At I Heart Lesfic, we believe the world could use a bit more kindness after one of the hardest and longest of years. Many authors have signed up to help IHL spread kindness in the world.
Today, the wonderful Leni Hanson is here to share a story. Also, Leni is giving away 1 ecopy of The Last Time We Met. Below the guest post, you’ll find more details about the giveaway.
Take it away, Leni.
Acts of Kindness
Back in February, this IHL newsletter listed the book Maggie Brown and I wrote in the Romance section. That was thrilling because of course I had been reading this newsletter for quite some time and The Last Time We Met was my debut novel (Maggie’s ninth). It seems fitting that I would use IHL and Project Kindness to publicly thank Maggie for her act of kindness in inviting me to write with her and to tell the story about how her character, Austin Farleigh (Playing the Spy), influenced me to think about my friendships and how I could be a better friend and kinder human being.
It has now been almost three years since I gathered up enough nerve to write Maggie about her plans to write a happy ever after for Austin who was only a secondary character in Playing the Spy. I hadn’t written an author before, but I was strongly motivated by the effect this character had on me.
Without going into a lot of details, suffice it to say that Austin made a unilateral decision that prevented her BFF from making the certain career-ending and embarrassing choice she was ready to make. I thought about Austin making that decision to step in without considering the effect her actions would have on her own career or their friendship. Then I thought about my own friends. How lucky I am that they are like Austin.
Austin led me do a sort of introspective of myself. What kind of friend am I? Do I perform selfless acts of kindness? How can I do more, listen better, be there? Have I misunderstood and missed the chance to show gratitude to others who were trying to help me? Am I doing all I can to be kind, generous, helpful and thankful to others?
Maggie Brown performed an act of kindness (also an act of insanity) by inviting me, an inexperienced writer, to join her in writing The Last Time We Met. Fittingly, it’s Austin’s well-deserved happy ever after. I’m so grateful that Maggie took the chance to work with me.
I want to close this post by thanking Maggie and Austin. You’ve helped me to become a better writer, and, more importantly, hopefully a better person.
GIVEAWAY
THE LAST TIME WE MET
by Maggie Brown & Leni Hanson
What if you’re a nerdy med student and a womanizing rock star wants you as her next conquest—then leaves you totally humiliated.
Now fast-forward eleven years.
Sexy and magnetic, Australian rock star Austen Farleigh is at the height of her spectacular career. Her penchant for one-night stands is as famous as her many songs.
American Dr. Merritt Harrington now works for Doctors Without Borders and is at a crossroads in her life. Her last assignment in the Andes Mountains was harrowing, and her love life at a dead end. No one has been able to ignite even a tiny spark since Austen—damn her.
When they meet again in Australia, Merritt is desperate to keep Austen at arm’s length. But temptation whispers in her ear.
From the US to Peru to Australia and the highlands of Papua New Guinea, their desire for one another is on an uncontrollable collision course—with a force they may no longer be able to ignore.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Leni Hanson is a voracious reader. In addition to hundreds of paperbacks, she’s read over 700 lesfic ebooks on her Kindle since the first one: Georgia Beer’s “Blend” in May 2018. She loves lesfic books of all genres. Those who know her well compare her to Lucy Ricardo. Impulsive, wacky, means well, but always stepping into it.
Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a fab weekend!
Miranda & TB
