Building a Continuity...On the Beach ~ @AuthorKristina Knight

Courtesy: Kristina Knight

I've always had a love affair with the ocean. I think it comes from being land-locked most of my life. During the summer months, my parents would pack up the family van and we'd go from being land-locked Midwesterners to visiting my great-grandmother and the rest of the family in coastal North Carolina...and usually take several days to visit the Outer Banks.

I would imagine, as soon as we crossed the North Carolina state line that I could smell the ocean and hear the crashing of the waves. I could never wait to sink my toes into the sand and I didn't even mind (too much) the sunburn that always came because I never wanted to go back to the little house behind the sand dunes.

As an adult, I still have a love affair with the beach. I still love the smell of the sea, the sound of the surf...and every chance I get, I'm heading south, looking for long stretch of beach and the hot sun.

Last winter, while I was bemoaning the fact that I was stuck inside because of yet another snow storm, I was rescued by the beach once more. Only this time, I was swept away by a beach-side romance. A trio of them, actually. My good friend, Elley Arden asked me to be part of the Sullivan's Sons continuity. It's a set of three books, following three brothers as they navigate a family secret, tabloid press, and (of course) love. While the snow kept falling, I lost myself in pictures and maps of the real-world Anna Maria Island, where we set the books.

It's been a pleasure being part of this series, and I hope you readers enjoy the books as much as we enjoyed writing them!

Buy Home on Anna Maria Island: Gavin Sullivan, an out-of-shape third baseman for the Pittsburgh Privateers, pursues a beautiful up-and-coming curve model as a distraction from recent stress in his family life. Emerson Raye isn’t interested in a relationship, but she wouldn’t mind capitalizing on the publicity that goes along with dating a professional athlete. Right off the bat, Gavin and Emerson’s budding relationship prompts a media frenzy, but harsh criticism about their weight follows. It might not seem like the best environment for love, but facing the adversity and learning to laugh through the storm brings Gavin and Emerson together in a seemingly inevitable way … until secrets revealed threaten to tear them apart.

Buy Lost on Anna Maria Island: Florida Warriors star defensive end, Colby Sullivan, is the best in the business, but since his parents dropped the news that he has a biological twin sister, he’s been on his heels. He feels like he’s in the middle of a cover defense with no one backing him on the strong side. A flirtation with the girl next door is the perfect distraction, but all too soon she’s way past his defenses and heading for a touchdown that his heart just isn’t ready for.

Madalyn Hunter understands football, cover defenses, and option offenses, but dealing with sneaky paparazzi, her sister’s obsession with the perfect wedding, and Colby’s not-friend-like kisses has her ready to throw a Hail Mary. It’s fourth and goal with love on the line, but can Madalyn teach this star defender that the best way to protect his heart is to give it to her?

Buy Found on Anna Maria Island: Hockey star Lucas Sullivan’s world is rocked by the news of a long-
lost sister, and his play takes a hard check right in the middle of playoffs. Luckily, the new surf instructor on Anna Maria Island has a willing ear, a supportive shoulder, and a pretty spectacular everything else.

Skylar Avery arrives on Anna Maria with a secret. She’s not just the newest addition to the Surf Shack. Her adopted sister Scarlet is the missing daughter the Sullivans are searching for. She gets to know Luc as a means to know the rest of the family and decide if they’re good enough for Scarlet. Falling for the handsome hockey player wasn’t in the plan. Coming clean would mean ruining everything. Can real love make up for well-meaning lies?

Kristina Knight is a contemporary romance author, part-time swim-kid wrangler, and full-time Thin Mints enthusiast. You can find out more the book and Kristina on her website, and feel free to stalk follow her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

#WriteTip: Make Your Own Space

Kristina Knight's summer workspace: swim practice!

Follow a few authors on Instagram or Pinterest, and you'll find all kinds of writing and reading space boards. There are the pictures of amazing European and Asian libraries, DIY hacks to create the perfect office in everything from spare bedrooms to a small corner of the living room. Some authors have office spaces in renovated garages or backyard sheds. I saw one DIY project that involved a gazebo and butterfly bushes and lightning bugs...I'm still not sure how they trained the lightning bugs to stay in that particular area.

I don't write in any of those places, although I do have an office (in a spare bedroom of our house) with an actual door that actually closes (not that anyone bothers to stop at the closed door). But nine times out of ten, I don't write in there. This summer, most of my writing has been done at our YMCA pool because bebe made the swim team. That's my Apple Keyboard right up there, with a view to her favorite lane. I've written at our library, our Starbucks, on our back deck and in our living room, too, depending on my mood.

Because I write in so many different places, I thought it would be fun to ask some other writers where they get down to the business of writing books. Here's what they had to say:

Historical romance author Sharon Cullen said, "I don’t have an office and to be honest, while I’d love one, I don’t think I’d use it. I write in my recliner. LOL. I’ve trained myself to block out the TV and anything else going on. Up until last week (when we painted the room) I had research books piled up next to my chair and had created a mini-office. Now I’m trying to be a little more organized. I do plan on creating my own office once one of the kids moves out and I can snag their room. But I think I’ll always prefer my recliner."

Constance Phillips' - ready for writing!

"I have a spare bedroom in my home that is a designated office space. It's decorated with a lot of my favorite things, and I have a large monitor on my desk that I can plug my laptop into.  I think it works best because it's comfortable, quiet (if I want it to be) and my space," said Constance Phillips, contemporary and paranormal romance author.

Contemporary romance author Nicole Flockton writes in a variety of places, "I don't have a designated office. I have a desk set up in the corner of the living room and I usually write there," said Nicole. "I wear headphones and listen to a writing playlist that I've added to over the last couple years. Being summer I've also taken to writing at the roller rink when I take the kids to give them something to do."

"I prefer to write in my office, with the door closed, and with music playing softly in the background. For some reason, it acts like a time warp, and I get lost in the writing and get much more done," said Elley Arden, contemporary romance author.

Jill Kemerer's office - aren't those folders awesome?

Inspirational romance author Jill Kemerer goes the office route, too, and don't you love those folders!
I need some like that! "I write in a spare bedroom with oodles of fun office supplies in the closet. I have a large desk to spread out my planner, essential files and notes, and the door is usually open, unless l'm frazzled," said Jill.

"I have a home office but I never use it because it only  has 1 little window. I like to write anywhere that is bright and quiet. Generally that means I end up in my living room because it's full of windows, gets an amazing breeze in the summer, and a glorious nature view wherever I look. Sometimes I write on my front porch for the same reasons, and if I just need a change of pace I write in the dining area, but that is rare," said contemporary romance author Christine Warner.

Your turn readers (and authors), where is your favorite place to get lost in a book?

Kristina Knight's second book in her Billionaire Cowboys trilogy, What the Heiress Wants, is available now; book three will release in September. 

The Billionaire Cowboys trilogy by best-selling author Kristina Knight continues with What the Heiress Wants.

Denver publishing heiress Miranda Clayton craves more from life than society parties and shopping sprees, but her tycoon father refuses to take her seriously. Her solution? Beat him at his own game by going to work for his top competitor, Connor Reeves, in Las Vegas.


Connor isn't fooled by Miranda's new plan for a second. He knows exactly who she is; what he doesn't know is why she's pulling him into her games. After their first meeting, Connor knows what he wants - Miranda in his bed! But the more he's around his new vice president, the more he wants something deeper than a short-term fling. The question is does the lady want Connor - or his business?

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You can find out more the book and Kristina on her website, and feel free to stalk follow her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.