Project Backlist- Erin Nicholas
Project Backlist: Start Your Journey with Erin Nicholas
Welcome to Project Backlist, Buzzing about Romance’s guide to must-read backlist books! This week, we’re spotlighting Erin Nicholas and her Billionaire in Blue Jeans Series.
Meet Erin Nicholas
Erin Nicholas is a bestselling romance author known for her heartwarming and steamy contemporary romance novels. She was born and raised in the Midwest region of the United States, where she still resides with her husband and children.
Nicholas discovered her love for writing at a young age and pursued a career in journalism before transitioning to writing fiction. She has published over 50 books, including the popular “Sapphire Falls” and “Opposites Attract” series, as well as stand-alone titles that have earned her a dedicated following of readers.
Her writing style is often described as humorous, sexy, and emotionally charged, with relatable characters and realistic situations that keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Nicholas has won numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the National Readers’ Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion Award, and the Kindle Book Award.
In addition to writing, Nicholas is also an avid reader, wine enthusiast, and animal lover. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to new places, and connecting with her readers through social media and live events. With her engaging storytelling and charming personality, Erin Nicholas has become a beloved and respected figure in the world of contemporary romance.
Get to know Erin
Becky: What initially drew you to the romance genre as a writer?
Erin: I’ve been a reader and a writer my entire life—thank you mom and dad! They always encouraged reading and read to us regularly even as very little girls (two teachers who were also huge readers 😊 ). I’ve also always written stories. In first grade, my first story for “public consumption” (my class) was about dragons and witches (my fantasy and sci fi loving father was very proud!) but I always loved the romances of (yes, sigh) the Disney princesses and even the romantic elements in the fantasy books—the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings—that my dad read to me as a kid, so when I found romances in my mom’s keeper cupboard at age fourteen, I was hooked 😊
Becky: You have been publishing for quite a few years now… is it hard to keep your ideas fresh?
Erin: I worried about that at about the ten year mark, briefly, but I’ve stopped now because it hasn’t happened yet and I have so many ideas that they will keep me busy for years to come! I think being a reader first helps remind me that every story has basically already been told and yet it’s magical and fresh and fun every time a new author takes that story on. I could read a hundred fish out of water stories a year and never get tired of them. That’s what’s so fun about fiction to me. Seeing what new authors can do with the same basic ideas. And it’s so fun for me as a writer to get to play with that as well. How can I make this small town enemies to lovers story (or whatever it is 😊 ) new and fun?
Becky: Can you share any writing rituals or habits that help you stay focused and productive during the writing process?
Erin: Whew, this is a well-timed question… it’s a good thing for me to reflect on right now as I’ve been really distracted and have been procrastinating a lot lately! Lol!
First and foremost, my readers help me so much. Interacting with them, reading comments and reviews of the books prior to the one I’m working on, being on my super fan page on Facebook reminds me that I have people wanting and waiting for what I’m working on. That’s SUCH an amazing thing that I will never get over and never take for granted.
Next, I’m a morning writer and I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t sit down and just do it right away before anything else, it’s going to be a lot harder. So I try to make myself just open the work in progress before I even open email or anything else and at least get started. Once I’m in the story, I want to be there, so then it’s easier.
I was appalled to realize that morning-writer thing a few years ago. I’m NOT a “morning person”. I don’t want to get up and be super active or go to appointments or have to give presentations or have big meetings or anything like that in the morning. Actually, I don’t really want to even talk to anyone in the morning. But I can write in the morning. Better than at any other time. Sigh. Whatever.
Coffee/ something to drink is also really important. And I need to have a view that I like and great smells. Lol! That sounds weird when I read it back. But I need a window and at least a great candle if not a whole bakery/ coffee shop around me 😉
Becky: What challenges do you face when writing romance, and how do you overcome them?
Erin: One of my biggest challenges is not putting every damned thing in every damned book. Lol! Meaning, sometimes I’ll do a lot of really cool research into someone’s job or a pet project or hobby and I want to share it ALL. I also build towns and big friend groups or families that I love and I want EVERYONE to show up every time they possibly can. I truly have to hold myself back and I still end up cutting stuff and then my editor STILL finds stuff that she gently tells me is “wonderful but not necessary” lol!
Becky: How do you handle romantic tropes and clichés to keep your stories fresh and engaging for readers?
Erin: <not me sitting here wondering and hoping that I do actually keep my stories fresh and engaging…> I like to twist tropes. I love the “reverse” tropes (sorry 😉 I know we shouldn’t call them that! Lol) For instance, I love when the woman is the grump and the guy is the sunshine (I do so love an over-the-top, head-over-heels sunshine guy), when the woman is older, when the woman is the millionaire/ billionaire. That’s one way. I also like it when my characters seem like they’re one thing, even think of themselves as something, but they’re really something else underneath. Like a sunshine who is actually like that because he’s covering up some big scars that make him very grumpy when someone <ahem, like the heroine> dig into them. BUT, don’t get me wrong, I love a good, classic trope. I think there’s a reason they’re popular and that we go back to them over and over for comfort and a sense of “oh yes I love this”. 😊
Becky: Romance readers often have strong preferences when it comes to tropes (such as enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, etc.). Do you have a trope you love to write, and if so, what about it appeals to you?
Erin: My very favorite is fish out of water. Paired with grumpy-sunshine and thrown into a small town, it’s *chef’s kiss* to me. I LOVE seeing people out of their usual “habitat” and forced to not only see other people in a new light, but to see themselves in a new light. To have their usual comforts taken away and learn something about the world that they never would have done on their own.
Becky: What is one thing you want your readers to take away from your books when they are finished?
Erin: A sense that the world in my books is possible. That the goodness, the found family, the friend groups, the sense of community, the unconditional love, the good deeds, the justice, the support… all of that is actually possible, and everyone deserves that.
About the Billionaires in Blue Jeans Series
Becky: What inspired you to write your earliest novels? Were there any particular themes or tropes you were drawn to?
Erin: In the beginning I took that adage “write what you know” to heart and wrote about people in the medical fields, first responders, and small towns—literally the ones I knew best (I just gave them fictitious names). Everyday heroes was a huge thing I was drawn to. Still am—in fiction and real life 😊
Becky: How do you feel your writing has evolved from your first release to your most recent books?
Erin: That’s a tough one 😊 I think the books are just “technically” better—smoother, tighter, all of that—but I’ve always had an amazing editor so she made me look good even early on. I think I’ve learned to understand the tropes and stories that are “evergreen” and not worry about the hot new thing. I think there’s maybe more of “me” in my more recent books too. That was there in those really early ones too, before I knew anything, lol! But in the middle, I think we all get caught up in “am I doing this right?” and trying too hard. I’ve relaxed in the last few years.
Becky: What about this series/story that holds a special place in your heart?
Erin: Why do they resonate with you? So this series (Billionaires in Blue Jeans) is all of the things I talked about before—fish out of water, twisting up all those classic tropes, so “Erin”. 😊 It’s got three billionaire SISTERS, who need to repair their relationship with one another as well as come to terms with their relationship with their now passed father. It’s small town. It’s got these three guys who tick all the great hero boxes. It’s got a will where they have to do certain things to get their inheritance. There’s a quirky town, lots of character growth… it’s just all of those yummy things I love.
Becky: Which of your characters in this book or series are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out to you?
Erin: Honestly, the dead father is one of my favorite characters in this series 😊 He is present through his will and these notes he leaves to his daughters and his pie shop and his friends that are around in the books. He is the driving force behind everything and you see how well he knew his girls and how much he loved them as the books go on. He was just a fun “character” even though he wasn’t there on page.
Becky: Have there been any books from your backlist that you feel didn’t get as much attention as they deserved?
Erin: So many! Lol! I’ve been published since 2009 and have like 70? 80? books so yeah, of course 😊
Becky: How do you approach balancing standalone novels with series? Do you find it easier to revisit characters in a series, or do you prefer writing new stories?
Erin: I haven’t really written standalones. I tried early on and then ended up making them series because I fell in love with my secondary characters! 😊 I love writing series. I love introducing characters in earlier books and then coming back to them later. I love making the setting into a character and returning to it over and over. I love the idea that my readers can become a part of the “family” too.
Becky: Are there any particular lessons or themes in this series that you feel still resonate strongly with readers?
Erin: I think readers really liked the sisters getting closer to one another and building their friendship through the series. And all of them finding out that they could do things they didn’t think they could. The series theme really is about pushing yourself into new directions and not labeling yourself or letting others label you. Finding out who you are and then embracing it fully, no matter where you started or what mistakes you might have made before.
Becky: What was the most challenging book in this series to write, and what did you learn from the experience?
Erin: Probably the first one. I loved writing all of them so I don’t remember any of them being super difficult, but book ones in new series can be hard and this series came after a major fan favorite series, so convincing readers to try something new gave me some nerves!
Becky: Do you ever see yourself revisiting (second gen or expanding) on this series/story’s characters in future projects?
Erin: I haven’t considered a next gen for this series yet, but I’ve just started a next gen on another series and am LOVING it so yes, maybe eventually. I have so many books and series that seem like a fun way to keep things going with a nice long career. I did think about adding to this series though (It’s only three books right now) and I still think about that from time to time and THAT could be really fun…
Becky: How do you stay motivated to create new stories after having such an extensive backlist?
Erin: Thinking about doing ANY other job! Lol! I don’t want to do anything else! xo And story ideas keep coming to me! And my readers are amazing! When they come on my FB page and share things that make them think of my books and worlds and characters, it’s amazing. I never want that to end. I think having done it several times—creating new stories and series—I now know I can and that readers will love them too, it makes it easier to do again and again 😊 <3
Thank you so much to Erin Nicholas for taking the time to answer our questions. Happy Reading!
