Home Ice ~ My First Book

This book changed my life. And there were so many factors that made it almost not happen. I’m glad I didn’t settle for taking no for an answer and kept persisting until I made my dream come true!

#HomeIceTurns10 🎔 Book Birthday

Happy Birthday, Home Ice!

On this day 10 years ago, Home Ice was published. It became The Little Book That Could and climbed its way into the Top 50 in Contemporary Romance at Amazon.

(In all actuality, it's 12 years old. It took me a year to write it and then it was under contract with my literary agent for a year while she shopped it around to publishers.)

Thank you for joining me on this trip down memory lane! As much fun as it's been celebrating my first book, it's time to get back to work on my 21st...

#HomeIceTurns10 ~ Writing Rejection and Inspiration

Here's my journal entry from a few months before Home Ice was published:

Just received my upteenth rejection for my baby Home Ice. Seconds later, after reading the heart-piercing words, Alibi by 30 Seconds to Mars started playing. Jared's voice singing "I fell apart but got back up again" give me comfort. I don't have much more hope left, but I have to know that I'll be able to keep surviving..."

There will be ups and downs. There will be rejection. When you reach the point where you're ready to give up, you must step back, look at the situation from all sides and continue with a new approach.

The road isn't always glamorous, but putting in hard work and proceeding with fierce determination will help you reach your destination.

#HomeIceTurns10 🎔 Home Is Where Your Hockey Player Is

The theme of ‘home’ is prominent in the story of Home Ice as I believe it is an elusive, intangible place that some of us continue to search for. Other elements in the book were taken from my own life. I did have a great-grandmother who enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and she even had a caretaker named Ruby. Even though the rest is fiction, it’s still very real to me. No matter how many characters I meet and who compel me to write their stories, Ben and Ally will always hold a special place in my heart.

It’s been nearly ten years since I took the leap into being a full-time author. I have found my home at my keyboard with the love and support of my wonderful, too-good-to-be-true husband. Yes, I’m still married to the man who inspires all of my nice-guy characters! We might not live in the same house we started out in or have the same pets, but our devotion to each other remains as steadfast as ever.

#HomeIceTurns10

Home Ice was my first novel. Most of it was written at my kitchen table and the rest was thought up during my day job and written down later on my lunch hour, during breaks and on the weekends.

I’d always wanted to write a book. My early stories mostly consisted of me rewriting my favorite stories and movie plots. In the seventh grade, we read The Outsiders in English class. When the teacher told us that S.E. Hinton was fifteen when she wrote the book, I remember thinking to myself, “I’m only twelve. I could have my book written way before that.” Although I did try, I didn't manage to finish before the deadline. 

For a long time, I put writing aside when I let life get in the way. I got married, bought a house, did all the things I was “supposed” to do, but it always seemed like something was missing. It wasn’t until I transferred to what ended up being a boring and incredibly monotonous job that I started thinking about writing again. Once I opened the floodgate, Home Ice was born and I haven’t stopped writing since.

#HomeIceTurns10 🎔 Character Inspiration

If Home Ice was ever made into a movie, these were the actors I envisioned playing my characters. Romola Garai was my muse for Ally from day one and Jared Padalecki was so adorable in those early seasons of Supernatural that I couldn't help but fall in love and see him as Ben.

Which actors have played your favorite characters in movies that were based on books?

#HomeIceTurns10 🎔 Reader Appreciation

Welcome to the tenth anniversary celebration of Home Ice!

If you’re new to the Razors Ice series, welcome to the fictional city of Red Valley, where hockey is paramount and the Razors’ players are hot, hot, hot!

I dedicate this special celebration of Home Ice to you, my readers. With your continued support and kind words of encouragement, I am able to keep living my dream of bringing stories to life.

Hop on the birthday bandwagon by sharing your pics on social media using the hashtag #HomeIceTurns10.

#HomeIceTurns10 ❤ Book Birthday Celebration

Hello, friends! I just have a bit of special book news and then you can get back to conquering those New Year's resolutions...

Home Ice has a BIG birthday coming up! I invite you over to my Instagram page where I'll be sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits, trivia and my favorite quotes from the book that started it all. With your continued support and kind words of encouragement, I'm able to continue living my dream of bringing stories to life.

Hop on the birthday bandwagon by sharing your pics using the hashtag #HomeIceTurns10.

Let's take a walk down memory lane...

❤ Rachelle