🍯🌺 Help! My characters just made me blush in my own interview.

Hey there, person privvy to my interview regrets.

So... funny story about why I'm sweating through my keyboard right now. I may have thought interviewing Max and Lily would be a great idea.

You know, "professional author doing professional things" and all that jazz.

NARRATOR: It was not professional.

Well. It definitely went a little sideways. But I'll let you be the judge.

Interview of Max and Lily from Grumpfest​

​

Me: Let's start with something simple. How would you describe working together?

Lily: "It's been an interesting adjustment period. The Sunblades' community engagement has really—"
​Max: "She means she won't stay off my ice."
​Lily: professional smile only slightly strained "The ice belongs to the team, grumpy. And someone has to make sure you don't terrify the media."
​Max: "Worked on you, didn't it?"
​Lily: "Your glaring? Please. I eat grumpy hockey players for breakfast."
​Max: dangerous smirk "That a promise, sunshine?"
Me: suddenly very interested in reorganizing my note cards

Me: Right! Um, the charity calendar exceeded expectations. Any thoughts on that success?

Lily: "The adoption rates have been incredible. Almost every animal found a home, even little Zeus with the ridiculous—"
​Max: "He's not ridiculous."
​Lily: freezing mid-sentence "Wait. Why would you say that?"
​Max: slight smirk "Maybe I kept tabs on the runt."
​Lily: "Max Harrison, did you actually—"
​Max: "He needed someone who understands being underestimated."
​Lily: soft smile spreading "You big softie—"
​Max: glower "Sunshine..."
​Me: pretending not to notice Lily's eyes getting suspiciously bright

Me: Speaking of surprises... um, how do you handle unexpected situations?

Lily: "In PR, you have to be ready for anything—"
​Max: "Like finding your PR manager practicing figure skating at midnight?"
​Lily: eyes narrowing "Or finding your star defenseman's edges need serious work?"
​Max: voice dropping "My edges are perfect."
​Lily: "That's not what I noticed during our... technique session."
​Max: "Want another demonstration?"
​Me: considering whether this interview was a terrible idea

Me: clearing throat Let's talk about the youth hockey clinic program...

Lily: "It's been wonderful seeing the players connect with—"
​Max: "Thompson here can't stay in the PR box where she belongs."
​Lily: "Someone has to make sure you don't traumatize the children."
​Max: "Funny, they seem to like my coaching style just fine."
​Lily: softly "Yeah, they do. Almost as much as they like your hidden smile."
​Max: warning growl "Lily..."
​Me: studiously ignoring the charged look between them

Me: And what about team building activities?

Lily: "We have several initiatives planned—"
​Max: "She means forced bonding sessions."
​Lily: "You seemed pretty bonded with that reporter from the Sentinel."
​Max: dangerous smile "Jealous, sunshine?"
​Lily: "Of your charming personality? Hardly."
​Max: "Your pulse says different."
​Me: suddenly very invested in my coffee cup

Me: ahem The team's media presence has increased significantly...

Lily: "Social engagement is up 200% since—"
​Max: "Since she started stalking me with a camera."
​Lily: "I do not stalk! I strategically document."
​Max: "From behind potted plants?"
​Lily: "That was ONE time, and you were avoiding the ESPN crew—"
​Max: "I have other talents besides talking."
​Lily: under breath "Don't I know it..."
​Me: choking on aforementioned coffee

Me: Let's discuss upcoming community events—

Lily: "We have several appearances scheduled—"
​Max: "Voluntold appearances."
​Lily: "The children's hospital visit is mandatory, grumpy."
​Max: "Like your mandatory PR box attendance?"
​Lily: flushing "Someone has to keep you in line during games."
​Max: "That what you're doing up there? Keeping me in line?"
​Me: wondering if the AC is broken

Me: loosening collar The fans seem to love your... um, dynamic...

Lily: "Fan engagement has been very positive—"
​Max: "They love watching her chase me down hallways."
​Lily: "I do not chase! I... efficiently pursue."
​Max: "With a clipboard weapon."
​Lily: "That was also only ONE time, and you deserved it."
​Max: smirking "Did I?"
​Lily: "You hid from team photos in the equipment room!"
​Max: "Yet you found me anyway."
​Me: contemplating if it's unprofessional to fan myself with my notebook

Me: One final question—how would you describe your professional relationship?

Lily: "It's a work in progress—"
​Max: "Like her definition of 'staying in her lane.'"
​Lily: "Says the man who can't follow simple media protocols."
​Max: "I follow protocols."
​Lily: "Glaring isn't a protocol!"
​Max: leaning closer "Works on you."
​Lily: "In your dreams, Harrison."
​Max: dangerous smile "Careful what you wish for, sunshine."
​Me: gathering papers with shaking hands And that's all we have time for today! Thank you both for... um... whatever this was.

Later, in my notes:​
✓ Buy stronger deodorant
✓ Install better AC in interview room
✓ Never sit between a grumpy hockey player and his PR manager again
✓ Maybe consider a nice, boring job... like alligator wrestling

Life News

Speaking of feeling hot and bothered (but for completely different reasons), YOUR GIRL IS OFFICIALLY IN WEDDING PANIC MODE!

My son gets married THIS SUNDAY, and I have some updates:

• The Great Plum Pants Incident of 2025 has been resolved (returned those bad boys, because lumpy human fruit bowl I am not)
• Spent Sunday in a shopping frenzy that would make Lily proud
• Found the winning outfit! (No, Max, I will not tell them what it is yet)
• Currently accepting thoughts and prayers as I attempt to lose 50 pounds in checks notes five days

Bookish News

In between panic-trying on outfits and my characters making me blush, I do have some bookish news!

We've got a Hockey Hotties collection now live, featuring some seriously swoony players who might even give Max a run for his money. (Don't tell him I said that.)

I also have some news on launching my own wee little Bees & Blooms Bookstore, where you will soon be able to buy my books directly from Yours Truly, instead of lining Big Amazon and other retailer giants' pockets, should you so desire.

And ☝🏻...

I have (nebulously) decided to rejoin Ream. Ream is a platform similar to Patreon, but built for authors and readers. (Way more intuitive and easy to read stuff on!)

My thought is to hopefully begin offering exclusive early release chapters there for current WIPs, for those who love the raw and not quite ready stuff.

Also, a Kickstarter is coming down the pipeline, for pretty GRUMPFEST hardcovers!

But you'll have to stay tuned for more info on that. This email is already hella long! (Good thing you're a reader. 😎) Ooh! I've even got some cute character art made! But you'll have to reply and tell me if you wanna see it.​

Yours in interview-induced fluster,

P.S. If anyone needs me, I'll be alternating between wedding outfit alterations and cold showers after that interview. And nab GRUMPFEST on preorder if you haven't yet! Though after that interview, I might need to push back prime time... Max clearly isn't ready for polite society.

P.P.S. No, Max, I will not be wearing plum to the wedding. Stop smirking. Some of us have standards.

P.P.S.S. Don't forget the Tampa Florida Book Signing: Tickets are on sale NOW, happening July 2025! Tell me you're coming!

P.S.S. Be sure to check out MOARRR book recs and promos below!

fake dating the defenseman next door By Coco Elliot He needs donuts. She needs a date. Their deal is temporary but their love might be forever… A sweet and steamy multicultural hockey romance novella featuring a superstitious cinnamon roll professional athlete who falls first for the curvy woman who'd harbored a secret schoolgirl crush on him. READ NOW

her grumpy boss By Adele Knight When a spicy book reviewer meets her real-life book boyfriend.​ ​ Dirty books are my life. But just because I work with the epitome of the grumpy-boss trope doesn't mean I want to tempt my grumpy boss into reenacting my favorite spicy book scenes. READ NOW

Grumpfest By Honey Mavryck He’s the grump with a broken past. She’s the sunshine that might just save him—if his baggage doesn't destroy them first. I don’t do smiles. I don’t do team bonding, calendar shoots, or charity events. I play hockey. I stay out of the spotlight. After what happened, I learned one thing: never get close enough to get burned. PREORDER NOW ALL RETAILERS

billionaire's bookworm By Luna Rose Never judge a book by its cover! Enter Wade James: rich, brooding, and as out of place in Emma's cozy world as a shark at a pool party. ​ ​A rom-com cocktail of forced proximity and second chances, served with a side of beachside charm. READ NOW

All images below lead to author book events I am participating in or hosting on Bookfunnel.

LOOKING FOR MORE? ​ ALL BOOKS BY MAV SUPER SECRET BONUS CONTENT

“I’d rather fight with you than make love with anyone else.”

— The Wedding Date

Psst! Okay, so you made it to the end, but... could you see any of the pretty pictures?

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