Intersection Column | A Regency Rom-Com

by Mollie Rushmeyer

The Rules of Falling for You, a whimsical contemporary rom-com about a Jane Austen-obsessed podcaster who attends a Regency-themed singles retreat to find her perfect modern-day Mr. Darcy, had a long and winding road to publication. The story behind the story on this one has as many plot twists as you’d hope for in any novel. After writing my second published book, which was a harrowing experience of trying to wrangle my characters and lasso a plot that just wouldn’t cooperate, I had a writer’s existential crisis. As beautiful as my two women’s fiction (with plenty of clean romance) were, I was trying to figure out what direction to take next. I had this tugging and longing in my heart, especially after the tumultuous time during COVID, to write stories that not only brought me joy but others as well. There was this yearning to think more lighthearted and humorous, in world that can be so dark, with any number of serious issues at all times. I still wanted to give my characters depth and real struggles, but create an overall lighter tone. To bring love and laughter at a time when we could all use something to smile about. And maybe a little escape, too.

So, the idea began with a heroine (very much like me) who is obsessed with everything Regency era, Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice, and finding her very own modern Mr. Darcy. At first, I thought I’d just barely branch off from women’s fiction and write it as a split time. It even had a different location—England. It didn’t have anything about a retreat and had a bit of a mystery element. But the more I played with that idea, it still felt too close to what I was writing before, and I was ready and needed a change. I went back to the drawing board. One day, it just struck me—why not make this a rom-com? I love rom-coms. They’re my go-to for movies, and one of my favorite genres to read. The ideas started pouring in at this point, and I knew I was onto something. Why not send this Austen-obsessed gal to a Regency-themed retreat to find what she considers her perfect modern-day gentleman? Why not make her a podcast host who uses the etiquette and love stories from her favorite era to give relationship advice to others? And then, why not make the hero her exact opposite—a practical, total jock who thinks this whole thing is ridiculous?

This idea landed me with my dream publisher, Bethany House Publishers, after many times of submitting and the project not being quite right. This one stuck, and they loved it as much as my agent, Cynthia Ruchti with Books & Such Literary Management, and I did. From there, the words flowed in a way they never had before with any of my other stories—the published and the will-sit-in-the-virtual-abyss-forever kind—and when I reached the end, I cried. Happy tears. I’ve never cried like that after finishing a book. It’s something I can’t really describe, but I’ll try. There was relief that, after dragging myself through the previous book, I could still write an entire story. Not only that, but actually have fun writing again. Gratefulness filled my heart that God had led me to this place, and fulfilled dreams I never even knew I had—to write something so completely me. It all poured over me in a rush, and I don’t think I’ve ever sighed a sigh as full of contentment as the sigh I released in that moment. All I can hope is that when readers finish the last page of this story, they’ll do the same.

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About the Author

Mollie Rushmeyer writes whimsical romance with heart and humor. She has a deep and abiding love for all things British, bookish, and filled with history and mystery. A modern girl herself—she wouldn't want to go a day without modern plumbing and central air!—she's always felt a special connection to the past and anything with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets, was a finalist for a 2023 Carol Award. A born and bred Midwestern gal, Mollie makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two spunky, beautiful daughters. Learn more at MollieJRushmeyer.com.

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About the Book

The perfect match can't be far—certainly not at a Regency-themed singles' retreat—or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. Harrison Lundquist, Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she's willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.