On The Right Path
by Rian Birch
Released: Aug 15, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Why this book and why now?
I loved getting to know Jess as Taylor’s bestie in Swept Up In You, and thought she deserved her own story. I also wanted a book that delved into the realm of tradeswomen in Australia, and couldn’t wait to introduce the world to Remi.
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
About halfway through, I thought the book was going to be shorter, around the 50k words mark. So I surprised myself when it blew out to 76k!
Did any real-life events or personal experiences influence the story?
My wife and I spent over two years renovating our entire house. We worked alongside numerous trades and renovated what we could ourselves. This sparked the idea for OTRP: shining a light on women in trades, and what it’s like working with some not-so-nice trades along the way.
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
Jess has a bit of an obsession with thriller / murder mysteries, and loves a good Frieda McFadden book. Her fave is currently Ward D, the twist had her gasping!
Remi doesn’t have time to read, she prefers movies.
What 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
Hmm if Remi AND Jess were together, give them a saw and an axe, and I’m sure they’d be able to craft themselves a boat to get off an island!
Were there any scenes or characters that surprised you as you wrote?
I’d been stuck in the “murky middle” for a while, and was out on a solo-hike, climbing halfway up a waterfall when I had a breakthrough. The scenes with the team meeting (don’t want to give anything away) came tumbling out so fast, I had to sit on a rock and scramble to jot it down in my notes app.
If your book had a scent, what would it smell like?
Sawdust for sure. Or dust. Lots and lots of dust.
Your characters are throwing a party—what’s the theme?
Murder mystery of course. 💁♀️😉
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
I’m a plantser. I bounce between a basic outline / story premise and writing.
Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
I love writing on Google docs, so I can bounce between my phone, laptop or iPad and write wherever!
