Colby Quinn's Blog: Writing Life with Colby

Happy 4th of July, everyone!
Today we celebrate our nation's 249th birthday, and I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for the freedoms we enjoy every single day.
As the wife of a veteran, I have such deep love and respect for our military and veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect what we hold dear. It's no coincidence that most of my main male characters have been veterans - there's something so compelling about writing heroes who've served their country and then find their way to love and peace in small towns like Willow Creek.
Whether you're enjoying fireworks, barbecues, or just a quiet day reflecting on what this holiday means, I hope your 4th of July is wonderful.
Thank you to all who have served, and happy Independence Day!
With gratitude and love for our country,
Colby 🇺🇸

Happy Saturday, romance lovers! With Mother's Day tomorrow, I've been reflecting on how spring changes my reading habits. There's something magical about longer days and warmer weather that makes me want to read outdoors - the steamy scenes just hit differently when you're reading on the porch with a glass of wine! 🍷
Speaking of romances featuring amazing moms, I can't help but think of Sophia from Book 3 of my Willow Creek series. As a single mother, she brings such depth to her relationship with Martinez. I'm really working on getting this "feel" just right - it's one of the reasons I scrapped a few chapters and rewrote them! Their story captures that beautiful balance between romance and real life that many readers with families will relate to.

Do you read differently in spring? Do seasonal changes affect your book choices? Drop a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts! 💬

Good morning, book lovers! Happy Friday! 🌞
With "Guarding His Second Chance" releasing in just TWO DAYS, I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes confession...
This book nearly didn't happen! 😱
I started writing Ethan and Emily's story back in December, planning for a January release. But I kept hitting walls! I rewrote the beginning countless times, scrapped entire chapters, and even tried to start different projects instead.
But these characters wouldn't let me go. Their story kept pulling me back, demanding to be told, even when it was fighting me every step of the way! 💕
I finally pushed through the block, and I'm SO glad I did! Sometimes the stories that challenge us most become our most meaningful work.
"Guarding His Second Chance" has suspense, drama, and a Happily Ever After that I'm not ashamed to admit made ME cry while writing it! 🥰
Have you pre-ordered your copy yet? It arrives Sunday! 🎉
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYWN2NBY

Another snow storm is heading our way here in New Hampshire! As I write this, we're battening down the hatches for today's blast of winter weather, and there's already talk of another storm coming Sunday. Mother Nature certainly isn't finished with us yet!

But you know what? These snow days are perfect for writing, and I've got some exciting news to share. I'm putting the final touches on "Guarding his Second Chance," which will take us back to the charming (and sometimes dramatic!) world of Willow Creek. There's something special about revisiting this town and its characters - it feels like catching up with old friends.

Speaking of Willow Creek, curling up with my laptop while watching the snow fall outside my window really sets the mood for writing these small-town romances. There's something magical about crafting steamy scenes while nature creates its own drama outside!

For those of you who've been patiently waiting for more Willow Creek stories, thank you for sticking with me. Sometimes stories need time to simmer, but I promise this one will be worth the wait.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to stock up on coffee and snacks before this storm hits. A writer's got to have her priorities straight!

How are you planning to spend your snow days? Drop a comment below!

Have you ever had a secret that made your heart race every time you thought about it? Something forbidden that you knew you should keep hidden, but it just kept pulling at you? In the world of steamy contemporary romance, these delicious secrets create the kind of tension that keeps us turning pages way past bedtime!

Maybe it's falling for your best friend's sibling (absolutely off-limits!), or that spark with someone who's completely wrong for you (but feels so right). There's something absolutely irresistible about watching characters try to fight their attraction while knowing that eventually, that secret desire is going to burst free in the most deliciously steamy way.

As a romance writer, I love exploring these forbidden attractions. The longing glances when no one's watching, the accidental touches that linger just a moment too long, the way their pulse quickens whenever they're alone together. It's that delicious dance of "we shouldn't" and "but I want to" that creates the most intense chemistry.

And let's talk about the moment when that secret finally comes out! Whether it's a passionate confession in the heat of an argument or a slow-burning revelation that can't be contained any longer, there's nothing quite like watching those walls come crumbling down. All that pent-up tension, all those stolen moments and hidden desires, finally breaking free.

Sometimes the most powerful secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves - trying to deny our attraction, pretending we don't feel what we feel. But in romance, we know that the heart wants what it wants, and sometimes the most beautiful love stories start with the words "I shouldn't want you, but I do."

What's your favorite kind of forbidden romance? The secret office romance? The best friend's sibling? Or maybe the enemies who can't resist each other? Drop a comment below and let's chat about what makes these secrets so irresistible!

Enemies to Lovers: The Perfect Recipe for Romance

Let's talk about one of my absolute favorite romance dynamics - enemies to lovers! There's something absolutely irresistible about watching two people fight their attraction, isn't there? That delicious tension when they can't stand each other... but also can't keep their eyes off each other! It's like watching a perfectly choreographed dance where both partners are pretending they don't hear the music.

I love writing these stories because the push-pull dynamic creates such amazing chemistry. You know those moments - the heated arguments that leave them standing just a little too close, the grudging admiration that sneaks in despite their best efforts, and that pivotal moment when dislike finally gives way to desire. Every glare across the room holds a spark of something more, and every accidental touch sets off fireworks they're desperately trying to ignore.

As a writer, this dynamic gives me so many delicious moments to play with. The first time they're forced to work together, the moment they realize the person they're arguing with actually makes some good points, that first reluctant laugh they share. It's like watching a wall crumble brick by brick, revealing something beautiful on the other side.

The best part might be the internal struggle each character faces. They've convinced themselves they can't stand this person, built up all these reasons why they're completely wrong for each other. But then their heart starts whispering "but what if..." And once that seed is planted, watching it grow is pure magic.

Maybe that's why these stories never get old - they remind us that love has a way of sneaking past our defenses when we least expect it. Sometimes the person who challenges us the most is exactly who we need, and the best love stories often begin with "I can't stand you" before they transform into "I can't live without you."

What do you think? Are you a fan of enemies-to-lovers romance? Drop a comment below and tell me your favorite part of this classic trope!

Hey there, Romance Lovers!

We've all wondered about those what if moments. That spark you never forgot. The love that slipped away. The connection that felt too powerful to be truly over.
What would YOU do if you got a second chance at love?
In the world of steamy contemporary romance, second chances aren't just possibilities—they're promises. Promises of redemption. Of healing. Of passion rekindled. Those breathless moments when two hearts collide again, older and wiser, but still burning with the same intense desire.
Imagine running into that person. The one who got away. The one who haunts your dreams. The one whose touch you've never quite forgotten.
What would you do differently this time?
Would you:

Speak the words you were too scared to say before?
Throw caution to the wind and follow your heart?
Take that leap of faith, knowing love is worth the risk?

Spoiler alert: I'm deep in the writing cave with my latest project, and let me tell you, second chance romances are giving me ALL the feels right now.
As I'm weaving my own tale of rekindled love, I can't help but think about those moments that make second chances so magical. That unexpected reunion. The spark that never really died. The understanding that comes with time and growth.
My current work-in-progress is playing with all those delicious emotions. Two characters with a complicated history, unfinished business, and enough chemistry to set the pages ablaze. Trust me, you're going to want to buckle up for this ride.
Stay tuned, because this second chance is going to be anything but predictable. 😉💕

*settling in with fresh coffee*

Getting into the New Year Rhythm: A Writer's Update

There's something both challenging and exciting about settling back into routine after the holiday season, isn't there? The decorations are packed away, the treats are (mostly) eaten, and now it's time to find our rhythm again.

For me, that means rediscovering my writing schedule - you know, those precious hours when the coffee is hot, the ideas are flowing, and the words just seem to dance onto the page. Some days it comes easily, like slipping into a favorite sweater. Other days... well, let's just say there's a lot of staring at the cursor and hoping for inspiration to strike!

Speaking of writing, I wanted to share a little update with you all. Many of you have been asking for more stories featuring characters from "Fake Marriage to the Small Town Sheriff". I've been working on a story featuring Jones (yes, you'll finally learn his first name is Ethan!) and introducing a fascinating new character, Emily Parker. Their story is full of steamy tension and suspense, but sometimes stories need a little extra time to simmer. When I found myself getting stuck in the middle, my publisher suggested giving it some space. So I've temporarily set it aside to work on another small town romance that's been waiting in my ideas journal.

I know this puts me a bit behind my usual schedule (what can I say? The perfectionist in me won't rest until everything is "just right"!), but I promise it will be worth the wait. After all, isn't that what we love about a good romance - the anticipation making the eventual reward even sweeter?

So here's to finding our rhythm in 2025, whether it's in writing, reading, or life in general. Sometimes the path isn't quite what we expected, but that often leads to the best stories, doesn't it?

What about you? How are you settling into your new year rhythm?

The Secrets We Keep: A Romance Writer's Perspective

Let's talk about secrets... There's something deliciously intriguing about them, isn't there? That flutter in your stomach when you're keeping something hidden, the way your pulse quickens when a secret's about to be revealed. As a romance writer, I find secrets absolutely irresistible – they're the perfect ingredient for a steamy love story.

Think about it: every great romance has some kind of secret at its heart. Maybe it's the growing attraction between two people who can't admit their feelings. Or perhaps it's a fake relationship that starts feeling surprisingly real. Sometimes it's the past catching up in unexpected ways, or desires that are just waiting to be confessed. These are the moments that keep us turning pages way past bedtime!

The best part about secrets in romance is how they create that delicious tension. You know that feeling when two characters are in a room together, and there's this electric current of unspoken words between them? When every glance holds hidden meaning, and every accidental touch feels like lightning? That's the power of secrets at work.

What fascinates me most is how secrets can transform a simple story into something unforgettable. They add layers of complexity to characters, making them feel more real, more human. After all, don't we all have something we keep close to our hearts? Something that makes us vulnerable but also makes us who we are?

As a writer, I love exploring all these different kinds of secrets. From the sweet uncertainty of hidden crushes to the burning intensity of forbidden attraction, each type of secret brings its own special magic to a love story. And when that secret finally comes out? That's when the real fireworks begin!

What about you? What's your favorite kind of secret in romance? The slow burn of hidden feelings? The excitement of a secret relationship? Or maybe the thrill of forbidden love? Drop a comment below – let's talk about what makes your romance-loving heart beat faster!

Fresh Starts & Fresh Pages: A Writer's New Year

Happy 2025! You know that magical feeling that comes with fresh starts? It's like opening a new book - full of possibility and promise. While I'm not big on New Year's resolutions (who needs that pressure?), I do love embracing January's fresh energy.

This year, I'm channeling that new-beginning excitement into my creative space. My desk is decked out with a pristine calendar (because who can resist decorating with stickers?), an ideas journal just waiting to be filled with story dreams, and my favorite new pens and highlighters standing ready for action. There's something about crisp, blank pages that makes my writer's heart skip a beat.

People often ask me how I stay inspired throughout the year. For me, it's about finding joy in these little things - the smooth glide of a new pen, the satisfying crack of opening a fresh journal, the rainbow array of highlighters promising to organize my thoughts. These small pleasures fuel my creativity and keep the stories flowing.

And speaking of stories... *whispers conspiratorially* I might have some exciting book news coming your way soon!

But I'm curious - what sparks joy for you at the start of a new year? Are you a resolution setter with color-coded goals? A fresh start enthusiast who loves the clean slate of January 1st? Or do you prefer to let life unfold naturally, finding your inspiration in unexpected moments?

Drop a comment below and let's chat about how you're welcoming 2025!