✨ Behind the Scenes with C.D. Gorri
Hey Pack! 🐾
One of my favorite questions readers ask me is: “Where do you get your ideas?” The truth? Everywhere.
Everything I hear, see, read, and experience eventually becomes part of the narrative. Even when I’m writing about wolves who shift under the moonlight, witches casting protective spells, or dragons claiming their fated mates, the roots of those stories come straight from what I know and what I feel.
🌎 Drawing from the World Around Me
When I overhear a snippet of conversation at the grocery store, read a quirky news headline, or watch the way the seasons change outside my window — all of it gets tucked away in my mind. Later, it comes back out as a growly Alpha line, a bit of magical worldbuilding, or even the spark of a brand-new romance.
Writing paranormal romance doesn’t mean leaving reality behind. It means taking the truth of human experience — love, fear, longing, heartbreak, laughter — and translating it into the extraordinary.
🏡 New Jersey in Every Story
One of the biggest ways real life slips into my books is through my home state, New Jersey.
No matter what I’m writing (whether it’s a real location, a made-up town or county, or even just a bit of character background) New Jersey is always there.
Some stories take place in recognizable Jersey towns, where the boardwalks, pizza joints, and shorelines feel familiar.
Others unfold in fictionalized places, inspired by the mix of grit, charm, and magic that Jersey has in spades.
And sometimes, it’s as simple as giving a main character a Jersey upbringing, tough, loyal, and just a little bit sassy.
It’s my way of grounding these fantastical tales in a place I know by heart.
🔮 From Real Life to Magic on the Page
A storm over the coast might become a scene where a dragon battles lightning.
The ache of missing someone becomes the heartbeat of a fated mates bond.
A cozy café visit turns into the setting for a witch to meet her growly shifter.
Even frustrations and fears? They fuel the conflicts my characters must face before they earn their happily ever after.
This is what helps the words flow and what builds the worlds I hope you’ll want to dive into again and again.
💕 Why It Matters
At the end of the day, no matter how fantastical the setting, the emotions are real. You can’t fake that rush of falling in love, the sting of betrayal, or the comfort of finding your true mate. That’s why I pour pieces of myself — the life I’ve lived, the people I’ve met, the moments I’ve cherished (and survived) — into every single book.
Because that’s what makes the stories feel alive.
🐾 Let’s Chat!
I’d love to hear from you in the comments:
✨ What’s one everyday moment you wish could turn magical?
✨ Or, if you’re local, what’s your favorite part of New Jersey you’d love to see in a story?
Can’t wait to read your answers!
del mare alla stella,
C.D. Gorri
I was in the Army in the late 80’s and Fort Dix in New Jersey Is no joke in the winter !! Negative 2 degrees and ice hiding under the snow to catch your boots and make you fall ! It would have been wonderful to have a shifter close enough to catch me before I broke my tailbone! lol It was a beautiful area, but I’m glad I don’t live there.