The Story Behind a 1st Place-Winning Tale
Her Phantom Knight is a departure from my usual genre. My newest heroine is a time-traveling author whose storybook hero comes to life. What prompted this fantastical story? Over a year ago I experienced a season of writer burnout. A more experienced author recommended that I write a story outside my usual genre, something just for fun. And so Her Phantom Knight was born. My heroine, Jenny, is a romance author who meets the hero of her current work in progress face to face. Lord Hugh de Blaise is a Medieval knight, and Jenny is transported back to his time and the plot of her novel. But her manuscript’s outline goes off the rails when events happen that Jenny didn’t include in her narrative. The story wouldn’t be complete without Hugh’s archenemy, Sir Guye Fitzhugh, who desires Jenny for himself. And Hugh is duty-bound to marry a wealthy bride, not a penniless time traveler like Jenny. I had so much fun spinning Hugh and Jenny’s romance!
It's truly inspiring how stepping outside your usual genre to write 'Her Phantom Knight' not only combated writer burnout but also led to a first-place win! I particularly love the meta-concept of Jenny's own manuscript going 'off the rails' within the story, creating delightful and unexpected twists, much like the engaging surprises one finds exploring unblocked games 66. Congratulations on your success! 🎉