Jill Haymaker's Blog

Hi everyone. I appreciate all of you who follow me here. I now have a new website/blog the address is https://www.jillhaymakerwrites.com If you would like to continue to follow my posts, please go to my new website and sign up At the end of November this one will no longer work. Thanks, I hope you will all continue to follow my journey.

Today we have been asked What is our take on the enemies to lovers trope? How do you make this dynamic feel fresh and believable. I love a good enemies to lovers story. I’ve written a few and they are always fun to write and read. I think the reason they work is because there is usually a significant amount of time that has passed since they were enemies. People change. Especially, as in some of my stories, if they were enemies in high school and are now adults. We all did foolish things when we were young, but hopefully, as we’ve matured, we’ve become better people and may feel bad for the way we treated others. So anyway, the passage of ten, twenty, or more years may make a huge difference in how people relate to each other. I think this is true of not only romantic relationships but also with friendships and family relationships. So never write someone off.

Not hop on over to Brenda Margriet’s blog and see what she thinks at https://www.brendamargriet.com/blog and check out her romance, Crossroads Corner at https://books2read.com/CrossroadsCorner After an embezzling boyfriend puts her under police suspicion and deeply in debt, Camryn Bendixon has one goal—rebuild her career and her self-esteem by dragging her grandfather’s failing construction company back to profitability by her manicured fingernails. She refuses to be distracted by the sexy single dad who stands in her way. Will Danson knows life is meant to be savoured—a fact brought home every time he hugs his young daughter, who lost her sight as an infant. Balancing her needs while managing the booming Kohlenburg Construction Group should make it easy to ignore his disdainful but captivating business rival. Soon Camryn and Will are competing for construction bids and career-making contracts. But it is her battered heart that he truly wants to win.

Just six days until the release of Montana Pines Christmas Rescue. Pre-order your copy now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXT4JVBX

This week we have been asked-What was your favorite Halloween costume when you were a kid? Do you still dress up now? My favorite costume was a clown costume my mom made with huge pink and green polka dots. She made my brother a matching out with blue and black polka dots. We wore them for several years. Then all three of my kids wore them as did my older two granddaughters. Unfortunately, by the time my youngest grandkids were old enough to wear them (they are now 4 and 6) clowns were no longer considered cute, but creepy instead, so they didn’t wear them. I still have them. Maybe someday they will come back in style! I usually don’t dress up anymore, but a couple of years ago when my grandson went as Batman, he wanted me to dress like him, so I became bat grandma. It was fun!

Now hop on over to Leslie Hachtel’s page and see what costumes she likes at https://lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com and chcck out her romance Once Upon a Tablecloth at https://amzn.to/3gDu85M

On sale for only $.99 for a limited time!!!!Nick Jordan acquires failing restaurants, then makes them prosperous. But when Lily Mercer called him for help, he didn’t count on falling in love. Or that someone wants to kill her.And with so many obstacles and threats, can she survive? Can their love?

And I’m happy to announce that my new Christmas novella, Montana Pines Christmas Rescue, is now available for Pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXT4JVBX You don’t want to miss this heartwarming romance about finding the magic of Christmas.

I had to turn my heat on for the first time this morning-autumn is definitely here in Colorado! This week we have been asked this question-How do you approach creating conflict in a romance novel without losing the emotional connection between characters? I don’t think that conflict signals a lack of emotional connection. In fact, without an emotional connection between your characters, I don’t think there’d be much chance of conflict. It’s the growing emotional connection that is bound to create differences and chances for disagreement as the relationship progresses. For example, if two people live in different cities, have different lifestyles, or other obligations, there is no conflict if they aren’t involved with each other. The more their separate lives become entwined, the more they have to change to fit together and that’s what causes conflict. Conflict can be good because it allows them to face problems together thus strengthening the relationship.

Now hop on over to Leslie Hachtel’s blog and see how she feels about writing conflict at https://lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com And check out Murder Most Notorious at https://rb.gy/szt1yr

A beautiful homicide detective and a sexy cold case guy have to team up to find a vicious axe-wielding killer. Brutal murders have shocked the city and all the evidence points to a twin sister once thought dead. So many twists and turns in this action packed romantic thriller. And so much passion.

Are you ready to get in the Christmas spirit? Only 77 shopping days left! Here’s one of my favorite holiday stories.

This week we have been asked, Pumpkin Spice yay or nay? Silly question, of course it’s yay, yay, yay! I love everything pumpkin spice, from the minute Starbucks brings it out in late August until it disappears at Christmas time. There is just something about it that screams autumn. Since she was young, my daughter has always called a Chai Tea Latte Christmas in a cup. Drinking one just reminds us of Christmas. I feel the same way about a Pumpkin Spice Latte, it’s Autumn in a cup! And it’s not just the lattes, whether its a pumpkin spice candle, or muffin, or whipped cream, it’s wonderful. Bring on the pumpkin spice, I’ll be enjoying it until it disappears for another nine, long months.

Now hop on over to Brenda Margriet’s blog and see how she feels abont pumpkin spice at https://www.brendamargriet.com/blog and while you’re there, Start the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series for FREE! Two long-time friends…one impulsive seduction…zero percent chance their lives will ever be the same again.55-year-old widow & widowercancer threattattoo artiststrong, creative heroinecaring, supportive herosteamy open-door sexstandalone readfriends-to-loversshe seduces him

And if you’re in the mood for a good Autumn Romance, don’t miss Montana Pines Autumn Leaves

This week we have been asked-Would you rather read (or write) about a rekindled flame or a brand new passion? Is your choice influenced by the age of the characters? So, to answer this question, I knew I had written both, but I didn’t know the numbers, so I went back through all 35 of my books. Of my 35, only nice are stories where the heroine and hero knew each other prior to the beginning of my book, and only three are former romantic partners, so I guess I like to write new passion. I like to read both, and now that it has been pointed out to me, maybe my next book will be a rekindled flame, haha! In answer to the second question, no age has nothing to do with it. The first rekindled book I wrote, the main characters were 22, in the second, they were in their mid-fifties, and the third, in their late thirties. You can fall back in love at any age.

Now hop on over to PG Forte’s blog and see what she likes at https://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com and check out her book, Pour Decisions at https://Books2Read.com/Pour-Decisions Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore the winery they’ve just inherited to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.

And if you looking for a story of brand new passion, my book, Colorado Wrangler, is free today and tomorrow for your kindle at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDJLYCW

Today, we have been asked to answer this question-What do you do in September to reset yourself after the crazy days of summer? What routines do you restart? First of all, summer isn’t crazy for me, instead it’s a time to relax since a lot of my activities center around the school year. I enjoy summer when my schedule is not as full, but I also look forward to September when things start up again. I miss the high school kids that I work with through the school year. I get back into the routine where I’m busy several nights each week. Also, I love my flowers and garden, but by the end of the summer, I’m ready to transition into a season without constant watering and mowing. Cool mornings and crisp evenings and everything pumpkin spice. Now hop on over to Jenna Da Sie’s blog and see what she’s up to this autumn at https://jennadasie.com/

And if you are in need of a good romance this autumn, check out my latest release below

Our question of the the week is this-Do you think romance novels have a unique ability to explore emotions and relationships that other genres don’t? No, absolutely not. No matter what genre an author writes, they can explore deep human emotions and relationships. A romance can be woven into any genre. People are full of emotion whether they’re falling in love, solving a mystery, being part of history or fighting aliens. The ability to explore emotions depends on the author, not the genre they’re writing in. While romances can be emotional, they definitely don’t have a monopoly on emotions.

Now hop on over to Leslie Hachtel’s blog and see what she thinks at https://lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com and check out her romance, Adriana, at https://tinyurl.com/mf4bj5n3 In this gripping historical novel, set in 1723 England and the colonies, follow the tempestuous journey of a bold and cunning woman who risks everything to save her life. Disguised as a humble cook, Adriana sneaks aboard a ship and sets her sights on the enigmatic captain, Robert Stuart. A forbidden romance ignites between them in the darkness of the night, but when dawn breaks, her true identity remains a mystery to him. As their worlds collide and secrets unravel, Adriana must navigate the treacherous waters of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. Will she be able to reveal the truth and win the heart of the man she loves, or will the waves of deceit tear them apart forever? Immerse yourself in a whirlwind of passion, intrigue, and the power of a woman unafraid to seize her own destiny.

And check out my new release, Montana Pines Search for Love, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4RLDQV

This week we have been asked-What’s your favourite season, both in real life and in your writing? That’s easy, hands down it’s Autumn. I love the warm days with cool nights, the falling leaves, football, and everything pumpkin spice. Savoring the last warm days from summer, and looking forward to once again wearing cozy sweaters, sipping on hot chocolate, and even seeing the first snow flakes of the year. Also, the fact that my birthday is in October which brings with it a trip into the Rocky Mountains to spend some time on a horse doesn’t hurt either. I look forward to fall every year. That’s real life, so is it the same in my writing. In a way it is, my characters enjoy many of the same things I do, but writing my annual Christmas romance is my favorite book each year. I love the magic and romance of the holiday season, so let’s say that in my writing, my favorite season starts a couple of months later

Now, hop on over to PG Forte’s blog and see what season she enjoys at https://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com and check out her novel GIADA MAZZI IS LIVING HER BEST LIFE life is more than just the lies we try and tell ourselves about what we’ve done and who we are.​ I guess the truth is that I never stopped loving Ben. And I never stopped imagining how different my life might have been if he were only the person I needed him to be, instead of the person that he is. Which is silly, right? I mean, truly; it’s laughable. Because if he were someone else, he wouldn’t be him.  And the world is already full of people like that. What good is one more gonna do me? Besides, if I’m honest, Ben wasn’t ever the problem. That was me. I was never the person he believed me to be. Oh, I thought I was, in the beginning. I tried hard to be, and that worked for a while. Sort of. But eventually I reached the point where I had to make a choice between living life for myself, or for everyone else. And when it came right down to that…how could I not choose me?

And book seven in my Montana Pines Series is now available. Get your copy today at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4RLDQV

This week our topic is –How do you create memorable, lovable protagonists and their love interests? I usually start with an idea of who I want to be the hero or the heroine or sometimes both. Then I do a deep dive into their past and what made them who they are today. I try and find some deep issue that drives them to action or prevents them from getting the life they really want. I make them human, not perfect, the kind of people that readers can relate to. I hope readers see a little of themselves in all of my characters I know there’s a little bit of me in every character I write. The most important thing is to make them relatable even when they make mistakes. If an author can do that, then their characters will be memorable.

Now hop on over to Jenna Da Sie’s blog and see what she has to say at https://jennadasie.com

And there is less than a week left until the release of Montana Pines Search for Love, my latest novel. You can pre-order now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4RLDQV