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Love and hockey share the same ice — speed, risk and the long game.
That overlap is exactly what drew us to A.C. Wonderland, the indie romance author behind One Shot and Summer Shot.
In this week’s episode, we pull up a chair with A.C. to talk about how her childhood hockey crush and lifelong love of the game turned into writing slow-burn romances that hit as hard as a slapshot and melt just as fast.
From Hockey Fandom to Heart-Throbbing Fiction
A.C.’s story started in the stands — childhood Blackhawks seasons, a first crush named Lucas, and a dream of writing stories that felt as electric as a tied third period.
Her books blend authentic hockey detail with slow-burn tenderness: the team camaraderie, the real locker-room vibe, and the kind of chemistry that builds play by play.
And yes, she’s a firm believer that the golden retriever hero deserves his flowers — loyal, funny, dependable and absolutely devastating when he finally admits his feelings.
Why Slow Burn Works (and Why We Yell at It)
We love a slow burn we can yell at and A.C. feels the same way. She builds tension that makes the payoff worth the wait — intimacy that changes her characters instead of just checking a box.
Her stories hover around a “two-to-three-pepper” spice level but every scene drives character growth. Hockey isn’t wallpaper. She researches college schedules, team culture and rulebooks to keep her worlds believable while the romance takes center ice.
And if you’re a detail hunter, look for her Easter eggs — songs and names tucked into scenes that make the stories feel that much more personal.
What She Reads (and Why She Avoids Hockey Romance While Writing)
A.C.’s TBR shelf swings from fantasy (A Court of Mist and Fury) to contemporary favorites like Emily Henry, Christina Lauren and Tessa Bailey. She credits Colleen Hoover’s early work for teaching her how to write about trauma and mental health with empathy.
One thing she doesn’t read while drafting? Hockey romance.
Protecting her voice (and making sure she gets the rules right) takes priority.
One of our favorite things she shared: the traveling book club. Picture a single annotated copy of a romance novel making the rounds among readers, everyone adding notes, underlines and hearts in the margins. It’s part craft feedback, part love letter to community.
The Indie Author Hustle
The indie path isn’t easy, but A.C. talks about it with honesty and hope.
She chose self-publishing for creative control — finding her editor, cover designer and PR partners through Instagram and Bookstagram connections.
Her biggest truth bomb? Indie success is a marathon.
Between bookstore outreach, signed bookplates and late-night ad tweaking, what keeps her going is community — other authors, beta readers and assistants who remind her why the story matters when the self-doubt creeps in.
Writing Process (and Why Breweries Make Great Offices)
A.C. calls herself a mood writer with structure.
She outlines her story beats but tracks progress by chapter rather than word count. If a scene stalls, she jumps ahead and leaves herself notes like “insert spicy scene here” to keep momentum alive.
When the writing blues hit? She packs up her laptop and heads to a brewery — because sometimes a change of scenery (and a cold pint) is exactly what a tough chapter needs.
Her mix of spreadsheets, calendars and second-monitor research helps her balance multiple works in progress while keeping joy at the center of the process.
Advice for Aspiring Authors
A.C. doesn’t sugarcoat it: vwriting is a grind but finishing is worth it — even if the first life you change is your own.
Her advice:
💬 Keep going.
👯 Find your people.
📚 Let the work change you before you share it.
Connect with other writers, trade notes and cheer each other on through deadlines and edits. When your book is ready, meet readers wherever they are — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, indie shops and the special sprayed-edge editions on her website.
Where to Find Her Work
One Shot is available now on Kindle Unlimited and both books can be found in paperback and special editions on A.C. Wonderland’s site and at major retailers as well as using our Amazon and The Ripped Bodice affiliate links.
If you love hockey romance with heart, humor and just-right spice, queue up our full interview episode of Romance on the Rocks — because hockey might bring the hits but the romance always brings us home. 💕
🍸 Listen Now:
🎧 Season 2 Episode 26 — Meet the Romance Author: A.C. Wonderland
Available wherever you get your podcasts.
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