Today marks the start of the KDP Select Kindle exclusive release for SECONDHAND ROMANCE! This seems to be the week of specials gifts in my life. Yesterday I celebrated my daughter’s birthday, and today a birthday of a different sort with the release of this book.
What can I tell you about SECONDHAND ROMANCE not mentioned in the blurb on my books page, or that I didn’t mention a few weeks back in the cover reveal? How about a list of fun facts about this book?
- The first draft was written in its entirety during the NaNoWriMo writing challenge. The challenge is to reach the goal of 50K words in the month of the November. I wrote 57K words in the month during that challenge. I took December off for the holidays and completed the draft in January.
- This was the FIRST book to be contracted by my publisher which started a rather comical trend of SECONDHAND ROMANCE being determined to be first in all things, paying no mind to its own title.
- When submitting information to the marketing department regarding the book cover, I sent a picture of Joe Manganiello. Hey…why take a chance?
- Of the three books in the Brothers of Audubon Springs series, the town of Audubon Springs figures most prominently in SECONDHAND ROMANCE. Mainly because Annie owns a secondhand bookstore in the center of town and Tony, born and bred in Audubon Springs, is considered one of the town’s most eligible bachelors.
- While I have agonized over titles of other books, SECONDHAND ROMANCE started as the working title chosen in about 30 seconds because I needed to save the file. It fits the story so perfectly I never felt the need to change it.
- The spark of the idea for this story came from a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment in Return to Audubon Springs when Annie ponders the question…is Tony a Mr. Knightley or a Mr. Darcy? As a huge Jane Austen fan, it was a fun question to tackle in this manuscript. Personally, I’d take any of Austen’s heroes!
Darcy or Knightley? Yes, please!
- Tony is a man’s man who doesn’t understand the power of a good book. It’s fun to watch him fall for a woman who loves books and gets him to agree to read Jane Austen’s Emma.
- Annie was only ever meant to be a secondary character in Return to Audubon Springs. I modeled her after my beta reader, Lori, who is the ULTIMATE fan-girl. I gave Annie a fan-girl moment with Emma, a popular children’s fantasy book author in Return to Audubon Springs. I found Annie so fun and interesting, she got her own story.
I hope you enjoy reading Annie and Tony’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!
RoseAnn DeFranco - Where Laughter, Passion and Love Bloom 
Annie is the coolest chick ever. (And I’m not just saying that because she was modeled after me!) In fact, I think she is way cooler than me! haha
And I am so glad that you chose this oh so perfect photo of Joe Manganiello. It made my Friday that much better. xo
Thank you for the oh so perfect photo contribution, and for donating your exceptionally long eyelashes to Annie! 🙂
You are so right. Almost any of Jane Austen’s heroes would be acceptable. Though I’ve a soft spot for Mr. Darcy – or is it Colin Firth who has me so enamored? It looks like it’s shaping up to be a great series. Enjoy and best of luck.
R.E. Mullins
Thank you for stopping by and for your compliments on the series. Jane crafted her heroes beautifully. I love them all. Captain Wentworth makes my heart skip a beat. It is hard for me to choose one! 🙂
I can’t wait to read your release! And without a doubt, Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is my all time favorite! So, I’ll have to read it and see! Cheers, Michele
Colin is memorable! Annie mentions him in the book, I believe! Hope you enjoy.
RoseAnn
Just finished it this morning and loved it. Can’t wait to read book 3 and Vince’s story. I love this Italian family. Marcella bore some gorgeous sons and she knows how to handle all three. Annie and Tony are the dynamic duo in this book and they light up every page. Polar opposites with an incredible magnetism for each other
Thank you. Marcella is a gem! She cracks me up in this book especially.
Hi, RoseAnn, happy release day!
Hi Babette. Same to you! 🙂
Congratulations on the new book RoseAnn. I’m looking forward to reading it!
Thank you Diana! I’m currently reading your newest release, Compromising Willa and really enjoying it.
Congrats on the new release, RoseAnn! I’m looking forward to reading it.
I have a soft spot for Mr. Knightley.
I’m partial to Knightley myself. Johnn Lee Miller is my favorite Knightley in the 2009 BBC adaptation. I highly recommend it.
Hi RoseAnn,
Congrats on SR release. I loved Tony and Annie’s story. You created a beautiful town I love visiting. Can’t wait for the next trip there.
Lori
Hi Lori, thank you so much for your support! I’m already in copy edits for the Right Chord so you might not have a long wait!
RoseAnn
I just started the book yesterday! I’m loving it just as much as RtoAS. Being a lover of both Mr. Darcy and Colin Firth, I’m going with Darcy. I think Tony has the same sort of brusqueness, or open his mouth and say something without fully thinking it through first. And yet there is a softer side to him. We sense that right from the beginning. Hope I get some reading time tonight!
Hi Robena. Happy Release Day to you! Thank you for stopping by. I’m interested to see what you think of Tony by the end. Annie makes his head spin. 🙂
Hi, RoseAnn! I just finished RTAS. I loved Annie’s character and remember that scene well!
Congrats on book 2…I can’t wait to read it! (Oh, and Colin Firth as Darcy is definitely my favorite! Colin Firth as anyone, for that matter!).
Some might argue Colin Firth IS Darcy. My mother is partial to the newer version with Matthew MacFayden. I think The BBC Masterpiece is a truer adaptation of the book.
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