As an engineer surrounded by quirky nerds who love witty banter, I've spent countless hours engaged in lighthearted conversations while waiting for lengthy tasks to complete.

The idea for "Prince Charming?" came to me unexpectedly when I revisited the concept of writing a choose-your-own-romance novel. During one of those conversations, my friend T playfully suggested a choose-your-own-erotica with mythical creatures instead--igniting my curiosity and imagination.

Excited by the concept, I spent late nights between 10 PM and midnight attempting to map out different paths for the story. Unfortunately, my efforts resulted in frustration, as I lacked a clear foundation to build upon. Despite my initial setbacks, I persisted and wrote various scenes, but none seemed to connect cohesively. Eventually, I set the idea aside, feeling a bit defeated.

Around a year later, "Prince Charming?" emerged as a new story concept. Still disappointed that the choose-your-own-erotica with mythical creatures didn't come to fruition, I refused to let my random musings go to waste. I decided to use elements from that idea as the driving force for "Prince Charming?" I spent weeks mentally crafting the plot before finally sitting down to create a detailed outline.

Just like my first book, "Irreplaceable: Maddie's Story," "Prince Charming?" began with heartbreak, a cancer diagnosis, and epic misunderstandings. Initially, I even planned to include a death in the story and a potential miscarriage, making it incredibly heavy.

When sharing my story idea with my sister, she expressed concerns that it might be too depressing for her to read. Though I felt a bit offended at first, her comment prompted me to reflect on my intentions as a writer.

Watching a YouTube channel that reviews Chinese soap operas, I stumbled upon a thought-provoking comment. The reviewer mentioned dropping a brilliantly produced but depressing show, questioning why she would want to expose herself to such harsh realism when life already has its share of ugliness. It made me pause and reconsidered the purpose behind "Prince Charming?"

Upon reflection, I realized that I wanted to create a story that offered readers a warm escape--something light and fun. I wanted to steer away from excessive tragedy and melodrama, aiming instead to craft a delightful beach-read story.

"Prince Charming?" is my endeavor to achieve that goal, although my melodramatic inclinations still try to sneak in. Thankfully, my friend A is helping me keep that impulse in check, ensuring that the story delivers the uplifting, entertaining escape I hope to provide to readers.

As I continue on this writing journey, I'm hopeful to have "Prince Charming?" completed by the end of 2023. However, I've come to realize that rushing the creative process can compromise the quality of the story. So, if it takes longer than expected, I won't be disheartened. In fact, I welcome the extra time as an opportunity to perfect the tale and deliver a truly delightful and engaging book. Ultimately, I believe that a well-crafted story is worth the wait, and I can't wait to share "Prince Charming?" with all of you when the time is right.