BEHIND THE SCENES: DEEP DIVE DIARIES The Storm Behind Sabrina’s Storm Some stories come from imagination. Others come from experience. Sabrina’s Storm came from both: the eerie beauty of the North Carolina coast and the unforgettable experience of living through a hurricane as a child. Before I ever wrote Sabrina Morningstar, before Grant Dalton ever stepped onto the page with his skeptical charm, I knew exactly what a hurricane felt like—its sound, its violence, its aftermath. Those memories shaped every wind-lashed scene in Sabrina’s Storm, and they remain among the most vivid of my life. Here is the behind-the-scenes inspiration that breathed realism—and fear—into my coastal romantic suspense. 🌪 My Hurricane Memory: Living Through Hurricane Andrew I grew up in Louisiana, and in August of 1992, Hurricane Andrew tore through the region with the full force of a Category 3 storm. Even now, decades later, I can still feel the dread of that moment when the world goes strangely quiet… right before the winds begin to roar. Towering pine trees—ones I thought immovable—bent in wide, unnatural arcs. The wind howled like something alive, a constant unrelenting force pounding the world outside. Part of our barn roof ripped away, the metal screaming as it peeled. We ran on generator power for three days, rationing fuel and trying to pretend the candlelight was cozy rather than necessary. When the storm finally passed, flooding locked us in place, turning roads into brown churning rivers. We were well prepared. We were safe. But it was still terrifying. That primal mix of awe and fear—the knowledge that nature can take and break and bend at will—never leaves you. And it became the emotional foundation of Sabrina’s Storm. 🏚 The Setting: A Haunted House on the NC Coast When I created Sabrina Morningstar, I placed her in a secluded beach house on the North Carolina shoreline—a home rumored to be haunted, a place she chose specifically because no one else wanted it. Here, she welcomes the solitude, hides from her past, and lets the ocean drown out everything she doesn’t want to remember. Until Grant Dalton arrives. Grant is a ghost hunter whose job is to debunk hauntings, not validate them. He comes to Sabrina’s home expecting fog machines and flickering lights. What he finds instead are events even he can’t explain. And amid their unraveling truths and rising tensions, a hurricane spins toward them—an unstoppable force echoing the one I lived through. 💀 The Poetic Thread: The Mariner’s Albatross Throughout Sabrina’s Storm, I wove in lines from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the haunting Coleridge poem about sin, fate, and the symbolic albatross. The poem becomes:
🌩 From Real Hurricane to Fictional Storm Writing Sabrina’s Storm meant returning to that childhood memory of Hurricane Andrew—the fierce winds, the cracking trees, the flashlight-lit nights. It meant imagining what it would be like to face that kind of danger again… only this time with ghosts, trauma, and unexpected love tangled in the tempest. Sabrina’s storm is literal and emotional. Grant’s storm is existential. And together, they discover that survival requires not only strength but trust. My hope is that readers feel the poetic dread, the rising fear, the electric chemistry, and finally, the relief of sunlight after the longest night. If you’ve ever stood on a coastline and felt the wind shift… you know storms can change you. This one certainly changed my characters. And writing it brought me full circle from Louisiana’s hurricane-swept pines to a haunting tale on the NC shore. 
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DEEP DIVE DIARIES - BEHIND THE SCENES Long before Aurora Meridian stepped onto the page—a fierce, determined, world-class athlete fighting for her comeback—I was the girl growing up with a tennis racket in hand. Tennis has woven itself through my life in the most meaningful ways, shaping not only my competitive spirit but also my relationships, my resilience, and eventually… my fiction.
So when I sat down to write Meridian File, the very first book in The Rider Files, there was no question that tennis would play a starring role. Aurora’s drive, her grit, and her fire all drew from a sport that has been part of my world for decades. Here’s how my love of tennis became the backbone of this romantic suspense adventure. I learned tennis side-by-side with my parents.
In college, tennis became my favorite way to unwind. I played for fun, with friends, with classmates… and one day, with a guy who would become my husband. Yes—our romance started with serves, volleys, and a healthy dose of competitive banter. Today, my kids play middle and high school tennis, and we still hit the courts as a family. Tennis has always been a thread connecting generations for us. 🎾 How Tennis Became Aurora Meridian Aurora Meridian is the heroine I always wanted to write: strong, fiery, athletic, determined, flawed, and absolutely unstoppable. She’s a tennis superstar clawing her way back to the top after an injury. I poured into her all the things I admire about athletes—and all the things tennis taught me:--persistence after setbacks --precision under pressure --the loneliness of individual competition --the mental game behind the physical one --the hunger to win, but on your own terms Aurora’s intensity comes from real emotion. Her frustration? I’ve felt it. Her joy? I’ve lived it. Her passion for the sport? Absolutely mine. And then I threw her into danger—because no romantic suspense story is complete without a few death threats and a scorchingly attractive bodyguard. 🔥 Mason Stone: The Bodyguard Who Can’t Break His Own Rules Aurora needed a match made of sparks, tension, and strength—and Mason Stone fit the bill perfectly. A former Navy SEAL burned by a false accusation, Mason has vowed to keep things strictly professional. Hands off. Feelings locked down. Too bad Aurora walks into his life with a 120-mph serve and enough fire to break through every one of his defenses. And tennis becomes the perfect metaphor for their relationship:
🎾 Writing the Sport Into the Suspense Because tennis is such a physical, emotional sport, it lends itself beautifully to fiction. Meridian File includes:
Tennis gave the story a world rich with movement and metaphor, and a heroine whose strength was as real as her vulnerability. 💓 Why Meridian File Means So Much to Me This book is personal. It’s the first of the Rider Files, the spark that began an entire series. It’s a love letter to tennis, wrapped in suspense, danger, and sizzling chemistry. It’s the story that let me channel years of passion into a heroine who fights like hell—on the court, and for the man she comes to love. ...AND WHY I HAD TO WRITE MY OWN MODERN SPINDeep-Dive Diaries Facts Behind the Fiction Growing up, I read Edith Hamilton’s book on Greek Mythology and a fascination bloomed. Ever since I devoured Percy Jackson with the kids, I’ve wanted to write a Greek-mythology urban fantasy for adults — one with high-stakes action, elemental magic, and romance that smolders hotter than Hephaestus’ forge. Rick Riordan gave us heroes discovering their powers; I wanted to go further: what happens when grown warriors with god-touched gifts battle ancient threats in the modern world?
That spark became the foundation for my Olympian-inspired adventure series — a blend of Greek myth, contemporary danger, found-family bonds, and heart-racing romance. Think: 🌊 Storm-born power 🔥 Fire-forged destiny 🐺 Shape-shifting rescue missions ⚡ An ancient titan waking with modern grudges I dove deep into mythology… and uncovered some fascinating facts. 🔥 5 Fun Greek Mythology Facts 1. The Olympians Were… a Little Dysfunctional Family drama didn’t start with reality TV. Cronus ate his children, Zeus overthrew him, and then the Olympians spent centuries bickering, feuding, cheating, and fighting to rule the world. 2. Titans Were the Original Power Players Before Zeus & company, the Titans ruled the universe. They weren’t just villains — many were creators, parents of gods, or forces of nature. In my fiction, that ancient rivalry still simmers beneath the surface. 3. Greek Monsters Came in Every Shape Forget just minotaurs and gorgons — mythology includes:
4. Heroes Had Flaws — Big Ones Achilles’ pride rivaled his power. Heracles couldn’t control his rage. Odysseus could outsmart anyone… except himself sometimes. Greek heroes remind us: strength means nothing without heart. (And in my stories, the strongest characters are the ones who love fiercely.) 5. The Gods Walked Among Mortals In myth, gods disguised themselves, guided armies, fell in love, and sought revenge — all across the mortal world. Myth wasn’t distant; it was personal, physical, and dangerously present. That’s the heartbeat of modern myth-touched fiction — ancient power hiding in our world, waiting to awaken. 📚 My Top 5 Greek-Mythology Books to Dive Deeper The Greek Mythology Bible — Mythology by Edith Hamilton A classic — elegant, thorough, and beautifully curated. If you want a foundation in the gods, heroes, and legends, start here. Circe by Madeline Miller A lyrical, character-driven masterpiece. Circe’s transformation from outcast nymph to self-forged goddess is feminist, fierce, and unforgettable. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller A tender, heartbreaking retelling of Achilles and Patroclus. Love, war, prophecy, and tragedy — prepare your tissues. Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe A modern graphic-novel-style retelling of Hades & Persephone. Stylish, emotional, dramatic — a perfect bridge between myth and romance. A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair Romantic, seductive, and immersive. Another Hades/Persephone spin — darker, steamier, and packed with divine intrigue. ✨ Final Thought Greek mythology isn’t just ancient history — it’s timeless, because it’s about power, passion, loyalty, betrayal, and destiny. All the things that make stories unforgettable. And in my worlds… the gods may be gone, but their power hasn’t disappeared — it’s waking up. |
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