Hello Delilah!  Thank you so much for inviting me here today to discuss my latest release. Didn’t See You Coming is an LGBTQ young adult paranormal ghost story romance novel.

Phew.

That’s a lot to cram into a description, but I want to make certain to hit all the high points – gay teenagers, ghosts, a touch of romance.

I’ve never written a young adult novel before.  I’ll be frank — I don’t read a ton of them either.  But some have crossed my path, and I’ve snapped them up — several that were LGBTQ. I still wouldn’t have felt remotely qualified to write one.

Yet you’re thinking…but Gabbi, you did write one.

This all started back in April.  My publisher, The Wild Rose Press, held an open chat where they discussed their new YA series. I almost didn’t attend the chat, but something said do it!  So I went with my gut and attended the chat.  When the concept of Pinedale High School in North Carolina was introduced, I was mildly interested.  As the chat continued, though, I was hit with a thunderbolt.  I needed to write a book.  A book for the series.  A book with LGBTQ characters.  I hoped other authors would include gay kids in their books, but I realized we needed a book where the queer kids were the protagonists.  My gut had directed me to that chat. That same gut said I had to write a book.

Since 2024 was the year of hell yes! I asked in the chat if they would be interested in a sweet LGBTQ story.  I got an enthusiastic hell yes.  At the same time, I was talking to Plot Whisperer in DMs who was waking up on the other side of the world.  I started talking to her and she suggested a naked ghost.

I was like…huh?

Still, the publisher chat ended with a request we submit proposals.  I spent a week working the details out in my mind and, through my editor, submitted a proposal.

And then I didn’t hear back.

I didn’t worry because I was literally up to my neck in a different book.

Then I got the proverbial “call.”  The one all writers wait for.

Well, not quite.  The president of the publisher, who is also the senior editor for the young adult line, emailed me and said, “How fast can you write this?”

I was like, “Fast…” (Because in the year of hell yes we agree to everything.)  She said, “Do it.”  She also placed a virtually impossible deadline before me.

But she saw, I believe, what I saw — the chance for authentic representation.  The chance to show queer kids in a positive light.

A couple of weeks later, I was ready to write.  I had my gay couple, my lesbian couple, my ghosts…and no effing clue what I was doing.

No worries, Plot Whisperer to the rescue.  I gave her what I had — which was actually a lot more than I usually have — and together we crafted a solid plot.  The problem? I had six point of view characters.  Now, most authors will tell you that’s Herculean. Some would say impossible.  Hell, some said to me that it wasn’t possible.  I believed in this book, though, so I wrote it the way it was begging to be written.  With six equal characters.

50k words in 17 days.  While I was working. Just…insane.

Then came the brutal beta readers.  I don’t normally have so many, but I needed honest opinions.  And I got them.  One suggested cutting a character entirely and said the epilogue didn’t work.  One found certain aspects confusing.  Brutal beta reader sort of took it apart and then helped me put it back together. Sensitivity reader taught me more about my blind spots.  I write interracial romances, and I will always have someone read my work to ensure I’m getting it as right as I can.

Finally, I had my teenage beta reader.  They got the final draft.  I will say, when I approached their mom, a good friend, I didn’t know beta reader’s circumstances.  That they’d changed their name and their pronouns. That they sort of identified as nonbinary.  To say I felt privileged they were willing to help would be an understatement.  But they were honest with me and made the book so much better.  With their critical stamp of approval, I sent the book to my editor.

I also was required to send a synopsis.  I begged my editor, for just this one time (okay, second, but who’s counting?) to not read the synopsis and to read the book cold.  She didn’t know about the six POV characters.  If she didn’t get the book, I knew massive edits would be required.  She had veto power over the book — if it didn’t work, it wasn’t going to get published.

I’ll never forget I submitted it on July 4^th.  My editor is American, so I had no expectations.  She answered my email that she had it and would get back to me within a week.

Thus began the wait.

Four hours later, her glowing email arrived.  She loved it.  Edits, to be sure, but she loved it.

Now, I will confide I had to fight to keep every F-bomb.  And the book, aside from language, is genuinely sweet.  It’s also the book of my heart.  I wanted full representation — and I got it.  Gay, bi, lesbian, and naked ghost.  A multicultural story.

Naturally, I’m hoping readers love the book.  My nonbinary beta reader asked me when I was going to write the next book for them.  (Spoiler alert — possibly sooner than anyone expected.)  This is a book I’m proud to share with people.  This is a book I’m encouraging people to ask their library to order.  I want this book in the hands of as many teenagers as possible.  So kids won’t feel alone. So they’ll know they’re seen. That their stories matter.

Okay!  That was a lot.  From the book I never thought I’d write to today was an intense eight-month journey.  That’s short in the world of traditional publishing.  An entire team worked their asses off to make certain we would be the third book in this series and that I could bring representation.  In the end, I’m grateful to have been given this opportunity.  To the publisher, to my beta readers, to my editor — to everyone.

I also managed to get the book recorded on audio by the wonderful narrator Michael Ferraiuolo.  He did such an amazing job and I’m hoping listeners get a real taste of my story.

Thank you, Delilah, for inviting me here today.  I’m so grateful, as always, that you provide me with this opportunity to share my work.  As a thank you, I’d like to award one lucky commenter with a prize. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, please let me know if you’ve read any young adult novels that stuck with you.  Or what was your favorite book you read as you were growing up?  Judy Blume was a favorite of mine (yes, I’m dating myself). Random will pick the winner.  Thank you and good luck!

Didn’t See You Coming

Pinedale High—where every shade of love stands a ghost of a chance.

Holden and Peyton don’t expect much from senior year. He probably won’t manage to date any guys. She’ll still pine over Juliette, the beautiful and unattainable cheerleader. But when they step between class bullies and Oliver, a super-hot transfer student, their year starts to go off the rails.

As a star football player, Oliver hadn’t anticipated trouble. Turns out Pinedale High not only comes with bullies, but with new friends, plus the ghost of a Civil War soldier, and a shy naked guy in the library. Between the living and the dead, senior year is about to get interesting.

Links:
Universal Link:  https://books2read.com/Didnt
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D4MWFN3S
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/didnt-see-you-coming-gabbi-grey/1146433159
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/didnt-see-you-coming/id6737234908
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220663889-didn-t-see-you-coming

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey

The weather’s taken a decidedly cold turn here in central Arkansas—and I don’t likey. Tessa (my lovely, grumpy cat) and I could not be coaxed out of bed early today. The first alarm went off and I rolled over, the cat yowled a complaint, and back to sleep we went. It’s supposed to be really chilly for the next week. Bleh. I’m ready for pool weather.

Last night, all the girls sat in the living room, snug beneath our blankets, as we watched Wicked. Even my hard-to-please daughter loved it. I would definitely recommend it. After the movie, we ate hot apple pie. I went to bed feeling all warm and cozy with the cat snuggled at the top of my pillow to keep my bald head warm. It’s quite a sight, but I won’t be sharing any pictures! Today, my daughter is hoping I’ll feel up to a flea market jaunt and maybe dinner out. I’ll have to nap all the way up until the time we go, pop a pain pill, and then I’ll be ready for it. I’ll be leaning on the shopping cart in the store.

I can’t wait for the day I can do something spontaneous and fun without worrying about whether I’ll drag ass and drag everyone else down. Not that they would ever complain. Anyway, I do have a plan for today, and you can bet I’ll be bundled up in layers of warm clothing. I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

Solve the puzzle, then for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what you love to do when the temperatures take a nosedive.

I’m pretty miserable right now, but it’s all part of the process and very predictable at this point. I just have to weather another week of aches and pains (like intense charley horses). Thank goodness for hydrocodone! Oh, and Benadryl. The latter helps knock me into sleep better than anything. Right now, it’s aches in my legs and feet. I like being clear-eyed for at least the first part of the day so I can get some work done and update my budget sheet/pay some bills. So, no pain relief just yet. This afternoon, I’ll take a hydro, then join the family to watch Wicked! I can’t wait!

In the meantime, let’s play! We haven’t played this game since last summer!

I bought this little brainstorming tool years ago at some writers’ conference. “Story Cubes” is a brainstorming game. You roll the dice, and whatever pictures appear face-up are the ones you use to riff off a story. You can try to include all the cubes in your “story” or choose a few. The story you tell doesn’t have to be long or even any good. They all count!

To make this fun, I’ll offer a prize—a $5 Amazon gift card—good for purchasing one or two stories…
Have fun with this! Don’t overthink! Here’s the roll…

My sister and I have worked on Boys Behaving Badly anthologies for a while now. All are featured on their own website, Delilah’s Collections, where you can read more about each volume. We try to come up with themes that are fun for writers and readers alike. For me, just perusing the luscious covers is a delight.

I usually jump right into the next theme as soon as the last anthology is published, but last year’s anthology, Secret Identities, was followed instead by some health news that kept me from committing to do another.

New year, new outlook. Now, I have to scurry to pick a theme, put out a call to authors, hoping they’ll have time to participate and write you some awesome stories, and time for me to read, select, and edit the stories for publication in the early fall!

So, step one. Let’s think about the theme. You can help me narrow my choices. I’ve devised a poll I’d love you to take.

Below, I have a poll with some ideas listed. I’m not married to any of them, although some already have ideas percolating in my head…

I need themes that authors can take and run with. Themes that are broad enough that authors won’t be writing the same stories—meaning, something that would lend itself to different genres (contemporary, historical, sci-fi, paranormal) and settings (earthly places, outer space). Not only do I need a theme that appeals to readers, but I also have to attract writers to the project. So, help me out as I consider which themes will intrigue both readers and writers.

The Poll

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Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, comment below. If you have another idea for a theme, list it. If one of the themes in the poll appeals the most, tell me why. Have fun!

December

Work-related:

1. I didn’t write in December, but that was the plan until after my chemotherapy sessions ended.
2. I completed 2 editing projects for other authors in December.
3. I did post daily Advent Calendar giveaways for readers from the 1st to the 24th of December. And all the gifts have been mailed! Hope you enjoyed the posts!
4. After getting that hopeful news on Monday, I redid my work plan for the New Year. There will be books!

Health-related:

1. I underwent two rounds of chemo, the last being on the 30th of December where I got some hopeful news from my oncologist about my progress, which I already posted about here, yesterday! It gave me a huge, happy boost, which I so needed. What a way to begin the New Year.
2. Last night, I restarted my Weight Watcher’s subscription and downloaded a chair yoga regimen I’ll begin in January to further improve my health in the new year. Once I’m past the nausea, muscle and joint aches, and fatigue from my latest treatment, I’ll begin working out to lose some more weight and regain some muscle tone.

Happiness-related: 

1. My family has been astonishingly good to me over the months of my treatment, cleaning up after me, fetching things when I was too tired to fetch them for myself, etc., and they made the holiday so joyful. I’m lucky to have them. We watched Christmas movies, played games, and ate some wonderful food.
2. I painted only once this month. Here are the two small things I managed to paint:

January

 

For work-related, I plan:

1. To complete Ignition before the end of the month and publish it. I haven’t been able to persuade Amazon to give me back my pre-order ability, despite the fact I sent them proof I had good reasons for cancelling Ignition in the first place last year. I’m not giving up on that, but when I’m done writing the book, I’ll let you know when it’s ready for purchase.
2. To conduct a poll to see what themes might interest readers for a new Boys Behaving Badly Anthology this year! I’ll post the poll tomorrow to get your votes! After that, I’ll make my decision about the theme and post a Call for Submissions for authors. I can’t wait to get started!
3. To plot stories for the new year for my current series, Montana Bounty Hunters: Yellowstone, MT and We are Dead Horse.
4. To complete 2, maybe 3 editing projects in January. I have them on the books but haven’t received them from the authors yet, so we’ll see. But I’m ready to start!
5. To look at books I already have out that I might bundle together or publish in print.
6. To begin work on the next We Are Dead Horse book, Built Like Mack. The plan is to release it in March.

For health-related, I plan:

1. To undergo more scans to ascertain how far the cancer has been beat back, and to see a cancer surgeon in Little Rock to see if I am a candidate for removal of my girlie parts. Crossing fingers here!
2. To begin again watching what I eat to drop a few more pounds. I’ve rejoined WW.
3. To add physical activities to my daily routine so that I can regain some muscle tone. It may take until the middle of the month after I’ve recovered from this last chemo treatment, but I intend to take the stairs as often as I can manage and begin some daily chair yoga exercises.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To better organize my office so I can start off with a clean slate for the new year!
2. To clean up my art room, which has become a disaster! I’ve been tossing supplies on table tops and need to actually store them properly, so I have more workspace. I have plans to do an online oil pastels class and perhaps make some more collage fodder. I think the #100daychallenge starts toward the end of the month, and I will be there, painting every day when it begins!
3. To spend time with the family—more movies, meals, and flea market adventures!

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in January…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

I’m posting this early because I’ll probably be asleep when the clock dings at midnight! Here’s wishing you all the best in this new year!

I also wanted to say thank you all so much for your support, prayers, and best wishes over these past months. I really do think they made a difference. At the very least, you have kept me from feeling like I’m fighting this battle on my own. Bless you all!

Sorry this is long, but I have so much to share.

Yesterday was my last scheduled day for chemotherapy—and it almost didn’t happen. When I arrived, I met briefly with a nurse who told me that my last bloodwork indicated my platelet count was critically low (70, when normal range is 150 to 400), so they wanted me to head straight to the nearby hospital for another blood draw to see whether the number had moved enough for it to be safe for me to undergo treatment. I had been dropped off for my appointment, so I called home, and the 20-year-old hurried back to town to ferry me to the hospital and back to the clinic. Thankfully, the hospital quickly took the blood and ran it. I was sitting at 117, so still sweating whether they would allow me to go through with it. When I returned, my oncologist said it was high enough for us to proceed.

Now, it’s not like I ever look forward to a day spent with medicines rushing through my body, all with side effects, some unpleasant, but I am still hopeful the treatments will give me what I need—more time. So, I blew out a breath and smiled back at him and said, “Let’s do this.” He also mentioned as I headed out the treatment room door, “Did you see your latest antigen test?” That same set of stats that said my platelets had tanked had shown that my Cancer Antigen Test number was 23—down from 1100—and well within normal range. I told him I had and moved down the corridor to the infusion treatment room.

It was packed. I didn’t get my favorite chair. I know that sounds silly, but I like the one next to the door so I’m not sitting sandwiched between two people and because the chair is easiest to maneuver it to lie back so I can rest. I don’t like asking for help to adjust my chair. But I sighed and moved to the only empty chair. Jimmy the tech, who always takes care of me, inserted my IV (remember, my port was removed last month). Then the infusions began. Hours later, after I had napped and listened to The Beatles, The Stones, and CCR through my headphones, I was done.

Jimmy removed my IV. As he was leaving, he gave me a smile. “It’s going to be easy from here on out. Just an hour in the chair, and you won’t even feel it afterward.”

The doctor had hung around to make sure there were no issues. I rarely see him a second time in the day, but he entered, smiling widely.

“You know you’ve made amazing progress,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes to tease him and said, “Amazing compared to what?” Was this a line he gave all his patients?

He shook his head. “No, your number dropped so fast, and the fact we could already see a 50% reduction in the size of your cancer after the third treatment gives me real hope for remission.”

My heart thudded in my chest, but I kept quiet. Remission does not mean a cure. Remission does not mean a cure, I reminded myself.

“We’re going to set up a PET scan before we begin immunotherapy, but after that, I’m going to refer you to some terrific surgeons at UAMS who specialize in your kind of cancer.”

That stunned me because he has repeated to me three times over the months since this all began, that he didn’t believe I’d be a good candidate for surgery to remove my cancer because it was too…big. That I’d be looking strictly at maintenance infusions for the rest of my life to keep the cancer contained, if possible. The fact he thought I would be a candidate for surgery to remove the source of my cancer had me blinking and then giving him a huge smile.

He did give me a caveat. “I think they can remove your ovaries and uterus, but I’m not sure about the omentum. That’s more complicated, but they’re the surgeons. That’s not what I do.” He also said, “Once you begin immunotherapy every six weeks, you can take a vacation, live your life, get back to normal. You can grow back your hair!”

So, friends, things are looking up. I might be able to add more years to that original prognosis of one to three years. I’m sure he wouldn’t like to hazard a guess until his colleagues agree to do surgery and I make it safely to the other side, but I’m feeling pretty damn good—even though I’m facing a miserable two weeks of recovery now.

I have hope for more time to spend with my family. More time to write books. Time to put together another anthology. Dang, I need to redo my 2025 plans!