I’m rarely on here, so if you’d like to keep up to date with my writings, sign up for my newsletter. Later today I’ll be doing a big character art reveal! Meet Elizabeth and Lincoln before the masses and find out how, as a South African, I keep messing up. open.substack.com/pub/shameezw...

New newsletter dropped open.substack.com/pub/shameezw...

📢 BARNES & NOBLE PRE-ORDER SALE! From July 8–11, get 25% off your pre-order of SPARRING PARTNERS by Erin Rose — available in print or ebook. 💥 Use code PREORDER25 at checkout 💥 Available online only 💥 Exclusive to B&N Premium and Rewards members 💥 Premium members score an extra 10% off! #booksky

Look! You could score Next Level Love at 25% off at @barnesandnoble.com as part of their #bnpreorder campaign. If you like: - Women in STEM - Men wearing slutty little glasses - Romances that also make you cry between the laughter and swooning Then get it get it get it

My amazing client, @shameezwrites.bsky.social moderated a panel at Rom Con & is featured in this article! So proud of her! Check her out! Her fantasy romance series is under Shameez Patel Papathanasiou, & PLAYING FLIRTY is under Shameez Patel. atlanticsun.co.za/news/2025-06...

Win Tickets for Sinners! Come and experience the genre-defying horror film with Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twins Smoke and Stack. Returning to their hometown in 1932, their plans are upended by a sinister force that threatens everyone they know za.ign.com/sinners/2083...

The full clip of Hayao Miyazaki reading AI engineers for fucking filth so hard their ancestors felt the burning shame back in 2016

PLAYING FLIRTY by @shameezwrites.bsky.social !! #BooksInTheWild found in MINNESOTA!!! #romance

My next newsletter is for the readers who enjoyed both Playing Flirty (by Shameez Patel) and You Between the Lines (by Katie Naymon) Interested? 👁️👁️

Someone just described Playing Flirty as “A romance with a Darcy-esque hero and a Hobbit-esque heroine.” 📠

My favorite genres are: 1. Angry man ends up accidentally parenting some kids and loving them 2. FRIENDSHIP SOLVES EVERYTHING 3. Oh no! The enemy is sexy! 4. Did someone say REDEMPTION ARC? 5. Bad guys team up with good guys because there’s a badder bad guy

The best relationships to ever grace our screens: Thor/Loki Goku/Vegeta This dynamic inspired me to write my own version and I so badly want you lot to discover them. If this is your vibe, please read The Selene Trilogy (starts with The Last Feather)

I’m here for the little details on a cover. I want to read a book and then look at the cover and be like OH THATS WHY SHE WAS WEARING A HOBBIT COSTUME. If that’s your vibe. Read Playing Flirty.

Whenever anyone asks me what Playing Flirty is about, I tell them it’s a love letter to the Lord of the Rings. One day I’ll find my LOTR loving contemporary romance reading audience.

been a while since i sent a newsletter but im hoping to get back into it!! please come read 🥰 newsletter.bookishbrews.com/economic-bla...

Welcome to my newest newsletter aaaaand I’m using Substack like all the cool kids. open.substack.com/pub/shameezw...

My absolutely massive article on Imposter Syndrome is now live! Learn how to fight this monster that all writers face with input from fellow writers right here on Bluesky! bradleyramsey.substack.com/p/how-to-bea... #writingcommunity #writesky #ImposterSyndrome #writingtips

Authors, talk to me about your Facebook Pages or Groups. What do you have? Why? Does it feel worthwhile?

Any Stardew girlies up here?

If you’ve seen Playing Flirty out in the world, or you own a copy. Please tell me which city/state you’re in. I wanna see something 🤩

If you grew up loving Vegeta, you probably ended up loving Loki and I promise you’ll love Lochlan. You’re welcome.

Ramadaan Kareem ❤️ 🍉

THE NERD DAILY WANTED TO TALK TO ✨ME✨ about my novel gaaaah. It means so much as a nerd writing about nerds. Rose and William would love this. thenerddaily.com/shameez-pate...

My agent has my latest manuscript. My editor has my sequel. Does this mean… I can start writing something new?

What do you have in common with Rose Marie Jones?

Me, thinking I’m a mature adult who can accept a compliment and discuss spice in books. Meanwhile, my face:

I edited two chapters tonight. How are you doing?

Where my lore started. I’m just a girl.

My timeline is so messy because I panic followed too many starter packs. I’m looking for people who - Enjoy reading romance & fantasy - Enjoy writing romance & fantasy - Love The Lord of the Rings - Panic play the Sims for 48 straight hours every year - Have a huge crush on Loki Anyone?

I wonder if my innie also likes writing silly kissing stories

I wrote an article about writing and my journey to publication over on The Daily Maverick. www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

I decided to do something different for the Playing Flirty book launch and lean into the competitive and playful nature of the two main characters, Rose and William. It certainly isn’t for everyone but it worked for my readers 🫶

Currently reading Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen and I’m enjoying it so much.

Stop! Everyone! @audiofilemagazine.bsky.social is out here recommending Playing Flirty alongside Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood. Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh. Author goal both unlocked and achieved ✅ If you like your book boyfriends tall, geeky and grumpy—well, I have just the book for you.

My uncle, who used to be a very serious public figute, sent me this and I really hope he didn’t read the whole thing because I don’t need him to know these words came from my brain. But you lot can. 🤪 www.news24.com/life/books/e...

My rom-com book launch is a week away! 18 Feb at Exclusive Books V&A, Cape Town. Will I be seeing any of you?

Yellowface made me feel AWFUL and ANGRY and UNCOMFORTABLE. Five stars.

Sent my romcom-mystery manuscript off to my agent. So if any editors out there are looking for an adult romcom version of A Good Girls Guide to Murder X Only Murders in the Building, hmu.

I was tasked with finding my super niche target audience for Playing Flirty, and what better than a VENN DIAGRAM. Are you on here?

Playing Flirty by @shameezwrites.bsky.social ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nerdy, slow-burn romance perfection! 😍 Gamer MMC, William, is my new book boyfriend. 💕 Rose is so relatable! Great banter. Board games, cosplay, LOTR—it's got everything! Highly recommend! #booksky #bookreview

Congratulations to @jckenney.bsky.social, author of Panic in the Panhandle, one of our Top Ten Cozies of 2024. https://cozymystery.com/authors/j-c-kenney

A podcast in which we have been ✨perceived✨. Thank you to NC Barton for having us! If you prefer to just listen, you can also find the episode on Apple, Spotify, and NC Barton’s SubStack. youtu.be/67WYwmntuTw?... #writingcommunity #romancelandia #booksky

Cape Town readers and geeks! Playing Flirty will be launched at Exclusive Books Waterfront on Tuesday, 18 Feb. And instead of a regular launch, we’ll be leaning into the playing and competition and hosting a QUIZ NIGHT. (Spectators are welcome!) Link to RSVP will be posted in the thread.

Happy pub day to Playing Flirty! You can finally get your copy and I can finally call myself an author of both fantasy AND romance.

@shameezwrites.bsky.social Happy book birthday / release day, Shameez! So excited for you and for the world to meet your darling, nerdy characters 💕 Hope your day is wonderful!

Can I convince you to read my romcom using fanart and tropes? 🎲🎲🎲

My first feature of 2025 & it was a real struggle. Got major anxiety writing this worried I would get the story wrong, sound biased, get the wrong attention from the wrong people. But it's here now and I hope it helps. Please share. Thank you @rasheedabueideh.bsky.social for trusting me with this.

How come none of you told me about Mythic Quest

Paste Magazine’s last line in this review of Playing Flirty absolutely finished me. HOW DID THEY KNOW?

Audiobook girlies! Gather! WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A COPY OF THE PLAYING FLIRTY AUDIOBOOK? 1. Follow me & like this post 2. Comment with your fav audiobook and tag a friend 3. Subscribe to my newsletter 4. BONUS: Repost