[The Proposal] Inspiration Station: How the hell did you think that up?

My stories all start with a character. It's usually a voice booming in my head throwing out a piece of dialogue or doing something I can't look away from.

The Proposal was no different.

Leo Wilder had a cocky smile, swagger and eyes that would cause women to walk straight into a pole if he winked at them. Under that, he's so much more, but it all started with a glance and a wink.

Zara Logan was the perfect one to go up against him to battle it out. Whenever there are two characters jabbering away, I'm always trying to picture the worst possible way for them to crash into one another, sometimes literally...

They've each got exactly what the other needs, even if they don't know it yet.

This is a story I've been excited to tell since last summer and the countdown has begun!

Have you added their story to your Goodreads? → https://bit.ly/theproposalgr

[The Proposal] My Top Procrastination Tip

Story inspiration comes to me in many ways. It might be a conversation I overhear, a song I listen to or a picture I find. And the picture usually means I send the image to my Pinterest board for the story that sparked the character/location/event inspiration.

If you're looking for way not to procrastinate, this is not the place!

That's when the rabbit hole of Pinterest clamps onto my ankle and I'm unable to escape until I've pinned at least 100 things and scrolled for hours.

But I love creating the boards for my characters and their stories. I get the warm fuzzies when I find a funny moment I imagine them having or a steamy embrace or kiss dropped on the shoulder.

This time around, the hero for The Proposal popped into my head. He's hilarious and sexy as hell. So I went to find his celebrity doppelgänger over on Pinterest. His feisty heroine wasn't far behind. There was a scene I saw between the two of them and I needed to find get my board started for their story.

I love enemies to lovers. Every banter filled conversation. Sexual tension and off the charts chemistry are my jam, if you didn't know that already.

But this one is even more special because I've never had two character's in a battle of wills where only one of them can win. It's a fun twist on the usual head butting. Oh and did I forget to mention, they're also fake fiancés?

It was almost too much fun and I can't wait for July to get here, so you can finally meet them both!

If you're ready to fall down the procrastination hole, you can visit my Pinterest board for this series and poke around to see if you might uncover a few hints about what's to come!

Check out the board for The Proposal! → https://bit.ly/TheProposalPins

Don't forget to add The Proposal to your Goodreads shelf! → https://bit.ly/theproposalgr

[The Proposal] In My Editor's Hands

I can't believe the day is finally here! I've been working on this story since the beginning of the year and I'm freaking out that I can finally tell you more about it!

Leo Wilder is everything you want in a yummy hero with all the dirty talk and marshmallow insides I can't help but write. He's a little bit cocky, a little bit damaged, a HUGE button pusher in every sense of the word and one of the best guys I've ever written.

He's funny, loyal and can't keep his hands off his new fake fiancé.

The Proposal will be here and July and it can't come soon enough!

Add it to your Goodreads! → https://bit.ly/theproposalgr

[Life] 3 Tips for working from home with kids: Schedules, Cupcakes and A Box of Wine

This is officially the three day anniversary of me wearing these pants. I should probably take a shower…

My kids are off school for spring break, which has re-adjusted our previous re-adjustment to home life. To cope, I’ve created some schedules for them and myself to keep things chugging alongside me working from home. As crazy as all this is right now, I’m trying to soak it up because I know I’ll miss being around them all day once they’re back at school and I’m back in the office at my day job.

Being home is part of my goal with becoming a full time author. So this is a trial run of sorts. I’m still waking up extra early to get in writing before their day and my work day starts a few times a week. Even with all the craziness going on, I’m not watching the news and I think that calms me down and keeps me focused on what’s in front of me and what I can control.

Here are my top 3 tips that have helped me cope with working from home:

1. Printed schedules - I went out and bought a printer when everything started. The kids have needed it for their school work, but also for other projects I’ve come up with. I created a daily schedule for them with check marks next to each item. When they finish a task, it’s a check. If they have 5 completed checklists they can choose a movie, tv show or game for us to buy and download.

2. Everyone gets out of pajamas in the morning! We all wake up, brush teeth and have breakfast. I’ll admit sometimes I’m putting on the same pants I wore the day before, hence my three day anniversary and they’re not exactly business pants (hello sweats!), but it helps us.

3. We’re coloring or drawing every day. On their checklist is a spot for them to color or draw with me. Even though we’re all in the house together, it doesn’t necessarily feel like we’re getting in as much quality time. So, if it’s on the checklist, it means they want to do it and I’m reminded that I do too (see above about missing this later). Solo time with the kids without my phone nearby where we can talk and I can listen is so important and has helped with their anxiety about the whole situation.

Those are my tips! Not to say I’m not also becoming a master bartender/wine bottle opener because oh hell yes, that’s happening! But we’re all doing the best we can. I hope you’re safe and healthy!

Maya xx

[Writer's Life] Confession

Hiya!

I have a confession.

As much as I love writing, sometimes it makes me want to pull my hair out and scream (and possibly cry!). For every story that pours out of my fingertips lightening fast, there are some books that take a little coaxing and nudging.

The past few months, I’ve been getting to know a new group of guys. The FU guys are revealing their quirks, secrets and even more to me, while I’m working on the last book in the Kings series. It’s a bit like finishing up a summer at camp, while also meeting the new people in your new school. You’re feeling each other out and getting to know each other, but also super scared to leave your old friends behind.

For a long time, I struggled to get a handle on exactly who Nix, Berk and LJ were and what they were trying to tell me. There were outlines, notecards and post-it notes everywhere. Mountains of crumpled up paper and entire documents deleted.

But the Trojans are seriously talking now. Every day, I’m getting more and more of their stories down, scribbled on notebooks, quick voice notes, and scraps of paper are all shoved into my writing folders.

It’s been a trying few months with the end of the school year madness, summer schedule craziness and day job hysteria. My plate is well and truly full, so I’ve been writing long into the night when the words hit me.

I’ll have lots of exciting news coming up in the next couple of weeks once I get The Second We Met off to my editor. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from my characters and I know you’ll love these two and the rest of the guys as much as I already do!

If you missed the sneak peek of TSWM, you can read it here!