I can’t believe it’s already August. Not just because summer is winding down, but because we’re officially two months away from the release of my first age-gap romance.

Last year, when I decided to finally explore this trope in my writing, a few things sparked the inspiration. One was an old idea I had to write about a couple who owned one of the most popular Black-owned luxury hotels: The Braxton Hotel. If you’ve read my Love, Hate & Revenge series, the name might sound familiar. The Braxton had always been in the background, and I’d wanted to give it its own spotlight.

That story never fully came together… but pieces of it made their way into my age-gap romance.

The real moment everything clicked into place, though?

After I rewatched the movie Soul Food.

Teri Joseph Deserved Better. Period.

I first watched Soul Food when I was around twelve. I saw it again as a teenager. Even then (at twelve then again as a teenager) something about how they treated Teri—the eldest daughter—bothered me. But when I watched it again last year as an adult? I was pissed.

The way that family leaned on Teri (financially, emotionally, logistically) and then had the nerve to fault her for being exhausted? It was wild. They expected her to show up every time they made a mess, never acknowledging how much pressure she was under. She was carrying them all… on her back, in her pockets, and with no real support.

Her sister and boyfriend betrayed her in her youth. Her cousin and husband betrayed her in adulthood. She was expected to fund everything—no matter how reckless or absurd—just because she made the most money.

And when she snapped? When she finally reacted like a human being? She was labeled cold. Difficult. Unreasonable.

At no point did anyone stop to think… maybe Teri is tired. Maybe constantly being the fixer makes you look cold when really, you’re just trying to survive.

I didn’t follow the Soul Food spinoff series, so I don’t know if she ever got her happy ending. But honestly? I couldn’t get past how they treated her in the movie to even try.

So instead of staying frustrated… I wrote Arielle St. James.

Meet Arielle… The Fixer Who Finally Fixes Herself

Arielle and Teri have a lot in common. They’re both eldest daughters. Both the ones people depend on. Both surrounded by family legacies that come with more pressure than love.

But Arielle’s burden isn’t financial… it’s generational. She’s the face of her family’s Black-owned luxury hospitality empire. She’s sharp, cutthroat, hardworking, and polished. But she’s never been loved softly, never experienced the kind of love that doesn’t require her to perform, to lead, to hold it all together.

That changes in my upcoming novella, How to Lose Control in 42 Days.

You might remember Arielle from a quick mention in My Only. She was just an acquaintance of billionaire Bryant Greene (from LIC’s Greed). But now? She’s getting her moment.

Writing Arielle gave me the emotional closure I always wanted for Teri Joseph. She’s not perfect. But she’s powerful. And this time, she gets to choose what she wants for herself.

How to Lose Control in 42 Days is available now for pre-order and releases on October 16—which also happens to be my birthday. This is my first birthday release, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine a better story to celebrate.

I’m taking my BK Insiders along on the journey to How to Lose Control in 42 Days release. They’re getting first looks, character insights, quotes, sneak peeks, a chapter one preview of the story (before its release) as well as the cover reveal before anyone else.

If you want in too, join the newsletter via the button below 👇🏾.