The origins of "Appy Ever After"
Whilst some of my books are driven by new ideas, others have their roots in notes, stories, or inspiration from years ago—sometimes the detail is lost to memory.
After the success of my debut, FLOORED, I trawled my PC for all the romcom bits and pieces I’d accumulated over the years—ideas which never became scripts because something else came along or, more likely, I wasn’t in the headspace for the genre.
APPY EVER AFTER is one of those stories whose genesis dates back over two decades.
The story behind "Floored"
The initial inspiration for the book came from a scene—or rather a small story strand—in one episode of the TV series Grey’s Anatomy. In it, a character hears a voice in a lift and wonders what’s going on. Quickly, there’s a relatively mundane explanation.
However, I debated whether the initial idea could be taken beyond 3 minutes of screen time and evolved into the catalyst for a story.
The story behind "Wicket Maiden"
I like creating strong female protagonists, and by making her, not him, the strong, athletic, famed central character, I’m playing against genre stereotypes. As a writer, I don’t favour the FMC falling for the MMC based on looks alone, and prefer a slow-burn romance. My stories are relatable rather than idealised. There’s always a bittersweet edge, an emotional hurdle for the characters to get over. This is as true for Ellie as it is for Adam. Their career arcs are as important as their romantic journey—and both parts are entwined.