Hi, there, I'm new Loose Id author, Jami Davenport, and I'm very happy to announce that I've contracted with Loose Id to publish my football hero romance, Fourth and Goal, the first book in my Seattle Lumberjacks Football Series.
While I don't personally believe in "books of my heart" (as every book should be the book of an author's heart if she's putting her soul into the book), but this book comes close to being that book. Fourth and Goal has been floating around in my head for close to fifteen, maybe twenty years. I've written and discarded pieces of it over the years, put it on a back burner when I found out NY pubs believe sports hero romances don't sell, and a few years ago decided to drag it out. To heck with what does or doesn't sell. After all, I also write equestrian romances, and those don't "sell" either.
I love football, and I know other women love football, too. According to statistics, an estimated 45 percent of NFL fans are female. So do NY publishers think these women don't read? And don't read romance novels? I beg to differ.
The few football hero romances currently published annoy me because the heroines usually hate football and/or know nothing about it. I wanted to write a romance novel series for women who love football, have a decent knowledge of the game, and want to read about a heroine who knows her football.
Rachel, my heroine, grew up in a football-crazed family with a coach dad and football player brothers. She has an uncanny eye for evaluating football talent and diagnosing a player's strengths and weaknesses. She aspires to be a pro football scout. The book follows Derek, an almost washed-up football player, through his and his team's journey from basement dwellers to Super Bowl contenders.
As part of my book research, last September I had the absolute thrill of attending the Seattle Seahawks Football 101 at the Seahawks headquarters (aka Virginia Mason Athletic Center) in Renton, WA. The proceeds from the workshop benefited breast cancer. The workshop was organized and ran by players' and coaches' wives and Seahawks staff. The day started with a pep talk by head coach Pete Carroll, Q&A sessions with players and their wives, autograph sessions, an explanation of the game by former Seahawks, running through drills on the practice field, and appetizers in the players' dining room, along with raffles and door prizes. Oh, and we all left with a playbook and a gift bag FULL of Seahawks goodies which I shared with my husband.
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| Me in the auditorium at Seahawks headquarters |
Almost all NFL teams have a similar workshop geared toward women, usually during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you're a football fan or if you've decided you need to learn more about the game, check out your local team's website next August or September to find out the date and time of their Football 101 workshop.
I highly recommend it even if you don't like football. The Seahawks' workshop was professionally done, and everyone who spoke was entertaining and funny. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.In fact, my hubbie's going with me next time. He was really jealous he missed it.
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| Me running a drill on the practice field |
It was an incredible experience, and my neighbor and I are definitely going next year. I've posted several pictures on my Facebook page if you'd like to see what it was like.
In the meantime, I'm hoping there's a market for a book like mine. Time will tell, but I'm putting my faith in all those female NFL fans.
http://www.jamidavenport.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jamidavenport
http://www.jamidavenport.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jamidavenport
14 comments:
Jami-
I love football, and I'm glad you're bucking the trend. This sounds really cool. I'm looking forward to reading it. Though, I have to say, I don't think I could do a camp where the Lions play. I'd rather see where the Seahawks play. BTW- my daughter rooted for them so hard in the postseason.
Michele Zurlo
Michele,
The facility where the Hawks practice is brand new and first-class. Right on Lake Washington. The outdoor practice fields go right up to the water. They even have a dock so players and staff could boat to work if they wanted. The weight room has a two-story ceiling with these huge glass garage type doors. When the weather is good they open them, and the guys can look out at the lake while they're lifting weights.
An incredible place.
Jami, I can't wait for your book to come out! I LOVE football, it's the only reason we even have a TV in the house. I'm excited to read a book with a heroine who actually knows the game. As a high school cheerleader, I was so annoyed to be the only one on the squad who understood what was happening on the field. The day our head cheerleader started a "hold that line" cheer when we were on offense was a dark, dark day (and she never made that mistake again after I explained a few things to her, LOL.)
I'm betting there will be a huge audience for your series. Good luck!
I had no idea that teams ran this "101" course. What a cool way to spend the day. Jami, I've read your equestrian stories. Based on that alone, I'm excited to see another Jami Davenport story coming out. Even better, it seems to be about a strong woman trying to make it in a man's world. I LOVE those stories! Best of luck!
Jami, I'm also a HUGE football fan, as are my husband and both of my daughters. So glad you've written a strong heroine who knows the game - as my 25-year-old daughter says, "I want to read THAT!"
Jami, well have to be different. I'm not a big fan of football. Well except when our grandson is on the team. But after getting a sneak preview of this novel I can say, that it is so well written and character driven that I not only loved the sexy hot hero, I loved your football scenes. Can't wait for it to come out.
Lavada
Thanks, everyone. I can't wait for it to come out, too.
Hi Jami!
I'm one of those "women" (insert derisive tone, if you wish) who has never had much interest in the game of football and has never understood it. But your talk about football 101 made it sound interesting! I hope I'm able to attend one of the casses someday. I'm sure that you will prove all those naysayers wrong who say that sports heroes don't sell!
Hi Jami, that football workshop sound like a lot of fun. Maybe you can give me the details when it rolls around next year. As you can probably tell by my facebook posts, I too love football, especially the Seahawks! I can't wait to read your book. I think ladies who know football are cool.
Hi Jami, that football workshop sounds really cool. Maybe you can give me the details when it rolls around next year. As you can tell by my facebook posts, I too love football, especially the Seahawks! I can't wiat to read your book, I think ladies who know football are cool.
Debby Lee, I'll let you know. We might have to take a bus from Olympia.
Stories with football as a theme don't sell, eh! Well I wonder if Susan Elizabeth Phillips thinks that!! I love her stories. She has sports heroes in a lot of them. Admittedly not a huge amount of detail about the game but even so.... So Good luck, Jamie. I hope yours does well.
Hi Jami. Congratulations on your upcoming release with LI!! Wonderful that you could combine your passions into a story like this, and it sounds to me like it's going to be a big hit.
Thanks, Sloan!!!
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