Dear reader,
It’s cute to meet you! Welcome to Love, Underlined, your new online community for romance readers. Each month we invite one of our romance authors to answer a romance-themed Q&A. This month, Wendy Loggia, author of All I Want for Christmas, shares her favorite romance tropes, her book crushes, and more! Read on for the full Wendy Loggia Q&A.
Love,
Underlined
What was the first romance novel you read?
Hail, Hail Camp Timberwood by Ellen Conford. Melanie, the MC, is so relatable—awkward, funny, homesick. The story captures the highs and lows of summer camp with bunkmate rivalries and crushes (Melanie falls for Steve, a senior boy, and there was sweet hand-holding and kisses, all super innocent and the kind of first crush stuff that felt so monumental to me as a ten-year-old. I still have it on my bookshelf.
What romance are you currently reading?
The Matchmaker by Elin Hildebrand
What are your favorite tropes?
Slow burn, second-chance romance, friends to lovers, and anything seasonally inspired!
Who’s your book crush?
Heathcliff by way of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.”
What inspires your writing?
A little bit of everything. Personal experiences, my love of the beach and the magic of summer, cozy fall vibes, and the holiday season (sorry, spring). My family and friends, the places I’ve lived and traveled, and the people I’ve met (or observed), the media I consume. Friendship and relationship drama—mine or borrowed—has a way of sneaking in, too!
What’s your favorite part of writing romance?
Getting to explore so many emotions—I’m able to dive into hope, love, fear, trust, and all the messy, magical feelings in between. Plus, I get to control the ending (hello, happily-ever-after) . . . as I write I know I’m building a story with a secret stash of confetti I’ll get to toss at the end.
Share with us an out of context quote from All I Want for Christmas!
“He leans over and tugs on both ends of the scarf. He’s not exactly pulling me closer—but he almost is. And I like it.”
Describe All I Want for Christmas in three emojis.
🎄 for Christmas-obsessed protagonist Bailey Briggs.
📚 because she works at a bookstore—and this is a love letter to holiday rom-coms and bookstores (I’ve worked in 4 of them!).
💋 for her holiday wish: a magical mistletoe kiss.
