We chat with author Stefanie London about her latest romance release, Forever Starts Now, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Stefanie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Thanks for having me! I’m Stefanie London, Aussie gal living in Canada. I’m the USA Today bestseller of more than thirty contemporary romances and romantic comedies that meet at the corner of sweet and sexy. Outside writing, I love to read, knit, bake and play video games.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
As a child I used to write and illustrate my own books. I would dream up all kinds of magical worlds and characters who were ready for adventure. Writing and books have been part of my life for as long as I can remember!
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I ever remember reading was The Hungry Caterpillar. I don’t think there was one book that made me want to become an author, because I have loved so many since a very young age. They all contributed! A book that stayed with me a long time after I read it was The Road by Cormack MCarthy.
Your latest novel, Forever Starts Now, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sweetly emotional, but also steamy.
What can readers expect?
My latest release, Forever Starts Now, is a fake relationship romance between an Aussie hero searching for his father, and a prickly diner owner whose life has stagnated after divorce. At the heart of it, this story is about understanding who you are and being authentically yourself. There are also very strong themes of family and belonging. Both Monroe and Ethan have had their lives shaken up by devastating news, and we meet them in the aftermath of trying to figure out where they’re headed. It’s funny and heartfelt and you might tear up a little. There’s a steamy kiss in a haunted house, a wacky town mascot and a quirky cast of characters to fall in love with. I hope you’ll check it out!
Where did the inspiration for Forever Starts Now come from?
I was talking with my editor about what my next project would be, and she requested a “hunky Thor-type hero.” I’d actually watched a documentary not long before that about “twin strangers” which had put the idea of a doppelganger into my head. What if instead of being a Thor-type hero…people actually mistake him for Thor?! Well, the Australian actor who plays Thor, anyway. The idea of an ordinary man with a celebrity doppelganger fascinated me, because I could see all the ways that might cause someone problems. It turned out to be something which really influenced the themes in this story, as well, because I was focusing on ideas of identity and figuring out who you want to be in life.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
One of the challenges I faced was in using the fake relationship trope. I LOVE this trope! But as fun as it is, it can be a real challenge to create believability. Let’s be real, the amount of people who actually have fake relationships is probably way lower than what romance novels would lead us to believe. That’s part of the fun! But it’s also a big part of why it can be hard to come up with a situation where the reader will buy into the catalyst for such an arrangement. It’s also challenging to come up with a fresh twist on this trope, since it is so popular and has been done so many times.
The other challenge I faced with this book was simply writing during the pandemic when I felt very emotionally wrung out and isolated. I was sad about not being able to get home to visit my family and not seeing friends during our super-long lockdowns here in Toronto. It was very difficult to reach for the emotion I needed to write during that time. But writing is also my safe space and being productive is very important to me, so I leaned on those feelings to get through it.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Monroe and Ethan were a great couple to write. The idea of an ordinary man with a celebrity doppelganger had me very engaged with the story. It also helped to form the story’s overarching theme of identity and figuring out who you are. He’s searching for the father he never knew, and trying to understand who he is after learning that the family who raised him had kept a great secret about his parentage.
I really enjoy writing about themes of self-identity and finding your place in the world. As someone who moved overseas and had a major career-change at the same time, it’s a narrative that I really connect with.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best advice I’ve received is to focus on character. If you have a protagonist that people care about, then the story itself will have so much more impact. The worst advice I ever received was from an editor who told me the hero always has to go to the heroine at the end of the book. Nope! I love mixing it up, and those kinds of arbitrary rules don’t help anyone.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a number of projects at the moment! I have a brand-new romantic comedy series coming out in 2022 called Paws in the City, about a pet social media agency in New York. It features lots of animal side characters, delicious heroes and heroines you’d want to make friends with. It’s definitely got a side of emotion with the laughs, though, which is my favourite kind of romantic comedy to write.
I’m also working on a small town romance series, set in my home country of Australia. This series focuses on the importance of family and community, and features lots of Aussie culture tidbits. It’s sweet and sexy, and the first book is called A Merry Aussie Christmas, which will be out in late November.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I have been on a bit of a mystery and thriller kick lately. I really enjoyed Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander, which is the first book in the bakeshop mystery series. I also recently read Escape Room by Megan Goldin and found it to be a very gripping and unique read! I’m currently reading and enjoying Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates.
