Q&A with E.F. Dodd

 

 

 

E.F. Dodd is the author of the new novel Almost Perfect. Her other novels include Risky Restoration.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Almost Perfect, and how did you create your characters Dave and Vivian?

 

A: Almost Perfect is the third book in the (Not) Looking for Love Series, which is centered on a group of three female friends. I wanted to give each of the friends their own book, but V and Dave’s story was the hardest, since they were in both prior books: Risky Restoration (1) and Earning It (2).

 

How to take a couple who’s been together from early on in the first book and give them their own love story was something that took me quite some time to put together.

 

The first draft of the book was a completely different story, because it started from where Earning It left off. Dave and V had been together for over a year and were going through a bit of a rough patch. Writing that version of this story was an utter slog and I hated it.

 

Thanks to a great editor, the lightbulb came on that I could start at the beginning with Dave and V. Nothing required me to pick things up at the end of Earning It. Once I did, the story really flowed and gave these two characters the book they truly deserved.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between them?

 

A: It’s an interesting dynamic, because here the FMC is the more successful, wealthy character and the MMC is the one who is struggling a bit.

 

V’s appearance in Dave’s life happens at a key time, because he is mired in the mediocrity of a crap situation created by his own insecurity. That same insecurity poses the largest threat to their relationship. She loves him for who he is, but he wonders if he’ll ever measure up.

 

Q: The Foreword review of the book says, in part, “Women’s friendships play a prominent role in the story, leading to mutual empowerment.” What do you think of that assessment?

 

A: I love it! True love stories are the ones you live with your friends. Romantic relationships come and go, but your friends are the constants in your life. And that’s what love really is, isn’t it? Being there for someone through all of it, the good, the bad, the even worse?

 

Female friendships deserve to be celebrated, and it’s nice to have a review that highlights that aspect of this book.

Q: As you mentioned, this is the third book in your (Not) Looking for Love series. Can you say more about the relationship among the books?

 

A: Risky Restoration was the first book in the series, and my first book as a romance author. It tells the story of Kez and Jackson.

 

Earning It is the second book, which picks up about a year after Risky. It tells the second chance story of Rae and Van.

 

Almost Perfect is technically the third book in the series, but can honestly be read at any point since it shows the beginning of Dave and V’s relationship.

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I have a few things in the works. I had a WIP that was going to be the fourth in the (Not) Looking for Love Series and it’s still a plan. But I was inspired by a Netflix binge to start something different. I’m 26k words into it now and loving every minute of it. I hope to have it ready for release in the spring of 2024.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with E.F. Dodd.