Mazey Eddings
A Brush With Love
(Adult romantic comedy, March, St. Martin’s Press)
“Two dental students trade fillings for feelings as they navigate the messy complexities of adulthood, anxiety, and exceptionally meddling friends.”
Philadelphia, Pa. The romance genre became my greatest stress reliever during dental school, and it inspired me to start writing again as a break from the intensity of the program. At the time, my anxiety and depression were high, and writing let me feel more in control of a narrative and journey. The first draft took me about six months to write and edit. I did a few rounds of edits with my agent, then we went on submission February 15, 2020. I found most of the agents I queried through QueryTracker and Manuscript Wish List. I distinctly remember querying Kelli Martin of Wendy Sherman. Kelli has since moved on to do fabulous things in other areas of the publishing industry, and I’m currently represented by the wonderful Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary. Rejection is devastating and painful, but it’s not the end of your career and doesn’t define your worth as a creator. received a lot of rejections from editors (thankfully, almost all came with kind and thoughtful explanations of why), and there were many moments that I felt like giving up. Writing is subjective and being open to pivoting is crucial. I like to think I’m receptive to feedback from my agent and editor while also staying true to my original goal of writing messy, lovable characters struggling with mental health issues. The beauty of the romance genre is we get to see people falling in love in countless ways, and I’ve worked hard to write love stories for every type of brain. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve made mistakes (still making them daily), but I’ve learned so much from every single one of them. I started a bookstagram account in 2018 where I reviewed romance novels. Over the past year, my content has transitioned from reviewing to more author content … I have ADHD, so I get on massive creative kicks to try different media platforms. Not everyone will like your work or your style or understand what you’re trying to create, but if you love what you do and protect that, you’ll always be a successful writer. I am so excited about my upcoming projects! My second book, , is set in the same world as and will release fall 2022. I’m also finishing up a YA rom-com featuring two neurodiverse teens that will release in 2023!
