JAZZY
The second I stepped through BBMC Diner, my eyes moved to Whit and our usual booth. I knew she’d be here. She often took her breaks around this time.
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Asher and I are tucked away in a private study room at Langston University’s study hall. He’s taking a break between classes to chat before heading back to finish his day. He’s eager to wrap things up on time because tonight, he and Lauryn have planned a child-free evening together. Their daughter, Eres, is staying with Lauryn’s aunt for the night.
“We’re going to keep it simple…” Asher grinned. “Movie, dinner, and home for a quiet night in bed reading. I’m excited already.”
On that note, I decided to start with Lauryn and Eres, and Asher was more than happy to gush about his little family and his plans to grow it.
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Chapter 20 captured the third time in Ayla and Hassani’s story when they were intimate. It’s one of the most significant intimate scenes because much like the others, it pivoted the story in a new direction—this direction a little more uncertain. This chapter gave us a moment we’d been waiting for with these two. It creates a false high because we know what happens after it. But beyond the unknown, it’s sincerely a beautiful homecoming-like moment that holds a special memory we’ll see uncovered in the spinoff to this story, My Only.
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Hassani Franklin was an instant favorite in my book world. He was definitely a favorite for me. There have been several character breakdowns I’ve done on Hassani—that’s how much of a fan I am. He is the total package. The only thing missing for him was a love that gave him life, which he found in his friend Ayla.
Let’s get to know Hassani a little more intimately.
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WES
She’s not coming back.
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Did you read my short second-chance romance, Maybe This Time Will Be Different? If you did, then you’ll remember how the story opens. The short follows Omar Harris, a barber at Kuts Kings… the same Kuts Kings from my No Fraternizing series.
Anyway, in Maybe This Time Will Be Different, Lila and Manny from No Fraternizing make a cameo. Their appearance serves as an update from their last one in Loveless (book 4 in the Forbidden series), when Lila was pregnant. So it’s a bit of a surprise when it’s alluded that she might be pregnant again. Especially when she’s first caught running off to the bathroom and Manny casually mentions she’s had an upset stomach since the day before. Then again when she runs out of the shop after Omar’s son’s mother jokes about Lila not knowing she’s experiencing pregnancy symptoms.
Well, this alternate ending picks up right where that moment in Maybe This Time Will Be Different left off! I had to revisit it. And, as usual, I feel like these two have another story in them.
What do you think?
Enjoy. 🥰
LILA
It was quiet. A little too quiet. So quiet I could hear my heart pounding… loud, steady, and distracting.
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The No Fraternizing series was a lot of fun to write as a whole, but this chapter was a culmination of all that fun and really the calm before the storm. By the time we make it to part 3 in the series, a lot has transpired, relationship dynamics have shifted, and Manny and Lila—though still on shaky ground—are moving toward something more than casual. This chapter that captures Lila and Manny’s intimate encounter doubles as both sugar and spice in the most unpredictable way.
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Much like his love interest in No Fraternizing, Emmanuel “Manny” Perez was my very first male main character. The same day I created Lila Moore in my head, Manny came to life too. A flawed character who respected order and rules—even when doing so was complicated and inconvenient. Manny was the kind of character I connected with the moment he appeared on the page.
Let’s get to know Manny more intimately.
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JAZZY
Things were surprisingly… good.
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Lauryn insisted we meet at a charming bookstore cafe nestled on a quiet corner in Manhattan. It wasn’t far from Langston University, where her husband, Asher Truesdale, was wrapping up another intense day of PhD studies.
“I wanted to meet here because it’s close to LU,” Lauryn explained, her smile softening as she adjusted her baby girl in her arms. “Asher’s coming after class. We’re going to grab dinner together.”
We settled into a cozy corner near the back of the café, the sound of clinking mugs and low chatter filling the background. Lauryn’s baby, Eres, was peacefully asleep against her shoulder, her small hands curled gently in the crook of her mother’s arm. With only an hour to chat before Asher joined us, Lauryn and I got right into our conversation about marriage, the possibility of more children, and the exciting new project her father had been working on.
The warmth of the moment felt easy, natural… a reflection of Lauryn’s journey. She was once closed off, guarded by pain, but now, in this space, she radiated a calm confidence. As our time together ticked on, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much she had changed since the early days of Wrath.
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On a list of stories that challenged me as a storyteller, Wrath tops the list. I was sincerely terrified to write this story. Not because I thought it wouldn’t be good, but because of how much I knew I’d have to anchor myself in my character, Lauryn James. My friends-to-lovers love story Last Comes Love took a lot out of me after I wrote it, and I was concerned that Wrath would do the same. And it did—but in such a beautiful way, much like LCL. I told myself Lauryn’s story would be a progressive journey toward happily ever after, with surprising pivots that would feel like the end of the world but were really just part of the necessary path. And one of those pivots happened in chapter 20… the chapter that captured Asher and Lauryn’s first intimate encounter.
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Lila Perez (neé Moore) is the FMC who started it all for me. She was the very first self-published character to appear in my very first self-published story, No Fraternizing, Pt. 1. I thought her up after visiting a barbershop with my boyfriend (now husband), and she lived rent-free in my head from that moment on. Lila was the first character I ever fleshed out to completion—one who came alive on the page beyond anything I could’ve imagined. She’s like the Eve of my book world… the first to walk its terrain. And I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else to go first.
Let’s get to know Lila Moore a little more intimately.
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WES
My attention volleyed between my phone and the walkway ahead of me. I was typing up a reply to a potential sponsor — a local sneaker shop in Brooklyn — that I’d emailed earlier.
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If there was one couple I could say I rooted so hard for, it was Nubia and Naazir. When I originally worked on their summer romance in the short story An Unexpected Love, I fell hard for them. They were truly my introduction to opposites attract. From different worlds but drawn to each other with the commonality of being in love with something deeper than the surface could ever reveal. I really love these two. So it was important they reunited after those very painful chapters we had to endure… which in the future we will tackle. But for now, let’s get into this reunion we so needed between a couple whose souls were intertwined and simply destined to be.
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Joelle Victors may not have had much airtime in my book world, with only a short story and an erotic suspense, but once you meet her you won’t forget her… or her story. I’ve toyed with the idea of giving Joelle a spinoff story, but nothing has come to me naturally yet. Still, I loved how twisty and crazy her tale was and really liked Joelle as an FMC. Some of her history was hinted at in her story, but there’s so much more to know about Joelle.
Let’s get to know Joelle more intimately.
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JAZZY
I yanked open the diner’s glass door, my eyes moving knowingly to the corner booth.
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Zoe Greene (née Stewart) was always one of my most grounded characters, and when I asked to meet her for her Q&A, she insisted we sit down in her baby boy’s nursery. Located in the sprawling estate she and Bryant now call home in Long Island, Zoe welcomed me into one of the newly renovated rooms, where she and Bryant have made so many memories with their son already.
The nursery is cozy, with soft dove-gray walls (a compromise with Bryant, who wanted everything blue), and gentle string lights add a warm glow to the space. A plush rug underfoot contrasts the polished wood floors, and the crib is flanked by shelves of carefully chosen baby books and stuffed animals. The soft hum of a baby monitor can be heard in the background as her baby sleeps soundly. Zoe and I relax on the couch, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the crib, a picture of calm and contentment.
Zoe smiles as she sips her tea. “I never thought I’d be a mom,” she admits, glancing back at her son. “But now? I couldn’t imagine life without him.”
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I love all of the stories in the Love is Cure, Vol. 1 – Vices & Virtues series, but Greed is definitely one of my favorites. I had never written a fake dating trope before this book, and I realized how much fun it is to play with a storyline like that. Even in fake dating though, feelings can get involved—and that’s exactly what happened here. What started off as a strategic plan quickly turned into something real. Bryant, a man who’s all about his money, comes to understand that while money can get you a lot of things, it can’t replace true love. And once that becomes clear, he sets out to get back to the one woman who makes him want to choose love over dollar signs.
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Dallas was an MMC we all loved from his short story in Forbidden: An Anthology. He was the brother with the level head and the friend of Ayanna Dale. He had love for her from the moment they met during their freshman year, but bad decisions and a fear of compromising the easy friendship they fell into kept both Dallas and Ayanna from taking things to the next level. It’s always a pleasure to catch up with Dallas wherever he is.
Let’s get to know Dallas a little more intimately.
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WES
“Pardon me,” I said as I weaved my way around the lounge’s patrons, eyes focused ahead at the tall men standing at the far end of the room.
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Last Comes Love was a tough read for a lot of readers. It was hard for me too. But this chapter? It was one of the sweetest in the entire book. What I’ve always loved about friends-to-lovers stories is that the history between the characters runs so deep. That history is the core of their love, the foundation underneath all the intimate moments. And that’s also what makes a breakup between friends so hard to sit through—and even harder to recover from. In this chapter, the reunion between Rylee and Lennox is one of those rare scenes that just feels… perfect. It’s almost movie-worthy. And it all starts with Rylee’s water breaking.
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When I developed Ayanna’s character, I just knew a time would be had with her. She was the around-the-way girl who wasn’t quite raised to be that way. Her parents did everything they could to raise a suburban princess, but Ayanna just wanted to be around people who were down-to-earth. Her story in Forbidden: An Anthology was so scandalous, but it’s the lick-back many dream of after being done wrong. Her spontaneous “act now, think later” attitude is entertaining to read on the page. She lives life by the seat of her pants and isn’t too hung up on herself to be seen doing it. She’s one of my favorite heroines who frustrates me to no end—and I love her.
Let’s get to know Ayanna a little more intimately.
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JAZZY
“Mmm,” I moaned the second I walked through the front door and made my way down the long corridor to the kitchen. “Now Mama Bishop, you know you don’t have any business cooking food that smells this good.”
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The pristine office sparkles effortlessly, as if it was born to do so. Bryant Greene, the multi-billionaire and a different man than he once was, insisted I meet him in his high-rise in Manhattan for an interview. Perched on the top floor, his corner office offers sweeping views of the city’s skyline, where New York’s tallest buildings glitter beneath the late afternoon sun. Despite it being nearing midday, activity buzzes across the floor, never slowing down.
“We’re still very much involved with developing Greene Gardens,” Bryant informs me, settling into his high-back leather office chair. “Though many residents are calling it home, there’s still a lot more work to do. Work I’m looking forward to tackling every day.”
Since he was already in the mood to discuss Greene Gardens, that’s where we start for his very first Q&A with me.
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The amount of readers who said that Ayanna tried their patience with this story was overwhelming. It made me feel really good about the characters I created, because despite the situation these two found themselves in, you all were still rooting for them! I loved Ayanna and Dallas from the time they became more than names in an outline, and my main reason for getting through the frustrating moments in So This is Love was so I could get to this chapter in their love story. Chapter 20 was the reunion we thought we were going to get when Ayanna randomly decided to visit Dallas in Oakland in a chapter prior. And it was worth the wait… at least to me it was lol.
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Genesis Garner’s story in Forbidden: An Anthology was the only romance amongst the five stories. It was based on a random question I wanted to see played out on the page. A woman who believed she was living her forever, only to be faced with two crushing situations in one night, felt too layered not to explore. And Genesis, to me, was an intriguing character. Her continued story, Meant to Be, was one of the first unconventional romances I’ve written—and I’ve been hooked ever since. Genesis carries a lot of pain, and much like her friend-turned-lover, August Hall, she experienced the loss of a parent at an early age, which helped shape who she is.
Let’s get to know Genesis a little more intimately.
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Jazzy
I twisted my steering wheel to the right, guiding my car to the curb. My head bobbed in time to the beat of the song streaming from my phone’s speaker. The song was rough, the beat raw and very unpolished, and I loved that the most about it.
Last month on Brookelynite Daily, we wrapped our third serialized romance. This month, we’re starting a new one. The heat is up. So is the tension.
I Hate That I Love You is the fourth story coming to my premium newsletter. It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance about two A&Rs with beef who are being forced to work together for a good cause. They’ve got history. And yes, there’s the baby sister’s best friend trope in the mix too.
How excited I was to create an alternate ending for these two. Just saying their names—Nubia and Naazir—makes my heart warm. I love them deeply. Not too many words here, because you’ve got to get to the story. Enjoy! I know I did writing it…
NAAZIR
I shifted my attention from the canvas in front of me to Nubia. Smiled as I studied her, sitting as still as she could, covered only with a white silk sheet. She held a bulk of the fabric around her full breasts.
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When I asked readers to let me know which short stories from Forbidden: An Anthology they wanted me to continue, the overwhelming request was for August and Genesis’s story. And that didn’t surprise me. These two were really good on page. Tack on their storyline and how they came to be, and you have an unconventional friends-to-lovers story I couldn’t wait to work on. Their story was so unique, as they were dealing with grief (Genesis had a harder time than August) and this tamed attraction they’d had for each other since they were teenagers. And while they had given into those desires in the anthology, Meant to Be really gave their love roots. But one particular chapter brought this love story back on track—and it came after a moment that seemed too big to forgive.
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August Hall is a character that started as just a plot point. I loved that I got to give him a voice by the time we reached his story in Meant to Be. We first met him through Genesis Garner in her short story in Forbidden: An Anthology, and from there, I always knew I wanted to build him out. I’ve always wanted to create a main character who was a chef. There’s just something about a man who knows his way around a kitchen. And in August’s case, his kitchen is where he transforms healthy food into savory cuisine.
The situation he found himself in with Genesis was one I really enjoyed writing. The angst and quiet determination that pulsed through his character helped Meant to Be stand out in the Forbidden series. August is like a quiet storm—and we loved getting caught in him.
Let’s get to know August a little more intimately.
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DUANE
I stood in front of my full-length mirror, adjusting the collar beneath my fitted blazer. I ran my hands down my jeans and stepped back far enough to see my sneakers in the mirror.
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It’s a typical busy day at the Buy The Block Back (BTBB) headquarters in the heart of Brownsville, Brooklyn. The offices are abuzz with activity—workshops in session, a couple of community meetings taking place, and the scent of fresh coffee permeates the air. Jeremiah Rhames, the man behind the BTBB initiative, sits at his desk in his personal office. The room is modest but comfortable, filled with workbooks, photos of the neighborhood, and his framed vision for the future.
“A lot has happened since Loveless,” he commented as he leaned back in his chair. “A lot of good.”
And I couldn’t wait to explore all that good with one of my favorite MMCs.
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We can’t do a month full of grand gestures and not discuss this chapter in Envy. It’s the chapter that marks the ultimate turning point in Mykal’s journey of self-discovery. Before this moment, she was trying to live a life worthy of her father’s love and approval. That need for validation led her down a road of bad decisions—followed by more bad decisions—which landed her crashing an intimate night between Desmond and his friend-with-benefits, Faith. What should’ve been the most mortifying moment of her life ends up becoming the exact thing Mykal needed: a redemptive moment wrapped in one of the most thoughtful grand gestures.
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Joi Friday’s story was one not many people were excited for when I announced I’d be continuing her short story from Forbidden: An Anthology. Readers simply didn’t like her—and honestly, I couldn’t blame them. But I also couldn’t resist the challenge.
When I created her for “Decadent Contradictions – Sponsor for Hire,” I fleshed her out completely, flaws and all. But I also made sure to include the why. Her choices weren’t always great—many were incredibly selfish—but Joi lived a life that made her think happiness was tied to what she could touch, wear, or spend. And I was more than ready to show her otherwise. But let’s see what really makes our girl tick, shall we?
Let’s get to know the infamous Joi Friday a little more intimately.
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DIANA
“Well,” my therapist, Dr. Hayes, said as she crossed her legs in the chair across from me. “It’s been a while.”
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Have I told you how much I love writing alternate story endings? Because I really do 🥰. And capturing Summer and Jayce in this alternate ending is exactly why I love it so much.
These two will forever hold a special place in my heart. They were the ones who started it all—the foundation of a seven-book series. They walked so the other books could soar.
And now, I’m beyond happy to capture the very start of the next chapter in their fictional lives.
Enjoy!
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All of the grand gestures this month have been at the hands of the MMCs, but this one? This one belongs to Joi Friday in Loveless.
Now, her grand gesture may not have come with a physical price tag, but it definitely cost her something. The moment Joi decided to take a chance on something she never thought was possible—walking away from the life she attached her identity to, giving up what wasn’t serving her, and choosing herself—was the moment she handed her heart over to the man who actually deserved it. And that gesture? Priceless.
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Jeremiah Rhames made his first appearance in the No Fraternizing series when he interrogated Lila Moore after she was picked up during Romello “Mello” St. Claire’s arrest. From the moment I created him, I knew there was more to his story. He wasn’t as much of a standout as Mello, but as a young NYPD detective, I saw the potential for depth, struggle, and growth. What started as an outline quickly turned into a fully realized character. Jeremiah was an old soul, a man who had every opportunity to leave the hood he grew up in but chose to stay and make it better. And for that, he’s a favorite.
Let’s get to know Jeremiah Rhames a little more intimately.
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DUANE
The buzz of the door, signaling that Diana was letting me in, shocked me a little.
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It’s a chilly afternoon in the heart of Manhattan, but the air feels warm inside the charming chocolatier shop. Located in a cozy corner near the edge of the bustling shopping district, the shop offers a variety of decadent hot chocolates in every flavor imaginable—perfect for a cold day. The room is softly lit, with dark wood paneling and shelves lined with gleaming jars of rich cocoa powders, exotic spices, and decadent truffles. The gentle hum of jazz music plays in the background, and the scent of melting chocolate is intoxicating.
Joi Friday, dressed in a stylish yet casual outfit—an oversized sweater, designer jeans, and boots—sits at a small table, taking a break from the shopping spree she’s just completed.
“This was Jeremiah’s idea,” she insists when my eyes drop to the bags. “He said I’ve been working really hard and deserve to treat myself.”
Several shopping bags lie at her feet, some brimming with luxury items, others containing purchases she’s made with more thought, now that she’s learned to better balance her life. She sips on a dark chocolate hot cocoa, her eyes reflecting a sense of quiet contentment. Her thoughts seem to be with her husband, Jeremiah, as she catches her breath for a moment before diving back into retail therapy.
“Shopping used to be my therapy,” she says, smiling softly as she looks around the cozy space, her voice carrying a newfound sense of peace. “But since marrying Jeremiah, I’ve realized that I’ve learned how to spend in ways that truly benefit me. It’s not just about the things I can buy—it’s about the value I place on my time, my experiences, and the love in my life.”
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I could not wait to write Mello’s story. He was a standout character in parts 2 and 3 of the No Fraternizing series, and honestly? I just wanted him to find love. I love a good redemption arc, and They Call Me Mello was his in a way. He left New York to lay low, but in the process, he found a permanent home for his heart.
And while there were plenty of grand gestures throughout his story, this one in chapter seven? Still warms my heart.
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Though we didn’t get to experience They Call Me Mello through Rayelle’s eyes, seeing her through Mello’s perspective gave us a clear enough picture. This headstrong, independent woman switched her hips into Mello’s world and turned his temporary stay in Miami into a permanent one. She was just what he needed.
I personally loved her character. She was flawed, real, and genuine at heart. She had the kind of quiet strength that made Mello reflect on everything he thought he knew about love. And much like her now husband, Rayelle has a story of her own.
Let’s get to know Rayelle Bell a little more intimately.
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DIANA
I sighed, staring up at my ceiling. I’d been working all day, nonstop—more than I usually did on a Monday—but I needed the distraction badly.
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Romello will always be Romello. It was good catching up with Mello in this alternate story ending. I’ve always wanted to return to him and Rayelle, and I was happy to do it this way. We’ll be seeing Mello again soon—where? I don’t know yet. But if you know me, you know past characters always have a way of popping up when they’re needed. For now, enjoy this alternate ending from Mello’s spinoff. He’s still THAT guy!
ROMELLO
“Yeah,” Rayelle said ahead of me. “Just give me like three minutes.”
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If you ask me, every part of Wrath is a grand gesture from Asher, starting from when he first sees Lauryn escaping into her building after getting fired, to him moving into her building. This story truly showed how a good man can make a woman feel soft in a world she always viewed as hard.
While there were plenty of moments where Asher proved his love through actions, this moment in chapter sixteen was one of the most necessary. It was the grand gesture that got Lauryn comfortable enough to do something she never thought she’d do—find comfort in a man’s company.
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Romello “Mello” St. Claire was a character that stole attention from the very first scene he appeared in. We couldn’t forget the way he pulled up in front of Kuts Kings or the presence he made known when he stepped into the shop in part two of the No Fraternizing series. From his first appearance to his final one in part three, readers have always wanted more Mello. And they got it in both his short story in Forbidden: An Anthology and his spinoff romance, They Call Me Mello. There’s a lot to love when it comes to Mello, and just like the other characters we’ve dived into, he’s got an interesting backstory.
Let’s get to know Mello a little more intimately.
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