So, our second crook, A.J, finally got her own hero. Okay, that might be an exaggeration. If you’ve read How To Love A Crook, then you know that A.J or Amara Justice Nixon as she’s known by the correctional system doesn’t need any heroes. Lee is a breath of fresh air to her life but she’d be good even without him. Basically, she’s good all by herself.
Writing A.J was fun, real fun. I think she’s one my favorite heroines, right up there with Tasha from Not Broken and Mel from Don’t Say No. I’m not saying that I don’t love my other ladies. I love spitfires like London from Wicked Surrender, Zain from Daddy’s Home etc but women who are stealthily strong have a special place in my heart. And A.J is one of these women. She’s one of those women who doesn’t need to announce to the whole world that she’s a strong, black woman. She’s just strong.
So, were there any special things that I didn’t include in the book? Hmm, let me think.
1. A.J COULD’VE BEEN AN ASSASSIN
Yeah, I know what you just thought: “You’re kidding, right? She’s bad enough as a thief and now you want to make her an assassin too?”
No, I’m not kidding. When I originally envisioned her, I thought of her as this assassin who was really good at her job and had very little remorse. I was going to make her a psychopath of sorts. Think Mazikeen from Lucifer. However, try as I might I couldn’t find a way to justify her being a killer and yet still managing to get out of jail. Also, I didn’t want to have her tormented for life by the lives she’d taken. So I made her a thief.
2. LEE COULD’VE BEEN MORE BROKEN
You only saw the nightmares he was having. However, in my original script, he had schizophrenia. The man was broken, really broken. I could’ve gone with all that, but I decided not to. Why? It was too much for one person. He’s already been through hell during his childhood, I didn’t feel like making his adulthood troubled too. Can you imagine how A.J would’ve felt had she found out that she ignored him all these years while he was having all that trouble? It would’ve been a nightmare.
3. CASPER WAS ORIGINALLY BEHIND THE FIRE THAT RAZED A.J’S STORE
Yup! In my first manuscript, he’s the one who sent someone to burn up A.J’s store. Why did I change it? Frankly, I was so tired of that douche. I didn’t want to have to deal with him for another two chapters so I just killed his role in the story. Can you imagine having a father like him? I mean I know some fathers out there aren’t the greatest thing but Casper was just…. Wow!
4. SIN MIGHT STILL BE A CROOK
Are you as intrigued by this woman as I am? I’m about to start writing Sexy Miss Tamsin’s book and I haven’t decided if she’s still a con woman or not. All evidence points to her still clinging to her crooked ways but sometimes a glimmer of morals show and you’re like…. she might not be as bad as we think. Anyway, I’ll decide soon. Don’t forget to sign up for my Book Club so you know when her book comes out.
5. TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO WAS ON REPLAY’
Did you just make a face? Shoot! I don’t care. Yes, I listen to Taylor Swift. I’m not a Swiftie (yet) but you gotta admit that despite her ways, the lady has some good music. Why did I play ‘Look What You Made Me Do’? Hmm, I’m not really sure but I think it’s because the lyrics are very IDGAF. Like, I’ll do whatever makes me happy and the rest of you can just keep on running your mouths. That’s what A.J is about. She’s not a limelight kind of girl but she just tends to follow her own road.
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Cheers,
Linda
Yay! I’m finally writing about my crooks. 
Spencer was meant to be a jackass, a real jackass. Yeah, sure he was going to get her out of prison, but I planned to make him unapologetic, since technically, he wasn’t completely to blame. Unfortunately, rogue characters tend to ruin the best laid plans. He threw me for a curveball with his appearance in the prologue, asking for forgiveness. From there on there was nothing I could do except let him be a nice guy like he wanted.
No, no, no. Don’t get me wrong. I like her very much but she’s not my favorite of the Crooked girls. That honor goes to A.J. (The girl on the side).
One month. That’s how long it took me to write it. Though I put it on a two-month pre-order, I spent the first month in Procrastinator City just trying to get my head in the game. But once I was in, man, my fingers were just flying over the keyboard. I think it’s because I really enjoyed writing Orion and Vina, plus Vina’s family kept pissing me off so I kept coming back to the manuscript just so I could glare at her dad.