Secret Forces Between Them
Posted by Literary Titan
Entirely continues to follow the love saga of Quinn and Jonathan and introduces new challenges that threaten to break up their relationship. What was the inspiration for the obstacles they faced in this story?
A couple of things inspired the obstacles facing Quinn and Jonathan in Entirely, the third book of the trilogy. First, my curiosity about how Quinn would get more involved at Octavia’s club — and how that would impact her relationship with Jonathan. She wants to learn about the lifestyle and has found a welcoming community at Octavia’s, but he does not fully share her appreciation of the club. And the second source of inspiration was the challenge of real-life relationships. Often in relationships, you might resolve a thorny issue only to have it arise again (and again and again) 😉 as time goes on, each time with a slightly different twist or complication. Differing perspectives on the club — complicated by the wedge that Maximillian’s secret forces between them — is that recurring issue that challenges Quinn and Jonathan.
How has character development for Quinn and Jonathan changed for you through the series?
As the stories progressed, it was fascinating for me as the author to see and explore how the two of them grow both individually and together, including as a result of their initial experiences at the start of Silently, the first book. They navigate a lot — they have pasts, they’ve experienced love and loss, they have friends and careers, faults and motivations and goals and fears, and all of those add complexity to their personalities and their relationship that I was able to work with as the series unfolded.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Throughout the writing of all three books, I promised myself (and the characters) that I would step back and watch where they would drive the story. At heart, I’m a plotter, a writer who likes to outline and know where the story will go. But sometimes (often?) things you think will work ahead of time don’t actually work on the page, or new ideas and twists come up that weren’t in your outline, and they feel even more authentic to the characters and the story. I wanted to make sure I stayed open to those unexpected moments, that I let the characters lead.
A second goal was not to rush them. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love stories. Chemistry, a spark, a sense of familiarity — all of those things that can lead to falling in love, I enjoy reading about. So since Entirely ends only a few months after Quinn and Jonathan’s first wordless night together, I didn’t want to push them into a wedding or even engagement. It didn’t feel right given their experiences, the issues they’re (still) working through, their personalities, and I would add, their age. They’re together because they’re crazy in love, and at this point in their lives neither is impatient about what might come next.
How do you feel now that this trilogy is complete? What are your plans for future books?
For much of the writing of the three books, I believed Entirely was the end of Quinn and Jonathan’s story — they’re committed and together. Romance author mission accomplished. 😉 As I got closer to the end of Entirely and the trilogy though, I could see so much more for them and their circle of friends, inside and outside of the club. Also, committed relationships are hard and often bring new challenges. Quinn was leveled by loss — Jonathan too, although by different events and circumstances — and they’re both figuring out their “new normals,” individually and together. That’s huge. So I think it’s safe to say, watch for Book 4 and beyond.
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About Literary Titan
The Literary Titan is an organization of professional editors, writers, and professors that have a passion for the written word. We review fiction and non-fiction books in many different genres, as well as conduct author interviews, and recognize talented authors with our Literary Book Award. We are privileged to work with so many creative authors around the globe.Posted on June 29, 2023, in Interviews and tagged author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, Entirely, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, literature, love story, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, romance, story, Talya Blaine, womens fiction, writer, writing. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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