As the two spend more and more time together, the lines between professional partnership and love get blurred.
Mostly, I was just trying to hide them.
This was an opportunity to embrace aspects like the repetitive motions and sensitivities.
Credit: Penguin Randomhouse
Writing them intentionally felt healthy.
Self-acceptance was a big thing because before writing the book, I did a lot of masking.
I feel like Id take it a step further camouflaging or trying to be other people.
Its kind of unhealthy in that I will even become a different person depending on who Im with.
I didnt tell my mom because I just didnt think she was going to understand.
I was just really scared she was going to be upset by that.
That was really useful.
And to show that other people generally dont care as much as I do, so thats good too.
In general, I dont ever feel that way about anything.
If anyone is being TMI, its me.
So I dont have that problem.
It was beneficial for me to explore all the parts and ways that shes different and accept them.
I feel like writing them helped me to understand myself better.
Writing her helped me understand me better.
So it was a process.
You said you were inspired to write this because you wanted to do a reversePretty Woman.
My friends an anthropology major, and I thought it was fascinating.
I wanted to write about someone in a similar profession, which immediately brings upPretty Womanin my head.
And to push my mind to see things from a new perspective.
Id just readFifty Shades of Grey, and I didnt think I could write a Christian Grey ever.
So I flipped it around.
I thought that would be really interesting to write, so thats where that came from.
At least thats what I learned.
Its made my quality of life a lot better.
Is that something thats important in your own life?
My family is my greatest treasure.
I have kids and Ive been a stay-at-home mom, and I find motherhood extremely challenging.
Ill probably make people hate me by saying it, but I dont enjoy motherhood.
I actually found a lot of Stellas sensitivities and idiosyncrasies really relatable.
I think Michael does as well and is attuned to them.
Its not a rejection, its just that theyre different and they have different needs.
So that people can be more accepting.
Is that something you hope people take away from the book?Yeah, yeah, sure.
Ive never noticed people being awkward.
Because from my perspective, Im always wanting to put the person Im with at ease.
I think were all trying to do that.
I understand you have sequels in the works; can you tell me more about them?
Most importantly, will we get more of Michaels understanding (and hot!)
cousin Quan?Yes, the second book is about Kai, and hes on the spectrum.
He has the misbelief that he doesnt have feelings.
I wanted to confront that stereotype that autistic people dont experience empathy and dont have emotions.
That were cold and heartless.
Hes got this conflict, and he avoids relationships, and his mom gets him a mail-order bride.
Its about their summer of being together.
The third book is Quans book, and I loooove Quan.
I currently have writers block because I have pressure because I want to give him a really great story.
