So, What Makes Your Book So Special?

I have thought about this and how I always want my books to stand out.

I’ve always had a thing for unhinged styles of writing—the bizarre, the weird, and the strange. I love stories that go to the extreme: extreme places, extreme storylines, and over-the-top characters. At the same time, I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic, enjoying many romantic comedies across books, TV shows, and movies.

As much as I enjoy these stories, I have noticed a similar trait in a lot of them, to the point where they feel cookie-cutter, just with different names and places. I would read or watch these rom-coms and think to myself: What if there was a monster involved? What if the world was about to end? Or what if it was set on a spaceship and they were the last people left?

What if the meet-cute or the fake-dating trope didn’t happen right at the beginning, but in chapter 5 or 10? What if the love interest wasn’t human, or even real? What if they never make it in the end? What if their love story starts at the very end of the book? These are the stories I love to explore and write.

The idea for My Friend Paul came to me when I was in the shower, wondering: what if the roles were reversed? What if it was the girl chasing after the guy instead of the other way around? What if the wingman wasn't real, but more of an imaginary friend or an AI? Or both? What if it was an imaginary friend helping you through the struggles you put yourself into?

I played with the idea of using an imaginary friend as a sidekick—someone who supports the main character through their struggles—until my partner showed me Drop Dead Fred. Thank God! That movie, which is only 90 minutes long, showed me how an imaginary friend can support you, show you who the real people around you are, and help you just be yourself. Seeing that idea helped me develop My Friend Paul.

As well as exploring my own version of using imaginary friends in adult stories, I also added extra elements to my books to make them not only stand out, but to give neurodivergent people something they can call their own.

I have ASD and dyslexia, and growing up, I found it so difficult to read that I would actively avoid it. I always wished there was a book out there designed for me. I couldn't find any book that helped me read or made me want to read, so as the saying goes, "If you can't find it, make it."

Not only do I write unhinged romantic comedies, but I also format my books to be neurodivergent and dyslexia-friendly. Using fonts like Arial, spacing out the content, and shortening the chapters makes the book a little thicker, but so much easier to read. I love the idea of neurodivergent readers having a book they can call their own!

If you ever see me at my stalls, each of my books comes with a dyslexia kit, complete with colourful bookmarks and sensory stickers. I’d love to hear how my books have changed your perspective on reading.

Until next time... XXX