The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle
Author’s Note
When I sit down to write, I usually have a simple plot or trope figured out, and then I work on character, chiseling away at it like I’m uncovering something that already exists, until the character reveals itself to me.
Sometimes my characters are the furthest thing from my personality; other times it’s like some deep, dark part of me is channeling through. And though The Royals Next Door is a lighthearted romantic comedy, there was something I revealed in Piper which in turn revealed something about myself.
Bit of a backstory: I have ADHD, something I’ve written about a few times in the past, and the truth is, I only got diagnosed after I was doing research for my character Magnus in The Wild Heir. It was his character that made me realize who I truly was, and that diagnosis was absolutely life-changing for me.
That said, I didn’t expect there to be any more surprises for me, and certainly not through Piper. But while doing research, I came to suspect that I too have complex post-traumatic stress disorder (or C-PTSD), brought on by events in my childhood. It was surprising to find a name for it, and it completely explained my thought process at times, and my reaction to certain triggers. It’s not as debilitating as PTSD, but it’s certainly an affliction, and as Piper navigated her life with this, as well as her anxiety (which I also have . . . really hammering home the neurotic-writer stereotype, aren’t I?), it gave me coping skills of my own.
And even though I don’t have BPD or DPD, as Piper’s mother has, I have been in Piper’s position and have a lot of experience when it comes to loved ones being affected. Her relationship with her mother, as complicated as it is, is truthful, and writing it revealed some things about myself when it comes to handling the afflicted.
I know neurodiversity and mental health disorders aren’t common subjects in romance novels, but I truly hope they become a more inclusive part of the landscape. It’s staggeringly common for people to be affected by a range of disorders, whether it’s in themselves or someone they love. The more we talk about mental health and create dialogue without shame or judgment, the more the stigma will fade away.
So I raise my glass to Piper, to myself, and to anyone else who feels alone because they don’t fit in or aren’t represented by the world at large. Just know that you deserve all the happily-ever-afters to come.
