Katharine Sadler

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History’s Greatest Meet-cutes

I’m a sucker for a good love story, true, fictional, fantastical, angsty, swoony, hilarious . . . I love them all. So, I thought it would be really fun to start a new blog series about the greatest meet-cutes in history. I may include some love stories from my family at some point, and if you any of you readers out there have great love stories or meet-cutes of your own I want to hear them. I seriously never, ever get sick of love stories.

Annie Oakley and Frank Butler

The Meet-Cute 1875

Sharpshooter Frank Butler laughed when he saw his competition in a sharpshooting contest was petite Annie Oakley. He didn’t laugh long. Annie Oakley hit the target every single time, and he missed once, losing the contest and his heart. He courted her, and they fell in love and got married.

The Grand Gesture

What makes the story even better is that eventually, Annie became Frank’s partner in his sharp-shooting performances and, when she began to outshine him, he stepped out of the limelight and became her manager. He was a truly supportive and loving husband.

The Happily Ever After

Annie Oakley and Frank Butler were married for fifty years. After she died, he lived only eighteen days without her by his side.

If you love the Wild West, you might love Jude Cassidy and his Wild West Vegas Casino in my book, How to Lasso a Billionaire.

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Protecting the Creative Zone

Every writer, likely every creator, knows that wonderful, transcendent feeling of being in the zone. There is nothing quite like getting lost in the flow, lost in a world of your own making, and coming up for air to realize you’ve met or surpassed your daily word count without even trying. Figuring out how to find and protect that magical creative zone can be difficult, some days impossible.

Jane Austen, according to a biography I read some years back, was most productive when she had the least going on in her life. A time when she lived with her mother and another female relative and Jane’s sole job was to prepare toast every morning. She then had the rest of the day free of interruption to write, because the three women depended on whatever income she could generate from her writing. It sounds like a wonderful dream to me, to have no other responsibility than making toast and the rest of my hours free.

Unfortunately, most of us live in a world where we are expected to do quite a lot more than make toast. If we wait to write our masterpieces until a glorious day when toast-making is our only responsibility, most of us will die before we’ve written a word.

We have to work with what we have and to do that, to have the most creative, fertile mind we must protect our creative bubble at all costs. Here are five ways I’ve found to protect my own creative zone:

  1. Meditate – I’ve recently taken up meditation and I’m not very good at it or very good about doing it. If I manage ten minutes once a week, I’m pretty proud of myself. Even though I don’t do it very often, I’ve found that its effects expand well past that ten minutes. Immediately afterward, I feel calm and relaxed, my brain moves at a slower pace and is more focused. Often during that ten minutes, when I’m supposed to be clearing my mind, ideas pop in and obsess me like they’ve just been waiting for me to stop thinking about the grocery list and distance learning and screen time limits and make room for creativity. Beyond those ten minutes, meditation has taught me to build a wall around myself and protect my calm and my creativity. Even if everyone in my house is grumpy, I don’t have to dive into the grumpy pool with them. Meditation has taught me to breathe and acknowledge the emotions and let them pass me by. I can empathize with the emotions of others, but I don’t have to take them on as my own. I can leave the rest of them to their grump fest and sneak off to write.

  1. Say no – It can be hard for every person, who has more to do than make toast, to say no. I know I do. I know the mom guilt and the wife guilt and the friend guilt and the daughter guilt and the . . . you get the idea . . . can be overwhelming, but you know what? I put most of it on myself. I place huge expectations on myself and then get annoyed when I can’t meet them. And when I’m overwhelmed because I’ve taken on too much, I can’t get in the zone and my creative bubble is burst. So, sometimes, I say no. And, sometimes, I say I need this time to write and I’m going to take it without feeling bad about it, because it feeds my soul. Prioritize your obligations and decide which ones can be eliminated altogether. Say no to potential obligations if they might interfere with your writing goals. You don’t have to become a hermit, but you do have to carve out a block of time to feed your creativity and you are going to have to say no at least occasionally to do it.

  1. Build boundaries – Decide what your daily writing goals are and don’t let anything interrupt them. Build boundaries by saying no, by having a writing space with a door you can close, by not letting other people’s emotions penetrate your bubble of calm creativity, and by blocking out all of the ghosts that live in your brain and like to show up every time you sit down to write. The ghouls who shriek that you aren’t good enough, that no one wants to read anything you’ve written, that your time could be more productively spent elsewhere. Shut the door on them all and just write.

  1. Don’t read the news – I know, I know, to be a good citizen, we should all read the news and keep up with current events. The problem is that a heartbreaking or infuriating or horrifying or terrifying news article can destroy your ability to create. It can change your mood, destroy your focus, and burst your creative bubble in every way imaginable. So, save the news for after you’ve reached your daily writing goals, or just don’t read the news at all during the time you’re writing a first draft.

  1. Stay off social media – I love and hate social media equally. It’s the best activity for a lazy, mindless moment of surfing, and it’s a good way to keep up with family and friends, but social media can pierce a creativity bubble like nothing else. Maybe you see a political post from a friend or relative and spend the day drafting, in your mind, a scathing response before reminding yourself that there’s no point in arguing on social media and they don’t want to hear your opinion anyway. Just me? Okay, but I bet you’ve wasted time surfing social media when you could be writing, or maybe you’ve seen a heartbreaking, or horrifying, or terrifying story on social media that’s distracted you. In any case, social media doesn’t serve creativity in any shape or form. Stay off it until you’ve reached your word count.

I’ll add that one of my favorite ways to get into the creative zone is to read gorgeous, funny, or romantic writing, the kind of writing that feels like a challenge and sends me to my keyboard just to see if I can even get close to that level of mastery.

Protect the creative bubble, y’all, but most of all, even on the days you don’t feel like writing, the days when your brain feels like a dry desert, sit down and write anyway, because the very best way of all to get in the creative zone is to write.

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2017: My Year in Books

One of my favorite things about Goodreads is that I can look back over the past month or year and be reminded of all of the great books I read. In case you’re looking for another good read, I’d thought I’d share my favorites with you.

January:

          The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer – Amy Schumer is hilarious in this book, but she’s also fascinating. She’s not afraid to bare it all between the covers, and I loved her story of persistence, despite many, many setbacks, to become the amazing comedian she is today.

          Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye – Jane Eyre was one of those books I didn’t appreciate until I was older. When I read the book as a teenager, I thought Jane was a boring good-goody. As an adult, I appreciated what a rebel she is, an incredibly tough and daring rebel. In this book, Lyndsay Faye makes Jane even tougher, without veering too much from believability or from the original text. A thoroughly intriguing, fun read.

February:

          Vicious by L.J. Shen – Honestly, this book was almost too vicious for me. I had a hard time believing there were any redeeming qualities in this bad boy book boyfriend. He eventually comes through, somehow without losing his bad boy attitude. He stayed the same and I changed. The book is thoroughly entertaining and a fun, fun read.

          Two Brutes, One Barista by Shaye Marlow – I absolutely adore this series by Shaye Marlow. Every book is laugh out loud funny and this one is no different. None of these characters would be nearly as much fun in real life, I suspect, but they are a ton of fun in fiction. If you want to laugh, read this book, though you might want to start with Two Cabins, One Lake.

March:

          Cheater by Rachel Van Dyken – I wasn’t sure I could get behind a love story about a cheater, but Lucas Thorne won me over and I loved Amy. The story surprised me and kept me turning pages until the end.

April:

          Rome by Jay Crownover – This is another series I just can’t get enough of and this book did not disappoint. Rome is an outwardly tough guy with an incredibly sweet and vulnerable side and Cora is a tough-as-nails, lovable, and totally fun character. I highly recommend this series, but start with the first book, Rule.

May:

          Wasted Words by Staci Hart – The bookstore alone was enough to make me want to live in this book world. I want to go to one of their character-inspired parties. The story itself, based on Jane Austen’s Emma, was incredibly sweet and fun, with the kind of characters I’d love to hang out with.

          Wicked Beautiful by J.T. Geissinger – J.T. Geissinger is one of my very favorite authors – she’s pretty much an immediate one-click for me – and this book did not disappoint. A seriously fun book about revenge and second chances.

          Royally Screwed by Emma Chase – A prince and a pauper story, where the pauper is not the least bit impressed by the prince’s wealth or ego and the prince is drawn to the pauper and treats her like a princess. Despite the royalty, the characters in this story are relatable and the love story is believable. This is no prince charming saving the damsel in distress, but a meeting of equals.

June:

          The Martian by Andy Weir – I had a hard time getting excited about all the technical details in this book, but I liked that they were there. I also liked that I could skim them and get to the heart of the story, which is about survival and persistence and the strength of one man who has every reason to expect to fail.

          Words are my Matter by Ursula K Le Guin – This is a book of essays and book reviews by one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. I may have skimmed over most of the book reviews, but the essays are fabulous and provide insight into Le Guin and her life, but also a view of her life as a writer, the craft of writing, and the state of the writing and publishing world today.

July:

          White Hot by Ilona Andrews – Ilona Andrews’ books really has it all. They have heart-flipping romance and heart-stopping action. And the characters, the characters are the best part – they have depth and personality and are just such solidly good people, even when they are doing very bad things. And the dialogue, I could get lost in the dialogue. Just read Ilona Andrews. I recommend this series, but any of their series are wonderful.

August:

          Nuts by Alice Clayton – This book was hilarious. It was so well-written and the story flowed in that beautiful way that makes you never want to put it down. A chef and an organic, sustainable farmer get together and the food, the food is as sexy as the actual love scenes. A ride that hits every one of your senses.

          The Fox and the Hound by R.S. Grey – The older I get, the more I just want to read and watch stories that make me laugh. There is enough in the real world to cry about, I want my entertainment to make me happy. And this book makes me happy. Plus, there are dogs. A really fun, funny read. I’m a huge fan of R.S. Grey and all her books are on Kindle Unlimited, so she’s super easy to binge read.

September:

          Rituals by Kelley Armstrong – This is (sob) the final (boo-hoo) book in the Cainsville series (cue full-on weeping), and it is so, so good. The perfect ending to a perfect series. If you haven’t read this series about the kick-ass Olivia Taylor-Jones, the gruff, silent, ruthless lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, and the sweet, biker Ricky as they get tangled up in a world of supernatural, mystery, and murder, read it now.

          Into the Water by Paula Hawkins – This book and its images and descriptions of water are just gorgeous. It is beautifully written and the story pulled me in right from the first page. Paula Hawkins is so skilled at giving away just enough information to keep me turning pages and wanting to know more. A wonderfully woven mystery with a commentary on the status and perils of women throughout history.

October:

          Wild Irish by C.M. Seabrooke – I’ve been a sucker for books set in Ireland lately. I can’t say why, but if the setting is Ireland I’m likely to one-click that book. Sometimes I’m disappointed, but not with this book. A moody, broken-hearted rock star and a woman who’s far from home and dealing with her own loss and sadness meet and find some happiness together. I typically steer away from rock star romances, but I highly recommend this one.

          Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken – I love Rachel Van Dyken’s books and this one was no exception. I’m not typically a fan of football romances – I know I’m probably in a minority here, but it is what it is – but the characters in this book were incredibly down-to-earth and likable. I was rooting for all the characters in this book about a second-chance at love and I’m so glad I read it.

November:

          Train Wreck by Elise Faber – I can’t handle a book about a woman who is truly a hot mess because I really just want to slap her and tell her to get over herself and woman up. Pepper thinks she’s a hot mess and she is almost unbelievably clumsy, but she’s actually a kind, fun, loyal, hardworking person who’s a bit lost. She’s willing to do the work to improve her life, it just takes her a minute to figure out how. And that’s a struggle I can get behind. This was a really fun, incredibly sweet love story.

          After We Fall by Melanie Harlow – This is a funny book, and a sad book, and a heartbreaking book, and a sweet book. It really, really just has ALL the feels. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I love this story and these characters. One might be a cowboy and the other a rich woman from the city, but they are in no way stereotypes or empty tropes. They are real and they are likable and . . . This book is just awesome.

December:

          Dating-ish by Penny Reid – I love Penny Reid’s books because they make me laugh. I can’t put down her books because they make me feel things, all the best things. Dating-ish was one of those books I couldn’t put it down and, when I did put it down, I couldn’t do anything else because I was still worrying about the characters. The characters, who are both down on relationships for their own reasons, but are drawn to each other like magnets on steroids. Bonus: this book taught me stuff about technology that was really cool (although I clearly didn’t learn what to call super-strong magnets).

          Once Upon a Rose by Laura Florand – This book is so freaking beautiful I thought I could actually smell the roses Florand was describing. It takes place in Italy at a rose farm – who even knew such a place existed? – and the opening scene with the party and the drunk Matt who flirts outrageously is so funny and sweet and adorable. Plus, the woman is the rock star in this one. A truly sweet, beautiful read.

          Worth it by S.M. Shade and C.M. Owens – I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy and Worth it is an outrageously funny romantic comedy about three women who crash and intend to cause trouble at the wedding of the cheating, scumbag ex of one of the three women. The characters are women I’d like to hang out with, though I’m almost 100% certain they’d find me boring, and you get two love stories for the price of one since the book is told from the perspectives of two of the three best friends. I loved this book so much that I went on a complete C.M. Owens binge and I loved every one of her books that I read – particularly her Wild Ones series, which is hilarious.

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Francesca’s Slumber

Francesca’s Slumber(Book 2 of the Remixed Fairy Tales Series)

Francesca, Frankie, Lewis has always done her best to be polite, to avoid confrontation, and to be agreeable. Her consideration of others, however, sometimes reaches extremes and she often gives up what she wants to keep other people happy. She even pretends her boyfriend isn’t cheating on her, so that she can avoid an ugly scene. But when she walks in on her boyfriend with another girl, she can’t pretend any longer. She punches him and breaks her hand. When she runs out into the cold night, she slips and falls, hitting her head so hard she’s in a coma for three days.

When Frankie wakes up, she sort of hates the person she’s been and wants to change. She enlists her friend, Bell to help her learn how to go after what she wants without hesitation or apology. When she decides she wants Harrison, she does everything she can to win him over. But Harrison won’t be won, because he knows he’s not good enough for Frankie. He’s got a secret that, if revealed, will destroy any affection Frankie ever had for him.

**This is a full-length stand-alone novel, loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, that can be read alone or as part of the series.**

Available now at the following locations:

Amazon

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Remington’s Tower

(Book 1 of the Remixed Fairy Tales Series)

Remington McKinney has led a sheltered life. For thirteen years, she’s been homeschooled by her uncle and had only him, her four older cousins, and the mountains of West Virginia for company. She’s almost twenty-one, and she’s finally at college, where she’s free to live and make her own choices, to have friends, and maybe even date. Her cousin, Byron, intends to keep her just as sheltered as she’s ever been. Good thing she’s not afraid of him and not willing to let anyone or anything keep her from experiencing everything good in life.

She’s also not going to let Worthy, a man she’s drawn to and can’t stop thinking about, push her away without pushing back. She’s waited too long for freedom to be scared away by Worthy’s gruff brush-offs. When she decides to date Byron’s fraternity friends, in a misguided effort to her independence, Worthy steps up to be one of her suitors. He has his own reasons to stay away from Remington, but he can’t deny his attraction to her.

Just when she’s starting to enjoy her freedom, the nightmares start. Nightmares she hasn’t had since she was eight, when her father died and her uncle took her in. Nightmares that suggest her childhood wasn’t what she’d always believed, that her father wasn’t the sedate tax accountant her uncle claimed he was. Remington tries to push the nightmares out of her thoughts and focus on her blossoming relationship with Worthy, but when her nightmares start to interfere with her life, Worthy insists they discover the truth about her past. A truth that will change everything Remington believes about herself.

**This is a full-length stand-alone novel, loosely based on Rapunzel, that can be read alone or as part of the series.**

Available now at the following locations:

Amazon

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About Me

Katharine Sadler is an urban fantasy and romance author. Here you will find updates on new releases, free sample chapters, and the latest news. Read more...

Latest book release

Lizabell's Gamble: The 3rd book of the Remixed Fairy Tales Series. A new adult romance series. Released in January 2018 and available now in digital format. Read more...