Jobs for the girls – Kandy Shepherd

I’m in the planning stages of a new story and looking at career options for my heroine. It made me think about the occupations I’ve given to my heroines in previous books.

Chefs and former chefs feature—I like writing about food. Then there are accountants and bankers, advertising executive, dog nanny, gardener, and interior designer.

I enjoy both reading and writing a chef heroine

 The heroine of my July release for Harlequin Romance The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bump, Eliza Dunne, is the Business Director of the party planning business she runs with the heroines of the first two books in the Sydney Brides mini-series: Gift-Wrapped in Her Wedding Dress (Design Director) and Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride (Food Director). The first two heroines in the series are the creatives, Eliza is the finance and marketing brains behind the business.

I love a business savvy heroine

I really enjoyed writing her story, as I have my other accountants and bankers. Why, I’m not sure, as I am practically innumerate myself. Maybe it’s because these fictional people are so different in aptitude to me and I get a chance to live another life through them!

Then there are heroines in glamorous occupations, like fashion, media or entertainment

I love reading about heroines (and heroes) in different occupations and businesses—and how it relates to their personalities and aims in life. Florist, nanny, cop, writer, artist, antique shop owner, doctor, nurse, horse trainer, secretary, fire fighter, veterinarian, librarian, mechanic, fashion designer, archaeologist—so many heroines, so many different jobs.

Do you have a favorite occupation for a heroine? Or an occupation that’s a no-no? Does it matter what job the heroine does? Please make a comment—I’d love to read your thoughts!

The three Party Queens books are published by Harlequin Romance in North America as the Sydney Brides mini-series. (Mills & Boon Cherish in the UK; Mills &;Boon Forever Romance in Australia and New Zealand.)

The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bump will be released on July 1, 2016 and is available for pre-order now.

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bump

 Have you ever had a lovely, smart, loyal friend who never seems to have a lot of luck with men? She's always the bridesmaid, never the bride - or if she is the bride, it doesn't end well?
 

Party planner Eliza Dunne is that girl. She’s the heroine of my next book from Harlequin Romance, TheBridesmaid’s Baby Bump (July 2016).

My inspiration for Eliza was beautiful actress Alexis Bledel

 The great thing about being an author is I was able to create for her the perfect man in gorgeous billionaire Jake Marlowe. Don’t you wish it was that easy in real life!

Both Jake and Eliza have appeared in the preceding two books in the Sydney Brides trilogy: Gift-Wrapped in Her Wedding Dress (November 2015) and Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride (March 2016). As I wrote those books, I was getting to know Eliza and Jake and looking forward to writing their love story.

Their fictional friends in the first two books are invested in getting Eliza and Jake together. But both Eliza and Jake are complex characters with secrets and hidden hurts. Although there is a little matchmaking going on—they’re best man and bridesmaid at two weddings—they have issues to sort out all on their own on the way to their happy-ever-after ending.

I have a soft spot for matchmakers—my husband and I were introduced by a mutual friend. I’ve also had success as a matchmaker myself. What about you? Have you ever been helped by a matchmaking friend or done some matchmaking yourself? Please make a comment—I’d love to read your thoughts!

If you’d like to be in the draw for a paperback copy of TheBridesmaid’s Baby Bump, include your email address and I’ll send the winner of the draw a copy as soon as I get one from my publisher! 

The three Party Queens books are published by Harlequin Romance in North America as the Sydney Brides mini-series. (Mills & Boon Cherish in the UK; Mills & Boon Forever Romance in Australia and New Zealand.)

The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bump will be released on July 1, 2016 and is available for pre-order now.

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest