Pregnant Future by Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko

Pregnant Future
(No One Knows What Tomorrow Will Bring)
A True-Life Memoir
I started my journey in this book, not knowing where it will take me or how I will get there, hence the title of the book. I suppose, life is like that! They say that if you dream hard enough your dream will come through. My dream did come through, I forgot to add smooth going, in my dream. We cannot control our dreams! I always saw myself traveling a lot. That has happened to me. While in Rome, I made sure I visited as many European countries as I could. One of those travels was full of ups and downs. I let Justina paint that story.
I am unlike many writers when I write. I throw everything out there, nonstop, and when I run out of steam, and have nothing else to say, I stop. I let the story rest, sometimes for weeks or even months, and then, when I come back to it, I edit by cutting and pasting, and moving scenes around.
This story went through the same process. It went through even more. The saving grace for the story was that I knew when it was not ready. I also knew when it was ready. The point here is that we should let our stories talk to us. If when it does, we are satisfied with what we hear, the story will satisfy our readers. If not, we go back and work on it. I have learned not to be in a hurry with releasing a story. Once when I did, I had to recall and rewrite that story. That is more expensive that waiting for the story to be well done.

Joy has written and published extensively on national and international scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers.
Her first short story I Come from Utopia was published in African Voices, Spring/Summer, 2007, pg. 18. Since then, she has published numerous others in RAVE SOUP FOR THE WRITER'S SOUL Anthology, Bks 1-3.
Mirror of Our Lives: Voices of Four Igbo Women was published in 2011, and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Contest in 2012. She has also two books published in the Italian language.
The Legend of the Walking Dead: Igbo Mythologies, is a journey into the mysteries of life and death of the Igbos of Nigeria was published in 2014
In Pregnant Future, her new Novel, Justina is the story of every young woman who found herself alone in the world to fend for herself. It is the story of the pitfalls that await such a woman. It is the story of survival

Author of:
Legend of The Walking Dead: Igbo Mythologies
Mirror of Our Lives: Voices of Four Igbo Women
Pregnant Future

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Lies in the Darkness by Amanda J. Clay

Lies in the Darkness by Amanda J. Clay
Publication date: May 9th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

It’s senior year at Pacific State University and all-night parties, cheap hookups and regrets are the ruling pastimes.
Sophie DeLuca used to be a nice girl—but that was before Luke Lamanuzzi tore her heart to shreds. Now she’s a walking trail of vodka-soaked destruction, something her sexy, smooth-talking coworker Davis won’t let her forget. He might have a secret crush on her—but his playboy reputation would never let him admit it. His best friend Blake’s own love of all-nighters and debauchery comes crashing to a halt when a one-night stand backfires. Level-headed Cassie seems like she’s the one who has it all together, but she’s just better at hiding her skeletons.
Ungracefully pirouetting in and out of love triangles, drug addictions and unwanted pregnancies, four friends stumble their way through their last year of study and try to grasp the realities of the world on the other side.
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Your first book is a YA novel. How did you find writing New Adult this time round?I loved writing YA (and still do) but tackling an older audience was a fun experience that tapped a different side of my brain. My first series, Rebel Song, and Lies in the Darkness are very different concepts—one is set in a European revolution, one a California college town. But in general, I see YA and NA as sister genres—regardless of the setting, they both deal with the experience of coming of age. YA books focus on the struggle of finding identity in the world, breaking away from family and experiencing major events for the first time. Well, NA is very much the same, only one step further along in the process, with perhaps a few more mature concepts. The characters in Lies are trying to navigate the onset of adulthood in our modern world. They are facing very mature situations for the first time that they aren’t always equipped to handle, such as pregnancy, drugs and career choices.
The college setting of Lies lent my creative genius a little more carte blanche when it comes to adult situations and bad behavior—and these characters sure take advantage of it! Many critics of NA books accuse it of just being “sexed-up YA.” And some of it really is, I’ll admit. Hey, let’s face it, college students tend to have sex. Sometimes a lot of it! But I think they key to writing authentic NA, even when writing erotica, is to make the naughty bits genuine. Sure, there is a fair share of sex in Lies, but the goal is not to be gratuitous. Just like in YA or any genre, each scene—sexy or not—should forward the story or unfold a piece of that character’s psyche.
I tackle other adult themes in Lies other than just naked time, such as drugs, assault, and emotional disorders. And yes, these things can absolutely appear in YA, but the way in which the writer handles these themes needs to be slightly different. For example (and this is generalizing of course), if a teen is experimenting with drugs, she will have her parents and/or teachers to answer to. A 21-year-old off on her own is ultimately responsible for her own actions and consequences. For the NA character, mom and dad aren’t there to pick up the pieces if her choices shatter her world. For me, YA is about finding an identity, but NA is about finding and owning, complete independence.

Amanda J. Clay is a California native with a resume of clichéd Cali traits, like a love of breakfast burritos, yoga and red wine. She had a fantastic time studying English and Journalism at Chico State University and then a very serious time slaving away for a Master’s degree in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. She currently lives in the charming city of Berkeley, CA. When she’s not staring at a computer screen, she spends most of her spare time plotting world adventures. She currently has one published Young Adult novel, Rebel Song. Watch for her next release, an offbeat New Adult contemporary, out in 2016.
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Scrubs by Brooke Harris

Scrubs by Brooke Harris
Publication date: December 4th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

I like fast cars, beautiful women and great sex.
I hate drugs. I can’t stand the idiots who take them and I loathe the bastards who supply them. Drugs cost me my whole world.
I wear many faces; right now I’m Doctor Lucas Callaghan and I’ll be him until I get my revenge.
My real name will be the last words to ever pass their lips.
I hate my name, Aoife Brennan, as soon as people hear it they treat me differently because of my father.
Medical school isn’t my dream, it’s his. But, it’s the least I owe him after everything I’ve done. I’m trying to be a good girl, but even good girls make mistakes.
He’s lying about who he is, she’s kidding herself about who she can be. They’re polar opposites with one very big secret in common.
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Author Guest Post

All my books are set in Dublin, Ireland. It’s not a conscious decision I ever made. It just worked out that way. S’pose the old cliché ‘write what you know’ is true. And I know Ireland.
But really it’s just a setting. Sights, sounds, smells. That sort of thing. There’s no geography lesson in there. I’m not too good with over description. I find it hard to read, and I definitely don’t like to write it. I want my books and characters to have roots but I think it’s important not to alienate readers who have never been to Ireland with weird place names or clunky descriptions of locations.
Ireland is a pretty place. Lots of green fields, old castles, and fabulous woodlands and parks. It’s a great place to set a romance novel. Horseback riding in the country, a picnic by the lake, an afternoon strolling on the beach beneath a summer’s mist – the possibilities are endless. And it’s easy to give your characters a believable social life when you set the book in a city bustling with heritage, music and craic (the Irish for fun, not the drug *wink*)
My hero’s are always Irish. Their appearance…think Jamie Dornan or Colin Farrell. Their accent – well, obviously. Their sense of humour – that’s definitely my favourite part about my Irish characters; the dry, sarcastic wit the Irish are famous for. I don’t think I could find a better fit for an alpha male, even if I tried.
I allow my heroines a little more freedom with their nationality. Maybe she’s just moved to the country and is trying to figure herself out. Or maybe she’s always lived here and can’t wait to get away. Either way, I suppose, without realising it Ireland leaves its mark on my girls too.
And, hopefully but the end of the book – if I’ve done my job right, Ireland and the characters should leave their mark on my readers too. Fingers crossed.

USA Today bestselling author Brooke Harris is a self diagnosed romance addict. Realising at the age of seven that being a real person and not a cartoon character may prove a hindrance when applying for a role as a Disney Princess, she decided to create her own stories. As a grown up Brooke tried swapping the heels and tiaras in her stories for sex and revenge and published her first book, Rules of Harte in 2014. The Harte Series went on to become a #1 international bestseller.
Brooke lives in Kildare, Ireland with her young family. She daydreams about a climate where it doesn’t rain every day, but secretly she loves the green fields and heritage of Ireland.
Brooke also writes Psych-thriller under the pseudonym Janelle Harris.
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Center Stage! by Caitlyn Duffy

Center Stage! by Caitlyn Duffy
(Center Stage!, #1)
Publication date: September 14th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Allison Burch’s wildest dream is to become a famous singer. She can hardly believe her own good luck when she auditions for the reality television singing competition, Center Stage!, and is chosen as a contestant. She finally has a legitimate shot at fame, fortune, and a chance to go on tour as the opening act for her favorite boy band on their world tour.
However, Allison wasn’t counting on one of the celebrity coaches being Chase Atwood, the famous rock star father of her former best friend. Allison’s terrified that Chase is going to find out that she and his daughter have been in a fight for months, and it’ll ruin her shot at the grand prize. Making matters worse, Allison’s own coach, Country Western star Nelly Fulsom, intends to groom her into a Nashville superstar.
As Allison struggles to decide if she really wants to win on the show if it’s by resorting to dirty tricks and assuming the image that Nelly wants to create for her, she find herself falling hard for her biggest competition on the show: a brooding songwriter named Elliott Mercer. She’s not sure if Elliott’s interest in her is genuine, or if he’s just playing along with the producers’ strategy.
It’s up to Allison to decide: how much is she willing to lose in order to win?
Fans of Caitlyn Duffy’s The Rock Star’s Daughter will enjoy this tale about Taylor’s friend Allison and her journey to fame.
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What inspired you to write about a reality show?
I was inspired to write about a reality show because I was a huge fan of American Idol when it first debuted on TV in the USA (go Kelly Clarkson!). Since my first book, The Rock Star’s Daughter, came out four years ago, readers have frequently reached to me to ask whatever became of Taylor’s best friend, Allison, after they had their blow-out argument. Their friendship was one of the loose ends that I wanted to resolve in the book’s sequel, but the more I thought about Allison’s position, the more tempted I was to dedicate an entire book to her.
I think a lot of girls can relate to Allison’s dream of becoming famous, or at least of being recognized for her talents, which is exactly why reality shows are so popular. I live in Hollywood, and here it often feels like no matter what aspect of the “industry” you’re in, there’s always someone encouraging you to look or act differently to be more commercially viable. It’s kind of like bullying-lite. Setting Allison’s story in a situation where she felt like she had to pretend to be someone else in order to win seemed like a great opportunity to explore her personality. Unlike Taylor, the narrator of The Rock Star’s Daughter, whose relationship with her parents is somewhat strained, Allison’s very close to her parents. They can’t understand her fascination with becoming famous, so her decision to audition for the show is really the first time in her life when she experiences what it’s like to be venturing out on her own.
Also, one of my good friends from college is a producer on a reality show about teenagers (I don’t dare mention which one, but it’s been on TV a long time). It’s always struck me as amazing how much effort producers of those shows put into constructing narratives out of the footage they gather. The honest truth is that unless you’re a senator or a CIA agent, reality is pretty boring. Much of what we see on reality TV shows is formulated and not at all true. We’ve entered an era in which the majority of TV watchers under the age of 40 have come to think of reality TV as a reflection of real life, and unfairly judge their own lives in comparison. So Center Stage is an attempt to peel back the layers of reality television and remind readers that people you see on television are actually people—with normal problems like zits and embarrassing parents who buy hemorrhoid pads at the drug store when hot boys are around.

Caitlyn Duffy is a private boarding school survivor and the author of The Treadwell Academy Novels, a series about privileged girls in an elite boarding school setting and the challenges they face. The series addresses issues common to teen readers including eating disorders, divorce, grief, heartbreak, first love, drug addiction and disagreements with parents. It was Caitlyn’s dream to create a series that mixed glamour and celebrity with the real-life problems that kids endure that could be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Her writing experience includes freelance editing for publishing houses and copywriting in the advertising industry.

When she’s not writing about the girls of Treadwell, she’s walking her semi-famous dog Maxim around Park Slope, Brooklyn and drinking too much coffee.
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The Last First Game by Gina Azzi

The Last First Game by Gina Azzi
(The Senior Semester Series, #1)
Publication date: November 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

When Lila Avers accepts a medical internship through Astor University in California for the fall semester of her senior year, she doesn’t expect much. In fact, she’d rather work on her tan and meet a surfer instead of logging long hours at the hospital and studying. But before she even boards her flight to LA, she meets Astor University wide receiver, Cade Wilkins. A football player. When Cade turns out to be so much more than just muscle, Lila is smitten. Maybe a semester away from her friends won’t be so bad after all.
Cade Wilkins is beyond ready for his last season at Astor. Already being scouted and projected as a NFL draft pick, he’s riding a natural high and all set to breeze through his senior year. To sweeten the start of the fall semester, he meets his dream girl at the airport on his way back to LA. Lila Avers, a blonde, blue-eyed angel. Could life get any better?
When Cade is sidelined by an unexpected injury, he’s devastated to learn of more serious health concerns. As his world implodes, Lila holds him together. But is she strong enough to see him through his recovery?
As their own insecurities and doubts emerge, their new, fragile relationship is tested. Can Cade and Lila handle the ugly truths of falling in love when tensions flare, boundaries are violated, and uncertainty looms over the future of their relationship?
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Hi Fiction Dreams! Thank you so much for having me share on your blog!

A pleasure Gina! Tell me, what inspired you to write this particular book?

The Last First Game is the first book in The Senior Semester Series. The series was largely influenced by my own experiences and lessons I learned while at university, particularly in regards to studying abroad, interning, rowing, etc. More than that, The Last First Game was influenced by something I wish I did in college –go to California! I still have never been and look forward to making a trip to CA!
Lila’s and Cade’s characters came about from a variety of sources – personal experiences, common twenty-one year old experiences, and current events. For example, one of the obstacles that Lila faces – whether or not to change her major – was a huge decision for me in college. Other issues like handling parents’ divorce or the death of a loved one may be experienced for the first time during university years. Additional themes such as dating, going to parties, finding love, and building strong friendships are generally associated with a collegiate experience in the US. I think a lot of people can relate to these experiences and may have faced similar situations during their university years.
An important aspect of The Last First Game is the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses. The statistic that one in four women are victims of sexual assault during their university years has prompted a reaction from the US government and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights with regards to Title IX obligations. US colleges have recently expanded their response to handling sexual assault on campuses by introducing new trainings into orientations to inform students on how to respond to sexual assault, the resources available to them, and how to assist friends who may experience sexual assault. I think this is an incredibly important issue – and consistent with a broader dialogue that is currently taking place on campuses across the country.
My goal in writing The Last First Game was to create ordinary college-aged characters and portray them experiencing challenges that readers can relate to. I truly enjoyed the entire writing process and hope readers identify with Lila and Cade’s story while reminiscing about their own university years.

Gina Azzi loved every moment of college – especially her study abroad experiences, internships, and travel adventures! She drew on her college experiences to create the storylines for The Senior Semester Series.
Gina is a passionate reader, frequent globetrotter, and coffee enthusiast. She currently resides in Dubai with her husband Tony.
Gina loves meeting new people and would love to hear from you! Get in touch with her at:
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There is No Place: a guest post by Laura Chapman

Set your lineups and pull out the old game tape—football is here. This year, you can experience fantasy football vicariously through (or commiserate with) Harper Duquaine in First & Goal by Laura Chapman.
What begins as a way to make nice with her new co-workers soon becomes an obsession for Harper as she navigates the ups and downs of managing a fantasy football team. Add in a pair of meddling brothers, a crew of quirky colleagues, and a league-mate who makes her toes curl, and Harper’s football season has plenty to keep her interested.
This new romantic comedy is now available from Marching Ink on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Join in the fun and cheer Harper on as she takes on the old boys club.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Then beat them.

When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ 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).
Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.
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.
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My new novel, First & Goal, tells the story of a twenty-something woman who gets caught up in the world of fantasy—and real life—football when she joins a league with some of her co-workers. I was inspired to write this story for a simple reason: I love the game. 

Born and raised in Nebraska, Husker football season has been as much a part of my cultural upbringing as celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving and birthdays. Now, quick disclaimer: Not every person in Nebraska is crazy for the Huskers. (But I don’t know many of those people.)

Looking back at my life, some of the greatest – and lowest – moments involve my ‘skers. I remember going to my first football game when I was about six. During that game, I learned a few big lessons during that game. I learned how to sing the Nebraska fight song. I learned the appropriate response to a drawn out “Goooo Biiiig Reeed” is a shorter, but louder “GO BIG RED.’ And I learned not to get too attached to red balloons, because you don’t get to keep them after the first touchdown.

A couple years later, I had the joy of watching (on TV) Nebraska win back-to-back National Championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1997, I watched a third national title. I developed crushes on players. I dreamed about one day attending UNL and scoring my own set of season tickets.

And then we, as a Husker nation, had a few – OK, several – rough years. By the time I did go to college, Nebraska was breaking a lot of records, only ones that were bad, like, most points scored against them. Or first loss at Memorial Stadium in years. But, my senior year, I finally got those season tickets, and I went to each of the games. A lot of them were rough. They were definitely disappointing.

During this time I realized just how important it was to be part of my community. Nebraska fans have a reputation for being nice. I’ll admit, I’ve met some Husker fans who are big jerks, but in general, we’re a good time.

At 23, I moved to Houston. Though I’d been excited for a new adventure, I soon found myself lonely. I was working from home, which made making friends difficult. But through the Nebraska Alumni Association, I learned about “Houstonians for Huskers” and the watch parties they held every week. And it was wonderful. Every Saturday, I left my one-bedroom apartment and walked into a crowded bar, where I was suddenly among friends. It was like having a piece of home with me when I was almost 1,000 miles away.

I only missed two of those watch parties. One was when I was back in Nebraska, and I went to the game with my mom. The other was when the game fell on a Thursday night, and the watch party was too long of a drive from my home on a school night. So I went to a nearby bar to watch with a couple of my girlfriends. It’s one of those places that gives each of the tables its own set of speakers, so you can listen to whichever game you want that’s showing on the wall of screens. It was Nebraska versus another former Big 8-turned-Big-12 school. It wasn’t a good game to start. It was pouring rain, and both teams were slipping and sliding across the field, but Nebraska was suffering most.

The fans at the table next to us were alumni from said Big 12 school, and they were thrilled that they were beating us. Without getting into the particulars, it wasn’t a super fun experience to share with them. They left at halftime, but on their way out, one of them said something like, “Well this game is in the bag. Thanks for having a team that sucks so much. We needed this win.” We left it at “Have a good night.”

After they were gone, a couple of guys who were watching NFL football came over to our table. They were Texas Longhorns fans. They’d naturally never been big fans of Nebraska (conference rivalries run deep). The men said they became our fans that night because not only did we handle those other fans with grace, but we actually seemed to understand the game better than most of the people in the bar. They watched the rest of the game with us and cheered for Nebraska.

That night, I learned what my dad meant when he said, “Being a Nebraska fan on a bad day is still better than being a fan of anyone else on their best days.”

(By the way – Nebraska came back to win that game in the second half.)

Now that I’m back in Lincoln, I attend as many games as I can. Being in Memorial Stadium on a Game Day is one of the greatest feelings in the world. There’s so much energy. So much excitement. So much tradition. When I can’t watch in person, you’d better believe I’m watching on TV at home or in a bar. Win or lose, I feel like I’m part of something bigger.

I’ve practically written a novel explaining my love for Husker football. But really, put more concisely, “There is no place like Nebraska.” (I suppose that’s why we have a song about it.)

With that deep of a love, it was only inevitable that I’d one day write a book revolving around the sport.

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, and Hard Hats and Doormats. Her work appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and a forthcoming Christmas anthology from Marching Ink. A native Nebraskan, she loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura is currently in pursuit of a fantasy football championship while penning her next novel.

The Marrying Type
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Hard Hats & Doormats
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Guest post by author Gabrielle Aquilina

So, my first book, ‘How To Catch A (Rock) Star’ is out now, which is both incredibly exciting and really, really scary. I so badly wanted to be a published author, but now that it’s happened, I realised that putting yourself out there is quite a terrifying experience. I suppose I can relate to my main character, Lillie, a little bit more now!
Suzy has asked me to write about the inspiration for the book, so here goes!
‘How To Catch A (Rock) Star’ started out as a completely different story to the one it ended up being. Originally, it was going to be a story about a group of friends and the dynamics of those all important female relationships. I wanted to explore what happens when one friend amongst a group of close friends becomes envious of another friend and how that impacts on the entire group.
I have my own close group of friends and I wondered what would happen if one of them turned on another one. What would the other friends do? How would everyone react? What could be the catalyst for that sort of behaviour?
So it started out as a group of twenty-something friends going on a night out and one of them becoming extremely jealous when one of the girls gets chatted up by a really hot guy. The really hot guy turned out to be Jed and once I wrote him in, he refused to leave the story and suddenly I was writing a chapter from his point of view.
So, he had to stay and once Johnny (the band’s bassist and Jed’s best friend) was a fully formed character in my head, that was the end of the original story and it became a novel of love, lust, mistrust and betrayal set against a backdrop of rock music. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to read a good love story? Especially one that involves super hot rock stars, relatable heroines and a sizzling and dramatic storyline…
In ‘How To Catch A (Rock) Star’, I wanted to explore why someone would keep a secret and the fallout that happens when that secret explodes. Even though Lillie’s been horribly betrayed, she’s still a pretty open book compared to Jed who, although comfortable with expressing his feelings for her, holds back on his past so much that all sorts of scenarios run through Lillie’s head as she tries to figure out exactly why he’s so cagey about his life.
I made Lillie a singer for two reasons: the first was that I wanted to live out my lifelong wish that I could sing through her (I’m horribly tone deaf although that obviously doesn’t stop me from singing very loudly in the shower or my car!) and the second being that it would give her a good reason to go on tour as an additional singer with the band and give her and Jed a chance to be together.
The added bonus of her going on tour was that she and Jed would be thrown together, 24-7, with the rest of the band and that intense and claustrophobic way of living would add tension to their relationship. Throw in some stage fright, a surly guitarist and a fair amount of partying and there’s some serious drama to write about!
I enjoyed writing the characters from ‘How To Catch A (Rock) Star’ so much (and quite honestly, they just will not leave me alone!), that I’m currently writing a follow-on novel which will star Johnny and I plan on writing a third which will be all about Lillie’s best friend, Kate. So, if you read and like ‘How To Catch A (Rock) Star’, then keep an eye out for the next two books!
Thanks for having me on your wonderful blog, Fiction Dreams!
‘How To Catch A (Rock) Star’ is available on kindle here and in paperback here.
You can follow me on Twitter and Facebook and check out my website here!

Guest Post by A Perfect Man author Cecilia Dominic

How far will she go to find her perfect man? How far will he go to be one?
When Karen Hardeman sets foot on the Foothills University campus, it’s her first step toward proving her abusive ex wrong. Just her luck, her first writing assignment in Intro to Romance sends her in search of the perfect hero—a quest she’s never managed to conquer.
Worse, her professor forces her to collaborate with the most overconfident, annoying guy in the class.
Seth Sayers is also at Foothills to find new direction—preferably one that takes him far away from the family drama that’s followed him since his father’s death. He didn’t mean to humiliate Karen by rewriting her manuscript from the hero’s point of view. He blames the painkillers the ER doctor gave him after stitching up a wine-induced cut on his hand.
As their collaboration progresses, Karen begins to trust Seth with her manuscript, then maybe a little piece of her heart. But Seth’s half-brother resurrects Seth’s suspicions about his father’s death. Until he finds the truth, he can’t be the hero in anyone’s life. Even his own.
Warning: Some alcohol consumption. Okay, writer amounts of alcohol consumption. There are also some adult situations, but nothing too explicit. It is a romance-writing class, after all.
A Perfect Man will be released May 12 from Samhain Publishing. If you’d like to read the first part of the first chapter, please check out: http://ceciliadominic.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-perfect-man-first-chapter-and.html
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The inspiration for A Perfect Man

I started writing A Perfect Man in June 2007. I know this is the date because I have a journal I started at the same time titled “M.F.A. in Genre Fiction Process Journal.” I wasn’t in a real Masters of Fine Arts program, but it sounded very tempting. I was two years out of school, still at my first job, married less than three years, and figuring out adulthood. I’d already tried to avoid “adulting” as long as possible by going to graduate school, but they kicked me out once I got my doctorate in clinical psychology.
In 2007, I would have loved to go back to school, but the husband made it quite clear that a Ph.D. was a terminal degree, and he wanted the option to go back, so no more school for me. Plus, as I wrote in my journal, I didn’t want to do a regular fiction M.F.A., but all my searches for “genre fiction MFA” came up with rants about how M.FA. programs focus on “unpublishable” literature. Plus, although I’d written a couple of books at that point, I wasn’t published, and I felt I needed something more structured to help me get my writing up to publishable levels. So that’s when I came up with the idea for a self-study Masters of Fine Arts in genre fiction program with each semester focusing on a different genre but keeping the same group of characters. I would write a book in that genre each semester, just as my characters do, except I was nicer to them and assigned novellas rather than full-length novels.
Oh, and it gave me the excuse to buy and read more books – always a plus. As I wrote in my journal entry under how this was going to happen, “A careful organization and recording of time spent. Clear goals that mean something. Gadgets and books (smiley face).” Of course the gadgets in 2007 were different from what they are now. Touchscreens were just coming into use, and I didn’t even have a smartphone yet. I had also had my first laptop for about a year or so, and I still had a desktop at home. My cats didn’t appreciate the progression of technology from large, warm monitor to laptop screens.
The first question was, what genre should I start with? I was interested in romance and enjoyed reading it, especially chick lit, so that’s where I began. According to my journal, I also planned to do mystery and speculative. I guess I wasn’t that into historical at the time, but that was also before I discovered steampunk. I picked up romance genre-focused books like Leigh Michaels’ On Writing Romance as well as some general writing books.
So I had my plan, but where would I place this program for my characters? I went to the University of Georgia for my Masters and Ph.D. degrees and loved living in Athens, so I based Foothills University on UGA and set it in the North Georgia mountains. I put a few “Easter eggs” in the book that those familiar with UGA’s campus will recognize.
The next question was who would teach the course? Apparently I was more than a little frustrated with my failure to get published because the character of Doctor Sue Ellen Forrester-Schmidt, or Dr. F-This as my characters come to call her, is like the personification of a form rejection letter – cold, uncaring, and impersonal. I made sure to tell my Samhain editor, who is the opposite of Sue Ellen, that I wrote Dr. F-This long before I met her.
Finally, my hero and heroine were several years in the making, and both went through a lot of revisions before I finally finished the book. Originally the book was just from Karen’s point of view. She was a lot like me when I started graduate school, and she developed her own personality in progressive drafts as I got a better idea of her internal conflict. Seth’s perspective came later when I realized he needed to have his say, too. He was fascinating to write as he struggled to adopt more of the alpha traits he was learning about while maintaining his sensitivity and trying to be a good example for his younger brother.
As happens with many students, I was engaged in this particular course of study much longer than I originally planned, definitely more than a semester. By the time I finished A Perfect Man, I probably could have gotten than M.F.A. degree. Writing the book ended up being even more of a learning experience that I anticipated, especially with regard to character development, so I’m glad I took my time with it. Perhaps someday I’ll find an M.F.A. program similar to the fictional one at Foothills University, but meanwhile I’ll continue writing and learning on my own and with the help of great professional writing organizations like the Georgia Romance Writers.
Seth and Karen meet to write together in coffee shops around Foothills. What’s your idea of a perfect date? Comment below for the chance to win a $5 Starbucks gift card. Please include your email address with your comment so Cecilia knows how to get in touch with you if you win.

Cecilia Dominic became a clinical psychologist because she's fascinated by people and their stories, but she couldn't stop writing fiction. By day, she helps people cure their insomnia without using medication. By night, she blogs about wine and writes fiction that keeps her readers turning pages past bedtime. Yes, she recognizes the conflict of interest between her two careers, so she writes and blogs under a pen name. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with one husband and two cats, which, she's been told, is a good number of each. She has been published in short story and novel-length fiction and currently writes urban fantasy, new adult contemporary, and steampunk for Samhain Publishing.

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