But the thing is, in the years since Veiled, when I finally wanted to revisit Ada’s story, everything seemed to have changed. I’d changed. Ada had changed. I got to spend time with her in Ghosted and Came Back Haunted (which, I’m telling you, you should read if you haven’t already) and I realized that she and Jay needed to break up. It just…had to happen. Sorry guys. At the time I didn’t even think about Maximus because he was dead (or soon to be not dead) but once Ada actually pulled him from the Veil at the end of Came Back Haunted, everything clicked right into place. It made so much sense. That scene, those characters, it was so organic that it was like they were writing it all themselves, and they were pointing me in that direction.
I wanted to run with it.
I wanted to take the risk and switch things up.
I wanted to see the whole “best friends’s little sister” trope but applied to them.
And I got nervous. I got nervous because I’ve done love triangles before and they get intense. Max is a villain to a lot of people (though I’ve honestly always loved him, as I love most villains). He’s been the antagonist to Dex and Perry until the very end. He needs to do a lot to win people over and prove himself. And there’s also some, uh, baggage when it comes to him and the Palominos. Hey, it happens. They made peace with it.
But I also like to write things that aren’t neat and tidy. I liked the twisted idea of Max and Ada together. No, I loved it. It’s like it was…destiny, as the master of cheese would say. Sure, it was messy but…I love mess. Maybe it would piss off a lot of readers but I knew I had to write the book that was calling me, I had to write Ada’s story the way it wanted to play out.
Honestly I jumped into this book headfirst not knowing what to expect. I didn’t set anything in stone. I just let my characters tell me what they wanted to do, let them tell me how they were feeling, and I just let them play.
So that’s what this book feels like to me. Play. With some dark and serious themes of course, but I’ve never had so much fun writing a book before. Fueled by music, caffeine, wine (“Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol”), the words just flowed out of my fingers from dusk till dawn, riding the high that Ada and Max brought me. And considering I’ve been dealing with depression, anxiety, out-of-control ADHD and writer’s block, this book was such a breath of fresh air.
I’m so glad I stuck to my guns with this one, because I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. If I’ve upset you with this book, I apologize. I still hope you enjoyed the ride, regardless what “team” you’re on. In the end, I hope we’re all on Ada’s team, and wanting what’s best for her, whatever that may be.
And if you loved this book, fear not.
I wrote this for you.
<3
I don’t have a ton of people to thank since I wrote this in a whirlwind but Laura Helseth, thank you for editing this as I wrote, right along for the crazy ride. Nina Grinstead, thanks for your patience with this release. I know I’ve not been available lol. And Scott and Bruce, you’re forever mine and I’ll be forever yours. Always, evermore, and on and on.
PS Josh Homme, this book wouldn’t exist without you
(please don’t sue me, K? jk jk jk)
About the Author
Karina Halle, a former screenwriter, travel writer and music journalist, is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of The Pact, A Nordic King, and Sins & Needles, as well as over fifty other wild and romantic reads. She, her husband, and their adopted pit bull live in a rain forest on an island off British Columbia, where they operate a B&B that’s perfect for writers’ retreats. In the winter, you can often find them in California or on their beloved island of Kauai, soaking up as much sun (and getting as much inspiration) as possible. For more information, visit
www.authorkarinahalle.com
Also by Karina Halle
Contemporary Romances
Love, in English
Love, in Spanish
Where Sea Meets Sky (from Atria Books)
Racing the Sun (from Atria Books)
The Pact
The Offer
The Play
Winter Wishes
The Lie
The Debt
Smut
Heat Wave
Before I Ever Met You
After All
Rocked Up
Wild Card (North Ridge #1)
Maverick (North Ridge #2)
Hot Shot (North Ridge #3)
Bad at Love
The Swedish Prince
The Wild Heir
A Nordic King
Nothing Personal
My Life in Shambles
Discretion
Disarm
Disavow
The Royal Rogue
The Forbidden Man
Lovewrecked
One Hot Italian Summer
The One That Got Away
All the Love in the World (Anthology)
Romantic Suspense Novels by Karina Halle
Sins and Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1)
On Every Street (An Artists Trilogy Novella #0.5)
Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2)
Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3)
Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels #1)
Dirty Deeds (Dirty Angels #2)
Dirty Promises (Dirty Angels #3)
Black Hearts (Sins Duet #1)
Dirty Souls (Sins Duet #2)
Horror Romance
Darkhouse (EIT #1)
Red Fox (EIT #2)
The Benson (EIT #2.5)
Dead Sky Morning (EIT #3)
Lying Season (EIT #4)
On Demon Wings (EIT #5)
Old Blood (EIT #5.5)
The Dex-Files (EIT #5.7)
Into the Hollow (EIT #6)
And With Madness Comes the Light (EIT #6.5)
Come Alive (EIT #7)
Ashes to Ashes (EIT #8)
Dust to Dust (EIT #9)
Ghosted (EIT #9.5)
Came Back Haunted (EIT #10)
In the Fade (EIT #11)
The Devil’s Duology
Donners of the Dead
Veiled (Ada Palomino #1)
Song For the Dead (Ada Palomino #2)
