Canadian bestselling author Elle Kennedy is a powerhouse, writing romantic stories with unforgettable characters. Kennedy offers readers valuable lessons about the impact of relationships and finding one’s destiny.
Many of her novels are set in academic environments and give characters many chances to fall in and out of love and to understand where they stand in their relationships. Like any good writer, Kennedy makes sure the characters learn from their inevitable mistakes. And, of course, Kennedy adds the right amount of spice to her romance scenes, for fans of adult romance.
From books such as The Deal, to her popular Off-Campus Series starring a male hockey team and the girls that fall for them, to her Briar U books like The Chase, Elle Kennedy knows how to take us back to the college days, grappling with the newness of adulthood and all the confusion that comes with it.
Her upcoming release, The Graham Effect, the first book in her new Campus Diaries series follows Gigi Graham as she trains to qualify for the women’s national hockey team, and needs the help of the grumpy, rude and handsome Luke Ryder. After that, Kennedy’s next release is Girl Abroad, a standalone romance about the daughter of a retired rockstar studying abroad.
We had the chance to chat with Elle about crafting her characters, what to expect from The Graham Effect, and what’s next for her in the creative world.
Your books are known for mixing romance and suspense when it comes to the characters, their development and their surrounding settings. Do you always have a character in mind before crafting the setting for each book?
It really depends on the story, but most of the time I have a character already in mind when I start writing, and an idea of where I want their story to go. The only time I focus on setting first is when I’m plotting a new series, because that’s when a location really matters. For example, for Avalon Bay, I knew I wanted to write a series set in a college beach town, so I came up with that first and then brainstormed what kind of characters and scenarios could fit in that setting.
Your books cover complicated romances, whether the characters are soccer players and students in the popular Off Campus series, are prep school attendees in the Prep Series, or have summer romances in the new Avalon Bay series. Why do you choose to tell stories that focus on coming of age as something that is inevitable and often complicated?
I’m drawn to those types of stories, I guess! I think a lot of people are. Sure, we don’t always find ourselves in picturesque coastal towns having summer flings, or fake dating the star of the college hockey team, but those years of our lives really are about discovering who we are, who we want to be, and what it is we truly want for ourselves. We’re shaking off the influences from our younger selves, and (hopefully) finding that happily ever after (or at least happily-for-now).
In your new Avalon Bay series, in which the latest installment, The Summer Girl, was released this summer, you perfectly capture a season where life decisions shift and surprising connections arise. What inspired you to write this series, where characters learn deeper truths about themselves in what is an otherwise calm environment? Do you feel like in those times, when we are relaxed, there’s more time for reflection and to set aside pre-conceived ideas and plans?
There are so many reasons this series came about! First – I love coastal towns (and beaches!), and second – there is something amazing about summer where new life is in full bloom, the sun is shining, and anything seems possible. For many young people, fall is about hitting the books and focusing on your future, and spring is about just making it through the end of the school year, but summers… summers are when we celebrate ourselves and give ourselves over to new opportunities. Avalon Bay really is that quiet, peaceful environment we sometimes need to grow. It’s hard to focus on yourself and your wants if you’re under constant pressure, so, yes, I do think that’s the best time for reflection.
In The Summer Girl, the main character Cassie Soul lands in Avalon Bay after her parents’ divorce, where she meets Tate Bartlett, the resident popular boy. I loved how the characters surprise readers with their banter and how Cassie tries to move forward after family heartbreak. Do you feel like unexpected relationships add an edge to characters and their stories?
I think readers enjoy stories that have those unexpected relationships and interpersonal communications – those ‘I didn’t see this coming!’ moments. Because while one of the reasons we read romances is the knowledge that in the end the couple gets together, if everything went exactly how you thought it would, it’d probably be a boring read. Most people don’t expect to open a romance to an ‘Oh no!’ cringe-factor moment.
What can you tell us about your upcoming October release, The Graham Effect?
Oh, this is a fun one! The book has a lot of things that readers have been asking for: a return to Briar University with cameos from some of the original couples, a true-to-form Coach Jensen, the same sizzling romances and banter that readers have come to expect from this universe, and another Graham trying to leave their own unique mark on the hockey world. Also, the chemistry between Gigi and Ryder is off the charts…
Are there any other writing or creative projects you have in the works that you can share with us?
I always have projects in the works! But all I can share right now is that readers can expect to see books from at least two different worlds next year (and if they want sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes, or other exclusive-content goodies, they should head to my website and sign up for my newsletter!).
About Elle Kennedy:
A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
(Photo Credit: Amanda Nicole White)
