Guest Blog: Karin Beery and Curveball on the Dance Floor
Dear Readers,
This post is coming out a little late in the day--I apologize--but my life is a whirlwind right now. My husband was in a car accident this week and came away without a scratch (a tree fell on his truck as he drove) and one of my closest friends tripped over a tree root and broke her left knee and right shoulder in two places--beware of trees!
As always, I'm praying for all of you...and hope you have a great week!
Introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet you.
Hello! I’m Karin Beery, author of swoony (not steamy) Northern Michigan romances. (I’m testing that out as a new tagline—what do you think?) I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life, and all but five years have been spent within a 15-minute drive of Lake Michigan. I can’t imagine ever living away from the water. Upon meeting me, it doesn’t take long to realize I’m a storyteller. I don’t mean to, but I can be a bit dramatic when I tell stories, and it often tends to take over a conversation (sorry!).
Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb.
Curveball on the Dance Floor is book two in the Novak sisters series (book three will be available in February!):
Chris can handle a curveball at the diamond. Can she handle one on the dance floor?
Naturally athletic Christine Novak doesn’t shy away from physical challenges until her older sister needs help on the dance floor. Though she prefers cleats to heels, Chris agrees to help—it’s only for four weeks and for a good cause. But dancing doesn’t come as naturally as throwing a ball, so her sister calls in backup. Handsome, talented, experienced backup.
Tony Caldwell—champion ballroom dancer and Chris’s first childhood crush—agrees to show her the steps, but between her memories of him and the ten-year age gap, Chris struggles to keep her feet in place. Determined to help her succeed, Tony steps out the studio to prove to Chris that she can dance, and that he’s not who she thinks he is.
Extra practice time does more than boost Chris’s confidence. As her nerves subside and reality replaces memories, Chris and Tony become more than dance partners, but their new adult connection might not be enough to overcome the past that catches up to them.
Share one thing that you found difficult or challenging about writing this book.
Expanding a novella! I originally wrote this as a 30,000-word novella to publish between books one and three. Many moons ago, a large publisher was considering book one if it launched a series, so I decided to expand book two. Not only did I have to add more plot elements and characters to the book, I decided to overlap the timelines of both stories to show how both sisters experienced the different relationships—I kept having to rewrite scenes and change details because I realized XZY hadn’t happened yet in book one, so I couldn’t show them happening in book two.
An old calendar became my life line.
Book two is still on the shorter side, but I love the way the story turned out.
Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two. I want to encourage comments and engagement.
While each book in the series gives each sister her own romantic storyline, the heart of the series is really the family—these women love and support each other, even if they do bicker and tease. They’re loosely based on my own family (I’m the middle of three daughters), so I had some fun inspiration.
My question for you: how do you feel about family dynamics as a key component of a romance novel? Do you like the added drama, or would you prefer to keep the focus on the romance?
Share your social media and buy links!
All of my books are available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karin-Beery/author/B07HQ2GZQS
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Thank you, Karin, for being a guest!
Thanks for the giveaway! I think family dynamics should be a part of romance novels but not so much so that it takes away from the romance.
This looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing.
I Like both Thank you for the chance!
I like a blend of both!
Would be able to relate