What role does faith play in this story?
Faith plays a role in each of my stories, though I feel like usually in a subtle way. I would say that’s the case for both Grady and Quinn, who are at different points in their faith journey.
Quinn has to learn to finally hand her disappointments over to God, and Grady has to learn that in spite of his past mistakes he is worthy of God’s love. I feel like the spiritual element makes the story richer and gives it more depth.
Why did you decide to write about an Olympic downhill skier? Did a real person inspire his character and his journey?
Actually, this will sound kind of funny, but when I was brainstorming this book, I kept thinking of Lightning McQueen from Cars. Isn’t it funny that a lighthearted kids’ movie could have such a poignant storyline?
Surprisingly, I’ve never written about an athlete, and I loved the idea of writing an Olympian because I admire their hard work. But then I wanted Grady to be a little different—someone who was used to success and didn’t have to work quite as hard as others for it, though the Olympic gold has always eluded him.
What happens when things begin to go south for someone like that right before their last shot at their one big dream? That intrigued me.
Also, skiing terrifies me. It was fun to dive into that world from a safe distance.
The heroine in this book is a risk-averse, play-it-safe rule follower, paired with an adrenaline junkie. Do these two ever find common ground, and what do they learn in the process?
Oh yes, they do—and the fun part was getting them there. It was so fun to write two people who approach life in completely different ways. They don’t know it at first, but each has something to learn from the other.
While Quinn’s play-it-safe nature is holding her back, Grady’s adrenaline-junkie nature is starting to get in his way. He learns from Quinn’s work ethic and determination, while she learns from his adventurous attitude. I really loved putting these two together—they ended up being quite a lovely pair.
Click through to find out how Courtney’s own experiences with hurt and forgiveness shaped the story…