The Glamorous Real Life of the Romance Author

The other day, my son's Occupational Therapist mentioned she'd heard I was a writer. "What do you write?" she asked. "Romance," I told her. This earned me a look of surprise, like I'd just confessed to a secret life. I get that a lot when I tell people what I do for a living. The "glamorous" real life of a romance author is...not so glamorous.

Yes, it's true. I'm a wife. I'm a mom. For the next two months, I'm a home schooling mom, which means I spend my mornings overseeing reading, writing, and science experiments. I cook, I clean (sort of...mostly, my house is just a mess). I have even been known to bribe my son with the promise of ice cream if he will entertain himself quietly while I take a call from my agent or my editor in the other room.

And then every once in a while I get to dress up and be Rachel Lacey, romance author, for a little while. In fact, this weekend I was in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a workshop and got to spend time with my good friend and critique partner, Anna Rains. In July, we'll be attending the Romance Writers of America Annual Conference, where we'll attend classes, go to parties, book signings, and award ceremonies. Not too far in the future, I'll even have book signings of my own!

But most days, I'm just regular me. Rachel, mother of one wonderfully exhausting five-year-old boy, wearer of t-shirts and jeans, juggler of many things.

Speaking of the glamorous side of being an author, something very exciting happened for me this week. I have my very first cover to share! My debut, Unleashed, will be released on October 28th, and it's available now for pre-order. That's right, I'm on Amazon! Crazy, right?

I am living a dream come true, and I wouldn't change a single minute!

Rachel Lacey writes contemporary romance that tugs at your heartstrings. Her debut, Unleashed, will be out this October. She blogs on this site on rotation with the other Ever After Foxes. You can find her online at www.rachellacey.com, or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

New Year Blues

It happens to all of us...


The New Year rolls around and we all make goals for ourselves...whether it be losing weight, reading a certain amount of books, going on vacation, eating healthier, discovering a new hobby...I mean the list really goes on. The problem with the end of January?

The list suddenly just...stalls.

Suddenly waking up at five thirty doesn't sound so fun...and eating healthy? Theres a realllllly nice looking pizza sitting in the freezer and you don't feel like cooking.

And five hundred books?!?! Who has that much free time?!

I think it's safe to say almost all of us hit a slump, so this post is here to encourage you guys to jump out of it. For me, the easiest way is to read! So here are a few of my New Years Picks! They are SURE to change your life and also take the calories out of all chocolate.

HAH kidding but I totally got you there. Right??!

The Mad Duke leaned in closer, his lips gently brushing her ear, and whispered, "I dare you."
She Can't Resist the Dare
Lillian Phillips could not imagine how her quiet, simple life had come to this. Blackmailed by the Mad Duke of Thornwood into accepting one wild dare after another...all because of a pocket watch. Desperate to recover her beloved father's pawned timepiece, Lily did something reckless and dangerous and delicious--something that led to a night she'd never forget.
He has a Reputation for Scandal
When Devon Grey, Duke of Thornwood, runs into a mesmerizing, intoxicating, thieving woman who literally stole from his bedchamber--with his new pocket watch--Devon plots his revenge. If the daring wench likes to play games, he's happy to oblige. After all, what's the ruse of being the Mad Duke if you can't have some fun? But the last laugh might just be on him...

Okay true story...I rarely read debut authors..but this girl? Holy crap. Let's just say she knows how to write a regency. The whole time I was reading all I kept thinking was PRAISE THE LORD Julia Quinn has a sister! Thats what her writing reminded me of, it will make you laugh out loud, gasp a little bit, and sigh ;) 

A New Adult novel from Erin McCarthy, the USA Today bestselling author of True.

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house. 

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself. 

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her… 

What started off as a typical NA book turned into something pretty amazing...I loved this book--heck I loved this series. If NA is your thing then look no further! 

So I'm curious what are your goals this year? 

Mine is to have a vacation...I have a really hard time taking time off...I don't really know what that is...my husband resorts to hiding my computer which I guess is fine, but i still sneak in my phone. At some point something has to give.

SO I encourage you readers/authors/bloggers keep at least one of the goals you made this year and see it through! You'll be happier that you did!

Until next time!
<3 RVD