Two years ago today, my second book released. I wrote it to collect incidents and personalities I observed in Washington and ideas I have about the state of American politics. This is probably why Special Interests is wonky and insidery. I truly never thought I’d sell it or that anyone would read it, so I wrote staffers who talked, thought, loved, drank, and snarked liked the one I was and the ones I knew.
I recently re-read it, and I’m a better writer and far more aware of the romance market than I was back in 2012 when I was drafting. But that I wouldn’t write it the same way now–or probably wouldn’t write it at all–is what makes Special Interests, erm, special to me.
It’s a book about two people who meet and are immediately gobsmacked, but because of the narrow yet deep differences in their personalities and worldviews, they can’t imagine a future together. But they can’t quite stay away from each other either.
This has always been one of my favorite bits. It’s from Millie and Parker’s first date.