When Your "Funny Guy" Turns Into the Brooding Love Interest: A Writer's Confession

Or: How I Accidentally Created Another Grumpy MMC and Honestly, I'm Not Even Mad About It

Dear fellow fantasy romance addicts and chaos enablers,

I need to confess something. Remember how I promised you all a hilarious, witty male love interest in my new fantasy series? Someone who would crack jokes while slaying enemies and deliver one-liners that would make you snort-laugh your coffee?

Well, meet Reeve. My "funny guy" who somehow morphed into the human equivalent of a storm cloud with abandonment issues.

The Plan vs. The Reality

What I planned: A charming rogue who deflects trauma with humor, thinks he's hilarious (he's not), and probably trips over his own feet while trying to look cool.

What I got: A man who communicates exclusively in grunts, eye rolls, and the occasional earth-shattering observation delivered with the emotional range of granite. His idea of small talk is telling someone their herbs are "weeds" and their coordination rivals that of "a newborn foal."

Seriously, this man looked at sweet Emerin who literally grows healing plants and makes tea for people and decided his personality would be "aggressively unhelpful critic."

The Evolution of My Grumpy King

Now, I had hints about Reeve's true nature as early as book 1. There were... signs. Like the way he moved through scenes like a shadow with trust issues and spoke in sentences so clipped they could cut glass. But I was in denial! I kept thinking, "Surely he'll crack a joke soon. Surely he'll lighten up!"

But it wasn't until A Reflection of Shadow and Light (book 4) that I had to face the brutal truth: my "funny guy" was about as humorous as a funeral dirge. There he was, force-feeding medicine to someone's terrible mother and leaving cryptic notes like some sort of emotionally constipated poet, and I finally had to accept it.

My funny guy was grumpier than a cat in a thunderstorm.

Exhibit A: Reeve's "Humor"

When Emerin spills ingredients in the kitchen:

• What I wanted him to say: "Well, at least you're seasoning the floor. Very avant-garde cooking technique."

• What he actually said: "That was impressively graceless."

When she falls into a stream:

• What I wanted: "You know, most people use boats for water travel, but I admire your innovative approach."

• What he actually said: "Maybe you'll manage to drown properly next time."

I CANNOT with this man.

The Accidental Perfection

But here's the thing, and don't tell him I said this because his ego is already insufferable, somehow Mr. Emotionally-Constipated-Shadow-Man became absolutely perfect for the story.

While I was over here trying to craft witty banter, he was busy being the kind of love interest who:

• Brings rare herbs from dangerous territories because he "happened to be in the neighborhood"

• Force-feeds medicine to someone's awful mother (literally the most romantic thing ever??)

• Rescues heroines from courtyards and tends their wounds with the gentleness of someone who definitely has feelings but would rather die than admit it

• Leaves cryptic notes that say things like "Not a mistake. Just impossible." (SIR, WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?)

The Reeve Experience

Reading about Reeve is like being emotionally manipulated by a very attractive glacier. He'll spend three chapters barely acknowledging the heroine exists, then suddenly appear with healing herbs and meaningful glances that make you forget how to breathe.

He's the kind of MMC who will:

1. Mock your life choices

2. Disappear for days

3. Show up at your lowest moment with exactly what you need

4. Refuse to explain himself

5. Leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about brooding love interests

My Official Apology

So to all my readers expecting a comedian: I'm sorry. Instead of getting a funny guy, you got a man who treats emotional availability like it's a personal attack and considers "speaking in complete sentences" to be oversharing.

But also... you're welcome? Because honestly, who needs jokes when you can have a love interest who speaks exclusively in heated glances and protective gestures?

What's Next for Mr. Grumpy?

The good news? You might just see more of our emotionally unavailable king in the upcoming A Reflection of Deception and Devotion (YES. You heard it first here!) Book 5 has an official title and trust me when I say Reeve's journey is far from over. Will he finally learn to use his words like a normal human being? Will he continue to communicate through meaningful stares and protective hovering?

Only time will tell, but knowing him, he'll probably find new and creative ways to be devastatingly romantic while maintaining perfect emotional distance.

The Lesson Learned

Sometimes our characters know better than we do. I thought I needed a jokester, but what the story actually needed was someone who could stand toe-to-toe with a healer who underestimates her own strength. Someone whose idea of flirting is telling her that her "herbs aren't failures" and "neither is she."

So yes, Reeve is grumpy. Yes, he has the emotional communication skills of a particularly moody rock. But he's also the kind of MMC who will literally fight your battles while pretending he doesn't care, and honestly? That's its own kind of magic.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go write another scene where he says something devastatingly romantic while maintaining perfect emotional distance. It's become my specialty.

What about you, dear readers? Do you prefer the funny guys or the grumpy ones who secretly have hearts of gold? And more importantly, should I attempt another "funny" character, or just embrace my apparent talent for creating emotionally unavailable heartbreakers?

Let me know in the comments, and remember: if your book boyfriend isn't making you question your life choices while simultaneously making you weak in the knees, you're probably reading the wrong book.

Happy reading (and swooning),

LiAnne Kay

P.S. Yes, Reeve does eventually get his emotional breakthrough. No, I will not be spoiling when or how. But let's just say it involves a certain someone finally calling him out on his nonsense, and it's chef's kiss perfection.

Want more behind-the-scenes chaos from my writing process? Subscribe to my newsletter and blog, where I regularly overshare about my fictional men and their refusal to cooperate with my plot outlines.

Where I Find Book Inspiration (And Why You Should Steal Ideas From Everything)

"Where do you get your ideas?"

It's the question every author gets asked, usually followed by someone's eyes glazing over when we explain that inspiration is literally everywhere if you know how to look for it. We're like creative magpies, collecting shiny story bits from the most random places and hoarding them until they become books.

Today I thought I'd pull back the curtain on my inspiration process, because honestly? Some of my best ideas have come from the weirdest places. And if my journey from "Hey, that movie was cool" to "Published author with multiple books" teaches you anything, it should be this: there are no wrong sources of inspiration.

Prince of Persia Gave Me My First Book (Yes, Really)

My first published book, Tattered, was directly inspired by the Prince of Persia movie. I know, I know. A lot of people didn't care for that film, but it spoke to my soul with its enemies to lovers plus fantasy combination. Hello, strong heroine! Hello, strong hero! Hello, all the makings of a great slow burn enemies to lovers fantasy romance!

I walked out of that theater thinking, "I can create a book like that world, where the characters hate each other, then are forced together." That single thought spawned my very first published novel. Sometimes inspiration really is as simple as watching a movie and thinking, "I want more of THAT, but with kissing."

The lesson? Don't be a snob about your inspiration sources. That "bad" movie might contain the exact emotional beats your readers are craving.

One "What If" Question Became an Entire Series

For my book Betrayer, this single thought spawned the entire plot: "What if my main female lead actually WANTS to be kidnapped?"

That's it. That's the whole genesis of a full length novel.

I wanted to put my own spin on the popular kidnapping trope, because let's be honest, we've all read the "innocent heroine gets kidnapped by dangerous man" story about a thousand times. But what if she's orchestrating her own kidnapping? What if she NEEDS to be taken? Everything else fell into place after that one twisted little thought.

Sometimes the best stories come from taking a familiar trope and asking, "But what if we flipped this completely on its head?"

Mistaken Identity Plus Enemies Equals Pure Chaos

For A Reflection of Silver and Crimson, I wanted my main female lead to be trapped with her enemy while looking like his actual wife. The delicious confusion! The identity crisis! The romantic tension of being stuck with someone who thinks you're someone else entirely!

Oh, what fun that book has been. There's something beautifully chaotic about throwing your characters into a situation where nothing is what it seems and watching them try to navigate feelings while maintaining a lie.

The Secret to Finding Inspiration Everywhere

Here's what I've learned about gathering story ideas: inspiration isn't some mystical force that strikes only the chosen few. It's a skill you can develop. You just need to start looking at everything through the lens of "What if?"

Movies and TV shows: What emotional beats made you feel something? What relationships made you invested? What plot points made you yell at the screen?

Real life situations: That awkward elevator ride with your ex? Story material. The weird family dynamics at your cousin's wedding? Definitely story material.

Other books: What tropes do you love? What tropes are you tired of? How could you flip them?

Random thoughts: Those weird "what if" scenarios that pop into your head at 2 AM? Write them down. One of them might become your next bestseller.

Dreams and nightmares: Your subconscious is basically a free idea generator working 24/7. Use it.

Permission to Steal (Legally and Ethically)

Here's something they don't teach you in creative writing classes: everything has been done before. Every plot, every character type, every romantic dynamic. The magic isn't in creating something completely original, it's in creating something that feels fresh because it's filtered through YOUR unique perspective.

Take what inspires you and make it yours:

• Love the enemies to lovers dynamic in a historical romance? Set it in space.

• Obsessed with a particular character type from a TV show? Give them different motivations and backstory.

• Can't stop thinking about a movie's world building? Create your own version with different rules.

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The key is transformation, not duplication. You're not copying, you're reimagining.

Start Your Inspiration Collection Today

Want to become an idea generating machine? Start paying attention to what makes you feel things:

Keep an idea journal. That random thought about magical tattoos that come alive? Write it down. The dream about a library that exists between worlds? Capture it before it disappears.

Ask "what if" constantly. What if vampires were actually the good guys? What if magic came with a terrible price? What if the villain was right all along?

Study what you love. When a book, movie, or show gives you ALL the feels, figure out why. What specific elements created that emotional response? How can you recreate that feeling in your own work?

Embrace weird inspiration. The stranger the source, the more unique your story might be. I once got a plot idea from a particularly dramatic argument in the grocery store checkout line. No source is too random.

The Bottom Line

Inspiration isn't about waiting for lightning to strike. It's about training yourself to see story potential in everything around you. That movie everyone else hated might contain the emotional core of your next bestseller. That random "what if" thought might spawn an entire series.

Your job as a writer isn't to create something that's never existed before. Your job is to take the things that already exist and make them uniquely, authentically yours. The world needs YOUR version of the enemies to lovers story. YOUR take on the kidnapping trope. YOUR spin on whatever weird idea keeps you up at night.

So start collecting those shiny story bits. Start asking "what if?" Start seeing inspiration everywhere. Your readers are waiting for the stories only you can tell.

What's the weirdest place you've ever found story inspiration? Drop a comment and let's celebrate the beautiful randomness of the creative process!

What I Wish I'd Known as a First Time Author (So You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way)

I made every rookie mistake in the book when I started my author journey. Every. Single. One. Like a walking cautionary tale with a laptop and unrealistic expectations about overnight success.

If I could go back and shake some sense into my past self, here's what I'd tell her (and what I'm telling you now, so you can skip the face plant phase of your author journey).

Write What Your Readers Want, Not What You Think They Need

I thought I could be different. In my first book, Tattered, I made my main female lead have no magic. Why? Because I was so tired of seeing magical heroines everywhere. I was thinking about what I liked, not what my readers wanted.

Big mistake.

The biggest advice I can give you as a writer of any genre: find out what your readers want and deliver it.

Yes, put your unique spin on things. Yes, make it fresh. But don't throw out what readers love just because you're bored with it. Readers want magical heroines for a reason - they're escapist fantasy fulfillment. Give them what they crave, then surprise them with HOW you deliver it.

Master the Microtropes of Your Genre

Fantasy romance has specific microtropes that readers devour like their favorite addiction:

Enemies to lovers (the classic hate to love pipeline)

Slow burn (torture your readers with delayed gratification)

One bed (forced proximity at its finest)

One horse (sharing a mount equals sharing personal space)

Touch her and die (protective violence is pure catnip)

Grumpy/sunshine (opposites attract with serious attitude)

Who did this to you? (protective rage mode activated)

Training together (sparring sessions equal sexual tension)

Healing scenes (tender care disguised as medical necessity)

Ancient magic bonds (fate with mystical paperwork attached)

Morally gray MMC (bad boys with selective soft spots for one person)

These tropes exist because they WORK. Don't avoid them, embrace them and find your unique angle.

The secret: Layer multiple microtropes per book. Don't just write enemies to lovers. Write enemies to lovers WITH one bed AND training scenes AND protective instincts. Think of it as microtrope lasagna, where every layer adds more deliciousness.

You Need More Than a Trilogy

I planned a trilogy because that felt "complete." Wrong. The biggest reason you need more than three books? Read-through and revenue.

Three books don't create enough income impact. Readers who love book one will binge your entire backlist. More books equals bigger paychecks.

Why longer series make financial sense: Compound reader investment (fans get more attached over time)

Better advertising ROI (more books to sell to the same reader)

Sustainable income (multiple revenue streams from one fanbase)

Series momentum (each new release boosts sales of previous books)

Plan for the long game, not just the satisfying ending.

Add Characters as You Go (Readers Want Options)

Your book one cast is your starter pack, not your complete universe. Readers want an expanding world of people to love, hate, and ship.

Start planting seeds early. That mysterious warrior in chapter three? Future love interest material. The rival healer who challenges your protagonist? Perfect setup for enemies to lovers in book four. The mentor with the tragic backstory? Hello, spin off potential.

More characters equals more shipping possibilities equals more engaged readers equals more book sales.

Cliffhangers Work (Sorry, Not Sorry)

Everyone claims to hate cliffhangers. Everyone also immediately one-clicks the next book when faced with a good one. (I know, I know. There are plenty of those who actually do hate the trope, but that's all right. They're not your target audience)

Good cliffhangers that drive sales: Romantic reveals (love confession overheard by the wrong person) Identity secrets exposed (hello, plot twist) Characters in immediate danger (nothing like mortal peril for motivation) Relationship status changes (break ups, make ups, or shocking proposals)

The key: Resolve the emotional tension while setting up the next plot problem. Satisfy readers while making them desperate for more.

Start Building Your Platform Yesterday

I thought I'd build my audience after publishing. That's like planting a garden after you need vegetables.

Where to start: Email list (even 10 engaged readers beats 1000 random strangers) Social media (pick 2 platforms and actually use them) Writing community connections (other authors are allies, not competition) Beta reader relationships (early fans become your street team)

Find your people before you need them to buy books.

Learn to Format Yourself

Don't pay $200+ for formatting when you can learn it yourself. Vellum (Mac), Atticus (PC), or even Canva can handle basic formatting. Save that money for professional covers and editing, the things that actually sell books.

Don't Chase Trends (But Know Your Genre)

I tried to make my voice "marketable" instead of authentic. Trends change faster than publishing schedules. By the time you chase a trend, it's over.

Instead: Master your genre's expectations, then add your unique voice. Readers want familiar comfort with fresh surprises. Give them the microtropes they love, but serve them in a way only you can.

The Emotional Rollercoaster is Real

Nobody prepared me for the whiplash of author life. One day you're flying high from a five-star review, the next you're questioning everything because someone called your book "mid" on Goodreads.

Survival strategy: Remember why you started. It wasn't for reviews or sales, it was because you had stories to tell.

Learn the Business Side

Writing is art. Publishing is business. You don't need an MBA, but you absolutely need to understand the basics. This includes basic marketing (you're your own marketing department whether you like it or not), your genre and competition (know what you're up against), and financial basics like royalties, taxes, and expenses.

The Bottom Line

The most successful authors aren't necessarily the most talented, they're the ones who understand what readers want and deliver it consistently. Master your genre's expectations, then surprise readers with your unique execution.

Stop trying to revolutionize romance. Start trying to perfect it.

What's the biggest mistake you made (or fear making) as a new author? Drop a comment and let's learn from each other's face plants.