It’s not the fear of criticism or bad reviews—though those exist too. It’s the fear of getting it wrong. Of saying either too much or not saying enough.

When you write something like a romantic comedy and the focus is on witty banter, the almost kiss and all the in between, you can trust that readers will meet you there willingly.

But when a story brushes up against grief or loss, the stakes feel higher.

You start asking yourself difficult questions.

Am I qualified to tell this story?
Will this hurt someone who reads it?
Did I do it justice?

I felt that fear while writing The Women of Seaglass Bay.

There were moments when I considered softening the edges and letting the story stay safely on the surface instead of taking it deeper.

But here’s what I learned.

Writing about heavy things doesn’t mean the story has to be sad.

It means writing with care. With restraint. With an understanding that readers don’t need every detail. They just need enough to understand why it matters.

I wanted each story to reflect something real and explain how it could’ve broken someone, how it almost did, but then to show how it’s possible to find the light again.

I write the difficult parts because they make the store realistic. I wrote them because they belonged to the characters and sometimes the most comforting stories are the ones that acknowledge a weight we’re already carrying.

If you’ve ever been hesitant to pick up a book because you weren’t sure you had the emotional bandwidth, I understand that fear.

I wrote this story with that reader in mind.

The Women of Seaglass Bay

• Sipping hot chocolate while driving around and looking at all the Christmas lights. Always. Cold foam on the hot chocolate is optional but strongly recommended.

• Cookie banking is non-negotiable. I love baking and decorating sugar cookies almost as much as I love eating them… almost. But, my absolute favorite are kiss cookies. I think the correct name for them are Peanut Butter Blossoms, but we always called them kiss cookies.

• I wait all year for Hallmark Christmas movies. I do not care how cheesy they are, they bring so much joy to my Christmas loving heart. I also adore Elf. What writer wouldn’t love a movie about a book publisher?

• When it comes to Christmas music, give me all the 90s Christmas albums. I’m talking Hanson, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

• My brother and I started a tradition of building gingerbread houses. My husband has since joined in and I can’t wait until my little guy is big enough to take part.

Special Moment for This Year:

I can’t wait for our Christmas Eve tradition of reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and dressing my son in his very first Christmas pajamas. Nothing else even comes close to how much excitement I have for this.

For me, these little things are the magic of the season. All of these moments keep home close to my heart. I don’t feel 700 miles away when I can have a little bit of my childhood in traditions.

What are your must-have Christmas favorites? I’d love to know!

There were ones with bigger emotions, messier relationships and more dramatic storylines. The kind that usually steal the spotlight.

So when readers told me their favorite character was Quinn, I was genuinely surprised.

Quinn’s story is quieter.
Her relationship is steadier.
There’s less chaos, less push and pull, less will-they-won’t-they.

And yet—she was the one they loved.

As writers, we’re often taught that the most complicated stories are the most compelling. That conflict has to be loud. That passion has to be dramatic in order to be memorable.

But when Quinn’s name kept popping up, I started thinking about why we read.

Sometimes, we’re drawn to stories that feel bigger than life. Passionate, dramatic love stories that let us escape into an unfamiliar world. We love the idea of them, even if we can’t fully relate.

And other times?

We want something grounded. Familiar. A story that feels cozy and close to home.

That’s Quinn.

Her story isn’t about finding love, but keeping the spark in the one she already has. It’s about choosing someone who shows up consistently. Quinn’s story might not be dramatic, but it also doesn’t lack depth.

When beta readers talked about Quinn, they didn’t mention big twists or dramatic moments. They talked about how real her story felt.

How comforting it was to feel seen by a character they were reading about.

And maybe that’s why she surprised me the most.

Because in a world that craves drama, a love story that feels safe can still be powerful in its own way.

Quinn wasn’t written to be flashy or bold, but she became it anyway.

And I think that says something important—not just about this book, but about what readers crave in the stories they return to again and again.

If you’re someone who loves a romance that feels more like real life than fantasy, Quinn’s story might surprise you too.

You can find Quinn’s story inside The Women of Seaglass Bay, now available on Amazon!

Read More

I had reached that moment every writer waits for—the, “I can’t believe it, I did it!” The quiet excitement of finishing something that you were proud to put into the world.

And then, everything changed.

Around the time I finished this novel, my infertility journey took a turn. We reached the end of options with my regular doctor and it was time to consider a fertility clinic.

Almost immediately it started: Appointments. Bloodwork. Waiting.

For months, I lived my life two weeks at a time.

We’d start a round of treatment. I’d hold on to the hope that this would be the round that worked. Then heartbreak would follow another negative test. Emotionally, I was in turmoil, and the joy I once felt around writing slowly slipped into the background.

I didn’t walk away from this book because I stopped loving it. I walked away because I didn’t have the emotional capacity to be passionate about it while I was in such a hard season of life.

I tucked it away into a folder on my computer and there it waited, patiently, while I put my hope and energy into something bigger.

Three years later.

I’m on the other side of that mountain now. All the tears, the heartbreak and the pause of so many other things in life, were worth it.

I now have a beautiful baby boy. I spent 3 amazing months on maternity leave from my corporate job. Returning was incredibly hard, but I had made peace with hit. Then, just when I thought we’d gotten into a new groove. I lost my job.

The uncertainty of what was to come was back again, but in a different way. I took a deep breath and asked the familiar question: What now?

And once again, I turned to, The Women of Seaglass Bay.

I brought the book back to life in a season that was once again emotionally complicated, but also full of perspective. Reading it again felt different.

This story is about 3 women, in different stages of life. Their stories are meant to inspire readers that no matter where they are, they are right on time.

That’s why this book matters to me and why I want share the story with the world.

We all enter chapters in life where things are uncertain. We feel as if we should be further along than we are or that something in missing, but the truth is, there is not one timeline on how life should be lived. We all have our own.

This book is all about trusting in that timing, even when it doesn’t make sense.

I want this book to inspire others to do the same.

To trust in the timing. Hold space for what is to come, but appreciate what is right now.

If this story speaks to you—if you’ve ever had to pause a dream, carry something heavy, or find your way back to yourself—The Women of Seaglass Bay comes out tomorrow.

PREORDER NOW

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for believing in stories that take the long way home.

Read more

Today, I’m introducing you to Quinn.

The shift in time when you have a baby is instantaneous. When my son was a newborn, the days blurred together in a haze of feedings, bottle washing, and laundry piles that never seemed to shrink. Every nap time came with a choice: clean the house or care for myself. And every time, I chose the house.

It felt like the right thing to do because maybe if the dishes were done or the laundry folded I would feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe my world wouldn’t feel like it was spiraling. It’s still crazy to me how fast a day goes by in those first few weeks. I couldn’t remember if I brushed my teeth, didn’t eat until past 9pm and traded showers for sleep.

But after a little while, I started to get into a routine. I remember waking up and saying to myself, “I’ve got this.”

I put the bottle scrubbing on hold and said f*ck it to the laundry for a day for some much needed self-care. A shower without guilt. A cup of coffee out on the front porch.

I felt calmer. More grounded and slightly less of a mess. That’s when I learned that five minutes can change everything.

Quinn, one of my characters in The Women of Seaglass Bay taught me that lesson, too. For years, she did everything for everyone else—her family and her friends, and left nothing for herself. Her camera collected dust while her passion quietly dimmed.

But when she returns to Seaglass Bay, she finally has a moment to carve out time for herself again. She slowed down and started taking pictures again.

She didn’t just rediscover photography—she rediscovered herself. Her patience returned, her joy resurfaced, and the people around her felt the difference.

Because when we fill our own cup, we have more to pour into the ones we love.

Quinn’s story is a gentle reminder that you don’t need hours to make progress. You just need a few mindful minutes to do something purposeful for yourself.

So today, take five minutes. Write. Breathe. Dream. Sit in silence.
Because the laundry can wait—but your peace can’t.

If you’re learning to find yourself again in the middle of motherhood, creativity, or chaos, subscribe to Motherhood & Manuscripts for more stories, reflections, and gentle reminders that small moments can lead to big change.

Subscribe now

And don’t forget to follow my Amazon page to be one of the first readers notified when The Women of Seaglass Bay is available!

Get Notified

A title reveal!

I’m so excited to share that the 3 strong, independent women that I’ll be sharing in this series are part of my new friendship fiction novel coming to your ereader on December 16. Keep scrolling to see the title :)

I can’t wait for you to officially visit Seaglass Bay on December 16. Until then, let me introduce you to one of the women.

Get inspired today with Annie.

Annie is prepping to make her dream a reality and is only days away from opening up her brand new wine shop in the small coastal town of Seaglass Bay.

Like many of us, Annie’s dream began with an idea. A vision, a spark, a plan that she wrote on the back of a napkin.

It wasn’t until she was deep into store renovations that she realized all she didn’t know. The dream that had felt so clear suddenly came with the weight of reality.

Has that ever happened to you?

Your to-do list is growing at a pace that is faster than you can keep up with. Suddenly, there are things you’re adding that not only you didn’t know you needed, but you know nothing about.

Yup, me too. Like when I published my first novel (we’ll save that story for another day).

When the daunting to-do list happens, it’s very easy to start feeling overwhelmed. That is the exact moment I am ready to throw in the towel.

Annie could’ve easily done that during her wine shop journey, but here’s why she didn’t.

“Because nothing worth building is ever easy—but it’s always worth it.”

Our dreams matter. And they deserved a chance, but no dream comes without its fair share of obstacles. In those moments when you’re ready to give up. When it all seems like too much, remind yourself of these 3 simple things:

• You don’t have to do it all right now: Everything does not have to be done in that moment. Take a look at your checklist, pick one thing, and do that. Then choose another. Go one by one and check off each task as you go. Whatever you don’t complete that day, put it on the list for tomorrow.

• Remember your “why.” Reconnect with what sparked this dream in the first place. The reason you started will always be louder than the fear if you give it a voice.

• Shift the timeline. Growth doesn’t always go according to plan. Just because it’s taking longer doesn’t mean it’s not happening. If your timeline gets pushed, readjust. Move things around that make sense.

• Ask for help. I hope I’m not the only one guilty of feeling like I need to do it all. You don’t. Lean on others. Ask a friend or hire someone to help. Trust me, it will save your sanity.

• Celebrate small wins. Every step of progress deserves recognition. Giving credit to the small wins allows you to see how much you’re doing and gives you motivation to keep going.

You’ll get to read about Annie’s journey very soon, but I am so glad she reminded me that:

building something meaningful doesn’t mean burning out.

It means showing up consistently, adjusting when things go wrong and keeping the vision alive even in the middle of chaos.

If you’ve ever felt both inspired and intimidated by a dream, this series is for you. Subscribe to follow along as I explore the lessons my characters teach me—and maybe remind you that your own big dream is closer than it feels.

Subscribe now

I’ve done character bios before, but this book has so much emotional depth, I felt it deserved more than that. I really wanted it to take up space and have readers leaving feeling empowered. So, welcome to week 1 of my:

“What my characters taught me” series.

I like to think that every character I write has a little piece of me in them. It is true what they say about sometimes a character takes on a life of their own. You go into the novel thinking your character will be one thing, but then based off of what season of life you’re in, they may end up someone completely different.

It’s always when I read the story back that I’m amazed how inspirational each character is. How their story helps empower or teach me something in my every day life I didn’t know I needed.

In this series, I’ll share the lessons from the characters in my upcoming novel (title reveal coming tomorrow)!

In this friendship fiction novel, Annie, Quinn, and Charlie taught me about dreams, the power of second chances and finding yourself in the middle of life’s chaos.

If you’ve ever learned something from a story, or were inspired by a character you couldn’t forget, subscribe to follow along.

New lessons arrive weekly.

I wanted to sit down and write you something a little more personal today. When I started this Substack, I didn’t fully know what it would become—just that I needed a place to write honestly. A place where I could be both a writer and a mother and a person trying to figure out who she is in real time.

I’ve always been proud of the fact that even in later seasons of life I am still chasing crazy dreams and over the past few months it’s become clear to me that those dreams were meant to be something more.

I lost my job recently and have had some time to reflect on what is in my heart. As a new mom it has been a bit overwhelming not having a steady paycheck, but I have to believe this chapter happened to light of fire under me. To take my love of writing to a new level.

And this little corner of the internet has grown into a space that feels cozy, comfortable and honest. I’ve heard from so many of readers over the years whether you are new moms, writers or dreamers trying to find your path, that my books make you feel less alone. And that means everything to me.

Because that’s why I write them.

So I’ve decided to take the next step. Next week, I’ll be introducing a paid tier on this Substack.

This will give me the opportunity to share so much more with you all. This will allow me to spend more time writing, more intentionally and create deeper, more personal pieces that I don’t share anywhere else. Including something very very special (more to come)!

What Paid Subscribers Will Get

Starting next week for monthly subscribers:

• Pre-launch quotes, chapters and teasers of each of my upcoming novels!

• Access to every post
  Including my very first upcoming chapter by chapter book release on Substack!

• Q&A 2x/month

  Long form or video answering questions straight from you.

• Behind-the-scenes writing updates, photos, motherhood musings and voice notes that you won’t find on social.
  snippets, quotes, current favorite coffee orders, lines that didn’t make it to print and so much more.

So, if you’ve felt seen here, if you’ve ever whispered “same” while reading one of my blogs or exhaled a bit of relief that someone else gets it—I would love for you to join the paid side and join me on a deeper level through this journey.

I hope that either way, my writing continues to inspire:
+the women raising babies while also finding themselves.
+the dreamers who get knocked down but keep trying anyway.
+the ones who truly believe life is beautiful even in the middle of the chaos.

Thanks for being here.
It means more than you know.

More soon,
Courtney

That was Haylie's story in Tear Stained Beaches. She spent years in a relationship putting her needs last and burying her dreams. But when she finally decided to walk away, she didn't just leave a person—she left a version of herself behind.

And that’s where her journey began.

1. Rebuilding Self-Worth

2. Saying yes again to what sparks something inside

3. Giving grace when things don’t go perfectly

Haylie didn’t magically become confident enough to make a life altering decision. She stumbled. She second-guessed. All of that you will see in her story. But you’ll also get to see the moments when she starts loving herself again, standing up for herself and finding her inner strength.

If you’re in a season of starting over—emotionally, professionally, personally—know this: you are not broken. You are rebuilding.

You deserve a life that feels like yours again.

If you need a place to begin, I created a 6-week guided journal to help you reconnect with your voice, your dreams, and your power.

Download Journal Here

And if Haylie's story sounds familiar, Tear Stained Beaches might just be the reminder you need that it’s never too late to start again.

But what if the bravest thing you can do is listen to your heart?

Why It’s So Hard to Choose Yourself

We worry about disappointing others. We question if we’re too old or it's too late. We think we need other's permission.

Let me be the one to say it: You’re allowed to want more.

Even if no one else understands it. Even if it makes zero sense on paper.

My Turning Point

I lost my soul dog.

• The dog that gave me the courage to leave a marriage where I always came last.

• The dog that drove 12 hours in the back of Jeep to start over with me in North Carolina

• The dog who curled up next to me in bed to catch every one of my tears.

It was sudden and I was absolutely devastated. My house was way too quiet, but in the silence is where I found my courage.

I was living in North Carolina. I just took a job that didn't really align with what I loved to do, but it paid the bills.

On the side, I was writing for a country music blog. I was interviewing artists and I loved it! A few months earlier I had a friend who moved to Nashville. I visited her a few times and wondered what it would be like to live in Music City. To try to climb the ladder in the country music world.

"No way!" I said to myself.

• Everyone will think you're crazy

• Your parent's will kill you

• You just bought your house. You can't just up and move

But really...what did I have to lose? I just lost the most precious thing I owned.

SPOILER ALERT: I took the leap. I sold my house, packed up my life and moved to Nashville about 6 months later.

How to Give Yourself Permission

Here’s what Nashville taught me (and what I hope my characters teach those who read my books, too):

• You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your dreams.

• “Too late” is a myth. Your timeline is still unfolding.

• If it scares you and excites you, it’s probably worth trying.

FUN FACT

I was in the middle of writing my rockstar romance, Behind the Strings when I made the decision to move to Nashville. I published it one month before I arrived. That story is the "what if" that I never have to ask myself because I took the leap.

If your heart’s been whispering, “What if?”—this book is your sign.

Say yes. Even if it’s messy. Even if you’re scared.

Because the life you want is waiting on the other side of that yes.

I had so much going for me in life, but always felt like something was missing.

I fantasized about quitting, moving, writing, changing—anything.

I kept googling things like "how to start over" or "am I too old to chase my dream?"

I found myself envying those who took the leap. Like the musicians on Nashville’s Broadway. The actors who booked regular gigs. The writers who quit their day job.

I talked myself out of things I secretly wanted, thinking that could just never be me. There were took many responsibilities in my life to start chasing dreams now.

I stayed stuck because stuck felt familiar. Until I realized one thing…

It didn’t have to be all or nothing.

I could publish a book or book acting gigs even while working a day job. I didn’t have to not do what I wanted. What I was passionate about, just because it couldn’t pay the bills (right now).

So, I stopped being afraid and found a way to make time for the things I loved. I booked acting gigs on my days off and wrote at the coffee shop before work.

My life started becoming more fulfilled when I realized that I didn’t have to choose. I just had figure out a plan that could get me there.

If even one of these feels like you: you're not lost. You're ready. You’re just scared, and that’s human.

Change starts with noticing what you’re tolerating. Readiness isn’t perfection—it’s awareness. And you, my friend, are so much more ready than you think.

Need a little push? Grab my free, 6-week [guided journal] for daily prompts to move from "maybe someday" to "starting today."

Or if you want stories that make you feel less alone in all this? Any one of the books I’ve written is a love letter to women just like you. All my main characters take a leap of faith into the unknown.

New jobs. New cities. New relationships.

The times where I had no idea what I was doing or what direction the choice I made was taking me in. I was in between chapters of my life.

Have you been there?

Where one part of your life has ended but the next hasn’t quite started yet—it can be scary.

It’s quiet. Uncertain. Sometimes lonely.

But here’s what I’ve learned (both in fiction and real life): We all have those moments. They should be embraced, not feared.

How to feel less stuck when you're in the "in-between"

If you feel like you’re drifting between what was and what’s next, try this:

• Acknowledge the chapter you’re closing. Take the lessons and the memories, but don't dwell on the mistakes.

• Don’t rush the transition. Even characters need moments to breathe.

• Write the next page one sentence at a time. Live in the now. You don’t need the whole plot yet.

Fiction I Wrote When I Felt the Same

In Falling in London, Tate says goodbye to Paris and even though she has no idea what is ahead for her when she moved to London, she has faith that it will all work out.

She makes the brave decision to start her own event planning company. She lands her dream client and sets off to plan the high-society event of the year. Is she afraid to fail? Of course she is! Does she let that stop her? Not a chance.

That makes her the kind of heroine everyone needs when they are in their own in-between season.

If you’re there now—this book is for you.

Start reading Falling in London—a heartfelt romantic comedy about beginning again and trusting your heart even through the cracks.

For Celia in Behind the Strings, that whisper was love.

She didn’t expect Jesse to walk into her life—and she definitely didn’t expect the way he made her feel seen. Celia was guarded, jaded, and haunted by what she’d been through. But Jesse made her believe that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t too late to let someone in.

What’s Holding You Back?

Too old. Too late. Too risky. We say these things to protect ourselves from disappointment. But what if the real disappointment is not trying?

Here’s the truth:

The only thing holding you back from that dream… is you.

And if the dream still excites you? That’s a sign to try.

Whether your dream is to write a book, start a side hustle, move to a new city, or fall in love again—you’re not too late. Every new day is a. Day you’re just getting started.

Ready to explore what’s still possible? My free 6-week journal is designed to help you dust off those dreams and make a plan that feels true to you. [Download it here.]

And if you want a fictional story that captures that magic of risk and reward, meet Celia in Behind the Strings.

The silence.

The pause.

The realization that everything you pictured—your future, your plans, your comfort—is suddenly…

GONE.

And the truth is, you're not only grieving the person you thought they were. You're grieving the life you thought you were building. The future that no longer exists.

I know that ache. It’s the kind that sinks deep. Healing after heartbreak isn’t linear. Some days you feel strong. Other days, you miss what could’ve been so much it hurts to breathe.

I was 28 when I got divorced and didn't really have anyone to "learn" from. No one that knew what I was going through. So here's a little advice from someone who's been there.

You aren't starting over.

You aren’t losing everything.

You’re just turning the page.

You're closing one chapter to start another. Take with you only what you need and leave the rest behind.

In my novel Tear Stained Beaches, the main character faces this same unraveling. I wrote Haylie's story as I was going through all the emotions myself.

Like me, she too is left picking up the pieces of a shattered life. But through the pain, she starts to find herself again. Not the version who was defined by someone else, but the woman she was always meant to be.

Maybe you’re there now. Maybe you’re standing in the rubble of what once was, unsure if anything beautiful can grow from it.

Let me tell you: It can. It will.

There is something better ahead—not the life you thought it would be, but a life even better than you ever could've imagine.

If you’ve ever needed a reminder that there is healing after heartbreak, Tear Stained Beaches is for you.

It’s about loss, grief and the strength it takes to choose yourself again. Read the first chapter here.

Tate in Falling in London knew that better than anyone. She booked a one-way ticket, packed her fear alongside her suitcase, and left behind what was comfortable for something that felt right.

She didn't have a 5-year plan. But she had curiosity, courage, and a craving for something more.

Starting Scared Is Still Starting

You don’t need a roadmap to take the first step. You just need the willingness to not let fear win. Starting before you feel ready is how you become ready.

Tate's leap of faith led to new friendships, unexpected romance, and a version of herself she didn’t know she needed.

What if your next chapter doesn’t begin with clarity—but with curiosity?

Give yourself permission to begin without having all the answers.

If you need a place to start, download my 6-week guided journal. It’s filled with thoughtful prompts to help you reconnect with what you truly want. [Download it here.]

And if you want a story about starting fresh and falling hard, Falling in London is for you.

This holiday romance takes place in Cold Spring, New York. I actually interned for a record label in Cold Spring when I was in college. It was my last semester and I found the internship on a whim. I just wrapped up a few months at Radio Disney and was loving the music industry.

So, I’d hop the train from Poughkeepsie to Cold Spring two days a week. Once the train pulled into the station, I’d walk through the village and turn onto a side street toward the office which was above the owner‘s garage.

I’d spend my days calling magazines and sending out press kits for new album releases. This was way before digital press kits existed. I would slide all the materials into a manila envelope, seal it up and ship it out.

I always thought Cold Spring was such a charming town and when I decided to write a Christmas-themed romance, it felt like the perfect setting. It’s located right on the Hudson River with shops down the quaint Main Street.

I had to do a bit of research when I started writing For the Love of Gingerbread because it’s been quite some time since I visited the Hudson Valley. Though the places in the novel are fictional, I still wanted a bit of authenticity.

I searched social media for recent photos to get an idea of how the Main Street looked today and placed the general store, flower shop, Mave’s Coffeeshop & the bed & breakfast snug within the existing magic of Cold Spring’s landscape.

I hope I did it justice. <3

Subscribe now

About For the Love of Gingerbread

A quick train ride from New York City and Addie Pine is back in her small mountain town for the holidays. To her surprise, Mave’s Coffeeshop has a new baker named Drake. And while Drake's good looks and charm are almost as delectable as his gingerbread cookies, the news he delivers isn't as sweet.

Mave’s is in trouble and if something isn't done soon, this might be its last Christmas in Cold Spring. Thankfully, Addie has an idea that could save the coffee shop, but she needs Drake's baking skills to pull it off.

With late nights and a deadline looming, the oven isn't the only thing heating up in the kitchen. And although Addie tries her best to keep her eyes on the gingerbread cookies, she'll soon come to find out that maybe everything she was looking for, was in Cold Spring all along.

About Courtney Giardina

If you’re new here, my name is Courtney Giardina. I’m the author of 9 romance & cozy mystery novels. Born & raised in New York, but I now call North Carolina home. When I’m not working on my next novel, I love to travel. Weekend road trips with my husband and our golden retriever mix are my favorite.

Leave a comment

Subscribe now