Blog

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Twelve Hours in Manhattan?

Twelve Hours in Manhattan is an amalgamation of different influences. I wrote this at the beginning of the pandemic when the world was in shock, hurting, and in sheer panic. I always write to escape – but at the same time, I also write to express some of the emotions embedded within me. So, yes, this is not a light read, far from it, and the themes are somewhat dark and heavy. It is a reflection of the fear the pandemic brought me, the people I love, and the world.

I also discovered during the pandemic that I love the storytelling approach of Korean dramas as a genre. It captured me and fired up my creative imagination. Because of this, I tried to encapsulate the beauty and the dizzying roller coaster of emotions in Kdramas in Twelve Hours in Manhattan. The male lead was also inspired by a famous South Korean actor.

Twelve Hours in Manhattan is a ride that is both messy and beautiful – centering on hope that leads to a path of a grand happy ending.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Twelve Hours in Manhattan, what would they be?

Playlist: • Universe by Cold Play • Unstoppable by Sia • Turbulence by Pink • Shine Ya Light by Rita Ora • Happiest Girl by Black Pink • Happiness by Taylor Swift • Maroon by Taylor Swift • Crash Landing on You Theme by Joe Jenkins • Here I am Again by Yerin Baek

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I’m a mood reader, so apart from gory horror, I read them all. But when I’m at the bookstore, the first place I go to is literary fiction with a focus on women stories, and then of course, romance.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

• It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover • Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid • Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin • All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir • A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas • The Brilliance of Stars by J’nell Ciesielski • Tanked by Mia Hopkins • The Boy with a Bookstore by Sarah Smith

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There was a scene where Bianca, my MC, finally sold her home to newlyweds and the goal was to show the contrast between what Bianca and the new couple were feeling. It was so hard to write it, but I enjoyed the challenge of showing happiness and sadness at the exact same moment.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Depending on my mood, I actually play with text fonts at the beginning of writing. Weird, right?

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Believe. Love. Inspire.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Hope, and the significance of loving once self to be truly free.

Maan Gabriel is the author of the new book Twelve Hours in Manhattan

Connect with Maan Gabriel

Author Site

Facebook

Twitter

Buy The Book

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Spring of the Cursed Fae?

About ten years ago, I wrote my Forever Fae series. The characters in Spring of the Cursed Fae are the grown children of the main characters in that series. It was definitely interesting revisiting them all since I hadn’t written about them in so long. Back then, readers had been begging me to write a book about Bayleon and Bastian. I was so excited to finally go into more detail about who they are and their background.

Bayleon and Bastian are twins, cursed with the powers of seduction. They have never experienced true love in all their centuries of existence. At least, until Lia comes along. It was a little strange writing a book about one woman and the two men she falls in love with, but I couldn’t see it ending any other way.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

My favorite genre to read is fantasy/paranormal romance, both adult and YA. It IS also my favorite genre to write because I can make up my own rules and world build. But what’s funny is that even though it’s my favorite to write, I’ve published more contemporary/romantic suspense novels. Sometimes all the world building can be tiring, especially with having to remember every little detail. That’s why I have a gazillion notebooks lying around with all my notes… hehehe.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I would have to say it was when Lia finally confessed to Bayleon and Bastian that she was in love with them both. However, in the book, she tells Bastian first while Bayleon is in the shadows, listening. She doesn’t know he’s there; all he heard was that she was in love with his brother. When Bayleon shows himself, there’s so much tension because he thinks she chose Bastian over him. This was a very angsty and an uh-oh moment in the book. I loved all the tension buildup because for a brief moment, you don’t know what’s going to happen when Bayleon finally faces Lia.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I don’t have many quirks but there are two that come to mind. The first is silence. I can’t write when there’s a million things going on around me or if someone’s talking. I applaud those who can write in coffee shops. I would be too busy people watching and getting absolutely nothing done. Plus, most coffee shops have delectable-looking pastries and I KNOW that would distract me… lol.

And for my second quirk, I love to have the shades open in my office when I write. There are times I’ll just stop writing and stare out the windows to gather my thoughts. If it’s raining, that’s even better. I get more writing done when the sky is gray, and I can hear the rain on the rooftop. I know I said I like silence, but there’s something about the pitter patter of rain that gets my imagination flowing.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt. There are days when it’s hard to follow that quote, but I try my best.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I know this is going to sound bad since my book involves being in love with two people, but I would highly recommend sticking to just one mate. After writing about Lia’s time with Bayleon and Bastian, it totally exhausted my mind. I don’t see how she did it… lol. I can barely keep up with just my one husband. 🙂

L.P. Dover is the author of the new book Spring of the Cursed Fae

Connect with L.P. Dover

Author Site

Facebook

Twitter

Buy The Book