So, I Wrote A Book!

Ever since I could remember, I have always wanted to be a writer. It's a dream I've gradually made into reality, but not as I had always expected. If you’d asked what I wanted to be when I was younger, I would’ve said an author without even blinking. It never occurred to me I’d grow up to be a scriptwriter.

But I did. I studied screenwriting at university and have written several scripts for stage and screen. Writing a novel was a daunting prospect, one I kept putting off for many years. I never found the right story; when I did, it worked much better as a screenplay. I always told myself, “Now's not the right time" to dedicate a block of time to planning and writing a novel.

When the pandemic forced everyone into lockdown, anyone deemed vulnerable was put on the shielding scheme. People that were elderly, h underlining health conditions or disabilities, were on a more extreme version of lockdown until restrictions were lifted. I'd found myself in this constant state of limbo for almost two years. So, I suddenly had all this time — the time I wanted to dedicate to a novel was right before me.

Believe it or not, Between the Lines had a straightforward premise and not much else to work with. I went through some old outlines and came across a document of logline pitches for potential scripts or novels I'd noted down years ago. An actor has a one-night stand with an aspiring screenwriter. Both are swept up in a media romance. That was it, but I thought a romance would be a great place to start as a debut author. Everyone loves a good love story.

Jonathan came much more naturally than expected and was much easier to write. A guy who had a heart of gold but hid it behind charm, arrogance, wealth and talent. To get the experiences of Jonathan's life as a working actor right, I communicated with a close friend who is also an actor, and his feedback and encouragement helped shape the male lead's storyline.

The heroine of this story, that was a bit more complicated. In an earlier draft of the first two chapters, Tessa was not in it. Initially, the female protagonist was called Lara, a barista that Jonathan has an awkward interaction with after a nameless one-night stand. Hungover and already late, Jonathan and Lara had a very spikey exchange. But there was no chemistry, and as I read through their scenes, I realised I'd written Lara with infuriating traits we've all seen or read in pop culture. She was a walking embodiment of the "I'm not like other girls trope" which was not my intention. I scraped the character altogether, feeling that she was not suitable for the book I wanted to write.

When I read back on Jonathan's chapters, Tessa began to take shape when I wondered what happened to the woman he had a fling with. Tessa has traits I could definitely relate to, especially as an undergraduate screenwriter on the verge of graduating. She was a film buff and nerd, but underneath all that, darkness hovered in her past that I couldn't help but explore. The more I wrote these characters, the more they developed past the original character descriptions and outlines. What made this an exciting love story to write was that there was no rush. They'd already slept together off-page, so the sexual chemistry wasn't so high stakes, and this allowed me to build a more emotional connection between the protagonists.

After many rewrites, I finally reached a point where I was ready to look at publishing. As many publishing houses wanted a more conventional romantic ending, I came to the conclusion that Between the Lines would not work as a happy ending. Going into self-publishing was not an easy decision to make, but I felt like it was the right one for me. Creative freedom was one of the most appealing aspects, but finding the right sources to finetune my manuscript was vital as a self-published author. After collaborating with a cover designer, Reedsy was a brilliant platform and through it, I was able to hire Manda Waller as my editor. I also spoke with a faculty member of a university and a fellow writer, who provided some useful insights to how a university may handle media attention due to a celebrity's involvement with one of their students.

After more rewrites, my debut novel was ready to publish this year, It was a tough experience, but worth it in the end. This is the first of many books to come and I'm looking forward to sharing more stories with my newfound audience.

Interested in Between the Lines? It's available on Amazon as an e-book, paperback and Kindle Unlimited: Check out the blurb below!

One night of passion between a Hollywood heartthrob and an aspiring screenwriter was all it was meant to be… Now a media scandal could be the making or breaking of them.

Jonathan’s done playing the token diversity character. Despite being the son of an award-winning director and a screen sensation, he has struggled to find his own identity in his craft. He only felt normal that amazing night with the mystery girl who had no idea who he really was. No acting required.

Tessa prefers to live behind the scenes, perfect for a screenwriter. With her final year of university looming, her dream of getting into the National Film and Television School for her postgraduate degree may actually be within her reach. One problem – aside from her talent, she’s a nobody and a drunken one-night stand with a guy who turned out to be an A-list celebrity is hardly a claim to fame.

However, when Jonathan needs to reinvent his image after a disastrous interview goes viral - his former fling could be his one chance to take control of the narrative. Tessa is the perfect good girl for the media to fall in love with and Jonathan’s industry connections will give her the advantage she needs. As the pair agree to stage a fake romance to further their careers, the lines blur between reality and playing pretend.

When genuine feelings develop between them, the media attention puts a further strain on their fledgling romance. What’s more, both Tessa and Jonathan have secrets of their own that could shatter their newfound happiness forever.

Author socials: You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Goodreads as T.J. Ryan.