With: Maggie Wells
Congratulations to "Jcp", the winner in Maggie's giveaway. Please contact JUST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE to claim your prize!
Because who we are shapes our humanity. There are a
multitude of factors that play into our chances for success. Genetic traits passed
on at birth, family ties, friendships and support networks. Then we add in
education, environment, romantic and sexual identity, career choices…It goes on
and on.
Every one of these factors force us to confront and adjust who
we are and what is important to us.
Yet, we like to try to fit our fictional heroines into tiny
little molds. We call them archetypes, because that sounds cooler and more
writery, but basically, they are character sketches. We want them to be
relatable. As a writer, I want the words I write to mean something to someone.
Even the silly jokes.
Because I never know who is reading.
That person may really need a laugh that day. Or, perhaps, a
reader sees something of herself in a character someone else might see as
tragically flawed. This is why it’s important to me to write women who don’t
always fit the mold. Maybe they didn’t spend their childhood playing with baby
dolls and dreaming of their wedding day. Maybe, like me, they did, but that
family life didn’t unfold the way they originally envisioned.
Doesn’t make it better or worse, just makes us different.
Our life stories can be plotted using two simple markers—decision
or indecision. Of course, as a writer, I tend to write action more than
inaction. No one wants to read a story where life simply happens to a
person, right? But we all know inaction can have as potent a result as action.
Personally, I’d rather see my heroine make the wrong choice
than no choice at all.
As romance readers, we forgive an awful lot in our heroes. I
know I do. But when will we start extending the same level of understanding to
our heroines?
I am a work in progress—as a person, as a writer, and as a
reader. I love characters who refuse to stop evolving. When I started writing
the Play Dates series, I wanted to
women who happened to be hitting some of those critical moments of
decision/indecision of life.
I'll tell you a secret, most of us don’t have it all figured
out. So, when do we start accepting ourselves as flawed, but still pretty damn
awesome? At what point do we start cutting women—real and fictional—a break?
Check out the latest in my Play Dates series featuring hot single dads and the women who love
them: A RING FOR ROSIE
Here’s
a taste:
The icy
January wind sliced through the worsted wool of her coat. Once again, vanity
had led her down the primrose path. But her down-filled puffy jacket looked
silly on top of a pencil skirt, and the lining on her trusty trench coat was no
match for a Windy City winter. Clutching the lapels together, she gulped icy
air and nearly choked on the frigid lungful.
As soon as
she caught her breath again, she smiled. “Hey.”
“God, Rosie,
you are the best.” A whoosh of vapor trailed after him as his long strides ate
the ice-crusted pavement between them. He came straight at her, his arms
extended, and she braced herself for the hug. Not because his embrace wasn’t
welcome, but because it would never be what she dreamed being held by James
could be. Lord help her, she stepped right into the hug anyway.
But before
she could tip her face up and away, his lips touched down. Not on her cheek or
her forehead, temple, or any of the other seemingly innocuous places a kiss
could land. No, he kissed her mouth. Square on the mouth. Not at the corner or slightly off on the chin.
This kiss wasn’t one of those head-turning mishaps she may or may not have
attempted to orchestrate over the years. No, James Harper was kissing her
freely and willingly.
On. The.
Mouth.
An honest
to goodness kiss, if a brief one.
Her
euphoria turned to mortification when she noticed the saucer-like circumference
of his bright blue eyes as he straightened. The kiss might not have been an
accident, but judging by the shock on his face, he hadn’t actually planned to.
But he did.
Giveaway:
How
about you? What’s your fatal flaw? Tell me your kryptonite in the comments
below, and I’ll give away one digital copy of the first book in this series:
PLAY DATES
A RING FOR ROSIE
James Harper is a great dad, but a lousy judge of women—as evidenced by his
twin boys’ flighty mother, who walked out when the babies were just six weeks
old. He’s got fatherhood down, but dating is another story—especially when the
twins’ mom shows up any time she needs something. His office manager, Rosie
Herrera, is the one woman he can count on, actually talk to, flirt with, and . .
. come to think of it, has he been overlooking the perfect woman all this time?Rosie’s been in love with James since her first day on the job, but she’s certain he only sees her as a reliable employee—until one heated kiss changes everything. And then James’s ex shows up, and walks right into his life again. Determined to move on, Rosie tries to forget everything she feels about James—by doing her best to fall for someone else. But James isn’t about to make the same mistake twice. To woo Rosie this time, he needs to prove they’re made for each other . . . forever.
About
Maggie:
By
day, Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets. At night, she pens tales
of people tangling up the sheets. The product of a charming rogue and a
shameless flirt, you only have to scratch the surface of this mild-mannered
married lady to find a naughty streak a mile wide. Maggie has a passion
for college football, processed cheese foods, and happy endings. Not necessarily
in that order.
More
Maggie:
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Aug. 11th. Due to GDPR regulations you no longer need to submit your email address in the comments. If you have been selected as a winner your name will be posted at the top of the post. You may then contact maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com to claim your prize. Your email address will be shared with the author/publicist providing the giveaway.
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