Romance Recs

Interview with author Chelsea Curto

• Jordan Baughman • Season 2 • Episode 6

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Dev's dreams come true as she and Jordan interview contemporary romance author, Chelsea Curto. Join us as get sneak peeks at Chelsea's new title Power Play, share favorite moments from her books, discuss the writing process, and lament the struggles of a never ending TBR. 

Power Play by Chelsea Curto out Octobert 24, 2024


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Devonnie:

Welcome to Romance Recs, where book besties explore the world of romance novels and encourage you to expand your TBR. Join us as we dive into the hottest releases and hidden gems of the genre. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Recs Pot. Hi guys. I'm so excited, but it's me. It's Devany. It's Dev. Hi.

Jordan:

Hey.

Chelsea:

Hi.

Devonnie:

Oh no,

Jordan:

she doesn't. She's, she's.

Chelsea:

I didn't know. I, I did. I'm hi, I'm Chelsea.

Devonnie:

No! Chelsea, you're actually fine. I'm just so excited. I have like, excitement aggression, kind of like cute aggression, but like Excitement. I'm so excited right now. I didn't finish what I was saying, but hi guys, it's me It's dev as you can tell i'm excited because chelsea's here. But um, yeah, I am currently reading bull moon rising by ruby dixon

Jordan:

Hi, I'm Jordan. I'm also excited. Um. I'm. I am currently reading an ARC of The Crown Prophecy by Meg Acuna. This is her first novel, so we're really excited about her, and for her. And I'm listening to Dark Restraint by Katie Robert.

Devonnie:

So

Chelsea:

Um, I'm Chelsea and I am currently reading reckless by LC silver. Um, I'm almost done. Yeah, I know. Very good. Very, very good. I'm not, I'm not the biggest lover on accidental pregnancy or like surprise pregnancy, but, um, this one slaps. So I am a hundred percent here for it. So hard.

Devonnie:

so hard. I loved it. I

Chelsea:

She doesn't miss though. So I, I knew if anyone could make me a believer, it would be, it would be her. So

Devonnie:

Yes.

Jordan:

Dev, you're biased. You love that trope, so

Devonnie:

my favorite. I eat it up. I eat it up every time. Yeah. But of course, guys, as you can tell, we have the greatest with us, Chelsea Curto, who I'm so excited to have on the pod to talk about all things romance. And sports and just what it's like being an author because girl, you did that. Okay. You're

Jordan:

yeah, you're doing it.

Devonnie:

multiple times

Chelsea:

Well, I know, I know. And we're coming up on number, on number 10, which is wild.

Jordan:

That's

Devonnie:

psychotic. We love it. We love being here for this. So yeah, this is a special episode guys. Thanks for tuning in with us. We've got some good conversation planned. We're going to ask Chelsea some questions also might play our this or that game. So stay tuned for that. But yeah, Chelsea, is there anything you want to like mention real quick before we dive into this? Do you want to talk about anything? Anything coming maybe?

Chelsea:

So I have a book coming out October 17th called power play. It's a hockey romance, grumpy sunshine. And I'll talk more about it later when we talk about, um, face off, but that book is coming October 17th. And then, um, hopefully one more book coming out this year, but we'll see on that little

Jordan:

you are on

Chelsea:

holiday novella.

Jordan:

awesome Well before before dev gets too excited and starts going down a rabbit hole Um, we do have some quotes that we planned to share as we do at the beginning of every episode Don't mind this so I do have to say before I give these quotes When we started this podcast in, we started recording in March, our first, or yeah, March, our first episodes. And one of her, this year,

Devonnie:

Huuuuuuuuuh

Jordan:

don't mind Dev.

Chelsea:

Six months ago,

Devonnie:

fuck my life. I don't know what timeline I'm on, but please

Jordan:

it's okay. It's okay. I've got you. That's why I'm here. But from the very beginning. She's been plugging your books and it was like really before I dove into indie authors and like really understood how to find indie authors. So I finally just went for it. I'm so excited. Because we've been hearing about you on the pod since its inception and this is kind of like a full circle moment.

Chelsea:

Yeah, I'm well, I'm very happy to be here. And I, um, an open book, I will talk about anything and everything. So

Jordan:

We will take you up on that.

Chelsea:

I don't

Devonnie:

Yeah, yeah. Good.

Chelsea:

I'm like, Oh, someone wants to know something here. Here's a six book series that I've plotted out that no one may ever see. But let's just talk about it anyway.

Devonnie:

And we love it. And we love that.

Jordan:

Okay, so I decided on, I decided on two quotes because I just could not decide. And I decided to stay on theme. So I'm going with two quotes from Face Off. So my first one, I'll do the serious one first. I tear up every time I read this.

Chelsea:

Oh, wait, hold on. Try it on me. Let me guess. Let me guess which one it is. It's something Maverick probably said.

Jordan:

It's like an internal monologue of his.

Chelsea:

I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go with it's when is it when he's talking about not having a home.

Jordan:

No, this is probably not one. I don't think you'd necessarily it's not typical.

Chelsea:

okay. Ooh, I

Jordan:

I don't think. It hits me then, right in your center ice, in front of 20, 000 people, a thought I've been having more and more lately these last few weeks, but becomes solidified right now. This woman is fucking incredible. Special. Changing the future of the sport and inspiring girls and women everywhere all while wearing ribbons and mascara. I'm just, like,

Chelsea:

know. I love

Devonnie:

Yeah, that's

Jordan:

feminist heart just

Chelsea:

love that because I love that because I feel like in, in recent, so I will preface this, I'm a very big sports fan. I'm mostly NBA. I grew up on watching NBA. um, but I love all sports, but you know, mostly the NBA and in recent years, the WNBA. And I love that we've kind of seen this acceptance of like women athletes who have the nails, have. The makeup hat, you know, who come with their hair done and like look pretty, but they still, that doesn't make them like less of an athlete. It's kind of like they can coexist as a woman and an athlete. And I like that. Men, especially men, male athletes are recognizing this as well. And I think Maverick, you know, I think that was really important to include because, you know, he is like one of the greatest in his sport, fictional world, obviously. And so like for that kind of person to like recognize the impact that a woman would have on other people, I think was, it was really important for me to include that. So not to get all deep right off the bat,

Jordan:

No, I did it. I started it. It's fine. I

Chelsea:

couch? Yeah. But is he like really just like respect her and admire her a hundred percent

Jordan:

oh, he's goals He is absolute

Chelsea:

of both worlds.

Jordan:

Yes,

Devonnie:

him.

Jordan:

and really quick my fun one I just I just adore this a toast Maven lifts her glass in the air We all follow suit and she smiles to the good men with good dicks who treat us, right? And to the good dicks out there who haven't found their way to us yet, may they hurry up and get here so everyone is happy and satisfied. I just, I love that twist on the quote, the cheers.

Chelsea:

And we will see more of that in powerplay.

Devonnie:

Yay! Yeah, we love their dynamic. Yeah!

Jordan:

more good dicks.

Chelsea:

dicks. Yeah. Yeah. Except in powerplay, Lexi's the one saying like to, I don't know, more orgasms or something like that. So

Devonnie:

I love that.

Chelsea:

yeah, female empowerment, right?

Devonnie:

Can't wait for, can't wait for Lixie. Okay, so this quote is also from Maverick, uh, more of an internal monologue, but like when I tell you I was on my knees for it, especially the way it's written because you just see, anyway, let me get into it. Okay. Maybe we do, Red, and one day I'll tell you all about it. I love you, I think, when we head to the locker room. I love you, I think, when we celebrate her goal in the first period. I love you, I think, when we win the game and she jumps in my arms. I love you, I think, when she rests her head on my shoulder in the hotel elevator after we get back from dropping Aled off in Lansing. I love you, I love you, I love you, I want to scream. When she kisses my chest before we fall asleep, I think she loves me too.

Chelsea:

That's, that's the best line right there. I think she loves me too. I love that

Devonnie:

That, I had to include that part because it's like, and you know, knowing a little bit of Maverick's story, I think that is the most important part because it's like, he wants that love. So him seeing it and feeling it and believing it. Okay. And then I, yes, I do have another word for you. This is a sneaky word because when I tell you, when I tell you, I. The dynamic here, this has nothing to do with Emmy or Maverick, but it's in face off. Um, okay. Riley looks up from his video game controller. A date? He asks. With who? A guy she met at her Pilates class. She didn't seem too excited about it though. I add when his face falls and Piper and I exchange a look. Oh, Riley Glantz is back at the TV. Good for her. If I do not get Riley and Glantz and a Y choose,

Chelsea:

So, okay, yes. So, I,

Devonnie:

will write it myself. I will be putting up fanfic.

Chelsea:

messaged my friends and I was like, okay, but what if? However, I will say, I will say that, the way that the coach's book is plotted. I think Grant will be better suited off with somebody else with a little bit of a forbidden romance, that will be a little bit more and, and, and Riley and Lexi, um, yeah, that, yes, there will not, there will not be a why choose. Not, not this time, not this please write it. You would like to, like the, um. The scene from Silver Flames that did not get published with, yeah,

Jordan:

Yes!

Devonnie:

Yeah.

Chelsea:

it's out there somewhere and everyone, maybe I will do that. Maybe I'll make like a little, like, newsletter, like, surprise, here's a little, a little, um,

Jordan:

we don't know if it's a dream or not, it's just like,

Devonnie:

It just happens, you know, but I was, I know he's down bad. So I just love that little, and you, there's a couple of scenes like that where like, I'm thinking about the other characters and like their potential and where their stories are going to go. So I love that. I love that.

Chelsea:

the, the club, the club scene with, um, Piper

Devonnie:

Piper and

Chelsea:

not accidental

Devonnie:

Yeah.

Chelsea:

in Power Play in one of the early chapters, he's, Um, his internal monologue is talking about something and he's like, thinking about that night in Canada and nothing happens like with them. It's just literally like they go out and you like get ice cream or whatever. And he talks about how he hasn't laughed that much and how he stayed and made sure she didn't throw up in her bed. He like sat there for an hour while she was asleep and like, it was the best night of the whole season. You know? So he, it was something like that. Yeah. Yeah. So a little bit of. He's like, he's like, she was giggling and laughing and falling all over the place. And from anyone else, I, it would have been unbearable, but from her, it was cute, like that sort of thing. So.

Jordan:

It

Devonnie:

I'm, I,

Jordan:

oh, it gives me flashbacks to the beginning of my relationship with my husband.

Devonnie:

that's so cute. Not flashbacks. But yeah, I love them. I love the little Easter eggs for like our next favorite couples,

Chelsea:

Oh yeah, there's, there's, there's nothing. So when I wrote, um, the love through lens series, which starts with camera chemistry, which is a novella, there were zero plans to make it a series. It was just going to be the novella and that was going to be it. And then I started getting messages about like, Oh, well, what about, um, Lacey and Sean was like, okay, I guess I'll write it. And I wrote it. And then someone was like, Oh wait, Dallas and Maven. Were they flirting? I'm like, no, they weren't flirting, but I'm like, Oh, well, maybe now they

Devonnie:

maybe they were.

Chelsea:

And so like, I didn't plan to like write the single dad and then like write his daughter like five years later and like time jump. Eight years and be like, don't worry. Everyone's old enough So like nothing about that was intentional and like I had to like start weaving it together as I went. However everything after um well, there is some I did drop something behind the camera that was intentional but everything from face off on is Very intentional with the easter eggs for things that are going to come Like I feel like when i'm writing it i'm like I wonder if he's gonna pick up on this You

Devonnie:

I picked up on the ranch.

Jordan:

yeah, oh yeah, I can tell because the, yeah, the side characters are so rich, I am just as invested in them as your main characters and I live for that. Because

Chelsea:

I didn't, I don't want them to be like, I don't want them to be like too, obviously like, you're like, okay, well these two are obviously going to end up together, but I don't want to take away from like the main couple, but like, I want it to be just enough where literally people were messaging me and they're like, oh my God, please tell me Piper and Liam are a thing. And, I'm like, I did it just enough where people are like, okay, wait a second. Not like, oh my God, we know it's going to be Piper and Liam, but it was like, Okay. But now I need to know more. So it's like trying to find that balance between not being like, Oh, this person, this person, this person with hockey teams, difficult because there are a lot of bodies on the team. Um, and so I'm like, I'm trying to be cognizant. I'm like, don't give it all away. Reel it back a little bit. It's going to like, it's going to start to come together. Um, but it's really fun to like. Nothing is accidental. So

Devonnie:

Yeah. I think you're doing a great job. Like, it doesn't seem very overt, but it's definitely enough to like, whet my appetite to see more interactions of those people. So yeah, I think, I think you're finding that balance really well for sure.

Chelsea:

thank you. Thank you. That was my goal.

Devonnie:

Yay. All right. So. First question of the night.

Chelsea:

Let's go. Let's hear it. I'm ready.

Devonnie:

What made you decide to first write and publish a book? Like what was the driving force behind that decision? That

Chelsea:

during COVID I took a leave of absence because nobody really knew what was going on with. Our job. And if we were going to have a job and everything like that. And so I took a three months leave and then a six month leave. And I'm a very go, go, go person. I don't like to sit still. I can't sit still. Um, and so that was the first time truly in my life where I was like, what do I do? Like, what am I supposed to do? And like, I bought a switch. I was playing like animal crossing and like, you know, that sort of thing. And then I just, so I read, I I read Harry Potter when I was a kid, like everybody else. And then as I got older, I really read a lot of fan fiction, um, and that sort of thing. And then like when COVID happened, I like was bored and had nothing to do. So I'm like, I guess I'll read some more fan fiction. So I read some fan fiction and then I actually picked up a couple of YA books. I picked up, the Simon Snow series by Rainbow, roll, um, Simon and Baz. I read that series and I loved it. And then I read, um, I think I read red, white, and royal blue right after that. And then I picked up an Emily Henry book and that was just, it was just game over. Um, and so. When I was reading, I've always had a very, creative mind. Like I'm not math. I'm not science. I'm very much just like, like if you give me a situation, like if I am just watching something somewhere I can go, like, I can create a whole book, a whole plot in 10 seconds. And, um, and so I've always had a very over active imagination and a brain that is very overactive. Um, and so I'm like, I guess I'll try to write a book. And I did and. There's so much I wish I could have done different then, but I'm also grateful for how everything's gone because I don't know. If I would still be writing if things went different when you know what I mean? So like I would I'm grateful for the way everything is gone. Um, and so yeah I wrote book one and book two and honestly when I wrote camera chemistry I almost just stopped writing because I felt like I didn't I don't know. I just really didn't feel like I had, I don't feel like I had figured it out yet. And I really admire the authors who figured it out on their first book because that was not me. But like by book four, I was like, and that, that did well comparatively. And then I wrote, um, what did I write next? I have to look at my books over here. And I did copy camera and that did really well. And that was honestly like their turning point for me from a writing standpoint. And then obviously face off has been, um, just beyond my wildest dreams of how it, um, well had done. And it's so funny. Like I posted on threads, like. I don't go on Goodreads. I don't look at Goodreads. Like that's not my space. That's a reader's space and looking at Goodreads just, you know, will derail anything and everything. I will look at other books and other reviews, which I found to be helpful. Like I look at other like hockey romances, like one star reviews and five star reviews. I'm like, okay, so they didn't like that, you know, so to try to find like, without looking at my own, cause I would probably cry. Um, but. Someone like tagged me on like a goodreads like thing so I could see the star rating and I was like, oh my god, like it has over 10, 000 reviews. And then I went and looked at my debut goodreads to like face off goodreads and it's just, it's mind blowing. So to see that in two years is, it's, it's wild. Um, so there's days when I'm like, I don't know if I can do this anymore, but then there are a lot of days where I'm like, I feel very lucky that this is what I get to do. And then I, you know, I meet people and talk to people and, um, You know, I will never be on like an Emily Henry level or anything like that. But knowing that like one person,

Devonnie:

Uh, you don't know that? I

Chelsea:

true, I don't know.

Devonnie:

you being a seer, Chelsea, okay? So you don't know what's coming.

Chelsea:

That is very true. However, uh, Just like one person, you know, tells me that they liked my book. They connected with my book, et cetera. It just makes me feel very, um, just very lucky. So that was a really cheesy and drawn out answer, but, um, I, if you had told me in August, 2022 is when I published my first book that I would publish 10. I would say there's, there's no way, um, here we are.

Jordan:

in two years,

Devonnie:

even imagine. Right, yeah, that the timeline is wild.

Chelsea:

The brain doesn't stop. And, and it's, I was, so I also am a runner and the only time my brain will not think of anything writing related is when I'm running, but that is also when I come up with my, some of my best ideas, cause that's when my mind is most like clear, um, because like when I sit in front of a computer, I feel so pressured sometimes to like. Get certain words or like write a certain scene But like when i'm running like when I if I bring my phone with me I will literally stop my run and write out a sentence or when I get home I'll like tell my boyfriend like nope. Don't talk to me. Hold on. I need to write this down It's just a different, you know environment different change of pace and i'm like, oh, I really like that, you know I have like a fresh Fresh open mind. It's where all the Has come to me when i'm suffering Mm

Jordan:

Speaking of your ideas so I've listened to some, a couple of your other interviews before, but, I've heard you talk about how you just have this big board full of your future projects. And I know you've posted about your planned future projects, which are a lot and very exciting, but what is that process like for you? Is it like you get an idea and you throw it up there? Is it more like, I'm going to sit and plan this all out and then start working on Just do it? Or is it a little bit of everything? Like how do you decide where your stories are gonna go? What's that process like for you?

Chelsea:

So, um, I don't. Um, I,

Jordan:

Mm-Hmm.

Chelsea:

um, I am not really a planner. We call it like plotter or pantser. I am a pantser. I just kind of fly by the seat of my pants. I will say, with Power Play, I plotted out what each chapter kind of I wanted to do and it, surprise, it made writing a whole lot easier. Um, but, Power Play. I had the idea for face off and I was in the middle of another series and I was like, I have to write this book and like, I know, like, and like, I was, I, I want to say this with a caveat. I understand that, like, I have more good reads reviews that like authors dream about, but in the same sense, I have the number of good reads reviews I have is like, Tiny compared to what other, and you know what I mean? So it's all comparative. Um, like I, I don't consider myself a well enough established author in the sense of like, my books don't hit number one in the Kindle store, that sort of thing, you know, there's, I don't have that, that huge dedicated, fan base yet, I will say yet, I feel like in the last couple of months since face off it's, it's definitely changed. Um, so like, I knew it was risky to like, kind of deviate from what people were from what I had been doing, but I was like, I have to write it. So I wrote it. Um, and now I just am in this hockey world and we're going to be there for a while. But but with my, like I said, with my brain, it can't. I can't focus on one thing. So I'm honestly like right now I'm working on like four different projects because that's just how I work best. Because I sit down and feel like I have to write just one thing. I feel like it's just not going to happen. So if I'm like a thousand words on this one, a thousand words here, a thousand, and then like eventually they all add up, you know, it's not like I had to just sit down and write like 5, 000 words for this one thing. I don't, I don't know if I could do it because I, I feel like the wheels are always going, um, which is not as fun as it sounds because I'm like writing this. I'm like, okay, but what about, I'm like looking over here. I'm like, what about that? Um, so, you know, if I have an idea, I kind of have like a, like a Google doc of like, All the ideas that are in my head. Um, and so next year 2025, we're going to jump around a little bit but you know because I feel like romance is such a big genre that like not everyone likes sports romances. Not everyone likes, um, Cowboy romances not everyone likes this not everyone likes that so I know people who like my books and have read my books will keep reading my books, but I also want to like, keep finding new readers. Um, and like a lot of people who come face off as their first book for me, I've gone back and read my other books, um, which are romances, but, um, I'm like, well, what if I want to do a cowboy romance? Because that's popular right now. And I've had this idea ever in my head. Um, so I'm like, we're going to have to, I don't know, like, I would rather like deviate and write what I'm kind of like feeling. But and enjoy it and and then not Be excited about what i'm working on if that makes sense. So and it is

Jordan:

tell, you can tell when an author doesn't, isn't excited to write something.

Chelsea:

yeah, and like face off I I am this is a book i'm most proud of I love this book so much and like when I was writing it I knew it was going to be special and I haven't really felt that way about my other books I've been proud of them but like writing this one i'm like this is going to be Special and I and I know and I didn't want to write it because you see a lot of authors He will like write something because it's like the thing to write Um, and you know, that's fine. Like we have to make money and like hockey romance is popular, right? Hockey romance. Awesome. Like, good, good for you. Go for it. Um, but this was like a story that like, I wanted to tell and I workshopped it a lot and I'm like, well, how do I pull it off? And I'm like, the only way I could pull it off really was like hockey. And I'm like, We're going to go for it. We're going to do it. And I did, and I have zero regrets with that. So we skipped around a little bit, but it was worth it. I think.

Jordan:

I

Devonnie:

I think so. Yeah, Maverick and Emmy have some of the best banter of all, like, and I've read all your books, so I understand the banter between your characters, and that's one of my favorite things, just seeing how they play off of each other. But there was just something about these two that just, like, blew my mind. Like, it was just, you, I don't know, yeah, so it was, yeah. You did it. You really did it.

Chelsea:

Thank you.

Jordan:

So many highlights.

Devonnie:

Exactly. Right. Oh my gosh. The Kindle highlights are crazy. And, alright, so, yes. Um, I do, I mean, we see that you have a lot a lot of different things slated, right? You're jumping around, you're starting different projects, you're working. But can you tell us a Maybe a couple of the stories you have planned. And also, I think Jordan is very interested in this dark romance because she's a dark romance girly.

Chelsea:

Yes. Okay.

Jordan:

I read everything,

Devonnie:

little crumbs.

Chelsea:

So I fully intended to have a Halloween, um, romance out in, um, October, but with from face off to power play, and I also released off camera and there, there's just has not been enough time. Um, I feel very fortunate that I don't have to fly. I like flying schedule. I really only work like eight to 12 days a month. So I feel very fortunate that when I'm not flying writing is my full time job. However. It is hard to write a book, no matter if I'm in front of a computer nine to five, or so it's hard to write a book. Um, however, so I fully intend to get this, um, dark romance out in time for Halloween. It's not going to happen. However, it's not a Halloween. I mean, it kind of is a Halloween. So I am born and raised in Florida. Um, and I've been going to Halloween Horror Nights for years. And a couple of years ago, I'm a pass holder at Universal where Halloween Horror Nights takes place. And if you're not familiar with Halloween Horror Nights, it's like, Um the whole theme park they have haunted houses. They have scare zones it's very like they do haunted houses based on like they did like chucky and like quiet place and The last of us and stranger things so it's it's basically just the whole park turns into like a scary time So a couple years ago in the pass holder page like on facebook someone wrote Um, I just want to shout out the michael myers and the halloween house at like 7 p. m. So you like follow like a line in the house. So like, you know, there's people and like, it's very obvious where the line goes, you know, because people jump out and scare you. And she said, I want to thank Michael Myers. I accidentally veered off course in the haunted house and I have did the haunted house. If. I would have, it is easy to get confused at this part because after I read that, when we went to house, I'm like, Oh, I can see. So she went straight and she was supposed to go right. And so the Michael Myers, who was behind there, who's supposed to jump out and scare her, like guided her back. So she was like, I just want to thank the Michael Myers for guiding me back into the line. And I looked, I saw that. I saw them like, it's a romance book. It's gotta be a romance book.

Devonnie:

that's, that's clearly a meet cute. It's like,

Chelsea:

So, a novella where they meet in a haunted house and he, is Michael Myers, or I don't know if I can use Michael Myers, but he is a masked man with a knife, you know, um, and they rendezvous, and he is a ex serial killer, but like kind of like Butcher and Blackbird were like, getting rid of bad people, not like, you know, he's not like, he's getting rid of the bad people in the world. Not like he's, you know, so it's like good.

Devonnie:

just off in everybody. Yeah.

Chelsea:

It's not like,

Devonnie:

Vigilante, if you will.

Chelsea:

no anger issues. It's like, these people are like terrible. Yeah. So, yeah, so then,, he like kind of becomes obsessed with her and,

Devonnie:

As you do.

Chelsea:

you

Devonnie:

Yes.

Chelsea:

So that was the Halloween,

Devonnie:

that.

Chelsea:

the Halloween Horror Nights inspired one. And when I was there at Halloween Horror Nights, a couple, a couple Uh, well, and when I was there last year, like I, we were, we were like stopped because of the house like backs up and you're just like standing there and they'll keep popping out and scaring you. And like, this guy had like jumped out like four times. And so I just like looked at him and I like waved and he waved back. I'm like, yeah, there's the meet cute in a haunted house. So that is,

Devonnie:

eat it up. Yes.

Jordan:

Yeah. Yep.

Chelsea:

short. It's going to be not a lot of, not a lot of plot, just, you know, a little good time. And yeah, you know,

Jordan:

it. You're great at writing plot and not plot. You're a little

Chelsea:

dark rom com? I figure why not?

Devonnie:

of them. Yep.

Chelsea:

Why not? that's one thing. Let me look over on my board. Christmas one this year, um, is involving a half marathon and a runner and a doctor at the finish line. And it's just kind of cutesy and spicy and it's short and it's based off of, a reel from the Boston marathon this year, where a girl, um, Was crossing the finish line and she paired it to, um, a thousand miles by Vanessa Carlton or whatever. And she's like, got a collapse. And the, the, um, doctor just comes in, like catches her. And I commented, I was like me, a romance author watching this. And I got like 70, 000 likes the comment and I'm like, okay, well, we're going to write it. So

Devonnie:

to. The people have spoken.

Chelsea:

The people have spoken so that one's coming out. That should be out Hopefully by the end of this year, uh, by december. It's like an ex boyfriend's dad like age gap kind of thing Yeah, so again short just you know, not not a whole lot of plot but a little bit of plot a little

Jordan:

I love everything you're saying.

Chelsea:

Yeah,

Devonnie:

everything you're saying sounds delicious. Oh.

Chelsea:

more hockey books. We have the last book in the Love Through A Lense series, and then we're gonna take a trip out west to Colorado and do some things out there with a flight attendant and a trail guide, so

Jordan:

old fantasy. I don't know. Maybe, no.

Devonnie:

Yeah. Right? Then fantasy. Then she'll start writing fantasy. Yeah.

Chelsea:

Oh good, no,

Jordan:

it all. You have everything. You're like, it's,

Chelsea:

never do fan Like, I like look at my board here and I have like the, the um, the roster over here cause I'm just so I like can keep track of like who's who and everything. Um, and it's like their book, their number, like what their position is. I'm like, I can't imagine being a fantasy author and like having like this whole world, like, I couldn't even keep the field straight that I named in the football, my football series, I messed up the field name and I'm like, whoops. Like one of my readers message messages, she goes, isn't it supposed to be this? I'm like, yeah, it is. Thanks. I had to like, yeah, whatever. It's fine. So, like, I can't imagine keeping, worlds and characters and, like, magical powers. That, I have so much respect for fantasy authors

Jordan:

Well, names change. Names change. It gets new. Yeah.

Chelsea:

True.

Devonnie:

happen.

Jordan:

Our Lumen field, like, I mean, that's just changed recently. Yeah. I

Devonnie:

Right. Exactly.

Chelsea:

romance. My 400 page romance novels where everyone falls in love. That is where I'm, I'm best suited.

Jordan:

No, it's perfect. I'm just saying, you have so much, I love how you bounce around the contemporary genre. Like, I just, I

Chelsea:

I don't want to limit, I don't want to limit myself. And, and honestly, you know, this is a job, but like I, when I first started writing, I feel like I wrote the stories that like, I thought I had to write, and now I'm writing the stories that I want to write versus like. You know what I feel like people would like so I was like no I'm gonna write a female hockey player and if people don't like it, they can suck it. Honestly That's what I wanted to write and i'm very much in the okay Well, I am really vibing with the cowboy romance. So i'm gonna write a cowboy romance and Yeah

Devonnie:

that's just it. I think it's, it's really important for you to write what you want to read as much as what like your audience is like asking you for. If you're not happy writing the things that you're writing, then it's just going to translate in the work. So yeah, it's, I think, yeah, if you switch it up tomorrow and you decide, you know what, I'm going to go on a serial serial killer binge, like I'm supporting it. I'm reading all of the books. Like

Chelsea:

I will say

Devonnie:

do. Whatever you do.

Chelsea:

i've been working on something for a couple years and i've like kind of teased it and like You I have teased it more being hurricane season, but I'm writing something that is

Devonnie:

Oh,

Chelsea:

very

Devonnie:

people. I

Chelsea:

Yeah, that's very, yeah. So I, I can't say anything else, but, um,

Devonnie:

can't wait for them. And that's all I would say. Yeah, I can't wait for them.

Chelsea:

I'm very, I'm very excited about that one. Cause that is very, um, like near and dear to my heart. So yeah.

Devonnie:

about them, but yeah. Okay, so put that on the back burner, remembering that for later. Good to know.

Jordan:

Um, are there any audiobooks on the back burner with that said because I okay and I was gonna ask this and then I actually saw a comment that you had on because I'm part of your Facebook group that maybe it has something to do with rights and stuff like that. But I was just wondering if like, you hope to do more audiobooks, especially as this new series takes off.

Chelsea:

So, uh, I don't listen to audiobooks because of my brain, but I am a full supporter of audiobooks and I love that that is a, um, a, a resource for people to read books through audiobook. So, um, my first two books, unexpected Paradise and Companion Project are on audio, and then my left through a lens series is all gonna be on audio. The face off series, I was, um, approached about rights for the audio, but we're holding off on that for a little bit. Um, but hopefully we can, um, hopefully one day,

Jordan:

okay.

Devonnie:

okay,

Chelsea:

hopefully one day.

Jordan:

Okay.

Devonnie:

I

Chelsea:

Yeah. That'd make me very happy to, to hear my Maverick and Emmy brought to life.

Jordan:

Oh my goodness. It'd be so hot.

Devonnie:

right? Can you imagine?

Jordan:

I already know who dev would want to play it, but like play it maverick But that's no surprise there. I don't even have to You talked about it

Devonnie:

I am

Jordan:

Dev. You're obsessed with him.

Devonnie:

obsessed with Jacob Morgan slash Zachary Webber.

Chelsea:

See, I don't know who any, I don't know who any, um, narrators

Jordan:

He goes by two

Devonnie:

Right, because, yeah, his name is Zachary Webber.

Jordan:

I almost exclusively listen to audiobooks because I have a two and a half year old and that's how I stay sane, is like I have one headphone in and it's like I have an adult

Chelsea:

Your time.

Jordan:

while I'm playing a tea party. Like I mean, it's, So,

Chelsea:

correct.

Jordan:

where, yeah.

Chelsea:

I will say since I don't listen to a lot of audio books when so my first two books I didn't get a say in the narrator process and my, and then a different company has the rights to the other I keep looking over here to just run books are I'm not just like pointing to a wall.

Jordan:

Over there.

Chelsea:

Somewhere over here, a different company has the rights to the Love Through Lens series. And so they sent me samples of, um, narrators and then I sent it to my friends who are big audio book people. I'm like, can y'all tell me like what, you know, cause, and they're like, Oh, well, this person's pacing is really good. And the, you know, so I was like, thank you. And so it was good to like, get, get their feedback on, on, um, like what would be good to listen for. So yeah, hopefully,

Devonnie:

I love, I love Zachary Webber slash Jacob Morgan. I'm

Jordan:

You don't know him personally, but you love his voice.

Devonnie:

I, Oh, right, sorry, not objectifying you. I know. Yeah, I love, I love it. I love his pacing. I love the way he like just talks. I don't know. I feel like he would be a very good maverick. So, um, Zachary Webber slash Jacob Morgan. If you're listening. Yeah, hit Chelsea up, babe. Maverick needs you.

Jordan:

When it's time.

Chelsea:

see hopefully one day

Devonnie:

Yeah.

Jordan:

Oh, it's just so cute. Maverick. Not, I don't know what he looks like.

Devonnie:

look at the time.

Jordan:

She's getting ready. This.

Chelsea:

is it?

Devonnie:

It's time for This or That!

Chelsea:

Oh, yeah

Jordan:

it! We always do that! We look very delete.

Chelsea:

I'm

Jordan:

Sometimes we get it. Sometimes we don't.

Devonnie:

Sometimes we don't, okay.

Chelsea:

was really good.

Devonnie:

I hope so. I was really trying to be very delicate with it, very

Chelsea:

I was it was great. It was great.

Jordan:

a lot earlier, so she should.

Devonnie:

Alright.

Chelsea:

Okay, hit

Devonnie:

Are you ready Chelsea? Chelsea?

Chelsea:

I'm ready Okay,

Devonnie:

You just got to answer. Okay.

Chelsea:

I'm nervous. Okay, I'm ready.

Devonnie:

Contemporary or fantasy?

Chelsea:

Contemporary. Ooh,

Devonnie:

One bed or who did this to you?

Chelsea:

I'm going to say One Bed because I feel like Who Did This To You is really good in like the fantasy realm. Like because then they can like pull out a dagger and be like, you know, who did this to you and like, Hard to do that in like contemporary, I mean they can,

Devonnie:

can.

Chelsea:

you can.

Devonnie:

kind of book. Yeah.

Chelsea:

Yeah, you're gonna book. I do love because I love forced proximity and like only one bed. You're like, oh well I'll just sleep over here and I'll put a pillow for and then like, you're like, oh we wake up and the arms are around me and not, you know,

Devonnie:

Where's the

Chelsea:

that happen?

Devonnie:

Yeah.

Chelsea:

So one bed, yeah. But I do like who did this to you. Especially when it's like, Like the grumpy, like the grumpy guy. And they're like, who did this to you? Like that.

Devonnie:

right, right, yeah. It's giving Liam actually. You might be able to do who did this to you with Liam.

Chelsea:

Well, I guess we'll find out.

Devonnie:

I get, yeah. Oh, okay. Oh, well, I feel like this next one is we already know audio. Yeah. Audio or physical.

Chelsea:

Physical, but I do love and support audio books and, um, they do count as reading. So

Devonnie:

Yes. All right. Jordan, you wanna do the rest?

Jordan:

Small town or sports romance.

Chelsea:

sports romance,

Jordan:

Standalone or series.

Chelsea:

um, interconnected series,

Jordan:

Okay. or hardcover.

Chelsea:

paperback,

Jordan:

Second chance or friends to lovers.

Chelsea:

to lovers.

Jordan:

When you're drinking, or not when you're drinking, excuse me. When

Devonnie:

Or when you're drinking. Yeah.

Jordan:

I mean it involves that too. When you're

Chelsea:

now I'm really curious

Jordan:

hot or iced beverages for your snacks.

Chelsea:

for my snacks.

Jordan:

Like while you're, while

Chelsea:

Oh, I thought you said for your sex. I was like,

Jordan:

I

Chelsea:

It's like.

Jordan:

need to enunciate more tonight is what I'm getting out of this.

Chelsea:

Okay, so hot beverage or cold beverage while I am enjoying my, my

Jordan:

Yeah. While you're reading

Chelsea:

Oh, um, cold. I don't drink, I don't drink coffee. I am a, I am a water, water girl. So just water.

Jordan:

I don't mind Deb. She's just crying.

Chelsea:

She's got the giggles.

Devonnie:

Oh my God. Okay.

Jordan:

Discrete cover or cartoon?

Chelsea:

Oh boy. This is the top. This is the controversial topic of the year. Do not even get me started on that. I love, there has been drama on threads about this and

Devonnie:

Too much drama. Drama.

Chelsea:

like, do these look like kids to you? Like, what about this? Like a young adult book on the back when it says after a night where the tension between them reaches a tipping point and they fall in bed. They're not studying.

Devonnie:

yeah,

Jordan:

and also who's letting the little kids in the romance section? So I

Devonnie:

right,

Chelsea:

Um, I do, I am an equal lover of covers. I do love, and I went through this debate because people are very, very passionate about this, which I very much respect, and I'm like, I went with the cartoon cover because I felt like it was in line with it. The other hockey or like ice breaker, Stephanie Archer collide, that sort of thing, but I did want to do like a discreet cover for people who don't like cartoon covers. Um, and, um, I will say for some of my next series, I will, I'm not going to do cartoon covers because I feel like it aligns more with like. That as well, if that makes sense. So I, I like both, like I have plenty of all of them back here and around here. Um, and like, and I like how, when I did, um, like this series, like it's illustrated, but like not people, like I kinda liked that, um, aspect of it a little bit, um, but I, I like both and if I had to pick one, I would probably pick. Um, illustrated

Devonnie:

yep,

Jordan:

Okay.

Chelsea:

and I will not get mad that it was a book that had sex because I would do my research before picking it up.

Jordan:

Yeah, you'd be a responsible reader.

Chelsea:

yeah.

Devonnie:

right, read responsibly folks.

Jordan:

Okay, and the last one, the most important. You have to quickly name your top three book boyfriends.

Chelsea:

My, like

Jordan:

Yeah, your personal, like, not necessarily that you wrote. I mean, it can be that you wrote if those are your favorite, or it can be, like, ones that you've read. Just like,

Chelsea:

I'm going to do both. I'm going to say the ones I've written, Maverick is number one.

Devonnie:

hmm.

Chelsea:

I think Liam is number two and I do love Dallas. I think Dallas might be number three. Oh, but I do love Sean. I do like Sean. Cause I did like doing that friends forever. So they're a tie, they're a tie there.

Devonnie:

Yeah. Okay.

Chelsea:

Um, overall, now let me take a look here in my, my shelf.

Jordan:

have a beautiful shelf behind

Devonnie:

Right?

Jordan:

what

Chelsea:

And there's more, there's more over

Devonnie:

no, I, I, I love it. I'm obsessed.

Chelsea:

I don't remember who I was talking to. I think it was, I was talking to Stacey and then we got on the conversation of like, um, UK covers cause I'm a flight attendant. So I fly to London all the time. So I'm like, Oh, you mean these UK covers? And I'm like,

Devonnie:

Yeah,

Chelsea:

Henry from Waterstones, those over there. Um,

Devonnie:

I

Jordan:

better looking in U UK.

Devonnie:

Always.

Chelsea:

always, always. Um, okay, top three, top three. Oh boy. All right. Um, this is a lot of pressure. What book have I read? I don't know.

Jordan:

It's almost worse when you have visuals, because then you get like, oh, but that one, oh, but that one.

Chelsea:

Okay, I'm going to say, um, Jack from Love Theoretically by Allie Hazelwood.

Jordan:

Okay. I

Chelsea:

Um, I'm going to say, Um, what else am I going to say? I'm going to say something else. Um,

Jordan:

love it.

Chelsea:

um, I do like Jack's from, um, uh, what's my broken heart series. I like Jack.

Devonnie:

said I should read that. Yeah.

Chelsea:

Um, and then, um, uh, who there's gotta be an Emily Henry boyfriend that I really, I love.

Devonnie:

Ooh. Yeah. I know my M. M. boyfriend that I love.

Chelsea:

Um, I do like Alex from people we meet on vacation. Jen. I liked him.

Devonnie:

that one?

Chelsea:

Um, I also liked, um, Theo from You with a View by Jessica Joyce.

Devonnie:

I loved Theo.

Chelsea:

Yeah. Liked him a lot. And have I read any other books in my lifetime? I don't know if I have.

Devonnie:

It's, it's, we,

Jordan:

Did they all leave my brain? They all left my brain. Yeah. No, you're good. You got four.

Devonnie:

Yeah. You got, yeah, that

Chelsea:

Yeah, that was, that was, that was four. That was plenty. But now I'm like, Oh gosh, you know, that's what I had. Then I, I look at these books and I'm like, I have a lot of books I need to read because I haven't read half of these and I'm never going to get to them.

Devonnie:

yeah. I mean, that's the point. We're readers. We collect books. Okay.

Chelsea:

yeah, correct. My Beach Read, uh, special edition came today. I'm like, Oh, let me add it to my shelf. It's never going to be open, but at least it's pretty. At

Devonnie:

Yes.

Chelsea:

be good on the shelf. And like my whole, I'm like, what am I doing with all these books? I'm like, I've read them all, but they look pretty. So

Devonnie:

They look so pretty.

Chelsea:

yeah, that's the whole point.

Devonnie:

trying to see all the books,

Jordan:

this is why people don't need wallpaper anymore. They just do just books That's all I want. Yeah.

Chelsea:

Then I'm like, and, but it's hard to read while I write. Cause then I just, I'm like, Half of me, I'm like, Oh my God, I can never write like this person. And then the other half, I'm like, wait, I really liked that idea. And so it's like, I'm like, what can I, I can't, I can't read. So, it's a tough balance.

Devonnie:

Yeah. I feel that. I guess this is like pretty interesting as well. Cause. I mean, you threw out some book boyfriends, but given the few books you've read, what has been your favorite book to read this year?

Chelsea:

Oh, okay. Um, I did like, um, the ex vows by Jessica Joyce left that

Devonnie:

I haven't read that one

Chelsea:

it was very good. Second chance, which I think is difficult to do. Um, and she, it was very good. I did like not in love. I love not in love by Allie Hazelwood. I love everything, uh, Allie writes. So that is an out of 10, from me. Um, what else have I read this year? Um, I liked caught up by Liz Tom Ford. Uh, all of, uh, Elsie Silver, um, this year, I read behind the net by Stephanie Archer, liked that a

Jordan:

one was so good

Chelsea:

I still need to read Pucking Around and I know I'm way behind with that, but I need to read Pucking Around. I've read the novella and I'm like, I just need to read the 800 page. Yeah.

Jordan:

the novella

Devonnie:

is that the one I just read?

Jordan:

Yes, it

Devonnie:

Oh, that, I just listened to that one. But what threw me off is because I was trying to listen to his audiobook, because again, mom life, and I was trying to like balance, but that second one, that, or the first one, whatever, the audiobook is 25 hours. I literally jumped up, I was like, why is it that long?

Chelsea:

Yeah. The book is 800 pages. It's

Jordan:

huge.

Devonnie:

have never, I have never seen the physical

Jordan:

I, oh, I soft dnf'd it. So I started it, but I soft dnf'd because I had other

Devonnie:

There's no way!

Jordan:

to it yet. Yeah,

Devonnie:

What? There's no way! Ew.

Chelsea:

Wait, hold on.

Devonnie:

So yeah, I'll have to get to that.

Jordan:

so, um

Devonnie:

But like I know but like how how much do you have to say about hockey for the book to be that thick?

Jordan:

a lot about hockey dev it's

Chelsea:

about their relationship.

Jordan:

There are three dicks in that one

Chelsea:

Yeah, I gotta read it. I need to read it.

Devonnie:

wait a minute. Is it is it white shoes?

Jordan:

Yeah. Didn't I tell you about that? Didn't

Devonnie:

I don't know if I remembered that.

Jordan:

It's

Chelsea:

Yeah. I, I,

Devonnie:

Oh, i'm gonna read

Chelsea:

I've been needing to read this. And, um, yeah, I, I just, I need to do it because why not?

Devonnie:

right. Exactly. Why?

Chelsea:

Why

Jordan:

There was a scene in there that I hadn't read yet in books and I had to like I put it down for a moment and I go, I need to think about this for a second and see how I feel. I don't, not sure.

Chelsea:

Oh, well, I now, now I really need to read

Devonnie:

Yeah, it's ready to borrow like on my libby so I might

Jordan:

I was like, I'm pretty committed to this book at this point. So I'm going to keep going, but I'm going to have to like, think about that for a few

Chelsea:

little self reflection.

Devonnie:

just like yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I can't wait till I get there I'm gonna talk to you about that

Jordan:

Yeah. Oh, you will. That's

Chelsea:

Um, let's see. What else? Um, what other books have I read this year in loved? Oh, I feel like that's, I mean, I've, I've read other books. I just, of course now I can't think of them. So. I've already gone out of my head,

Jordan:

all right. I, I know the feeling.

Chelsea:

the ones, the ones I have read, yeah, I've, I've really, really liked. So, uh, but I'm, I'm easy to please. I'm very much a, Oh yeah, this was great. Like I'm not,

Jordan:

Yeah.

Chelsea:

I don't, I'm not very stringent with my like four or five stars. I'm like, everyone gets five stars. Hooray.

Jordan:

Love it.

Devonnie:

Yeah

Chelsea:

And then I'm like, wait, why are you not giving my book five stars? Cause I'm like, not everyone

Devonnie:

go give Chelsea's books five stars right now. No, everybody's gonna run to go give you five stars right

Jordan:

yeah. It's, it's well deserved.

Chelsea:

Um, yeah, that's, um, but yeah, I, I, I, well, and I feel like writing, I'm always like, I want to write like good book boyfriends and like, I feel like I've done a lot of like things like with Maverick, I'm like, so now with Liam, I'm like, but how do I make him better? And I'm like, how do I, so I've gotten to this part where I'm like. Cause like I like to write my men that are just down bad and will bend over backwards, you know, and so now I'm like, well, I've already done these things, so I don't know how I do them again. But I think I've done some new, some new things, um, in power play that I haven't done before. So I'm excited about that.

Jordan:

And we're excited to read it.

Devonnie:

yeah, let me be real with you. Liam can stand in a corner for the first 300 pages of this book just staring, and I promise you I'll be down bad

Chelsea:

And you'll be down bad. Yeah.

Devonnie:

I'll be down. Yep, he could just stand there. But yeah,

Chelsea:

I will, I will, I will, I've teased this before, but I will say, um, I think my favorite scene is when, cause it's a marriage of convenience, fake dating turned marriage of convenience. If it works kind of, um, is when he loses his, what he, his wedding ring that he ties to his skate disappears during a game and the whole team helps him try to find it. When they go back on the ice and they're all like on their hands and knees. And Piper doesn't know he wears it on his skates. And so she's interviewing him afterwards and she's like, Can you explain what you all were doing crawling around on the ice? And he's like, He's like, well, I lost something. And she's like, it must've been pretty important. And he goes, most important thing in the world to me. Something like that. Yeah. So stick a knife in me.

Devonnie:

I can't wait for him. I can't wait for him. I

Jordan:

I know, me too.

Chelsea:

little, little down, bad grump for

Devonnie:

Yeah,

Chelsea:

everyone but her.

Jordan:

Well, I don't want to keep you too long. We'll just do one more question for you. That kind of goes with where you're talking about your next, what you've been writing, working on. Do you have any big milestone goals for your writing career that you really are aiming for, or that once you hit that point or what you want to do with that?

Chelsea:

I still don't fully believe that like people read my books and like, I don't mean that in the, I don't mean that in like the, Oh, my writing sucks. Kind of way. Just like, I don't. I, because like I'm not on Goodreads and like I don't, some authors check their page reads and everything daily and like I will like after a release and then after that like I haven't checked my page reads in like two weeks and I'm like, yeah, whatever, you know, um, and so like I, I forget that people read my books And like keep reading my books and when Goodreads, or Goodreads, when I face off past 10, 000 reviews on Goodreads, I was just like, Oh my God, like that's a lot. It's not a lot. Some people be like, that's a lot. And I was like, that's pretty cool. I know I saw that and I was like, I was like, Oh, and it's like my highest rate of one, not to like toot my own horn, but I'm very proud of that. And I think that shows my, my growth as a writer too, which is what I always want. You always want to be getting better. So, I'm proud of that too, but, um, I, you know, I would love to go into a bookstore. So this is really cheesy, but, Like I said, I'm a flight attendant and I mostly fly London. And when I go to London, I do London once a week, twice a week. I have a routine. I take a nap at the hotel. I walk to Waterstones and Piccadilly. I write in the cafe and then I go up to the romance section. And I always look at the romance table because it's a very good section. Like it's like really nice. And I look at the table. And I say, your book will be here one day. And it, and I just, and I say that every time I go there and now I'm like getting all emotional about this, but, um, and I'm like, it will be there one day and you know, it's being an author is it's hard in the sense of like, you see things happening for other people and you're like, is it going to happen for me? Or like, why isn't it happening for me? And, um,

Jordan:

Mm hmm.

Chelsea:

know, so it's hard to be patient and it's hard to be. Like stay in your lane kind of, even though there's like so much, there's only so much you can control. Um, so I would love for my books to be in a bookstore. I mean, they are in some bookstores, but I mean like all bookstores, you know, I'd love to walk into like a random Barnes and Noble and like Albuquerque and see it. Um, there are a couple of bookstores, like the Barnes and Noble and Myrtle beach has all my books in there. If you go to Myrtle beach, they are phenomenal. They have so many indie books. Um, And they're wonderful. I did a sign in there. They're great people. So plug for Barnes Noble and Myrtle Beach. Um, and so I'd love to see my books in bookstores. Um, I would love to be traditionally published, with some series one day. And I would love to hit top 100 in the Kindle store. And, um, cause that's like pretty impressive and I've come very close. I've come to 123. Um, so I would love to crack the top 100. I think that would be fun. And honestly, just keep writing books. People like and enjoy. I have considered writing full time, but I do like my job as a flight attendant, so, and it's nice to have like a sure thing, because I feel like I like writing so much because I don't have to write it. Like, I don't have to put anything else out next year if I don't want to, um, and so I think it keeps it, you know, fun that I have this other life where I. Work and then I, on my layover, I write that sort of thing. So it kind of separates it a little bit. So maybe write full time. Maybe, I don't, I don't know. I kind of like having the, the separation of, my two, two halves of me, but yeah, you know, yeah, I keep putting out things that people enjoy and people like to read and yeah, we'll see, we'll see what happens. It's been a very fun journey. And, um, I, you know, I always say like, it's only going to get better, but I truly think. I just really think it's just kind of like starting. But yeah, we'll see.

Devonnie:

Think it's just starting.

Chelsea:

yeah, but I'm, you know, I'm, I'm just, I feel very grateful for any like, yeah, the fact that people like I had went to my first like big signing at RomanceCon and I was like blown away by people who came to hear me talk in the panel about sports romance and then came to my table after and, um, Like I, I know, like I see people buying my book and I know people interact with me on social media, but it's just different. Like to see like people holding my book in real life that these people are reading it. And yeah, it's, yeah, it's a little mind blowing, but I feel very grateful.

Jordan:

Well, we're grateful for the stories you've put out so far. I mean, I'm blown away. I could sit here and talk to you for so much longer about the different ways that I love your books. I like, especially about the women and how the men are always support the women in such an empowering way. I just, that comes through in all of your books. And it's, It's so amazing to read. So thank you.

Chelsea:

and you know, with sports romance, like we see a lot of books where the guys, the athlete, and I love that. But I also think in the last couple of years with, you know, the rise in like WNBA with like Caitlin Clark and Reese and like, you know, especially the WNBA and now with like the Olympics with like the track and field women and, and all these women who are in the spotlight and now like rugby and, and. You know, we're seeing all these women that are finally getting the attention that they deserve. Um, and so writing a female athlete that was like on that level and like, I knew I had it like, and that's why in the author's note, I'm like, I'm well aware of this as fiction, like not a woman in the NFL. I'm well aware of that. However, there has been once upon a time and there could be again. You know, there's been female kickers on college football teams and Kandi Steiner, wrote a book with a female kicker and, and

Jordan:

good.

Chelsea:

yeah, I loved it. Love that series. Um, and I think we're finally seeing the attention that women deserve on them. And with that, we're also seeing the men in their, you know, counterpart league supporting them too. And, You know, I think like I think of like Kobe Bryant, who was a big proponent of women's sports, and unfortunately passed away. And I'm like, I wonder what he would think if he could see, because he was really kind of I feel like the first. Especially NBA player that really was like at the WNBA games, that's, you know, supporting them. And now you get, you have stories like Jason Sudeikis. And, you know, I wear my shirt, like everyone watches women's sports and people are like, Oh my God, I love your shirt. And it's like, that's not how it was 10 years ago. Someone who like has always loved sports has always watched basketball and interacted on social media. And Anytime there's been a post about women or female athletes, or I've commented on a post about anything. It's get back to the kitchen. What are you doing? They don't belong here, blah, blah, blah. And I think we finally turned that corner and I would love to see more of that in romance books. Because women deserve to have that stage too, you know? And, and yeah, so, I mean, I could talk about that for literally hours

Jordan:

No, me too. But you've had a really long couple days, like full, almost full 24 hours. So we won't keep you much longer. Is there anything else you wanted that you didn't get a chance to mention or

Chelsea:

You're like, what, what else is she going to spill?

Devonnie:

I know, I mean, I'm, I'm like, I'm, I love the crumbs. I live for the crumbs. I

Chelsea:

say in the hockey series, cause everyone asked me, Liam is next is coming out in October. Hudson will be after that. and then who's after that? Uh, uh, no, Lexi's after that. And then, uh, coach will be book five.

Jordan:

yeah, I can't wait for

Chelsea:

and just

Devonnie:

can't wait for Coach, yeah. I'm very

Chelsea:

your eyes open in the books because yeah, um, yeah, I'm very excited about Piper and Liam. It's tropes I've never written before and I'm excited for people to, to read them and it's, you know, it's fun and it's a good time and it's, it's sexy and fun and yeah, so I'm excited. I'm excited about that one

Devonnie:

want in our books.

Chelsea:

everything else.

Jordan:

Well, you'll be hearing from us. I'm sure definitely hearing from Dev once she gets her hands on that one.

Chelsea:

Also, Dev, I will, I would like to say that Dev was one of the first people, I will say, I've, Wasn't big on Tik TOK, like me, like going on Tik TOK. I wasn't really big on Tik TOK until like the last couple of months. And then I'm like, Oh, this actually helps me make money as an author by like posting my books. Like I had an off, like I had a Tik TOK account, but I really didn't do anything with it. But Dev posted a video about unexpected paradise. And, I remember I was in Sanibel. With my family. Cause we have a time share down there for a week long trip. And I remember I was in going into publics and I got tagged in the video and I was like, Oh my God. I'm like, and I sent it to my group of friends. I go, is this person on Tik TOK was talking about my book. Yeah. I was like, this is so cool. I'm like, Oh my God, Chelsea.

Jordan:

You made her day.

Chelsea:

remember that. You've been, you've

Devonnie:

I know I love it. That was like my beginning, my entry into the world of Chelsea Curto, but it's like one of my favorite experiences too. Since the beginning, yeah. And I've just watched you keep growing. I'm just like, so proud of you, truly. But yeah, I'm here. Ride or die. Yeah,

Chelsea:

That's what I love. That's what I love. Oh, wait, I will show, I will do something. Secretive. Hold on. Are, are people, can people see or just here?

Jordan:

We sometimes will we can clip sometimes but it's just like that's just choice things for socials They usually just hear but

Chelsea:

Okay. Well, I'm going to show something

Jordan:

okay,

Devonnie:

Okay, so this will be a clip. Okay.

Chelsea:

this is secret. So you only, you can only, no showing,

Jordan:

We won't show this. This is just for our

Chelsea:

Well, maybe, Oh,

Devonnie:

Oh.

Chelsea:

So this it's not, this is not the finished one. And I kind of, I showed the sketch in the Facebook group. This is the, this is the cover color that we're going with for power play. Can you see it? Hold on. It's really

Devonnie:

I can't see it. What's

Chelsea:

Oh, no, wait, wait,

Jordan:

Dev is gonna crawl through. Dev is gonna crawl through the

Chelsea:

wait, hold on, am I, this is the, hold on,

Devonnie:

Chelsea, please, figure it out. Figure

Chelsea:

figure it out, I know, lock it up, lock it up Chelsea, come on, come on, do something, wait,

Devonnie:

This is crazy.

Jordan:

has a heart attack on

Devonnie:

so Yeah, can you imagine? My Apple Watch is about to warn me of like AFib or

Chelsea:

well now I'm like, which of these fits the, cause of course my, um, I wonder if I turn the brightness down, hold on, maybe that will help.

Devonnie:

Oh, yeah, maybe. Or if you tap it.

Jordan:

or sometimes if you like

Devonnie:

Okay, okay.

Chelsea:

the color?

Devonnie:

No, I can't see the color. Oh interesting

Jordan:

it's like So cute. Yeah, I saw the sketch and it looks good.

Devonnie:

gonna look so good next to face off though. Like I love

Jordan:

imagine here. I'll put mine up here so you can see it next

Devonnie:

No, it's gonna look so good

Jordan:

Yeah

Devonnie:

Ooh, I love these.

Chelsea:

we, um, yeah, a little fun little pop of color there.

Devonnie:

I love that!

Chelsea:

yeah, yeah.

Devonnie:

Suckers, you guys didn't get to see it.

Jordan:

And you always have such great like your character art is so good

Chelsea:

love character. I will literally pay a thousand dollars for character art.

Jordan:

my

Chelsea:

I like it. Readers like it. It gets good engagement on Instagram, you know.

Jordan:

Yeah, so my daughter saw them and she's like, she, cause the package had just come and I was opening them up, and she's two and a half, and she goes, Oh, mama, who's that? And I was like, Oh, this is Emmy and Maverick, and I like, scroll to the, I like, look at the back, I'm like, okay, there's a sticky note over it, but I'm like, I don't know. I'm gonna take this one out. You don't get that one. Like

Chelsea:

Keep that one far away. This is a, this is one of Piper and Liam.

Jordan:

Oh,

Devonnie:

I will freak out! Stop! Liam! Daddy! Gold Daddy! Goalie Daddy, is that

Jordan:

Oh! And

Devonnie:

I am biting at the bars of my enclosure right now.

Chelsea:

yeah, they're um,

Devonnie:

that the woman over his shoulder? Oh my gosh, sorry,

Chelsea:

little tattoos.

Jordan:

you get to see his shoulders. Look at the shoulders. Man.

Devonnie:

the back, the back,

Jordan:

Is that a tattoo? That's a tattoo.

Devonnie:

Wow.

Chelsea:

a little hockey player.

Jordan:

Oh, listeners. Don't you wish this was a YouTube channel?

Devonnie:

right. You're just gonna have to wait until PowerPlate comes out.

Chelsea:

I love character art. I've liked character art for like eight books down the, down the line. I'm like, this book won't come out until 2026, but we're going to go ahead and just do some character art right now. So

Devonnie:

I love that. I love that. I

Jordan:

I love the style of them too. They're

Chelsea:

yes. Yeah. The, the people that do, you know, they're all so talented. And I remember someone was like, Did you draw these? I'm like, no, absolutely

Jordan:

Someone can only be so talented in so many

Devonnie:

Right, there's only so many things that

Chelsea:

Well, and like,

Devonnie:

skilled at

Chelsea:

what I admire about them is like, I'm like, um, this is what I'm in math, like, this is what I'm envisioning. And they're like, Oh, like this. And I'm like, that's literally what I'd stop my

Devonnie:

Exactly

Chelsea:

I would have driven, uh, drawn a stick figure. So,

Devonnie:

Yeah

Chelsea:

you know, you know, a

Jordan:

Well, thank you for that sneak peek.

Chelsea:

little parting. Parting of,

Devonnie:

that just

Chelsea:

yeah, goodbye, the goodbye present.

Devonnie:

And Chelsea, do you want to drop your socials real quick?

Chelsea:

Oh, yes, where am I? Instagram at authorchelseaCurto. Threads is the same. And I think my TikTok is at chelseareadsandwrites. I have two. I have one that is managed by somebody else. So that one is Author Chelsea Curto, and I think the one I manage is at Chelsea Reads and Writes as I'm looking on my Tiki Taki right now. Yes, Chelsea Reads and Writes. That's me.

Jordan:

Perfect.

Chelsea:

That is me.

Jordan:

Much. Thank you. Well, thanks everyone for listening to us ramble with Chelsea Curto. If you're looking for more romance Recs, let us know. Or more interviews in the future, because we do have some lined up. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Recs Pod. Also, you can find us over on our Discord server, Romance Recs. You can find our favorite book Recs from our episodes, as well as behind the scenes content, again, at Romance Recs Pod. So make sure to give us a follow, and we'll be back in a week or two, depending on when this comes out, with another episode.

Chelsea:

Thanks y'all.

Devonnie:

follow guys. Thanks for having us. Thanks for being here.

Chelsea:

Thanks for being here