Pumpkin Pounder, Book 2 in the Fairytale Remix series, is set on Halloween Night in New York City. As a New Yorker, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays in the city, so naturally I drew from some of my favorite memories of New York -and some famous New York moments - to tell this story. Here are all the secrets that inspired me!
PUMPKIN POUNDER - A TITLE AND INSPIRATION
This whole idea came from where many great ideas are born, the internet. My friends know that I love redheaded men, and that I put one somewhere in every book. I had never heard the term “pumpkin pounder” - which is a name for a woman who likes to hook up with redheads - until my friend sent me a clip of this comedy routine. I thought it sounded like a memorable - and hilarious - title. All I needed was a story to go with it…
STORY CONCEPT - FAIRYTALES AND POP CULTURE
I knew I wanted the POV to be from a woman, the “pumpkin pounder,” so I started to think of what fairytale I would adapt. I settled on a Cinderella retelling, but in reverse, so the heroine would be looking for the hero after their initial magical evening at the “ball” - or in our case, a Halloween party.
Pumpkin Pounder obviously needed to be a Halloween romance, which naturally led me to think of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Sally’s love for The Pumpkin King.
Everyone loves a cinematic reunion, especially among the crowds of New York City. I was inspired by An Affair To Remember and the idea of reuniting months after the start of a romance. Of course, I wanted to make my story much happier than the movie.
And finally, no modern New York love story would be complete without a nod to Sex and the City.
SETTING - A SECRET BAR
An epic love story needs an epic setting. When I first moved to New York, my roommate worked at a bar that was on a rehabilitated lightship. The bar itself was on a dark pier, but inside the boat, they would set up a DJ and throw the wildest dance parties. Here’s a video where I talk about that bar, and my memories of all the Halloween parties we had there. Here’s a YouTube video that gives you an idea of what the parties were like.
The pizza date that happens in the middle of the story is inspired by my love for New York pizza, as well as wonderful midnight pizza date I went on in between several parties on one epic evening.
OUR HEROINE - SASSY, SEXY, LOYAL
Our heroine, Daisy, is inspired by two pop culture icons, Blanche Devereaux and Samantha Jones. Any woman who self-identifies as Pumpkin Pounder has to know what she wants and be unafraid to go after it, just like those two remarkable ladies. Daisy’s vulnerability is inspired by Sally from The Nightmare before Christmas.
OUR HERO - HANDSOME, HILARIOUS, TENDER-HEARTED
Confession time! The Irishman, our cinnamon roll/love muffin of a hero, isn’t based on any one source. He’s inspired by some lovely Irish bartenders I’ve known. Physically, he reminds me of Michael Fassbender, but with more freckles. The Irishman has the heart of an angel and the mouth of a sailor.
OTHER TROPES - GHOSTS AND GOOD TIMES
Along the Halloween theme, I was interested in the theme of ghosting. What does it mean to be ghosted, how we can feel about people even when they’re not physically near, and can you ghost yourself by not being present with your lovers? Sorry, there are no actual ghosts in this story, only ghost metaphors!
Other things in this story that I put in, just because I love them: funny Halloween costumes (I really wore that alien getup), hotel sex, hidden corner make-outs, dance parties, supportive friends (who act as fairy godmothers), one night stands turned happily ever afters, costume parties, secret bars, pizza, themed restaurants, unexpected mistletoe encounters, Golden Girls references, and Irish accents.
Want to know more? Read an excerpt of Pumpkin Pounder here!
Pumpkin Pounder is available wherever ebooks are sold.