Laura Chapman's Blog, page 11
January 17, 2017
anticipating the worst
via GIPHY
On one of the first frigid mornings this winter, I woke the way I do most days: with my little boy cat, Bingley, scaling my back to come sit on my side. The temperatures had dropped rapidly overnight. Id failed to have the foresight--or maybe motivation--to add a thermal blanket or trade the cotton sheets for flannel, I'd pulled the comforter over my head like a makeshift cocoon. Apparently distressed by his inability to see my face, Bingley went about tugging the covers loose inch by inch. He did it biscuit-baking style, which only made this process more laborious.
This only gave me more time to consider what would happen next. Just what exactly did Bingley have in mind once he'd uncovered me?
Several possibilities came to mind. Most involved him sticking his nose in my eye or ear. He does that last one a lot, and it's basically the kitten equivalent of a wet willy. Only he usually accompanies that with a meow, which means a wet ear AND Bing in surround sound. There was also a good chance he'd lick me. While I'm flattered he loves me and wants to show affection, my friends, there are few things that feel stranger than a cat's rough tongue scraping over your forehead. (Plus, I have enough of Bridget Jones in me to worry that it's a sign I may wind up one day dead and alone, eaten by my cats. How's that for a morbid thought to start the day.) At least I assume he does it because he loves me. The cats always have some dry food and water in their bowls, so that's the only explanation I can come up with. That or Bing enjoys inflicting discomfort on others. It could go either way.
So I stayed there, keeping as still as possible, hoping he might give up on his mission all the while worrying about what he would do. Even though it probably took minutes versus seconds, he never gave up on his quest. The cover came down inch by inch, the cold air greeting my skin, sending even more chills down my spine.
I wonder if he's dreaming about new ways to wake me up.
At last Bingley succeeded. I froze, clenching my eyes shut, bracing myself for the moment he'd get me.
Seemingly exhausted from the effort, he collapsed heavily onto my shoulder. One paw was draped over my back, the other to my chest. His face leaned forward, his light breath chilled my neck. Then, he rested his furry cheek against mine and passed out.
It was maybe the cutest, sweetest moment I've ever had with my cat. Made even better by the fact I'd been preparing myself for the worst only to have him surprise me with a show of affection that I couldn't pass up. Even if it came before dawn.
I've been meditating on this exchange off and on since. I'm sure there's a lesson of sorts to be learned here. Something about how so often in life I often prepare myself for the worst. Maybe we all do that. It's a learned behavior. Something we've picked up after being burned before. It's hard not to worry. It's hard not to be scared when you don't know exactly what comes next. It's hard to forget about past upsets.
I do this all the time. I panicked about my trip to France last April. I acted like a real a-hole to other people and really braced myself for disappointment. It ended up being one of my highlights of the year. No, it wasn't perfect, but missing a train and ending up killing time with a plate of croissants and fresh-squeezed orange juice wasn't exactly a tragedy. I also came up with my current work-in-progress while I sat in a cafe one evening waiting out a rainstorm (and protest) that left us stranded several blocks from our home base.
I mean, seriously. Check out that set-up.
Not a bad way to spend a couple hours at all.
Life is full of surprises. Some of those surprises are sweet. Those deserve just as much consideration (maybe even more) than my always anticipating the worst. It's not easy to change something so ingrained in our personalities (or at least in mine). But it's probably worth a shot.
*** Let's keep in touch! You can find out what's going on in my world between blog posts by following my daily adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I post new videos on YouTube every Thursday and you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. You can also find out more about my books by visiting my website, www.laurachapmanbooks.com. Whew. ***
On one of the first frigid mornings this winter, I woke the way I do most days: with my little boy cat, Bingley, scaling my back to come sit on my side. The temperatures had dropped rapidly overnight. Id failed to have the foresight--or maybe motivation--to add a thermal blanket or trade the cotton sheets for flannel, I'd pulled the comforter over my head like a makeshift cocoon. Apparently distressed by his inability to see my face, Bingley went about tugging the covers loose inch by inch. He did it biscuit-baking style, which only made this process more laborious.
This only gave me more time to consider what would happen next. Just what exactly did Bingley have in mind once he'd uncovered me?
Several possibilities came to mind. Most involved him sticking his nose in my eye or ear. He does that last one a lot, and it's basically the kitten equivalent of a wet willy. Only he usually accompanies that with a meow, which means a wet ear AND Bing in surround sound. There was also a good chance he'd lick me. While I'm flattered he loves me and wants to show affection, my friends, there are few things that feel stranger than a cat's rough tongue scraping over your forehead. (Plus, I have enough of Bridget Jones in me to worry that it's a sign I may wind up one day dead and alone, eaten by my cats. How's that for a morbid thought to start the day.) At least I assume he does it because he loves me. The cats always have some dry food and water in their bowls, so that's the only explanation I can come up with. That or Bing enjoys inflicting discomfort on others. It could go either way.
So I stayed there, keeping as still as possible, hoping he might give up on his mission all the while worrying about what he would do. Even though it probably took minutes versus seconds, he never gave up on his quest. The cover came down inch by inch, the cold air greeting my skin, sending even more chills down my spine.
I wonder if he's dreaming about new ways to wake me up.At last Bingley succeeded. I froze, clenching my eyes shut, bracing myself for the moment he'd get me.
Seemingly exhausted from the effort, he collapsed heavily onto my shoulder. One paw was draped over my back, the other to my chest. His face leaned forward, his light breath chilled my neck. Then, he rested his furry cheek against mine and passed out.
It was maybe the cutest, sweetest moment I've ever had with my cat. Made even better by the fact I'd been preparing myself for the worst only to have him surprise me with a show of affection that I couldn't pass up. Even if it came before dawn.
I've been meditating on this exchange off and on since. I'm sure there's a lesson of sorts to be learned here. Something about how so often in life I often prepare myself for the worst. Maybe we all do that. It's a learned behavior. Something we've picked up after being burned before. It's hard not to worry. It's hard not to be scared when you don't know exactly what comes next. It's hard to forget about past upsets.
I do this all the time. I panicked about my trip to France last April. I acted like a real a-hole to other people and really braced myself for disappointment. It ended up being one of my highlights of the year. No, it wasn't perfect, but missing a train and ending up killing time with a plate of croissants and fresh-squeezed orange juice wasn't exactly a tragedy. I also came up with my current work-in-progress while I sat in a cafe one evening waiting out a rainstorm (and protest) that left us stranded several blocks from our home base.
I mean, seriously. Check out that set-up. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours at all.
Life is full of surprises. Some of those surprises are sweet. Those deserve just as much consideration (maybe even more) than my always anticipating the worst. It's not easy to change something so ingrained in our personalities (or at least in mine). But it's probably worth a shot.
*** Let's keep in touch! You can find out what's going on in my world between blog posts by following my daily adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I post new videos on YouTube every Thursday and you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. You can also find out more about my books by visiting my website, www.laurachapmanbooks.com. Whew. ***
January 10, 2017
persevere
I know it was super trendy to say that 2016 sucked, and I vaguely recall a similar sentiment at the end of 2015 and probably 2014. So it's not terribly original of me to say that last year was tough for a lot of people.
Though my own woes feel kind of insignificant when you measure them next to others, I had a few toughies. There was having my publisher close suddenly and unexpectedly and my having to figure out what to do. There was the general up and down of learning how to be an Indie author. Then again the ups and downs of querying agents and publishers to see about that side of the business. There were personal issues. And so on. Fears. Doubts. Anger. Sadness. A lot of bummery in general.
It's hard not to let all of that get the best of you. Still, in 2016, I made it my goal to believe. That was my word of the year, and I literally wore it as a badge around my neck with my inscribed necklace from The Giving Keys.
Like a good little wordsmith, I seriously considered the meaning of that word: believe. According to good old Merriam-Webster's dictionary, the definition is simple:
a : to have a firm religious faithThat's exactly what I needed going from 2015 to 2016. I needed to believe in myself and what I was doing. I needed to have faith that I was on the path I needed to be on in my life. I needed to accept that my actions and feelings and goals were true, genuine, and real. Whenever I got down on myself or where I was in my journey, I'd remind myself to believe. It didn't magically make things better, but it helped. A lot. Slowly but surely, I've come to truly and fully believe that I am on the path I need to be on at this point in my life. I've come to believe that I have stories to tell and that they matter.
b : to accept something as true, genuine, or real
And in a year that had some big downs for me--and others--I still found a lot to be happy and thankful for, because I could keep things in perspective. Because I believed, I had more confidence. (Most of the time, because let's be real. I'm a tad dramatic and am quick to feel like the sky is falling--though I've managed to minimize how often I jump to that place. So, progress.)
Still, there's a lot of self-doubt. There are a lot of unanswered questions. I get fearful often and question myself and my world. Sometimes, I feel so out of control--and so anxious about it--I get overwhelmed. That's when I remind myself that everything will work out and I have to do my best. I have to persevere.
to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragementMeriam-Websters got this definition exactly right for me again. This year, I need to persist no matter what life throws at me. I need to carry on even when the unknowns seem daunting. In 2017, I am going to persevere.
I wrote about some of my goals for 2017 in last week's post. A lot of these are comparable to resolutions I've made in years past. I'm still such a big work in progress that I have to persevere, to carry on in the pursuit of being my best and doing my best.
In the spirit of The Giving Keys, I passed my old necklace on to someone else. I'll admit, it wasn't easy to do. I wore that necklace every day for a year, and in a way, it kind of felt like I was giving away a piece of me. But it wouldn't have been right for me to hold onto it when someone else maybe needed it more at this point in his or her life.
I asked my Facebook and Instagram followers to contact me if they needed a little extra reminder to believe, and I randomly selected one to send it to for the new year.
During the week submissions were open, I carefully read each message. Every person had a different and truly unique reason for needing to believe. There were personal goals, wishes for others, and desires for belief at large. While I'd known how important that word was for me, it struck something within me to realize just how much we all need to believe.
I wish I could have sent the necklace to every person who sent me their stories. Seriously. If you are reading this and are one of the people who sent me your story, please know that I truly appreciate your getting in touch and sharing your story with me. Each one gave me something to consider in myself, and I'm still thinking about the words you sent. So thank you for that gift to me.
Whether you're needing to believe in yourself or persevere this year--or maybe your primary goal is something entirely different--I wish you lots of luck on your journey.
(Disclaimer: Though the link to The Giving Keys is a referral link--you get one for having an account and can earn points by referring people--I am not directly affiliated with the company and have not received monetary or gift compensation. I just really love their product and believe in the mission and message.)
*** Let's keep in touch! You can find out what's going on in my world between blog posts by following my daily adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I post new videos on YouTube every Thursday and you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. You can also find out more about my books by visiting my website, www.laurachapmanbooks.com. Whew. ***
January 3, 2017
new year, new resolutions
A new year always comes with new possibilities. We hope they are good. We know some will be bad. But we carry on all the same, hoping that our futures will err on the side of good.
Maybe that’s why we do New Year’s Resolutions. I’ll admit, I’m someone who always comes up with a list of ways I’m going to make myself new and improved. I’ll also admit, I don’t really understand the origin of resolutions. Neither of my parents made them (at least not as far as I know). I don’t even really know where the tradition originated. I could do a quick Google search to find out, but that’s not really the point. Regardless of where the whole concept came from, I am a sucker for making resolutions every year.
And I suck at following through with them.
I am all about goal-setting and making lists. So when a new year rolls around, of course I have a list of things I’d like to accomplish, hopefully in pursuit of making myself better and making my year good. I also tend to overreach. I say I’m going to write three or four books, find a fabulous big publisher with a contract, eat super healthy and work out all the time so I can be ripped, and then pay off all my debt and save a bunch of money, so I’ll finally have my life/shit together.
At the same time, I neglect coming up with any plans intended to enrich myself emotionally or spiritually. I end up failing at those big goals, feel overwhelmed and end up tossing out my resolutions without much to show from them. I then go through a series of meltdowns and lazy periods filled with self-loathing and general bummery. That leads to me feeling pretty bummed about everything when we come to the end of the year and I realized I haven’t done all that much. So, of course, I have to set more resolutions to make up for my previous failures, and the whole cycle starts up again.
That brings us to today, to 2017. I could say, “not this year” or “no resolutions for me,” but darn it all, this is my tradition. And even if I fail in the pursuit of making myself a better person, well, at least I tried.
All the same, this year I’m doing a slightly different take with my resolutions. Rather than focus on weight-loss (which would be great, but is also stressful), bestsellership (which is awesome, but realistically, probably not in the cards for me this year), and deciding I’ll get my shit together at last, I’m going to focus on doing things that I think will bring me happiness and balance. I want to stop telling myself I need to be good and better and focus on doing good and making my world better. I want to be happy, not perfect. I want to live my best life and be my best me, even if that means learning to accept and love my flaws.
With that in mind, here’s my list of resolutions--or better yet goals and aspirations--for 2017.
Read 50 new-to-me books.
I’m a big re-reader of stories, and I’m never going to stop doing that. Re-reading my favorites brings me so much joy. But, I become a better-rounded person and writer when I read other books. Bonus: I'm going to challenge myself to diversify my reading more. Last year I read more non-fiction, which really expanded my thinking. I should continue that, but I also want to read stories by authors from more diverse backgrounds to hopefully expand my world-view.
Watch more new-to-me movies. Like with books, I tend to re-watch the same movies, which is okay. But between $5 movies on Tuesdays and before 11 a.m. on weekends at our local theaters and my Netflix and Amazon subscriptions, I have a lot of never-before-seen movies at my fingertips. A few years ago, my sister and I went and saw bunches of movies during the first few months of the year. When I lived in Houston, I'd rent at least three new movies a week from RedBox. I watched things I loved, things I disliked, but all in all, I genuinely think it made me better. Plus, planning movie time is like planning productive downtime, which I really need.
Bake a loaf of bread every month.I made my first non-quick bread in 2016, and it kind of changed my life. There was something so therapeutic about kneading bread and letting the smell of it fill my house. While I don't eat a ton of bread, I can freeze what I don't use right away. I hope this will be fun and a way for me to be more conscious of what I'm eating. That leads me to...
Try one new recipe every week. Of course this will vary based on travel/work, but I have this on the list for a few reasons. One, I need to stop defaulting to takeout/fast food, because I'm bored with my options at home. It's pricey and not so healthy. Two, I'm great at saving recipes on Pinterest to make later only to never follow-up. This is accountability. Three, like with the bread, I hope it will help me pay more attention to what I'm eating and discover a joy in cooking. Who knows? As an added benefit, maybe it will help me make healthier decisions when I eat all around. Plus, I like cooking. I just forget that.
Do 30 minutes of cardio five times a week. Yes, yes, this is pretty much the same thing I tell myself every year. Only, most of the time I say it as part of a plan to lose weight. This year, I want to make it part of my routine as something I do, because it is good for me. I want to find ways of enjoying these 150 minutes every week. I won't deny that dropping some L-Bs wouldn't be nice, but that can't be my main objective. I've tried that--and dieting--before. It works temporarily, then I rebel. Badly. And I do remember enjoying exercise. Not necessarily the act of it, but how I felt after doing it. I was less sluggish and had more energy. I could go for both.
Try the whole clean-as you-go-deal I keep hearing about.I've read several articles that suggest doing a little bit of housework every day to keep you from panicking whenever you have people over. I've meant to implement something like this for years, but haven't. I still don't know if I'll be great at it. But basically, I'd be happy if I could make it a habit to unload the dishwasher when it's clean, load dishes as I use them, make my bed every morning, and take the damn trash out when it's full. These are all basic things, but I'm really good at being lazy.
Go on an adventure somewhere I've never been.Last year I went to Nantes, France, and Western Nebraska for work. I'd never been either place. I'd even dreaded both trips at one point in time or another. Both turned out to be some of the most positive moments of my year. I am a homebody at heart, but I gain so much from exploring the world. I need to remember that.
Keep regular office hours for my writing career. It tends to be feast or famine with me when it comes to writing, publishing, and marketing. I'm feeling more and more like an author these days, and I should start acting like it. I need to carve out consistent time so I feel less panicked about deadlines. I need to work at it every day so I can get better at it every day. Because all of this is a craft you have to practice over and over again. As such, I need to remember that when I write it doesn't have to be perfect. I can try scene from a few different perspectives--or start a story in different places--until it feels right.
Have a regular day of pampering every week.Rachel Hollis, one of my favorite authors to stalk--I mean, follow--on social media, encourages women to do this. Whether it's going out and getting your nails done or giving yourself a manicure and facial at home, she says it's a great way to practice self care. All too often, I put things like this on the back burner, but making an evening of it--once a week, if even for half an hour--would go a long ways for me.
I don't know how I'll do with keeping these resolutions. They're pretty major, and I know I just have to do my best. Really, what a lot of this comes down to is making a good routine for myself. While I don't want to over-structure my life, I do need to have some. Otherwise, I end up doing nothing and feeling badly about myself.
So what about you? Are you making any resolutions? Do you have any advice for me on implementing and keeping mine? Leave a comment below.
(And, okay, after all of this, I was curious. I went ahead and ran a Google search to learn more about the origin story behind New Year’s resolutions. Apparently it dates back to the Babylonians making promises to their gods each year to pay their debts. The Romans were in on it too. I don’t know. I’m not a historian, so I’ll direct you here or here if you’d like to read more.)
*** Let's keep in touch! You can find out what's going on in my world between blog posts by following my daily adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I post new videos on YouTube every Thursday and you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. You can also find out more about my books by visiting my website, www.laurachapmanbooks.com. Whew. ***
December 5, 2016
score some prizes and fun with the holly jolly chick lit hop
Make the holiday season even merrier by discovering new reads from some of today's best chick lit and romantic comedy authors during the Holly Jolly Chick Lit Hop on Facebook.
Here's how it works: every day from Monday, December 5 through Friday, December 16, readers are invited to hop around to more than 60 authors' Facebook pages (with about five stops each day) to receive gifts and enter to win prizes.
Here is the schedule, which includes the list of authors posting each day and links to their Facebook pages in case you'd like to give them a "like" and follow along:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5Rich AmooiGlynis AstieMelissa BaldwinLaura ChapmanNikki MahoodCarol Maloney Scott
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6Laurie BaxterJamie FarrellLaura KenyonLiberty KontranowskiAmy Lynch
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7Traci AndrighettiRenee ConoultyRobyn NeeleyGail OlmstedMeredith Schorr
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8Amanda AkselCat LavoieNikki LeClairCassandra O’LearyZara Stoneley
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9Tracie BanisterHilary GrossmanBeth LabonteMonique McDonellClodagh Murphy
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10Becky MonsonTracy KrimmerAndrene LowCassandra PiatAmy Rivers
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11Leah Marie BrownKaren M. CoxKate O’KeeffeJean OramFern Ronay
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12Jax AbbeyLaura BarnardPhoebe FoxJenny GardinerStacey Wiedower
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13Amy GettingerJennie MartsElise NobleRosa TempleK.C. Wilder
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14Isabelle AndoverMichele BrouderJennifer FarwellHolly Tierney-BedfordNicole Waggoner
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15Kathryn BielGeralyn CorcilloMaggie DallenJillianne HamiltonPatrice Locke
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16Cindy AroraAmy AvanzinoErin HussSusan MurphyLucie Simone
We will also give away several Amazon gift cards as bonus prizes on the event page. Every day that you participate and leave a comment on the main post for the day, you will be entered into the drawing to receive the prizes. Be sure to check back every day to maximize your chances!
Happy Holidays to all and to all some fabulous reading!
October 28, 2016
sneak peek #3 of 'three & out'
New from Laura Chapman, the third installment of her fantasy football romantic comedy Queen of the League series . . .
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
“You have to talk some sense into J.J. He’s freaking out about this whole redraft thing.”
I roll my eyes at the irritation in Wade’s voice. How like sweet, lovable, but basically helpless Wade to want me to save the day and soothe everyone else’s nerves. Even though I’m two time zones away. It’s my own fault. Back when we all worked together at the car dealership in Lincoln, that’s what I did. I fixed things. Not to brag, I was good at it. Too good, apparently.
I start the brisk walk toward campus. After looking around town, we’d settled on a tiny walk-up a few minutes from campus rather than going for something more spacious in the suburbs. What we pay for in extra rent, we make up for in gas and time savings. Plus, every work day starts and ends with cardio, which is how I’m able to rationalize skipping the gym. I’ve always been bad about going, but now I can do it guilt-free.
“What are we going to do?” Wade asks. “He’s out of control.”
“In his defense, it was a pretty big pain in the butt to find a time when we were all available to draft in the first place. Things are complicated now that we’re on the West Coast and Gio is on the East—”
“It’s not a matter of time zones.”
I imagine myself flipping Wade the bird. “No. I suppose it isn’t.”
“You’re not here every day. You don’t get it.”
Now I have to fight the urge to throw my phone into the street. The only reason I don’t is because I don’t want to have to replace it. Especially not until I back up my music and photos. I have a bunch of pictures of Blitz and my latest crocheting projects on my phone. I can’t risk parting with them in a wave of misplaced fury. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I like Wade. Most of the time. Plus, I have to be patient with him. He’s married to Brook’s sister now, so he’s family.
“What else is going on?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
“Well . . .” Then Wade launches into something that’s a mixture of rant and useful information.
Apparently, J.J. hasn’t been handling the changes to his environment well. First, Brook and I moved in February. Aside from the few months he spent playing in an arena league, J.J. hasn’t been away from his former practice squad wide receiver since they were freshmen in college. Then in May, Gio transferred to the flagship store in Schenectady, New York, so the owners of the dealership—the Donaldsons—could enjoy early retirement and a second honeymoon.
With his most stable influences gone, J.J. spent the summer in a free-for-all binge. There’s more drinking. More one-night stands. More shoving matches with strangers in bars. More illegal substances. It’s all of J.J.’s vices, only on a bigger level. He’s Deluxe J.J.
“Why are you just telling me this now? If it’s been going on all summer, why—”
“I thought we could take care of it. Contrary to what you might think, I usually try to handle things on my own.” I can almost imagine Wade tussling his cropped brown hair on the other side of the line. “But this morning, after we got our messages about the botched draft, J.J. lost it. He threw a chair at one of the cars in the lobby.”
I gasp and nearly run into a woman walking her dog in the other direction. Recovering quickly, I dart an apologetic grin and mouth, “Sorry.” “What did Anderson do?”
“Nothing.”
I stumble again. “He did—”
“Well, not nothing really. He told J.J. to cool down and check our Internet sales. He said it in that voice of his that scares the crap out of you.”
I’m all too familiar with it. “That was it?”
“Well . . . then he asked Dylan to take the car back to maintenance.”
It makes sense. He’d want to make sure there wasn’t any damage to the body. He’d also want to take care of the dents with as little fuss as possible before ripping J.J. a new one.
“Then he asked you to call me? So I could set J.J. straight.”
“Pretty much.”
That figures. It all does. However, understanding the source for this request doesn’t give me any clear ideas on what I’m supposed to do to help. It’s not like I can hop on a plane and smack some sense into J.J. I’m already flying back in October, and I can’t take off that much time from work. A phone call will only do so much. There’s also the chance I could say the wrong thing and make it worse.
It’s not a good situation.
“Look, Wade, I don’t know what I can—”
“Just think of something. Anything. Give him a call and talk some reason into him. He listens to you.”
“Yeah, right. You mean he listens to Brook.” Which is who Wade should have called, come to think of it.
“Brook is my next call if you won’t help. But you’d be surprised by how much stock J.J. puts in you. I know I’m asking a lot—”
“You’re asking for a miracle.”
“Maybe, but please.”
The way he says it—his voice so wistful—is more than a request. It’s a last-ditch plea. Like Princess Leia telling Obi-Wan he’s her only hope. And, man, I need to make some less nerdy friends if that’s the first analogy to come to mind. I’m practically a female version of any given member of the league these days. My heart pings as I think about those guys. They’re more than my buddies. They’re my family. Not just the one’s I’m related to by blood or marriage.
Family comes through when you need them.
“Okay. I’ll talk to him.”
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
“You have to talk some sense into J.J. He’s freaking out about this whole redraft thing.”
I roll my eyes at the irritation in Wade’s voice. How like sweet, lovable, but basically helpless Wade to want me to save the day and soothe everyone else’s nerves. Even though I’m two time zones away. It’s my own fault. Back when we all worked together at the car dealership in Lincoln, that’s what I did. I fixed things. Not to brag, I was good at it. Too good, apparently.
I start the brisk walk toward campus. After looking around town, we’d settled on a tiny walk-up a few minutes from campus rather than going for something more spacious in the suburbs. What we pay for in extra rent, we make up for in gas and time savings. Plus, every work day starts and ends with cardio, which is how I’m able to rationalize skipping the gym. I’ve always been bad about going, but now I can do it guilt-free.
“What are we going to do?” Wade asks. “He’s out of control.”
“In his defense, it was a pretty big pain in the butt to find a time when we were all available to draft in the first place. Things are complicated now that we’re on the West Coast and Gio is on the East—”
“It’s not a matter of time zones.”
I imagine myself flipping Wade the bird. “No. I suppose it isn’t.”
“You’re not here every day. You don’t get it.”
Now I have to fight the urge to throw my phone into the street. The only reason I don’t is because I don’t want to have to replace it. Especially not until I back up my music and photos. I have a bunch of pictures of Blitz and my latest crocheting projects on my phone. I can’t risk parting with them in a wave of misplaced fury. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I like Wade. Most of the time. Plus, I have to be patient with him. He’s married to Brook’s sister now, so he’s family.
“What else is going on?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
“Well . . .” Then Wade launches into something that’s a mixture of rant and useful information.
Apparently, J.J. hasn’t been handling the changes to his environment well. First, Brook and I moved in February. Aside from the few months he spent playing in an arena league, J.J. hasn’t been away from his former practice squad wide receiver since they were freshmen in college. Then in May, Gio transferred to the flagship store in Schenectady, New York, so the owners of the dealership—the Donaldsons—could enjoy early retirement and a second honeymoon.
With his most stable influences gone, J.J. spent the summer in a free-for-all binge. There’s more drinking. More one-night stands. More shoving matches with strangers in bars. More illegal substances. It’s all of J.J.’s vices, only on a bigger level. He’s Deluxe J.J.
“Why are you just telling me this now? If it’s been going on all summer, why—”
“I thought we could take care of it. Contrary to what you might think, I usually try to handle things on my own.” I can almost imagine Wade tussling his cropped brown hair on the other side of the line. “But this morning, after we got our messages about the botched draft, J.J. lost it. He threw a chair at one of the cars in the lobby.”
I gasp and nearly run into a woman walking her dog in the other direction. Recovering quickly, I dart an apologetic grin and mouth, “Sorry.” “What did Anderson do?”
“Nothing.”
I stumble again. “He did—”
“Well, not nothing really. He told J.J. to cool down and check our Internet sales. He said it in that voice of his that scares the crap out of you.”
I’m all too familiar with it. “That was it?”
“Well . . . then he asked Dylan to take the car back to maintenance.”
It makes sense. He’d want to make sure there wasn’t any damage to the body. He’d also want to take care of the dents with as little fuss as possible before ripping J.J. a new one.
“Then he asked you to call me? So I could set J.J. straight.”
“Pretty much.”
That figures. It all does. However, understanding the source for this request doesn’t give me any clear ideas on what I’m supposed to do to help. It’s not like I can hop on a plane and smack some sense into J.J. I’m already flying back in October, and I can’t take off that much time from work. A phone call will only do so much. There’s also the chance I could say the wrong thing and make it worse.
It’s not a good situation.
“Look, Wade, I don’t know what I can—”
“Just think of something. Anything. Give him a call and talk some reason into him. He listens to you.”
“Yeah, right. You mean he listens to Brook.” Which is who Wade should have called, come to think of it.
“Brook is my next call if you won’t help. But you’d be surprised by how much stock J.J. puts in you. I know I’m asking a lot—”
“You’re asking for a miracle.”
“Maybe, but please.”
The way he says it—his voice so wistful—is more than a request. It’s a last-ditch plea. Like Princess Leia telling Obi-Wan he’s her only hope. And, man, I need to make some less nerdy friends if that’s the first analogy to come to mind. I’m practically a female version of any given member of the league these days. My heart pings as I think about those guys. They’re more than my buddies. They’re my family. Not just the one’s I’m related to by blood or marriage.
Family comes through when you need them.
“Okay. I’ll talk to him.”
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 27, 2016
sneak peek #2 of 'three & out'
New from Laura Chapman, the third installment of her fantasy football romantic comedy Queen of the League series . . .
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
Brook waits for J.J. to take his turn drafting before turning his eyes back to me. He taps his chin three times but says nothing. His blue eyes pierce mine.
I cave in ten seconds flat.
“Okay, J.J. is right. I’m drafting a team of dicks. I’m sure this seems juvenile. Or crazy. It’s probably both, but I’m doing it this way. For fun.”
I gulp and finally raise my gaze to his. Sheesh. Our future kids are in for some serious trouble. If I ever suspect them of lying or sneaking around, I’ll just have Brook stare them straight.
“Why dicks?” J.J. asks.
“Between the names and personality types, I figured the NFL would have more than enough to give my team a full roster.”
“Not all football players are dicks.” J.J.’s tone takes on a sharp edge.
“I agree. Just the ones I’m drafting.”
Brook’s eyes crease around the edges, and his shoulders shake. My stomach instantly settles. Good. I’m glad he found his sense of humor.
“Whatever.” J.J. sighs. “I’m not going to stop you. It’s in my best interest for you to draft a crappy team. But as league commissioner, I needed to make sure you were cleared of any wrongdoing. For all I know, you’re helping your husband secure a playoff spot.”
“I assure you, my intentions are entirely pure.”
For some reason, this sets Brook off, and I disconnect the call before J.J. can take offense to Brook’s laughter.
“I’ve got to hand it to you, babe,” he says, once he finally regains some control. “When you decide to throw the game in the pre-season, you don’t mess around.”
My jaw drops, but I pause to draft my next player—Arney Walker, a known jerk who is constantly in trouble for attitude problems—before addressing his comment.
“Why would you think I’m throwing the game?”
He gives me his “let’s be serious” look, before pointing out the lack of consistency with most of the players I’ve already drafted. I again tap my fingers on the desk impatiently while he rattles off every reason my team won’t succeed until I’ve had enough.
“I have complete faith in my team. In fact, I’m guessing my pack of boners will outperform your so-called talent.”
“Want to place a side bet?”
“What are the terms?” I have to know what’s at stake because I don’t actually think my team will come close to beating his. This is probably the finest roster I’ve seen him draft, and he’s right about my team. They suck.
“That’s up for negotiation.”
Brook rips a Post-it off of a pad and hands it to me along with a pen. He grabs a second one and scribbles on it, motioning for me to do the same. I write “get a dog” above “wins head-to-head.” We fold our pieces of paper. I hand mine over and reach for Brook’s, but he pulls it out of reach.
“Do you actually want to know what’s at stake or just discuss the terms?”
Pursing my lips, I consider the possibilities. Knowing Brook, he probably wrote something like “try my world-famous steak,” which he still hasn’t convinced me to do in the two years we’ve known each other. He respects my pescetarianism, but he still talks about the steak ad nauseam. Plus, I’d rather he not see my terms. He’s told me we can’t get a dog. Several times. He claims our apartment is too small and that our cat, Blitz, would probably traumatize any poor pup.
With steaks and dogs on the line, maybe it’s better if we don’t know what’s at risk until the last possible moment.
“Let’s go for the surprise. You hold on to your terms, I’ll hold on to mine, and we’ll reveal the prize later.”
He nods and tucks his piece of paper into his wallet. “Want to go for most wins or something else?”
“How about whoever wins when we play against each other in week six?”
“I like it. So we have a wager?”
I thrust my hand across the desk. “We have a deal.”
To his credit, Brook doesn’t gloat over his inevitable victory. He doesn’t even smirk. Instead, we shake hands and withdraw into our respective rosters as our league goes round after round in the draft.
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.prize banner
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
Brook waits for J.J. to take his turn drafting before turning his eyes back to me. He taps his chin three times but says nothing. His blue eyes pierce mine.
I cave in ten seconds flat.
“Okay, J.J. is right. I’m drafting a team of dicks. I’m sure this seems juvenile. Or crazy. It’s probably both, but I’m doing it this way. For fun.”
I gulp and finally raise my gaze to his. Sheesh. Our future kids are in for some serious trouble. If I ever suspect them of lying or sneaking around, I’ll just have Brook stare them straight.
“Why dicks?” J.J. asks.
“Between the names and personality types, I figured the NFL would have more than enough to give my team a full roster.”
“Not all football players are dicks.” J.J.’s tone takes on a sharp edge.
“I agree. Just the ones I’m drafting.”
Brook’s eyes crease around the edges, and his shoulders shake. My stomach instantly settles. Good. I’m glad he found his sense of humor.
“Whatever.” J.J. sighs. “I’m not going to stop you. It’s in my best interest for you to draft a crappy team. But as league commissioner, I needed to make sure you were cleared of any wrongdoing. For all I know, you’re helping your husband secure a playoff spot.”
“I assure you, my intentions are entirely pure.”
For some reason, this sets Brook off, and I disconnect the call before J.J. can take offense to Brook’s laughter.
“I’ve got to hand it to you, babe,” he says, once he finally regains some control. “When you decide to throw the game in the pre-season, you don’t mess around.”
My jaw drops, but I pause to draft my next player—Arney Walker, a known jerk who is constantly in trouble for attitude problems—before addressing his comment.
“Why would you think I’m throwing the game?”
He gives me his “let’s be serious” look, before pointing out the lack of consistency with most of the players I’ve already drafted. I again tap my fingers on the desk impatiently while he rattles off every reason my team won’t succeed until I’ve had enough.
“I have complete faith in my team. In fact, I’m guessing my pack of boners will outperform your so-called talent.”
“Want to place a side bet?”
“What are the terms?” I have to know what’s at stake because I don’t actually think my team will come close to beating his. This is probably the finest roster I’ve seen him draft, and he’s right about my team. They suck.
“That’s up for negotiation.”
Brook rips a Post-it off of a pad and hands it to me along with a pen. He grabs a second one and scribbles on it, motioning for me to do the same. I write “get a dog” above “wins head-to-head.” We fold our pieces of paper. I hand mine over and reach for Brook’s, but he pulls it out of reach.
“Do you actually want to know what’s at stake or just discuss the terms?”
Pursing my lips, I consider the possibilities. Knowing Brook, he probably wrote something like “try my world-famous steak,” which he still hasn’t convinced me to do in the two years we’ve known each other. He respects my pescetarianism, but he still talks about the steak ad nauseam. Plus, I’d rather he not see my terms. He’s told me we can’t get a dog. Several times. He claims our apartment is too small and that our cat, Blitz, would probably traumatize any poor pup.
With steaks and dogs on the line, maybe it’s better if we don’t know what’s at risk until the last possible moment.
“Let’s go for the surprise. You hold on to your terms, I’ll hold on to mine, and we’ll reveal the prize later.”
He nods and tucks his piece of paper into his wallet. “Want to go for most wins or something else?”
“How about whoever wins when we play against each other in week six?”
“I like it. So we have a wager?”
I thrust my hand across the desk. “We have a deal.”
To his credit, Brook doesn’t gloat over his inevitable victory. He doesn’t even smirk. Instead, we shake hands and withdraw into our respective rosters as our league goes round after round in the draft.
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.prize banner
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 26, 2016
sneak peek #1 of 'three & out'
New from Laura Chapman, the third installment of her fantasy football romantic comedy Queen of the League series . . .
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
I I’m up. Time to draft the first player for my team. Who you select first is an important decision if you want your fantasy football team to thrive. My first year I picked the person my brother told me to take. The next—last season—I spent weeks researching and analyzing who would be the biggest difference maker for my team. Both were highly rated and came with full accolades.
And both of them ended up screwing me over at one point or another.
After two seasons of coming so close to championship gold only to have it ripped away from me in the end, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: none of it matters. The first pick. The draft itself. Not even fantasy football. It’s all made up and there’s no real point. Bragging rights and cash pool aside, who gives a crap?
That’s why I have a new goal this year. I’m going to have fun, starting right now. Click.
Round 1: Team Harper takes Richard Maddox (WR).
Brook’s head pokes up over his laptop. He raises an eyebrow but says nothing. I left my husband in the dark about this year’s fantasy football game plan. He would’ve tried to talk me out of it. He’d do it for my best interests, or so he’d say. He loves football with his whole being—though he claims to love me more—and it’s not just a pastime for him. It’s his life, but it’s not mine.
Ding. My turn again. Without hesitating, I select my next player.
Round 2: Team Harper takes Andrew Dix (RB).
Brook clears his throat, and I pretend not to notice. Instead, I add more players to my wish list when I come across someone who fits my plan. I doubt most of these guys will even be on my opponents’ radars this early in the draft, but I want to be prepared. Ding. Click.
Round 3: Team Harper takes Bruce Johnson (QB).
This time Brook reaches across the desk and covers my hand. “I know we promised J.J. we wouldn’t talk strategy amongst ourselves, but what the hell are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I’m just drafting the players I want.”
His eyes narrow, and I choke on a laugh. I can’t tell him. Not yet. He’s a smart enough man. He’ll probably figure it out for himself soon enough.
This year, Team Harper—I’m sticking with the default name this year, because again, who cares?—will consist entirely of dicks. Only players with names that double as euphemisms for male anatomy—Richard (Dick), Dix, Johnson—and reputed boners will be drafted.
Drafting players based on skill and prowess hasn’t worked for me yet, but maybe this game plan will. If it doesn’t, I’ll be too busy laughing my way through every lineup to care.
Ding. Click.
Round 4: Team Harper takes Erik Richards (WR).
“Babe!”
Before I’m forced to come up with another deflection for Brook, my phone rings. I check the display and put the call on speaker.
“It’s our commissioner. Talk to us, J.J.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
This time I can’t fight the laugh, and it comes out full-bellied. My eyes fill with tears while J.J. and Brook are left sputtering in equal parts outrage and disbelief.
“What’s going on here?” Brook asks.
“What are you trying to prove?” J.J. yells.
“Are you upset about something? Is this about me being late for dinner last night? I’m sorry. I should have told you practice was going late.”
“This is really childish. I didn’t expect something like this from you.”
“It’s so random.”
“Actually . . .” J.J. clears his throat. “She isn’t being random at all. Are you, Harper?”
Brook’s eyes fly to mine, his face bemused. Under his stare, my resolve slips along with the humor. He looks . . . upset—really upset—and about nothing. It’s just a joke.
“It’s not random.” I roll my fingertips over the desktop, clicking the scratched wood with my fingernails. “I’m . . . drafting on a theme.”
“What kind of a theme?”
Now J.J. snickers. “She’s drafting a team of schlongs, man.”
Ooh, schlong. Another name for a penis I hadn’t considered. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anyone playing in the NFL with the first or last name of Schlong, but there could be a sound-a-like or two out there. I should Google “penis euphemisms” right now in case there are any others I forgot when building my dream draft.
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
I I’m up. Time to draft the first player for my team. Who you select first is an important decision if you want your fantasy football team to thrive. My first year I picked the person my brother told me to take. The next—last season—I spent weeks researching and analyzing who would be the biggest difference maker for my team. Both were highly rated and came with full accolades.
And both of them ended up screwing me over at one point or another.
After two seasons of coming so close to championship gold only to have it ripped away from me in the end, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: none of it matters. The first pick. The draft itself. Not even fantasy football. It’s all made up and there’s no real point. Bragging rights and cash pool aside, who gives a crap?
That’s why I have a new goal this year. I’m going to have fun, starting right now. Click.
Round 1: Team Harper takes Richard Maddox (WR).
Brook’s head pokes up over his laptop. He raises an eyebrow but says nothing. I left my husband in the dark about this year’s fantasy football game plan. He would’ve tried to talk me out of it. He’d do it for my best interests, or so he’d say. He loves football with his whole being—though he claims to love me more—and it’s not just a pastime for him. It’s his life, but it’s not mine.
Ding. My turn again. Without hesitating, I select my next player.
Round 2: Team Harper takes Andrew Dix (RB).
Brook clears his throat, and I pretend not to notice. Instead, I add more players to my wish list when I come across someone who fits my plan. I doubt most of these guys will even be on my opponents’ radars this early in the draft, but I want to be prepared. Ding. Click.
Round 3: Team Harper takes Bruce Johnson (QB).
This time Brook reaches across the desk and covers my hand. “I know we promised J.J. we wouldn’t talk strategy amongst ourselves, but what the hell are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I’m just drafting the players I want.”
His eyes narrow, and I choke on a laugh. I can’t tell him. Not yet. He’s a smart enough man. He’ll probably figure it out for himself soon enough.
This year, Team Harper—I’m sticking with the default name this year, because again, who cares?—will consist entirely of dicks. Only players with names that double as euphemisms for male anatomy—Richard (Dick), Dix, Johnson—and reputed boners will be drafted.
Drafting players based on skill and prowess hasn’t worked for me yet, but maybe this game plan will. If it doesn’t, I’ll be too busy laughing my way through every lineup to care.
Ding. Click.
Round 4: Team Harper takes Erik Richards (WR).
“Babe!”
Before I’m forced to come up with another deflection for Brook, my phone rings. I check the display and put the call on speaker.
“It’s our commissioner. Talk to us, J.J.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
This time I can’t fight the laugh, and it comes out full-bellied. My eyes fill with tears while J.J. and Brook are left sputtering in equal parts outrage and disbelief.
“What’s going on here?” Brook asks.
“What are you trying to prove?” J.J. yells.
“Are you upset about something? Is this about me being late for dinner last night? I’m sorry. I should have told you practice was going late.”
“This is really childish. I didn’t expect something like this from you.”
“It’s so random.”
“Actually . . .” J.J. clears his throat. “She isn’t being random at all. Are you, Harper?”
Brook’s eyes fly to mine, his face bemused. Under his stare, my resolve slips along with the humor. He looks . . . upset—really upset—and about nothing. It’s just a joke.
“It’s not random.” I roll my fingertips over the desktop, clicking the scratched wood with my fingernails. “I’m . . . drafting on a theme.”
“What kind of a theme?”
Now J.J. snickers. “She’s drafting a team of schlongs, man.”
Ooh, schlong. Another name for a penis I hadn’t considered. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anyone playing in the NFL with the first or last name of Schlong, but there could be a sound-a-like or two out there. I should Google “penis euphemisms” right now in case there are any others I forgot when building my dream draft.
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.
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October 25, 2016
the dude behind the series
A couple of weeks ago, I had the crazy (okay, not crazy--not even by my standards--but still kind of fun) idea to ask my fantasy football league commissioner if he'd be willing to do a brief interview with me to celebrate the release of Three & Out. Trevor and I met several years ago when we were both corporate journalists for a newsletter company (yeah, that's a real thing) and shortly before we both left for greener, or at least different, pastures, he started a workplace fantasy football team, and I joined up. That decision is ultimately responsible for the Queen of the League series. That means Harper Duquaine, Brook MacLaughlin, J.J. Sanchez, and the rest of the gang never would have existed if I hadn't met Trevor.
More than allowing me to crash the boys' club and join their fantasy football league (I'm pretty sure I was ready to whine and accuse them of sexism if they didn't kindly accept my first request, but they did, so I didn't have to be a brat), Trevor also served as my guide into the world of fantasy football. He coached me through my first mock draft, talked me through setting my first lineup, and stole Aaron Rodgers from me, even though he knew how badly I wanted him on my team. In short, Trevor was the Obi Wan Kenobi to my fantasy football Luke Skywalker. (It's also worth noting that his wife's team recently destroyed mine in fantasy football, proving that these two are a dynamic duo.)
Even though our OG league disbanded a few years ago, Trevor has continued to invite me to participate in one of his leagues (I say one, because he's in several), which means every fall I get a chance to fret and delight in the world of fantasy football. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know the guy who helped to inspire it all.
Trevor has been playing fantasy football for over a decade and has won several championships along the way, along with being a perennial playoff team. He has always been fascinated with the ratio of luck to skill that comes along with playing fantasy football. He even researched the topic and after acquiring a hefty file of articles and journal research, nearly wrote his Master's thesis on whether fantasy football was skill or luck and if daily fantasy sports should be labeled as gambling or sports betting. He is married with two kids and his family is the most important thing in the world to him . . . even during fantasy football season.
Laura: What is your favorite part about playing fantasy football?
Trevor: My favorite part about playing fantasy football is the people. The people I have met in my life that I felt were worthy of being a part of my league I commission. I have played for over a decade now and I have lived everywhere from Washington State, where I am originally from, to California, Nebraska, and currently, Texas. The people that play in my league span every time zone, different friends I have made over the years, people who LOVE fantasy football. It is a great way to keep in touch, something hard to do these days, even though social media etc. exists it still is hard to find time to touch base with all the people you were friends with. But it’s fun to negotiate a trade over email or messenger and then side chat about the family or how the career path is going. My league consists of friends from my college, friends from one of my first jobs out of college, and a few friends I have known since elementary school. It is quite the motley crew. It is just a fun way to be connected, even if it is just through a game; it just keeps that person in your life and I think that is something really cool.
Another thing I love is that a random game could mean the world to you. Fantasy expands your knowledge of other teams besides your home team. There are times that certain games like the Browns vs. Titans you would never watch because they aren’t your home team and are not great teams to watch (Sorry Browns fans, I have family in Ohio so I have sympathy).
One more thing . . . I LOVE seeing everyone’s clever team names. Here are a few of my favorites: Stafford Infection, Dread Pirate Rodgers (Editor's Note: That's my team!!!), Corn on the Cobb, Pretty in Pigskin, It Ertz When I…, Zeke-A Virus, My Vick in a Box, Teenage Mutant Ninja Bortles, Do the Sankey Leg, Golden Tate Bridge, Blount Force Trauma, and finally, Red Hot Julius Peppers.
Laura: Who has been your all-time best player on one of your teams?
Trevor: Wow, that is a tough one . . . I have had so many teams over the past decade. I think for me that honor goes to Jamaal Charles back in 2013. I have won a title since then and won ones before that, but in that particular season, I was 7-6 and grabbed the last spot in the playoffs in a 10-team league where 6 made it in. Charles had a great stretch of games in the playoffs for me and brought me home the title in a year I believe I had started off 1-4, before storming back to claim the playoff spot and then eventually win the league. He outscored anyone else on my team, including my QB, which is saying a lot for how standard scoring is tallied.
Laura: What prompted you to take a chance on a fantasy football rookie like me back in 2012?
Trevor: I think it was because you were eager. I love people who are excited to try fantasy football and want to win. Playing is fun, but you wanted to jump in, learn, and win right away. I don’t have people in my league who aren’t actively making roster changes, adding waiver wire pickups and proposing trades (and actually negotiating and not just rejecting them with no explanation, that’s a pet peeve of mine). I think fantasy football is a great way to try something new and some people discover they absolutely love watching the games through a new lens of cheering not only for your home team, but for “your guys” on your fantasy team. Little did I know that inviting a new friend and co-worker would lead to you writing a book series about fantasy football! I feel like a Jedi Master who has a young Padawan with whom the force is growing. That was a nerdy thing to say, but hey, that’s how I feel.
Laura: This one is a two-parter: Why did you callously steal quarterback Aaron Rodgers from me during the draft that same year when you knew he was the linchpin for my team and did you regret crossing me in such a traumatic way?
Trevor: Wow, it just got real in here. First off, let me again express how proud I am of you, Laura, and how fond I am of you as a person. That being said, I feel zero remorse for my actions. Rodgers fell to me and I took him. I thought you may be upset, but I have done that kind of thing to my own wife and I share a bed with her and she is the mother of my children. That matters not to me in fantasy football. She is just another team owner standing between me and the title. Sometimes you have to just break a few eggs to make an omelet you know? Let it be known, the fantasy football gods may not take kindly to it though; you actually finished 4th that year, one spot ahead of me and then finished fourth overall in the playoffs, while I finished 5th. However, I will say, if I know people in my league, and I know most of them very well for years, have a soft spot for their home team or certain players, I will try and make them overpay in a trade for them or hold them for ransom. I consider myself a good person, but in fantasy football, I am a ruthless negotiator and get a rush of finding a deep waiver wire pickup then flipping them for a premium to someone who overvalues them or is the replacement for their starter who got injured.
Laura: What is one piece of advice you'd offer to a first-time team owner?
Trevor: Hard to pick just one! Can I do a couple? I am going to be a rebel and do more than one. First off, don’t overvalue QB position. With the new league rules, guys throw for a bunch of yards and defenses find it hard to stop them. The ADP (Average Draft Position) of the top QBs like a Cam Newton or Drew Brees or in the past, Peyton Manning are tempting, but save for an outlier season where one of those is head and shoulders above the rest, go back and look at the point differential between the top-tier QBs and the middle of the pack ones. You may have a QB who scored 300 points for the season and another who scored 270, but WHAT round did you take them in? ADP matters. Everyone knows Cam Newton is a better fantasy player than Philip Rivers, but if you take Cam really high like 2nd or 3rd round and he scores only 25-30 more points over the season, which breaks down to about 3-4 points a week, is that too hefty of a price?
Albeit, there will be varying discrepancies certain weeks depending on the opposing team’s defense. But for me, this year for example, I grabbed Matt Stafford in the 10th round and at the time of this writing, ranks 3rd among all QBs in points. He is above Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, and Carson Palmer, who were all going no later than the 5th round in most drafts. Do you want to know who I took in the 5th round? Marvin Jones Jr., who at the time of this writing, is leading all WRs in points in a standard league. He is beating guys like Jody Nelson, A.J. Green, Mike Evans, and even Antonio Brown. The point differential between the WR and RB tiers drop off a lot quicker than that of the QB crowd, of whom there are plenty of good, if not at least viable, options. Between bye weeks and the inevitable injuries, you will need to have a solid starting WR and RB corps first before overspending on a QB.
My second thing is to scour the waiver wire. Your starting lineup may look great so you don’t think you need to go to the bargain bin on waivers or in free agency, but I routinely shop for my 4th and 5th WR on my team outside my 3 WR starters. Now every league is different but mine is QB, 3WR, 2RB, TE, D/ST and 6 bench spots. Use those bench spots to stash players who have potential. You never know when an injury will force that player either into a starting role, or even better, a featured role. Then you have a real asset on your hands. And really, think of your players as assets. Like the stock market, it can be volatile so your goal is to buy low and sell high in trades or acquisitions. If you see someone in the league got hurt who is a starter on a team, go see if the backup is a free agent or on the waiver wire. If the injury is serious they could become a late-season gem, or what I love to do, is grab backup RBs and then demand a king’s ransom to the owner of the person who had the starter who just got hurt and is left high and dry with no legitimate starting RB2. See I told you I am ruthless. In fantasy football, just like Gordon Gecko says, “Greed is good.” It doesn’t matter if you don’t NEED that player, you want to acquire the most talented players or most coveted asset. Then it’s your decision whether you believe the production or potential of that player is worth keeping him or if it behooves you more to flip him and upgrade somewhere else on your roster.
Thanks so much to Trevor for answering these questions for me, and bonus thanks for introducing me to fantasy football.
Find it onAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
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***Let's keep in touch. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.***
now available: 'three & out'
New from Laura Chapman, the third installment of her fantasy football romantic comedy Queen of the League series . . .
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.prize banner
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Find it on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
Buy it Now Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Going for Two Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal , Going for Two , Three & Out , and The Marrying Type . Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.prize banner
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 6, 2016
miss independent
This post was hard to write. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Another author whining about how tough it is to do their thing. (But for serious, writing isn't for the faint-hearted.)
What wasn't hard to was making the decisions that led me to being in a position where I would be encouraged to write this post. On October 1, nearly three years after becoming a published author, I officially became an Indie author. And just in time for Indie Book Day this weekend.
This came about after my publisher contacted me in early September to say she'd made the tough decision to shut the business down. When I read the email, I was shocked. This news was totally unexpected and just the week before we'd talked about my new book, which was in editing and due for release this fall. It was stunning to switch from that mindset to something so different in an instant.
But after staring at the words for about two minutes, I went into action. First, I called my publisher to get more details. I'll keep The content of the conversation private, but by the time we ended our talk, I was already forming plans. That evening, even while I shared the news with my closest friends and talked things over with a couple of fellow officers, I began implementing each course.
Plan A: find a new publisher. I was actually in talks with a few agents about an unpublished work of mine, and I checked with a few of them to get their take on the situation. I also sent out a couple of queries to a few other smaller publishers. Just to see. Even though I did this, I already knew I'd probably go with...
Plan B: go indie. Even though I had a publisher, I always identified with these offers. I was part of a small house, which meant everyone was kind of all hands on deck. You had to work hard and play an active role in building your stories and your brand.
So already knowing I would probably go with Plan B, I started sketching out new covers and creating timelines and to-do lists for how I could make this happen. By the time I went to bed, I ad three logistical plans and a tentative budget in place.
I ultimately didn't wait to hear back from any of my new queries. I'm not opposed to working with other publishers in the future, but I was so excited by the prospect of moving forward, by the freedom of being my own boss, I decided I needed to take a chance on myself.
I have never felt more empowered or powerful in my writing career.
When I received my rights back at the end of September, I was ready to re-publish three of my books. The Marrying Type, First & Goal, and Going for Two are now available again. I decided to hold off on Hard Hats and Doormats because I have a few changes I'd like to make before unleashing it again. As the publisher, I get to decide that.
By October 1, I also had two freshly proofread and re-designed novellas ready to go. Making Christmas and What Happened at Midnight will be released on November 8.
And as the icing, my new book will be released October 25. Thanks to relationships and friendships I have formed during the past few years, my book will be released--with a lot of love and support.
There are no guarantees about what will happen with this new publishing venture, but that's life. No matter what, though, I took a chance, a risk, and bet on myself and my friends. When I look back years from now, I'm sure that will count for something.
Be sure to check out this Pinterest board for more on other Indie Book Authors.
You can also find my books online now:
The Marrying Type
Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
First & Goal
Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
Going for Two
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
Making Christmas
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
What Happens at Midnight Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads
***Let's keep in touch. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Read The Marrying Type, First & Goal, and Going for Two.***
