Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Keighley Bradford's Love & Other Words Series!
***Synopsis***
Love, Anonymous is a contemporary new adult romance set in Sydney Australia. It’s a friends-to-lovers college romance featuring a couple who have been besties since they were six and who come from ‘opposite sides of the track’.
The story starts off with these two having spilt paths the year before, only to reconnect when Sammy’s new bestie unknowingly sleeps with her ex-bestie. Fate continues to bring these two together and provides Byron with an opportunity to make Sammy see him regularly. With this plan, he hopes to repair their broken friendship and find out why she ghosted him out of nowhere.
The pair quickly find themselves in a situation, which leads them to make out, and in turn, have sex. Afterward, when Sammy tries to end their relationship once more, Byron proposes a friends-with-benefits situation, where they make their friendship work to meet both of their needs. This plays out well, until both characters realize that they can’t keep pretending that they’re happy being just friends — they want more.
Then life happened — Byron’s mother passing away throws a spanner in the works, making him the guardian of his kid siblings, while Sammy’s editor is asking her to expose the identity of the mysterious Love, Anonymous love letters founder, which she can’t exactly do since it’s her who founded it to cope with her feelings for Byron. After a fight with Byron, Sammy runs away again, however, this time he finds her, and they finally confess their true feelings for one another.
Three books planned so far, with the potential for a fourth.
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or
was that decided before the story began?
Contemporary romance, new adult romance, college romance.
Decided before — my specialty is contemporary new adult, so I knew I’d be playing with a college setting for this narrative.
Are you more character or plot driven?
Character-driven
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind? Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
I have a storyboard which keeps track of all the info I need to know about all my characters, as well as a Pinterest board for visuals.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a life of their own. Were any of the characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of where you initially wanted them to go?
Yes! The story changed a lot from the original narrative due to the characters and direction they wanted to take it.
I find the story is always so much better when I let the characters take the lead.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
Getting inside of Byron’s head was quite hard. As you get to know him, he reveals more about his homelife and family and the upbringing he’s had, and I liked being able to delve into his POV and explore his internal monologues and thought processes which were similar to Sammy yet so different.
What is your favorite book in the series?
The first, as it inspired the entire series. Although, I’m really looking forward to Book Two…
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
Kelsey — she’s so carefree and doesn’t take any shit. She’s uniquely herself and is happy to embrace all of her quirks. I can’t wait to finally tell her story.
Series question – Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
Sammy & Byron — I knew from the moment I came up with the concept that it was going to be a friends to lovers romance, with heartbreak derived from Byron’s playboy ways and that these two lovers were going to know each other for a very long time prior to their falling out.
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
I like to write duel POV to allow myself to explore scenes from both perspectives, and in turn, help me better understand what’s going through the minds throughout their journey to know where they’re at in the story and what needs to happen for them to reach their HEA.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
The scene where the characters finally hook up for the first time. I loved how they allowed themselves to completely trust one another in that moment.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than others?
This is book one and it’s taken several years to perfect. I think now that I know all the characters, the rest of the series should flow easier.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
I’m hoping to release Book Two later this year and Book Three next year.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
The titles come to me pretty quickly when I begin writing and always has something to do with the concept or the characters lives.
Series titles I struggle with more, but some I keep fiddling until I find the right one.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
Absolutely. I think all my characters have a little piece of me in them, so on some level we’d get along.
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand their own story?
This one was a standalone. After I went on a writing retreat to work on it, I discovered not only was there more to their story, but it was series potential.
I have the next lined up and a possible one after that in my mind.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
Sammy — Kathryn Newton
Byron – Jacob Elordi
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect next? Whether a new book and series or a sequel to an existing series? Can you share a small tease?
The next book in the series will be Liv & Derek’s story!
I can’t wait to reveal all that’s been happening between these two lovers behind closed doors.
Keighley Bradford is an Australian romance author and creative industries professional based in Newcastle NSW. She has a Master's of Creative Industries, specializing in Writing, Publishing, and Marketing. Her background is in creative writing, arts administration, copywriting and editing, and social media marketing. She is passionate about supporting the arts community, working and volunteering in the Hunter literary scene at festivals and local writers’ organizations.
Keighley is undoubtedly a perfectionist who spends most of her time stuck behind her laptop working. Over the years, her short fiction pieces have been published and won several awards. In her spare time, you’ll find her drinking hot coffee at a local cafe, or binge-watching a new series on Netflix.
Connect with Keighley:
Love, Anonymous by Keighley Bradford
Love & Other Words - Book One
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL5X9WX5
To the outside world, Samantha "Sammy" Eastwood is just your ordinary girl. Grade A student, aspiring journalist, and an introvert who'd much prefer to stay home reading than have a night out partying. However, Sammy has a secret not a soul can ever know about - she's the founder of Love, Anonymous, an anonymous love letter page for her peers on campus are obsessed with.
And it all started because of him. Byron Ashford, her former childhood best friend. Law student by day, PT by night. The player who unknowingly broke her heart.
When Sammy ghosted Byron a year ago, it had almost broken him. No text, no note - nothing to explain what had gone wrong. Crossing paths again in the most unlikely of places, Byron becomes determined to win back his best friend, no matter what it takes. He'll pose as her project partner and write some sappy romance story. He'll fake date her roommate just for a chance to see her face. Hell, he'll even give up pursuing other women, if she agrees to his proposal.
Their new arrangement seems to satisfy them both...until it doesn't.
Will their relationship survive when the secrets and revelations of Love, Anonymous come to light? Will Byron forgive Sammy for running away when he discovers the reason she left? Can a simple love letter bring these two soulmates back together?
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