Valentine’s Day: from Zero to Hero

I really dislike Valentine’s Day. Always have. Spinterish McBitterpants here! When I worked in an office, I wanted flower a flower delivery. I listened to married friends humble brag over their husbands’ dinner plans. And I was pretty sure chocolates that someone else bought me out of either desire or duty would taste a zillion times better than what I could buy for myself.

In “Love Me Tender,” Julie plans to spend her day with John McClane and the Die Hard collection. When I wrote this, I had no conscious idea that the new Die Hard was releasing today. When I saw the television commercial, I didn’t put 2 and 2 or 5 and 2/14 or anything together. I don’t do math if I can help it. Then, some time this week, just like you’d expect…with the fanfare of “Ode to Joy” the realization crashed down on my head. My Valentine novella and my random “what would I do to completly ignore the most romantic day of the year (phlegm)?” were PERFECTLY ALIGNED.

Blow it up. Burn it down. A Good Day to Die Hard. Thank you, universe.

Except…I’m feeling a little warmer toward Valentine’s Day now. I mean, my break, people. I owe it to this hearted, pinked, and overchocolated day. My first book. My first editor. My first contract. Great new writer friends. My first blog tour. My first time to see my name on the cover. My first time to be included with some of my heros in any collection. My first time to see Eloisa James write about my story.

Now I’d just be an ungrateful hag to moan about the day. That probably won’t stop me, but this year I’m going to celebrate with a drink, popcorn, and a movie ticket. And I’m going to remember the KISS ME anthology as the best Valentine’s Day gift I ever got.