When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago.
Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.
Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
Now on to the interview!
So, you have a very unique career path, can you explain what you do?
Sure. I studied costume design and history, and now I’m a dramaturg. Basically, that means I work as a sort of researcher for directors, scriptwriters, and playwrights to ensure that historical details like dialog, clothing, and more are historically accurate. I love research work and putting things into historical context, so it was a natural choice for me.
That sounds interesting. Speaking of costuming, you have your own side business around that. What made you want to start Cosplaymates?
I’m just a hardcore costume nerd. I love coming up with different designs and seeing people embody characters.
How did you get into costume design?
I’ve been a part of theater in some aspect since high school, either backstage or on the stage. It was an osmosis effect, really. Costumes, and even every day outfits, give us a chance to step out of our lives, or to play a part.
What’s your favorite cosplay outfit?
To wear, I’d say female Indiana Jones. So far, my favorite cosplay outfit I’ve ever made is an extravagant Marie Antoinette costume.
Last question, and it’s a personal one. You were super reluctant to date someone, but you are now. How is your relationship with Dustin?
It’s amazing. We both had some commitment issues to overcome, but we’re getting there day by day…and we’re excited to see what the future holds for us.
On that very happy note, if you want to know more about any of the other characters in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, keep your eye out here for more interviews. And, of course the best way to get to know everyone at Nerdvana is to grab the books!
Today I’m sharing a teaser from book one in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, Nerdy Words. If you like cosplay and romance novels, this is an excerpt you’ll want to read!
Blurb
When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago.
Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.
Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
Excerpt
“Do you even know who I’m supposed to be?” I asked. I hoped he didn’t think I’d just come to the bar in this get up. I mentally crossed my fingers that he’d figure it out without any hints from me.
“Of course, I know who you are, Lady Indy. Your costume is perfect,” he praised as his eyes raked over me.
“Well, you can thank Jamie. She let me borrow her hat, pants, and belt.” My cheeks heated under his appreciative stare. I guess I had my answer as to whether or not Dustin would like my outfit.
“Hmm. Maybe she deserves a raise. Thanks to her help, I get to indulge in a fantasy.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“You’re making a lot of assumptions tonight.” I made a tsking sound, even though my pulse leapt. The thought of learning Dustin’s fantasies was a total turn on.
“I can’t help it. All I can think about is peeling those clothes off and worshiping your sexy body,” he said as he pulled me closer.
He planted a kiss on the side of my neck. As his mouth traveled lower his thumbs stroked the base of my throat. I rolled my lips inward and stifled a moan. God, I wanted him. I didn’t know how I was going to get through this night. I was already becoming rapidly turned on.
Dustin pulled back and cupped my face. Our gazes held and his eyes looked soft. I shifted my gaze to flicker over his face. His expression was gentle and a little hopeful.
“You haven’t ever let anyone in, right? Because your mom told you how important it was to stay single, so you didn’t repeat her mistake? Well, I’ve not let anyone in since Madison. Since you’ve been told to avoid relationships, you probably don’t know how to let someone in. I’m rusty, since it’s been so long for me, but maybe we can take this slow and figure out how to let each other in?”
My skin prickled with fear. What he’d said was sweet and, in a way, I wanted to let him in. In another, very real, very strong way, I wanted to get out. I wanted to leave and not look back. Dustin’s heart had been scarred badly. I didn’t want to add to that wound, but worried that somehow, I would. Even if my intentions started out good, deep in my bones I knew that I’d add to the battle scars on his heart.
“I…I don’t know if I can, Dustin, and I realize that’s an incredibly shitty thing to tell you after you’ve shared so much with me. It’s just a lot of pressure to put on someone who has no relationship experience.”
He shifted, pulled away from me slightly. His expression turned darker. I thought I read hurt and maybe anger on his face. He turned and I watched his jaw flex. “Can you at least think about it? Think about whether what we have when we’re together is worth taking a chance?”
His expression softened, the anger gone and replaced by tenderness. He trailed his fingers down my arm and I resisted the urge to let out a shiver. His touch made my resolve slip. Damn it, was that enough? The physical thing we had going on, was that enough to take a risk? I didn’t know the answer. All I knew was that I wanted to both lean into his touch, bask in it, and flee this situation. God, I was a chicken shit. But, all he’d asked me to do was consider it. I could at least do that. I owed him that, after he’d bared so much of himself to me.
“I can think about it, Dustin. I want it to be worth it, I do…”
“I get what you’re saying and also what you’re not saying.” He moved his hands from my body and shifted, putting distance between us. I straightened my hat and tried not to get the wrinkles out of my blouse. Dustin busied himself straightening the office. It seemed like he was doing it so he didn’t have to speak or even look at me. I probably deserved his reserved behavior, but it still stung a little.
“Maybe I should take off. We’ve been back here a while. I should let you get back to work.” I fiddled with the fedora on my head, feeling more than a little ridiculous wearing the get up now. Somehow the mood between us had shifted and I didn’t know what to say or how to make it better. I couldn’t tell him that, yes, I’d give us a chance. I didn’t know how I felt about that. It would be unfair to make a promise before I knew what I wanted. “I’ll call you.” I hated the way the phrase sounded, lame and like I was making excuses.
This is the second character interview from the Talk Nerdy to Me series. Read the first one from Dustin here.
Nerdy Thoughts blurb
Jamie Kurt is the most popular bartender at Nerdvana, the hottest bar in Cascade Falls. Her outlandish cosplay outfits, wicked wit, and flare for whipping up cocktails make her a target of one-sided crushes from the Nerdvana clientele. So when a customer named Les Wyatt captures her attention, she’s torn between wanting to know more and fighting the urge to stay away.
Les is a shy, sweet political cartoonist and larper. Jamie is vibrant, complicated, and allergic to commitment. He’s everything she shouldn’t want and Jamie’s convinced he shouldn’t get involved with her.
Despite their obvious differences, neither of them can deny their fiery attraction and combustible chemistry. Les asks Jamie to give him a chance to show her how good they can be together through a casual relationship. As they continue to date, and feelings grow, Jamie throws up every defense she has to try to push Les away.
But Les is determined to have Jamie any way he can and once he gets her, he has no intention of letting her go.
Now on to the interview!
What made you want to work at Nerdvana?
It’s such an awesome place. The vibe, the theme. There’s nothing like it.
How was it coming up with mocktail recipes for Nerdvana?
I loved it! I’m always up for a challenge and coming up with tasty alcohol free drinks was honestly the tits. And, best part? They’re all totally Instagram worthy, too.
What’s your favorite cosplay outfit?
I’d have to say my Catwoman costume. I always get hella tips when I wear it. (laughs) I mean, of course I do, it’s a black leather bodysuit with stiletto boots.
How are your goals coming along with school and work?
It’s going great! I love being part of the management team at the bar, and I’m getting closer to finishing my degree.I have a business idea that I’d love to make a reality one day in the not so distant future, but I’m not going to say anything else about it right now.
How did Les make you better?
*laughs and lets out a happy sigh* How much time do you have? (laughs) Serious answer? He made me face some of my demons. He made me realize I was running from my past and he helped me own my BS. And, he’s the absolute sweetest. I love him so much.
On that very happy note, if you want to know more about any of the other characters in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, keep your eye out here for more interviews. And, of course the best way to get to know everyone at Nerdvana is to grab the books!
I’m super pumped that book two in the Talk Nerdy to Me series is out today! Nerdy Thoughts was a fun and challenging book to write. I put a lot of myself into parts of this book, so even though it feels a little bit like I’m exposing my innermost thoughts and fears, I’m proud to share it with the world.
Blurb
Jamie Kurt is the most popular bartender at Nerdvana, the hottest bar in Cascade Falls. Her outlandish cosplay outfits, wicked wit, and flare for whipping up cocktails make her a target of one-sided crushes from the Nerdvana clientele. So when a customer named Les Wyatt captures her attention, she’s torn between wanting to know more and fighting the urge to stay away.
Les is a shy, sweet political cartoonist and larper. Jamie is vibrant, complicated, and allergic to commitment. He’s everything she shouldn’t want and Jamie’s convinced he shouldn’t get involved with her.
Despite their obvious differences, neither of them can deny their fiery attraction and combustible chemistry. Les asks Jamie to give him a chance to show her how good they can be together through a casual relationship. As they continue to date, and feelings grow, Jamie throws up every defense she has to try to push Les away.
But Les is determined to have Jamie any way he can and once he gets her, he has no intention of letting her go.
Excerpt
Jamie
“What can I get for you, sweetie?” I asked a tall redheaded patron dressed like an Arthurian knight. He pulled down his chainmail hood and leaned across the shiny surface of the silver bar. I couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the lighting or if the baby blues gazing my way were truly that rich in color.
“Could I trouble the lady for some mead, for I am quite parched?” He asked in an exaggerated old English accent.
I gave him a quick nod and my biggest smile. He was a larper, one I’d waited on a lot lately. His accent was expected, most of the customers who came here to use the live action role playing room refused to come out of character, even to place their drink orders. After working at Nerdvana, Cascade Falls’s hottest geek-themed bar for the past three months, I’d gotten used to the quirky—and sometimes downright odd—habits of our patrons. The men that came here might be a tad dorky and have uncanny hobbies, but none of them were ever rude or tried to grab my ass or tits. A relief compared to some of the other bars I’d worked at.
“I hope the mead is to your liking, good sir.” I said and put a beaker full of draft beer in front of him.
When he picked up the glass vial and put it to his lips, I grabbed the ends of my short plaid skirt and did a small curtsey. I found that when I played along and humored the guys they tended to be much more generous with their tips. Leaning forward, I squeezed my arms toward my center and pushed my D cups together, causing cleavage to pop out of the top of my white t-shirt. Showing the customers a little something-something always helped line my pockets, too. I watched as the redhead’s gaze traveled from my face to my chest.
“Honey, your face is the same color as your hair. I’m Jamie. What’s your name?”
I stuck my hand out. After a couple seconds he seemed to snap out of his daze and he brought his stare back up to my face. He clasped my hand and somehow turned an even darker hue of scarlet.
“Maybe I’ll just call you Red. It can be my special nickname for you.” I gave him a wink and was about to turn away when he finally managed to speak.
“I’m Les. Sorry, it’s just…girls like you don’t usually talk to guys like me.” He shrugged and took another sip of his beer.
“What do you mean guys like you? Guys who larp? You should come to Nerdvana more often. Out in the real world people might not get larping or the appeal of video games, but in here it’s a whole different story.” I pointed to the row of booths across from the bar.
Each booth butted against a wall and had a flat-screen TV attached to the end of the table. Video gaming systems ranging from the 80s to present day were installed on built-in shelves on the wall. Dustin, the owner of the bar and my boss, aptly named the place Nerdvana, and with the live action role playing room, comic book nook, and video game section, it was truly a haven for nerds.
“You’re really cute, and in this place, you’re like a king—no pun intended of course.” I pointed to his Arthurian-esque garb. “What I’m getting at is you shouldn’t be so shy. I bet I could get you laid tonight, if that’s what you wanted.”
Les looked at me with his mouth gaping open. Damn, maybe I’d been too presumptuous. I probably shouldn’t have said so much. My roommate Olivia was always nagging me about that. I had horribly loose lips.
“Wh-who-who do you think would want to lay me?” He ducked his head and I had to strain to hear the next question he asked me. “Or is that offer coming from you?”
I burst out laughing. It didn’t matter how sweet and geeky they might seem, give a guy an inch…
“Well, like I said you’re a cutie but…”
“I get it, you don’t do pity fucks. It’s cool. I need to get back to my game. Let me grab my wallet so I can pay for the beer.”
“Hey,” I said, and put my hand on top of his, all kidding aside. “I’m not trying to be a bitch. And I’m not rejecting you for the reason you think I am. Maybe that’s your problem. Maybe if you didn’t sell yourself short, you’d have better luck with the ladies.” I leaned forward again, this time I got so close my face was only inches from his. In doing so, it put the ledge of the bar under my sternum. I knew that the ginger cutie was getting a spectacular view of my cleavage.
“Between you and me, if we’d met somewhere else, I would take you back to my place tonight and fuck your brains out. It just so happens I’m trying to be good here. You don’t want to get mixed up with a girl like me.”
I kept my gaze trained on him, hoping he would take my advice and that maybe the next time a chick came on to him, he’d take it seriously and not brush her off. Les put down his now half-empty beaker and I couldn’t help but notice he did so with a shaky hand. Damn, he was totally adorable. I hadn’t been lying to him or just trying to flatter him in hopes of a fatter tip. A part of me wanted to take this shy guy with the deep blue eyes home with me and do wicked things to him.
“Jesus, Jamie. Don’t scare the customers. Dustin wouldn’t like that, you know.”
At the sound of my roommate’s trilling tone I whipped my head to the left. She was sitting next to Les, but I hadn’t even seen her approach. I bit my bottom lip. I wonder how much of the conversation she’d heard?
“Liv…when did you get here?”
It was a bullshit question I used to try to gauge her mood. Not only was Olivia my roommate, but she and Dustin had been dating for the past couple months. I guess I should’ve been creeped out by the fact that my boss and roommate were shagging, but they made an amazing couple. I’d never seen Olivia as happy as she’d been since she and Dustin had become an item.
A situation that might never have happened if I hadn’t stuck my nose into her life and told her she was making a mistake. Originally, she’d wanted to stick to her no dating in college motto when her and Dustin first started hooking up. I made her realize how pointless that rule was. A fact I tucked into my mental back pocket, should Liv decide to start lecturing me now. Maybe if she lectured me, I’d simply remind her that I’d been the one to talk some sense into her stubborn ass, and if she hadn’t listened to me in the first place, she might not be blissfully happy with Dustin.
“I’ve been here long enough to know what you’d do to this handsome knight if you weren’t on the clock.” My bestie shot me side eyes.
Shit. So, she’d heard. Oh well. Liv knew me better than anyone else. She couldn’t even claim to be surprised by my intentions.
“Look, ah, Jamie. I’ll see you around. I need to get back to the larping room.”
Before I could say anything else to Les, he turned and walked toward the two-story glass room in the corner of the bar. Damn, I guess I really had scared him. Or shocked the hell out of him. I didn’t know if I should feel confused or rejected.
“Jamie, really? Him?”
“What? You think I don’t like redheads? Think they’re not cute as hell? ‘Cause I guess that means you’ve never seen Prince Harry?”
Liv rolled her eyes.
“Or Ed Sheeran with his oh-so-innocent looking face and that inked up body? I mean, who doesn’t love a juxtaposition like that?”
“Wow, listen to you throwing big words around. I wasn’t referencing his hair color. You know that sweet guy’s probably never been propositioned like that before, right?”
“Propositioned? What the hell, Liv? You make me sound like a hooker.” I put a hand on my hip and did a sassy neck bob move at her. Out of my peripheral, I noticed a customer waving a couple of bills at me. I held an index finger up to the guy flashing his money, letting him know I’d get his order in a minute. “Do you want your usual?”
“Yeah, but you can wait on that guy first. He seems like he’s in a hurry.” I gave her a nod and turned toward the impatient dude.
“I need a round for this table and that one.” He pointed to two tables behind him, then he turned toward the group in question. “Yes! You got to the next level. That’s legit, dude!” He let out a loud whoop, proud of his friend’s video-gaming skills.
Jesus, these fucking guys, I swear. Working at Nerdvana was awesome but sometimes the customers got so excited about their make-believe world, it was weird. I poured a round of cocktails for the over excited customer. He paid with several large bills and told me to keep the change, which equaled a nearly ten dollar tip. Lucky for me, alcohol makes people generous. Most customers opt to pay the extra two bucks to drink their libations from a glass beaker—and sure, it looks cool—but it gets people hella inebriated, hella quick. Sometimes I wondered if Dustin and his business partner Quinn had really thought that aspect through when they came up with the idea.
I poured a gin and tonic into a beaker and slid it across the counter to Olivia. Unlike some patrons, Liv knew her limits when drinking. One beaker of the classic cocktail and she was good for the whole night.
“So, what’s up with you tonight? Why are you busting my ass about a little harmless flirting? You should be doing the nasty with Dustin back in his office.”
“Whatever, that’s only happened once or twice.”
I shot my best friend a bitch, please look. She and my boss hooked up in his office more times than I could count. Not that I blamed her. Dustin’s a fucking fox. He’s a dead ringer for Adam Levine and I mean, what red-blooded woman in her right mind wouldn’t want to jump on that?
“Don’t try to make this about me, Jamie. You know I love you, right? So can I speak honestly and you promise not to get offended?”
I begrudgingly nodded my head.
“That knight was adorable, but you have to be…a bit less direct with the nerdy, shy types.”
I shrugged. “You know me, guys are like buses. One comes along every ten minutes. So, I screwed things up with Big Red. Now I know what to do next time I’m attracted to a cute, bashful dude. I gotta wait on some people. Catch ya later?”
“Of course.”
My coworker, Sara, had been on her break, but she came back in time to start marking drinks for one of the groups. She’d treat me to her infamous stink eye if I didn’t stop talking to Liv, like, this second. I turned to walk to the other end of the bar, but Liv grabbed my hand before I could escape.
“Are we good?”
“Always,” I said with a squeeze of her hand.
That was the thing about our relationship, we made each other better. I encouraged Liv to be more adventurous and uninhibited. I had a tendency to be chaotic and, yeah, I’ll admit, flighty. She consistently called me on my bullshit and challenged me to rise to my potential and I loved her for it.
I’m so excited that book two in Talk Nerdy to Me will be out in less than two weeks! Seriously, no April foolin’! On April 13 readers can get to know more about Les and Jamie in Nerdy Thoughts. Their story was so much fun to write, mostly because the dynamic between them is amazing, but I’ll let you be the judge of that! Read on for the blurb and excerpt.
Les is a shy, sweet political cartoonist and larper. Jamie is vibrant, complicated, and allergic to commitment. He’s everything she shouldn’t want and Jamie’s convinced he shouldn’t get involved with her.
Jamie Kurt is the most popular bartender at Nerdvana, the hottest bar in Cascade Falls. Her outlandish cosplay outfits, wicked wit, and flare for whipping up cocktails make her a target of one-sided crushes from the Nerdvana clientele. So when a customer named Les Wyatt captures her attention, she’s torn between wanting to know more and fighting the urge to stay away.
Despite their obvious differences, neither of them can deny their fiery attraction and combustible chemistry. Les asks Jamie to give him a chance to show her how good they can be together through a casual relationship. As they continue to date, and feelings grow, Jamie throws up every defense she has to try to push Les away.
But Les is determined to have Jamie any way he can and once he gets her, he has no intention of letting her go.
Nerdy Thoughts is book two in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
Excerpt
I shifted on the bed, my arms wrapped around Jamie. She’d drifted off to sleep and I didn’t want to wake her, but I wanted to see her face. How could one woman be so confusing? Maybe it was my lack of experience, hell, I hadn’t had a girlfriend since high school and I knew that what I’d had with Allison wasn’t at all what I had—what I wanted—with Jamie.
High school had just been kid stuff. We’d been more like friends who made out. Then when my mom’s health had taken a turn, everything else had taken a backseat for me and Allison hadn’t understood. Jamie said she wanted something casual, but…I swore when she looked at me, when we touched, it was anything but casual.
What if that was all in my head? What if she was right, and my lack of experience had intensified everything? If casual was all I could have with her, then that’s all this would be, at least that’s what I would let her think. I wanted a lot more, but for right now at least, that was the scenario that kept her in my life. When the two weeks were up, I would figure out how to get her to open up to me, to the possibility of us.
I’d been prepared for her to tell me that what had happened Saturday had just been a mistake. That she wasn’t wasting any more time on me. Or that she had someone else she had her eye on. In short, I’d been prepared for her to dismiss me because I wasn’t experienced enough, or maybe because I was no good in bed, or because she’d just given me a pity fuck. But for her to try to push me away because she thought she wasn’t good enough? That wasn’t something I could let happen. How could she think that?
I traced her cheekbone with my index finger. She was beautiful and vibrant and she made me feel…alive. Something I hadn’t felt in years. I’d spent too long in the darkness, feeling like I was drowning in grief and regret and when Jamie had smiled at me, talked to me at the bar, it was like feeling the sunshine on my skin after spending a decade locked away in a cave.
Maybe it was just because being here in Cascade Falls was a fresh start. Maybe it was because she didn’t know how sad I’d been, everything I’d gone through before we’d met. A lifetime ago. Maybe any woman I’d tried to get something started with would make me feel this way. But I knew that was bullshit. Because I’d lived here for six months and no one else had made me feel like she did. No one had made me forget and made me look forward to the future.
I can’t wait to share more of their story with you! Nerdy Thoughts will be available where e-books are sold on Tuesday, April 13, 2021!
With less than a month to go until book two in the Talk Nerdy to Me series releases, today I’m sharing the first of what will be an on-going series. In these short interviews with the characters of the series, readers will get to know a little more about Dustin, Olivia, Jamie, Quinn, Sara, and other characters as each book comes out.
The first interview is with the man behind the genius that is the Nerdvana bar. If you’re not familiar with the bar, it’s basically a haven for geeks and all things geekery. The Talk Nerdy to Me series combines cosplay, comics, video games, and hot romance in a fun nerd-themed bar.
Nerdy Words blurb
When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago.
Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.
Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
Now, on to the interview!
What made you take the leap and open Nerdvana?
I just got tired of dreaming about it. One day I woke up and decided it was time to take action. It probably sounds cliche, but life is too short to do anything other than exactly what you want.
Why do you think the bar has been so successful?
That’s an easy one. Scarcity makes something more valuable. Simply put, there’s nothing like it in Cascade Falls. Like, no shade, but I know I was sick of going to clubs where people tried to flex by ordering the bottles with the sparklers coming out of them. On the flip side of that, if a bar wasn’t upscale it was almost too dive-y, you know? I opened Nerdvana honestly because I’ve always wanted a place like that to hang out.
How is it working with Quinn?
She’s my best friend…she’s also a pain in my ass sometimes (laughs). No, seriously, she’s great. I’d be lost without her. Quinn has the best heart, plus she had lots of experience in the bar industry, which I totally lacked. We recently added another partner at Nerdvana. It’s my cousin Chase. He’s basically a serial entrepreneur and I know having him on the team is going to blow shit wide open at the bar.
Really? That sounds like something we won’t want to miss. Can you spill the details about any fun happenings coming up at the bar that we should keep our eye out for?
We’re working on opening up a new space in the lower level of the bar. It’s dedicated to RPG (role playing games). There will also be an additional bar there with a custom drink menu, and a DJ three nights a week. Once we get that going we’ll be doing some special events at the bar. It’s going to be epic. We’re aiming to keep the experience fresh and exciting, even for our regular customers.
We can’t wait for that. Switching gears, one final question. It’s personal, so hopefully that’s okay. Before dating Olivia you’d been single for years. What was it about Olivia that made you let down your guard and let her in?
I’d always thought of her as the one that got away, you know? Oh, I tried to pretend otherwise, but you can only lie to yourself for so long. And, she’s just the best (blushes and smiles from ear to ear). Everything about her intrigues me and simultaneously pushes me to be more, do more, to grow as a person. That’s a potent combination.
Swooooon, right?
If you want to know more about Dustin, or any of the other characters in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, keep your eye out here for more interviews. And, of course the best way to get to know everyone at Nerdvana is to grab the books!
With so many things here in the PNW still closed I’ve spent the past several months getting outside as often as I can. Our weather is often rainy right up until July 5th or so, and some years it’s just not feasible to get out there and enjoy some early summer rays.
I’m grateful that this year we’ve had a fair amount of sunshine interspersed with our typical gloom since I’m now using the great outdoors as my gym, therapist’s office, and entertainment source.
Over the past three months I’ve learned how much nature really centers and, much like creativity, it’s also a balm for the soul.
The lush greenery of Washington is also inspiration for a new series I’m working on. Originally I’d planned to set this series in a bustling metropolis, but the past couple months getting back to nature convinced me to create my own world. One where there’s a small college city nestled in the mountains, near water, and that also boasts a burgeoning nightlife scene.
The town of Cascade Falls, Washington has captivated me and I hope it will enthrall my readers as well. Stay tuned over the next couple months, as I share more about Cascade Falls and the people you’ll meet there!
What made you take the leap and open Nerdvana?
I’m grateful that this year we’ve had a fair amount of sunshine interspersed with our typical gloom since I’m now using the great outdoors as my gym, therapist’s office, and entertainment source.
Ariel Storm 