Off the Mark, page 34
And it was all ours.
Loving Charlie, and being loved by her, was the greatest gift I'd ever been given.
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WHAT TO READ NEXT?
You can read Dean and Tabitha’s sweet, steamy love story in ON THE ROPES – this friends-to-lovers/grumpy-sunshine romance is free in KU!
(Their book takes place two years before OFF THE MARK)
If you loved OFF THE MARK and are looking for a book of mine with a similar vibe, I can highly recommend NOT THE MARRYING KIND. The cocky, tattooed bad boy falls hard for the marriage-obsessed good girl in this steamy standalone. Free in KU!
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear reader,
Thank you for reading OFF THE MARK – I hope you were as obsessed with Rowan and Charlie’s love story as I clearly was!
Dirt bike racing is an incredible feat of strength and skill, and after months of research into this sport I remain in awe of their amazing abilities. I want to say a huge thank you to my friend Audio Dan who provided truly valuable input and background on motocross, the fans and the very real issues and injuries that make this such a challenging sport. Just a note that for this story – and for plot and pacing purposes – I either changed or invented certain aspects of competitive racing to move the story along. Most notably – motocross races are thirty minutes along with two bonus laps…which was not the case in this book.
I also want to thank my beta reader Jodi and my baseball-loving-husband Rob for all their help in the fine details of Rowan’s baseball background. The issues faced by Rowan in his minor league career (low pay, lack of quality housing) are very real and after a lot of hard work, Minor League baseball players have officially unionized and will be advocating for better working conditions. I like to think Rowan would be proud.
If it’s not obvious by now, I can’t get enough of writing friends-to-lovers romances, but jam-packed full of fraught history and enough sexual tension to power a jet engine. Friends are one thing. Friends with history – flirty, charming, tender history – could inspire me for years.
And Rowan and Charlie had a lot of flirty history. From the moment that hunky playboy Rowan swaggered onto the page in the opening scenes of ON THE ROPES, my heart went uh-oh. Because yes, I’m obsessed with sexy friendships but there’s something about the confident, cocky hero (who never stays the night!) falling so damn hard for his soul-mate that he literally doesn’t know what to do with himself. For all of Rowan’s smooth-talking ways, he is at his core, just a nice boy from South Philly who wants to make his community better.
So of course I had to pair him up with a bad-ass biker babe who couldn’t care less about his sexual advances (or so she says…) If writing Rowan was my everything, writing Charlie was everything and then some. Charlie’s tough, fearless facade was as enjoyable to explore as her inner, secret wounds – her loneliness, her lack of community, her fear of vulnerability (which matched Rowan’s in every way).
I’ve been lucky enough to write athletes (current and former) in a few of my books now and have learned so much about how we monetize bodies, the way we place performance over autonomy, the unique way in which these careers can be flashy and yet deeply, deeply lonely. It was a joy to bring together Rowan’s lost dreams with Charlie’s current ones, knowing that their friendship was stronger because they understood the unique pain and pleasure of having their bodies not feel fully their own.
What an absolute dream these two were – their voices and banter, their strengths and flaws, spilled out of me with ease. It wasn’t that writing this book was easy – they’re never easy – but these two demanded their story and I was so happy they chose me to tell it.
I’ve got a lot of favorite scenes and moments, including: Rowan and Charlie’s silly ‘can I get you to smile’ game; when Rowan says “we were always doing things for each other back at Jolene’s, weren’t we?”; every scene exploring the night Rowan hurt his shoulder and Charlie sat with him while he cried; hand-holding practice at the shitty suburban bar; that first kiss, when Rowan told Charlie he never had to pretend to worship her and Charlie finally kisses him!; Alice giving Charlie the good-luck charm; Dean giving Rowan shit about making all those glitter signs; Charlie being so nervous about meeting Rowan’s family that she buys too many bouquets; Charlie’s dad saying go get ‘em tiger before her big win; THE BASEBALL SCENE OH MY GOD; Rowan saving the kitten from the tree…
Whew, okay that’s enough of me proving yet again how feral these two made me feel!
Part of that feral intensity has to do with the dedication in the front of this book – those in know will recognize those lines from the last episode of HBO’s queer pirate romantic comedy, ‘Our Flag Means Death’, which I was obsessed with for the entirety of plotting and writing this book. It would take a lifetime for me to explain what that show means to me – from queer joy, to authenticity, to gender expression and tender vulnerability and expansive gay love and just everything.
But it also taught me a vital, vital lesson — our stories deserve to be told, no matter if others declare them too strange or niche or not ‘marketable’ or too weird. There are fans for every story and in this world it is our right to take up as much brilliant space as possible. Rowan and Charlie are both straight, and yet as a queer person I know that this story is my most authentic yet. I know that this story feels like me in ways I can’t fully explain.
Though I guess that’s why I’m so very happy you read this book. So here’s to getting – and staying – free. Go roam, my darlings. This world is yours for the taking.
Love,
Kathryn
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
OFF THE MARK wouldn’t exist without the support of my writing community:
For Faith, my best friend, story editor and the most bad-ass babe around! You were as obsessed with Rowan and Charlie as I was and working on this book with you was even more fun than usual. I’m counting down the days until we get our matching best friend tattoos. Love you, roomie!
For Jessica Snyder, my story and line editor, whose ability to put together all the missing puzzle pieces in a plot continues to amaze me. Thank you for getting Rowan and Charlie right from the start and understanding what they needed to make their characters truly shine.
For my beta readers – Jodi, Julia and Bronwyn – thank you for your continued friendship, guidance and romance wisdom! The beta editing process can be intense and emotional and you three walk me through it gracefully every single time. I couldn’t do it without you.
For the Hippie Chicks (the coolest biker babes around!!), Tim, Rick and Dan (the best publishers a girl could ask for), Joyce and Tammy (the literal best) and the community of authors who support me, listen to me vent and know exactly what I’m going through (Lucy, Stephanie, LJ, Avery, Claire and Pippa)...this writing gig would be so lonely without this found family of romance-lovers, writers and readers. I’m so grateful every single day that I know you.
As always for Rob, my real-life romance hero and the husband that still makes me laugh, blush and feel fluttery even twelve years after we first met. You have always made me feel like my freest, most authentic self. Roaming this world together has been the greatest gift I’ve ever received.
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ABOUT KATHRYN
I'm an adventurous hippie chick that loves to write steamy romance. My specialty is slow-burn sexual tension with plenty of witty dialogue and tons of heart.
I started my writing career in elementary school, writing about Star Wars and Harry Potter and inventing love stories in my journals. And I blame my obsession with slow-burn on my similar obsession for The X-Files.
I'm a born-and-raised Philly girl, but left for Northern California right after college, where I met my adorably-bearded husband. After living there for eight years, we decided to embark on an epic, six-month road trip, traveling across the country with our little van, Van Morrison. Eighteen states and 17,000 miles later, we're back in my hometown of Philadelphia for a bit... but I know the next adventure is just around the corner.
When I'm not spending the (early) mornings writing steamy love scenes with a strong cup of coffee, you can find me outdoors -- hiking, camping, traveling, yoga-ing.
BOOKS BY KATHRYN
STRICTLY PROFESSIONAL
Edward Cavendish III and Roxy Quinn couldn’t be more different. He’s a polite, wealthy hotelier from England. She’s a scowling, bad-ass tattoo artist. But when a night of heartbreak brings them together, their chemistry – and connection – is electrifying. Seeing each other romantically is not an option – until they meet again under strictly professional circumstances.
NOT THE MARRYING KIND
Fiona plans to be married to her soul mate by the time she turns 30. Unfortunately, she agrees to plan a benefit concert with Max, a cocky bad boy who swears he will never settle down. But when romantic sparks fly between these two friends, will they let their rules get in the way of true love?
BOHEMIAN
Shy, nerdy Calvin inherits his grandfather’s bookstore in funky Big Sur, but has no idea whether to sell the bookstore – or take on the challenge of keeping the store’s literary legacy alive. When a bohemian-style photo shoot brings famous super model Lucia Bell to Big Sur, sparks fly between these two total opposites.
LANDSLIDE
Gabe Shaw has the perfect life in Big Sur. He’s the third-generation-owner (and bartender) at The Bar, the only place in this funky small town where the quirky locals can drink in peace. A hopeless romantic, Gabe’s only lacking one thing: his soul mate. And when a sudden storm traps a sexy, funny make-up artist named Josie in Big Sur, one night of searing passion turns into much more. Too bad Josie doesn’t believe in falling in love.
RIPTIDE
Avery Dacosta is an ambitious property developer, intent on building a luxury hotel on Playa Vieja’s last untouched beach. And she has no time for Finn Travis, the laid-back, hippie surfer who decides to protest this hotel – and her workplace – every day. Unfortunately, Finn’s not only the most aggravating man she’s ever met – but sexy as hell. Can these two enemies-turned-lovers ever find a middle ground?
SEXY SHORTS (VOLUME 1)
A sweet, dirty collection of fourteen sexy short stories.
BEHIND THE VEIL
Private detective Delilah Barrett is entirely unprepared for her new assignment: hunt down a stolen rare manuscript that's hidden within Philadelphia's glamorous high society. The only catch? Delilah must go undercover as a fake married couple with her new partner Henry Finch -- a devastatingly handsome librarian. But as the danger intensifies...so does the temptation to let their fake desire become real.
UNDER THE ROSE
To infiltrate a secret society, private detective Freya Evandale and FBI agent Sam Byrne must go undercover as a pair of thieves in a dangerous world of shifting alliances. But can these lifelong rivals close the case…without falling in love?
IN THE CLEAR
While chasing a famous book thief in London, two private detectives work together while dodging danger at every turn. But can aloof, serious Abe and charming, mysterious Sloane resist their instant attraction to one another? Or will passionate temptation risk this case – and their careers?
WILD OPEN HEARTS
Luna’s cheerful, hippie reputation is ruined when her billion-dollar company is caught in a scandal. And only a burly, dog-rescuing biker can help her. As these opposites give in to their electrifying attraction – will their differences keep them apart? Or will they learn to trust their wild hearts?
ON THE ROPES
Former pro boxer Dean Knox-Morelli is shocked when his new neighbor is Tabitha Tyler – his childhood friend and the woman he’s had a secret crush on for years. But when flirty filmmaker Tabitha tries to tempt Dean into a sexy, summer fling, will he finally get the girl? Or will she only pack her bags and leave him heartbroken?
OUT OF THE BLUE
When famous surfer Serena Swift is provided a bodyguard by her new corporate sponsor, she’s pissed to find it’s her ex-husband, Cope McDaniels, tasked with keeping her safe. But these two ex-lovers soon find themselves in the midst of corporate espionage, and the only thing more dangerous than the secrets they uncover is letting the simmering sparks of their second-chance-attraction burst into flames.
RIVAL RADIO
Popular radio host Daria Stone despises her romance-obsessed adversary, Dr. Theo Chadwick. But when these workplace rivals are forced to share an on-air timeslot to save their radio station, will their sparks burn everything to the ground? Or can they play nice and save the day…without falling in love?
OFF THE MARK
When dirt bike racer Charlie needs a reputation fix before the biggest race of her career, she asks her friend Rowan – cocky ex-baseball player and flirty playboy – to fake date her for the cameras. But what happens when Charlie falls for the one man she knows will break her heart?
Kathryn Nolan, Off the Mark
