Author: Emma

Emma Barry is a teacher, novelist, recovering academic, and former political staffer. She lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, and she occasionally finds time to read and write.

Thank You! Plus Charity Auctions

I am massively, incredibly, inexpressibly grateful to everyone who made Bad Reputation‘s release so special. I published my first book a decade ago, and I’ve never had a new release get so much attention or had so many people sample the book. It’s been so much–and so lovely–and I’m feeling a little weepy just thinking about it. 

This collage features only a fraction of the posts I was tagged in (!!). The folks at Over the River Publicity and Amazon Publishing did such an incredible job of getting it into people’s hands. If you bought the book or reviewed it or posted about it or boosted my posts about it, in the most sincere way: I adore you. Thank you.

I also wanted to let you know about two different charity projects to which I’ve made donations, both to support recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in the Appalachia region. The first is the Romance for Appalachia Raffle. For every $5 you donate, you get one entry into a random drawing. The list of prizes is voluminous and amazing, and it includes a signed paperback of Bad Reputation. The drawing will be held on Oct 13, so get donating!

The second is Western North Carolina Charity Auction, which will be held between Oct 18 and 20. The auction site isn’t available yet, but I’ve donated a set of signed books, including Chick Magnet, Funny Guy, and Bad Reputation, plus an ARC of Bold Moves. This is the first ARC that I’ve promised anyone, and I’ll get it into your hands as soon as I can (after I receive it, probably early in 2025).

But speaking of hurricanes, because of Hurricane Milton, we’ve had to postpone the Oct 8 virtual event with The New Romantics (which is located in Florida). Stay safe from the approaching storm, everyone, and we’ll try to get that rescheduled soon.

Happy Release Day, Bad Reputation

I’m so excited because, as of today, Bad Reputation is available in Kindle Unlimited, ebook, audio, and paperback! If you click here, you should be able to find the country-appropriate link for you, whether you want to borrow Bad Reputation from Kindle Unlimited, buy the ebook, grab a copy of the GORGEOUS paperback, or pick up the audio.

I do want to put in a special plug for the audiobook. I’ve been dealing with my anxiety about the release by listening to it the last few weeks, and Aaron Shedlock and Summer Morton are perfect as Cole and Maggie. It should be available to read and listen to in KU.

If you’ve already read Bad Reputation, or if you pick it up in the next few weeks (or months, or years), it would mean a lot to me if you’d consider rating or reviewing it, especially on Amazon, Audible, or Goodreads. Reviews help readers find books, and they also help readers avoid books they would loathe.

Continue reading “Happy Release Day, Bad Reputation” →

Another Live Event 10/2!

Release day for Bad Reputation is ALMOST here, and I wanted to let you know about a free, virtual live event I’m doing with Fresh Fiction on Wednesday, Oct 2: their video bookclub! It’ll run from 7 p.m. CST until 9 p.m., and we’ll be chatting and playing some games, and then I’ll answer any questions that might come in from readers. You can register here, and I’d love to see you there.

ETA: while the Eventbrite may read Oct 3, I emailed the organizers and confirmed that the event will be on Wednesday, Oct 2. So the graphic is correct!

As a reminder, I’m also doing a free, virtual event on Oct 8 with The New Romantics bookstore and author Jennifer Snow (more info here!), and I’m signing at Novel Grounds in Chesapeake, VA, on Oct 12 (more info here!). The latter does require tickets, but it comes with a paperback of Bad Reputation.

Virtual Event Oct 8

Tuesday, Oct 8, at 6 p.m. EST Happily Ever After Hours Virtual Author Chats, Jennifer Snow and Emma Barry

Y’all, we are so close to Bad Reputation‘s release on October 1! I already mentioned the signing at Novel Grounds on October 12 in Chesapeake, Virginia, but if you’re not in the mid-Atlantic, that won’t work for you.

Oh, but I have you covered. I’m doing a virtual event with Jennifer Snow and The New Romantics, a romance bookstore in Orlando. (Digression: aren’t all the romance bookstores popping up the BEST? I love them all.) It’ll be on October 8 at 6 p.m. EST. Registration is required, but it’s free. You can get all the details and reserve your spot here. I would love, love, love to see you there.

Surprise: Bad Reputation Is Available Now (Sort of!)

So I have some cool news: Bad Reputation is an Amazon First Reads pick for September!

It’s available in North America only (I’m sorry!). What this means is that if you’re a Prime subscriber, you can grab the ebook for free: USian folks, click here; Canadian folks, click here; and Mexican folks, click here. If you don’t do Prime, you can buy the ebook for the discounted price of $1.99 using those same links. The price will go up to $3.99 on October 1; that’s when it’ll be available in KU and when the paperback and audiobook will drop.

And if you snag Bad Reputation now, you’ll be able to add the Whispersync audio for just $1.99 when it releases next month. Aaron Shedlock and Summer Morton read the audiobook, and they’re both so, so good.

If you do read Bad Reputation in any form, it would mean so much to me if you reviewed it. Reviews, especially early ones, help readers find books. The book’s Goodreads page is here.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be basking in my kinda sorta release day glow.

Banging on Screen Is Great, Actually

Like many elder Millennials, my first experience with sex on screen came during Top Gun—and no, I don’t mean the iconic beach volleyball scene. I’m referring to the 79 seconds in which Maverick and Charlie get it on to the strains of “Take My Breath Away.” The entire thing is shot in blue-toned silhouettes, with billowing curtains, perfectly manicured nails, and tongue choreography. While there’s not much nudity, for a movie with a PG rating, it made my eyes pop.

The scene is famous enough that last year, Screen Rant ran a piece by entertainment journalist Cathal Gunning exploring why it’s “so bad” and celebrating that Top Gun: Maverick isn’t burdened with anything as cringe. Why are you polluting my action movie with stuff that doesn’t belong: that’s the argument.

Opponents of on-screen sex don’t stop there. In a review of Magic Mike, critic Ross Douthat asked, “Is sex necessary?” To which I would reply, “Is anything in a movie or on television necessary? Channing Tatum didn’t have to make a trio of films about masculinity, capitalism, and the power of the transverse ab, Ross, he chose to.”

And more recently, reviews of the latest season of Bridgerton focus on the show’s salaciousness, labeling it “steamy” when they like it and bemoaning that it feels “familiar,” though with more “ripping and removal of bodices,” when they don’t. If sex is present, it seems hard for some viewers to see anything else.

Look, I am not saying that all media needs sex, and I’m certainly not saying that you, dear reader, have to consume or enjoy these depictions. But arguments such as these come out of a tradition of censorship and ignore that sex in the media can add to characterization and that even when it doesn’t, it can be beautiful, fun, and, yes, titillating. Sex is as cinematic a subject as any other, and it should be treated that way.

Continue reading “Banging on Screen Is Great, Actually” →

A signing, a series on sale, and a title announcement

So I am doing my very first in-person reader event at Novel Grounds, a romance book in Chesapeake, Virginia, on October 12. You can reserve a ticket here, and the price includes a print copy of Bad Reputation—which I will happily sign for you.

Until now, I haven’t done any signings because I didn’t feel like a “real” author. I still don’t, to be honest. But I’m trying to fake it until I make it and to be more confident about promo. (Is my confession adding or detracting from the effect?) It would certainly help me own it if someone shows up for this event. So I would love, love, LOVE to see you there.

Continue reading “A signing, a series on sale, and a title announcement” →

Odds and Ends

Firstly, Funny Guy—my friends-to-lovers romance featuring a chaos Muppet comedian realizing that he’s in love with his order Muppet BFF—is on sale for the month of July in North America only (sorry about that!). For just $1.99, this somewhat polarizing book can be yours. You can grab it at Amazon, and I hope you will.

Secondly, I have two items up for grabs in the Romancing the Vote auction, which opened TODAY and closes on July 5. Option A: you can bid on a signed ARC of Bad Reputation, and I’ll throw in a friendship bracelet that matches the cover. Or if you would prefer, Option B is a Backyard Chicken starter pack, which includes two guides on keeping chickens, plus a signed copy of Chick Magnet, and a 30-minute Zoom call with me. We can talk about chickens if you have them/are thinking about getting them, or we can talk books: seriously, ask me anything!

Continue reading “Odds and Ends” →

The Cover You’ve Been Waiting For…

I’ll get right down to it: I’m so excited to be able to share the cover for Bad Reputation with you! Designed by the incredible Caroline Teagle Johnson, it absolutely captures the vibe of the book. Plus it’s objectively lovely.

If you need to hear the pitch again, Bad Reputation is a workplace, friends-to-lovers romance about two people with bad reputations who just might be able to change their lives–if they can only resist falling for each other. I absolutely adore this book, and I hope you will too.

You can preorder Bad Reputation at Amazon and add it to your Goodreads shelves now. And if you happen to be a reviewer, I do have an ARC request form here. I don’t have my ARCs yet, but I love to plan ahead.

And while I have your attention: Funny Guy is on sale this month in North America. The ebook can be yours for just $1.99 at Amazon, and the paperback is currently discounted too if you need a copy of Sam and Bree’s pining-filled, late night comedy romance for your shelves.

Romancelandia TV!

Last weekend, I had the AMAZING luck to record an hour of fun and games with many of my all-time favorite romance writers, including Olivia Dade, Jenny Holiday, Xio Axelrod, Charlotte Stein, Mia Sosa, Nikki Payne, April Asher, Anita Kelly, and Gwenda Bond. It was such a good time!

And on February 18, you can watch the LIVE world premiere here, and all these talented, hilarious, and smart folks will be in the comments. It’s possible that there will be prizes and giveaways (there will be), and it’s going to be a sheer delight.

Come on, you know you want to.