My upcoming STEM novel helped me fall back in love with science
updates about Deep In Love, my life, and more!
We’re living in a time of chaos, or so it feels, and as a scientist, it’s been a bit unsettling. In the last six months, we’ve seen cuts in funding, mass layoffs, reduction in critical services—weather tracking from NOAA and the National Parks Service—and most recently, the proposal to sell off public land.
I am in a better position than most. I work at a not-for-profit that wasn’t hit by the elimination of federal funding, but many of my peers and colleagues have been impacted by the shift. But the undercurrent of instability still resides in most labs, and that uncertainty can make embracing the joy and love for science difficult.
At the beginning of the year, that’s exactly where I was. Unsure, uncertain, and frankly, pissed off. It was hard to feel any excitement walking into the lab every morning knowing funding could be cut, and that people I know were being laid off.
Deep In Love was in the editing stages when it felt like science was at it’s most vulnerable but it helped me realize why I was writing a STEM romance and why I fell in love with science.
I’ve always loved the ocean—though enamored may be a better word. At the beach, I would collect shells with a snorkel and mask. I’d spend hours combing the beach for shark teeth, and I’ve watched every David Attenborough documentary to date.
No matter what, I’ll always love marine science, but writing it through Charlie and Mateo’s lens renewed how I feel. From Charlie’s giddy excitement about bone-eating worms to Mateo’s love for the microbes (the little guys are important too), it helped me remember why I was writing Deep In Love in the first place: I wanted to share my love of the ocean with you, the reader.
I hope I accomplished that goal and you can feel my love for the ocean within the pages.
Other updates: I’ve started my next project! It’s in the early stages but I’m really excited about this one. It’s a bit different from what I’ve done before. I went on a lobster boat to complete fieldwork for my day job, and celebrating moving with some friends!
Now onto the book news & updates!
P.S. read all the way to the bottom for a fun science fact and info about what I have planed coming up for Deep In Love!
Deep In Love is available for pre-order!
The paperback is available through HeartBound Bookshop and comes with all the fun goodies shown below! It closes on September 2nd, so make sure to order ahead!
Click here to pre-order the paperback!
Hard copy reading not your thing? Want the digital version instead? No problem! The e-book is also available on Amazon!
Beefcake’s Book Club
Take a look at Beefcake the Might'y’s monthly recommendations below! Click on the title of the book to learn more :)
Dearly Unbeloved by Sophie Snow
Echos of Us by N.L. Silver
Fighting by Jordana Blake
Science fact of the day:
Despite the name, the Vampire Squid (pictured below) is not a squid at all! It belongs to the family Vampyroteuthidae in the Mullusca phylum. It’s scientific name Vampyroteuthis infernalis means “vampire squid from hell.” How cool!
Well, that’s all from me folks. For now. There will be more updates soon about pre-order incentives, ARC sign-ups, giveaways, & PR interest, so keep an eye out on your email!
-Nicole