A Love for Books Day 10: Author Feature (Part 2): Romily Bernard

Hi everyone! This is officially part two for Day 10 of A Love for Books! I wanted to do something a little special for the event on Valentine's Day so I included two posts in one day. Yay! Even better? I paired up the amazing duo Romily Bernard and Natalie Richards. These girls are a kickbutt team of awesomeness! I'm hoping with all my hopes that in the future they write a book together so I can read and love the heck out of it, and them (more than I do now). Romily has ever so kindly agreed to be on the blog for this event and I'm so glad! She's one of the nicest and most down to earth authors I know. She talks to her fans and to bloggers all the time. She genuinely cares and it means the world. She was there for me more so than a lot of others when my dog Cassie passed away and I will never forget that. She's officially on my "Hug on Sight" list that I have made for bloggers and authors! Now, she's going to be talking about kissing scenes and romance, perfect for Valentine's Day am I right? 

Some Stuff About Kissing

I am the worst person to write a kiss scene. This could be because I’m a thriller writer and, as such, am better suited to gore and stalkers. But, probably (definitely), it’s because I’m me and I’m neurotic. There’s just so much to think about it when you’re writing them. Stuff like, Is the hero sufficiently into this? Or, my personal favorite, Is this sexy…or assault?

It’s a fine line, people.

Plus, kiss scenes are hard to write. No really, they are. You have to consider logistics, emotions, and your hero’s ability to verb the heroine’s noun without sounding gross. See? These are all things that give me terror sweats. The final fight scene in REMEMBER ME, the sequel to FIND ME, took a few hours to write. That last kiss scene with Griff? It took days.

It’d be so much easier if I could just type “And then they sucked face.” But y’all don’t want to read that and neither do I. You know who I could read again and again though?

Yeah, I know. You don’t care, but I’m in a sharing mood. It’s probably all the carbs I’ve been loading lately. Side note: I enjoy saying “carb loading.” It makes me sound like I’m preparing for a marathon rather than worrying about the upcoming release of REMEMBER ME. I am a big fan of frosting. Big. Fan. And sandwiches. Those are good too.

And now my side note has turned into a full-fledged digression. For those of you playing along at home, this is surprising no one.

Okay, back to writers who amaze me. In no particular order, let’s start with…

Rainbow Rowell. If you have not read ELEANOR AND PARK, there is something seriously wrong with you. Kidding! But really why? Why? Why do you hurt me like this? All I want to do is share the awesomeness that is Eleanor and her Park. Rowell’s kissing scenes are so well done—not only because she’s a beautiful writer, but also because the tension leading up to that kiss is perfectly rendered.

Sherry Thomas. Okay, confession: I have not read THE BURNING SKY…yet. I discovered Thomas back when she was writing historicals and they were amaze-balls. The emotional angst between the hero and heroine in PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS was like a gut-punch. In the absolute best way. When the h/h finally kiss, you want to cheer…and cry because there’s so much damage between them.

Simone Elkeles. Actually, I’m going to have to say that again, Simone Elkeles. Can we say PERFECT CHEMISTRY? Yes. We. Can. How about CHAIN REACTION? Yep. Enough said.

Although now I have to sit down. Y’all are going to have to give me a second.

Okay. Am better now.

So those are some of my favorite authors, but because I’m still filled with the spirit of sharing (or cake pops, it’s a toss up really) I’m adding one of my favorite kiss scenes from FIND ME. I am not Rainbow Rowell, Sherry Thomas, or Simone Elkeles, but I hope you enjoy it.

****

“We should probably get going,” I say.

“Sure thing.” Griff starts to ease closer and I freeze. “But we don’t have to rush off. I have my bike. It’ll take less than twenty minutes to get to Joe’s.”

“I…I…” I don’t know what to say. We’re only inches apart now and my brain has stalled. Griff’s body slides lower along mine and I have to stifle a gasp. He still smells like grass and chlorine from last night and his hair has dried in messy spikes.

Griff smiles and, for a second, I think he’s going to kiss me again, but he turns his head so his whispers rush past my ear, making my skin leap like it’s electrified. “I like waking up to you, Wicked.”

I dig my fingers into the covers so I don’t dig them into him. “I thought you were awake because I kept kicking you.”

“Yeah, you were.” Griff’s hand drifts up, up, up my neck until it’s cupping my jaw. “But, mostly, I was up because I wanted to do this.”

His lips press against corner of my jaw…my cheek…my mouth. I roll into him and he pushes me down, pins me to the bed.

“Again,” he breathes.

****

As always, a huge thank you to Kayla at Bibliophilic Nerds for having me. Thanks for reading and I hope everyone enjoys FIND ME!!

*fans self* Goodness that scene was.. wow. You may say you can't write kissing scenes but I beg to defer! That was all kinds of amazing.

What did you guys think? I happen to adore this post for multiple reasons and I'm so glad Romily made it for the blog for us! If you haven't talked to Romily, go do it because you will not regret it. She's all kinds of awesomely awesomeness. 

Thank you so much Romily for coming on to the blog! It means so much to me! Maybe I can have you on again later! *hint hint nudge nudge* You're the best!

Don't forget to come back again Monday for more amazing features made by amazing people! Also, don't forget to enjoy Valentine's Day and really treat yourself in some way! Valentine's Day is about love but that doesn't mean it can't be about loving yourself! Get yourself something nice, pig out on candy, watch silly movies you secretly love but won't admit to, read a steamy book, do whatever! You deserve it, you truly do!

Now, Romily has been ever so kind as to donate a copy of Find Me for the giveaway and trust me, you want it. There's also tons of other awesome prizes you can win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Kayla~