Joining me today in The Loft is author Sadira Stone. Since her first kiss, Sadira has been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at putting one on paper. Now a self-proclaimed citizen of Romancelandia, she pens funny, swoony contemporary romance. After a few years of exploring the Pacific Northwest, Sadira and her charming husband are relocating to Las Vegas--to be closer to their granddogs and hopefully, future grandchildren.
S: Good morning, Sadira! Thanks so much for joining me today.
Let's get down to the basics. Why write romance?
SS: After years of studying, then teaching “serious literature,” I’m done with self-important misery porn. It’s time for fun stories! Romance’s guaranteed HEA (happily ever after) gives me the safety to enjoy a suspenseful or angsty story. And Romancelandia is such a fun, supportive community full of smart, creative authors. Romance is the literature of hope and joy.
S: I like that attitude!
Are there any characteristics your lead characters share?
SS: My heroines all push back against traditional sex roles and family expectations. Each in her own way expresses the “Don’t fence me in” philosophy—just like me. They’re also either small business owners or artists.
S: It's good to see a little push-back in romance. Not all women are meek, compliant women who give up everything for love. In fact, that characterization mostly makes me twitchy.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
SS: Actually, I don’t. Love is so much more than physical attraction. I think you have to know a person deeply to truly love them, and that takes time. I love writing that process—a couple moving from the initial spark to true, deep love.
S: What do people get wrong about romance?
SS: There are so many falsehoods floating around there. For example, romance is formulaic. No more so than military, sci-fi, high fantasy, cozy mystery, or any number of popular genres people read for pleasure and relaxation. Readers of all these genres have their favorite tropes and expectations. So what? Or romance is somehow less worthy than other fiction genres. Another doozy--Romance gives women false expectations about relationships. I call B.S.! Expecting love, respect, and orgasms is not asking too much—it’s the bare minimum.
S: Exactly.
What would you like people to know about you?
SS: I spent most of my adult life in Germany, first in the U.S. Army, then as a teacher on U.S. military bases. Coming back to the U.S. in 2014 was a bit of a culture shock. Now that I’ve adjusted to life in the Pacific Northwest, we’re moving to Las Vegas. Culture shock redux, eh?
S: What inspires your stories?
SS: People I’ve met, real-life love stories I’ve witnessed, my small-business fetish—who hasn’t wanted to run a café or bookshop? And my passion for art, music, and cooking. All of those show up in my stories.
S: What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
SS: From an old Southern lady: “Honey, ever’body’s got something to teach you, even if it’s how not to be.”
S: What inspired "Christmas Rekindled?"
SS: Having finished a story set in an Oregon bookshop, I was looking for a setting that would bring together a found-family cast of characters for a new series. The Sixth Avenue District of Tacoma is home to many funky neighborhood bars and a wonderful Santa Parade every December. And thus Bangers Tavern was born—named after bangers and mash, the traditional English pub grub. Lots of bars in our area serve tater tots, so tots with creative toppings became Banger’s specialty. River, the hero, is from Gig Harbor, a wealthy enclave across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and Charlie, the heroine, is from the blue-collar neighborhood where Bangers lives. She sees him as snooty and entitled. Don’t worry, they get past it.
S: Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Christmas Rekindled?"
SS: First, it's on sale for just 99¢ until July 31 on Amazon. In addition, this is Book 1 in the Bangers Tavern Romance series, set in a neighborhood bar in Tacoma, Washington, where I live—the town, not the tavern! Each story features a holiday celebration in Bangers Tavern. During the pandemic shutdown, Bangers Tavern gave me the chance to virtually share the fun, camaraderie, and bar food I missed so much. And each volume includes tasty cocktail recipes I’ve personally tested and tweaked—a tough job, but I do it for my readers. "Opposites Ignite" (Bangers Tavern Romance 2), centers around Valentine’s Day and features a confident, curvy tattoo-artist heroine and a short, shy, swoony bartender hero. Book 3 in the series, coming next fall, features Bangers’ chef, a pregnant heroine, and a food truck.
Here's the blurb for "Christmas Rekindled"--
Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.
Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?
A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.
Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever.
S: That sounds like a fun story. Besides Amazon, where else can readers buy "Christmas Rekindled?"
SS: It's available from all major booksellers, including--
S: Sadira, thanks for joining me today! If you would like to learn more about Sadira Stone and her books, please visit--
Thanks so much, Seelie, for this fun interview! You ask great questions.
ReplyDelete