Around the Fire Book & Author Blog. Today, hear about Treasures in the backyard and a New Release by Author Maria Imbalzano.

Welcome to Around the Fire. This past week, Hubby and I celebrated our 32nd Anniversary with a nice dinner at one of our local restaurants, Shout out to The Hyde-Away Restaurant and Tap Room. I'm fond of treasures in my own backyard, and this charming establishment is one of our go-tos. Bonus for us as history buffs: this is a renovated historic landmark. The restaurant is in the Middleville section of Stillwater Township, NJ. Originally built in 1784, it was a horse-and-carriage rest stop and a town hall. We love the rustic yet elegant atmosphere, and when friends visit, we often take them here. When the weather cooperates, even when colder, we've sat out on the heated and covered patio. If you are in the area, you should check them out. www.facebook.com/hydeawayrestaurantnj
Speaking of treasures in your backyard, today's guest is Maria Imbalzano, who is also a member of New Jersey Romance Writers.  She is sharing the winding road she traveled to get to her latest release. 

​

“Sworn to Collide” is the fourth and last book in the Sworn Sisters Series, and writing it was a traumatic experience. Lol.  The Sworn Sisters Series is about four friends from high school who are now in their early to mid-thirties. Each woman has their own book. The reason for the problems I encountered in this last book was because Denise, the heroine of the story, is married with three children. Although all the books in this series are women’s fiction, they all have strong romances. The big question here was, how do I create a romance in this book when she’s been married for over ten years and has three kids to contend with? 
Thankfully, I am not one to give up—although I did contemplate throwing the manuscript into the proverbial trash. I ended up writing five different versions, which took me four years. The first version I wrote was from the heroine’s and hero’s points of view, as I’ve done with the other books in the series.
When that wasn’t working, I decided to do a “Then” and “Now” version, so I had to write a complete story of their “Then” days. When I threaded in those chapters between the “Now” chapters, the book was way too long. In order to cut back, I eliminated the hero’s point of view.  Not working. So then I decided to omit all the “Then” chapters and filter some of the information into the “Now” chapters.    Still not happy with it, I changed the entire book from third person to first person. Phew!
So now you have it – the final version.
Do you even remember Denise from the other three books? Hopefully, the answer is yes, and you are dying to read her story. Or you’ll decide to read the other three books in this award-winning series. They are all stand-alones, so don’t worry if you missed one.

​

Sworn to Collide
by
Maria Imbalzano    

Release Date June 1, 2026
Contemporary Romance
  

About Sworn to Collide 
     After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of.  But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything.
     Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable.
     Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good? 

Preorder your copy today
​www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GLHKF627
Series
www.amazon.com/dp/B07RPCKFDM

​Bio
Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the States.  Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband--not far from her two daughters.
For more information about her books, please visit her website at mariaimbalzano.com
for her newsletter.

Follow the author
https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor
https://x.com/ImbalzanoM84600
Instagram 
Mariaimbalzano_author
Website Link
http://www.mariaimbalzano.com

---

Before you leave, I'd love to tell you about New Jersey Romance Writers, of which I am the VP of Programs. 
The mission of NJRW since 1986 has been to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers by providing support, educational information, and resources to both published and unpublished authors. Check it out at www.njromancewriters.org/join-us.htmlBonus! You don't have to live in New Jersey to reap the benefits of membership. Our programs and meetings are on Zoom.