A Tale of Two Writers by Carissa Harper

Most stories start with "what if…"

Ours had a different conception.

Mother and daughter watching a rom-com.

Daughter: We could have written that.

Mother: You’re right.

Daughter: We should write a book together.

Mother: I love that plan. Got a kick-ass idea?

Daughter: Not yet. I’ll get back to you.

Mother: It needs to be high-concept.

A short time later, once the idea has germinated, the brainstorming and character creation begin. Slowly a plot emerges, the sequence of events is roughed out, plot points and turning points are in place, secondary characters pop in and out, and the all-important romance trope—friends-to-lovers—has been fine-tuned, along with the setting, Seattle Washington, and a secondary trope, Rockstar Romance (light).

With sixty published romances under her belt, mother quickly bangs out what she calls a "shitty first draf"’ and hands it over to daughter to practice her newly-minted writing skills by fleshing out and glitzing up. Much the way one might layer clothing, accessories and makeup onto a naked mannequin.

Shockingly, there are flaws. Plot holes. Inconsistencies. Saggy middle. Weak black moment. Rewrites take place. And more rewrites. And more revisions. Followed by a total overhaul of the plot. 

Like any good romance, there is a happy ending. Mother and daughter are still friends and early readers are loving the book, staying up late and highlighting favorite scenes. Whew!

Time to move on to the second book in the series. Surely the next one will go more smoothly.    

Anyone else with co-authoring experience, good, bad, or ugly, please feel free to share in the comments below.

A swoony, slow-burn romantic comedy for anyone who's ever wondered... what if?

Assistant producer Lexy Smith may have trouble deciding what to order in a restaurant, but there are two things she is absolutely clear on. One, her boss will only promote her to producer if she comes up with a brilliant show idea that can’t lose. And two, she’ll never date a guy friend again.

Charismatic front man of a local band, Nate Douglas knows Lexy from his day job as a studio sound tech. When she confides her idea for a new reality show, Nate dives in to help her craft a first-rate pitch.

Their friendship is on fire, and the show—where contestants compete for a second chance with someone from their past—becomes the hottest thing on the air.

Her dream job. Her dream guy. Everything is falling into place better than she could have imagined…until the night it all falls apart.

Vulnerability, fueled by rum cocktails and the perfect soundtrack, turns friendship into fireworks, with a promise of something more. But then her best intentions backfire, leaving Nate feeling betrayed. And Lexy devastated.

Like the show’s contestants, Lexy and Nate have a choice. Will they let their past hold them back? Or will they, with a little help from Cupid, win a second chance at love?

Set in the bustling city of Seattle, Cupid Grants a Second Chance is a heartwarming tale of friendship, love, and the power of following your dreams. Fans of The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory will love this charming romance.

Carissa Harper is the pen name for mother-daughter writing team, USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Lawless, and her daughter Reyna. They live on Vancouver Island where Reyna spends as much time as possible on her surfboard, while Kathleen prefers to sit on the beach and watch. They love to hear from their readers. 

www.carissaharper.com is where you can find out more about them and what’s up next for The Boys in the Band. They also hang out here @carissaharperauthor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL45VPGB

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FL45VPGB