Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work.
Today: Naomi Rivers writes lesbian romance and women’s fiction. Naomi Rivers is a wife writing team who believes in romance, fairy tales, and happily ever after. Their first novel, THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story, was written over twenty years to maintain their connection during multiple deployments. They are both retired U.S. military veterans and reside with their two rescue dogs on the east coast. Naomi’s work has appeared in I Heart SapphFic’s anthology Favorite Scenes from Favorite Authors. Their second book is in progress, with a release pending in 2024. Additionally, Rainbow Room Publishing LLC has accepted a short story for publication in 2025.
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Thanks so much, Naomi, for joining me!
J. Scott Coatsworth: If you could sit down with one other writer, living or dead, who would you choose, and what would you ask them?
Naomi Rivers: James Baldwin — August 2nd would have been his 100th birthday. I think talking with James Baldwin would have been both a hoot and sobering since he was a writer, civil rights activist, and profound thinker. Mr. Baldwin was an out gay, Black man long before society welcomed his perspective on race or sexuality. I love watching YouTube videos of him — his charm, wit, and snappy retorts are legendary. I would ask, “How were you able to maintain your composure when asked insensitive interview questions?”
JSC: What was your first published work? Tell me a little about it.
NR: We published our debut novel, THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story, in 2023. It is a lesbian love story that takes place in Baltimore. It’s an alluring portrait of the love and life of Jasmine and Teresa told in parallel conversations. Their engaging journey is a dynamic study of vulnerability and expectations as well as a real life and messy, yet universal story of two women who weren’t looking, but found love.
JSC: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
NR: Not necessarily weird, but we spent time driving around Baltimore and Savannah and sitting in cafes to make sure we identified street names, landmarks, and neighborhood vibes accurately. One of us is a bit navigationally challenged so we needed several tours for research. Google Streetview can be incredibly helpful now to explore places, but we started writing THIS over twenty years ago, online resources weren’t as plentiful. Even so, there’s nothing like experiencing the energy of a place firsthand and then help a reader experience that place in three dimensions.
JSC: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
NR: Yes, one of us reads all reviews despite author friends recommending that we not read them or respond. We celebrate good reviews and appreciate anyone who feels compelled to leave a comment about our book. For example, a reader mentioned they didn’t like a main character and had strong feelings about the overall story line. Her review was thorough enough however, to let us know she actually read the book and it resonated. Thankfully, most reviews have been positive. Publisher’s Weekly said we “nailed descriptions of the early 2000’s.”
JSC: Are there underrepresented groups or ideas featured if your book? If so, discuss them.
NR: Our main characters are African American women who love women. Romance is consistently one of the most popular book genres however, finding romance novels that center women of color, especially as protagonists, is challenging. We love good stories about women who look like us. We took Toni Morrison’s advice to heart in writing a story we wanted to read.
JSC: What is the most heartfelt thing a reader has said to you?
NR: After finishing THIS, a reader said, “I already miss Jasmine and T.” We think writing characters that readers enjoy spending time with and find relatable is a blessing.
JSC: What are your least favorite parts of publishing?
NR: Up until a few months ago, we would have said marketing. As with anything though, the more you do it, the less cumbersome it becomes. We increased our engagement with other authors and curated more content to make social media algorithms help readers find our work. Developing content is less overwhelming today than this time last year, we joined a few author groups, participated in marketing summits, and took courses to help in this regard. We also enjoy sharing our newsletter with those who are interested. It gives us a chance to share a little more about ourselves and our writing journey. Folks can sign up on our website, https://www.naomiriversbooks.com/.
JSC: How do you combine all the different worlds of your life in your works?
Different parts of our lives show up in our writing for sure. Family dynamics, friendships, our faith, careers as military officers, working as a healthcare provider, and being lifelong readers provide perspective and inform our writing. We don’t think we could ever completely divorce ourselves from past experiences. They are woven into our DNA — how could they not show up in our work in big and small ways?
NR: JSC: What other artistic pursuits (it any) do you indulge in apart from writing?
The creative chaos in our basement craft area suggests we’re involved in more artistic pursuits than we are. But in addition to writing, we’ve created and sell: a line of notecards depicting women reading; beautiful, handcrafted tote bags (because there’s no need to pay extra for a shopping bag and advertise for retail stores); and shortly, we’ll introduce a line of journals with a variety of eye-catching covers to jot thoughts, goals, and notes on blank pages. All these items are, or will be, available for purchase on our website.
JSC: What are you working on now, and what’s coming out next? Tell us about it!
NR: There’s a sequel to Jasmine and T’s story coming later this year! Book #2 is a continuation of their love story but it will stand on its own. Jasmine’s best friend, Leslie, faces a health crisis and Jasmine and T agree to help her because Leslie is going to need more than thoughts and prayers. Jasmine and T have a lot to learn about love, loss, and the importance of family. Find out if they can keep it together to discover if love really is patient, kind, and enduring. We’re looking for beta and ARC readers if people are interested. In the meantime, we have a bonus chapter for THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story and a prequel of Book #2 for newsletter subscribers.
And now for Naomi’s latest book: This:
Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor is known for its historic port, picturesque beauty, and tourist attractions. Can it also be the perfect setting to make a love connection?
Jasmine, a pragmatic social worker, struggles to keep her long-term relationship intact. T, an art teacher by day and an elusive artist by night, gave up on relationships a long time ago.
When the two meet at the Harbor by chance, their unexpected chemistry challenges their ideas about life and expectations for love. But does love have to be complicated? Or is it possible to simply live in the moment and see where the unexpected leads?
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Excerpt
Although I didn’t get any love from my usual “friends,” I was excited about seeing Jasmine two days in a row. I’m glad she agreed to meet me for an early dinner although neither of us ate very much. Because here I was standing alone with her, with nothing or no one else between us except the emanating energy drawing us together.
“I see a beautiful work of art right here,” I said, “nothing could compare.”
“Stop, you’re embarrassing me,” Jasmine said as she pulled away from me, grabbed my hand, and led me into the rear of the house. She opened the blinds to reveal several sets of French doors that led to the deck and backyard. We stepped onto the large wooden deck that stretched the length of the house. It overlooked a sloping, manicured lawn, which gently met a narrow creek.
Jasmine noticed me staring off into space again and leaned into my shoulder, “Penny for your thoughts… again,” she said. I smiled and came out of my trance. “Sometimes I wonder why I stay in the city you know? The constant movement, sirens, people walking by all times of the night. Out here you can hear yourself think,” I said, walking down the stairs onto the lawn with my camera bag slung over my shoulder.
“Yeah, that’s why I moved a bit further out, too much going on for me in the heart of the city,” Jasmine added, following me. “Where are you going?
“This place is perfect, and the sun has started to go down so shadows won’t be as harsh,” I said, knowing full well I probably wasn’t making sense.
“Perfect for what? Please tell me what you’re talking about,” Jasmine wanted to know.
“Ever since I met you, I’ve wanted to take your picture.”
“You just happen to have a camera in your car?” Jasmine was rightfully suspicious.
“Since I was going to see you, I grabbed it just in case,” I said with a sly smile, “I hoped you would agree.”
“Did you now?” Jasmine arched one eyebrow.
“Yes, yes, I did.” I couldn’t pretend like my carrying a camera was anything other than what it really was. I thought Jasmine was gorgeous and the artist in me wanted to capture that. “Since you got all gussied up, why not let me photograph you?” I asked while pulling my camera out of its case.
“Cause…” Jasmine said.
“Cause what?” I wanted to know.
“Cause I don’t necessarily like taking pictures,” she answered.
“I get that but you’re beautiful,” I said.
“You probably say that to all your girls.”
“Not really,” I gently responded, which was the absolute truth. I aimed the camera towards Jasmine, adjusted the lens, and pressed the shutter button. “You know what makes you beautiful?” I asked. Click.
“What?” Jasmine asked peeking out from behind the strands of hair that covered her face.
“You’re smooth with it,” I said, “like, you know you’re beautiful, but you downplay it.” Click. “Hey, go stand next to those trees.” Click.
“T, you’re a bit over the top don’t you think?” Jasmine asked, trying to block the lens with her hand but she leaned against a tree anyway. Click. She stuck out her tongue. Click. Then frowned. Click, click. She did the look away, capture my profile thing. Click. She smiled. Click. She blushed. Click, click, click.
“You’re not going to blackmail me with these photos, are you?” she asked.
“Why would I do that?” “I don’t know. You know we’re still in that ‘getting to know you’ stage. How do I know you’re not going to do something malicious with them?”
“You don’t. Does your intuition tell you I would?” I asked.
“No.”
“What does it tell you?”
“You don’t want to know,” Jasmine said shyly.
“Yes, I do.”
“Never mind.”
“You can’t just drop it like that,” I said reaching for Jasmine’s hand. “Tell me. What is your intuition telling you about me, about us being here, about our previously unspoken connection?”
“So, you sense it too?” she asked.
“How could I not?” I asked in return.
After a long silence, Jasmine said, “T?”
“Yeah?”
“It scares me,” Jasmine said barely above a whisper and let my hand go. “The connection scares me. We’ve not known each other very long—a hot minute is being generous. I’m not supposed to think about you when I don’t see you at the Harbor. I’m not supposed to count the days until I see you again or the minutes between our e-mails. I’m not supposed to get all warm inside when I do see you.”
“Your intuition tells you to run like hell?”
“Yes and no, that’s the scary part.”
“What do you mean?”
“I shouldn’t be telling you this,” she said reluctantly.
“Why not?”
“Because if I speak it into the atmosphere, if I speak about us, as if there is an us, if I start wondering ‘what if,’ I believe it becomes closer to reality.”
“I get that, and you don’t want that reality?” I asked.
“I don’t know T, I just don’t know,” Jasmine confessed, “My sensible, step-by-step approach to life says, ‘get as far away from you as I possibly can.’ On the other hand, I…” she abruptly interrupted her train of thought. “Come on, there’s more to see.” Jasmine grabbed my hand again and pulled me back towards the house. I really wasn’t that interested in looking at this suburban, buppie house. What I really wanted to do was continue our conversation and just be next to her. I didn’t have the urge to get her into bed, I just wanted to be near her, a departure from my norm. Was I getting soft or was Jasmine that special? Probably a little bit of both.