Author Spotlight: Fortune Whelan

Hi, kids! I’m so excited to introduce you to fellow Tule Publishing author, Fortune Whelan. Not only is she a Tuligan, she’s also one of my sprinting partners, and a person I’m so grateful to have in my corner. Fortune is a raconteur with a penchant for telling lies (or storytelling, whatever), mostly to entertain herself. She writes small town sweet contemporaries, mafia adjacent dark romances, Grey’s Anatomy-inspired love stories, and intense romantic suspense. Her stories have an energy that will take you for a ride. So, get in and buckle up.

We had a chance to chat a little bit about writing recently:

What advice would you give to any committed writer?

First, write. There are no shortcuts to publishing, whether traditional, or indie, the only way to finish anything is to start writing. The only way to continue to improve your craft, to polish your voice, to finish your manuscript, is to write. Now, how you do that is up to you. Some writers will tell you to write every day, others will tell you to write when inspiration strikes. However, you do it, make sure it makes sense to you. Honor your own process, but don’t give the process too much power. Writing always comes down to putting words on a page. I know how this sounds, but writers know!

What is the best investment you ever made in your writing?

I’ll always pay money for anything that saves me time. I can always make more money, but I can’t make more time. In terms of tools, invest in a good keyboard (mechanical or ergonomic, it will make a difference in your longevity), a good chair, an editing program (there are many), and access to books (library card, KU, your local indie bookstore).

By far, the best investment I ever made in my writing was finding a writing community filled with my people. I put this down in investment because access sometimes costs money or membership fees, but what you gain in networking, opportunities, friendships, critique partners, beta readers and information you otherwise would haven’t gotten except through your own trial and error is absolutely invaluable. I’m a member of the Toronto Romance Writers, the Inclusive Romance Project, The Inclusive Authors of Romance Association, and Wordmakers.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Both. Always both. Writing is invigorating, creative and wonderful when there’s momentum. But exhausting on directionless days, on deadline days, on days when I’m playing catch-up. Writing is rarely good or bad for me, it just is an intricate part of who I am. All I know is that not writing is not an option for me, I’d lose myself.

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

It’s made me a better writer. To write outside of my comfort zone, and to write with the reader in mind, which ironically is much harder than you think. The more books I turn in, the more I realize that the path to every book is different. The only thing that’s the same is just to sit and write.

What is your favorite genre to read, and why?

I read everything. I’m a voracious reader. I love craft books because writers are always willing to share what worked and didn’t work for them. Craft books are like cheat codes.

I also love celebrity memoirs because truth is stranger than fiction.

As for fiction, the more bonkers the story, the better. As long as there’s a happy ending.

So happy we got to chat, Fortune! Y’all can find her with these links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Stuck with You

They’re both starting over. Fate’s determined they do it together.

NHL all-star Clark Dorsey is still at the top of his game, but he’s done with hockey. The night of the championship, Clark announces his retirement and returns to Seattle to spend time with his sick brother and figure out his next move. He needs to unwind, but his interfering brother sets him up by renting half of their shared condo to a beautiful, opinionated and fascinating woman.

Nurse Leena Lopez is done with the spotlight. When her whirlwind fairy tale romance ends in a cheating scandal, Leena’s suddenly broke, alone and hounded by paparazzi in a new city. Desperate to put down roots, Leena says yes when a patient offers her the condo he shares with his Canadian hockey star brother. She can ignore the teenage crush she had on Clark Dorsey—he won’t even be in town.

But Clark arrives and they’re both thrust back into the headlines they’ve been desperately avoiding. Can they figure out how to be alone together? Do they want to?

Stuck with You is available for preorder at these book retailers:

Amazon | Apple Books | B&N Nook | Kobo | Tule Publishing