Discover more about Karly Lane!
Join us for an exclusive Q&A with Karly Lane, the talented author behind Twist of Fate and many other beloved country romances. In this interview, Karly shares insights into her creative process, the inspiration behind her characters, and what it's like writing about love in small-town settings. Get ready for an inside look at the world of Karly Lane's heartwarming stories!
FWH: What’s the first thing you do when starting a new book—do you dive straight into writing, or do you have a pre-writing ritual?
KL: I usually start a new book out of the blue, so I tend to dive straight into whatever idea struck me—sometimes it’s an opening, other times it might just be a scene that I then have to work out a plot and characters around.
FWH: What’s the most challenging part about keeping each romance fresh and unique after so many books?
KL: I don’t really find it a challenge. Each set of characters has its own storyline and backstory, so I think that helps keep things from becoming a cut and paste kind of romance. Even though there are only so many tropes, if you make the characters unique enough, they don’t feel like the same old same old.
FWH: What’s the most unusual place you’ve drawn inspiration from for a story?
KL: Possibly Scotland—considering I’m primarily an Australian rural author, that was an interesting sell to my publisher to make it work.
FWH: Are you a “happily-ever-after” purist, or do you enjoy a bit of heartbreak before the ending?
KL: I try to make my characters as realistic as possible, and because real life is rarely pure anything, there’s usually always something that hinders a Cinderella happily-ever-after, before the characters find a happy-for-now ending.
FWH: If you could describe your latest novel, Twist of Fate, in just three words, what would they be?
KL: Funny. Heartbreaking. Real.
FWH: Bel’s best friend, Emma, is endlessly trying to set her up. Did you enjoy creating that playful dynamic, and are Emma’s efforts based on anyone you know?
KL: I think it’s the role of a life-long best friend who is happily married to want to find the same kind of love for her bestie. Emma is a unique identity!
FWH: If you could give Bel one piece of advice as she embarks on this adventure, what would it be?
KL: Be VERY specific when you manifest a man!
FWH: What was the most fun scene to write in Twist of Fate?
KL: I had such a great time writing this book and there were so many scenes I loved, but it was fun to write the bridesmaid scenes—the over the top, Mean Girls meets Crazy Rich Asians vibe was something different for one of my books and made for some fun encounters.
FWH: What’s one song that would be on Bel and Dean’s couple’s playlist?
KL: She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney . . . Well, that would probably be Dean’s pick.
FWH: If your book was turned into a movie, who would you cast as Bel, Emma, Tate and Dean?
KL: I think Tate would definitely have to be a Hemsworth. As for the others, I’m not sure. I’d just be over the moon that someone wanted to make it into a movie!
Thank you to Karly Lane for sharing such wonderful insights into her writing process and the inspiration behind her stories. It’s clear that her passion for creating heartfelt, small-town romances shines through in every book she writes. We can't wait to see where her next adventure takes us!