I’m not sure if a character can ever be truly fictitious. We learn human nature from those around us. Even my fantastical characters bring traits from real life people.
Maria Jane – 2 June 2026
The Back Flap
Lawyers assume their clients don’t tell them everything.
Elle Moore assumes she’ll never escape her past.
Desperate for a fresh start, Elle jumps at the chance to work for Watson Clarke, a prestigious law firm offering a near-free path through law school. It’s everything she’s ever wanted.
There’s one complication: Tanner Clarke, the firm’s magnetic young heir.
Elle’s mother has spent years warning her daughter about lawyers, and her own ex proved those warnings right. Tanner should be the last man she lets close—but resisting him is harder than passing the bar on the first try. Tanner? He’s trying to find his footing in the shadow of his late father, but the moment Tanner meets the elusive Elle, he’s pulled into her orbit.
Their connection grows fast and bright until Elle meets Tanner’s mother.
Accusations fly. Old wounds split open. Suddenly, Elle is tumbling through a flood of hidden ties and painful truths, each one cracking the fragile trust between them.
Tanner reels as everything he thought he knew comes into question.
What did Elle know? Did she ever really love him?
Perfect Secrets is a standalone romance in the Perfect Romance series by award-winning author Maria Jane.
Dive in to discover whether Elle and Tanner rise together or get pulled under by the secrets threatening to drown them both.
About the book
What is the book about?
Perfect Secrets follows two characters, Elle and Tanner, as they navigate re-entering the dating scene after messy breakups. Elle takes a job in a new city and meets Tanner through a company sports team. The problem is Tanner is part owner of her firm. He seems solid and so nice, but should she really get involved with a boss? Tanner sees no issue with dating Elle. Can he convince her it’s not an issue?
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing the book about a year and a half ago.
How long did it take you to write it?
The book took me about three months to write and then about two months for the editing process with my editor and proofreader.
Where did you get the idea from?
Perfect Secrets is the fifth book in the Perfect romance series that follows a group of friends from the University of Kentucky as they disperse into the world of adulting. The idea for this book sprang from a friend who’d experienced a yucky breakup and was asking themselves if they’d ever find love again.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Oddly enough I struggled with how to get the characters back together and with a reunion feeling realistic after the typical will they or won’t they after some major “secrets” get exposed.
What came easily?
My favorite part of writing romance is the banter and flirty scenes between the characters. Those always come easily and are super fun to write.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I’m not sure if a character can ever be truly fictitious. We learn human nature from those around us. Even my fantastical characters bring traits from real life people.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I was very inspired by Stephenie Meyer’s experience in building her Twilight brand. That an idea for a book could come from a dream and flourish into a five book movie series was amazing to me. I love so many authors from Emily Henry’s and Abby Jimenez’s romances to Cassandra Claire and Heather Fawcett fantasy.
Do you have a target reader?
My target reader are people who love fun, mostly PG-16ish, fade-to-black/closed-door romances.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My books tend to be character driven so I usually have an idea for a character and their challenges and goals first. I build a world around the character that will not only challenge them but give them a place to flourish and highlight their strengths. I have major plot points for the book and then start filling in between those points as I write.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I outline after I write. I tried outlining before but I was bored with just putting on a page what I’d already decided to have in the story. Creating an outline that sums up major plot points and scenes in each chapter after writing helps me and my editor especially when I’m in a series. It’s easier to get back and remember what happened and to whom in the outline form.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I edit as I go to an extent. Usually, I do a first pass of faster writing getting things in the manuscript, then I do a second pass where I clean things up and make sure everything is congruent and makes sense.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I hire a professional editor who does two rounds of edits and then a separate proofreader for the final proof.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I work best with no noise distraction, but in my breaks listening to tunes that relate to my story helps me fuel ideas.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I submitted my first manuscript to agents. I queried over three-hundred agents in a six month period.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
From querying I got several request for additional chapters and the complete manuscript. My main interest came from Harlequin but they wanted the story to be contained in a single novel and I just didn’t feel it would do my message justice.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I use a professional cover designer. I usually have an idea of what I’d like my cover to look like and scour stock images for inspiration.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a marketing plan that I keep growing and amending.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Research, research, research. Learn all you can about what each piece of creating, launching, and marketing books entails. Farm out what you don’t want to do or don’t want to learn to do. Make sure to vet all the people that will be contributing.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town in south Georgia, U.S.A., near the Okefenokee Swamp.
Where do you live now?
I now live outside Denver, Colorado.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I believe in magic. I believe magic infuses all aspects of lives from an amazing sunset, to beautiful flowers, and each of our unique talents.
What are you working on now?
I have two projects in the works including the next book in the Perfect romance series with a working title of My Not-So-Perfect, Cop, and a yet to be titled fantasy penned under Tricia Copeland.
End of Interview:
For more from Maria Jane (aka Tricia Copeland) follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Get your copy of Perfect Secrets from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
