Cupid Grants A Second Chance
by Carissa Harper
A Tale of Two Writers
Most stories start with ‘what if…’
Ours had a different conception.
Mother and daughter watching a rom-com.
Daughter: We could have written that.
Mother: You’re right.
Daughter: We should write a book together.
Mother: I love that plan. Got a kick-ass idea?
Daughter: Not yet. I’ll get back to you.
Mother: It needs to be high-concept.
A short time later, once the idea has germinated, the brainstorming and character creation begin. Slowly a plot emerges, the sequence of events is roughed out, plot points and turning points are in place, secondary characters pop in and out, and the all-important romance trope—friends-to-lovers—has been fine-tuned, along with the setting, Seattle Washington, and a secondary trope, Rockstar Romance (light).
With sixty published romances under her belt, mother quickly bangs out what she calls a ‘shitty first draft’ and hands it over to daughter to practice her newly-minted writing skills by fleshing out and glitzing up. Much the way one might layer clothing, accessories and makeup onto a naked mannequin.
Shockingly, there are flaws. Plot holes. Inconsistencies. Saggy middle. Weak black moment. Rewrites take place. And more rewrites. And more revisions. Followed by a total overhaul of the plot.
Like any good romance, there is a happy ending. Mother and daughter are still friends and early readers are loving the book, staying up late and highlighting favorite scenes. Whew!
Time to move on to the second book in the series. Surely the next one will go more smoothly.
Anyone else with co-authoring experience, good, bad, or ugly, please feel free to share in the comments below.
Blurb:
A swoony, slow-burn romantic comedy for anyone who's ever wondered... what if?
Assistant producer Lexy Smith may have trouble deciding what to order in a restaurant, but there are two things she is absolutely clear on. One, her boss will only promote her to producer if she comes up with a brilliant show idea that can’t lose. And two, she’ll never date a guy friend again.
Charismatic frontman of a local band, Nate Douglas knows Lexy from his day job as a studio sound tech. When she confides her idea for a new reality show, Nate dives in to help her craft a first-rate pitch.
Their friendship is on fire, and the show—where contestants compete for a second chance with someone from their past—becomes the hottest thing on the air.
Her dream job. Her dream guy. Everything is falling into place better than she could have imagined…until the night it all falls apart.
Vulnerability, fueled by rum cocktails and the perfect soundtrack, turns friendship into fireworks, with a promise of something more. But then her best intentions backfire, leaving Nate feeling betrayed. And Lexy devastated.
Like the show’s contestants, Lexy and Nate have a choice. Will they let their past hold them back? Or will they, with a little help from Cupid, win a second chance at love?
Set in the bustling city of Seattle, "Cupid Grants a Second Chance" is a heartwarming tale of friendship, love, and the power of following your dreams. Fans of The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory will love this charming romance.
Excerpt:
Lexy wasn’t taking any chances.
She checked her watch, nerves churning in her stomach. Her interview was in forty-five minutes, and Google Maps told her Manor House Productions was a two-minute walk away. She’d allowed for plenty of time in case she got lost, the trolly derailed, the lions escaped from Woodland Park Zoo, or any other disaster that might cause her to be late.
Interviews made her nervous at the best of times, but this wasn’t any old interview. This was a face-to-face with Merelda Sterling, founder and owner of Manor House Productions. Legendary in the television industry, and rumored to be terrifying.
Shaky hands smoothed back her blonde ponytail, ensuring no stray tendrils had escaped in the Seattle springtime breeze. Landing a position as Assistant Producer at the distinguished boutique production company would be the next step in her five-year career plan.
A chalkboard sign outside The Coffee Pod invited customers to “Come in and try the worst coffee that one woman on TripAdvisor ever had.” Chuckling, she pushed open the door. What the heck? She had time. If today went well, this might become her regular stop on her way to work.
The sharp tang of ground coffee beans filled the warm air inside, and the shrill whistle of the espresso machine steaming milk drowned out the chatter of conversation around her. Waiting for her order, she studied the mural of whales painted on the wall, a clever play on the name of the coffee shop.
“Medium latte,” The barista called out.
She grabbed the drink and took a cautious sip, mostly foam.
“For Nate,” the barista continued.
She froze mid-swallow. She had taken someone else’s beverage? How mortifying!
“I’m so sorry,” she said to the guy with tousled brown hair who stepped up to the counter, looking for his drink. “I took yours. I have an interview down the street, and I'm nervous.”
“Ah, you need it more than me then,” he said. His green eyes crinkled with laughter.
“Plus, I already drank from it.”
“Consider it yours.” He adjusted the motorcycle helmet in his grip. “Is your interview at Manor House Productions?”
“Yes. Do you work there?” Inside info would be a good thing.
“Mostly in their studio location across town. Nate.” He offered his hand. “Sound tech.”
“Lexy. Assistant Producer hopeful.” His hand clasped hers in a reassuring shake.
“Medium latte for Lexy,” the barista said.
Nate released her and reached for the coffee, flashing a grin as he covered her name with a paper sleeve. “If the guys see your name on my cup, they'll never call me anything else.”
“I really am sorry.”
“No problem. A word of advice regarding Merelda?”
“Happily.”
“Don’t let her intimidate you. That way, she'll respect you.”
“Easier said than done.”
“If you start to feel intimidated, picture her in those high heels she totters around on, trying to ride the S.L.U.T.”
“Excuse me?”
“The Seattle Lake Union Trolley. The S.L.U.T. Are you new to the city?”
“No,” she laughed. “You just caught me off guard.”
“See? You're already less nervous.”
She nodded. “I am. Thanks, Nate. If I get this job, I'll owe you a coffee.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
It wasn’t until they’d parted ways that she realized Nate, ‘sound tech’, was also Nate Douglas, lead guitarist in the up-and- coming local band, The Rainy Day Astronauts. If she landed this job, not only was she one step closer to her goal, she’d be working with a celebrity.
Author Bio:
Carissa Harper is the pen name for mother-daughter writing team, USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Lawless, and her daughter Reyna. They live on Vancouver Island where Reyna spends as much time as possible on her surfboard, while Kathleen prefers to sit on the beach and watch. They love to hear from their readers.
www.carissaharper.com is where you can find out more about them and what’s up next for The Boys in the Band
They also hang out here @carissaharperauthor