Snowfall by Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe 💕 Behind the Scenes, Book Tour and $20 Gift Card Giveaway💕 (Romantic Comedy)

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Can her perfect life can handle an imperfect interruption?

Melody is a simple woman with simple needs that include good clean books, safe and intelligible television, and a job that she loves. As far as she’s concerned, she has everything she needs, including a beloved gig as the assistant librarian of her local public library. When a Winter Reads program turns chaotic and Melody is caught in the crossfires of a massive child-induced food fight, her dream job becomes a nightmare – a nightmare that continues into a snow-covered, accident-prone next day. After waking up to a sudden massive snowfall covering her town, she becomes the unwilling victim of a snowball fight between two identical twin brothers. Melody must then decide if she has met her very own Mister Right, or if her perfect life can handle an imperfect interruption. Lighthearted laughs and endearing moments fill this modern romantic comedy by humorist Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe

‘Keeping It Clean: The Clumsy Art of Writing a RomCom’

Hey there, gal pals (and guy pals too)!

In case you haven’t noticed, I have a new romantic comedy out called ‘Snowfall.’ I had so much fun writing this book, but goodness, the challenges it presented…

First of all, I’m a lover of romantic comedies. I love the clean fun romcoms of Julia Roberts in her heyday, and I love the slightly more vulgar romcoms like Amy Schumer’s catalog offers. While I am able to enjoy both the naughty and nice of the film genre, when I read and when I write, it’s completely different.

In writing, I like my books to be enjoyed by people of all walks of life. Those who love to read hilarious comedy with great romance. But, when considering all walks of life, well… that’s when watching my language comes in. In real life, I use many of the curse words that my characters don’t. If I stub my toe, I often cuss. If I trip and fall or get bad news, I often cuss. If something surprises me… well… you get the picture.

Writing is a lot like giving my characters all of me without giving them all of me. I’m a believer in clean novels, and I love to write them, but they aren’t always so effortless. More times than not, something will happen in my stories and my characters will have a verbal response. That verbal response isn’t always very clean. Then, I have to pause, step back, and say, ‘Okay, how would someone else handle this without cussing like a sailor?’

I admire my characters when cussing isn’t their immediate go-too for handling sudden situations. Gracious… they’re stronger than I am for sure. Melody in ‘Snowfall’ especially. She’s pretty good about keeping her cool, and when she loses her temper, it’s obvious without her uttering one foul word. What strength and conviction she has!

Another aspect that I don’t enjoy when it appears in a romantic comedy book is graphic sex. I believe readers have imaginations. They’ve been visualizing books just fine, and their imagination can come into full effect with a fade-to-black sex scene. Most of us know how sex works. We’re in an era of time when very little of it is kept secret or private. So, we don’t need to be told how sex works when reading a book.

I believe that erotica books have a place in this world, but I don’t believe sex scenes need to be graphically described in my romcoms. My readers are capable of utilizing their imagination and, when the scene fades to black, they know what’s going on. I don’t have to tell them. Plus, it keeps the scene safe for those who just might not want to read about two people getting it on. Sex happens, but it doesn’t mean I have to describe it for people.

But there are times when my writing will start getting steamy and I have to ask myself: What is the cut off point here? When do I fade this to black?

‘Snowfall’ was pretty easy in this respect. Melody’s upbringing and wholesome nature made writing sex scenes the least important thing that could have ever been brought into this book, which was lovely. It wasn’t so easy in my story ‘Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter’s Night,’ but I managed to figure out how to keep it clean (or clean enough) while adding a darker or more intimate feel to the story.

I hope all this chatter about clean language and fade-to-black stuff hasn’t scared you away from my beautiful, fun, and quirky new novel ‘Snowfall!’ If you love romantic comedies, or just comedies, I know you’ll love this book. And, if you enjoy my musings, please follow me on my blog at: https://singlegirlsguidetohappiness.blogspot.com/

Much love and many laughs,

Jenn

“Well… their hunt for me paid off I guess.” Melody smiled and sipped her drink. “I got my necklace back, I got a wonderful new boyfriend, and… well… I don’t think I’ve shared this news with you yet.”

“You’re getting married?” Cocoa asked, throwing out a wild guess.

“Nope.”

“You’re pregnant!”

“Oh, god no!” Melody exclaimed.

“Well then, what is it?” Cocoa put her hands on her hips and Melody could see she was growing impatient.

“I… think… I’m in love.”

“No!” Cocoa shouted. Her voice was pretty loud and she looked around with a quirky smile as several customers looked her way. Then, she looked at Melody again, not caring who had heard her shout. “Not you, little Miss I’m Happy with My Quiet Little Life?”

“Quiet little life…” Melody rolled her eyes. “You make me sound so boring. But… my life’s not so quiet anymore, and honestly, I’m loving it more than I ever thought I could.”

Cocoa began to sing softly. “You’re in love! Love, love, love, love, love!”

“Oh, hush,” she said and blushed.

“I expect to be Maid of Honor at the wedding,” Cocoa continued. “I’m picturing very tacky beige bridesmaid dresses, a small church service, and lots of hokey pictures of us doing wacky poses in our outfits!”

“Aren’t you rushing things a little?”

“Well… someone has to. If I know you, the two of you haven’t even had –…”

“Don’t even say it!” Melody cut her off. “Good things come to those who wait.”

“He’s going to be gray-haired old man by the time you give up the –…”

“No!” Melody exclaimed and then laughed nervously. “Goodness, Cocoa!”

Cocoa laughed heavily. “Okay, fine. But tell me then what all you two have planned for your one-month anniversary tonight.”

“All I know is he’s taking me out to a restaurant but won’t tell me what it is,” she explained. “And he has something for me, but he won’t tell me what that is either.”

“I bet it’s a ring,” Cocoa noted. “It’s gonna be a ring. He’s going to pop the question. I know it!”

“After just a month? No way,” Melody discouraged. “Maybe a promise ring?”

“A promise ring? Are you both twelve?” Cocoa huffed and grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter. “That’s kid stuff.” She then paused and smiled a little mischievous grin. “By the way…”

“Yes?”

“What did you get him for your one-month anniversary?”

Melody’s smile disappeared and her eyes became concerned. “Is – is that a thing?”

“Yes, girl!” Cocoa exclaimed and put her rag down. “This isn’t the nineteen fifties, you know. Present giving is an equal thing now. He gives you a gift. You give him a gift. It’s called gifting.”

💕On sale during the tour 💕

(Always double-check the price)

Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe is a humorist fiction author whose works include the stories My Name is Not Cupid, The Scent of a Man, and the beautifully reviewed thriller about a mother who would stop at nothing to save her child, Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter’s Night, among others. Known for her quirky romantic comedies that feature realistic women of various ages and races and the trials and tribulations of adulting and dating, Jennifer’s writings allow real women to see themselves in her characters. Jennifer is also a proud LGBTQ+ ally and often features gay characters in her stories, including the tale All I Want is to be Happy, which features a wonderful gay protagonist. Jennifer, herself, is a single straight woman, still looking for love, and living with her cats in an apartment in Nashville, Tennessee.