Behind the Scenes: A conversation with Romance Author Bella Mason on Enemies to Lovers and Her Upcoming Release Snowed-in Enemies

Do you love enemies to lovers stories? How about when they're snowed in and then have to maintain a fake relationship for PR...? If this sounds like your kind of story you're going to LOVE Snowed-In Enemies by Bella Mason!

You know when you read a blurb and chat about about a book and then get an instant and overwhelming desire to read it IMMEDIATELY? Well, that's how I felt about Bella Mason's new book, Snowed-In Enemies which is out December! What's this fabulous book about? Well, it kind of says it on the tin but there is SO MUCH MORE to this story than just a title. Let me share the blurb with you...

Off-grid with the enemy... and driven into his arms!

Cutthroat. Arrogant. Powerful. Racing champion Lukas Jäger is everything journalist Katherine Ward despises. Despite fan speculation, they feel nothing but hatred for one another... till a snowstorm traps the pair in Lapland! Unleashing an explosive chemistry neither can deny...

Notoriously private, Lukas adamantly avoids the press. But Katherine's obliterating his legendary control. For a few snowbound nights, he'll let the fire between them rage, then burn out... Only, their so-called "relationship" goes viral and they're served a new PR directive: keep up the sizzling charade!

What is it about the enemies to lovers trope that's such a favourite? That's what I wanted to explore with Bella, so she could share what drove her to write a story where the characters might seem as cold and frosty as the weather outside, but soon boil over when they're forced together. For me, you couldn't put together a better sounding storyline!

Bella's books are incredible, full of fantastic characters and lashings of emotion and angst. Also overflowing with the magnificent alpha heroes that we all love. The minute I started talking to Bella about her upcoming release I was hooked. I actually messaged her and said, 'I cannot wait to read this book. It sounds SENSATIONAL!' So read on (yes, I show you the cover in a bit - which is flaming!) and get to know Bella and her fantastic story, because I think you're going to be racing off to pick up it up as fast as I will!

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you, including things you enjoy outside of reading and writing?

Hi! I’m Bella and I write for the Harlequin Presents/Mills and Boon Modern line which I’ve been doing for about three years now. I’m originally from South Africa but moved to Australia quite a few years ago.

I love cars, Formula 1 racing and baking. And I turn into a total wilted flower if I don’t get out to the city and have a wander around the streets. Christmas is my favourite time of the year which means even more city walks to soak up all the festivity!

Can you tell readers a little bit about your upcoming book, Snowed-In Enemies? Who are the primary characters, and what can readers expect?

Snowed-In Enemies is an enemies to lovers, fake dating romance perfect for fans of F1. The story takes place mostly in December, over the Christmas period between the snowy wonderland of Lapland and the glamour of Monaco.

The story revolves around Lukas Jäger, a racing driver and champion, and Katherine Ward a sports journalist. Lukas is extremely private due to his past, but the media never respects his privacy which is why he has come to detest them. He inadvertently cost Katherine a job early in her media career which has led to her absolute hatred of him. She’s determined that the world should see Lukas for the horrible person he really is, and her articles reflect that. So there’s a lot of mutual hate and distrust. Lukas and Katherine also have a very sparky dynamic.

‘You'll wear this tomorrow,' he said. Instructed. 'Why?' 'That's not what you should be saying.' He inched the dress up higher and higher, gathering the fabric of the skirt in his hands, allowing one of them to trail over the inside of her thigh... 'You should be saying, "Yes Lukas."'

I love that this book is the Enemies to Lovers trope... It's one of my faves. Is that one of yours? If yes, then why? What are some others?

Yes, it’s definitely one of my favourite tropes. I love how the line between hate and passion is always a fine one and you never know when that spark is going to turn into a full-on inferno. Also how the characters get to be their worst selves or most honest selves because they don’t care what the other thinks, which just makes both of them fall harder. Another favourite is the fake dating trope.

The whole “is it or isn’t it real” battle they constantly face when we all know it’s always been real. A good second chance romance is on the list too. Especially where the hero absolutely refuses to let go and fights tooth and nail for her. Love it!

Are you okay? he wanted to ask. 'Are you sure you want to do this because I don't', he wanted to say, but he didn't. He couldn't. The future of their careers was hanging over their heads...

You’re married. What trope are you and your husband?

Friends to lovers for sure. We used to chat for hours every day. We still do. And I think in some ways opposites attract. He’s tall, introverted and doesn’t care about sports whereas I’m short, a lot more extroverted and will wake up at ridiculous hours to watch a race or a game.

Your characters are also snowed in. What led you to that choice, and is there only one bed..?

I thought “how terrible it would be for people who hate each other to be stuck together” lol! I also wanted some forced proximity in a really extreme way. Being stuck in cabin in a blizzard with no one around is about as forced as the proximity is going to get. I also thought them being alone in the middle of nowhere would be great for them to slow down and learn about each other, maybe have some spicy moments and just feel like they’re in a bubble. There isn’t one bed… sorry!

Katherine saw the moment Lukas threw caution to the wind. He closed the distance between them. Everything about him screaming hunter. A sliver-eyed wolf. But she wasn't prey. The moment he was within reach, she grabbed the front of his jacket and tugged him to her...

This is a story about Formula 1 Racing. Did you have to do much research? Did you enjoy it? 

I’ve been watching Formula One since I was three years old. My mum used to say it kept me still for three hours, and at school I was the only girl with posters of Michael Schumacher on my bedroom wall. My sister even bought me Ferrari bed linen! It’s always been my favourite sport, and I still stay up to watch those 2 and 3am races, from build up to the end of transmission. I did do some research but mostly I’ve been so familiar with the sport—the good, the bad and the scandals—that it was fairly easy to dive into the world for this book.

Is there a character archetype you're drawn to write and read more than others? Why do you think that is?

Oh definitely! I love the anti-hero or warrior archetype. Bonus points if they have some sort of traumatic backstory. Anti-heroes tend to be more morally grey and complex which can be a lot of fun to read and write, while the warrior type is protective and capable.

Where do you find inspiration when crafting your characters and your stories? What are some of your best tips for budding writers?

I often have a scene in my head that starts me off on a story idea and from there I think of the characters that fit into that scene. What are they like? Where are they from? How did they get there? And often while reading or watching a movie or listening to music something will trigger an idea. I often try to really develop the character as I unravel the plot so that the deeper aspects fit each other.

A tip that always works for me is creating a spider diagram. Write your character’s name in the middle—naming them before anything else is so important because it humanises them—and from there start jotting down all the ideas you have for them. It can be from how they look or what’s their birth order or a personality trait you want them to have, and you start seeing a person emerge which then allows you to ask more questions and develop them further. Patterns start standing out that will help with the creation of their partner and their complementary or contradictory conflicts.

Overall, it’s a good way to let your brain go wild and get every thought and idea down and see what works and what eventually won’t.

Another tip is to have a document to paste any scenes or partial scenes you need to cut. It’s hard to delete things and say goodbye to your babies, but having this secondary document means they live elsewhere and it allows you to be more ruthless with your manuscript. Those cut scenes can become bonus content or even recycled for another story.

So many authors talk about the realisation hitting them when they were a child, that being an author is what they wanted to do. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I didn’t know that I wanted to be a writer. Or at least not an author. My plan was to be a sports journalist, but looking back it feels like I’m doing what I was meant to do. I’ve been telling stories since I was very little and through school my favourite part of languages was getting to do creative writing. Even when I'd be studying for exams during university, sometimes I would just let my mind wander and write down a story, or part of one. It was only when I started writing fanfiction as a means to unwind after work that I realised that the dream was getting to write every day.

An icy fire burning in them. 'You try to turn the world against me...' A step towards her '...insult me...' Another step. The air slowly being sucked out of the room. '...could not even bother to thanks me for saving your life when it's you're fault we're in this mess.' One more step. Why did he loom so large? 'Your fault that the world will think that we're missing. I am the reason we made it out of that storm, So push me away...'

Is there a book (or a few) that you love and re-read constantly? What are you reading right now?

Ooh so many! I’ve read and re-read Twilight so many times. I love so many books. The Shades of Magic series is probably my favourite series of books, but I also love Empire of the Vampire, the ACOTAR series, The Spanish Love Deception, Love on the Brain, Deep End, A Not So Meet Cute, Snowbound in His Billion-Dollar Bed (one of mine - thank you Bella! - Kali), The Royals of Svardia series... There’s probably so many that I’m forgetting.

I’m currently reading Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn. I love her writing and her spice is so good.

What's your writing space like? Do you have any rituals that help you stay on track, or others that help you get creative?

My office is full of books. From my desk I get to look at my bookshelves and art from friends and travel. I have a fidget dragon under my screen that keeps me focussed (and listens to me ramble when I’m trying to figure out a plot point) and I have a whiteboard near my table where I brainstorm and note important facts that I need to remember while writing including my deadline so that I don’t miss it. It’s a peaceful, pretty space full of my favourite things that helps me be creative.

I’m a massive plotter so all my rituals involve being prepared to write. Before I start, I have my outline printed which is usually around ten pages long. I create a scene list which I tick off after completing each scene so that I can see evidence of my daily progress and then in a notebook I list all my characters in the story with their relationship to each other as well as their ages so I can refer to them quickly. Then I make a timeline of the chapters in my notebook, and each morning before I write, I read through the scene I'll be writing and jot down the beats of the chapter into the timeline so once I start writing, all my thoughts are arranged to get the words out. At the end of the day I write down how many words I’ve written which helps me to not over or underwrite too much. Well, until revisions happen!

That’s when the word count goes a little crazy and I have to wrangle it back. If I ever feel stuck, I'll listen to a song to help me get in the mindset of the character or book in general.

This man was an elite athlete. A weapon crafted to withstand the immense forces of an Alpha One race car, and the off-season hadn't dulled him at all. And when she saw him, she fought a shiver. A knot in her stomach that formed whenever he was close...

What is writing like for you? Are you a morning writing person or a night person?

Huge morning person. A lot of the time I try to start writing at 6am but have been known to start at 4 or 5. I’m trying to rein that in and write at less crazy hours lol.

A perfect day for you starts with…. And ends with….?

Getting a scene done before breakfast followed by some time out either in the city or at the beach, and ends with hubby and I doing NYT puzzles while cuddling on the couch, him with some coffee and me with a mug of rooibos tea.

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WHAT DID I SAY???!!!! Run out and pre-order Snowed-In Enemies now. Do yourself a favour. If you love Harlequin Presents/Modern Romance, or books with spice and angst and alpha heroes with women who bring them to their knees then you're going to love Bella's book. You don't want to miss out!

'Why am I almost naked? Where are my clothes? Where is everyone? Why are you here?' 'I'm here,' Lukas said slowly, 'Because I'm the only one who came to find you. Because everyone else left before the storm hit. You're almost naked, Katherine, because if I hadn't removed your wet clothes, you would have developed hypothermia...'

So, what's your favourite trope, Enemies to Lovers, Snowed-in, Fake Dating, or something else? I'd love to hear from you here or on social media.

Anyhow, that's it from me. I do hope you enjoyed hearing from Bella and reading some snippets from her book. Until next time, stay safe and sparkle! Love, Kali

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