You’d think that by now I’d have stopped planning my books down to the last chapter in advance. After all, things never ever go the way I plan and my characters are ridiculously mischievous. But alas, I am a planner. The Games We Play was one of those books that started out one way, then completely went the other way.
So, why don’t we take a peek into the process that led to the birth of the book? However, before you read any further, make sure you’ve actually read the book because this post will have lots and lots of spoilers. I warned you!
1: MEET THE LEAD CHARACTERS
27 year-old APRIL MERIT is the kind of girl everyone would love to have as a friend. She’s cheerful, generous, and has the patience of a saint. She is half latina and half black. Both her parents are alive, and she is the middle child of three. She wanted to be a nurse but somehow ended up as a hostess at Tellers.
34 year-old ROMAN TELLER is a former baseball player turned entrepreneur. Both his parents are alive. He has an older sister but is quite close to his cousin Greyson (from YES, CHEF) and even owns a restaurant with him. His greatest fear is ending up broke which is why he instinctively saves money and avoid anyone who tries to ‘steal’ it from him (read that as gold-diggers).
2: APRIL SHOULD'VE GOTTEN PREGNANT EARLIER
lol. I think I just heard you groan.
Yes, this was going the secret baby route. The original manuscript had April getting way earlier. Also she was going to hide the pregnancy from Roman. Of course that would have racked up the drama index, but after thinking about it I decided that Roman had been punished enough – throwing in a secret baby would have been cruel. I’m cruel but not that cruel.
3: JASON PITTS FROM 'THE GAME' WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND rOMAN'S CHARACTER
While Roman’s looks match Ryan McPartlin, his character is close to Jason Pitts from The Game (as played by Coby Bell). I haven’t watched The Game in a minute but from what I remember, Jason was extremely frugal. Roman isn’t quite as frugal but he’s close. The book wasn’t meant to trash thriftiness, but it was more of a caution that you shouldn’t let money ruin your relationship.
4: CHARLIE'S STORY WAS ITS FOUNDATION
If you read Yes, Chef, then you know how Snow was snatched right from under Charlie’s nose. He was sleeping on the job and Greyson snuck in and took off with Snow over his shoulder.
So, I couldn’t help asking myself; what if Charlie had realized Snow’s value earlier, before Greyson came into the picture, would he have had a chance to repair the damage to their relationship? Also, what if Snow was still in love with him, would they have made it? Roman and April were born from those questions.
5: APRIL WAS ORIGINALLY FROM A LARGER FAMILY
If you read the Wattpad version then you know that initially, April had eight other siblings. But I changed it. Why? Laziness. I’m sorry – eight siblings? And I’d have to say something about all of them in the book? Phew! I got tired.
6: THE SADDEST PART FOR ME WAS WHEN APRIL HEARD ROMAN TALKING TRASH ABOUT HER
I felt bad for April, I really didn’t. When strangers talk smack about you, you can brush it off, but when it’s someone who you really like and who you often ride for, it stings. Can you just imagine yourself in her position? How she managed to stop herself from storming into that room still remains a mystery. I almost changed the lead character to Javier at that point. Fortunately, Roman redeemed himself later. But it was a very, very, very close call.
7: WE ALL FEEL BAD FOR JAVIER
Poor kid! He probably would have been good for April with his easy-going ways and passion. Now we’ll never know because our girl was too into Roman. Oh well! At least he still has Eva (the best-friend who he threw the party for).
8: JEALOUS BY LABRINTH WAS ON CONSTANT REPLAY
I know it doesn’t exactly match the tone of TGWP, but it’s pretty close to how Roman felt when he lost April. Also Labrinth knows how to pull those heartstrings.
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