Everyone can see the holidays coming, and yet they always seem to sneak up on us – at least that’s how I feel. I promised myself time and time again, this year would be different. I’d be early, get things done. Yeah, well, that never works out so well. This is year, I’m not promising anything. (Let’s if reverse psychology works on me.)
One thing I did to myself, was schedule a new release for this month. Last week. Right before Thanksgiving. Talk about being crazy.
Ask any author about plotting and they’ll tell you that the story takes them where the story wants to go. That’s similar to what happened here. The book didn’t want to be released until it was ready. It was ready last week.
Break the Spell, is the first in a new series. This is a paranormal romance, and it allowed me to mix in my love of fantasy with a romance. I post some more information below.
A year ago, I mentioned in my November post that the pandemic gave me a new appreciation for a work life balance. That has led my family to making new decisions. This holiday season is probably the last one we’ll have in this house. My family is planning to move this summer. We’re looking for a new school district for ‘lil q. Depending on what we decide, I may end up retiring early, but that is a tale for another post.
When we were cleaning up from Thanksgiving, we got a bit nostalgic. This has been a good house and a better home. It’s the longest either of us have lived in one house. We expected to stay longer, but the pandemic changed a few things for us. We got accustomed to my not leaving the house at 7:00 am and coming after 7:00 p.m. I got to do more childcare things, like drop off and pick up, arranging play dates, and after school activities.
Those little things added up to a more healthy and happy home. So rather than go backward, we’re pressing forward. It’s a bit scary and sad leaving this house, but much like the book telling me when it was ready, my life is telling me it’s time to change.
I’ll post about the process more next year as we get further along.
Here is some information about my new release – Break the Spell:
Blurb:
Break the Spell: Mages and Mates Book One 
Bartholomew Hollen, professor of defensive magic at Utrecht University, just wanted a no strings, no feelings, no attachment hook up. Nothing messy like when his ex-boyfriend tried to feed him to a demon. Bart’s heart, however, has other ideas. But when he has a vision of the future and sees his hookup dying at his feet from yet another demon, Bart does the only sensible thing – he sneaks out like a thief in the night.
Not like he’ll see the guy again.
Caelinus Reinhold has done something no elf has done before – become the professor of creative magic at Utrecht University. His first day should be magical, except Cael can’t stop thinking about the hot mage he hooked up with the night before who then snuck out while he slept. Whatever. His loss.
He’ll never see the jerk again, anyway.
Things get awkward fast when the department assigns Bart to be Cael’s mentor. Despite their rocky start, neither can deny that Fate wants them together. But Bart’s premonitions all end in tragedy for the pair. No matter how he tries to change the future, Cael is always a casualty.
How can Bart follow his heart when Cael’s death is sure to break it?
Buy Link:
Break The Spell: Mage and Mates Book One
Until next month, have a wonderful last few weeks of winter/summer.
~Andy
Andy Gallo:
Andy prefers mountains over the beach, coffee over tea, and regardless if you shake it or stir it, he isn’t drinking a martini. He remembers his “good old days” as filled with mullets, disco music, too-short shorts, and too-high socks. Thanks to good shredders and a lack of social media, there is no proof he ever descended into any of those evils.
Andy does not write about personal experiences and no living or deceased ex-boyfriends appear on the pages of his stories. He might subconsciously infuse his characters with some of their less noble qualities, but that is entirely coincidental even if their names are the same.
Married and living his own happy every after, Andy helps others find their happy endings in the pages of his stories. He and his husband of more than twenty years spend their days raising their daughter and rubbing elbows with other parents. Embracing his status as the gay dad, Andy sometimes has to remind others that one does want a hint of color even when chasing after their child.
Join my Facebook group for more of your favorite characters and to meet new favorites:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GalloreousReaders/
Harrison Campus:
Mages and Mates:
Website: www.andygallo.com
Email: andy@andygallo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/andygalloauthor