Interview with Parker Elling, Author of The Irresistible Distraction

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

Brody was originally a throwaway character in The Statistically Unlikely Reunion (which is an angsty, second-chance romance you do not have to read to enjoy this book).

The main characters in that book were so broody and serious, so weighted down with responsibilities, that I felt as though we needed some kind of comedic relief.

Enter Brody: the physics major whose mere presence is already a party, who manspreads his legs, is completely unapologetic about the size of his allowance, and goes by the pronouns bro/dude.

Originally, his lavish destination wedding was meant to serve as the catalyst for why Lucas and Lorelai are forced to reunite. But… the longer I wrote their story, the more attached I got to Brody. I realized I absolutely could not let him go through with a marriage he had so many doubts about, and I started wondering: What happens to that go-to-party bro/dude when he leaves college and has to grow up?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

Sophie is always too tired. She’s forever struggling to be a good single mother to Seba, the son she adores but doesn’t always know how to parent. Her songs would be:

“Good as I Was to You” by Lorrie Morgan and “First Burn” from Hamilton (because she’s trying to come to terms with not getting her happily ever after with her childhood sweetheart, Seba’s father).
Maybe “All You Wanna Do” from Six (because she slowly starts to become more independent).
“Does Anybody Have a Map?” from Dear Evan Hansen (because figuring out how to be a good mother while allowing herself to have a life of her own is a decent part of her struggle).
“Somebody” by Reba McEntire, because the music video is about a waitress, and Sophie manages and works as waitstaff at her parents’ diner. Her somebody is definitely Brody.

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

Romance—it’s how I learned English. I read contemporary, Regency (which I also previously published in as a traditional author), dark, romantasy, spicy, clean... everything.

Nonfiction—memoirs, books on economics and public policy, books on physics, and biographies.

Best sellers—I can’t miss debating Yesteryear or Midnight Library (now Train), so I always have to read those as well.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

There are new books by Ana Huang and Susie Tate coming out, which I’m excited about... Also, John Green’s newest book.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The bonus epilogue—I wrote two epilogues, and I had massive anxiety about which to include in the print versus online version, as well as which would be the “bonus,” etc. I love, love, love my bonus epilogue, which jumps into the future by a few decades (yes, decades, but it felt PERFECT!) and was inspired by a stranger who had read my very first book, reached out, and actually became a real friend as we’ve sent endless emails back and forth.

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

Because it feels depressing to label something Version 11, after I’ve restarted something five or six times, I start to cheat: I’ll say this is Version 6.5 or this is the Nov. 2025 version.

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

Be the Turtle: I was noticing just how many books look like they’re AI-generated and started to feel... pretty awful.

It took me 18 months to write and then another 8–10 months to edit three books, so even though I’ll publish three romances this year, that’s really 2.5 years of work.

Beyond AI-generated books, there are also authors who are just much faster than I am.

In many ways, there is no competing.

That said, I love writing, and for now, I’m going to be the plodding turtle and just focus on winning the race. I think the hare here may have already won... but I’ll keep on keeping on.