Elise Betz: Author & Books
Novels, Short Stories, and Flash Fiction
Latest Querying Manuscript
Rotten Luck, Romance and Other Perils of Writing
Elise Betz's latest manuscript she is querying, 'Rotten Luck, Romance and Other Perils of Writing', is the first book of a two-book duology exploring tropes of enemies to lovers to friends and trust issues. This Adult Contemporary Romance is 93K words, with a kiss of speculative and meta nods to Regency Era Fantasy, including a spicy climax and a small age gap of seven years.
THE PITCH
Anne Hotchkiss, an aspiring author with trust issues, predicts her own bad luck through her latest fanfic. When she hits rock bottom, she meets her former 12th grade English teacher that she antagonized who now resembles her romantic literary ideal. The problem is that he still hates her. Seeking his forgiveness and cultivating a friendship with him may be the only way to finally have a fulfilling, romantic relationship. If she can't, she risks resigning herself to a future of more failed relationships and her continued yearning for love.
Glancing up, she saw the door of the teacher's lounge swing open and in walked the embodiment of Master Sebastian Noir himself – the fanon version to boot. All six foot, muscularly trim build, with long hair as black as a raven's wing, neatly trimmed beard, and ice blue eyes that made the breath in Anne's throat catch when he caught sight of her and stared directly back at her for the briefest of moments.
​
Feeling her own cheeks flush, Anne quickly directed her gaze away and back down to her computer, panicking as she was trying to think. With sudden shock, Anne realized who that man was who just came into the room. It was Mr. Ghent, her old twelfth grade English teacher who she hated. There was no way that the teacher she remembered and the man who was now standing over at the teacher's lounge microwave were one in the same.
Chapter Seven
The Meet-Cute
Quotes from Rotten Luck, Romance and Other Perils of Romance
'Life couldn't get any shittier.'
​
Just as she wondered if anyone had seen her and could help her, she heard a good Samaritan running up to her from behind. “Miss, are you alright?”
​
Without turning around to see who it was, Anne said thickly, “No.”
​
She could feel her throat constricting, not only from the pain caused by her injury, but from the self-pity she was now soundly wallowing in.
​
Burying her face in her hands, she began wailing, “My life is shit; I had to move back in with my parents after I was fired my job six months ago; the job I have now I can't afford to move out; my date tonight was a creepy jerk who I didn't trust to take me home without date raping me just took off; and then I bust my ankle. No, I'm not all right, LIFE IS JUST FUCKING PEACHY!”
Pulling her hands away from her face to see who she had just confessed her problems to, Anne was met by the pale-blue sympathetic eyes of Nate Ghent, as he crouched, sitting on one heel regarding her.
​
'Oh, God, put me out of my fucking misery now, please.'
Chapter Eleven
When Anne has hit her first rock bottom, Nate is there to pick her up literally and figuratively.
Anne wondered if this day could get any worse. That there were still three hours left before midnight, it was a distinct possibility, given her current running streak. There was plenty of time for a meteor to come crashing through the ceiling, carrying her away to the deepest pit of Hell, if there was one deeper than the abyss in which she was currently residing.
Chapter Twelve
When Anne finally hits her absolute rock bottom
Nate reached out with his hand, turning her chin so she could face him. “I have waited years for someone like you. I will not step away from my vigil to be patient until you are ready. I shall continue to wait until the stars burn out and the seas gang dry.”
Chapter Twenty
When Nate assures Anne he is willing to wait until she is ready for a relationship
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for Elise Betz's upcoming appearances and events where you can engage with the author and delve deeper into the worlds she creates.
