Get to Know Julie Archer
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For Sophie, crushing on her best friend’s brother was old news, and Max never stopped thinking about what could be even though his sister’s best friend was off-limits. When they find themselves at a destination wedding, does their first kiss end up being their last? Readers will devour this best friend’s sibling romance from Julie Archer. The Holiday Springs Resort series open for the holidays and DEAL BREAKER is live on 10/30!
What is your favorite part of winter? Did you try to evoke that feeling into your story?
Honestly? I’m not a big fan of winter…so writing a story in that season presented a challenge! Being based in the UK, our winters tend to be wet and damp, rather than chilly and snowy, which made having an imaginary resort such as Holiday Springs meant it was easier to show winter in a good way! Oh, and I’m also a fan of hot chocolate with whipped cream and a chocolate flake…
Does writing as a part of a multi-author series make it easier for you to tell the character’s story or do you feel more constrained by the limitation?
For the Holiday Springs series, we had our own tropes to work with, which made it easier to tell the characters stories. The hardest part was picking the characters from the other stories to feature in my book. Given my story centres around a wedding and one of the other authors wrote about the resort’s events planner, it ended up being easier than anticipated. It helps to have other authors to bounce ideas off and come up with certain things which we’ll all feature at some point.
Have your parents read your books? Or would that be too awkward for you? I couldn’t imagine my father ever reading a sex scene that I wrote!
My stepmum reads all of my books first and then deems which of them would be suitable for my dad to read. I’ve been publishing since 2016 (7 novels and 10 novellas) and, to date, I don’t think my dad has ever read one! He much prefers to read thrillers and detective stories – maybe one day I’ll write one for him!
Have you ever gone on a writing retreat? Or do you simply stay in the confines of your own home? Or perhaps you have a she-shed?
Yes! The lovely Charlie at Urban Writers Retreats runs an absolutely fabulous residential retreat in Devon. When I lived in Reading, Berkshire, I’d go there a couple of times a year and spend a few days doing nothing but writing (and eating cake, there is always cake at Charlie’s retreats). I met two of my author besties there and would highly recommend! I wrote The Six-Week Single Dad when I last went on a retreat there in 2018. I don’t go there quite as often any longer – partly because I now only live less than an hour away – and hole up in our spare room, where I have a writing corner. I would totally love a she-shed though – maybe one day!
Did you edit anything out of this book that you really loved but it just didn’t work for this story? Can you tell us or are you saving it for a bonus?
No – for once I had a proper outline (I’m typically a pantser) which meant there were no bonus scenes or things which didn’t fit. Most of my other manuscripts have that ‘bonus’ folder of things that can be used elsewhere, but Deal Breaker didn’t!
With this series taking place in the winter, did you do anything special to get in the winter mood per se, or did you write the story during the winter?
I wrote Deal Breaker in May during lockdown. Here in the UK we experienced some of our most amazing hot and sunny weather for that time of year. So I was trying to write a story in a season I’m not particularly fond of, in the middle of a heatwave! Although there is a scene in which Sophie ends up outside in less clothing than she’d like on a freezing cold November morning…I really had to work to get that right.
A fall destination wedding with friends to break up the monotony of adulting? Yes, please!
It all sounded like fairy-tale bliss until Sophie remembered her best friend’s brother was going to be a groomsman. She’d been in love with Max since high school. Autumn had deemed Sophie’s crush on her brother as “gross” and vetoed any further talk about it – ever. Would it be wrong for a girl to hope for a little fun with the hottest guy in the bridal party?
When a little too much booze and a game of truth or dare the night before the big wedding has Sophie planting a giant kiss on Max’s lips – and him running as fast as he could to barf after – she’s certain the two of them don’t stand a chance.
Sophie was off-limits for Max but that didn’t stop him from fantasizing about her. While his word was normally his vow, his attraction wouldn’t be denied.
For years, Max had dreamt of how their first kiss might be. Although he had imagined it countless ways, never did he picture it being alcohol-fuelled. His stomach lurched and he rushed to the bathroom to puke his guts out. What should’ve been an incredible greeting became yet another embarrassing experience.
Now not only did Max have a massive hangover to deal with, he had to figure out a way to undo the mess he’d made with the one girl he ever really wanted.
Was their first kiss their last or can Max convince Sophie it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker?
Escape to the romantic paradise of Holiday Springs and warm up with your next happily ever after.
About the Holiday Springs Resort Series
Nestled deep in the mountains of Pennsylvania, Holiday Springs Resort promises to bring the heat this winter!
Join Forever Write PR and seven amazing authors as they take to the slopes on the adventure of a lifetime and find their happily ever afters.
From hot bartenders to brooding exes, Holiday Springs Resort is the place to be. Each story features a brand new couple and a fun trope to love from our amazing line up of authors including: second chance romance and best friend’s sibling to jilted brides and friends to lovers. Your holiday wonderland won’t be complete without a widower, office, and enemies to lovers romance.
We’ve got a remarkable line of up must-read romance authors including, A.M. Williams, Julie Archer, Kim Bailey, Moni Boyce, S.E. Rose, Stacey Lewis, and B. Ivy Woods.
Follow the Holiday Spring Resort series on Facebook for more on release dates, cover reveals, and exclusive book news!
This series and all promotional events are brought to you by Forever Write PR – Forever your source for all your writing needs.
About Julie Archer
Julie Archer is the author of contemporary romance featuring rock stars, small towns, a healthy dose of angst, some steamy times, and always a happy ever after!
When not writing, she can usually be found binge-watching teen drama series on Netflix, or supporting Spurs (the English Premier League football team, not the American basketball team!) from my armchair, and running around after her two feline children, Corey and Elsa.
Real angst. Real romance.
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