Higgins and Shalvis: Adventures of the physically awkward

Kristan Higgins, author of Waiting on You, and Jill Shalvis, author of Then Came You, join HEA to make us feel sorry for them so we'll buy their books … I mean, to share their trials and tribulations of doing physically challenging feats, like walking and fetching cookies. (Stick around to the end for a giveaway!)

JS: I'm pretty sure if you look up "awkward" in the dictionary, my picture is there. I've broken my foot falling off a curb, twice, my middle finger (that was a fun cast!) and all variety of other things. And just for fun, I've lost two disks in my back and am having back-fusion surgery next month because I haven't given enough money to the medical field yet. :)

KH: You do know how to live, Jill. Not to be outdone by Jill's crumbling bones, and wanting to show solidarity, I broke my ankle during a complicated maneuver I like to call "walking." The end result: utterly hypnotic bruising, a trip to the ER (my favorite!) and yet another crush on yet another ER doc (they're starting to get suspicious at the hospital, FYI. "Higgins. You again?").

JS: I have my own personal wing at our local hospital … they see me coming and they don't even need my insurance card, it's all "come this way, Ms. Shalvis …"

KH: I'm currently in an air cast that resembles something out of Christian Grey's Red Room of Pain — lots of straps and velcro and padding and restraining devices, as well as a pump so the cast gets harder … and harder … and—

JS: You do know this is a PG gig, yeah?

KH: I'm talking about a CAST, Jill! And I'm on crutches! It doesn't seem fair that someone who can barely walk on the best days now has to figure out these complicated devices. They are, however, excellent for child-prodding, as in "Mommy needs more ice cream. Go!" I did try to use them as extensions of myself, sort of like Dr. Octopus in the Spider-Man movie, and went to turn off a light switch with my crutch, but I only succeeded in knocking a picture off the wall.

JS: When I was on crutches and alone in the house and DESPERATE for cookies, I managed to navigate two sets of stairs and climbing up on a stool to get to them. However, when my kids were home, I was completely helpless. There's a learning curve to training the fam …

KH: You're going to die a horrible death, you know. Tragically, getting into bed, previously one of my strengths as an athlete, has become very complicated. McIrish now gets to hear such loving statements as, "Watch out! Don't touch me! Don't kick me! Stop breathing so much, it hurts my ankle!"

JS: The upside of being "helpless" has its merits, though. For instance, traveling is a whole new adventure. Didn't I see you racing through the airport on a cart, Higgins? You were waving to the crowd like a Thanksgiving Day Parade princess.

KH: Um … yeah, that was me. What about you? Those yowls of pain when you try to lift your suitcase tend to get the manly men racing to your side. Well done!

JS: Hey, a girl might as well take advantage of her gimpness, yes? And don't forget the joy of cutting in line at the buffet! We BOTH found the joy in that.

KH: More bacon for us! You know what I most enjoy, though? Talking to you when you're on pain meds. You're even cuter than usual.

JS: Don't think I haven't canceled that timeshare in Boca you talked me into while I was under the influence … Or that you promised to bring the Winchester brothers from Supernatural along to read bedtime stories out loud to us.

KH: To us, yes. They can read our books. And speaking of books …

JS: Yes, Waiting on You is out now, right? And I have Then Came You. Run, don't walk to the stores.

Leave a comment, and you could win your choice of a signed copy of a book from each author!

Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins are very graceful ballet dancers (in their heads, anyway) and Paste BN and New York Times bestselling authors. Visit their websites — www.jillshalvis.com and www.kristanhiggins.com — or their Facebook pages (Kristan's here, Jill's here) for more of their adventures.