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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 09/06/2026

🥅 OUT NOW 🥅 Connection From Chicago is an MM hockey romance involving two goalies who develop their friendship (& more) over texting. There's humor, good food, and plenty of pining that slow burns into high heat! Available on Kindle/KU: a.co/d/0162wodk 📚🌶️💙 #MMRomance #BookSky #HockeyRomance

Graphic by Wendy Hawthorne announcing that Connection From Chicago, an MM hockey romance, is now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback.

Trope map for the book Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne. Tropes include: Goalie x Goalie, Texting romance, Slow burn, Yearning and longing, Knight in goalie armor, Hurt/comfort, No 3rd act breakup, Protective love interest. Book releases June 9th, 2026.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 27/05/2026

Let's meet the two main male characters starring in Connection From Chicago: James Harrison and Eric Sinclair, two professional hockey goaltenders. Preorder your copy of Connection From Chicago, a hockey MM romance, here: tinyurl.com/mr2xk5h7 📚🌶️💙 #MMRomance #BookSky #HockeyRomance

Meet James Harrison and take a peak at his search history: Eric Sinclair Best Goalie Saves, Hot to stop overthinking about everything, MM romantasy bestseller, How to tell your idol you're attracted to him, Eric Sinclair game worn jerseys for sale. Image features a blue background and a hockey puck with the title of the book "Connection From Chicago"

Eric Sinclair search graphic for Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne. Search text reads, "James Harrison hockey cards for sale; Chicago to Seattle Flights; Synthwave love songs playlist; Date night recipes to impress; Best romantic things to do in Seattle."

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 21/05/2026

Looking for your next spicy read for your summer TBR list? Consider my upcoming book: Connection From Chicago, an MM romance between two goalies who are looking for the person who will fulfill their deepest desires... Preorder here! tinyurl.com/mr2xk5h7 📚🌶️💙 #MMRomance #BookSky #HockeyRomance

Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne graphic. Text read, "There' jut Eric, the bed, and the carnal desire to surrender everything to a man I've lusted after as much as I've admired. My body belongs to him, made for his satisfaction, yearning to please. Features shirtless man cloaked partially in darkness.

Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne graphic. Text reads, "If I could make you see what I do when I look at you, I would do it in a heartbeat." Features the slope of a man's neck craning, partially in shadow.

Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne. Text reads, "Ever since I fell in love with his goaltending, I wanted to be just like Eric, a marvel on the ice, but in the bedroom... in the bedroom, I'd worship him in whatever way he would let me." Image features crumpled sheets cloaked in light and dark.

Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne graphic. Text reads, "I'd let him take charge of my desire and unravel me until I was mindless, craving his satisfaction with every fiber of my being." Image features a man's hand splayed over the bed.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 12/05/2026

Looking for a new read? What about something featuring... 🏒 Goalie x Goalie 🏒 Fanboy x the Man He Idolizes 🏒 Slow Burn 🏒 Light Dom/Sub dynamics 🏒 Epistolary Romance Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne releases June 9, 2026! Add it to your TBR today! 🌶️📚💙 #BookSky #MMRomance #HockeyRomance

Millennial Romance Author vs Gen Z Social Media Team meme featuring Connection From Chicago book by Wendy Hawthorne

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 06/05/2026

📞 Connection From Chicago - This is a friends to lovers dynamic told through an epistolary (texting) lens. Connection has multiple meanings in this title: as an emotional bond spanning space and time; as a central location people pass through for travel.

Put it all together... and you get cute, memorable titles with alliteration and flow!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 06/05/2026

📸 Snapshots in San Diego - Don't you ever wish you could jump back into a photo and relive a moment again? This is a best friends to lovers romance set over a weekend in San Diego. Features photography as a love language and themes of nostalgia, longing, and mutual pining!

Hockey life. NHL players travel across the world for work, never staying in one place for long. Imagine the homesickness!

Key verbs which speak to the book's themes which share the same first letter as the city where the story takes place!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 06/05/2026

Do you prefer books in a series to have a similar convention or theming with titles? Or do you prefer titles to be independent of one another? 🌶️📚💙 #BookSky #MMRomance #HockeyRomance Each of my Hearts in Play MM hockey books follow a similar convention:

Why are the Hearts in Play book titles based on locations?

My books are inspired by one of my favorite movies: Sleepless in Seattle, one of the best rom-coms ever made.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 29/04/2026

Connection From Chicago needs ARC Readers! Interested in an MM hockey romance between two goalies? What about a slow burn that builds into steamy heat with a dash of hurt/comfort? Then look no further! 🥅 Signup here: wendyhawthorne.com#arcsignup #BookSky #HockeyRomance #MMRomance #ARCReaders

Summary for Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne:

The NHL’s All-Star Weekend is my chance to play alongside the best of the best. For the first time in my goaltending career, I’ve not only been selected to participate, I’ve also been hand chosen to play on Eric Sinclair’s team.

Larger than life, Eric is the kind of goalie I aspire to become: a stalwart defender of the crease and a legend in the league who’s beloved by his team and fans. He’s my idol, my hero, and I can’t believe he wants to get to know me.

When Eric and I return to the regular season, we keep in touch, growing closer over texting. The man behind the helmet emerges. Even though I shouldn’t, I can’t help myself from falling in love with him, but I’m completely out of my depth. I’ve never even had a boyfriend before, and more than just physical distance separates us. Our two teams are on a collision course to meet in the playoffs. More than our postseason futures are on the line.

Funny how one weekend can change everything.

Trope map for Connection From Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne. Featured tropes include, Goalie x Goalie, Texting Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Yearning and Longing, Found Family, Knight in Goalie Armor, Self Care As a Love Language, Home Is A Person, Not A Place, No 3rd Act Breakup, and a Protective Love Interest. Find more information today on the author's website at wendyhawthorne.com

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 23/04/2026

CONNECTION FROM CHICAGO Releases June 9, 2026 An MM hockey romance featuring... 🥅 Goalie x Goalie 🥅 Slow Burn 🥅 Long distance friends to lovers 🥅 Epistolary Romance 🥅 Found Family Preorder 🔗: www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXMZFNNT #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

From the writing desk of Wendy Hawthorne comes a new MM hockey goaltender romance: Connection From Chicago (Hearts in Play #2). Book releases June 9, 2026 to Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. Cover image features a vector drawing of two goaltenders, one looks up to the left while the other faces the viewer. Preorder on Amazon Kindle today!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 19/04/2026

The last few days, I've gone downstairs to make coffee and found Penny sitting on the window pane watching the birds in our backyard. She's gotta stay up to date on her bird TV and all the drama going on in the bird world 😄

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 12/04/2026

Today's one of those curl up with a cup of coffee and look over the manuscript kind of days. I definitely fall into the stereotype of being a writer who prefers stormier days for the atmosphere. Have to enjoy them while they last since summer's just around the corner...

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 12/04/2026

This weekend I finished revamping my website and redoing my socials. Always fun to do some spring refreshing! 🌺

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 05/04/2026

Happy Easter! Hope you have a happy and wonderful day with your loved ones! I'm looking forward to a big serving of glazed ham as a special treat! 🤤

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 09/03/2026

The spring forward time change is pure evil, and I really wish it didn't exist year after year! Totally messes up my routine and makes the day go by so fast and yet so slow 😔

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 23/02/2026

I’ve always been a fan of the Winter Olympics since I was a kid. Can’t beat the cozy vibes! For me, this year’s games have been so special. Amazing stories across the world in figure skating and hockey. This was so exciting and thrilling to witness and be invested in. Time to go rewatch Miracle 😎

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 11/02/2026

Every time I get in the groove writing, I swear, that's when my cat Penny wants to play. I ended up picking up a new battery operated fish that makes her go crazy! She's happy, and I get to write without disruption 🥰🐈

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 08/01/2026

Do other writers keep track of their word count in this way? Does this help you? Does this hinder you? 🤔 I'd love to hear from other writers how you handle your writing goals.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 08/01/2026

Since 2021, I've tracked my annual word count. Each year, I've increased the amount and been able to reach my goal! 2025's total was over 230,000 words, spanning multiple projects. I'm proud to be able to surpass my original goal, and I'm excited to see what this year's writing count will look like!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 01/01/2026

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 is a great year for everyone! 💖🎉

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 26/11/2025

For a limited time, Snapshots in San Diego is on sale for Black Friday! Occu-pie yourself with a best friends to lovers MM romance you'll be thank-full to have read! 🥧🧡 Available here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

Black Friday Sale announcement from Wendy Hawthorne. Snapshots in San Diego is on sale for $2.99 from November 26 to December 2, 2025. Enjoy a summer hockey MM romance... all year long!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 27/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! Hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 26/11/2025

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 27/10/2025

Time to curl up and relax after a long weekend spent writing 💤🧡

Picture of a 1 year old cat named Penny who's a tabby-calico mix.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 14/10/2025

Start of the hockey season making you hungry for some hockey romance? Try my latest release: Snapshots in San Diego, which features a best friends to lovers dynamic. ⭐ Available here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

Image featuring the cover of Snapshots in San Diego by Wendy Hawthorne. Features a man cresting from the water with the title text overlaid above him. Tagline text reads: Two Best Friends, One Shared Dream. Book available now on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and paperback!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 12/10/2025

We've really been spoiled these past few days with some awesome hockey games. Despite the busy NHL schedule, I was still able to make great progress with my writing. Does anyone else work hard to balance their hobbies with their profession?

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 12/10/2025

So happy the Jets won today! Nail-biter game till the very end, though 😅

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 03/10/2025

So excited to really dig into the new music from The Midnight! I've been chomping at the bit single after single. Hoping the full album will provide tons of writing inspiration!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 30/09/2025

🧡 NEW RELEASE 🧡 Snapshots in San Diego, a hockey best friends to lovers MM romance, can now be read through Kindle & Kindle Unlimited, or as a paperback! 🏒 Available here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 25/09/2025

Snapshots in San Diego is a dual POV book! Introducing Gareth Galloway... 🏒 San Diego Starbirds forward ⭐ Shy, protective, and demisexual 💙 Would do anything for his best friend, Oliver Pre-Order: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

Promotion banner with a light minty green background for the book Snapshots in San Diego by Wendy Hawthorne. Banner features a quotation from the character Gareth Galloway which reads, "Yet there's nothing little about my love for Oliver. I used to be content with holding back my feelings, but it's getting harder and harder to keep everything contained as Oliver has started looking elsewhere for love." Book releases September 30, 2025.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 23/09/2025

Snapshots in San Diego is a dual POV book! Introducing Oliver Owen... 📸 Social Media Manager for the San Diego Starbirds ⭐ Former Hockey Player 💖 Madly in love with his best friend, Gareth Pre-Order: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 21/09/2025

Now for the hockey team I've been looking forward to seeing all summer... The Winnipeg Jets!! Go Jets go!! ✈️✈️✈️

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 21/09/2025

Hockey is back at last!! 🥳 I'm so excited to be able to join in with the fun from the very beginning of the season instead of catching it at the end. Go Stars!! ⭐⭐

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 18/09/2025

Summer may be coming to an end, but the love in the air is still sizzling hot! 🔥 Snapshots in San Diego is a best friends to lovers MM hockey romance, with a splash of spice and angst! Pre-Order Now: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

Trope Reveal banner featuring the cover of Snapshots in San Diego by Wendy Hawthorne and tags, including Best Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort, Size Difference, Social Media Manager x Hockey Player, Extrovert x Introvert. Features a man cresting from the water with the title text overlaid above him. Tagline text reads: Two Best Friends, One Shared Dream. Book releases September 30, 2025!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 16/09/2025

While it ranks a little lower than You’ve Got Mail for me, it still has the quintessential feel good cozy vibes I love in a rom-com. I totally cried at the end. They really don’t quite make movies like this anymore. Just reminds me I need to rewatch more romance dramas from the 90s!!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 16/09/2025

Watched Sleepless in Seattle last night for the first time as a rom-com enjoyer. It was far more tropey than I expected, especially with the soulmates/reincarnation angle. Loved that. You can really feel the roots of very common tropes people use nowadays in a film like this.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 15/09/2025

📸 COVER REVEAL 📸 Snapshots in San Diego! Best friends Oliver and Gareth are both in love with one another but have been afraid to take the next step in their relationship... until now. Pre-Order 🔗: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQYG7X24 #BookSky #MMRomance #IndieAuthors #HockeyRomance #RomanceAuthors

Cover Reveal banner featuring the cover of Snapshots in San Diego by Wendy Hawthorne. Features a man cresting from the water with the title text overlaid above him. Tagline text reads: Two Best Friends, One Shared Dream. Book releases September 30, 2025!

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 28/08/2025

Today I shared a fall update to my newsletter, including an announcement for something coming later this year 👀 Interested in learning more? Join my writer's circle for the latest news straight from the writing desk! Sign up here➡️ wendyhawthorne.com #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 14/08/2025

My plan with every book release is to share a little behind the scenes write up to chronicle my writing journey! You can read my post-release digest of The Rival on my blog! 🔗: wendyhawthorne.tumblr.com/post/7918019... #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 10/08/2025

Today is the 2 month anniversary of my debut book: The Rival! Featuring basketball boys, rivals to lovers, and a second chance at love, take the shot... slam dunk this book to your TBR pile! 🏀 Available here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC3QWCQ8 #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

Image description: Cover for "The Rival" by Wendy Hawthorne. "The Rival" is Book One of the At Last MM Romance series. Cover features a shirtless man holding a towel around his neck with a small smirk. Cover image is in black and white with a yellow complementary color. Banner announces that the book is now available on Amazon Kindle. End image description.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 23/06/2025

My debut book The Rival has been out for two weeks! 🎉 This story marks the first major milestone in my journey as an author, and I'm so happy folks are enjoying the first in the series! 🏀 Purchase your copy here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC3QWCQ8 #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

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Reposted by Wendy Hawthorne

Zath @rangerzath.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

I recently started reading short stories amidst my busy schedule. Can an author develop characters & build chemistry with a limited word count? That's the real challenge, & it's one not every author can achieve. The Rival by @wendyhawthorne.com nostalgiadepartment.com/post/7860752... #BookReview

Image description: Book Cover of The Rival by Wendy Hawthorne. Cover features a muscular man fresh from a workout with a towel around his neck. Text reads the book title alongside Spoiler Free Review by Zath NostalgiaDepartment.com. End image description.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 10/06/2025

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 10/06/2025

🏀 The Rival 🏀 Longtime basketball rivals must contend with more than just their feud when unexpected circumstances have them meeting each other off the court. ➡️ Purchase your copy here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC3QWCQ8 #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors #WendyHawthorne

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 08/06/2025

Only three days remain before The Rival, a rivals to lovers MM romance story, releases! If you're looking for something spicy to read poolside, be sure to preorder your copy today! ➡️ Preorder here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC3QWCQ8 #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

Image description: Excerpt snippet for "The Rival" by Wendy Hawthorne. "The Rival" is Book One of the At Last MM Romance series. Excerpt reads, "Some part of me had always wanted the opportunity to get my hands on a guy in a context other than basketball, but I never once thought the chance would play out like this: naked in a shower with my longtime rival." Banner announces that the book will release on June 10, 2025. End image description.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 05/06/2025

Start off your summer with a steamy read featuring... ☀️ Forced Proximity 🏀 A dom x sub power dynamic ☀️ Second changes at romance and love 📙 The Rival releases on June 10, 2025! Preorder your copy here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC3QWCQ8 #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

Image description: Trope map reveal for "The Rival" by Wendy Hawthorne. "The Rival" is Book One of the At Last MM Romance series. Cover features a shirtless man holding a towel around his neck with a small smirk. Cover image is in black and white with a yellow complementary color. Trope map features the following: Dom x Sub, Second Chances (bolded), Forced Proximity, "Short King" x Guy Who's 1 Inch Taller Than Him, First Time, Basketball Boys, Rivals to Lovers (bolded), and Love at First Hate. Banner announces that the book will release on June 10, 2025. End image description.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 02/06/2025

✨ COVER REVEAL ✨ Sparks fly when a sore loser and a gloating victor collide after their league's championship basketball game... 🧡 Basketball Boys 🏀 Rivals to Lovers 🧡 Second Chances at Love 📙 The Rival releases June 10, 2025! #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

Image description: Cover reveal for "The Rival" by Wendy Hawthorne. "The Rival" is Book One of the At Last MM Romance series. Cover features a shirtless man holding a towel around his neck with a small smirk. Cover image is in black and white with a yellow complementary color. Banner announces that the book will release on June 10, 2025. End image description.

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 29/05/2025

Today the editor, aka my cat Penny, was very insistent on playing while I was trying to get through a scene for an upcoming manuscript 😅 Thankfully she made a deal: a little bit of play with her favorite mouse in exchange for some time to write without distraction 💜

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 20/05/2025

The first issue of my newsletter as an indie MM romance author is now live! Subscribe today to learn about my upcoming book release coming this summer... and a teaser for what's next! 💜 ➡️ wendyhawthorne.com #BookSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 18/05/2025

I've finished finalizing my newsletter! It'll be going live next week, and I have exciting news! 👀 If you're a fan of MM romance novels, sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date on the latest news regarding my writing! wendyhawthorne.com #WriteSky #IndieAuthors #MMRomance #RomanceAuthors

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Wendy Hawthorne @wendyhawthorne.com · 16/05/2025

For the past five years, I've kept track of my yearly word count. I've been fortunate to reach it year after year. I've written just about 10k words this week alone. Go figure making big decisions about your latest project can be very inspiring! 💜 #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors

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