The Not-Outcast(112)

That changed halfway through the book. I felt it was needed, and the name changed for me as well.

The thing with my books and writing, the characters tend to take over and I meant for this book to be more hockey-focused. It is hockey-focused, but Cheyenne’s struggles began to grow and grow.

I knew they were always there from the first time I wrote her prologue, and I felt them. But every single time I started to write this book, they became more and more pronounced to the point where I felt like I was Cheyenne. It was a trip, but I went with it and I truly tried to put on the keyboard what she wanted me to write.

Initially I did put in the book the actual primary diagnosis that Cheyenne was given, but I decided to take that out later on. I’ve worked in the psychology field so I understand the struggle between using a diagnosis to help treat someone versus when that diagnosis becomes the label for that person.

I didn’t want that to happen in this book.

Cheyenne is Cheyenne.

She’s a person. She’s complicated. She’s amazing. She’s loved.

I had a blast writing The Tomcats in this book.

I loved writing Cut.

I loved writing Hendrix.

I loved writing Juna.

This book was just so different from my normal, so I really and truly hoped that the reader loved it as well.

Thank you to The Bookworm Box for letting me put The Not-Outcast in this month’s box! Thank you to Crystal, Debra, Helena, Kimberly, Amy, Rochelle, Paige, Elaine, and the ladies in Tijan’s Crew!

- Tijan