https://www.amazon.com/dp/1088209173
1. What inspired you to write a love story set against the backdrop of academia and anthropology? How do you think Christine's career shapes her as a character?
-I chose a romance novel with characters that are deeply academic because I wanted their conversations to be wrapped in a shared love for education. It shapes the way they behave and influences the way they speak to each other. Christine’s background in anthropology makes her see the world in a different way than the average person would. She’s more aware of the behaviors and connections between people. She’s better at observing and analyzing her family and friends and even Declan. She sometimes wishes she wasn’t so good at reading people because she is more aware of peoples’ behavior and motives, even when she doesn’t want to know what they’re thinking.
2. The book starts with Christine slipping on ice. How does this seemingly minor incident act as a catalyst for the story that unfolds?
-Christine slipping and hitting her head on the ice connects her to Declan instantly because not only does he carry her off to safety, but he has experienced similar head injuries in his past. Throughout the story, head injuries seem to pull Christine and Declan toward each other.
3. Declan Price is introduced as the best friend of Christine's twin brothers. What made you decide on this particular relationship dynamic between him and Christine?
-I chose to have Declan in Christine’s past as her twin brothers’ best friend because I wanted Declan to have reasons to be around Christine even when she doesn’t want to be around him. I also wanted them to have a history that connects their lives.
4. Your book delves into the conflicts of career vs. love. How did you approach writing about such a deeply personal and often divisive issue?
-It was easy to write about Christine’s determination to focus on her career in anthropology because she’s never been in a relationship before. She doesn’t personally know how impactful a relationship can be. To her, relationships are a complication because that’s all she’s known. Her parents divorced when she was younger, so a relationship seems more like baggage than romance. But Declan inserts himself into her life and relates with her through their similarities. He loves linguistics and culture, just like she is intrigued by cultural anthropology. Their careers bring them together and Declan is able to show her that a relationship can be just as important as a career. And if she lets him in, she’ll see that love can become more important than a career.
