Afterword
What the hell was with that ending!
I know. It took me by surprise, as well.
I’ve NEVER been interested in writing more than one book about my fictional couples. Not a single story over the course of a decade or forty-plus books. I’ve always managed to wrap up my novels and be one-and-done.
It was impossible with this book. Channing has so many reasons to dislike Win and his lifestyle. Plus, she has so much baggage tied to their family discord that was never addressed because of everything else going on. I managed to make her fall in lust with Win, and I think she’s always been genuinely fascinated by him, but there was no way I could force her to love him by the end of book one. She’s a woman who truly believes that money is the root of all evil and isn’t interested in tying herself to the Halliday fortune. And as much as Win cares for Channing, the man really had no clue how to be anything other than an entitled prick. He needs more time to step out of his CEO shoes. I could’ve written a different ending to make less work for myself, but that would’ve made for a super shitty romance that wouldn’t have been very romantic at all. So, Win and Channing get a duet to tell their tale, and I am as surprised by the outcome as you are. I am looking forward to this new challenge. (Of course, I’ve dabbled in duets before, but Rebecca Yarros fielded half the work back then… yes, that Rebecca Yarros.) This time, it falls on me to make both books interesting and seamless. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest. If the heat levels in this book feel tame, refer to all the reasons I couldn’t tell this book in one go. You’ll have to trust that book two will be a different beast all around. I can feel it in my gut.
Don’t worry, book two is currently in the works and will be out as quickly as possible. I don’t enjoy waiting after and ending like this either! I want to have a satisfying conclusion for the characters just as much as the next reader. I have zero patience for anything.
As for how this grumpy billionaire book came about, I’ve been playing with the idea forever. I was watching K-dramas, as one does, and the idea of a wealthy heir who hates everything about his life took root and wouldn’t let go. I wanted to write a character who embodied the phrase ‘money can’t buy happiness.’ Win should be overjoyed with everything he has, but it makes him so much more interesting that he can’t stand the privilege he possesses.
Giving him a tyrannical, psychopathic mother came from the idea of writing a caricature of an overly-controlling parent often depicted in K-dramas. The over-the-top family dynamics reminds me of all the soap operas I used to watch with my mom when I was little. (General Hospital was the fave…lol.) So does the plot-point of bringing back someone who was thought to be dead.
When I decided to write an emo billionaire, I knew I needed to pair him with my most relatable leading lady to date. Channing is meant to represent every woman who is thriving just because they are surviving. She rolls with the punches. She doesn’t blame anyone for the choices she makes. She succeeds and fails equally. Just like Win thinks of her, she is extraordinary because she is so ordinary. She stands out because of who she is, not because of what she has. Of course, the only way to throw two people together who are very much at odds is to make them get fake married. That’s another common plot in dramas from all over the world. Channing is a woman who really loves love. Which is why she’s been married more than once. She’s not afraid to risk her heart, which makes it telling that she refuses to offer it Win. The ambiguity surrounding her mental health is very deliberate on my part. I want it to remain a question if Channing is afflicted like the other women in her family and just really good at masking. Or is she the odd one out of the bunch? It makes interpreting her actions and reactions a more involved experience.
Along with all the dramas I pulled inspiration from, you’ll notice a spooky, haunted feeling throughout this novel.
The Nancy Drew series was my absolute favorite as a young adult. I read all of them. I still re-read them from time to time. I don’t think I have the creative chops to write an actual mystery novel, but I’ve always wanted to weave a Nancy Drew vibe into one of my books. If you remember Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, you will totally get the inspiration for a huge portion of this book. I even gave Channing strawberry blond hair as an ode to Nancy.
There’s a fun addition in this book from a reader of mine. I did a Christmas giveaway, and the prize was to let a reader create a character for this story. The addition is mixed seamlessly in my opinion. I won’t tell you who it is, but you can try to guess! I’ll let you know if you’re correct if you ask me…lol Thanks for coming up with someone so perfect for this world, Nicole.
Whenever I pop up with something that’s out of pocket for me as an author, I like to leave readers with a bit of backstory. I write what I want, when I want. Sometimes I think that’s my superpower in this industry. My own books can still surprise me and leave me wanting more. I can only hope they leave you feeling the same way.
Since this is a step outside of my normal box, I’d love for you to leave a review — good or bad. I know that the ending is gonna be a bit spicy for some readers. However, I’d rather folks be pissed about a cliffhanger than a lame ending that feels forced and rushed.
If you liked book one, believe that I can make book two just as much of a banger.