Thoughts from the Writing Desk Writing is a journey filled with questions — about craft, creativity, confidence, and connection. My blog is where I slow down and explore those questions honestly. ✨ Visit mariacox.net/blog/ and join the conversation. #MariaCoxBlog #AuthorReflections

May your holiday season be bright, your heart be full, and your New Year begin with hope, joy, and maybe even a little romance. 😉🎁📚 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! — Maria #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays #AuthorLife #MariaCoxBooks #ChristmasJoy #HolidaySeason #ReadersOfInstagram

Where Writing Meets Reflection If you love conversations about writing, creativity, and the beautiful chaos of making stories come to life, I’d love for you to join me on my blog at MariaCox.net/blog #MariaCoxBlogs #WritersLife

Stories have always been where I feel most at home. From crafting simple tales as a young girl to writing the layered romances I create today, storytelling has shaped every chapter of my life. #MariaCoxBooks #MeetTheAuthor #RomanceAuthor #WomenWhoWrite

Happy #Sunday peeps #weekendvibes #amwriting

I just picked up Hidden by Laura Griffin, the first book in her Texas Murder Files series. Griffin is well-known for writing gripping romantic suspense, and this one pulls you in from the first chapter. What’s everyone else reading this week? #CurrentRead #Hidden #LauraGriffin

Falling in love with romance didn’t happen all at once — it grew with every story I picked up and every character who taught me something new about the human heart. I’ve always loved writing, but discovering romance fiction changed everything for me. mariacox.net. #MariaCoxBooks

Every connection has its spark… and Secret Lovers is one that refuses to burn out. 💞 If you haven’t read it yet, Secret Lovers is a quick, five-minute read! Free to download when you sign up for my newsletter at mariacox.net 💌 #MariaCoxBooks

Grateful today and every day for the readers, stories, and characters that bring a little extra warmth to my world. 🧡 Wishing you a cozy, love-filled Thanksgiving — may your day be full of good food, good company, and happily-ever-afters. 🦃📚 #HappyThanksgiving #MariaCoxBooks

When Lori’s grandmother’s memory begins to fade, she’s determined to make her one wish come true: to see Lori truly happy. So Lori turns to the man whose heart she once broke— Kane Smith. 📚 Book One of my new series arrives soon — I can’t wait to share Lori and Kane’s story with you. #MariaCoxBooks

When I first started writing, I used to worry about sounding “right.” But the truth is — there’s no single way to write right. There’s only your way. Don’t rush it, and don’t imitate. The more you write, the clearer it becomes. So, write like only you can. That’s where the magic begins. 💫

When a pretend love starts to feel real… Have you ever promised someone you’d find happiness — even if you weren’t sure where to start? In my upcoming 3-book series, you’ll meet Lori Gomez — Manhattan’s newly promoted PR manager with a heart full of love and a life full of chaos. Stay tuned.

Whenever I feel stuck, I go back to reading. It reminds me why I write in the first place — to connect, to feel, and to create something that stays long after the last page. 📚❤️ What book has inspired you lately? #MariaCox #WritersRead #BookLovers #WritingTips #AmReading #WritingMotivation

My play is seeking a debut. An aging, former U.S. Army guard recounts his days as a back-up guard at Spandau prison, guarding former High Ranking Nazis sentenced at the Nuremburg Trials. As the play unravels, a chilling yet intimate portrait of the human side of inhumanity begins to emerge. #theatre

It’s a short, five-minute read about passion, timing, and choices that linger long after the last page. This story means a lot to me — it’s both a whisper of desire and a glimpse into how I explore love in my writing. You can download it instantly when you sign up for my newsletter at mariacox.net

Hello, new to BlueSky. I'm looking forward to making new friends. Please follow me if you're so inclined. Thank you 😀 #writer #writing #writerlife #writingcommunity

There’s a kind of beautiful chaos in writing — that space between inspiration and frustration, when the words come out messy but real. ✨ I’ve learned to embrace that madness. It’s where creativity lives, where passion meets persistence, and where stories truly take shape. #Writing #MariaCox

Writing is more than just putting words on a page — it’s giving voice to emotion, memory, and imagination. Every story we tell, no matter how small, leaves a mark. So write what moves you. Write what scares you. Write what won’t let you sleep until it’s out. #WritingTips #WritersLife

"The two biggest barriers to progress are bitterness and nostalgia". -- Andrew Pace, Exec Dir of ARL Most important sentence I have heard in a long time. Does it work for you?

Here's my new #MSWL! I'll be open to #queries Nov 1–7 and closing in Dec so that I can catch up reviewing. I'll reopen to #Adultfiction only in Jan 2026! As always, I'm open to #kidlit through referrals, conferences, and pitch events. #AF #literaryagent #amquerying serarivers.com/mswl/

Happy Halloween! And Friday! And Almost Time Change Day!

There’s something about being snowed in that makes everything slow down — the world quiets, secrets come out, and maybe… love has a chance to grow. Nina and Dexter didn’t plan on falling for each other — life just had other ideas. #SnowedIn

What happens when life falls apart… but love finds a way to pull you back together? In Snowed In, Nina finds herself alone, expecting a baby, and starting over in Alaska — the last place she thought she’d discover hope again. But sometimes, the right person walks in when everything else fades away

Sometimes it’s nice to step out from behind the books and say hi. Writing is such a solitary passion, but I’ve learned that the best stories come from living — from moments in the sun, quiet reflections, and simple joy. Here’s to a little sunshine, good wine, and inspiration wherever we find it.

Such a wonderful day at the Brooklyn Book Festival! 📚💫 I had the joy of spending time at the Romance Writers of America, New York City Chapter booth — meeting readers, chatting about stories, and sharing my books with new faces. If you were there, thank you for stopping by and saying hello!

Some days, I’m the life of the party — other days, I’m this bear. 🐻 As an ambivert, I can flip between social and quiet, but I’ll admit… there’s something comforting about solitude. It’s where creativity breathes and stories take shape. #MariaCox #WriterLife #CreativeEnergy #WritingMood

As National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, let’s continue to honor and celebrate the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and lasting contributions of Americans whose roots trace back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. #HispanicHeritageMonth #MariaCox

Deadline Dec 31: The Moth Poetry Prize International. Submit unpublished poems. Fee: €16 per poem. No limits on length or subject. 1st PRIZE €6,000 3 RUNNER-UP @ €1,000 8 COMMENDED @ €250 Top 4 poems to be published online in the Irish Times. https://themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=9165&page=28

I wrote my first manuscript on this.

This week I wrote 2336 new words, revised 4077 words, wrote 5 days, and only had one big, long, three day headache 🤕 I’ll take it! #writing

A lot of people have asked about the book I was working on. The truth is, I lost it when my friend who was helping me write it passed away. I didn’t know how to talk about it until now. It still hurts, but I appreciate everyone who believed in it. Maybe one day I’ll try again. 😊

I hit 1k followers. Woot! This might be completely unrelated or just a coincidence, but I’ve been getting more followers than usual, especially on weekends. Does passing the 1k mark unlock some kind of follower magic? Have I leveled up on social media? Am I imagining things? We may never know.

There’s something special about the little things — like this tiny table waiting for laughter, stories, and cookie crumbs. 💛 These moments remind me that life’s sweetest chapters aren’t written on paper — they happen right here, around tables like this, with the people we love most. #FamilyMoments

Right now, I’m deep into The Last Mile by Kat Martin — a perfect blend of suspense and romance. It’s the kind of story that reminds me why I fell in love with this genre in the first place — tension, emotion, and characters that stay with you. #BookLovers #CurrentlyReading #MariaCoxBooks

Extended deadline Oct 15: Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards Submit an unpublished essay up to 2,000 words. Fee: $30. One Grand Prize Winner will receive $2,500, publication, and other benefits. Many smaller awards. https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/personal-essay-awards

With Love & Lust, I wanted to write stories that reflect that truth — that love can be complicated, but it’s always worth the risk. For me, romance is about hope, desire, and the courage to feel. 📖 mariacox.net or on Amazon. #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #WhyIRomance #RomanceWithHeat #SteamyRomance

I wrote two poems yesterday. Very different pieces for entirely different projects. Both unmistakably me. I went to bed & woke up feeling like a writer for the first time in a while.

Strong women. Bold desires. Real emotions. Shana, Jennifer, and Nina may come from different worlds, but what they share is courage — the courage to want more, to feel deeply, and to dare. 📖 Available now on Amazon or at mariacox.net #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #StrongHeroines

When I write, my biggest hope is that the stories stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. If you’ve ever carried a story with you days, weeks, or even years after finishing it, then you know exactly what I mean. 📖 mariacox.net or on Amazon. #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #RomanceReaders

Each story in this book asks that very question in its own way. For me, romance has always been about more than sparks — it’s about what happens when desire pushes you to make choices you never thought you’d make. 📖 Find Love & Lust on Amazon or at mariacox.net #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks

A summer fling wasn’t supposed to last forever — but some sparks don’t burn out with the season. Some summers leave more than memories… they leave you changed. 📖 Read it now at mariacox.net or find it on Amazon. #SummerLust #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #RomanceReads #SteamyRomance #BookEscape

When I wrote Love & Lust, I wanted to capture those moments when desire collides with choice — when the heart races, the rules blur, and every decision feels like it could change everything. 📖 Available now on Amazon or at mariacox.net #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #RomanceWithHeat

Hello, new to BlueSky. I'm looking forward to making new friends. Please follow me if you're so inclined. Thank you 😀 #writer #writing #writerlife #writingcommunity

Desire doesn’t always make sense — and maybe that’s what makes it so powerful. In Love & Lust, I explore those moments when temptation feels impossible to ignore. 📖 Available now on Amazon or at mariacox.net #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #RomanceWithHeat #SpicyRomance #SteamyReads

Love & Lust is all about those moments when passion takes over, when attraction feels impossible to ignore, and when the line between want and need disappears. 📖 Available now on Amazon and at mariacox.net #LoveAndLust #MariaCoxBooks #RomanceWithHeat #SpicyReads #SteamyRomance #BookishEscape

#romance #writers #contest @rwanyc.bsky.social

white knuckling the sink, staring into the mirror: you are funny and smart and can write that email asking for help when you need it.

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention." -Khalil Gibran