A Eternity to Bloom
Yes, it’s about time! Though the concept for Wildflower was incepted years and years ago, I didn’t start really fleshing out the characters and trying to figure out exactly how to say what I wanted to say until late 2022. Even then, I didn’t have the guts to start writing it until 2023.
Even then, I kept it to myself. In the throes of publishing burnout, I had to remind myself why I loved writing again. “Find the fun again,” as said.
And I did, I found fun, and a whole host of other feelings that came splattering out on the page that I’d been bottling up because I hadn’t been writing. I found a lot of things within myself and these characters who had been yearning to tell their stories.
Once I started serializing, publishing burnout struck again, as well as some other life stressors, and Wildflower sat wilting in the meantime.
I found my way back, though, and thanks to a whole host of cheerleading and squealing (and a whole lot of editing) from I was able to make it through navigating these characters and their trauma and hangups and goals and relationships.
Even finished, I sat for a long time with this book, massaging it here and there, rewriting a few things, poking at it. Making excuses for why it wasn’t time yet.
This spring I’ve been gearing up for BridgeCon thanks to Jude, and I’m all the way inspired. It was the kick in the ass I needed to take the plunge, and get Wildflower out there. And a huge thank-you to my supportive family for aiding in said kicking of my ass.
It’s always anxiety-inducing putting a story out into the world, like I’m letting people see the inside of my skull and waiting for judgement. Wildflower has been the worst to date, because I spent so much of my most vulnerable time writing it that it’s been tightly wound with…well, vulnerability.
Vulnerability plays a big part in the story.Liliana is vulnerable, she’s on the run, she’s working illegally in Nova Scotia to stay off the radar. Her roommate kicks her out and she’s stuck, so she winds up at a local hostel run by two best friends, Iseul and Ambrose.
The hostel is kind of a ruse, though—they have a pay-what-you-want model, and take donations, so that they can feed and house homeless people. Lili is determined to not be a burden and pay her way, to try to help them instead of accepting help, all while not wanting them to know how hard her life is and what she’s had to do to survive.
Iseul grew up in the foster system, facing all kinds of adversity in the form of short-term living arrangements, changing schools, and being a small-in-stature male making him a likely target for bullies and predators. Ambrose has a terrible relationship with his military father, given that he didn’t want any of that for his own life. The two have been best friends since they were teenagers, and just want to help vulnerable people.
It’s just a giant soup of overcoming trauma and finding family and learning to accept help and trust people. A giant soup of difficult-to-deal-with emotions, scary ones to put out there.
But we overcome! Because Wildflower is coming on June 27th.If you like angsty romance with cinnamon roll mmcs, a hot mess relatable fmc, open-door love scenes with healthy communication, and a wicked ride of hurdles for these three to fight through…you might be into Wildflower.
Advanced Review Copies are available on Booksirens, if you’d like a copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
Preorders on Kindle are also live, but if you have Kindle Unlimited you’ll be able to read for free on launch day. And a lil’ secret between you and me, the paperback will be live shortly because I need to order a bunch for BridgeCon. So keep an eye on Amazon if it’s a paper copy you’re after. Hardcover (casewrap) and large print will go live on the 27th with the eBook.
Bad habits are hard to break.
And Liliana's worst habit by far is surrounding herself with toxic men. Now she’s alone and on the run, with a chip on her shoulder and nobody to trust.
She finds escape and solace working at an underground club where her identity is as fluid as her performance around the pole. That is, until her roommate kicks her out and she's left with no other choice than to move into the local hostel.
Where she meets her next bad habit. Or two.
Iseul and Ambrose, the owners of the hostel and long-time best friends. They’re kind, selfless, and too good to be true.
Liliana is determined to keep both men at arm’s length, unwilling to let herself be indebted to anyone. Iseul and Ambrose are relentlessly patient, their own understanding of trauma giving them an edge in navigating those who need help. All they want is her trust, and to keep her safe.
They’re going to need that trust when her past finally catches up with her…
And demands retribution.
Wildflower is a standalone Canadian MFM steamy romance about overcoming trauma and finding family, HEA guaranteed!
Thank you so much to my Patrons for sticking by me, even with the massive hiatus in the middle of serializing this story. You mean more to me than you could ever know. <3
