I Had to Fix These Books

What I missed the first time—and why these books are better now

Neil S. Plakcy

Jan 12, 2026

In 2013, I published Love on Site with Loose Id, a small press focused on MM romance. Five more books in the series followed, all centered on recent college graduates on South Beach, looking for love and career success.

Then I shifted my focus to the golden retriever mysteries, which were received more successfully. Looking back, I can see why. My balance in the Love on books was off—I often leaned too hard into career arcs and not hard enough into the romance readers were really there for.

Last summer, after working with various AI tools as editorial assistants, I decided to re-release the Love on series with updated covers and a closer look at the actual storytelling. My original plan was modest: update the tech, swap in cell phones and apps, bring the books forward in time.

That’s not what happened.

If you read any of these books years ago—or skipped them because they didn’t quite land—this relaunch is for you.

What I learned from those AI-assisted edits was… sobering. How had I put these books out into the world?

Different covers, to start. More contemporary and comparable to what’s selling today. Also a focus on two men on the cover. One: career Two: romance.

Here’s what needed fixing:

• Structural balance: Too much emphasis on career success, not enough on the romance itself

• Tropes: I didn’t lean into what was already there—age gap, workplace romance—because I didn’t even know to

• Heartbeat moments: I rushed past emotional connections instead of letting them breathe

Since then, I’ve completed a full revision pass on all six books, and a second, quicker polish on the first three. The process forced me to rethink not just these stories, but what “write to market” actually means for me—not as a formula, but as a promise to readers.

I could keep tweaking forever. Instead, I’m learning to think in terms of milestones rather than perfection. These books aren’t about becoming the best romance novels I’ll ever write—they’re about becoming books I’m proud to stand behind.

That does mean some other projects are waiting their turn.

On the romance side, Driven Together (my Formula 1 MM romance) needs one more strong revision run. On the mystery side, I have a new bodyguard novel in first draft, plus a Rochester spin-off featuring a twelve-year-old girl determined to become a detective. Joanna Campbell Slan and I are also planning another pair of novellas, Death Under the Dogwoods, for release this spring, along with the next full Steve & Rochester novel.

It’s a full slate—but a good one.

I’m trying to enjoy the quieter moments too: time with friends and family, movies, concerts, and a comedy show. I really liked Song Sung Blue and Kate Hudson’s performance. And while these revisions have stretched my timetable, they’ve also sharpened my sense of what kind of books I want to give you next.

New stories are coming, and they’re stronger for the work I’ve done here.

 

My Year in Three Pillars

Health, Heart, and Community

Neil S. Plakcy

Dec 08, 2025

For 2025, I centered my planning around three pillars: Health & Family, Heart & Head, and Community.

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Health & Family

This is the pillar where I delivered well. I wanted to prioritize my health and the well-being of my husband and our dogs.

• I kept up with medical checkups, including a (happily negative) colonoscopy.

• I stayed on schedule with routine doctor and dentist visits.

• I supported my husband day-to-day—pills, meals, all the little things that matter.

• And I made sure to spend extra time with Brody and Griffin: walks, playtime, affection.

This one feels like a win

Heart & Head

This pillar was about focusing my creative energy on books that speak to me and that I believe have a strong audience. My intention was to stay in my lane rather than chasing ideas outside my core readership.

I’ll be honest—I didn’t stick the landing here.

Blueprint for Passion

I wrote and released Blueprint for Passion, an MF romance with a Miami real estate backdrop. I loved writing it, and I hoped the “enemies to lovers” trope would boost it in the market. Instead, it sold just 47 copies, for about $19 in royalties.

After the Party

I also spent months researching and writing After the Party: A Jewish Teen’s Guide to Finding Your Path, because I truly believe Jewish teens need more support after bar/bat mitzvah. Even though Jews make up just 2% of the U.S. population, we are the people of the book—surely there was a niche here.

I invested heavily in the Kickstarter, hoping to reach new readers. While I hit my $500 goal, the campaign was far from profitable: the video alone cost $850, and after everything—editing, promotion, the cover—I sold 15 additional books, totaling $89.

These projects were labors of love, but commercially, they missed the mark.
Lesson learned: in 2026, I need to be both passionate and strategic.

Community

I wanted to get out of the house more and invest in relationships and real-world literary community. This was another goal I feel good about.

• I scheduled more lunches and dinners with friends.

• I attended readings and gave in-person talks.

• And I showed up at three conferences: Malice Domestic, Space Coast Book Lovers, and Novelists Inc.

This pillar felt energizing and successful—and I’m realizing how much community fuels the rest of my creative life.

What’s Next?

I’ll share my finalized 2026 goals later this month once I sharpen them. If nothing else, 2025 taught me what works, what doesn’t, and where I want to be more intentional.