Unbound: Forbidden Desires

About Unbound

Unbound went through a lot of name changes. When I first came up with the idea, I decided to call it Cuffed. Back then, I didn't really plan my books out. I just thought it'd be hot to write about a naughty cop who is into BDSM, but the more I wrote the more the story progressed.

Eventually, it was changed to Against the Wall. Honestly, I just liked the way that title sounded and the words were often in my book. It wasn't until I finished the book that I found the title within. Unbound made more sense and it will make more sense in book two as well.

When I first started writing Unbound, I didn't intend for it to be a paranormal romance, but to be honest I find normal relationships in books boring...even if it was a naughty dominant cop. So I decided to take the paranormal route where I felt more at home.

However, I have always had this idea to remove the paranormal things from this story to create a nonparanormal version of these books. There is a similar plot in my head and maybe someday when I have the chance I'll do that. I just like the freedom that writing about the paranormal gives me.

Anywho. When I posted the first chapters of this book, I hardly had any reads. I actually gave up on writing and logged off of wattpad. It was probably a year later that I decided to hop back on to give writing a go again and suddenly my book had somewhat taken off. I had about 1,000 followers and lots of likes and reads.

I got so excited! I knew I had to continue the story, but it had been so long since I first wrote it. I took it up again and constantly struggled to find the passion for it. I had pieces of it but never anything solid. At the same time, I decided to start other stories that were constantly at the forefront of my mind.

I started getting more followers and more reads and with that came more pressure to post and write. It took me such a long time to figure out a writing routine that worked for me. Like an absurd amount of time, but also it was difficult to write when I had a full-time job, and often pulled all-nighters for exams.

Eventually though, I really decided to buckle down and start completing my books. I wanted to challenge myself.

So, I created a system that worked for me. I also lightened up on myself and learned not to be so critical of my writing.

Finishing Malevolent actually gave me the drive to finish Unbound. I opened up my drive and got to work. I created an entire outline and worked from there. Most of the story was already written for me, so I figured I didn't have a lot to do...WRONG, lol.

There was so much missing from the first chapters of the original series that I had to go back and add. I hope that was noticed in this rewrite.

When I picked up this book again, I started it in an odd manner. I used the second version of this book and decided I would write the story from where I left off until it was complete...and I did that, but that also drastically changed the story, so even though I'd finished the book (or the missing half), now I had to go back and reedit the beginning of the book.

I don't know if that makes sense. I hope it does, but that was why this book took me so long to write. I basically started at the end, moved back to the start, moved back to the end, and then revisited the entire thing.

On top of that, I was struggling with imposter syndrome constantly. I love reading romance, dark romance, erotica, smut, but writing it was so challenging. I tend to get lost in the details. So I hope the romance here, at the very least, was somewhat satisfying. Perhaps someday I will have the perfect formula for writing those naughty scenes much better.

Lastly, as many of you know. This story was inspired by a run-in I had with a cop a few years ago...in a burrito shop of all places. This officer was insanely hot. I remember trying so hard not to stare and how hard my heart was beating and I also remember how the girls behind the counter were constantly giggling.

I speak spanish, I don't think the officer did or else he might've been more embarrassed by what the girls behind the counter were saying, but I did. And I was trying so hard to hold back a laugh as they giggled and were daring each other to ask for his number or a photo.

They finally handed him his burrito, he walked out, passed me and that's when I caught a glimpse of those gray eyes, and then he was gone. I turned to the girls behind the counter, we all shared a knowing look and then just all burst into laughter.

It was like all the energy this man carried with him made everything hectic and when he walked out it just kind of exploded and we couldn't help but laugh.

That night I was thinking about it and my mind started coming up with the idea for this book. Like what if a girl ran into a cop that hot, what if he was really dominant... you get the idea. And thus the story was born.

I gave it up, picked it up, felt like giving up, and a few years later I ran into him again. I decided to go get some late night In and Out, walked in, even though I usually choose the drive through, and as I stepped in, getting into line, there he was again.

Looking exactly the same as before. His hair was a little different, but he was still so striking and in that uniform it was hard not to feel flustered. His partner glanced my way and I looked away completely embarrassed. I ordered and unfortunately had to sit near where he was standing to wait for my food lol.

In my head, I was embarrassed but kinda laughing to myself, because what were the odds of running into the cop who inspired this book.

Anyways, I think that's all the tea about this book. I really hope you all enjoyed the first half. The second half and final part will be released soon. Hang in there. Feel free to message me anytime on here or on my socials about anything while you wait!

—Anna Palvin

...Hang in there Unbound will return soon...