It's official: the Something in the Way series is being made into audiobooks! In fact, book 1 is already in the hands of the narrators. And who might they be . . . ?

It's my pleasure to announce that the series will be narrated by Andi Arndt​ and Zachary Webber. Andi is an award-winning narrator (also nominated for her work on Slip of the Tongue) who has worked with authors such as Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland, Louise Bay, and tons more. This will be my first time working with Zachary Webber, and I knew right away he'd fit the part of Manning Sutter. Zachary has a thriving career in TV and film, and is known for his work on Grey by EL James. He has also narrated for greats such as Lauren Blakely, Claire Contreras, and Meghan March.

Something in the Way is expected to release in audio September 2017, followed by the rest of the series through the end of the year. Join my audiobook mailing list for a new release alert:

JH: Carter, thanks so much for stopping by the blog today for #ScriptFlip. I absolutely loved The Closer You Get. Have you always written fiction, or did something in particular spur you to write and publish your first book, Not A Chance?

Carter: I’ve always written fiction, but I considered it a guilty pleasure. I’d intended to pursue other avenues in the book industry, but then I read my first romance novel (Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie), and it was like a heavenly light burst forth and illuminated the path to my future. Yes. You heard me right. I’m saying that God wants me to write smut. I ask frequently, “Are you sure God?” So far, he seems pretty certain.

JH: Tell us a little about Rye and Cash Holcomb from The Closer You Get. Were the brothers based on anyone in particular?

Carter: I’m sure they’re composites of people and ideas I’ve encountered throughout my life, but I didn’t have anyone specific in mind. To be honest, I have never known where my characters germinate from. Rye and Cash were born in my mind together, though. They were brothers from the very beginning.

JH: Any fun facts you can share about The Closer You Get?

Carter:

• It’s actually the sixth book in the series in terms of chronology. It just happens to be the first one I finished. Is that weird?
• This and all the books in the Fidelity series are titled after country songs.
• Cash’s traumatic background is based on real events from my hometown back when I was in high school (not exactly a “fun” fact).
• TCYG was rejected by several literary agents who believed the strong male/male side story wouldn’t be marketable in contemporary romance.
  

JH: Cora has a habit of playing herself down, especially with her gorgeous, Amazon-like sisters. Aside from her peek-a-boo dimples, what specifically do you think Rye fell for first (or the hardest)?

Carter: I think he liked when she flipped him off in the restaurant before they go to the bar. She showed some attitude and it caught his attention. She also rejected him, which offered him a challenge. So from that point on, I think he was falling in love with her subliminally. He just had to dig his way out of his own issues before he could really see her and truly appreciate her beauty.

And then because he was gay, my second goal was to make sure he wasn’t treated as a “token” gay character or as a convenient plot device for Rye. I want to buck those trends. (Jessica: Hear, hear!) We’re constantly reading/hearing/saying the mantra, “Love is love.” That’s what I wanted for Cash. For his romance to be romance. I believe gay romance belongs shelved with the mainstream romance. I’m not saying everyone has to like it. We all have preferences. But to be told by our friends, our media, even our Supreme Court that “love is love,” and then to walk into the bookstore and find out that “love is love, but gay love is inherently erotic and kinky and therefore located in that little section over there”…that’s just ridiculous to me. 

JH: Do you have any tips or tricks that get you through dreaded writer’s block?

Carter: I’m the absolute last person who should answer this question. I’m a sloppy, undisciplined writer. When I get blocked on a project I either start a new project or lie around the house in a depressive state checking my temperature trying to find some physiological reason for my malaise. So no. I don’t have any tips.

JH: Can you share anything about what you’re working on now? (Any chance we’ll get more of Franny, Sully, Lyssa and the rest of Fidelity?)

Carter: Sully has caused me some problems. But I am pleased to say that I finally have him figured out and am going strong on his story. I hope to announce a release date in the next month. The title is Play It Again and it does directly follow The Closer You Get. Sully’s been keeping a very big secret for a very long time and, Franny is determined to uncover it. I’m so excited about this one!

The first few songs of the Night Fever Serial playlist (←click to follow along) are on Spotify! And I'll be adding more over the next few weeks as release day gets closer. Keep scrolling for the Pinterest inspiration board and first teaser.

Here's a sample of the newly redesigned teasers for The Cityscape Series. Follow the Jessica Hawkins Facebook Page to make sure you don't miss any of them!

Happy last week of March!

It's been a beautiful few days in southern California, and we've had a lot going on - the tennis tournament, polo matches at the Coachellafest polo fields (stomping divots at the left), Palm Springs Fashion Week . . . I promise, I only attended each event once (got to see the qualifiers of the tennis tournament, but no big names) because I've been focusing on Book Two.


Come Alive is progressing nicely. That being said, it's not quite where I want to it to be. I'm looking at pushing the release date back about mid-late April. I want to make sure I do the story justice. And right now, it's not there yet. I'm back to it right after this post - and listening to The Best of Nina Simone as I work.

Thanks for your patience! Luckily, there's no shortage of great books out there to keep us occupied. I just finished Kaitlyn Cross's Fate Interrupted Series - great read and so funny! I was cracking up during some parts. Before that, I read The Fault in Our Stars - so touching and also funny in its own right. It's a unique book that can have you laughing through your tears. There were some beautiful lines in it that will stay with me for a long time.

I'll continue to post updates on Come Alive but in the meantime, don't forget to enter the Goodreads Giveaway for the first book in the series, Come Undone. There's only 1 week left to win a signed copy! I'll also be launching a Kickstarter campaign in the days to come, so keep an eye out for that if you want to watch my progress.

PS If you don't believe me about the caffeine, you can see photographic evidence on my Instagram here: