One Year of Cross the Line!

& an art reveal!

The passage of time is so wild that it’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since CROSS THE LINE came out in the US. It’s even wilder to think that it’s only been a year, because it feels like it’s been so much longer than that?? I mean, all things considered, it was a winding road to publication, so it makes sense that it feels like I’ve been talking about this book for a decade.

I’m gonna take a second to be a little ~open~ and ~vulnerable~ (yuck!) but as my therapist tells me, I’m allowed to celebrate my wins and feel good about what I’ve accomplished. Still feels wrong, but here we go.

I’m really proud of myself for making it through a full year of publication, where I now have two published books under my belt. I’m proud of myself for working hard enough (and having luck on my side, can’t write that off) that I get to write three more books in the Lights Out series. I’m proud of and thankful for all the connections I’ve made with people because I was brave enough to put myself out there (hard for an introvert who thinks everyone hates her!)

The past year (plus all the ones that led up to publication) brought so many wonderful things and people into my life. I’ve made friends I will cherish forever. These are people who take time out of their busy days to check in on me or come to my events or write me the loveliest letters or create beautiful things to gift me just because they were inspired. I feel like I can never thank them enough for their kindness and friendship, but I hope they know how much I love them.

There have definitely been some downs too. Drafting books on deadline while trying to market another? Yeah, that’ll never be my strong suit, sorry to my publishing teams! The weird hate I get for being a woman who loves both motorsport and romance and has the nerve to combine them? Whew, that’s an experience.

But hey, with all the good that’s come from this experience, I can take the bad on the chin and keep it trucking.

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Anyway, enough of my ramblings, here’s what we all really came for: beautiful, stunning, gorgeous art!!!

I commissioned this art from Gabriela Romero Lacruz back in May/June and have been excitedly sitting on it ever since, but I wanted to wait so I could share it for this milestone.

It’s a scene from chapter 31 in CTL, where Dev and Willow are at his sister’s wedding reception in Malibu, following a big moment in their relationship.

Isn’t it just lovely? The roses on the trellis, Willow’s outfit, the yearning expressions… *dreamy sigh*

And if you missed it on Instagram when I posted it a few weeks ago, here’s the art Gabriela did for RIDE WITH ME.

Since we didn’t get to see Thomas’s drunken doughnut proposal in the book (it was simply recounted), I wanted to have an art piece that depicted it, and this turned out better than I could have even imagined!

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As for other happenings around these parts, I’m hard at work on CRASH INTO YOU, book 3 in the Lights Out series and I can’t wait until I can share more about it. Until then, I’ll be over here frantically working (and then going on a three week adventure that includes a little trip to Zandvoort for the grand prix 🤭)

Back to the writing cave I go. Take care of yourselves and be kind to each other 💖

All my love,
Simone