Post release Q&A PT 1
Bitter Secrets
Q: Your favorite chapter/scene you wrote?
A: My favorite scene would have to be the snow globe scene in the Christmas market. That wasn’t in the original. I chose the snow globe for the cover after the first draft was written and knew I had to incorporate that into the story. I knew ahead of time that Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark, but it wasn’t until she actually grabbed the snow globe that I found myself adding in that bit about the Little Mermaid and it seemed so fitting. Prior to that, I worried how I would tie it in and if it would make sense and then that happened. That felt magical and it was a last minute addition.
As for my favorite chapter… I really love the graduation and coffee scene flashbacks… and the last two chapters—the knockdown, drag out battle the book had been building up to.
Q: Do you relate Jasmine's character with yourself?
A: Yes. She and I are probably the most alike out of any of my characters.
Q: Hi Mia, just finished Bitter secrets and it blew my mind, anyways I would like to know if are u interested in your books made into a movie or series.
A: Glad you enjoyed Bitter Secrets! As for the movie or tv thing, it's not something I'm actively thinking about or on my vision board or anything. If it happened, I would probably be more terrified than thrilled, but I'd be open to it if it was pitched to me. 🥰
Q: Is your writing method similar to Jasmine’s?
A: Almost identical, though she uses her real life a lot more than I do.
Q: How old are jasmine and roth and do you know their zodiac sings? :)
Q: What are Jasmine and roths birthdays and birth years
A: Roth is 35, she’s 30. Don’t know their birthdays yet. That’s something I’m deciding in book 3. Their birthdays will be based on where they fit into the story 🙃
Q: Are we gonna get any sneak peaks for bitter confessions like we did for bitter heat on your blog? Including while you’re writing Carmen books?
A: I’ll be sharing my progress of whatever I’m working on the blog and will probably include a line here or there.
Q: You have so many different locations in Bitter Secrets. Have you been there before or did you have to go there while writing to include them in the book? As part of the writing process, do you have to physically visit destinations or can you just do research?
A: THIS took so much time! Ahh! I’ve never been to any of these places so spent countless hours reading travel blogs, watching YouTube videos, _anything_ that would allow me to not look like a fool or get too many things wrong. This book was totally out of my comfort zone—every aspect of it! Formal parties, her attending Wharton’s, business conversations, locations… All of it, I had no experience in so I had to do so much research. I hope people will forgive what I got wrong if there’s enough things I got right.
Q: What aspects of Roth and Jasmine are the hardest to write?
A: Their interactions are challenging to write. There are dozens of drafts of certain scenes. Just one line can change the tone and set off a different set of events. It’s like walking a minefield, trying to make sure you don’t set off a mine that should go off in book 3 or 4. Also, their battles are draining. I think those last two chapters took me a month to write. You feel like you’re walking a tightrope, trying to get the conversation and emotion right.
Q: Have you ever changed a plot point in sequels because too many people have guessed it/wanted it, and you want something more surprising to happen?
A: No, the plot for me is always set, which is why I don’t enter into discussions about it or listen to theories. It’s already done in my mind.
Q: After reading Bitter secrets I definitely want to visit Lisbon and Copenhagen now. Have you visited all the places you describe by yourself? because it feels like it (I checked these places on the internet to know what the heroes have seen)
A: Nope. Never been there. Just did a lot of research through travel blogs and YouTube videos. Definitely want to visit these places in future!
Q: Jasmine was wearing a pink dress and did her own curls at the party where she met roth. Is Jasmine naturally a girly girl but had to suppress it in the business world where it was expected to wear neutrals and “dignified” colors like navy and maroon as well? Her sisters were wearing white and black in contrast to her pink dress. If so, will we get to see Jasmine wear more pink and embrace her femininity in terms of that. Sorry if this is a stupid question and doesn’t really relate to anything about the character! I was just curious :)
A: She was dressed in that pink dress because that was the outfit her sisters sent her. I think that soft pink just represents how her sisters see her more as a child and not sophisticated yet. I’ve never thought of whether Jasmine is a girly girl or not. I know in Bitter Heat she mentions not enjoying shopping because of how hyper critical people were of her appearance since she was always in the spotlight. She’s not super girly like Carmen who loves fashion and accessories. IDK. We’ll have to explore that more in future books. They attend a few public appearances in book 3 and her wardrobe does come up.
Q: Are the Minnie Hess books a nod to your fantasy books under a different pen name? I love the fact that roth loves the Minnie Hess books alot and remembers scenes such as the hilltop and connects it to their real life.
A: Yes, it’s a nod to the fantasy I used to write. I think a lot of authors start here. He led her from fantasy into vibrant reality and changed her, her writing… Yeah, I like the cord with him and her writing.
Q: Hey mia! Is the bitter secrets paperback going to be live on Amazon india or book depository too? I would love for it be on the Amazon india tho. Also, I tried seeing if I can buy from Amazon US but the shipping is more than the retailed price of the book and that too excluding customs. I am dying to buy it 🥺 pls let us know!
A: Hi! Wherever the paperback for Bitter Heat is, Bitter Secrets will be available there as well. I can see it isn’t available yet through Amazon India, but it should show up there and on book depository as well! I just approved it a couple days ago, so it may take a little longer in other countries.
Q: Will we get to see deleted scenes that had to be cut from the books in the future? Perhaps a special edition or something. Thank you for responding to the questions everyone has been sending in. It’s great to hear from you!
A: Thank you! I would eventually like to create some kind of library on my website that has deleted scenes, raw drafts and such that people could access… Something I’m going to have to work on in future!
Q: At what age did jasmine meet Roth?
A: 23
Q: Is Jasmine the prettiest of her sisters?
A: No idea.
Q: Do you have the secret roth holds set in stone? While we’ll have to wait to hear the secret. I’m curious if it’s something you still have to decide on?
A: No, it’s settled and set in stone.
Q: How tall are Roth and Jasmine?
A: She’s around 5’ 7”. I’ve never committed to a height for Roth, but I’d probably say he’s 6’ 3” or taller and very broad and muscular.
Q: Where did your idea of Roth and Jasmine come from? They are amazing characters.
A: Thank you! I had a dream about Roth where he mentioned the divorce so that got the ball rolling. At the time this happened, I got snowed into my friends house that I was housesitting and the power kept going out, which is how the whole cabin thing came into being and them being trapped in it. I think writers naturally like writing about their profession so I thought it would be funny if this ex confronted her about her work which he featured in and it evolved from there.
Q: What are some of your favorite couples and characters from tv shows and movies? Do you draw inspiration from them? I noticed a lot of Disney princess inspo - the name Jasmine too :)
A: Huh. I’ve never thought about that before. I think because he calls her princess and I kind of think of her like a princess too with her big library like Belle… I’m going to be very boring and say I rarely watch TV shows. Honestly, the only person that came to mine is Keira Knightly and Darcy in the recent remake of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Broody.
Singed Series
Q: Will we get some of Roth's POV in the future books?
A: No. All books will be from Jasmine’s POV. He’ll get his own book exclusively from his POV after the series is done. This book isn’t necessary for closure to the series, it’s an extra one that expands on some things only he can tell.
Q: Are there separate ARC sign ups for your books or do you have an ARC team?
A: No, I don’t have ARC sign ups and don’t think I will in future. There are far too many leaks. With Bitter Heat, I only did 20 people and one of those people still posted it on a pirate site. The added stress isn’t worth it so we have a small pool of people that Emily and I reach out to before a release.
Q: Do you ever actively search up rothjasmine and anything related to them on social media such as Instagram or Twitter? Or do you just view what you’re tagged in?
A: I don’t look up anything or read reviews, and I rarely look at what I’m tagged in. If I do, it’s mostly by accident. My PA manages most of that for me. I prefer to just stay in my book world.
Q: Do any songs remind you of any of the characters? For me it’s Cover me up by Morgan Wallen I instantly go to your books!
A: Boringly, no. I’ve never associated any songs with my characters. I’m kind of jealous of authors that have playlists that readers can listen to, but if you listen to what I did when writing them, it would be 10 hours of thunderstorms on repeat on Youtube.
Q: Hi Mia, hope you are doing well. I love your work and wanted to ask you if you had any Spotify playlists for your books? Or if you are planning to/would possibly release any in the future? Thank you :))
A: I actually don’t. I rarely listen to music when I’m writing. I usually have on white noise—rain and thunderstorms that are on repeat on Youtube.
Q: Do you already know everything that happens in the rest of the singed series? Or have you still got some things to iron out?
A: I see stories like movie trailers. I see flashes of big events and how it ends, but I’m not sure what happens in between that gets us to that point. That’s how writing works for me and that’s actually my favorite part, letting my mind work through interesting scenarios and melding with the characters to find the best way forward. So, in answer to your questions—yes, I feel I know what’s going to happen in the rest of the series and yes, I still have things to iron out. 😆
Q: Are you thinking about writing books about the side characters like Lyle and Colette or Grayson?
Q: Will Grayson get a book?
Q: Will some side characters from Singed world get a book and if they do will they have separate series?
Q: Are Lyle and Colette getting a story?
A: I know the backgrounds of side characters that would be interesting to write about, but I’m not planning anything at the moment. I’m just focused on completing Roth and Jasmine’s story.
Q: Is singed series in same universe as crime lord series?
A: Yes
Q: Do you think you will ever consider a crossover with characters from the crime lords books and the singed series?
A: There’s a subtle crossover in book 3, but I have no plans for characters in different series to end up together or do huge cameos in each other’s books (at the moment).
Q: What is your opinion on cheating in books? In crime lords captive it was present and a hard topic for the couple to get over. However in singed series it is very clear that roth isn’t a cheater nor interested in other women besides Jasmine. I know that Danielle lori is writing a cheating book that I’m very excited about but I don’t think I could handle cheating for certain book couples such as Rothjas.
A: I honestly don’t actively seek out cheating books, but I intend to write some in future where it features pretty prominently (prob not under this name, I don’t think). I guess I would hesitate as much as any reader before picking it up unless I’m in the mood to be pissed off. It’s a sensitive topic and in other books where it’s featured, most of the time I don’t like the way it’s handled, which is why I avoid it altogether. So, I guess I don’t mind writing it, but don’t like reading it which is hypocritical, but it is what it is. 🤣
Q: Do any songs remind you of any of the characters? For me it’s Cover me up by Morgan Wallen I instantly go to your books!
A: Boringly, no. I’ve never associated any songs with my characters. I’m kind of jealous of authors that have playlists that readers can listen to, but if you listen to what I did when writing them, it would be 10 hours of thunderstorms on repeat on Youtube.