First publication as “Ricki Cardenas”!

From Southern Fried Karma comes Viral Literature: Alone Together in Georgia, a Decameron-style collection of short fiction by Atlanta authors.

Daniel M. Roper, Publisher and Editor, Georgia Backroads magazine, had this to say in his trade review:

“I confess to reading this book out of order, flipping first to entries written by authors I already knew – Kay, Musser, Ray, Ramsey, Rawlings. I savored their contributions and then worked through those by authors I wasn’t yet familiar with – poets and writers such as Cardenas, White, Salcedo, Kamal and Black – and found the same quality of thought, of introspection, and an ability to inform and entertain using the written word. The compiler of this diverse, entertaining book (fiction and non-fiction; poetry and prose) hoped to provide readers with meaningful, topical material during an exceptional pandemic. He succeeded splendidly.”

Thank you, Mr. Roper – and thank you to Clay Ramsey for inviting me to be a part of this awesome anthology!

SWITCH AND BAIT finals in the 55th Annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards!

Atlanta author and journalist Nicki Salcedo judged the Romance category of the 2019 GAYA, and she had this to say about SWITCH AND BAIT:

“Schultz takes a look at modern romance in a fast-paced story about second chances in the big city. Falling in love is never easy, but Schultz shows us that it can be fun and funny.”

Thank you, Nicki, and thank you Georgia Writers Association! What a treat to final!

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My first review for Switch and Bait!

Thanks, Publisher’s Weekly!

“Schultz (Mr. Right-Swipe) serves up a politics-flavored contemporary romance that features a well-paced story and vivid characters. Bookstore manager Blanche Carter has made a side business of helping D.C.’s most eligible single women snag the men of their dreams. But when a former fling—Henry Hughes, card-carrying Republican aide to a conservative member of Congress—reappears in her life, lefty Blanche isn’t sure what to do with him, except maybe fall in love. Told from Blanche’s point of view, the story is a delight. Schultz adds considerable depth and appealing layers with a strong array of supporting characters, including Blanche’s best friend from college, plucky Isla, who is living with Huntington’s disease; her endearingly klutzy client Ansley; and her sleazy occasional boyfriend, Cliff. She also shows a flawed and vulnerable side of seemingly immaculate Henry. Fans of women’s fiction and contemporary romance will be sure to keep an eye out for Schultz’s future books. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary. (June)”

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‪Mr. Right-Swipe has been included in the “Laugh It Off” for April

e-book promotion! ‬

‪Drink vodka and judge others for just $1.99 btw 4/2-4/16!‬

Get it here:    Nook     Kobo     Google   Apple

😍😂😍😂😍😂😍😂😍😂😍😂😍

SWITCH AND BAIT will be released 6/12/18!

A charming, hilarious romantic comedy told with sharp insight and sarcastic wit, for readers of Helen Fielding, Maria Semple, Emily Giffin, or Jennifer Weiner.

We switch. I bait.
Let me help you snag a date.

All through college, Blanche Carter was known as the love doctor in her sorority. Now she’s parlayed her talent into a unique consulting business: she runs the online dating profiles of Washington D.C.’s most eligible women.

Armed with a battalion of rules, Blanche expertly helps her clients optimize their profiles and ace that first date. But although she’ll happily message handsome strangers (and fend off dick pics) for other ladies, Blanche’s most important rule is the one she has for herself: no relationships. She’s seen too much heartbreak to believe in real love anymore.

When a former fling pops up among the matches for one of her favorite clients, Blanche gamely messages him on her behalf. Blanche is definitely over him, and this is how she’ll prove it. But if she doesn’t watch out, Blanche might end up not only screwing over a client—and possibly tanking her entire business—but breaking her rule about love as well . . .

Ricki Schultz’s trademark irreverent humor and wry insight into the absurdities of modern dating are both outrageously funny and genuinely moving in her unforgettable new novel.

“Ricki Schultz’s relatable novel will have readers LOLing.”— US Weekly on Mr. Right-Swipe

“Rae is a Heroine Who Keeps It Real…She’s blunt, she’s sarcastic, she’s honest…A brilliantly funny debut novel about a 21st century girl searching for her happily ever after.”— Bustle on Mr. Right-Swipe

“Breezy, brazen…a fun beach read.” — Seattle Times on Mr. Right-Swipe

“This book gave me my absolute favorite feeling: laughing out loud alone in a room, chased immediately by the swoons.”— Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author, on Mr. Right-Swipe

“For a fun read that feels like an adventure in everyday life more than it does a book, this comes highly recommended.”— RT Book Reviews (FOUR STARS), on Mr. Right-Swipe

Pre-order it here:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | iBooks

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In other news . . .

Thank you to RT Book Reviews for my first review!