Have you ever wondered how authors keep their creativity flowing to prevent themselves from developing writer’s block? Luckily, today we have the exciting chance to speak with romance author Laura Blakely, who continues to write the spiciest page-turners, hit after hit. Her experience as a journalist translates into her steamy prose, as she constantly explores fresh angles on classic tropes, from hockey romance to rom-coms.
This outstanding author made her mark on the romance genre with novels including Double Pucked and Big Rock. For the holiday season, Lauren Blakely makes sure the hearts of romance readers are fed and full when she released the paperback edition of the 2024 ebook My Favorite Holidate on October 7, 2025, and the release of her new novel Merry Little Kissmas, published on September 5, 2025.
About Lauren Blakely
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good, and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes, and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
Thank you for talking with us, Lauren. Let’s begin!
For any readers unfamiliar with it, can you give a brief overview of My Favorite Holidate and what to expect from this holiday novel?
My Favorite Holidate answers the burning question: what happens when you fake-date your hot billionaire boss at Christmas time to get revenge on your terrible ex? The answer? You just might fall in love with a sexy single dad under the mistletoe. But to get there, you’ll have to compete in a Christmas competition in a snowy small town.
There are so many fun tropes to play with in writing. Why did you choose the fake dating trope to tell Fable and Wilder’s story in My Favorite Holidate, and what was your plan to make the trope uniquely your own?
Fake dating is probably my favorite trope to write. It’s just a natural for conflict, misunderstandings, and forced proximity. It also creates so many opportunities for little moments when they have to touch and think they’re not falling for each other, even though they truly are. What I really loved about this story is that for Fable, the fake dating is a response to discovering her soon-to-be ex is cheating on her, and for Wilder, it’s an opportunity to show Fable how she should be treated. So they approach it with different goals, but of course, they arrive at the same conclusion at the end of the story.
Do you think you would ever go through with the act of fake dating someone to make someone else jealous, like Fable and Wilder do in the book?
That’s such a great question! I love games and theater, so I have to imagine I would probably say yes to the opportunity!
You’re known for your spicy romances, and especially for your dirty-talking male characters. Do you ever feel pressure to create the most unforgettable male lead?
Every single time! But that’s the challenge and the joy of writing romance. You need to find what makes each character tick. And by focusing on a hero’s unique and dominant personality trait and making sure that guides him through the story, that’s how I try to create a swoony, unforgettable hero every single time!
Is there a trope you haven’t written about yet but would really like to?
I enjoy books that have a treasure hunt or some kind of jewel or art heist, so if there were a way to incorporate that into my stories, I would try!
There are many well-rounded characters in all of your novels. Are there one or two characters from any of your books who you think about often? Are there any that you particularly relate to?
Thank you so much! I find that the characters that occupy most of my time, quite honestly, are the ones that I’m currently writing. I find they are swimming in my mind all day long, telling me stories, revealing bits and pieces of themselves, and helping me get to know them. And then once I have shaped their stories and taken them to their happy endings, they step aside and make way for the next couple to take over all my thoughts!
You produce most of the audiobooks for your novels. Can you tell us a little bit about the process of this one? How was the casting process?
I knew before I even started writing Wilder that Jason Clarke would be the perfect voice for him. And I’m pretty sure that as soon as I crafted the opening chapter for Fable, Samantha Brentmoor was whispering in my ear. Jason has the strength, maturity, sexiness, and tenderness that Wilder needed, and Samantha had that wonderful toughness, but vulnerability lurking right underneath, as well as sarcasm for the heroine.
Beyond that, I was sure that the douche ex needed to be played by Teddy Hamilton. He’s known for playing these sexy golden retriever heroes for me, and I wanted to turn that on its head and have him play a terrible ex. He did a brilliant job. The rest of the cast, as well, I thought, was just perfectly suited to the different characters, whether it was Andi Arndt with her sophistication playing the hero’s aunt or Erin Mallon with her comic timing playing the daughter.
To close out, what would you like readers to feel when they turn the last page of My Favorite Holidate?
I hope they have been able to get a break from whatever’s been weighing on them and that they feel everything will work out. I want them to feel a cozy embrace and the promise of holiday magic, twinkling lights, and a warm blanket. And the heat from a spicy Christmas romance!
Thank you to Lauren Blakely for giving us insight into the tropes, protagonists, and audiobook production of My Favorite Holidate. With her variety of published romance novels, she’s inviting readers to dive into her work, whether they choose to immerse themselves in the setting of a hockey rink or a holiday happy place. If you haven’t already, check out Lauren Blakely’s impressive body of work and keep up with her latest announcements on her author website. Be sure to stay connected and follow her pages on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
Looking to learn more about Romance authors? Read our interview with the amazing academic Dr. Jodi McAlister here.
Find Lauren Blakely’s holiday romances, among many other dazzling novels, on our Bookshop shelf here.
