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Yeah, it’s two and a half weeks into March, and I forgot to post this update earlier but we’ll all just pretend that I didn’t (ha).

I suppose it’s a good thing that I don’t have much catch up to do on this previous month. February was a slog for me. Life (mostly depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem) really knocked me down. When I had the energy, I squeezed in as much books as I could read from my TBR.

On the other hand writing didn’t happen much in February.

I started and then re-started, and then started story after short story. It hasn’t quite stuck yet and it’s becoming obvious I need to stretch my writing muscles more regularly than I have been doing.

I did get this lovely cover and scintillating blurb for my next Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon True Love, The Baby Swap That Bound Them:

Isn’t she a beauty? I’ve been blessed with stunning covers before, and I’m so grateful to Harlequin/M&B for this one especially because having a visibly Muslim female model on the North American* cover is everything to me. The representation is so important. I was sneaking Harlequins at a young age, and I can’t imagine what it would have meant to me to see a cover like this when I’d been younger.

But like I said, I’m blessed and truly full of gratitude. I’ll be stoked when I get to hold this one in my hands. 🙂

*I say North American because Australia/New Zealand and Italy have given me some gorgeous hijabis as cover models. In July 2021, my Mills & Boon Australia/NZ cover for my first book, Second Chance to Wear His Ring, and in May 2022, Italy (Harmony/HarperCollins Italia). You can peep these covers below:

And that’s it for March’s update. Still will try to complete a short story, just so that I can say I didn’t quit (haha). I have plans to read 5 books, most of which are library hauls that I need to clear through before deadlines. In a few short days, I’ll also be fasting for Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims. So if March started kinda slow, it’ll be picking up pace soon enough no doubt.

Once again, sorry it took so long to get around to this post. I’ll try to keep up in April. Promise!

Until then,

Hana

I can’t believe how quickly January has gone by, but that’s how it usually is with the first month of a new year for me. Winter blues and time whooshing past me, oh and I can’t forget my favourite: still struggling to remember to date things 2023 NOT 2022.

Not much of a big update for the month. I managed to read 8 books (see below for the list), so I’m a few books ahead of my schedule for reading 60 books this year. 🤓 Look at me being the eager little beaver and reading so much. Will this momentum last? Who knows. I’m just luxuriating in the high of cutting down my TBR.

• Death by Auction – Alexis Morgan
• Monster Milking Motel – Harpie Alexa
• When She’s Merry – Ruby Dixon
• Endark – Honey Phillips
• Tentacle Entanglement – Siggy Shade
• The Battle Prince’s Prize Bride – Nikki Clarke
• My Alien Captor, Nyo – Nikki Clarke
• When Live Gives You Vampires – Gloria Duke

Writing-wise I haven’t completed the WIP I’m working on. It’s a short story featuring my hero and heroine, Bashir and Yusra in my upcoming Harlequin Romance, The Baby Swap That Bound Them.

You’ll get to meet them soon, but I couldn’t let them go just yet, so I decided to skip ahead and peek in on how they’re doing. Fingers crossed I like it enough to share it with you all soon-ish.

I’m still hunting for a hobby, and my current options are crocheting or knitting because I’ve tried both and I know if I apply myself—and fight the urge to rage-quit haha—that I might (emphasis on that) manage to catch the hang of it. And hey, even be good at it…?

Besides hoping that February doesn’t bring its usual coldest weather 🥶, I’m planning to clear through this short story and start a new project. I might even start an accountability thread on socials for said new project whenever I get to it, so stick around for updates on that.

Love,

Hana

Boy, it’s been a minute since I’ve blogged. More than a year if my last post is anything to go by.

2022 has been pretty exciting. I published TWO Harlequin Romances this year, and I loved writing them both.

As I said, an eventful year for me. I didn’t get as much as I wanted written—I had planned to write 4 books this year, but I managed two, and if we’re counting that’s two more than in 2021. So that’s good enough for me. Though I do want to renew that goal of writing 4 books this year because…who knows, I might actually be able to do it.

My reading goal has remained the same for the past eight years (since I read 104 books in 2014): I’ve been trying to read 52 books or a book a week, and I usually peter out during the first quarter of year. However, I managed a whopping 59 books for 2022. So rather than renewing my goal I’m aiming for 60 books this year. But on top of that goal, I’ve decided to participate in the Read What You Own challenge on booktube. Created by booktube content maker, CriminOlly—you can watch his full video explaining the challenge and why he started it right over here—the TL;DR version is you read what you own before you buy any new books (physical or digital or audio). Of course there’s no hard rules. In fact, you can tailor the challenge to your own purposes. I’ve chosen a reasonable yearly book goal for myself, and I also have many TBR books I’d like to read and donate, so that’s where most of my 2023 reads will be coming from. However, I might also sneak in some Kindle Unlimited reads, Harlequin books (of course!), and library holds I’ve been dying to read. I promise I won’t cheat. 😉

So that’s the reading and writing updates all done. Life update next: I’d like to eat healthier and exercise more regularly. I’m also hunting a new hobby because I can be a pretty boring person and I need something to keep my idle hands busy haha.

To summarize, my big goals to (hopefully!😅) accomplish in 2023 are:

1. Write 4 books (likely romances because that’s both my jam and my bread and butter right now).
2. Read 60 books, and as part of the Read What You Own challenge, most of those books are primarily going to be books I already own.
3. Find a new hobby (outside of baking, playing videogames).

And that’s about it. Sorry for the short update post considering it’s been a while and I could have shared more since I’ve lasted posted. But no worries I’ll be updating monthly from here on out, keeping you abreast on all things Hana. And who knows, maybe I’ll toss in an extra post or two here and again… 😊

Much love,

Hana

Remember how I said I may be joining in the NaNo fun this year? Welllllllllllllllllll. That didn’t happen, unfortunately.

Life got in the way. Mostly my awful habit to procrastinate, and real stress revolving school and the pressures of tackling tough courses on a full-time course load. Which is why I might be cutting back for my final few courses of my school program. I’m this close to finishing, but I could benefit from scaling back the school work and switching to a part-time intake.

WHICH MEANS that I’ll have more time to write. 🤞

I was able to complete one writing goal for November, so that’s been nice. However, it does mean that December will be busy. But usually I scramble to complete as many goals at the end of the year, that isn’t new.

Let’s break down those goals now:

Finish a partial revision of Harlequin Romance #3 (the One I lovingly call “Kwanzaa Kisses”). I’ve always wanted to write a holiday romance for Harlequin, because I love their holiday themed category books. And as much as I like the festive spirit of Christmas, I thought I could explore a less known but equally fun, family-oriented holiday. Cue Kwanzaa. Hopefully I’ll do it justice.

Finish a partial and synopsis package for a new Super Top Secret Project. I can’t say much about this… Really because I don’t know where it’s headed, or if it will ever make it out of my head. Blame my weird writing process.

Read another 5 books. I’ve got more than 5 books left on my original goal of reading 53 books for the year. I won’t be able to reach my reading goal this year, but I updated it to try and complete what I can before we all ring in the New Year.

And that’s it for November’s update.

One last thing, ICYMI: my second Harlequin Romance is now available for preorders on Amazon (squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee x infinity)!! What’s it called, you ask?

*drumroll*🥁🥁🥁

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Temptation in Istanbul

You can find more details here on my website, or over at the official Harlequin page.

I can’t properly convey what this book means to me. Only that like my first book (Amal & Manny’s story), I loved going on this journey with my 2nd book’s hero and heroine, Faisal and Maryan. One of the favourite parts about the process of writing their story was getting to research the story’s beautiful setting in Istanbul.

I’ll have more nitty-gritty deets as they drop in the coming months, and I’ll post them here and my socials, so please stick around.

As always, I’m curious to know what you think: what country or city do you want to visit most? Drop your comment down below. Love to hear your thoughts!

Today, a year ago, I got The Call from Harlequin!

It’s still a pinch-me-I-can’t-believe-this-is-my-job kinda sensation. I’ve always wanted to write romances, and to do it with Harlequin and Mills & Boon is really a dream come true. Since then my debut Harlequin/M&B True Love title was published, Second Chance to Wear His Ring.

Of course, my day to day hasn’t changed much. I did start school, so that’s kept me busy. I’m currently working on Harlequin Romance Deux—it does have a title now (like a real title), so that’s cool. It’s close to my heart (I started the first draft in 2018 as well). I can’t wait for you all to hold Maryan & Faisal’s story in your hands.

I know I haven’t used this blog very often this year, but I’m hoping to change that with monthly updates starting next month. Also, I maybe might be participating in NaNo this year after a three-year hiatus, but more to come on that in a few days.

With 2021 winding down to a close, I have to ask: how’s your year been? Have you reached any yearly goals? Any plans for how to close the year off with a bang? Pop your comments down below and let me know! 🙂

Until next post…

Two posts in two days. *gasp*

I know, I’ve shocked myself too. But I just had to share some news:

My first Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon True Love cover is heeeeeeeeeeere!

I just can’t even with… It’s so utterly, crushingly beautiful… Everything I dreamed, but also so SO much more. 😭 😭

It took a total of three R&Rs with my lovely editor’s insight to shape the book to where it was the best fit for Harlequin Romance. In hindsight all the time spent wringing my hands and fighting self-doubt was a part of the process. I see that clearly now.

I’m not even a generally lucky person. My luck is just 50-50, so naturally I peeked between my fingers when I got my first look at my cover. Worried that if it was bad, I could somehow ward off the defeating blow of disappointment with the flimsy tactic.

Then I got an eyeful 👀 of my man here, and all I remember feeling is this fluttery giddiness. Gawking first at the sheer masculine beauty before I hurried to show my sister, and she gave her approval. Whoever this gorgeous model is, thank youuuuu for making my first cover experience with Harlequin absolutely amazing. (And maybe, like, call me? 😉) #fangirlingstill #willneverstop #imaluckyauthor

I don’t want this post to get too long. I just wanted to let you know that if you’re out there and writing and feeling dejected about not getting your stories sold, I’m proof that you CAN and WILL do it. It’s possible!!!!!!!

I started writing Second Chance to Wear His Ring in January 2018. I remember rushing to my sister and running two ideas by her, none of which felt right to either of us. Then I told her, “I’d love to write a story set in Somaliland, with Somali characters. But can I pull it off?” She agreed that I could and should. Still, even with the encouragement from my family, I was scared that it wouldn’t be ‘glamorous’ enough for Harlequin Romance. I persevered and wrote the synopsis and first chapter—prayed my gut instinct wouldn’t fail me—and hit send.

Mostly because as I write this I’m rolling up my sleeves (metaphorically) to revise Harlequin Romance #2, tentatively titled Swept Away by the Single Dad or Billionaire’s Temptation in Turkey. Really, it’s whatever I’m in the mood to call it that day. 😉

My closing advice if this post was very TL;DR…

Don’t give up.

That’s it. If it gets hard, you’re either doing it right OR you need a short break to rejuvenate. Self-care shouldn’t trump submissions to agents or publishers. But know that only you can tell the story that you want to. No one else can do it for you. Doesn’t matter if it’s been told hundreds, thousands of times. Your voice and perspective is the backlight of your prose. It adds the spice and the sprinkle to the story. So, don’t give up. Don’t give up. Do. Not. Give. Up.

Love,

Hana

Can you believe we’re in July? Like, how is it Canada Day weekend tomorrow (and Independence Day in a few short days)? Where did the time go? Like, what is time even???!

I managed to stay productive even when winter blues struck earlier this year. Now we’re in glorious summer, and it’s uplifting to know that I can go on more walks now. Especially as we’ve exited another lockdown here and have flattened the rising curve of COVID cases and overtaxing our ICUs (yaay). Bless the front-line workers who are going in and saving lives and preventing more sickness with vaccine administration.

Speaking of vaccines, I got my first shot three weeks ago, and hoping to get my second before summer’s end.

A whole lot has happened since I last posted a blog. So, I’ll try and re-cap where I left off…

Re-cap:

On October 20, 2020, I published this blog post here, not anticipating that a little more than a week later I’d be getting The Call from Harlequin and my awesome editor.

I had hoped to update back then, but the months flew by. Here I am now playing catch-up and promising to post blogs more frequently.

Writing:

I’ve sent in the first draft of Harlequin Romance #2, yippee! It took a lot to get it as good as I could make it. Worked around depression and school and I’m happy with this first, rough-ish draft.

With that project off to my editor, I’m now free to work on something new. Something shorter. So far this new project is just called ‘Safiya & Raf’s story’. I usually work harder to come up with work-in-progress titles, but I’m not sure what to call this one. There’s a wedding, a matchmaking mama, and family past hurts… Hmmm. Maybe:

Something Borrowed

An Unexpected Match

Sexual Healing…?

Last one’s a joke, lol. It wouldn’t fit with the sweet heat romance this story is shaping up to be. While I’m still kicking around title ideas, I’m in no rush to commit to anything. Only worried about keeping this book between 8-10K. I tend to write long—she says as she writes a rambling update post (lol).

Here’s my current word count for Safiya and Raf’s short story:

Reading:

I set a goal of 52 books this year. 24 of which I’m hoping to be 2021 Harlequin Romance releases. So far, I’ve read 2 new 2021 Harlequin Romance titles (fail, I know) and 7 other titles that are mostly shorter erotic romances. Currently I’m re-reading Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, and I’m nearly done Book 8, Obsidian Butterfly. If you’re into urban fantasy and mystery with a touch of hard-boiled crime, then Anita’s for you.

I’ve also discovered audiobooks. Let me be clear: I haven’t been living in a ditch, lol. I know audiobooks have existed for a long while. I just thought that they weren’t for me. Like, I wouldn’t enjoy them for some reason. I also like holding a book. Love a new-book smell. And though I adore my dust cover jackets, I put them aside when I’m reading. So, when I decided to give audiobooks a try, I didn’t realize how amazingly useful they are. I tend to listen to audiobooks when I’m doing something else, probably like most people. Baking, cleaning my makeup brushes, folding laundry, getting my cardio in on my treadmill, etc. It comes in super handy.

School:

I’m back in school a year later. Taking accounting courses and giving my creative brain a break by balancing it out with some analytic thinking and…dundundun, business mathematics. You cringing? ‘Cause I am. And I actually like algebra, but solving word problems still make my head hurt.

Other happenings:

Two weeks ago my ten-year-old laptop finally made me throw my hands up and give in. I bought a new laptop, and naturally I had to buy a new desk set-up (but not a new desk because desks are crazy expensive and my wallet needs to be resuscitated).

So far I’m happy with it. Looking forward to writing many stories on it, and in the near future getting all my school work finished with its help.

My old laptop has its sentimental mileage though, and I’m going to miss it.

I called it ‘Ketchup’ ’cause, you know, it’s red. I’m so creative I know. How did I ever get a book deal? 😂 Also, fun fact: I hate ketchup. The smell, the taste, the consistency, the vibrant color, and the fact someone thought to use it as an ingredient in a cake 😱 (*grrrrr*).

In all seriousness though, my Ketchup was what I used to write my first story ever—a sad/lame attempt at a Harlequin Presents that will never see the light of day—and I also wrote my soon-to-debut Harlequin Romance on it. I love it for that fact alone, but also because it put me through uni. Late nights watching anime and staying up to write last-minute English essays. I won my first ever NaNo 50K sprint on it. And it travelled all the way to UAE and Somalia with me. Like I said, history.

But I’ve said goodbye and I’m moving on. 2021 has been about kicking off a serious career as an author. I want to make this work because I love writing so very much and I want it to be a real job.

There’s my 6-month update for now.

Also my life’s kinda boring in general. You won’t be missing much, but when something happens I will pop on and let you know.

Until then cyber friends…

Keep ✨shining✨ and smiling,

Hana

Case in point. Some pills in life are hard to take, but they’re necessary nevertheless.

I used to think that every writing-related opportunity was meant for me. Twitter pitches, Facebook pitches, publisher submission calls for un-agented (and agented) Black writers, etc. When all you have to do is write a short 100-word blurb, first chapter, and synopsis, or 280-character pitch, it seemed all too easy to catch the attention of an agent and/or editor.

Once my plate got too full, and I realized I wasn’t in love with every pitch I’d send in, it grew easier to pass on opportunities I genuinely felt were too much for me.

But back in February 2018, when Harlequin/Mills & Boon held a Harlequin Romance Blitz pitch, I felt compelled to submit a first chapter and query for their consideration. I’d entered opportunities like this with Harlequin before, off and on, from 2013 to 2016. I was expecting a form rejection letter. A “thanks but no thanks”. Instead, from the first chapter I received a partial request (that’s the first 3 chapters). I was pleasantly shocked. Cue theatrics with my family who were super indulgent, bless their hearts!

Fast forward to Summer 2018, I awoke to a lovely email from an honest-to-goodness Harlequin editor requesting to see the full manuscript. Luckily, I’d gone ahead and written the first draft of the entire manuscript. So, I sat down, re-read what I had and quickly realized that I needed to do major edits from Chapter Three onwards.

It took 5 months for me to get it back to the editor. *hangs head* I still cringe when I think of how long it took me to edit and revise. Three rounds of revisions later, I hit SEND at the end of 2018.

The editor’s speedy reply came late January 2019, and I got an R&R. Another first! I was excited that this wasn’t the end of the road for my little manuscript, but I had a fair share of nerves too. I hadn’t done editorial revisions before beyond my critique group (hi, Sassy Scribes!), but I turned the R&R around pretty quickly.

Skip to January 2020 and I got my 2nd R&R. Yay, not a rejection, but I was still missing the mark on my emotional conflict. Back to the drawing board, it took me another 5 months (!!!!) before I sent it off to the editor again.

In July 2020, I heard back from her. She was nothing but kind, patient and complimentary about my romance manuscript. She requested another full R&R, and I was determined to hit the right notes this time.

I submitted this latest R&R only a few weeks ago, so I’m back to waiting.

These past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to enter many of these Blitzes with Harlequin and participate in Twitter pitches like #pitmad and #DVpit. Heck, there’s a wonderful #ownvoices opportunity for Harlequin Presents happening this Friday. I’ve skipped them because I didn’t have anything I felt was worthy of any agent’s or editor’s eyes.

So, though a hard pill to swallow, I’ve accepted not every door of opportunity should be opened. 🙂

Tell me, have you walked away from an opportunity in your life because the timing didn’t feel right? Let me know in the comments.

Love

Hana

This is technically the 2nd post on this new spiffy blog, but I’m not new to blogging. Been blogging since 2013, but I’m not a dedicated blogger and I don’t have a huge following.

Which is totally fine because it got me thinking about what I want from this blog. What can its purpose be? Other than, you know, updating you lovely readers on latest releases and other news.

And then it hit me: I love, love, LOVE reading writing-related blogs from other authors. Like, the blogs that really peel back the layers and reveal that writing isn’t a linear process. On the outside, business-wise, yeah, sure. There’s a very similar process most published books, traditional or indie go through before they get to readers. We got the first drafting stage, self-edits (maybe), revisions, off to beta readers and/or critique partners, more revisions, maybe off to another set of betas and CPs, even more revisions, polished enough to hit submit to agents and/or editors. Rinse and repeat with new book. And then there’s big picture edits, line edits, copy edits, galleys or ARCs somewhere in there, and final AAs before the book is officially out of the author’s hands.

Okay, PHEW. That took a lot out of me. My point being that there’s a ton that happens behind the publishing curtain, when the author is alone with their tablet or laptop or desktop or notebook (hey, old school is always cool!). Where the magic happens. The real real magic.

I call it magic, but it can be writer’s block, doubt crows, etc. Moments where the author is wondering, “What the heck am I doing? Do I even want this? Will I ever be published? Can I make this a full-time career? Great, my book’s out—so, when can I quit my day job?”

It’s those stories on blogs that I come back to time and time again. For camaraderie on this sometimes lonely journey. For a boost when I get all sulky about my own writing. For hope that I’ll be able to make a living (part-time or full) from my stories.

So, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to add to those type of blogs that don’t intend to be inspirational (but totally are!) to other authors, published or pre-published.

Love

Hana

Deep breathing… I can be an adult about this… Wait, no, I can’t!

It was a labor of love, and I had blows to my confidence along the way, but my debut novella is finally—FINALLY—on virtual shelves!

Kwanzaa at His Castle is a holiday read. It’s everything I could ever want it to be. I’ve wanted to write a Kwanzaa-themed romance for a long time coming now, and to have Imani and Tyson’s story be my debut makes this doubly special!

Imani and Tyson’s love story unfolds in a castle. They’re snowbound, trapped together, and unrequited love blossoms very happily (and quickly). Just to make it even juicier, Tyson’s the older best friend of Imani’s brother. She’s held a torch for him—err, candle (’cause this is Kwanzaa), and this Kwanzaa she hopes to share her love with him. Will Tyson be open to forever with Imani? Maybe… Pick up Kwanzaa at His Castle to find out.

And right now it’s one novella in SNOW IN LOVE, an 8-novella collection of sweet holiday romances.

We’re giving you Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s a little ahead of the holiday season this year because let’s face it, we need a whole lotta holiday cheer in 2020.

I’m hoping you get a chance to grab your copy of SNOW IN LOVE. I promise you’re in for a treat!