Midnight Curfew Q&A

This was supposed to be included in another edition but fell through <3 So I’m posting here! 😉

***This is a spoiler for Midnight Curfew.***

Where did you get the idea for Midnight Curfew?

I teased about Dallas and Callum in Tryst Six Venom and Five Brothers, so I knew I had to deliver. Winters are frigid here in New Hampshire, so I wanted a summer story with the old-timey shenanigans I wrote in Bully and Devil’s Night. Fights and chases are just so fun. The idea of a curfew hit me, and the possibilities with being caught or finding a refuge to wait out the night captivated me. I almost wish this were a trilogy, so we could have a whole summer of curfew. 😊

Will you write more books in this world?

I would love to! Army, Iron, and Trace deserve to have their stories told, but it will be a matter of trying to get ideas to cooperate. Time is the best recipe for success, I guess. We’ll see what crystallizes in my head moving forward.

Who’s your favorite Jaeger brother?

Whenever Macon is on page, I’m hyperaware of it. I’m not sure if that means he’s my favorite, because I haven’t written Army, Iron, or Trace’s stories yet, but Macon’s presence and growth have been rewarding to write so far. I know what it means to be the oldest and heavily relied on. The pressure, the dead ends, the trapped feeling . . . He mirrors a lot of what I’ve lived.

Which part of Midnight Curfew was the hardest to write?

The hardest parts were the Wolfe Room and Den scenes. I had to bend my brain a lot to dream up all of the different fantasies at play in those rooms.

What’s your favorite part of Midnight Curfew to reread?

I love Dallas and Callum’s confrontation at Marymount during the storm, after Dallas sends Anna-Katherine home with Army. Their conversation, the foreplay, the couch in the Ministry office . . . I do love the couch scenes in my books. 😉

How do you plan stories?

Well, there’s a lot of daydreaming. And music and mood boards help. It takes time to imagine the world, and it’s honestly the best part of writing. Just letting your imagination carry you away.

When it’s time to cement some plans, I used to type out a proper outline like I would do in school for essays. I’d plan it out chapter by chapter, as much as I could as a starting point. Then, after a while, I moved onto note cards, sorting all of the scenes I wanted and shifting order as necessary before putting the ideas onto paper. Now, I use the Save the Cat Writes a Novel beat sheet. It helps me pace out my story and plot a little better. Writing Midnight Curfew from that was much easier than my traditional outlines.

Will you write more LGBTQ+ books like Tryst Six Venom and Midnight Curfew?

Oh, yes. I really loved the chemistry in both. So excited to write more.

Which character in this book do you see yourself in the most?

Even though he’s the character who’s probably the hardest for me to write, I would have to say Army. Around a certain age, I was also fighting for my place and wanted someone of my own. I connect with his frustrations, isolation, and feelings of unworthiness. It occurs to me now that’s probably why I struggle with him. He takes me back to places in my head I’d rather not go back to.

What do you think Dallas and Callum’s wedding will be like? And Liv and Clay’s?

Who knows what will change over time and what ideas will occur, but I kind of see Dallas and Callum doing something alone and then coming back to a town-wide party. Maybe they take the boat along the coast, jump into the water, and swim into a sea cave. Dimly lit, clear, blue water up to their waists, the quiet tumble of waves as someone marries them in whispers (maybe Iron will do it 😉 iykyk). Then, it’s partying in the streets back in St. Carmen and Sanoa Bay!

As for Liv and Clay, I see Clay in a sexy white pantsuit and a white, jeweled corset top underneath the jacket, which she only reveals at the reception, much to Olivia’s delight. Liv will be in a dress, and I would love to see them have a beautiful candlelit wedding in a garden, perhaps at Mimi’s house, and then the family and close friends jump on Callum’s yacht to party all the way down to the Bahamas. ❤️

Would you be open to the Jaeger world making the leap to TV/film?

Oh, absolutely. I would love to see all of my work come to life for readers that way, but in particular, the Jaeger books and Birthday Girl, as well as Punk 57, would translate well, I think. The characters feel like people we’d run into anywhere, and their stories feel so relevant.

What’s your biggest unpopular opinion?

Uh-oh. Are you ready? The book isn’t always better than the film / TV show!

I know, right? A writer shouldn’t say that! *hides in shame* But I have a theory that we’re simply attached to our first experience of a world, and since most people who read the book read it before seeing the film, they’re attached to their own mental images.

Do you think you’ll write romance forever?

I definitely foresee a love story in everything I write. Will that be the main focus in every book? I don’t think so. I’d love to see what else I can do. I’m interested in science fiction, especially.

Did you have any surprises while writing this book?

A couple! I knew I would love Dallas, as I’ve spent time with him in other books, but I didn’t realize Callum would make such an impression. I love him to pieces; his vulnerabilities captivated me.

I also adored Anna-Katherine. I didn’t always have her planned out, since she was first referenced in Tryst Six Venom, but writing her was new and heart-wrenching. She was just a joy to have on page.

What do you do to celebrate when you finish a book?

Sometimes I get a massage. Sometimes I treat myself with a new experience, like an expensive champagne I’ve never tried or some kind of new food. This time, I simply got myself a Dubai chocolate bar. 😁

What’s next for you?

I’m finishing an untitled stand-alone now, and then I’ll get back to the Hellbent series! I’ll probably switch it up with another stand-alone in between, but I’m happy to be home with my family now and traveling less for the time being. My daughter graduates from high school in June 2027, so I’m sticking around more to help her with college applications and to just enjoy life. I’m looking forward to a fall of writing, hiking, biking, baking, decorating, and cleaning my attic 😉

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