Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge. My name is Sydney Aaliyah Michelle and I will be your blog host for the month. I have a great month of stuff planned for you. And, a #Giveaway every day. Please come back daily to enter.

My theme for A to Z 2016 is Sports Romance. I’ll bring you interviews from some of my favorite authors, free books, excerpts from my own books and an introduction of my upcoming release, Anxious Love.

Since opening day of baseball is this weekend, I thought I’d started with a baseball sports romance. Welcome, Rachelle Ayala.

Five Questions: 

1.     What is it about the sport in your romance that inspired you to write about it?

I’ve always liked baseball as a kid. Baseball has a long season and they play many games, so it’s all about the averages and being consistent. Also, baseball is a summer sport, so it reminds me of long, hot days and relaxing with family and friends. 

2.     Is your sports hero based on a real sports figure? If so, who and why?

Not based on anyone real. I don’t follow real sports figures because the men in my imagination are much more perfect.

3.     What kind of research did you do for the sport in your romance?

I read books by baseball players describing their game. I used to watch baseball on TV as a kid, but have been too busy lately. I did go to the Giants World Series parade and got to cheer on our heroes.

4.     Best advice for other authors who want to write sports romance?

Use fictional team names so you don’t get into any trouble with the franchises.

5.     What sports romance are you working on next?

I’ll work on another baseball romance in time for Spring Training 2017. I like spring training because it is more low-key for the fans and there are more opportunities for the fans to get to know players since everyone is in the same vicinity for a little over a month’s time. I’ve concentrated on Phoenix since I’m in California and more familiar with the west. I’ve been to Phoenix and not Florida.

I’ve also written several football romances, so there’s always a chance I will write another one, maybe for a holiday romance.

Thanks for having me on your blog. I’d like to give away a copy of Playing the Rookie, a humorous and steamy romance between a rookie pitcher and a marketing intern trying to get over her ex-boyfriend.

To win a copy of Rachelle’s novel, Playing the Rookie, tell me your favorite baseball team or player. Leave the answer in the comments section.