A Q&A WITH PAULA ROGERS

Meet the Author

I’m an author and artist, green belt in Hapkido and currently living in Austin, Texas. (Just like Dana!)

Favourite Dana and Graeme scene to write?

When Dana hijacks filming to confront Graeme in the secret grove of palm trees! It was charged and sexy, and I got to write his real personality/accent for the first time.

Most fun piece of research you did for this book?

Watching lots of reality TV, of course! I also read some excellent books and essays about reality TV, both from the viewer’s POV and behind the scenes.

What’s your favourite reality TV show?

How to choose!? I will forever have a soft spot for the first season of single’s inferno, and the circle always delivers great surprises and strategy.

What do you hope readers take away from Dana’s journey?

Dana has to learn how to trust someone while inside an environment literally crafted on being fake. Is it just me, or is that very relatable in 2026? Ultimately, she has to become her own north star, and I know firsthand how hard — and healing — that is.

Which character would be the most entertaining to follow on social media?

Without any spoilers, I’d say Dio! He’d post the most unfiltered but spot-on takes, and that’s a special talent.