Hey friends -
Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all of you who celebrate! As always, click above if you want me to read this latest news to you:)
Over the past couple years this week has become kind of a weird one on the internet, hasn't it? Black Friday, Cyber Monday...
Seems like one day we're giving thanks for everything we have, then the very next day we're supposed to buy everything in sight. It can be fun (don't tell anyone, but I just got awesome pillows made featuring of all my nieces' and nephews' adorable goofy faces), and who doesn't love a deal? But it can feel overwhelming and a bit gross when left unchecked, yeah?
I wanted to counter that energy a little bit by announcing one hell of a giveaway (so be sure to read til the end to get the full scoop on how to enter) and by highlighting two of my very favorite indie bookstores. Of all the internet-invented "shopping holidays," today's - Shop Small Saturday - is my favorite and I'm doing my best this year to support independent businesses as much as I can.
The first bookstore I'm highlighting is...
[words] is an awesome independent bookstore in Maplewood, NJ. Their staff is so kind and helpful. And knowledgable! No lie, every single time I've asked someone who works there if they have a particular book on their shelves, they've immediately responded with "Oh, by <insert author name here> ?" Then they hustle me over to the shelf with a smile and plop it in my hands.
They have an adorable little nook decorated and stocked just for kids, and pre-covid they would let my kids and I sit and read as long as we liked. I'm looking forward to the day when we can do that again! Speaking of Covid, this store did one hell of an amazing pivot to stay strong in the early days of business closures. They created a whole system where you could purchase online and they'd have your package of books wrapped up in crispy brown paper with your name on it, waiting for you outside when you arrived.
(me getting my green glitter on in [words] bookstore)
They were also kind enough to let me shoot my new author photos in the store before opening their doors one morning. It was a fun exercise for me: sitting in their shop smiling amongst all their books, imagining that my books could be on their shelves someday. And now they are! You can get Flirtasaurus and Lovebug through [words], and in 2022 you can get Sharkbait too!
Next up is...
(The Ripped Bodice co-owners - and sisters! - Leah & Bea Koch )
The Ripped Bodice is a woman and Queer-owned bookstore on the border of Culver City and Los Angeles. The amazing Leah and Bea Koch are the masterminds and owners of this little slice of Romance heaven. That's right... it's a bookstore devoted 100% to Romance.
Leah and Bea are doing brilliant work advocating for inclusion in the Romance genre, launching initiatives like The Ripped Bodice State of Racial Diversity in Romance Report and partnering with SONY Pictures TV to bring diverse romance-inspired stories to the screen. Check out what TODAY and LA Times have to say about these two!
They're also incredibly down to earth and super supportive of the authors whose work they carry in the store. When my books first made it to their shelves, they were kind enough to send me this picture which sent me squealing:
(Calliope getting the turned-out treatment on The Ripped Bodice book shelves!)
So if you're buying books this holiday season, I hope you'll consider supporting these amazing stores!
Now...
Are you ready for a GIVEAWAY??
It's a biggie.
Yup! I'm giving away all TEN of the books and plays I currently have in print (these are all in audio too of course, but this contest is all about the physical copies). Perhaps you can stuff a comedy/romance-lover's stocking next month. Or what the hell, treat yo' damn self :) I'll sign all 10 of these and send them the winner's way in ONE WEEK!
Here's how to Enter:
1. Join our awesome community on Facebook at Erin Mallon's Feisty Fitzies. This is my Readers Group where we do all sorts of reveals, giveaways, contests, sneak peeks and polls. We have lots of fun.
2. Encourage a comedy-loving, romance-digging friend to join the group as well. Bonus points if you want to bring several people into the fold :)
3. Respond to this newsletter by Saturday December 4th at midnight EST and let me know how you and your friend are enjoying our group!
GOOD LUCK!
Thanks as always for reading! I hope you're enjoying the holiday season so far and taking some time for you. I'll "see" you next week! Until then, scroll down for this week's Author Spotlight featuring my friend and fellow Rom Com author, Karen Grey!
xoxo
Erin
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
KAREN GREY
My friend Karen Grey has a big release this week! CHILD OF MINE, the latest installment in Karen's Boston Classics Novels drops on December 1st! I love the world Karen is creating in this series and can't wait see what magic she's made in this one.
CHILD OF MINE
a nostalgic romantic comedy
by Karen Grey
“A romcom set in BOSTON in the 80s?? Yes please!”
- NYT bestselling author Erin Nicholas
The bigger the secret, the harder it is to hide.
Single mom Isabella York was a celebrity before she had her first kiss, her first date, or her first sip of alcohol. Playing the bad girl—both on and off the set—made up for lost time, but the consequences were life-changing. Back home in Boston, with her “checkered past” behind her, all she wants is to raise her little girl far from the spotlight. After all, revealing her secrets could mean losing everything.
For her, and her daughter.
It’s not that Henry Smith hates kids—they don’t like him. Meanwhile, he’s stuck producing children’s TV, so he’s doing the best he can to be less of a grouch. Not everyone gets a second chance to chase his dream, and if he plays his cards right at this new gig, he can move on to making television that will change the world, not just entertain a bunch of brats.
Even better, he just might be able to talk the woman he never thought he’d see again into greenlighting a do-over.
In this sexy, heartwarming, Secret Baby, 80’s throwback romcom, a Sunshine-Grumpy pair has to face the past before they can find their future… together.
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