Hi, Vanessa! Welcome back! It’s been four years since we last spoke. How have you been and what have you been up to?

Hi there! It’s great to be back. I’ve been in Austin, Texas, where I’d just moved when last I was on the Nerd Daily. I’ve been writing and working out and running two AirBnbs off the back of my house. I iron sheets now. What have I become?!

Your latest novel, Ellie Hayes and the Himbos, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Funny, sexy, swole, hopeful, kind

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect to laugh and swoon and gain an appreciation for the potential sexiness of identifying muscle groups. They’ll encounter no shortage of himbo nonsense—beefcake shenanigans, if you will—found family (subcategory: intergenerational, meddlesome), and a deeply, deeply decent hero.

Where did the inspiration for Ellie Hayes and the Himbos come from?

There are several entry points to HIMBOS.

In April 2022, I was looking for a new project to work on. About that time, social media became saturated with promos for The Lost City. Channing Tatum was everywhere, clips of character offering protein bars and not knowing what to do with cake.

A himbo.

An inspiration.

For the uninitiated, a himbo is simply a kind, hunky, stupid man. “Stupid” may be harsh, but they’re….not bright. At all. Any wisdom is 100% intentional and they are incapable of irony. But they are also beefy, and, most importantly, they are kind. And I wanted to write about kind men.

I’ve lived in a few college towns, and have witnessed countless young men wandering the aisles of grocery stores with carts full of Pop Tarts and deli meat and fought the urge to gently nudge them toward the produce section. There’s also a rental property next door to me, and the undergrads who lived there when we moved in were a group of guys who’d taped a sign reading “DAWGHOUSE” to their mailbox and somehow labeled the residence as a hostel in Google Maps.

Considering the state of things inside the DAWGHOUSE given what I observed of its residents had me thinking about what it would be like for a slightly older type-A woman having to live among them. From there, I needed to come up with the circumstances that would lead her to that desperate point. My first thought was a breakup. But what caused it?

A friend of mine had gone through a divorce a few years earlier. The circumstances were infuriating; it was already a “death by a thousand cuts” situation, but she’d gone through a medical nightmare and was still recovering when her husband served her with divorce papers. It’s fair to say that there’s never an ideal time to be served, but when you’re a few weeks out of a medically-induced coma, it’s particularly heinous.

The medical situation felt like a good angle, and I had one of my own to work with. One morning in December 2018, I’d woken up blind in my right eye. It was optic neuritis, an autoimmune issue which, 50% of the time, is the first sign of MS. The MRI I had then showed no sign of MS, but there was a six-month window where, if I experienced another nerve flare-up, I’d automatically be diagnosed. I never had that second flare-up, but the experience did give me the story’s catalyst, and a ticking clock.

Then there’s the gym. Having given Ellie endometriosis as well as the MS scare, she views her body as unreliable. She’s never considered exploring what her body can actually do, and with the threat of MS on the horizon, she doesn’t know how long she’ll have to find out. That’s where the “fitness is for everyone” theme comes in. I started cross-training in 2017, and it’s become a critical element of my life; I can barely function without an early AM endorphin hit. So Ellie leans in to the opportunity to push herself at the gym her roommates work at…which is conveniently owned by the hero, Ian.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

A particular favorite is the moment Ellie and Ian give in to their attraction to one another. It involves a deadlift gone awry, some private instruction on lifting form, quality banter, a celebratory hug… and then they cave. It’s a long time coming, so it’s very satisfying.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

My poor agent, Tara. She was subjected to nine months of attempts at the first three chapters of this thing because I couldn’t let go of an opening that I couldn’t get to work. I wanted readers to see the breakup that kicks everything off! Ultimately, it was just too many words devoted to the crummy ex, and the sooner we got to the himbos, the better. Once I accepted that, it was smooth sailing!

What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned between your two novels?

I should say learning to let go of something when it isn’t working, but given that I just had to axe half of my WIP because I’d clung to an opening concept (what is it with me and beginnings?) that wasn’t serving the story, it seems I’ll need more time to let that one sink in.

What’s next for you?

I have another book due to my publisher in January. It’s a follow-up to HIMBOS, and the hero is Grant, one of the roommates. It takes place five or so years after HIMBOS, because I’m not writing about the romantic lives of college students. I’m too old for that; their ways confuse me. The heroine/POV character shares a connection with another figure in HIMBOS, but you’ll have to read it to find out more! Though I’ll have to finish writing it first…

In any case, LEDA BYRNE IS NOT TO BLAME is set to release December 6, 2026.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up in 2026?

My reading has been all over the place this year. I’m listening to Heavenly Bodies for book club, have bookmarks in Demon Copperhead, All Fours, and Terms of Endearment (folks, it’s unfair how well Larry McMurtry wrote women’s interiority. And the book is so, so funny. Yes, I know what’s coming, but for now, I am delighted) and recently finished My Mother Cursed My Name.

2026 will see the release of Sarah MacLean’s final(?) installment of the Hell’s Belles and I am seated. I came to that series at a point when I was questioning whether to even continue writing himbos, and it inspired me to carry on! If you haven’t checked it out, it’s a must.

Will you be picking up Ellie Hayes and the Himbo? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Vanessa King, Author of ‘Ellie Hayes and the Himbos’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We chat with debut author Vanessa King about her novel A Certain Appeal, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!

Hi, Vanessa! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi, Nerd Daily! I’m Vanessa King, author of A Certain Appeal. A native Arizonan, I’ve recently moved to Austin, Texas, but I’ve lived all over the US. Most of my professional life has been spent in aquatics, where I taught swim lessons and lifeguarded, with the exception of a year teaching high school English and an almost-year of working as a glorified receptionist for a DOD contractor.

When not writing, I enjoy reading, championing my favorite audiobooks, crafting, and the privilege of choosing my form of suffering with my fellow meatheads at Crossfit.

As the year draws to a close, how has 2021 been for you?

2021 has been A LOT.

On the creative side, I’ve been editing/promoting/launching A CERTAIN APPEAL, as well as writing and overhauling and re-writing my follow-up.

In the “everything else” column, my husband and I spent much of the year house hunting, finally buying a place in August. Turns out, when you do that, you then have pack up all of your stuff and get it there… just to unpack it all again. Seems silly. And I still don’t know where the measuring spoons are.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

It wasn’t until that brief receptionist stint after college that I tried my hand at writing for myself; I was always a reader more than a writer. But for Christmas 2010, my mother-in-law gifted me an intro to novel writing course with NYC’s Gotham Writers’ Workshop, and that was it. I wrote most of a novel, only for my writing group to inform me I’d written a sequel and needed to write the “first” book (they were not wrong) and did so, getting as far as querying and receiving a handful of full requests before retiring it to the proverbial drawer. That’s when I started on what would become A CERTAIN APPEAL.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

(groans in lit degree) You can’t just ASK me that!

I can’t say for sure what my first book memory is. A Frog and Toad, maybe?

Bridget Jones’s Diary had a big impact on me as far as writing. I read it in high school, and while I wouldn’t end up writing creatively or a decade, the style and candor were so fresh and unexpected, I was shocked that writing that way was even an option.

As for something bookish I can’t stop thinking about, I have to say the staggering injustice that Melina Marchetta’s novels haven’t gained traction in the US. Jellicoe Road holds a special place in my heart, and The Lumatere Chronicles should be required reading. Some streaming service needs to get on that adaptation, stat.

Your debut novel, A Certain Appeal, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Early critics have used “dazzling” and “delightful,” and I’m fully supportive of those adjectives. “Cheeky” is also fitting, and I’ll round this out with “steamy” and “irreverent.”

What can readers expect?

A Certain Appeal is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the contemporary NYC burlesque scene. Readers can expect no shortage of Pride and Prejudice names, references, and plot points, a healthy dose of body positivity, a well-informed peek into the world of burlesque, enemies (but not really)-to-lovers enduring a relentless pull of attraction, a Moonstruck reference, and an unforgettable, supportive, found family.

Where did the inspiration for A Certain Appeal come from?

I spent two years working as the stage kitten at Duane Park, a burlesque supper club in Manhattan, where I picked up the peelings of the best in the scene. I knew it would be a great setting for a story, but never could figure out how to get started. After a baby, three moves, and four years of other writing projects, I was commiserating with a friend about needing to start a new project while another lingered in querying hell. My friend mentioned she was working on a Wizard of Oz retelling set at a music festival, and the idea of using a pre-existing plot clicked with me.

I knew I’d use Pride and Prejudice— I didn’t even consider an alternative—and got started that same evening. The Bennet sisters became the performers at the show, their suitors, a potential investor and his grumpily appealing best friend, and the writing took off!

Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

The biggest challenge wit this project was deciding which story beats from P&P to keep and which to leave unexplored. Ultimately, I picked the ones that would best progress the relationship between Darcy and Bennet. Sadly, that means there’s no parallel for Mr. Bennet, neither Darcy nor Bingley have sisters, and, to my dismay, my Mrs. Bennet-inspired character doesn’t get in any reference to her nerves.

Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

One of my favorite moments was written during the revisions I did at my agent’s suggestion before we went on submission. In it, Bennet explains to Darcy the value she sees in burlesque and why it has come to mean so much to her, and, thinking on it now, there’s no way the book would work without it. If there is to be any kind of intimacy between Bennet and Darcy, he has to understand the significance of burlesque in Bennet’s life. At the same time, articulating how she feels about burlesque prompts a realization Bennet has long been avoiding, progressing her development as a character.

In a similar vein, I loved describing a routine by Ming DyNasty, one of the show’s performers. It’s the first peel in the book and conveys so much of what I love about burlesque, and also shows what Bennet is talking about in that later scene with Darcy.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

I once attended a workshop titled, “Avoiding the ‘Write What You Know,’ Trap.” The presenter admitted that you actually can’t avoid writing what you know, but you can expand what you know, so your writing won’t be limited. In short: read. Read everything you can. Memoirs in particular are so helpful. You only have your own perspective to work from, but you can broaden your perspective by exploring others’.

As far as worst writing advice, I’m not sure. Once, in an online feedback group, a reader railed against my use of first person present and went through my entire submission and changed every single verb to the past tense. That was interesting.

What’s next for you?

That massive overhaul of book two I mentioned earlier? It’s still in the notes stage; between moving, settling in, and launching A Certain Appeal, I’ve had zero bandwidth for my work in progress. But I’m really excited about it! It’s another Austen-spin, and takes place in the same “world” as A Certain Appeal, with a bunch of familiar characters, though the main couple is totally new.

Lastly, what have your favourite reads of 2021 been?

I’ve had the pleasure of reading a lot of books this year. Malibu Rising is an absolute favorite; Taylor Jenkins Reid is an auto-buy for me at this point. I have been carefully recommending Crying in Hmart to anyone who can handle it in these strange times, and another memoir, Party of One, by former MTV VJ Dave Holmes, felt like it was written for me. His time at the network overlapped with my high school and college years, and his recapping touched on cultural gems specific to that period of my life like no other media I’ve experienced.

Right now, I’m listening to Iron Widow. Pitched as The Handmaid’s Tale meets Pacific Rim…well, that’s all it took to get me to buy it. And I’m glad I did. The book is merciless. I am regularly floored by author Xiran Jay Zhao’s gift with words. The way they describe emotions and sensations, and the cool, reasonable way the protagonist is able to convey her deeply unconventional (for the setting) perspective is nothing short of masterful.

Will you be picking up A Certain Appeal? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Vanessa King, Author of ‘A Certain Appeal’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A smash debut novel from rising star Yasmin Angoe, Her Name Is Knight features an elite assassin heroine on a mission to topple a human trafficking ring and avenge her family.

Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cursed to kill all those she touches, Lena endures an isolated life on the run from her fellow humans. But when an enigmatic stranger offers to help her break the curse in exchange for her aid in waking a princess hidden in an enchanted forest, Lena embarks on a quest to win her freedom, no matter the cost.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.

A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sparkling contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the tantalizing world of New York City burlesque, perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Roommate.

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Red White & Royal Blue meets Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light, featuring an Edwardian England full of magic, contracts, and conspiracies.

Tidesong by Wendy Xu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society, this is a magically heartwarming graphic novel about self-acceptance and friendship.

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The blockbuster co-writing debut of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains begins a dark tale of ambition and magick…

Blue-Skinned Gods by S.J. Sindu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the award-winning author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies comes a brilliantly written, globe-spanning novel about identity, faith, family, and sexuality.

How To Murder A Marriage by Gabrielle St. George
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gina Malone, a bestselling relationships advice author and expert on exes, meddles in other people’s affairs for a living. It makes for enemies. One of them is scaring her to death.

Star Mother by Charlie N. Holmberg
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A woman’s heart proves as infinite as the night sky in a breathtaking fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A woman who wants nothing to do with love or friendship finds both in the unlikeliest ways in this hilarious and heartwarming debut by Kerry Rea.

King of Battle & Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From fan-favorite Scarlett St. Clair, the bestselling author of the Hades & Persephone series, comes a new epic fantasy filled with danger, darkness, and insatiable romance.

What November 2021 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post November 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

JULY

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

Too Good to be Real by Melonie Johnson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To save her job as a writer for a popular website, Julia plans to prove there’s a dozen reasons why life isn’t like a romantic comedy, only to discover the one reason it is…

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two people realize that it’s no longer an act when they veer off-script in this sizzling romantic comedy featuring Ben Stephens, Theo’s brother from The Wedding Party, and a famous actress as they struggle to keep things purely professional while working together.

AUGUST

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An ordinary summer goes royally awry when a prince and princess move next door, bringing their handsome bodyguard with them.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If the shoe doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to design your own. Best-selling author Julie Murphy’s reimaging of a beloved fairy tale is an enchanting story of self-love and believing in the happy ending each and every one of us deserves.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits. Perfect for fans of baking shows and royal love – with Parker’s signature romance kryptonite sprinkled on top!

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.

SEPTEMBER

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Helena Hunting makes sparks fly with the best-friends-to-lovers trope! When an unexpected car accident renders event planner Avery immobile, her best friend offers to become her caretaker, and the lines between the two friends start to blur.

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The national bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola returns with a seductive second-chance romance about a commitment-phobic Latina and her childhood best friend who has finally returned home.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

OCTOBER

All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.

Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Gwenda Bond, Not Your Average Hot Guy is a hilarious romantic comedy about two people falling in love, while the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox  
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A feel-good, holiday-themed romantic comedy about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas–perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze and Josie Silver’s One Day in December.

NOVEMBER

A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sparkling contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the tantalizing world of New York City burlesque, perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Roommate.

I Hate You More by Lucy Gilmore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Hating Game meets Best in Show in this delightfully quirky romcom by beloved author Lucy Gilmore. A former pageant queen, Ruby Taylor, trades in her high heels and joins the dog show circuit, only to fall in love with one of the judges on the panel.

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first in a new historical rom-com series, a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his matchmaking mother at bay, but hilarity ensues when love threatens to complicate everything.

DECEMBER

Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From award-winning author Rachel Lacey comes a playful romance about a Manhattan bookstore owner and a reclusive author who love to hate—and hate to love—each other.

The Love Con by Seressia Glass
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

He’s cosplaying as her boyfriend but their feelings for each other are real in this romantic comedy from Seressia Glass.

Fools In Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Join fifteen bestselling, award-winning, and up-and-coming authors as they reimagine some of the most popular tropes in the romance genre.

Hidden Treasures by Michelle Adams
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A reunited couple search for a valuable treasure, a precious jewelry box, stolen from the Nazis and hidden away since World War II, in this powerfully emotional and romantic novel of rekindled love – perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Josie Silver and Jill Santopolo.

What romance books are you looking forward to picking up between July and December? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.