Megan Reinking - Author Spotlight
I stumbled upon Reinking’s first novel on a random Instagram Reel. The Ohana Cottage was touted as a 5-star read you probably haven’t heard of (HONESTLY, if that could be its own book trope, I’d devour it). A random book account put this book on my radar, the cover drew me in, and the synopsis sold it.
Megan, a life-long Minnesotan and mother of 3, has always had a passion for books. Taking a couple creative writing courses in college helped develop a love for writing as well as plant the seed of possibly publishing her own book one day.
In 2021, while on the hunt for more things that brought her joy, Megan made it a priority to pick up more books and carve out time for reading. Ultimately, this sparked the long lost dream of writing her very own book.
“I really wanted to connect to who I was before I was a mom. I totally fell in love with the process of writing and realized it’s something I just love to do,” Megan shared.
One of my favorite details about her writing journey was how she kept it a secret.
“When I was working on The Ohana Cottage draft, I actually kept it as something-just-for-me for a while. When I was ready, I shared it with my husband, and other people close to me, and they were very supportive.”
The Hawaiian Getaway series is composed of 3 books: The Ohana Cottage, The Summer Break, and The Perfect Tide (out on April 20). What started out as a single book idea, morphed into a series.
“I was working on The Ohana Cottage draft when I realized there was another book in here, for Paige and Matt. And since then, I’ve got Quinn and Brian’s story in my next book, The Perfect Tide.”
Speaking of characters, this is something I adore about Megan’s story crafting; they’re rich, vibrant, and genuine. Since they were so tangible, I asked if they were modeled after anyone she knew.
“Actually, no. I try really hard not to create characters based on people I know in real life, which also includes names,” she answers.
Another key aspect of the series is heavy themes you may not expect to see in a contemporary romance. A self-labeled “big feeler”, Megan finds ways to take these themes and weave them into a romantic storyline, but with the respect and care they deserve.
“Ultimately, I try to write books that I want to read. I try to be cautious and intentional on the themes I include and how I approach them.”
A challenge she has, which we can all relate to, is trying to find a balance: everything she was doing before and fitting in the energy and time to foster this new, creative side. She may try to block out specific time to write but don’t be surprised if you see her writing on the go.
“I feel more creative and my brain is more awake in the morning,” Megan laughs. “I use Google Docs so I can write anywhere inspiration strikes… whether it’s the school pick-up line or a Target run.”
Finding time to write can be difficult, but things get more complex when it’s time to promote and continue to be creative. Even though book promotion and marketing can be the monster that’s never fully fed, Megan still finds happiness through social media channels.
“It’s been tricky but I really love to engage with readers and make connections on Instagram. Some days it’s a lot of work, but it’s been rewarding and so much fun.”
Being one of the readers who has connected with Megan, I can confirm it’s just as rewarding from this side. It’s truly one of my favorite parts about being a reader and part of the “Bookstagram” space. To keep the fun going, you can catch a quick Q&A (fun and impossible prompts) below between myself and Megan.
Here’s my review for The Ohana Cottage and The Summer Break.
If you want to connect with Megan:
Q&A with Megan Reinking
