Courage, Dear Heart
I was a goner the moment I stepped into her flower shop. Jillian Heart is everything I never expected—strong yet fragile, guarded yet full of quiet fire. But loss has left scars, and she’s convinced her heart isn’t hers to give anymore.
Still, beneath the grief, I see her—the mother who loves fiercely, the woman who once dreamed of more.
I want to be the one to show her she’s still whole. That she’s still capable of love… and being loved in return.
But the truth is a storm on the horizon, one I can’t outrun. I have to tell her everything—about me, about what I’ve been tasked to do. And when I do, I may lose her forever. I can’t accept that.
Because she feels like home in a way I never imagined possible, and I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that love doesn’t have to hurt—it can heal.
***Courage, Dear Heart is a second-chance at love romance featuring a single mom and the man who falls for her first. This story weaves together themes of comfort and hurt, love and loss, guilt and redemption, and the healing power of connection. There’s a touch of heartbreak, a lot of heart, and a guaranteed happily ever after. (Tears optional, but highly likely.)
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or
was that decided before the story began?
This is a slow-burn contemporary romance, big city with a small-town vibe. Tropes are: second chance at love, single mom, he falls first, found family, with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic (he’s the sunshine) and a theme of comfort/hurt. And the characters decide everything. I just follow them taking notes as they go.
Are you more character or plot driven?
100% character driven. They show up and tell me their stories.
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?
It stays all in my mind for the most part. As the story evolves, I start taking notes on specific things for each character, like their physical appearance, personality, family, friends, quirks, etc.
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?
I really have no say with any of my characters, LOL. If I try to push it one way or another, they stop talking to me. I know this all sounds really weird. I’m the one writing them, creating them, I should be able to do what I want, right? Nope. I’m not the boss. They are.
Are any of the male POVs based on anyone you know? Are any of the female POVs based on anyone you know?
I’ll answer these two questions at the same time. Jillian and Elliott were, in part, inspired by my parents, who met as teenagers and shared a deep love until my dad passed away after thirty-five years of marriage.
My mom had always depended on him, and after losing him, she had to learn to navigate the world on her own—especially difficult when we lived thousands of miles apart. But she did it. She traveled the world, beat cancer three times, and in 2025 she’ll be celebrating her eighth decade of life. She’s proof that resilience can be found where it was never present before.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
Elliott was way more guarded about revealing himself to me than Jillian. And the intimate scenes were harder to write because I wanted to do them justice and make sure it was a natural flow of their growing relationship and not just there to check a box.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
I love Jamie. He’s such a strong little boy who overcome so much. Jamie is the glue that held Jillian together. He’s the bridge that connected Jillian to Elliott. He’s the yardstick by which the reader can measure the characters’ growth. Such a big job for such a young child.
And of course, there’s Daisy, always there to provide some comic relief in the very heavy scenes.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
I think my favorite couple out of all of my books are Liam and River from Because of Liam, book 2 in the Riggins U series. They are both such strong characters, with flaws and so much hurt they are trying to hide.
River is loud, confrontational and even obnoxious at a times, but she’s hiding so much pain.
And Liam is an ex-medic in the Marines dealing with PTSD and survivor’s guilt. When they meet, sparks fly and not the good kind. They hate each other. It was a lot of fun writing them.
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
I don’t plot. I often joke I can’t even plot dinner. It’s true. The entire process is a discovery for me. I may have an idea of how I would like it to end and just follow the natural progression of their relationship and eventually the right path reveals itself to me.
For my book In Her Eyes, I had no idea how they would get their HEA. They had so many obstacles in the way. I didn’t know until I wrote it and then I was like, “Oh, so this is how they get together.”
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
The last couple of chapters before the epilogue. There was a full circle—coming back kind of situation. I can’t say more without spoiling it.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just the hero and heroine – I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further depth. Do you think you will write another book or series following this multiple POV outline?
For Courage, Dear Heart there’s only two POVs for the two main characters.
But I’m with you. I love books with multiple POVs. In my last book, In Her Eyes, I have 3 POVs. The two main characters and the bad guy POV as well.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
This book took me almost 4 years from start to finish. I started and stopped so many times. I wanted to do these characters justice. I even wrote In Her Eyes in the middle of it and started other projects that have not been finished yet.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
Funny story. I saw a sticker with flowers and Courage, Dear Heart on it. From there the story started to unfold. Jillian and Jamie came first. I knew she had a flower shop. I knew she was a widow. She told me her name was Jillian Heart, which is also a play on the title. Elliott came after.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
Yes, for sure. I want to be friends with them. And everyone needs a friend like Sheila too.
Plus, all the cupcakes and cookies from Witchery bakery.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
Funny you should ask this.
I pictured a younger Henry Cavill while describing Elliott.
And maybe Chloë Grace Moretz to play Jillian.
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?
I’m working on a romcom right now. The last three books were a little heavier, dealing with stories that contain lots of triggers. I want to go a little littler. No release date yet. Hopefully sometime toward the end of the year.
And I’m also playing with an idea I’ve for years for a romantic fantasy series. I’ve been thinking about this story a lot lately. And I feel I’m getting closer to having it written.
Erica Alexander is known for crafting emotional stories filled with complex characters, a touch of angst, and just the right amount of humor. She loves taking her characters—and readers—on a journey that may be bumpy but always ends with a well-earned happily ever after.
Happily married to her husband for over 30 years, Erica is a proud mom to two amazing kids who inspire her every day. When she’s not busy catering to the small feral cat colony, she cares for—or tending to her two rescue cats and loyal pup—she’s likely reading, baking something delicious, or binging Netflix and Prime marathons.
Erica lives in New Jersey with her family and her menagerie of furry friends.
P.S. A happily ever after is guaranteed.
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