How I Get My Ideas

This is hands down the question I get asked most often. I think it's a curiosity we all have about authors. I've often wondered it while reading a book, too.

On this side of the question, though, it's not an easy, clean answer. Because sometimes my ideas are based off a thought I have (The Final Scene), and sometimes based off a scene I see in my mind (Last One Out). There's always an element of my life and experience in my books, but sometimes I draw more heavily from that for the plot (Make No Mistake). And sometimes ideas start out as a curiosity that I impose all of my quirky weirdness onto (Don't Ask Why).

I think the best way to address it is by book.

The Final Scene

Oregon Coast. The inspiration for Freeport, where Mina's Airbnb was located.

I'll spend the most time here because it's the weirdest and I feel like I need to defend it. Haha. This book started out with a thought: "What if I had enough money to buy all the houses I've ever lived in and revert them back to how they were when I lived there?" It came to me one day on a walk around my neighborhood. It started out innocent. I'd get to feel the feelings of my childhood again. I'd get to say goodbye to the houses. I know that sounds strange but how often in life do we just drift between homes, between people, between hobbies? We don't always know something is at an end, especially as children.

So, as I was imagining these homes, all reverted back to their 80s and 90s glory, I wondered who would take care of them? Who would keep them nice for my visits, which of course would be frequent. Immediately, I realized I'd need a staff to manage them. And then on the heels of that, I thought, "What if I wasn't a good person and made people live there full time?" That's when Grace Wakeford and the plot for the book were born.

Make No Mistake

The Spokane forest in the background is similar to the kind where Reva's mansion would be.

I was in a very high-control evangelical group for all of my twenties and most of my thirties. There's a longer story here, but for this post, I'll just say I drew a lot from that experience. I also had a baby with a severe heart condition. I go into that in more depth in the book's Author's Note at the end. So definitely check that out when you read this one.

Last One Out

Part of the trail up to Skinny Dipper Hot Springs. That's the Payette River on the left.

This is the only book where I built a whole story around a single scene. I saw it in my mind like a movie: the memorial event when Chloe walks in and Frankie sees her. And then I came up with the twist and that fueled the whole book. I chose Skinny Dipper hot springs for the opening scene because I'd been there decades ago when it was open and even in stark daylight, it was creepy AF.

Don't Ask Why

Florida mangroves I kayaked through for research

This book started out as a curiosity. What if a friend group went to an isolated spot for a girls' trip and someone random showed up? The dynamic would get messed up and things could go off the rails. This is kind of what happened in the story although once I got to know Courtney, Reese, Paige, and Tori, things shifted. Then I took a lot of liberties with some specifics that at this point in my life I'm up to my eyeballs in alligators with: Dating and astrology. This book more than the others was, I think, for me. I hope it's still a fun, fast-paced read for you, too.

So that's the short answer, and it's taking all the self-control I have to not share my idea for my next book with you. I'm well on my way writing it and I'm super excited about how it's coming together. I can't wait to tell you more!

XO,

Steph