Why It’s Awesome That You Know It)

As a romance reader, you’re already a detail sponge. You notice when the author gets things right—and you definitely notice when something feels off.

So when a book casually mentions that the hero chose subsonic rounds to avoid alerting the enemy during a quiet infiltration? That’s not just a random detail. That’s a writer signaling to you, this character knows what they’re doing—and by extension, so do you.

It’s these little nuggets of real-world truth tucked into a fictional world that make the whole thing feel more immersive. More alive. More urgent. (And also, a tiny bit more badass, because now you can casually drop “Well, subsonic rounds wouldn’t break the sound barrier…” into conversation.)

So… Are There Romance Novels That Actually Go This Deep?

Honestly? It’s rare. Most romantic suspense doesn’t get this geeky about bullets. But every now and then, you stumble across a story where the author clearly did their homework—and that makes the whole thing even more satisfying.

And hey, if you spot one where the difference between bullet types actually plays a part in the story, tell me. I want to read it. Possibly twice.

So the next time you read about a hero with a silenced pistol, or a sniper on a wind-swept hill with a tortured backstory and an impossible shot to make…

Just know—there’s more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. And now, you know what kind of bullet they probably used.

You’re welcome.

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Love Letters Across Time: A Romance Author’s Take on the World’s Oldest Message in a Bottle

Imagine strolling along a beach, hand in hand with your love, the salty breeze curling around you, the sun dipping low on the horizon. Romantic, right? Now, imagine bending down, picking up an old glass bottle, and discovering a 132-year-old message inside.

That’s exactly what happened to an Australian couple, Tonya and Kym Illman, who found a gin bottle buried in the sand dunes of Wedge Island, Western Australia. At first, they thought it was just a bit of interesting beach debris—maybe a nice conversation piece for their bookshelf. But inside was a handwritten note, in German, dated June 12, 1886.

Now, as a romance writer, my mind instantly starts spinning with possibilities. Who wrote the note? Was it a message to a lost love? A sailor pining for someone he left behind? Or a plea for destiny to reunite two souls across time?

Alas, reality (as it so often does) turned out to be more practical. The note was part of a German experiment to track ocean currents. Over 69 years, thousands of bottles were thrown overboard from the sailing ship Paula, each containing a record of the ship’s location and a request for the finder to return the note. This particular bottle had drifted, hidden away by the tides, waiting over a century for someone to pick it up.

Fascinating? Absolutely. Romantic? Not quite. But it could have been.

The Romance of Messages in Bottles

I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a romance featuring a note in a bottle more than once. There’s something heartbreakingly beautiful about words cast into the unknown, hoping they’ll reach someone—anyone—who will read them and understand. There’s an inherent longing in that act, a whisper of fate, a touch of serendipity.

Of course, like many, I first encountered this trope in Nicholas Sparks’ Message in a Bottle. And while the premise had so much potential (a lost letter, a connection across time), the execution left me thoroughly unimpressed. In classic Sparks fashion, it wasn’t a romance—it was a tragedy. And in my book, romance should leave you swooning, not sobbing into your tea. (Side note: If you enjoy a romance where at least one main character doesn’t make it to the end, Sparks might be your guy. If not, you’ve been warned.)

A Personal Connection to the Sea

This story of the Illmans’ discovery hit home for another reason: Western Australia is my birthplace. I spent decades swimming and diving in those waters, intimately familiar with the rips, tides, and currents that shape the coastline. The idea that this bottle had been floating—undiscovered—for over a century in the very waters I once explored makes it all the more magical.

And let’s be honest: If I had stumbled across that bottle, my first thought would have been romance plot! rather than historical oceanographic experiment.

A Story Waiting to Be Written

So, what if this bottle had held a different kind of message? A love letter from a sailor lost at sea, promising to find his beloved in another life? A confession from a star-crossed lover, hoping fate would bring the right person to read it? A desperate plea from someone trapped in time, hoping against hope that love itself could bridge the gap?

The possibilities are endless.

Maybe it’s time I finally write that message-in-a-bottle romance—one that ends with love triumphing over time, distance, and even the unpredictable tides.

What do you think? Have you ever dreamed of finding a message in a bottle? And more importantly—what would yours say?

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Why Reading Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Yourself

There are a lot of great habits out there—exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep—but let’s be honest: nothing feels quite as good as curling up with a great book and getting lost in a story. And here’s the best part: it turns out that reading isn’t just a fantastic escape—it’s actually good for you.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer the smell of a fresh paperback, the convenience of an e-reader, or the ability to sneak in a few pages on your phone during a lunch break. The benefits of reading stretch across all formats. So, if you need an excuse to dive into your next book, here are eight scientifically backed reasons why reading—in any form—is one of the smartest things you can do.

1. Reading Makes You Smarter (Yes, Really)

Dr. Seuss was onto something when he wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Reading introduces you to more words than everyday conversations or TV shows—expanding your vocabulary, improving comprehension, and even sharpening critical thinking skills.

And if you’re an ebook lover? Digital books often come with built-in dictionaries and search functions, making it easier than ever to learn new words without missing a beat.

2. It Keeps Your Brain Strong

Think of reading as a workout for your brain. Studies show that people who read regularly have better memory, stronger problem-solving skills, and a lower risk of cognitive decline as they age. In fact, frequent reading has been linked to a 32% reduction in mental decline over time.

Bonus for ebook readers: Digital formats let you adjust font sizes and contrast, making reading more accessible for those with vision impairments—so you can keep exercising your brain without straining your eyes.

3. It Boosts Empathy (Especially Fiction)

Ever gotten so wrapped up in a character’s struggles that you felt their pain? That’s your brain working to understand different perspectives. Research shows that reading fiction—especially character-driven stories—helps improve emotional intelligence and empathy.

And yes, this works no matter how you read! Whether you’re flipping pages or swiping a screen, the impact is the same: books help you understand people better.

4. Reading Helps You Remember More

When it comes to comprehension and retention, reading—no matter the format—is a powerful tool. But if you’re someone who absorbs information better with extra context, ebooks offer a unique advantage: you can highlight key sections, add notes, and bookmark important passages, making it easy to revisit and reinforce what you’ve learned.

5. It Might Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

Reading is one of the best ways to keep your brain active, which is crucial for long-term cognitive health. Studies have found that people who engage in mentally stimulating activities—like reading, puzzles, and chess—are up to 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

In other words, reading is basically a long-term investment in your brain health. And ebooks? They make it easier than ever to carry your mental workout with you wherever you go.

6. Reading Reduces Stress (By A Lot)

According to a study by Sussex University, just six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by 68%. That’s more effective than listening to music, drinking tea, or taking a walk.

Ebooks take this benefit a step further—thanks to portability. Got five minutes between meetings? Stuck in a waiting room? A book is always just a tap away, meaning you can de-stress anytime, anywhere.

7. It Helps You Sleep—If You Do It Right

A bedtime reading ritual is one of the best ways to signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down. Just be mindful of how you read—backlit screens (like tablets and phones) can interfere with melatonin production and make it harder to fall asleep.

The fix? Use an e-reader with warm lighting or gasp an actual book (if you don’t mind carrying one to bed).

8. Reading Is Contagious—In the Best Way

Want to raise a lifelong reader? Studies show that kids who are read to regularly—even after they can read on their own—are far more likely to develop a love for books.

One great perk of ebooks? Many come with read-aloud features, making it easy to share a story with your child anytime, anywhere. Plus, digital libraries mean an endless supply of bedtime stories at your fingertips.

Bottom Line: Read However You Want—Just Read

Print books have their charm, and ebooks offer unbeatable convenience, but at the end of the day, it’s not about the format—it’s about the habit. The important thing is that you’re reading, expanding your mind, and giving your brain the stimulation it craves.

So, what’s your next book? Let’s hear those recommendations!

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Why I Jump Across So Many Romance Sub-Genres

If you’ve been around my books long enough (and if you haven’t—welcome!), you might have noticed something odd. Unlike many authors who settle into one or maybe two genres and build their empire there, I hop between romance sub-genres like a caffeinated rabbit.

Historical romance? Done it.
Paranormal romance? Stumbled into it by accident.
Science fiction romance? Terrified me at first, but here we are.
Romantic suspense? Yep.
Spy thrillers? Love them.
Fantasy romance? Couldn’t resist King Arthur.
Straight-up fantasy and sci-fi? Well, let’s just say Amazon had a meltdown over that one.

So why do I genre-hop like this? Why don’t I just plant my flag in one place and call it home?

My Writing Life Mirrors My Reading Life

The simplest answer: my writing reflects my reading.

If you read Kiss Across Memories, you’ll see a clear thread running through the books I devoured as a kid and young adult. I inhaled Mills & Boon romances, which is where my love for romance started. But I also adored historicals—The Once and Future King, The Dark is Rising, The Pillars of the Earth, The Eagle of the Ninth (and pretty much anything by Rosemary Sutcliffe), and Robert Harris’ Pompeii. Oh, and Neville Shute’s books, which gave me glimpses into long-gone worlds.

So naturally, when I started writing, I dabbled in historical romance.

How One Thing Led to Another (and Another…)

Writing historicals went well. The very second book I ever sold to a publisher was a historical. Then, Julie Templeton and I co-wrote Forbidden and Dangerous Beauty, and suddenly, we had readers. So, I kept writing historical romances.

But I also loved thrillers. Desmond Bagley, Alastair MacLean—I devoured them. So, I wrote romantic suspense.

Then came the wild detour into paranormal romance, which wasn’t even planned. Ellora’s Cave contracted me for an anthology, and the other two authors said, “Let’s do paranormal!” By that point, I’d already signed the contract, so Solstice Surrender was born. And surprise, surprise—I loved writing it.

Once I had a toe in paranormal romance (and by then, I had four series on the go), science fiction romance wasn’t far behind. This one, though, was a deliberate (and terrifying) choice. I’d been reading sci-fi my entire life, but writing it? Different beast. My very first sci-fi romance book won a SFR Galaxy Award, and suddenly, I had a series to finish (Interspace Origins) and a second (The Endurance) already rolling.

Fantasy romance came next, fueled by my obsession with King Arthur. What started as a deep love for the mythology became a twelve-book series (Once and Future Hearts), which, funnily enough, turned out to be historical fantasy romance.

And then came spy thrillers. I’d always loved them (Running Blind by Desmond Bagley is a favorite — and it has a cool romance in it, with a heroine who kicks butt at the end), so I wrote Hunting the Kobra, because why not?

When a Genre Calls, You Answer

At some point, I got tired of writing twenty-something heroines, which led me to paranormal women’s fiction—older women dealing with contemporary problems, but with a paranormal twist. Enter Crossroads Magic. Another series to finish.

Then, because I’m a glutton for punishment, I tried my hand at “straight” science fiction and fantasy—stories without romance as the central storyline. Turns out, that confused Amazon.

When I first published SF under my own name, Amazon’s algorithms had a breakdown. They pushed my SF books to romance readers, who didn’t buy them. Then, they tried pushing my romances to SF readers, who ran screaming. Eventually, Amazon gave up and stopped showing any of my books to anyone.

Danger, Will Robinson!

The solution? New pen names. Cameron Cooper (my brother’s name. Cam passed many years ago.) writes my space opera. Taylen Carver writes my fantasy. Both have finaled in major awards, which means—guess what?—more series to finish.

And That’s Why I Jump Genres

It all boils down to this: I write what I love to read. And since my reading tastes are wildly varied, so is my writing.

Could I have stuck to one genre and made my life easier? Maybe. Would I have been as happy? Absolutely not.

So, if you ever wonder why my books are all over the place genre-wise, just know—it’s because my brain is, too. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

The Rise of “Shadow Daddies” in Romantasy—Or, How We’ve Been Here Before

First, let’s address the elephant in the room—or, rather, the insipid portmanteau that has taken the fantasy romance world by storm: “romantasy.”

I abhor it. Truly. But, like an uninvited guest who refuses to leave, it’s settled in, and we’re stuck with it.

That said, the latest romantasy trend making the rounds is the so-called “Shadow Daddy” archetype—a morally complex, brooding hero with shadowy powers and an unshakable devotion to his love interest. Fans swoon over these characters, lured in by their blend of dangerous allure and unexpected tenderness.

And yet… is this actually new?

Not at all.

The Timeless Appeal of the “Shadow Daddy”

Long before romantasy TikTok decided to coin the phrase (and I’d love to know who started it so we can have words), the essence of the “Shadow Daddy” was alive and well in fantasy romance.

Take vampires, for instance—particularly my vampires. Many of the heroes in my various series—the Kiss Across Time series, (Brody, Veris, Alexander, Rafe), the Blood Stone series, (Nial & Sebastian), and the Beloved Bloody Time series (Rob and Christian, to name just two)—fit the mold perfectly. They aren’t what I’d call morally grey (a term that, if we’re being honest, is often just a polite way of saying bad boys who aren’t totally irredeemable). But they do operate on a different moral compass than most humans.

How could they not? They’ve lived centuries, sometimes millennia. Laws change, moralities shift, and human concerns—like property, marriage, and pesky little things like “thou shalt not kill”—often take on a different significance when one has seen entire civilizations rise and fall.

A “Shadow Daddy” isn’t necessarily evil. He isn’t even necessarily cruel. But he will do what needs to be done, and that can be very, very uncomfortable for those around him.

Popular Shadow Daddies in Romantasy

For those who love recent incarnations of this archetype, here are some of the big names lighting up the romantasy shelves:

Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas)
Arguably the poster boy for the Shadow Daddy trend, Rhysand is dark, powerful, and terrifying to his enemies—yet utterly devoted to Feyre.Wrath (Kingdom of the Wicked – Kerri Maniscalco)
One of the literal Princes of Hell, Wrath oozes danger and dominance, but as the series progresses, we see his softer, fiercely protective side.Dorian Havilliard (Throne of Glass – Sarah J. Maas)
A prince with shadow magic, Dorian evolves from charming playboy to something much darker—but still keeps his unwavering loyalty to those he loves.Kaidan Rowe (Sweet Evil – Wendy Higgins)
A Nephilim bad boy with an irresistible mix of darkness and devotion.Hades (A Touch of Darkness – Scarlett St. Clair)
An age-old favorite: the brooding, morally ambiguous ruler of the underworld who just so happens to fall for a bright, innocent heroine.Do Readers Love Shadow Daddies?

If sales and social media enthusiasm are anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes. Readers adore them.

But why?

I suspect it’s a combination of fantasy escapism and the thrill of powerful devotion. A Shadow Daddy is not just a bad boy—he’s an unstoppable force who, for all his lethal power and questionable morals, would burn the world down for the one person he loves.

That’s intoxicating. And, of course, deeply unrealistic in real life (but who reads romantasy for realism?).

The Final Word

Shadow Daddies have been around forever—whether they were called ancient vampires, dark princes, or brooding assassins. This is just the latest incarnation of an enduring fantasy. And let’s be real: as long as readers love a hero who walks the razor’s edge of darkness but chooses love, they’re not going anywhere.

Now, your turn. Who are your favorite Shadow Daddies? Let’s compare notes.

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

The Most Dangerous of All Allied Spies

When I was first researching what would become the Adelaide Becket series, I stumbled across a fascinating historical figure: Virginia Hall.

She had absolutely nothing to do with my chosen era—wrong war, wrong continent—but she was too compelling to ignore. And here’s where things get interesting: Hall is actually Mark’s mother’s family name. Mark’s mum lived through WWII herself, which made the discovery feel a little serendipitous.

Virginia Hall was a spy for the Allies during the Second World War, operating behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France. She was the only female civilian to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. Oh, and she did it all with just one leg.

The Nazis called her “The Most Dangerous of All Allied Spies”, and their intelligence services spent an inordinate amount of time trying to catch her. They thought she was Canadian. She was, in fact, American. They thought she was Parisian. She was, in fact, posing as one. They thought she was just another resistance operative. She was, in fact, so much more.

Hall’s story stuck with me, even as I dove deeper into the world of espionage prior to the Great War. Would Adelaide Becket have crossed paths with someone like her in a different time? Quite possibly.

Some historical figures refuse to be forgotten. Virginia Hall is one of them.

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds

Upcoming Releases:
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Meandering Paw Prints Scarf

This was a guest post, some years back and some of you who toured around guest blogs with me might remember it.

I’ve been talking about crafts a bit lately. I think, mostly, because I don’t have time to actually, you know, craft.

Although there’s an argument to be made that writing a book is a craft.

But it’s not quite the same thing as creating a physical thing out of nothing but hanks of yarn or old books.

I’ve been a dedicated sewing hobbyist for many years, and I’ve lost count of the cosplay outfits I’ve made.  I also love crochet (knitting, not so much), beading and quilling.

I try to make as many Christmas presents for my family as I can, each year, in my not-so-infinite spare time.  A couple of years ago, I made two of these Meandering Paw Prints scarves, one for my daughter and one for my daughter-in-law.  They really went over, and both women are still using them each winter.

The photo of the green scarf was taken just before I blocked the scarf.  Even unblocked, the paw prints show rather well.

I used Bernat Premium yarn, which is lovely and soft—just what you want touching your skin.  It’s a reasonable price, too.

If you want to use super economical yarn, you could always soften it using some of the DIY methods, before you make the scarf…or after.

The pattern is super easy.  Once you’ve completed a couple of repeats of the pattern, you’ll have it memorized.  I made both scarves while sitting in front of television.

Each scarf only took a couple of nights to make—and these are long scarves, as you can see in the photo of the red scarf.  Up here in the frozen north, we like a lot of warm layers.

You could make the scarf as long or short as you want, or that your yarn allows.  Solid colors work best to show the paw prints properly.

The pattern is from Amy B Stitched, and it is free.  You can find it here, or on Ravelry, here.  I believe the author also now offers a Paw Print beanie pattern, too.

Latest releases:
Grace of Lancelot
Christmas Romance Digest 2024: Love in Other Worlds

Upcoming Releases:
Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress

Why Can’t Hollywood Get Romance Right?

Have you ever watched a romance movie based on a book you loved only to leave the theater (or your couch) shouting, “What was THAT supposed to be?!” It’s a universal truth: Hollywood struggles to capture the magic of a romance novel. Instead of swooning, we’re rolling our eyes. Instead of rooting for the couple, we’re cringing.

Romance is tricky to translate to the screen. Something about the longing, the internal monologues, and the deep connection the characters share often gets flattened into melodrama or, worse, a Hallmark-level cheese fest. And yet… they keep trying.

So, let’s dive into the good, the bad, and the straight-up cringe-worthy romance novel adaptations.

Some (In)Famous Romance Novel Adaptations

1. The Notebook
Let’s start with the big one. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ weepy bestseller, The Notebook has a cult following and one of the most iconic “kissing in the rain” scenes in movie history. But let’s be real: did the movie capture the depth of the book? Or did it just lean into the melodrama with some very wet Ryan Gosling abs?

2. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Jane Austen’s novels have inspired dozens of adaptations, but this one remains polarizing. Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen smoldered across the moors in ways that made some Austen fans swoon and others clutch their pearls. Faithful to the source material? Debatable. Cinematic? Definitely.

3. Fifty Shades of Grey
Oh boy. Where do we even start? Say what you will about E.L. James’ writing, but the books had a massive following. The movie? It took the awkward dialogue and, somehow, made it even more awkward. Not exactly the sexy, emotional journey fans hoped for.

4. Bridget Jones’s Diary
This modern riff on Pride and Prejudice actually worked for a lot of viewers—largely thanks to the utterly relatable Renee Zellweger as the titular Bridget. Was it a faithful adaptation? Not entirely. But it captured the messy, endearing charm of the book.

5. Me Before You
Jojo Moyes’ heart-wrenching story had readers sobbing, and the movie was… well, mostly fine. It hit the plot points, but did it really bring the emotional punch of the book? Depends on whether you cried more than your popcorn could handle.

The Question of Why

Why is it so hard for movies to nail romance? Here’s a theory: romance novels are deeply intimate. Much of the magic happens in the characters’ thoughts and emotions—stuff that’s hard to show on screen without turning into a voiceover festival. Plus, Hollywood loves big drama, which often means sacrificing the subtleties of romance for over-the-top declarations of love.

So, What’s YOUR Take?

Are there any romance novel adaptations that you think did work? Maybe you adored the subtle chemistry in Outlander or felt like Crazy Rich Asians captured the glamour and the feels.

Or… do you have a nomination for the worst romance adaptation of all time? The kind that made you yell, “That’s NOT what happens in the book!” while your popcorn went flying?

Sound off in the comments. Let’s spill the tea (or wine) on Hollywood’s attempts to bring romance novels to life.

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