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A Q&A with HTEllis, creator of Love, Set, Rematch and more

Billionaire bosses, fake dating, secret babies, and high-stakes sports rivals, HTEllis's Wattpad profile is a goldmine for romance lovers. With more than 30 stories under her belt, she has spent years giving readers exactly what they want: real emotional stakes, relatable drama, and guaranteed happy endings.

We caught up with the author behind the hit Love, Set, Rematch to discuss how she plots her sprawling multi-book series, how she handles writing scenes that make her literally cry, and where she gets her best ideas.

With a massive library of over 30 stories on your profile, it can be hard for a new reader to know where to start! If someone is completely new to your profile, which of your books do you think perfectly captures your vibe as a creator?

It still blows my mind when I think about writing 30 stories! I feel like my books have grown and evolved with me over the years and have definitely pointed out things I've been through, because writing is my safe space and something I love to get lost in. But, I would say, for me, the best place to start would be with one of my series. The Mechanic series is one of my most proud projects, and I still love and root for these characters now. If you love stories where a billionaire boss doesn't remember his new receptionist after a one-night stand that leads to a secret baby, I think you'll enjoy this trilogy. A second would be my Larsson Sibling Series. It follows six siblings and features some well-loved tropes, like Enemies to Lovers and Fake Dating. I really do believe there's a book for everyone in there.

One of your most recent stories is Love, Set, Rematch, a high-stakes sports romance. What is it about the romance genre and the whole rival dynamic that makes it so fun to write?

I'm such a hopeless romantic at heart. I love creating characters with real struggles that find their way to a happy ending. The romance genre is perfect for this because it lets me explore and delve into a character's deepest fears, their insecurities, and wants, and show how these can shape their choices throughout the story. There always has to be a reason why they're acting that way, as it drives the story forward.

Adding the rival dynamic is the perfect way to keep tensions high. Especially if the rivals drive the romance forward. It can often bring out the best and worst in the characters as they push each other's buttons and challenge each other to get what they want. For me, all of that combined makes writing romance really fun and rewarding.

What does a typical writing session look like for you? Are you a planner or do you write frantically on your phone in the middle of the night?

I'm usually a total panster, but when I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with Wattpad and my editor on my Wattpad Originals, it taught me that I much prefer to plan my stories. When I write without a clear plan, I find it easy to get stuck in plot holes, and I can lose sight of my characters' journeys. Outlining my stories helps keep everything on the right track, and I have something to refer back to if a plot idea suddenly isn't making sense.

I do have a tendency to write at the most random times, like on my breaks at work and when I can't sleep at three in the morning. My creativity seems to be at its best at night when the house is quiet.

Romance readers love to binge-read a good series. When you're creating a new world, do you usually plan out a multi-book series from day one or does a single standalone story grow into more because you love the characters too much to let them go?

There really is no better feeling than when a book you love turns out to be part of a series with several more to read! I'm completely guilty of loving my side characters so much that I want to give them their own book. I find it fun to leave little hints in each book about the next main character's story, especially when readers start to pick up on them and come up with their own ideas of what will happen next. I remember when I was writing The Mechanic series, Nathan and Margot, who were supposed to be supporting characters, suddenly demanded a story in my head, and I had to give it to them.

Your stories are known for having some serious emotional drama! Do you find yourself crying or stressing out with your characters when you're writing a heavy scene, or are you secretly enjoying the chaos you're creating?

Can I say a bit of both? When I was writing a certain scene in Love, Set, Rematch, I had to take a break because I couldn't stop crying. I get so invested in the characters' lives that it almost feels like it's happening to me, and I have to remind myself it's all fictional! I'm definitely secretly smiling a little at how readers will react to the chaos of it, though.

Where do your best story ideas usually hit you? Are they ever inspired by real life or do you create fictional scenarios from scratch?

Ever since I was a child, I have always had quite a vivid imagination. My first ever books were handmade by me with pieces of paper and I would usually write about horses and the adventures they'd get up to. Now, my ideas usually come at very unpredictable times where I have to quickly type them into my phone before I forget. There's definitely certain parts of my life that have inspired my books. They say to write what you know and it's true. But I do like to create fictional scenarios from scratch, too. Sometimes they can just spiral and before I know it, the characters have these complex backstories that I never would have envisioned for them in the beginning.

Your bio mentions that you love eating chocolate. What's your favourite kind, and does it change depending on what kind of story you're writing?

Such a fun question! I love Italian chocolate, especially a brand called Novi. They're the classic ones, praline and so yummy! We also have a chocolate bar in the UK called Fry's Turkish Delight and I love it so much, I actually wrote it into one of my books! I have to admit, I'm not terribly fussy when it comes to chocolate, but if I was writing an emotional story, I would choose anything by Galaxy because it's my comfort chocolate brand.

One of the best parts about Wattpad is getting to talk to readers in the comments in real time! What is the funniest or most memorable reaction you've ever gotten from a reader in one of your chapters?

I'm so grateful to my readers! Their support means everything to me, and reading their comments is my favourite part of updating a story. One of my most memorable reactions was when a reader celebrated a moment I had been building up to for twenty-five chapters in my book, Under the Hood. I was so excited for that chapter to drop, and the comment section absolutely lived up to my expectations.

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