Behold! My New Novel Is Here.
It took 6 years, but it’s finally here. My new novel, Running with Hounds…and an English Degree, is ready to meet the world.
Well, almost.
As you can see, I have a cover. Like it? I love it. After researching other romcom covers, this was the design that fit best (done by none other than Olivia Wu). You can see my original design done a few years back by another good artist friend of mine, Grant Sarber, on social media later this week. And there’s a Kirkus review I’m waiting for that will probably find its way on the front as well.
I have a back jacket description that you can read on my Books page. Think writing a novel is hard? Try condensing a 90,000-word story into 200 words! It took 4 drafts and multiple trips to my critique groups, but I finally got it.
And of course, the story is complete. I’m currently formatting it for ebook and paperback versions, so the pre-order link for Amazon will be coming in the next week or so. I also plan to have the ebook available with Barnes and Noble and on Smashwords. And people have asked if I plan on doing the audiobook. One thing at a time. :)
I am beyond excited about this release, which originally began as a 100-page story I wrote for a 3-day novel contest over Labor Day weekend when we lived in Worcester, MA. You weren’t allowed to write anything except an outline before the contest, so I thought I would write about an experience I had after graduating college (talk about taking “write what you know” to the nth degree).
Having only worked retail through college, I was ready to do something else when I was done. But I’d also worked my ass off for 4 years, and wanted to find a more fun paying gig before starting an official career. Call it a gap job, if you will.
I found an ad in the newspaper (yup, it was THAT long ago) for a dog-sitter and thought, that definitely sounds fun. The couple I interviewed with had adopted 2 retired racing greyhounds, and I loved hanging out with them all summer.
But the job wasn’t just chasing them around the back yard and taking them for walks in pretty parks. I also tended to the various plants around the rather large home, did the grocery shopping, and cooked steak for the dogs’ meals. I would also spend weekends at the house when my employer was gone on longer trips.
So, how much of the new novel is true and how much is fiction? I’d say about 50/50. Did I interview with an animal psychic? Yup. Did she make me get on the floor and act like a dog, as my protagonist, Denise, has to do? No. Did a bat get in the house? Yup—twice. And the husband was indeed the one who was able to get them out. But I trapped them (both times) immediately in the great room, without a Benny Hillesque chase around the house.
And thankfully, I NEVER lost one of the dogs!
Okay, so the dog-sitting part in my book has a lot of truth to it. What about the “rom” part of “romcom”? Well, the 2 guys in the book ARE based on 2 guys I dated back in Adams, MA. And some of the conversations are close to accurate (or as accurately as I can remember them almost 20 years later!). There WERE mini golf dates and karaoke/clubbing ventures, but NOT at the same time. And while the ending of the relationship with my twice-over ex was similar, the other relationship simply fizzled out.
Well, there you have it. The cover reveal and back story for my latest release. I’m currently setting up an official book launch event, so stay tuned for more details next week!