Rlmerrillauthor

Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, and a Foreword INDIES finalist for Summer of Hush, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. She writes diverse and inclusive romance, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe, and pens horror-inspired music reviews for HorrorAddicts.net. You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, raising two brilliant kids, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…Connect with Ro at www.rlmerrillauthor.com, www.instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor, www.facebook.com/rowritesrlmerrillauthor, https://www.tiktok.com/@rlmerrillauthor1342 Stay Tuned for more Rock 'n' Romance.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hope, Love, and Annie

by
Hope, Love and Romance - Annie - R.L.

“The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow…” The musical Annie came out on film in 1982 when I was 10 years old. I was a dancer, constantly in motion, and a handful for my parents. I didn’t want for anything as a child except maybe a really good friend who didn’t bully me and to not have to go to my other parents’ house and be criticized for not being a proper little lady. Movies and musicals were a favorite pastime and my cousins and I would frequently act out musical scenes using my portable turntable and records as a soundtrack.  Annie was a favorite because there were several parts and typically … Read more

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hope, Love, and Queeromance

by
Hope, Love and QueeRomance

I woke up early from a terrible nightmare about one of my children. One where they’d committed a grievous sin that called our whole world into question. But I woke up, and I felt the familiar weight of one cat at my shoulder, and another against my shin. I heard my dog making old lady noises in the other room. And I heard the deep breathing of my husband next to me, who thankfully had a good doctor’s visit yesterday after some chest pain. All of these comforting elements were shattered the moment I picked up my phone to see what the fate of my nation would be, since it … Read more

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hope, Love and Queeromance with J. Scott Coatsworth

by
Hope, Love and Queeromance

My goal with these posts is to talk about things that make me hopeful as well as spotlighting people in our writing community that bring me hope. What better way to kick off author spotlights but with our fearless leader? J. Scott Coatsworth has brought so many of you wonderful people into my life. Let’s see how he brings some hope into yours.  What does hope mean to you and how is it reflected in your books? Oooh big question. Hope is the idea that all is not lost to us. I write a lot of spec fic, especially sci fi, and while you could make the case that destroying … Read more

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hope in Mourning

by
Hope, Love, and Queeromance - R.L. Merrill

Hope, Love, and Queeromance by R.L. Merrill Friday, September 18, 2020, delivered a massive blow to millions of Americans in a year that seems full of landmines. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a powerful woman and beacon of hope wrapped in a tiny, frail body, passed away after multiple battles with cancer. She left a legacy of legal victories that changed the lives of so many of us that her passing…hurts. Many folks cried out in despair on social media. Hundreds flocked to sites around the country to mourn. Losing Justice Ginsburg right before the upcoming election could be viewed as a sign of doom…but instead, it appears to have been a … Read more

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hope, Love, and Queeromance with R.L. Merrill

by
Hope, Love, and Queeromance column logo - R.L. Merrill

Greetings and salutations. I’m R.L. Merrill—you can call me Ro (she/her)—and I’m here to bring you some hope. That’s right. Times have been increasingly dark in our world and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by life around us and lose direction. That’s why it’s so important to hold onto the things that give us hope. Some folks cling to their faith in times of trouble. Sometimes folks will emotionally check out in order to maintain some semblance of normalcy in their lives. I never want to criticize how anyone chooses to handle the overwhelming amount of stress our society has experienced recently. We’ve witnessed terrible tragedies, unchecked racism and hostility, … Read more