Author: Jennifer Lane

I write sports romance and suspense with a psychological twist.
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IWSG New Nonfiction Project

Jennifer Lane

It’s time to share our wins and losses in the humbling game of WRITING. I appreciate Alex Cavanaugh for starting the Insecure Writers Support Group.

Thank you to the co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG: Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Liza at Middle Passages, JH Moncrieff, and Jemima Pett!

Instead of answering this month’s optional question, I want to share a writing update. Just as I was kicking around the idea of nonfiction writing, a friend / colleague approached me about co-authoring a psychology textbook!

The publisher asked us to submit a proposal, which received positivity and excitement from faculty reviewers. Their feedback helped us restructure the table of contents to be more integrative and interesting (we hope.) We signed a contract and plan to deliver the manuscript by March of 2028.

We will each write eight chapters. My sections include anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, substance use disorders, and ADHD in a special population. I’ll start each chapter with a made-up case vignette, so I’ll still get to flex my fiction-writing skills.

Image by 1tamara2 from Pixabay

Even though the deadline is way out there, I had a moment of, “Yikes, what did I just get myself into?” Suddenly I have a long-term project looming over me, chiding me as I’m watching TV or indulging in my new obsession: mahjong. I’ve written psychology book chapters before, but never half a textbook, and I haven’t pushed myself to meet a writing deadline in a while.

But I’m also intrigued by collating current research and 25+ years of experience as a psychologist into a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students. We’re striving for an international audience, and I’m hopeful this book will help educate the next generation of professionals in my small specialty area.

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate! I’m dressing up as Cat in the Hat, inspired by my cat, Tuxedo.

new release

Nuts! Kickstarter for New Horror Novel by Shannon Lawrence

Jennifer Lane

Killer squirrels? YIKES. Congratulations to Shannon Lawrence on the upcoming release of her new horror novel, NUTS! Let’s support her on Kickstarter to generate Nut Buzz.

Available in paperback and e-book, Kickstarter backers get the book before the official release date. There are also select online writing courses available as add-ons, along with Shannon’s other books. Depending on stretch rewards, there will be some fun goodies to go along with the books.

The Squirrelpocalypse is nigh!

They’re always around us, hidden in plain sight. They watch us from the trees, scurry past us in parks. They can even get inside our walls. 

And their tiny claws and teeth are so deceptively sharp.

A sudden outbreak of squirrel violence sends survivors fleeing for their lives. One moment, Lauren is giving her nephew a hard time in a hardware store, the next she’s gathering a group of fellow survivors in an attempt to get to safety.

Across town, Lauren’s husband David is at the gym when it’s overtaken by the furry assassins, sending him on a mission to get back home or die trying. Without his belongings, he’s forced to be creative when it comes to defending himself.

But nowhere they go is safe from the insidious creatures, and they must find a way to stay ahead of the persistent rodents if they want to see tomorrow…or each other.

~*~

Title: Nuts! Squirrelpocalypse

Author: Shannon Lawrence

Genre: Horror

Kickstarter Dates: September 24 to October 13

Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thewarriormuse/nuts-squirrelpocalypse-a-creature-feature-horror-novel?ref=btds4n

Kickstarter Tagline: Putting the fun and gruesome back in horror, this tongue-in-cheek horror novel brings back the dark pleasure of creature features.

How does Kickstarter work?

Campaigns (funding drives for creative projects) are run for a limited time, with backers pledging (agreeing to purchase if it funds) a certain amount for specific items. There are multiple reward tiers (typically), such as a tier that is just for the paperback and a tier for the e-book. A goal is set for how much will be raised by the end of the campaign. If the goal is reached, the project funds, Kickstarter processes the pledged funds, and the creator delivers the items promised. If it doesn’t fund, backers don’t pay, and the creator does not get any of the funds. 

A lot of fun can be had with Kickstarter campaigns, with things like special editions, exclusive items, merchandise, and book boxes. Since this is my first one, I’m keeping it fairly simple as a learning experience, but I’ve successfully self-published seven books, so that part isn’t new!

About the Author:

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her short stories can be found in over sixty anthologies and magazines in addition to her collections, novels, and her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories. You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem and a columnist for Rocky Mountain Reader. When she’s not writing, she’s hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there’s always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. Find her at www.thewarriormuse.com.

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Rivals Giveaway, Happy 15 Years of the Insecure Writers Support Group, and Fave Character Archetype #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

*sings* Did you remember…To post on the second of September? Welcome to this month’s Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop, started by the groovy Alex Cavanaugh.

Happy 15th Anniversary to the IWSG! What a motivational group that has kept me in the writing game long after the release of my debut novel in 2010. I’m full of gratitude to Alex and all the writers who keep this group going, including today’s co-hosts Kate Larkinsdale, SE White, JS Pailly, Olga Godim, and Natalie Aguirre!  

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

To celebrate, we’re sharing links to our published works to support fellow writers. The best place to find my 10 novels and 2 novellas is my Amazon page. I have quite a few freebies listed in Kindle Unlimited:

Find Jennifer Lane books on Amazon

You can also find me on Goodreads, where I’ve written almost 600 reviews as an avid reader.

Speaking of Goodreads, I’m giving away 100 ebooks of RIVALS! The giveaway starts tomorrow (September 3) and lasts till the end of the month–just in time to read the sports romance between an Ohio State and Michigan coach before the big rivalry football game in November. Thanks to L. Diane Wolfe for formatting this book! Enter the giveaway HERE.

September 2 question – Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing?

My obsession with the TV show Prison Break, particularly the character of Michael Scofield, started my writing adventure. Actor Wentworth Miller captivated me as he portrayed a poignant juxtaposition of vulnerability and strength. His brilliant character would do anything, including tattooing a full sleeve of the prison blueprints and committing his own crime to get thrown into prison, to save his wrongfully-accused brother from death row.

Since I started writing in 2007, that character archetype of wounded hero has stuck with me. Here’s a definition from scribophile.com:

The wounded hero archetype represents a character who has experienced significant trauma or suffering, which often drives their journey toward healing and redemption. This archetype highlights the struggle between their pain and the desire to help others, making them relatable and complex.

As a psychologist, I’m all about the character arc from trauma to redemption. I get to witness it every day! And I hope to bring that meaningful journey to the stories that I write.

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Writing Regrets #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Would you like to join the Insecure Writers Support Group? All writers are welcome here. We post monthly about our hopes and fears. Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for bringing together this supportive community.

This month’s co-hosts deserve applause! Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia.

August 5 question – As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you’d done differently in your writing process?

Regrets…I’ve had a few… *croons Frank Sinatra*

One regret? Failing to learn more about the craft of writing before releasing my debut novel. I wrote With Good Behavior in third-person omniscient POV, not as a deliberate choice, but as a default style for the fan fiction that sparked my writing career. This point-of-view has quite a few limitations, especially head-hopping. And my novel hopped like a bunny on crack! (Here’s a post about omniscient POV.)

The small liberal arts school in Ohio I attended for undergrad — Kenyon College — has a strong literary tradition. While I did take a few English courses, I wish I had signed up for more, especially creative writing. I also wish I had gleaned more wisdom from fellow writers (like the wonderful ones in IWSG) earlier in my career. I appreciate fellow author Darcia Helle educating me on POV.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

There are probably quite a few other things I could’ve done differently. For the most part, though, I believe I made the best decisions I could with the information I had at the time. That’s the thing about regrets–we view the past through the unfair lens of hindsight bias.

I’m grateful I found a small publisher in 2010 as well as made the leap to self-publishing in 2014. I couldn’t have improved my writing skills without first making mistakes along the way. The small successes I’ve experienced are due to lessons from countless failures. (Speaking of bouncing back from failure, I loved the movie Young Washington.)

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Book Marketing #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Time to share our doubts, fears, and triumphs at The Insecure Writers Support Group–author Alex Cavanaugh’s brainchild.

THANK YOU to this month’s co-hosts: Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!


July 1 question – Is there anything you’d like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

As a self-published author, I understand that all marketing falls on me (more on this later). But before moving to self-publishing, I signed with a small publisher, where I was still largely responsible for promoting my books. I also hear that authors with the Big Five publishers have to spend a lot of time on marketing. If I could change one thing, it would be more help with promotion so that authors could focus on what they do best: writing.

Speaking of marketing, I had a fun time at Books in Charleston on June 20. I bonded with readers and authors who are also from Ohio (I’m holding Ohio State University’s mascot, Brutus Buckeye, in the photo.)

I experienced a small-world moment upon discovering that the author next to me, Kirsten Pursell, is also a swimmer. Even weirder, we unknowingly raced each other in May! Though I hadn’t competed since 2018, I decided to attend master’s nationals this year at nearby Greensboro, NC. Kirsten bested me in the longer race (200 I.M.) and I prevailed in the shorter one (100 I.M.)

I also scored a Book Bub free deal for Blocked, book one of my sports romance trilogy, in June. There were 7,900 downloads that I hope will translate to reviews and sales for the series.

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New Adult Sports Romance Blocked is FREE

Jennifer Lane

Get book one in the BLOCKED trilogy FREE until 6/18/26! Featured today at Book Bub.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Blocked is book one in a trilogy, the Blocked Series.

Blocked — A New Adult Sports Romance Trilogy

For Lucia, volleyball has always been her escape from the suffocating pressure of her father’s presidential campaign. But when she lands at the same university as Dane — the infuriatingly charming son of her father’s rival — her carefully-built walls start to crack. Especially since Dane is the blond 6’8” setter she’s been secretly crushing on from afar.

Opposites in every way, Lucia and Dane shouldn’t work. He’s convinced his family will win the presidency. She’s battling anxiety that threatens to derail her college dreams. Yet the pull between them is impossible to ignore.

The chaos doesn’t stop there.

In Aced (Blocked #2), Lucia’s brooding older brother Alejandro can’t focus on med school once he meets Madison — Lucia’s smart, sexy volleyball teammate who challenges everything he thinks he wants.

In Spiked (Blocked #3), younger brother Mateo, a talented musician, falls hard for a girl with bouncy blond curls — Dane’s sister Jessica. But Jessica’s attraction to another swimmer on her team could destroy her shot at the Olympics… and her heart.

Funny, flirty, and emotional, the Blocked series follows Lucia and her brothers as they navigate forbidden attraction, family loyalty, mental health struggles, and sizzling second chances — proving that sometimes the best plays happen off the court.

Can opposites attract when politics, family, and futures are on the line? Can you rebuild when the block feels permanent?

Perfect for fans of sports romance with heart, heat, and depth — think The Deal meets Kulti with a volleyball-and-swim-team vibe and an unforgettable soundtrack.

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Low Water Sale for $.99, Books in Charleston, and Story Ideas #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, a monthly blog hop to exchange ideas and inspire each other. Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating the group–join us here.

Grateful hugs to today’s co-hosts: Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster,Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Because June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, my latest release about healing from PTSD is on sale for 99 pennies. Check out Low Water.

Psychological Suspense

I’m excited to meet readers at BOOKS IN CHARLESTON this month, joining 50+ authors at the Drury Charleston on June 20 from 12-4. Free tickets at Eventbrite.

Charleston, South Carolina is a mere 90 minutes north of me, and my sister’s family and I are turning the book signing into a fun weekend getaway.

June 3 question – Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My unlikely start as an author began with penning fan fiction for my favorite TV show, Prison Break. Writing stories about ready-made criminal characters was a helpful launchpad for learning how to express ideas and structure coherent plots. Even in fan fiction, I gave my characters mental health issues and threw them into therapy, and my psychologist career has continued to inspire my writing for the past 20 years. Family dynamics fascinate me and compel me to focus on connection and dialogue in relationships.

Speaking of relationships, I’m a sucker for all the feels from great romance, so my favorite genre is not a surprise. The thrum of UST (unresolved sexual tension) keeps me turning the pages. I also adore happy endings, which are hard to come by in real life sometimes.

In addition to the intriguing worlds of therapy and romance, my experiences with sports have sparked story ideas. The striving, suspense, and competition inherent to swimming, volleyball, and other sports offer rich potential for tragedy and triumph. It’s a blast to write sports romance in particular. One of my favorite sports romance series, Off-Campus, is now a TV series on Amazon that I devoured. I also found that Heated Rivalry sprinkles provocative characterization between the plentiful sex scenes.

Writers, I hope you have a fun and productive June!

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Giving and Receiving Reviews #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

It’s that time of the month…time for support from fellow writers. Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this group–join us for the monthly blog hop here.

We all appreciate this month’s co-hosts: Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Before diving in to the optional question for this month, I want to share my 5-star review of fellow IWSG author’s supernatural young adult romance, Dark Desires, by Ronel Janse van Vuuren.

My Review of Dark Desires by Ronel Janse van Vuuren:

Magic Brownies

This fun short story (#1 in the Dark Court Sisters series) showcases the gumption and integrity of Tasha, a young fae hiding out at a human high school. Though Tasha’s not a fan of the girls’ shallow popularity scuffles and the boys’ cool postering, she is determined to save them from a dark spell cast on the school bake sale brownies. Turns out there’s somethin’ somethin’ special in these brownies! 

I was impressed by the author nailing every painful part of high school (including judgmental cliques, desperate attempts to fit in, and mothers always being right) as seen through fae Tasha’s eyes. And I appreciated the humor, like when Tasha observes everyone chowing down on brownies:

Tasha saw that no one, even those on gluten-free, sugar-free, carb-free, fat-free, fun-free diets could resist the chocolatey goodness.

There’s a bonus sweet romance with a boy who’s also hiding his special powers. Though malevolent supernatural beings threaten Tasha, Daniel, and the humans, Tasha won’t let anyone push her around.

I was quite excited to find an audiobook version of this story! South African author Ronel Janse van vuuren is the narrator, and I think there’s an extra bit of love packed in when an author reads her own creation.

Get your magic brownies! Image by MUHAMAD ZUL AZIMI BIN ABDUL RAZAK from Pixabay

Today’s question: What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

A thoughtful, favorable review is a delight for any author. Author Darcia Helle’s review of Spiked (Blocked #3) made me beam:

“No matter how compelling the content, stories need great characters to keep us hooked. These characters are real people. I swear to you. They stepped off the pages and went on to live their lives. Each has his/her own complex, unique personality. I can tell which is speaking simply by the rhythm of their speech and their word choices. I feel their emotions and care what happens to them. Perhaps most important, I understand their viewpoints, even when I don’t necessarily agree. Being able to truly relate to a person different from ourselves is a gift Jennifer Lane masterfully gives readers.”

Happy May to all writers!

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Writing Playlists #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Writers need support, and we are here for it! Join the uplifting Insecure Writers Support Group, a monthly blog hop founded by author Alex Cavanaugh.

THANK YOU to this month’s co-hosts:  Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

April 1 question – If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

I love this question. To me, music is emotional, and emotions are elemental to writing. Listening to music as I write boosts my focus and rhythm. My one requirement is music without lyrics to distract me. I like a mixture of jazz, classical, and movie soundtracks. Here are a few tracks from my writing playlist:

Music also inspires the stories I write. My recent release, Low Water, features a man devastated by the traumatic death of his sister. Though his life starts to fall apart, he feels determined not to give up. He and his family play this song to honor his fierce sister’s memory:

In one of my novels, Spiked, music takes a more prominent role. The college-aged hero, Mateo, writes and sings his own songs. Here’s one he wrote to his crush:

Hey, chica! Where did you go?

Don’t wanna fly this thing solo

But you’re running away like a track star

The distance between us, it’s too far

Hey, chica! Come conmigo

And baby, why don’t we go

Down under the bridge to the water

With you it can only get hotter

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Book Launches #IWSG

Jennifer Lane
Join our monthly blog post for the Insecure Writers Support Group, created by Alex Cavanaugh.

Thank you to this month’s co-hosts PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

March 4 question:

What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

I’m choosing to focus on the marketing efforts involved in releasing a novel into the world. My book launches have endured many changes over the years. There were many steps to set myself up as a new author before a small publisher released my debut novel, With Good Behavior, in 2010. I started this blog/website and signed up for Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Book blogging was much more of a thing then, including virtual book tours and review requests. I was fortunate to garner wonderful support from online readers that led to a Goodreads nomination for best romance.

Later releases involved less fanfare. When I transitioned to self-publishing for my New Adult sports romance Blocked in 2014, book blogs and blog tours began to fade. Though I never developed a “street team” or group of beta readers to help market my novels, I benefited from Facebook launch parties in my page and pub sisters’ fan groups. The flurry of posts felt frenetic as fellow authors and I hosted giveaways and games throughout launch day. In particular, I give a shout out to Nicki Elson, Nancee Cain and IWSG writers who have helped promote my novels!

I have hired blog tour companies to host cover reveal and new release tours. I also paid a reader friend to design ads and publicize my brand as a personal assistant. Other marketing efforts have included Goodreads giveaways, Kindle countdown sales, and Amazon preorders. I have used Amazon KDP for all of my novels except for my 2025 releases: Low Water and Behind the Catcher’s Mask, which I published wide on Draft 2 Digital.

Image by Robert Cubitt from Pixabay

With book launches and marketing in general, I believe it’s important to 1) stay current and 2) be persistent. Unfortunately, I don’t follow either piece of advice! Readers have told me I should market my books on TikTok (especially BookTok), but I have no interest in joining yet another social media platform, especially one with ties to China. I also don’t have the motivation or patience to spend money and time on constant promotion of my writing. Instead, I focus on my fulfilling day job and family and friends.

What has worked for you?