Know the Hero

Know the Hero includes fun questions about your hero, a cover, blurb, buy links, and author social media.

  • Contemporary,  Know the Hero

    Know the Hero from Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj @shilpaauthor #RLFblog #Romance #Contemporary

    Know the Hero from Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj @shilpaauthor #RLFblog #Romance #ContemporaryShilpa Suraj, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters.

    Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj

    Genre: Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    She believes in love, family and…squiggles!

    Alisha Rana is not your typical single desi girl. For one, she is on the wrong side of 30. For another, she is divorced. And last but definitely not least, she is still, gasp, a virgin!

    Alisha doesn’t want much. But what she does want is that elusive thing all women search for – A man who gets her…but a man who gets her hot! She calls it “feeling the squiggle.”

    Enter Dr. Vivaan Kapoor, cute, hot, squiggle worthy. The younger brother of her cousin’s prospective groom, he’s got the squiggle factor in spades. The only catch? He’s never been married and is years younger than Alisha. Basically, completely off-limits.

    And then there is Arjun. Widowed, older than her by the right number of years and a genuinely nice guy. He’s Vivaan’s cousin and a so-called perfect match for Alisha. The problem is Alisha’s squiggle-o-meter refuses to budge for him.

    What will Alisha choose? A lifetime together with the ‘right’ man or a chance at happiness with the ‘wrong’ one?

    Know the Hero from Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    Drink a lot of Coke and hang out with his brother and friends.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    Junk food. Lots of it.

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    Frayed jeans and terribly ratty t-shirts.

    Does he know how to fix things?

    He’s a doctor so he knows how to fix people. So, while he’s good with his hands, his fixing is limited to humans and not things.

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    He tried to get Alisha to accept that their attraction to each other was worth more than society’s perceptions and norms. Unfortunately, he fails to see her point of view and continues to view it from a place of privilege. Until, a chance encounter with a boorish friend opens his eyes.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    Vivaan is great with children. He’s a natural with them and has a strong nurturing gene. He’s also a pediatric oncologist which calls on every ounce of empathy he possesses.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    Vivaan is an inherently optimistic person and wakes up cheerful and raring to go. He’s rarely in a foul mood although Alisha’s denial of their mutual attraction does tip his even temper over.

    Can he use chopsticks?

    Yes, he can.

    Does he drink coffee? If so, how does he take it? If not, what does he drink instead?

    Vivaan is addicted to caffeine in any form. While he would always reach for a can of Coke, a mug of coffee is welcome in a pinch too. He prefers it with milk and sugar.

    What apps would he have on his phone?

    Vivaan’s phone is purely functional. So barring apps like WhatsApp, you’re unlikely to find anything frivolous.

    Android or iPhone?

    Iphone

    Beard or clean-shaven?

    Clean shaven

    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Unadorned skin

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    His personal car.

    Recycle or toss?

    Recycle. Always.

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters

    Amazon https://amzn.to/2IYNG04

    Shilpa Suraj Social Media

    Shilpa Suraj wears many hats – corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.
    An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present-day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.
    Website http://shilpasuraj.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/shilpaauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shilpasuraj
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shilpa.suraj/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8436864.Shilpa_Suraj
    Get to know Shilpa Suraj better by signing up for an email newsletter http://eepurl.com/dt-Br9

     

  • Contemporary,  Know the Hero

    Know the Hero from Rock House Grill by DV Stone @donnavstone #RLFblog #Romance

    Know the Hero from Rock House Grill by DV Stone @donnavstone #RLFblog #RomanceDV Stone, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about Rock House Grill.

    Rock House Grill by DV Stone

    Genre Contemporary Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

    One man’s choices–One woman’s impact.

    Aden House, successful but driven chef and TV personality, refuses to slow down. His life implodes one night, damaging him both physically and emotionally. He’s rescued by a woman he thinks of as his angel.

    Shay McDowell has rebuilt her life after her divorce. She juggles volunteer EMT duties and her job, while dreaming of becoming a chef. She finds her way to Rock House Grill and back into the life of the man she helped save.

    Can love be the ingredient needed to survive the many obstacles they face?

    Know the Hero from Rock House Grill

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    Aden is a pacer. He wears a path on his office carpet. Even in a wheelchair he’s figured it out.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    He loves the “Lemony” thing his pastry chef makes, but he’s also a fan of steak.

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    Chef’s whites in the Kitchen but jeans and t-shirts for casual.

    Does he know how to fix things?

    He can whip up anything in the kitchen but will call a repairperson for most anything else

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    Aden tried to be everything to everyone in his tight knit group. This need drove him to exhaustion causing his accident.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    Awkwardly curious.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    Ugh, he’s a morning person. Coffee with a smile.

    Can he use chopsticks?

    Absolutely.

    Does he drink coffee? If so, how does he take it? If not, what does he drink instead?

    Coffee strong but sweet with a dash of cream.

    What apps would he have on his phone?

    Recipe conversion amounts and latest Restaurateur trends

    Android or iPhone?

    Android

    Beard or clean-shaven?

    Goatee

    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Unadorned which is increasingly unusual in the restaurant world

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    His restored ’68Camaro was totaled but the new one is acceptable.

    Recycle or toss?

    Recycle

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy Rock House Grill

    Publisher Wild Rose Press

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rock-House-Grill-Impact-Book-ebook/dp/B084VCWRXR/

    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rock-house-grill-d-v-stone/1136377617

    iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/rock-house-grill/id1499753674

    DV Stone Social Media

    Born in Brooklyn, D.V. Stone has moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Throughout her wandering, she always considered herself a Jersey Girl. She met and married the love of her life, Pete–a lifelong Jersey Man, and moved this time to Sussex County. They adopted Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter, who is still working things out with their cat Baby.
    DV’s career path varied from working with the disabled to become a volunteer EMT, which in turn led to working in hospital emergency rooms and then in a women’s state prison. After a few years, she took a break from medicine and became the owner of Heavenly Brew, a specialty coffee shop in Sparta NJ, and a small restaurant in Lafayette. Life handed some setbacks, and she ended up back in the medical field, but this time in a veterinary emergency hospital.
    During the poor economy, she was laid–off from a long-time position she cared about. Devastated, DV wondered what to do with her life. Finding comfort in her love of reading, she realized it was now time to follow her dream of writing. It’s been a long road but worth every minute of it. Now a published author, she also works in a people medical office again.
    “Thank you for taking the time to read about me. Each time you open the pages to one of my books, I hope you’ll be swept away by the story and find encouragement in your own life, never to give up on hope.”
    Blog https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/campfire-blog
    Twitter https://twitter.com/donnavstone
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/dvstoneauthor/
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/d.v_stone/Goodreads
    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16344100.D_V_Stone
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-v-stone
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/D.-V.-Stone/e/B01N154Y9U
    Get to know DV Stone better by signing up for their email newsletter.
    https://mailchi.mp/23c28f1b6477/dvstoneauthorcom

     

  • Know the Hero,  Paranormal

    Know the Hero from The Hidden by Augustina Van Hoven @augustinavhoven #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNR

    Know the Hero from The Hidden by Augustina Van Hoven @augustinavhoven #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNRAugustina Van Hoven, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about The Hidden.

    The Hidden by Augustina Van Hoven

    Genre Paranormal Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13

    The monsters are real…

    For most of her life, Lily Montgomery had thought the creatures that inhabited her dreams lived on only in the pages of the horror novels she wrote. Until she was kidnapped by a vampire and forced to go on the run from werewolves and other shapeshifters. And from her emotions. For, against all reason, her heart was also at risk of being captured by the vampire.

    Valerian DuCharme had been turned into a vampire against his will. But in the turning, he did not lose his charisma or his caring. Now the enforcer for one of the princely houses of the Community, he tried to ensure the safety of anyone who came within range. And of many who didn’t. But it was all reflex, until he met Lily. And emotions he hadn’t felt for hundreds of years surfaced.

    Know the Hero from The Hidden

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your hero.

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    He’d go for a run under the stars, preferable along a nice lake or river.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    He loves breakfast food with eggs and bacon so he’d pick up a bacon, egg & cheese biscuit.

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    He loves boots, jeans, a tee shirt and his leather jacket.

    Does he know how to fix things?

    If it is something created before electricity, he can fix but modern things, not so much.

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    His current mission is to find out who is leaking information about the hidden community to the humans. He needs to question a woman about it but soon discovers there are others after her. He kidnapped her to keep her safe and now must protector her from shifters and others who want to kill both of them.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    Since he was turned into a vampire, he lost the ability to have his own, so he is very kind and gentle with children.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    Since being in any kind of sunlight turns him into a briquette, he is in his case before sunrise.

    How does he act around people who don’t know what he is?

    That depends on his mission. He can be very charming and diplomatic when he needs their trust or he can scare the crap out of them if they are in his way.

    Will he let a worker handle things or do it himself?

    He has a trusted human assistant named Karl. Karl also acts as his daylight ambassador.

    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Unadorned skin.

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    Personal vehicle always. He is either in his van if he is on a mission or his Ducati Diavel motorcycle.

    Recycle or toss?

    Toss. Two hundred year old habits are hard to break.

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy The Hidden

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852T1L3Z/
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hidden-augustina-van-hoven/1136528401
    iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1500280915
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-hidden-32

    Augustina Van Hoven Social Media

    Augustina Van Hoven was born in The Netherlands and currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, dog and two cats. She is an avid reader of romance, science fiction and fantasy. When she’s not writing she likes to work in her garden or in the winter months crochet and knit on her knitting machines.
    Website https://augustinavanhoven.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/augustinavhoven
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Augustina-Van-Hoven/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/augustinavhoven/
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/augustina-van-hoven
    Amazon Author Pagehttps://www.amazon.com/Augustina-Van-Hoven/e/B06Y3JKV7T/
    Get to know Augustina Van Hoven better by signing up for an email newsletter https://augustinavanhoven.com/contest/

     

  • Historical,  Know the Hero

    Know the Hero from Impassioned Deceit by Faye Hall @FayeHall79 #RLFblog #Australian Historical Romance

    Know the Hero from Impassioned Deceit by Faye Hall @FayeHall79 #RLFblog #Australian Historical RomanceFaye Hall, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about the book.

    Impassioned Deceit by Faye Hall

    Genre Australian Historical Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Would you risk your life for the one you love?

    At thirty-two, Hannah Wagstaff’s scandalous past, and the scar it left her with, has made her a spinster, scaring away any offers of marriage. She had given up on love until by chance she was reunited with Patrick, a man who had lit a flame in her heart years ago before disappearing from her life.

    Patrick O’Doherty couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Hannah. He had been certain he would never see her again, but there she was, and this time he would do anything to keep her in his life.

    Things take a drastic turn when Patrick’s vengeful stepfather starts demanding ownership of the cattle station that was left to Patrick by his father. Suddenly, Patrick finds himself on the run for his life, trying to uncover the secrets of his stepfather’s past and the reason he would be willing to murder for a cattle station.

    Hannah is distraught when she’s told Patrick died in a fire. Her grief continues when her sister is kidnapped without any clue to who could have taken her. Months later, when her sister returns, Hannah goes looking for the culprit. What she finds is Patrick, alive and working as a bartender at a hotel.

    Passionately reunited with Hannah, Patrick discovers that not only is his life under threat, but hers as well. What secrets tie their families together? Will he be able to protect Hannah, or will his love for her ultimately cost him his life?

    Know the Hero from Impassioned Deceit

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your hero.

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    Patrick would look through the old files and boxes left at his cattle station by is late father in the hope to discover more about his family and it’s past.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    I’d imagine something cold to give him some relief from the heat of North Queensland.

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    He spends most of his time working on his cattle station and is very comfortable in jeans and a cotton shirt.

    Does he know how to fix things?

    He does yes! Though he’s the owner of one of the largest cattle stations in the area, he’s not shy of hard work, and is often with his workers fixing fences or rebuilding burnt down hay sheds.

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    Patrick returns to his family home after seeing smoke coming from the building. Braving the smoke and growing flames, he ventures inside to rescue the woman he was certain was still inside. Finding her dead, there was a struggle with her attacker and Patrick is injured. He blindly tries to find his way free of the burning building, having failed to save the woman he’d come after. Struggling from the house, he tries to pull himself up onto the back of a very scared horse, but is bucked from it’s back, hitting the ground hard, that he fears death isn’t far behind.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    Patrick is an only child, so is very unfamiliar with children, however he does have a vague hope of maybe one day being a father.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    He has learned to enjoy the beauty of the morning, and the way the sunlight emphasizes the beauty of his cattle station.

    How does he handle things when in a “proper” social situation?

    Patrick is very uncomfortable in such situations and longs for a quiet life away from the busy life others in his financial situation share.

    Valet or takes care of himself?

    He takes care of himself.

    Necktie/cravat or open shirt?

    Patrick always wear an open neck cotton shirt

    Sleeves buttoned or rolled up?

    His sleeves are more often rolled up, usually due to some repairs he’s conducting on the station.

    Powdered wig or natural hair?

    Patrick has naturally blond hair.

    Carriage or horseback?

    Horseback! Patrick is a very confident rider.

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy Impassioned Deceit

    Publisher http://beachwalkpress.com/impassioned-deceit/

    Faye Hall Social Media

    Faye Hall spent her early years listening to stories about the families – including her own – who settled townships in and around her hometown in North Queensland, Australia. The local townspeople, including her own parents, told her stories of corruption and slavery, along with family secrets and forbidden love.
    Desperate to remember what she’d been told, along with her already growing love of writing, Faye began to write about the history of her local area. Never could she have imagined the history of her small home town in Australia would become a growing list of published books.
    Faye’s passionate stories combine controversial subjects and provocative encounters as her characters struggle to survive the lifestyle in early rural townships throughout Australia. She explores slavery and abortion, drug addiction and murder, as well as forbidden love and passionate affairs of the heart.
    When she’d not writing, Faye enjoys sharing a bottle of wine with her husband in their ever-growing garden, and encouraging the varied interests of their combined family of nine children.
    Explore the world of Faye Hall, Australian Historical Romance Author at her website https://www.faye-hall.com
    Website https://www.faye-hall.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/FayeHall79
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faye-Hall/174774709247649
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/fayehall79/
    Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall
    Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DPIMSMW

     

  • Know the Hero,  Suspense

    Know the Hero from Deadly Homecoming by Lorelei Confer @loreleiconfer #RLFblog #RomanticSuspense

    Know the Hero from Deadly Homecoming by Lorelei Confer@loreleiconfer #RLFblog #RomanticSuspenseLorelei Confer, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about the book.

    Deadly Homecoming by Lorelei Confer

    Genre Romantic Suspense

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Madelyn (Maddy) returns home to arrange her mother’s funeral and has to face her biggest fear; her ex who broke her heart, but in oh so many more ways than one.

    Garrett, her close childhood friend and FBI agent assigned to the human trafficking task force, gave his heart to her years ago and wants no other woman.

    Does he have a second chance, or will her ex steal her from him again?

    Know the Hero from Deadly Homecoming

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your hero.

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    Read, he’s a solitary man.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    pizza, hamburger, fast food

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    jeans, shirt and sports jacket-no tie

    Does he know how to fix things?

    Some small uncomplicated mechanical

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    He tried an 8-5 office job but he’d never leave at 5. He had to stay until he solved the puzzle placed before him.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    Somewhat timid but able to entertain them.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    excited to execute his plan for the day after a sip of coffee.

    Can he use chopsticks?

    yes, doesn’t want to draw attention to himself; wants to fit in

    Does he drink coffee? If so, how does he take it? If not, what does he drink instead?

    Yes, cream and sugar and hot. Despises lukewarm.

    What apps would he have on his phone?

    GPS, Link to local FBI office and available files.

    Android or iPhone?

    iPhone-wants good and reliable

    Beard or clean-shaven?

    2-3 days growth he keeps trimmed

    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Purely unadorned skin.

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    Personal, doesn’t want to attract attention

    Recycle or toss?

    Recycle for sure; cares about the environment and preservation

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy Deadly Homecoming

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083RCBMT4/

    Lorelei Confer Social Media

    Lorelei Confer lives on a peninsula in the mid-west coast of Florida with her high school sweetheart, now husband, and AJ, her longhaired Chihuahua.
    In the fourth grade, she wrote her first story–something about getting a shot at the doctors–that was produced by the teacher for parents and students in an assembly. When she was older, she spilled her guts in a journal every night and wrote long newsy love letters to Viet Nam.
    She is a multi published hybrid author of romantic suspense with two series: The Deadly series and the Saddle Creek series. She also has written numerous novellas and short stories.
    She loves to hear from her readers so if you want to stay “in the know” visit her website, sign up for her newsletters and contact her.
    Website www.loreleiconfer.com
    Blog www.loreleiconfer.blogspot.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/loreleiconfer
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LoreleiConferAuthor/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/loreleiconfer/
    Goodreads https://bit.ly/2U1jLw9
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lorelei-Confer/e/B004HX4G6K/
    Newsletter https://bit.ly/2UZyQe1
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorelei.confer/
    Get to know Lorelei Confer better by signing up for their email newsletter.
    https://www.loreleiconfer.com

     

  • African American,  Contemporary,  Know the Hero

    Know the Hero from Open to Love by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #interracialromance

    Know the Hero from Open to Love by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #interracialromanceLyndell Williams, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about the book.

    Open to Love by Lyndell Williams

    Genre Interracial Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    The last thing Hafsah wants is to get wrapped up in another marriage, let alone with a younger man. Despite the desire he reawakens in her, she is not going to fall into another trap. Faheem is undisturbed by the age difference and undeterred by her doubts. He feels the passion surging between them and is determined to get her to open to love.

    Know the Hero from Open to Love

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your hero.

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?

    When boredom hits, Faheem likes to flop on the sofa and pick up a controller. He slaps on a headset and starts trash talking his gaming buddies. FPS games like Killzone, Doom and classics Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty are his favorites. He gets to connect with childhood friends who have moved away are too busy, kill some bad guys and his boredom.

    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?

    While young, Faheem would watch his non-Muslim and some Muslim friends chomping down on fast food from places like Mc Donalds and Burger King. Since most of the food was not halal, he never ate there. Well, he got to grab a milk shape and some french fries, but never anything with meat. Even fish fillets were off limits because they were fried in the same grease as the chicken.

    The fact that there weren’t any halal fast food spots, like there were the city, only made Long Island, NY suburban life more torturous. When the first halal fast food restaurant opened one town over, he became a regular. The more that opened, the more he frequented, chowing down on burgers and Philly cheesesteaks. Consequently, he chubbed up and had to restrain himself and hit the gym a little harder.

    Faheem has gotten control over his halal fast food addiction, but he’ll still pull over and pick up a cheesesteak when his stomach growls when he’s on the road.

    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.

    Faheem loves to dress casually. Henley shirts and jeans stuff his drawers, and he purposefully chose to work at an atelier style architectural firm so he wouldn’t have to spend days stuffed in a suit. While designing, he wears a dress shirt and slacks with a pair of Raf Simons Adidas sneakers, expressing his unique style as he makes his way to partner.

    Does he know how to fix things?

    Faheem’s uncle is a master contractor, who took him under his wing as soon as he could hold a hammer. Faheem loved building things, and he worked with his uncle to pay for college and become an architect. He can fix almost anything, except electrical. He saw an electrician get shocked and carted off to the hospital when he was seventeen. So, he will be calling someone if wiring is involved.

    Although he loves being an architect, working on his new house allows him to put down the titanium drafting pencil and satisfy the builder in him.

    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    Faheem learned how to cook from his mother. He loved spending time at the stove with her, and became confident in the kitchen. He even decided to surprise her and make haleem. He waited for a day his parents were out of town and pulled out the ingredients, pot and Googled the recipe.

    Hours of chopping, mashing and YouTube videos later, and he ended up sitting in the middle of the floor with a pot full of lumpy meat and wheat. He gave up, threw out his failed attempt and cleaned up the kitchen, determined to stay in culinary lane in the future.

    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?

    Faheem loves the kids. He is an only child and was always thrilled when cousins and friends came over. He was older than a lot of his cousins, which often made him a default babysitter, and he didn’t mind holding crying little ones and entertaining them. He will still scoop up a crying baby or try to soothe someone with a boo boo. When he walked into his fiance Hafsah’s apartment and saw her friend Rahma struggling with a fussy infant, he went into action and had the baby sleeping on his shoulder in minutes. He can’t wait to have one of his own.

    What is he like first thing in the morning?

    Each morning before sunrise, Faheem gets up for the first morning prayer. It is a serene time, when he gets to connect with his Creator and ground himself for the day. The ritual wash at the sink refreshes him while the dark windows and dim lighting from lamps keep him calm.

    He is a wunderkind, who has accomplished a lot through hard work and focus. Things can get hectic, and having the opportunity to start the day in a peaceful state is important for him to achieve his goals.

    Can he use chopsticks?

    Faheem would not see the point in learning how to eat with chopsticks to enjoy food. He has watched people outside of his culture take up aspects of it in an attempt to “go native” and seem worldly. So, facetious cultural acrobatics are not his thing.

    Faheem is also one of those Muslims who likes to eat traditionally with his fingers when he can. He forgoes eating utensils whenever possible. So, he would only use anything if he has to do something like cutting a piece of chicken or eating soup. Of course, if he is at a restaurant or a formal meal, a knife and fork will be the way to go.

    Does he drink coffee? If so, how does he take it? If not, what does he drink instead?

    Coffee in a cup holder on the way to work is a good start for Faheem. His mother makes the best chai in the world, so he is very picky about the tea lets between his lips. Barely-hot tea with a label dangling from a string on the side of a paper cup is not an option. While he’s at the office or working on the renovations of his newly-purchased fixer upper, coffee flows freely. Once he gets to a pot, milk and some loose Danedar tea leaves, he indulges in a major comfort drink for him. He also looks forward to a super hot tea after prayers in the masjid during Ramadan.

    What apps would he have on his phone?

    Faheem keeps his finger on the pulse of what is going on in his field through social media. He follows architects on Instagram and Twitter. He also likes to have fun posting and responding to his friends on Snapchat and Tik Tok.

    He doesn’t like dragging a laptop around, so he has apps like MagicPlan to measure rooms, Construction Master Pro for complex planning calculations and AutoCAD 360 to have his drawings available wherever he is.

    Android or iPhone?

    Faheem is the adaptable type. He can adjust to almost anything or situation without letting it get to him too much. He treats himself to a phone every birthday and has had both Androids and iPhones over the years. He usually chooses a device based upon its features and how good a deal he can get for it. After haggling with the brother from the masjid who owns a cell phone store, he’ll sync his iCloud to the latest Android device he got and tucks whatever he has selected without getting flustered.

    Beard or clean-shaven?

    Faheem sports a full and righteous beard with his long, silky hair. He grew up around his father and uncles, all of whom considered a bear a manly-must. As a practicing Muslim, a beard is more than just facial hair. It is an expression of his faith. Unlike some of the Muslim men around him, he doesn’t let it grow too long. He will trim it and keep it a manageable length for him.

    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Some of Faheem’s friends would clown him because he refused to get tattoos, but he never had an interest.

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    Living on Long Island, NY Faheem needs a car to live. He has a car to commute to his job at the firm. On weekends, he climbs into his pickup filled with supplies and heads to work on his house. He is ready to start a life and family. Building a home and courting Hafsah are the steps he’s taking to have one.

    Recycle or toss?

    Faheem can definitely do better in the conservation department. His mother is always bugging him to use the blue cans in the kitchen. He rarely does. He knows recycling is important, but it is not on his immediate radar.

    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy Open to Love

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    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    A bestselling author and award-winning writer, Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
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