While authors release novels every day, it is not every day that a local author publishes a book that’s inspired by the charm of a small Franklin County river town. But on Sept. 2 that’s just what happened when “More than Fiction,” a contemporary romance novel written by Washington author Juniper Nicole, was released.
Although the book only officially entered the world a month ago, readers can’t get enough of the story. The novel has earned a 4.75 star review average on the reader-centric website Goodreads, numerous five-star ratings on Amazon, and has left readers on TikTok craving more.
Juniper started writing in 2018, but has been an avid reader since 2009. Although she wrote for years before publishing, a lot of that time was spent honing her craft and finding her writing voice. Those days looked like exploring genres, with her first story in the young adult urban fantasy genre, but as she learned more about writing and as her taste changed as a reader as well as a writer, she felt pulled toward love stories.
“Romance felt more natural to me (than fantasy) because I can see the beauty in love and the quiet magic that surrounds us in everyday life,” Juniper explains. “I married my high school sweetheart, and after 20 years together, it still feels new and exciting. I still get butterflies, he still surprises me, and I get the benefit of living out a real-life romance every day—minus the meet-cute.”
The idea for her current release came to her out of the blue, in some ways. Juniper says the characters and scenes from the novel came to her at unexpected times and recalls how she’d wake in the middle of the night to scenes from the book playing in her mind like a movie. Although the scenes would show up at different points, when it came time to write everything down, Juniper stuck to a set schedule in order to make her dream of writing a novel a reality.
Committing to her craft while also balancing a busy life as a working mom to two kids meant a writing schedule of waking at 4:30 a.m. to write for a couple hours before she got her kids ready for school and started her work day at her full-time job.
“I made myself a morning person,” she jokes about the early morning writing routine.
The entire project took two years from start to finish, and Juniper doesn’t plan on stopping the writing routine any time soon, as she has plans to write three more books set in the fictional small town world she created in “More than Fiction.” The future books will feature the love stories of characters readers meet in the first book in the series.
“There’s a cast of supporting characters in the novel. I’ve always been a fan of shows like “Friends” and “New Girl” and I knew I wanted those friendship elements to be integrated into the story, because I love having a village.”
The sense of community she wove throughout her book is something she’s experienced herself, as a lifelong resident of Franklin County. Juniper grew up in Union and went to Union High School, but she and her husband moved their family from Union to Washington in 2020.
“I love the riverfront, and getting ice cream with my kids on Main Street. I love that John G’s Bierdeck is dog and kid friendly, and that I can have a girls night at the winery on Front Street,” she shares.
Her love of the WashMO community has been reflected right back to her, since Juniper has garnered much support with the release of the novel. In September The Novel Nook in Washington hosted an author signing, and other area businesses have shown their support, with coffee shop underGROUNDS on Front Street creating a drink called ”the Sophia,” which is a special latte inspired by the book.
Learn more about the book
Turbulent. That’s the best way to describe the gut-wrenching jolts and jerks that have wrecked Sophia Carlson’s life. Walking away from her cheating fiancé meant losing everything. Now, she’s rebuilding from scratch, leaning on her fiercely loyal, highly opinionated, and overly involved friends. When a new publishing branch opens in Misty Springs, she dares to hope this is her fresh start.
The problem? Corbin Buescher.
The sharp-edged executive sees this branch as his final test before claiming the CEO title. He’s spent years shutting out distractions, and Sophia is nothing if not a distraction. She’s bold, unpredictable, and far too tempting for a man who thrives on control.
Boundaries blur, lines shift, and the more their paths intertwine, the harder it is to deny what’s building between them. With everything on the line, will they risk it all for the one thing that might be worth it?
Get the book online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or stop into Neighborhood Reads or The Novel Nook in Washington, and Main Street Books in downtown St. Charles.
Find Juniper at these upcoming events: Oct 4. book signing at Neighborhood Reads from 1-3 p.m., Oct. 11 book signing at The Rose Romance Bookstore in Mooresville, IN., Dec. 13 book signing at Lang-a-Tang Cafe in New Haven.
Stay up to date with other events and more book news by visiting her website, or follow Juniper on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
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