LYNETTE NONI is a best-selling and award-winning Australia author. Her latest novel Wandering Wild is a swoony YA romance filled with adventure and brimming with tension-filled romance. Read on for a Q&A with the author.
What sparked the idea for Wandering Wild?
A few different things merged together to spark the idea, but one of those was that I was having trouble writing a new fantasy book because of what I now know was acute burnout, and so I decided to see if a ‘palate cleanser’ book (so to speak) would help rekindle my love of writing. At first, I never intended anyone else to read it, since it was more of a writing exercise to help heal my brain, and I wasn’t even sure if I would finish it, but I mentioned the rough concept to my editor one day and she very enthusiastically told me that I had to finish it because she was desperate to read it. So with that in the back of my mind, I stopped dabbling and started actively seeing if it had the potential to become a full, complete story. Turns out, Charlie and Zander made it easy for me, since they came to me so clearly, as did their (mis)adventure. It ended up being a real joy to follow them on their fictional journey – and it was also exactly what the doctor ordered, since I was able to dive back into writing the troublesome fantasy book straight afterwards!
Zander and Charlie become stranded in the wilderness – why did you choose this setting for your story to unfold?
Owing to my fantasy roots, I love writing high-stakes action and adventure, so a lost-in-the-wilderness setting made perfect sense to me. It gave me a chance to dive deep into some heavy emotional territory all while offering a picturesque (if deadly) backdrop for the characters as they work through some of the more challenging themes they have to navigate along the way.
What’s your favourite romance trope? Why?
I’ve never been good at picking favourites, so bear in mind that this changes on a day-to-day basis, but both enemies-to-lovers and slow burn romance will always be right at the top of the list. With enemies-to-lovers, I really enjoy the push-and-pull between the characters, and, when done right, the development of them as both individuals and as a couple is always so satisfying to read. As for slow burn, it’s similar to enemies-to-lovers, with the tension and the build-up meaning that the characters have to really work for the romance part to come into play – which, again, makes it so satisfying when the time comes that they end up together. The longer they have to wait, the better the payoff, in my mind!
How does Zander and Charlie’s relationship develop over the course of the novel?
Without going into spoiler territory, let’s just say they start out as (one-sided) enemies, with Charlie wanting nothing to do with Zander (and him not understanding why), but they both have something the other needs so they become (reluctant) allies, and then they’re forced to work together in the wild when things go pear-shaped, leaving them stranded alone and relying on each other to survive. What happens from that point on, you’ll have to read to find out! *Wink*
What did you love most about creating Zander and Charlie’s dynamic?
Honestly, I loved writing them both so much, for so many different reasons. I really enjoyed writing in a dual POV with one chapter from Zander’s perspective and the next from Charlie’s – that’s something I’ve never done in any of my previous books, and it was so fun to stretch my creative wings a bit with that. (Also stressful at times, figuring out whose POV was better suited for certain events and/or conversations.) I also really loved the grumpy vs sunshine dynamic between them, with Zander being this charismatic, lovable guy (definite Golden Retriever energy), and Charlie not wanting anything to do with him. The banter was one of my favourite things when it came to writing them, that’s for sure!
Do you have a favourite scene or moment in the book?
Everything that happens from the waterfall onwards. That’s all I’m saying!
What reflections or conversations do you hope your novel sparks?
At the end of the day, I write books for entertainment. I want people to have a safe place to escape into, and characters they can relate to or root for or laugh or cry or groan from second-hand embarrassment with. I’ve never started writing any book with specific themes in mind, or things that I want people to reflect on later. That said, all of my books do include various themes, purely because I make it so that the characters have to go through mental, emotional, and sometimes physical challenges that many real-life people also go through. In the case of Wandering Wild, both Charlie and Zander are navigating some deep, turbulent feelings, not the least of which is Zander about to lose everything he’s ever dreamed of and Charlie having given up on dreaming altogether. They’re also working through personal traumas that have left them with grief and heartache and pain. But because of that, the journey they go on offers healing, for both of them.
Ultimately, this book is a story of hope, of choosing to trust others with your vulnerabilities, and of learning how to dream again. Those are the things I’d love for readers to take away from it, consciously or subconsciously, once they turn the final page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Australian author Lynette Noni studied journalism, academic writing, and human behaviour at university before venturing into the world of fiction. She is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of ‘The Prison Healer’ series, ‘The Medoran Chronicles’, and the ‘Whisper’ duology. To date, her books have sold more than one million copies in over 20 countries across the globe.
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