Charmed

I just laughed out loud reading the latest review for NIGHT OWL. BTS, thank you. Your considerate and lengthy review made my day.

It’s nice to hear from smart readers.

It was especially interesting to hear that Matt felt more realistic and believable than Hannah. I had an easier time writing for Hannah — precisely because she was a cliche at points — and a much harder time writing for Matt, whose perspective is more like mine.

NIGHT OWL started as a “fun” sort of fluffy project for me — a piece of writing I refused to take too seriously. (I normally write literary fiction, which I do take too seriously.) With NIGHT OWL, I wanted to write something sexy, fast-paced, and thoughtful only incidentally.

Well… the story took on a life of its own and swerved in some strange, dark directions.

I imagine that under the tutelage of an agent, I would have been urged to make certain dramatic shifts in the book more motive-supported, and to set the reader up for the less believable plot aspects.

As is, I had no agent and made a very minimal effort to acquire one.

I’ll be making another mortal sin with HOW TO SAY GOODBYE, book 2 in the series, when I switch genres (contemporary romance —> paranormal romance). That’s a pretty big no-no that any agent would gun down. But again, no agent, more self-sabotage.

And if the first book seemed to ask for a lot from the reader, the second book asks more. Suspend your disbelief for me.

Again, let me thank you, BTS, for your thoughtful review. I am truly honored that you took the time to remark on my book with such care, at such length. (And I hope you get to read this thanks.) You’d make a fine manuscript reader.