Guest Post and Giveaway: Dating Ryan Alback by J.E. Birk

We’re so pleased to welcome author J.E. Birk to TNA today, on tour to celebrate her latest release, Dating Ryan Alback. She’s here to reveal the inspiration for the book and is also offering a great giveaway, so be sure to check out those details below.

Welcome, J.E.!

Unlikely Inspiration: The Ellen Show!

I’ve had a lot of strange inspirations for my writing, but Dating Ryan Alback has the weirdest “where did you get that idea?” story. By Far.

Let me set the scene.  I was watching the Ellen Show. I usually don’t watch daytime TV—not because I don’t like it, but because jobs. Anyway, there I was, watching Ellen. Her guest for the day was a well-known TV star. It was Valentine’s Day, and he was single, and Ellen was very gently torturing him about that fact.

As I was laughing along, because I love Ellen (as does every human being with an appreciation for puppies and adorable children), I started thinking: what if the TV star hated being asked about this? What if they were clearly frustrated and uncomfortable? And what if Ellen just wouldn’t let things go?

And from there the premise of Dating Ryan Alback was born.

Of course, the talk show in this book is very little like the Ellen Show. Selena is much more pushy, and Ryan is far more closed-off than the actor I watched that day. But the jokes about how no one understands why he’s still single? The offers to set him up with the audience? Those are all straight out of my daytime TV inspiration.

I mean, maybe I should watch more daytime TV. I’ll have to see what my bosses think about that idea.

About the Book

Ryan Alback has almost everything he’s ever wanted: a successful acting career, a dog who adores him, great family and friends, and a life outside the closet. The only thing missing is a boyfriend—but Ryan’s been burned by Hollywood relationships before, and he’s not eager to try one again.

Jason Santos has almost everything he’s ever wanted: a fulfilling career teaching middle school, a house in a city he loves, and parents who support him in every way. Too bad he can’t seem to forget the ex-boyfriend who rejected his marriage proposal.

When a talk show host launches a dating contest to find Ryan a boyfriend and Jason accidentally wins, neither of them expect anything to come from it. Yet somewhere between a disastrous massage and a mud sinkhole, they both start to wonder if this date could be more than just a public relations stunt. But before they can move into the future, they’ll both have to learn to let go of the past.

Now available from Riptide Publishing

About the Author

J.E. Birk has been telling stories since she could talk and writing them since she was introduced to the alphabet. She hails from Colorado, where you can usually find her skiing, training for a 5K she won’t end up running, or watching people run into each other on football fields and in hockey rinks. You can follow her ramblings on Twitter by looking for @jebirkwrites. She’s also been known to ramble on Facebook as J Elisabeth Birk.

Connect with J.E. Birk: Facebook || Twitter: @jebirkwrites

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Dating Ryan Alback, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide Publishing credit and their choice of ebook from J.E.’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on February 25, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!