The Shoe Diaries by Darby Baham 💕 Guest Post, Book Tour and $50 Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Contemporary Romance)

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The talented but unfulfilled writer makes a “risk list” to revamp her life.

It’s never too late to put your best foot forward

From the outside, Reagan “Rae” Doucet has it all: a coveted career in Washington, DC, a tight circle of friends and a shoe closet to die for. When one of her crew falls ill, however, Rae is done playing it safe. The talented but unfulfilled writer makes a “risk list” to revamp her life. But forgiving her ex, Jake Saunders, might be one risk too many…

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Friendship Chronicles/Book 1: The Shoe Diaries

"Reminiscent of Sex and the City and the Shopaholic series in the best possible way. Her stories are a lot of fun and yet she still tugs at your heartstrings."--Gail Chasan, Special Edition Editor

A day in the life of…

People always want to know how I found the time to write a book, and then another, and am now working on another.

Can I tell you the truth? I’m not fully sure, myself.

I do know that it required lots of planned writing days; occasionally missing out on wine tours with friends; and many hours on my laptop in my bed or on my couch, in the airport, squeezed in hours on vacation trips, and even plugging in a few paragraphs on the notes app on my phone while commuting to and from work.

Maybe I make it harder on myself because I don’t write for my books every day. I have tried, desperately, and learned that that didn’t quite work for me since I spend 8 to 10 hours every workday also writing and editing. You can quickly see how one’s brain might need a break or two. Sometimes, I will squeeze in an hour of writing after work for 2 days in the middle of the week. But usually, when I’m in full on writing mode, here’s what a typical week might look like for me:

Mon-Fri, I am usually working my job as a senior managing editor at an NYC nonprofit, fighting the good fight of criminal justice reform across the U.S. Pre-pandemic, after work, I might have joined some friends or co-workers for happy hour 1-2 days a week, maybe met a cute guy for a date or two, decided to just go home and so I’d read a book on my Kindle app on the train, and/or go walking around my neighborhood to see the city but also get some steps in. These days, if I leave my apt after work, it’s to meet up with a friend or two for dinner or maybe see that same cute guy for a date or two. Generally, though, I find myself working on plans for my release date for The Shoe Diaries, doing some yoga, or crashing on my couch from exhaustion. Oh, and coordinating plans for my youngest sister’s baby shower happening in December.

On the weekends, I get to write. This might mean anywhere from 1 to 6 hours a day depending on where I am in meeting my deadline. Even here, I try to give myself at least 3 hours during the day to go to brunch, watch a Hallmark movie, or listen to music and solo dance in my apt.

February 13, 2016

“With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee the treasures of my mind, heart and hands…”

Staring at my friends from my seat, I noticed more than just their words as they recited their vows. I saw their hands clasped together throughout the ceremony, and the smiles they wore even through their tears; the way they focused on each other like no one else was present even while a hundred and fifty of us stared at them with glee. But most important, I saw the love that was undeniable between the two of them. Strange, but I was all at once happy and sad, amazed and hurt. In them I saw hope for a future. Here were two people who’d found love and decided that nothing else was more important than their union. Yet, standing less than two feet away from them, I also saw the man I’d hoped would be my future—and it hurt me to my core to know that we would never have this same moment.

Every few minutes I caught myself peeking over at him during the ceremony, hoping he would turn to me, and we would have some kind of knowing thought between us. That we would have a brief second where no words were necessary, and through our eyes, we’d say, “I know it didn’t work for us, but I still love you.” I craved that moment more than anything I’d ever wanted before, wishing with all my might he would just look over. Just glance at me…and smile.

That look never happened.

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💕 The Shoe Diaries will be in the January Special Edition! 💕

What happens when the first blush of love fades?

Jennifer Pritchett feels increasingly invisible and left behind as her friends move on to the next steps in their lives. As she goes to therapy to figure out how to bloom in her own right, her boyfriend, Nick Carrington, finds himself being the one left behind. Jennifer wants their relationship to have more intimacy, but he can’t help but feel like he’s being compared to others—and found wanting. Can they each get what they need out of this relationship? Or will the flowers shrivel up before they do?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

💕 To be released May 24 💕

Darby Baham (she/her) is a debut author with Harlequin Special Edition and a New Yorker of five years who sometimes desperately misses the sprawling shoe closet she had while living in Maryland. She’s had personal blog posts appear in The Washington Post’s relationship vertical and has worked in the communications industry for more than two decades. The New Orleans, LA native is also a lover of big laughs and books that swallow you into their world. Her first book, The Shoe Diaries, debuts in 2022.