Thank you for Robyn for the interview as well as an ARC of the book The Worst Darcy. I absolutely loved the read and it was a perfect romance to read. Make sure you check out The Worst Darcy and the interview below.

Interview

What was your inspiration for The Worst Darcy?

I’d been trying to decide between writing a contemporary or an historical romance, so eventually I figured… How about both? This idea of a small town that turned back time for a few weeks in the summer was so fun to imagine and, being such a big fan of Jane Austen (and Pride and Prejudice, in particular), choosing her books as a framework for this festival was a no-brainer.

What drew you to writing romance?

I’ve been a fan of love and romance ever since I was a little girl and thought I was going to marry Raphael (yes, the ninja turtle). So when I started writing, romantic love was just a natural focus for me. It’s what I love to see most in every media I enjoy, even my penchant for scary movies!

How did you choose which character to focus the story on?

Brodie formed in my mind first (heroes tend to walk into my head fully formed), so then it was just a matter of finding the perfect heroine who would challenge him AND see the best in him. Vivian was harder to nail down at first, but as soon as I figured out her emotional wounds in need of healing, she materialized much faster!

What was your process for writing for The Worst Darcy?

This was my first novel length book, so it required a LOT of discipline to finish, because I started it as a new mother during the pandemic. I trained myself to write in 20 minute, hyper-focused sprints – a mix of what I could carve out at a time and what my new parent brain could handle! I listened to music that reminded me of the book’s vibe and always had a big glass of water on hand. Pretty quickly, I was able to write 500 words for each sprint. So if I could get at least one sprint a day, it was progress!

Was your process different from writing short stories?

Yes, I had much less structure and routine when I wrote short stories, so I didn’t have the same output. I highly recommend developing a routine as a writer to sink into the right mindspace, rather than waiting for motivation to strike!

What is your approach to world and character building?

For characters, I always start with the same four questions. 1) What does this character want in the story? 2) What are the stakes if they don’t achieve it? 3) What is their emotional wound that needs healing? And 4) What do they need to learn about themselves in order to be happy? If I nail down those answers, the other details fall more easily into place. For world building, I just open a new document and start filling the page by asking myself questions! (e.g. How big is the town? Who’s the most powerful person in residence? Where does everyone go to relax?)

How would you describe The Worst Darcy in five words?

Authentic, fun, fresh, cathartic and, of course, spicy!

Did you have a favourite moment to write?

It was SO much fun to write the scene in the library when Brodie discovers Vivian’s big secret! It’s such a great break in the tension and, for the first time, we see who they can be to each other when they’re not butting heads.

What was your favourite book growing up?

I’d love to be sophisticated and say it was always Pride and Prejudice, but I didn’t read that until I was well into adulthood. I think I mostly read Goosebumps as a kid! In my mid-teens, I finally discovered romance novels when I bought my first one at the bookstore (it was an historical called My Lady’s Temptation by Denise Hampton) and from there I was hooked.

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

Romance, of course! And, more specifically, the subgenre depends very much on my mood – but I mostly read contemporary and historical, with some dark fantasy romance sprinkled in for flavour!