Fire, Water, and Rock
by Alaina Erdell
Released: December 13, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Why this book and why now?
I wish I had hundreds of ideas for books. This was one of a handful. It’s not the first book I’ve written, but it will be the first one I’ve attempted to publish. The setting and surroundings hold a certain degree of romanticism, and it was the manuscript I thought would be a good debut novel. I hope readers enjoy reading it. I certainly enjoyed writing about Jess and Clare.
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?
I’ve learned quite a bit since I first started writing. Having a good editor makes all the difference. The first incarnation of the manuscript had elements that weren’t very strong that I chose to leave by the wayside in order to let the romance take center stage. I’m happy I made that decision. It strengthened the character’s arcs and let the romance shine, as it should.
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Jess would binge Grey’s Anatomy because she’s from Seattle where it takes place, and she’s been camping for months and needs to catch up. Clare would binge-watch Schitt’s Creek because her best friend made her.
What 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
This is a great answer for the characters in this book because one of them, Jess, is actually camping for three months, so she had to make similar decisions. Some of the items she brought included a mystery novel, a camera, and her rock collection. Clare would probably bring her gun to protect them, some sort of fire starter, and the first letter Jess wrote her because she’s a romantic and would want it with her.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Jess would celebrate with a hard-to-find craft beer from Portland that her friends Ian and Tim gave her because she doesn’t like wine and they’re fans of their hometown brewers. Glass? Nah, she doesn’t need one. Clare would drink something a bit more sophisticated, pinot grigio or a dry martini, extra olives, in the appropriate glasses, of course. She’ll drink a beer if that’s the only option, but it’s not her go-to, alcoholic drink.
