Two Ex-lovers reunite to find a missing girl in a mysterious town.
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or
was that decided before the story began?
The Shadows of Thornebrook is a Second Chance, Slow Burn, Romantic Thriller, and this was planned out before the story began.
Are you more character or plot driven?
Definitely a little of both. Character and Plot 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 do have a “Production Bible” worksheet that features a break down of the GMC Chart for both MCs and the villain.
Also, in this worksheet, I have listed the Romantic Beats, as featured in Romancing the Beats By Gwen Hayes, and Demystifying the Beats by Jordyn Kross.
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?
Generally not. But sometimes, characters do come to life in my head and try to go out on tangents, but I gently bring them back to the main plot.
Are any of the male POVs based on anyone you know?
Yes. This has been done several times, and the person they were based on is me.
I will give my characters my interior conflicts and let them work them out for me. In the case of SOT, I was having a crisis of faith. I’m a practicing Wiccan of 20 plus years. So, I created my character of Jordan Foster, and gave him the same internal conflict.
Are any of the female POVs based on anyone you know?
As a writer of Gay romance, I don’t feature Female MCs.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
Not really.
What is your favorite book in the series?
This is a standalone novel, although many people have asked for a sequel that will probably never happen.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
Garrett is my favorite character in this story. Several times Jordan breaks down and Garrett has to be the voice of reason. Especially near the end.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
This is a standalone story.
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
I generally get into their heads with an expanded Goal, Motivation, Conflict Chart, and worksheet, that I build upon before I even start writing the story.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
One of the scenes in the book features Jordan and Garrett going to the local bar and Grille for dinner, when they run into the daughter of the villain.
She is wearing a charm bracelet that belonged to Jordan’s missing sister and there is a confrontation where the girl throws the bracelet at Jordan’s face.
This scene always stuck in my mind because it starts to show Jordan’s slow break down. He’s worried about his sister and he’s trapped in a town with a strange history so stress is beginning to get the better of him.
How long did it take you to write this book?
I started The Shadows of Thornebrook originally for a 2020 NaNoWriMo event, and it took me nearly two years to complete.
It was finally released May 31st, 2023. So from start/conception to finish, it took about two-ish years.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I was tossing around ideas for the story, and I couldn’t think of a name for the town, so I grabbed a local map and started looking at the names of different cities and towns across America.
Suddenly out of nowhere, I heard the word Thornebrook and it stuck. Since it is a mystery/paranormal romance, I thought Shadows would be a perfect fit. And So, “The Shadows of Thornebrook” became the title.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
Most likely.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
If The Shadows of Thornebrook ever made the big screen I could see, Jordan played by Jensen Ackles, while Garrett would be played by Charlie Hunnam.
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?
Absolutely. My next novel is about a writer who must solve a 15 year old murder to save the father of his love interest from a life sentence in prison.
https://books2read.com/The-Shadows-of-Thornebrook
When Jordan Foster gets a letter from his sister begging for help, he goes to his ex-boyfriend, FBI agent Garrett Anderson for assistance and they travel to the small town of Thornebrook. When they get there they find out that she has disappeared. As they investigate, not only do they realize that the old flame is still alive, they discover that the town is held in the grip of an ancient evil. Jordan and Garrett must try to keep their feelings for one another in check, as their investigation becomes a race against time to find Jordan's sister before the shadows of Thornebrook claim her forever.
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