Baked a brick. Wrote a baby pact.
Hi reader,
Just popping in before the year wraps up. I have a few fun things to share, and one question at the end that I’d love your thoughts on.
First off: Check out my first try at baking oat bread! It’s made with oats, seeds, a bit of salt, and baking powder. I think I added enough baking powder? It looks like a brick but tastes pretty good (and keeps my stomach happy. Histamine flares and gluten intolerance, anyone?).
Look how it turned out. The darker half has poppy seeds.
And once I started spending more time in my kitchen, it spiraled. Suddenly I was sanding down my table, re-oiling the knife block, and even a bathroom container for towels. It was messy and exhausting, but so worth it. There’s something about restoring things that makes you feel strangely better.
And somehow, doing all that shaped the way Holly’s character grew on the page. You might remember her from earlier updates. Holly is the 37-year-old heroine of my upcoming book “Nothing But Friends” (out May 2026). She’s stopped believing in love, but wants a baby, and ends up making a baby pact with her childhood best friend. Dexter.
She’s an interior designer, so don’t be surprised when you catch her reaching for wood oil, or Dexter describing the very specific smell it leaves behind when the furniture dries.
Segue? Yeah? No? I tried.
I’ve been working on the book for a long time (dad time took over this year), but it’s such a joy. I received the manuscript back from my editor, and now I have a few edges to smooth out. There’s always a bit of sanding left before the final shine.
Now, before I forget. I’d love to know something.
Most romance books focus on heroines in their early 20s. But writing a 37-year-old woman who knows what she wants (and doesn’t), who’s been through things, and who still wants more? I’d really love to keep writing heroines in their 30s, but I want to hear from you:
What age range do you enjoy most in romance heroines? Click and let me know.
Now for a little gift to wrap up the year.
“A Bossy Roommate” is part of the Stuff Your eReader promo on December 26, 2025. It includes a ton of romance books across Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and Nook.
Here’s how it works:
🌹 Visit www.romancebookworms.com
🌹 Pick your favorite genres
🌹 Download as many books as you want
To my audiobook lovers. If you download my ebook, good news: this title is Whispersync-enabled. In many Amazon stores, the audiobook is offered as an add-on at a small fraction of the usual cost.
Wishing you a cozy winter, however you’re spending it.
This has been a strange, emotional year with lots of trips back to my childhood home. It slowed me down in many ways. I’m grateful you’re still here.
Love,
Jolie Day