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Mallory L. Bates

is a romance writer living in Houston, TX

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Happy Halloween from this Y2K princess! Betty has

Happy Halloween from this Y2K princess! Betty has her 2000s essentials- juicy tracksuit, Tory Burch bag, Frappuccino, and her pink Razr 🩷 (swipe to see how she really feels 😏)

The book I’m currently writing takes place in Ma

The book I’m currently writing takes place in Maine. I’ve been working on this story in some form for about two years, so getting to spend last week there was soul filling in more ways than one.

I loved the slower days, enjoying nature and the amazing weather, eating copious amount of ice cream (my favorite flavor is black raspberry, and we don’t have it here!), meeting locals, and just having a good ole reset.

There’s something about finally being in a place again where you’ve spent so much head space that’s hard to describe. I’ve spent so many hours in my little made up Maine coastal town, that being back in the state felt like taking a big exhale (I am now fully invested in book research trips 🤪).

Now that I’m back home, I hope I can infuse this book with all those little details I picked up while I was away and that this story will be richer for it.🩷

#amwriting #bookstagram #iwriteromance #romancewriter #romcom #writingresearchtrip #behindthebook #writerlife #writingwiththesoul #researchtrip #coastalmaine #secondchanceromancetrope #romancewritersofinstagram #romancewriters

Iceland isn’t like any place I’ve ever been. I

Iceland isn’t like any place I’ve ever been. It feels like a hidden world, something you’ll try in vain to find again, because it’s too fantastical to be real. Like maybe the only way to get there is to walk through a wardrobe or fall through a portal.

This trip was the adventure of a lifetime, and it came at just the right moment. It pushed me out of my comfort zone daily, and I am so glad I was able to experience it with such a fantastic group of women. We rode horses and ATVs, hiked a glacier… the list goes on.

I am so grateful to @wwts.alumni @adrienneyoungbooks and @thewanderingpuhls for all their hard work putting together the best trip for us. It was perfect 🖤🇮🇸
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#wwtsalumni #writerlife #researchexpedition #researchtrip #iceland #icelandichorses #iwriteromance #blacksandbeach

A spur of the moment trip to see Taylor Swift in S

A spur of the moment trip to see Taylor Swift in Scotland with family? Don’t mind if I do! It was so much fun, and I still can’t quite believe it happened 😂

This time last week I was cavorting around DC with

This time last week I was cavorting around DC with @jeanninelawrencebooks and @emifay. We ate until we had to unbutton our pants on the walk home (🙋🏻‍♀️), talked story late into the night, saw stunning art and history, bought many, many books, and ended every night with tea in bed. I am forever grateful for these two. Can’t wait for the next adventure 💕

I thought it would be fun to make a little aesthet

I thought it would be fun to make a little aesthetic reel of my new YA rom-com, and while “fun” doesn’t really fit with making a reel for me, hopefully it feels that way watching it!

Some things you can expect in this book…

✨ Fake dating

✨ Best friend’s older brother

✨ Boy next door

✨ Set in 2006 (this could change, but sure made drafting fun for this millennial)

…And lots and lots of shenanigans! I love these little knuckleheads, and I’m already so excited about the way it’s shaping up!

#writingprocess #storymagic #iwriteromance #wwtsalumni #behindthebook #romancewriter #romcom #bookstagram #firstdraft #amwriting #romancereader #wip #bookishreels #bookreels #writerscorner #romcom #ya #youngadult #yaromcom #yaromance #iwriteya

Hi! It’s been approximately 84 years since I’v

Hi! It’s been approximately 84 years since I’ve posted any sort of update on here, but now felt like the right time because I FINISHED A DRAFT!

It’s the first draft of a YA rom-com that I never thought I’d write, but came into my life and demanded to exist. Literally. In mid-November, an inkling for this story came to me and I spent the rest of the day playing around with it. The next day, I started drafting it and the rest is history.

This project felt like a real leap of faith. I was making good progress on my next adult rom-com, and it felt risky to put that one aside but was 1000% the right decision.

Everything about drafting this book has been different. It was fun and easy in a way writing hadn’t been for me for a while. I also think moving from adult to YA was the change of pace I needed, especially since at the end of last year I decided to shelve the project I had been querying (I’ll share more about that decision later).

I have so much more I could say about what this experience taught me, but this is getting long winded, so I’ll just say— writing should be fun. It is absolutely hard work, and we will invariably hit walls and have moments of it being the opposite of fun, but ultimately, it is something we do for the joy and love of storytelling💕

#amwriting #firstdraft #bookstagram #romcom #yaromcom #romancewriter #iwriteromance #behindthebook #booklover #wwtsalumni #romancewriterofinstagram #yabooks #amdrafting #storyinspiration #iwritebooks #writingprocess #writingprocess #storymagic #findmywritingcommunity

Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 To make up for last yea

Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 To make up for last year when Betty’s witch costume ended up looking like a puritan, Betty is a cool witch— Frances from The Witch Haven by @sashapeytonsmith ✨

This time last year, we were in Scotland having th

This time last year, we were in Scotland having the trip of a lifetime 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

One of these days I’m actually going to write du

One of these days I’m actually going to write during a writing retreat 😜

I had the best time in Asheville last week with @youfoundmarinasbooks and @lacieericksonbooks, talking life and writing and story (and watching Twilight in the rainy woods, as is required by law).

Going into September feeling refreshed, with a full creative well, and forever grateful for the friends I’ve made in this writing community 🖤

#internationaldogday you say? Ok! Here are some pi

#internationaldogday you say? Ok! Here are some pictures of Betty in her natural habitat. She loves sun-patches, cuddling under blankets, keeping me company while I write (as well as doing her duty as neighborhood watch). She’s almost always the last one out of bed, and she’s mostly sweet but a little sassy. 🐶 ❤️

The vibes of my WIP are vibing! I started this sto

The vibes of my WIP are vibing! I started this story a year ago on a break between revisions on another manuscript. I set it aside, not to knowing when I would pick it up again, and honestly, when the time came to work on something new, I didn’t think it would be this.

BUT, it is 😂 Here are a few deets on my new WIP:

💕angsty, second chance romance

💕dual timeline

💕Maine

💕summer camp

💕divorced FMC

💕forced proximity

💕only one tent 🏕️

Izzie + Caleb forever.

*photos from Pinterest

I started querying last month. It really is a dooz

I started querying last month. It really is a doozy of a process and even more anxiety inducing than I thought it would be 🫠

I’d planned to jump head first into a new draft, but I haven’t been able to determine which story I’m ready to tell. I have a few projects in various stages, one a departure from anything I’ve written before. For now, I’m giving myself some breathing room and time to figure out which story’s call is the loudest.

Oh, also, my sweet husband made me a website. So, if you ever need to find me somewhere other than here, the link is in my bio.

And if you’re querying or planning to soon, my DMs are always open if you need someone to talk to. Take care of yourselves ❤️❤️❤️

Savannah 🖤 We ate until our stomachs hurt, al

Savannah 🖤

We ate until our stomachs hurt, almost got got by the power washer killer, stalked bookstore cats, and left feeling refreshed and inspired.

Beyond grateful for these friends it feels like I’ve known forever. Until next time!

Looking back on some pictures from Scotland on Ear

Looking back on some pictures from Scotland on Earth Day 🌎💚

Look at my pretty new notepad from @erinwallacedes

Look at my pretty new notepad from @erinwallacedesigns 😍

As much as I love and hoard notebooks, I realized I use notepads wayyyyy more. I like having one right by my computer for any notes or thoughts that hit me while I’m writing, and it’s just easier if I don’t have to flip through a notebook (my desk space isn’t conducive to keeping a notebook open).

But I also like things that are pretty, so it’s very lucky for me that my bestie has a paper shop! I’m obsessed with how these turned out, and I can’t wait to doodle all over them when I should be writing- ha!

Finally got my disposable camera developed from ou

Finally got my disposable camera developed from our trip to upstate NY last summer. Love these ladies 💕 also this makes me want to get into film again 😬

Here are some of my favorite romance books you sho

Here are some of my favorite romance books you should read in February 💘

💕 Bringing Down the Duke by @evietheauthor

💕 How to Fake it in Hollywood by @avawilderwrites

💕 Book Lovers by @emilyhenrywrites

💕 Some Mistakes Were Made by @kristindwyer

💕 Love and Other Words by @christinalauren

💕 Funny You Should Ask by @elissa_sussman

💕 The Flatshare by @betholearyauthor

💕 The Love Hypothesis by @alihazelwood

Oh look, another picture from my UK trip to accomp

Oh look, another picture from my UK trip to accompany a writing update-- groundbreaking!

Last month, I shared my plan to finish my revision by the end of January, and guess what? I DID IT! I hit my deadline, with a few days to spare.

I'm going to be completely honest with you-- I wasn't sure I could do it. Setting deadlines has never really worked for me before, and with soooo many new words to write, I didn't know if it would be phyically possible for me. But, I learned something new about myself in this process, and it's that I think I'm actually a night writer?! Usually, I'd spend hours sitting at my computer with nothing really happening, only to give up once 5:00 o'clock hit. But these last few weeks, I noticed that it was around when I'd usually throw in the towel that inspiration would hit and the words would flow.... I just needed to hold out a little bit longer.

And you know what? It has been SO freeing knowing if I have a busy day, I still have the evening to write. It took a lot of the guilt and pressure off of my days, and I was able to enjoy the process more. (Also, considering I have never been a morning person, this makes perfect sense. Hindsight, right?)

So, what's next? Line edits! Betas! And then hopefully querying in April. I'm hopeful, excited, and no longer afraid of self-imposed deadlines 😜❤️

2022 ✨ There have been some major life highlig

2022 ✨

There have been some major life highlights this year…
- meeting my CP in person
- Spending time with my oldest, dearest friends
- Trip of a lifetime in Scotland with @jonnybangles
- Life changing @writing.with.the.soul
- Moving into our new home

Plus, book events, Betty cuddles and the many words read and written. 2022 was quite the ride, and I’m excited to see what 2023 has in store ✨❤️

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