The Questions Readers Rarely Ask

The Question Readers Rarely Ask About Writing a Book

Most readers ask where an idea came from, what my favorite book is, or how long it takes me to write a novel. Those are great questions, but there are other questions readers rarely ask—questions that reveal what happens behind the scenes long before a story ever reaches the page.

What Happens Before the First Chapter Is Written?

Before I write a single chapter, I build a world. I decide whether the story takes place in a small town or a large city. I determine the state, the size of the community, the atmosphere, and even the businesses that exist there. I think about where my main character lives, what kind of home they have, and who else in town connects to their story.

One of the most important decisions is the time of year. If a story takes place during Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, I want readers to feel that season. The decorations, traditions, weather, and emotions all become part of the story itself. Many of my novels begin in the fall or spring, and those seasons often influence the mood of the entire book.

I don’t create detailed outlines. Instead, I write a synopsis that gives me a direction. Once Chapter One is written, the story often becomes clearer, and the synopsis evolves right along with it. I research as I go, making notes and gathering information before moving deeper into the story.

Which Character Feels the Most Real?

This is one of the hardest questions to answer because many of my characters feel real to me. If I had to choose one, it would be Naomi Andrews from Forever Promised. Naomi left her hometown of Cape May, New Jersey, in search of greater opportunities. In doing so, she broke Graham Jamison’s heart—and perhaps her own. Ten years later, she returns home carrying a devastating secret: she is dying.

What made Naomi feel so real was the complexity of her choices. She wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes. She loved deeply. She regretted things. She hoped for more time. One line that always stayed with me was Naomi calling her Stage IV cancer “a thief.” To her, cancer wasn’t just an illness. It was something that stole her future, her plans, and the life she might have shared with the man she loved.

Even years later, Naomi remains one of the characters closest to my heart.

What Was the Hardest Scene to Write?

Without question, it was Naomi’s death in Forever Promised. Writers spend months with their characters. We learn their fears, hopes, strengths, and weaknesses. They stop feeling fictional after a while. Naomi never got to see something created especially for her before she died. Writing that scene broke my heart. I cried while writing it. That isn’t something every writer admits, but it’s true. Some scenes stay with you long after you’ve typed the final sentence.

How Much Research Goes Into a Novel?

A lot more than most people realize. Even when I think I know the answer, I still research to verify it. Accuracy matters to me. My nursing background gives me a strong foundation when writing about medical conditions, treatments, procedures, and healthcare settings. However, I still double-check information because medicine changes and details matter.

Legal procedures and police investigations require even more research. Laws vary from state to state. What happens in one jurisdiction may not happen in another. Court procedures, criminal charges, investigations, and sentencing guidelines can all differ depending on location. Research isn’t just about avoiding mistakes. It’s about respecting readers enough to get the details right.

What Do Readers Never See?

Readers see the finished product.

They don’t see me sitting in my bedroom or living room, typing away on a laptop that has become one of my favorite possessions. They don’t see the hours spent thinking through a problem scene or researching a single detail.

I have deleted books before. I’ve removed plotlines that weren’t working. Sometimes a storyline starts pulling attention away from the heart of the novel, and I have to let it go.

One thing I rarely change is a character’s name. Once a name is chosen, that’s who they are. It becomes part of their identity. Interestingly, I’ve never removed something I truly loved. If I love it and it serves the story, it stays.

What Do I Hope Readers Feel?

More than anything, I hope readers enjoy the journey. I hope they close the book and think, “Wow, what a ride.” I hope some feel hope. I hope some feel justice. I hope some feel understood. Hope is a simple four-letter word, but it carries extraordinary power. If a reader finishes one of my books with a little more hope than they had before, then I’ve done something worthwhile.

Which Book Changed Me?

Honestly, all of them. Every story teaches me something. Some books teach me about people. Others teach me about writing. Some force me to research subjects I knew little about before I began. Each novel leaves me with a little more knowledge and a little more perspective than I had when I started.

What Would Readers Be Surprised to Learn?

They might be surprised to learn that I never expected to publish this many books.

I remember publishing my first book more than twenty years ago. At the time, never imagined where the journey would lead. When I returned to writing in October 2024, something reignited. Since then, I have written and published more than thirty-four books. Sometimes I still stop and think about that number because it feels almost unbelievable.

I have also cried while writing scenes, worried over chapters, questioned decisions, and wondered whether readers would connect with a story.

In other words, I’m probably a lot like many other writers.

The Truth About My Writing Journey

If readers could know one thing about my writing process, it would be this: My books rarely follow the original synopsis. The characters take over. I know that sounds strange, but it’s true. I start with a plan, yet somewhere along the way the characters begin making decisions I never expected. They reveal things I didn’t anticipate. They change the direction of the story.

My novels are character-driven because my characters feel real to me. I care about them. I talk about them as if they’re real people. Sometimes someone will ask who I’m talking about, and I’ll realize I’ve been discussing a fictional character as though they live next door. Maybe that’s the secret. For me, the best stories aren’t controlled by the author. They’re discovered one character at a time.