We chat with author Denise Williams about Just Our Luck, which sees a lottery ticket plus donuts equals love in this steamy new fake dating romance.
Hi, Denise! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’ve loved love stories as long as I could remember and loved writing, but I’ve actually spent my career in education. I’m in Des Moines, IA where I work at a university and have one fur kid and one human kid. My tenth book, Just Our Luck, has just come out!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve loved telling stories as long as I could remember. I still have the books I wrote in second grade in Mrs. Parson’s class, and I posted a lot of really awful poetry in my teens. Let’s talk surprises in your 30’s when you find that poetry is still online! I had a good laugh there. I always loved writing but in college and then graduate school, my writing wasn’t fiction but research. It’s still telling a story, but those pieces contain a lot more statistics and a lot less kissing than my romance novels.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Bunicula by Deborah and James Howe
- The one that made you want to become an author: Wait for It by Mariana Zapata
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
Your latest novel, Just Our Luck, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Donuts + $250M +grumpy+sunshine=fake-dating (okay, that technically night be six words…)
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a story of two people getting the chance at everything they ever wanted, but being stuck from taking advantage. Sybil is best described by her family (and some readers!) as chaotic or impetuous, but the things she wants more than anything is to be taken seriously by her family. Kieran has been serious his whole life and with his medical school plans on hold when he has to come home and run his family’s donut shop, he’s worried he won’t be able to realize his dream of being a professional who heals and fixes. After a bang of a start, their relationship is one that ultimately illustrates what it feels like when someone affirms you’re perfect and valid just the way you are.
Where did the inspiration for Just Our Luck come from?
Years ago, a friend posted a meme that said something like “I don’t need men. Just need $10 million and a donut,” and I tucked it away as a great title and set up for a book. Years later, the story evolved, and the characters came to life to morph into Just Our Luck.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Definitely! I love writing the moments between the MCs where they’re attracted to each other but haven’t really figured each other out yet—I love the tension and conflict built into those scenes even as rays of adoration and lust sneak through. I also really loved writing the side characters around the MCs—Sybil’s friend group, Kieran’s sister and his granddad, and then Tom, his granddads’ best friend. I’d love to write books for any of them!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Definitely. I wrote this book while I was leaving a really bad work situation that took a lot of my time and made it challenging to find a lot of joy in my off hours but also while transitioning into a new job that I love. It’s difficult sometimes to balance my writing with the other parts of my life and writing this one definitely fell into that transition time period but I think I’m stronger for it and I was able to bounce back, figure out my new schedule and work flow, and finish the book.
What’s next for you?
My next book features a character you’ll meet in Just Our Luck. Deacon is an Air Force Veteran, a loyal friend, and kind of an F*boy. He’ll fall for his best friend’s little sister as he helps her get a re-do on list of firsts she experienced with her long-time boyfriend who’s now an ex. I just turned this book in, but I adore it, and I hope you will, too. It’s out February 2026.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
So many books! I’ve excited to read Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory and No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel. I’m looking forward to My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner and Along Came Amore by Alexis Daria.
