Behind the Scenes
Something about Seamus called to me. The youngest of the McGloughlin clan first showed up way back in Fearless as a teen.
Even then, I knew he had something special.
His official “grown-up” debut came in Limitless Encore, when he helped Jace through Alex’s terrifying medical crisis.
From that moment, I knew Seamus would be a worthy leading man.
The only question left was: who could possibly match him?
Enter Marcella.
There’s a little bit of me—or my closest friends—in every heroine I write, but Marcella?
We share more than most. We’re both lawyers (different fields, same energy).
We’ve both fallen for younger men (my husband is four years younger!).
Most of all, we’ve both navigated the complex world of body image as curvy women.
Weight has been part of my personal journey forever.
I’ve been thin, heavy, and everywhere in between.
For many of us, body image is always present.
There are so many assumptions people make—that we’re lazy, don’t care about what we eat, or couldn’t possibly keep up.
None of it is true. I’d bet most curvy women know more about food, nutrition, and dieting than the average person.
We’ve lived it. It’s constant. It’s complicated.
I wanted Marcella to reflect that truth.
She has dealt with the microaggressions, the dating double standards, the internal doubts.
The harsh moments she experiences in Wistful Whispers might be dramatized (because, well…
it’s a romance novel!), but they come from a very real place.
When Seamus sees her exactly as she is, loves her for who she is, and makes her believe she deserves that kind of love?
She falls hard. She questions whether it’s him or the validation she craves (spoiler: it’s him—I mean, come on).
I hope her journey resonates with anyone who has ever struggled with their weight and self-worth.
Now… let’s talk about Seamus and the stairwells.
For someone so brilliant, how did he let it spiral so badly?
In my head, this traces back to Seamus’ upbringing.
His three older brothers are literal rock stars.
His father, though loving, was absent due to his health struggles.
Connor stepped up but eventually left to chase music.
Liam and Padraig had each other. Brennan and Cillian were older, but still kids themselves.
Seamus grew up watching the McGloughlin men navigate fame and attention, so of course he equated desirability with validation.
Add in his natural shyness and academic tunnel vision, and he truly didn’t understand the emotional impact of his actions.
Marcella was right to call him out. He listened. He learned. He changed. That, to me, makes him a worthy hero. No man fully understands what women go through—but the good ones try.
Writing Wistful Whispers felt like wrapping my arms around two of my most complicated, lovable characters and letting them finally breathe.
Seamus and Marcella were a joy to create—messy, flawed, passionate, real.
I could’ve happily stayed in their cozy bubble forever…
except this family isn’t done with me yet. Not even close.
Next up? The rockstar twins.
Padraig and Liam McGloughlin are about to take center stage.
You’ve met them. You’ve felt the energy crackle when they walk into a room. You know these two are fiercely loyal, wildly talented, and stubborn as hell. What you haven’t seen yet is how hard they’ll fall—or how much damage their hearts will take on the way down.
First comes Padraig in his second-chance romance. The one who walked away from the girl he never stopped loving… only to be blindsided by a devastating secret that could tear them apart for good.
Then Liam. Oh, Liam. The quiet one. The protector. The man with an explosive career and a private life spiraling wildly out of control. The only thing harder than living in the shadows of his family’s fame will be choosing whether to stay hidden… or finally risk it all for love.
Both books are an emotional rollercoaster of family, fame, friendship, and the raw, messy kind of love that leaves scars in the best possible way.
I can’t wait for you to meet them the way I have.
Buckle up.