Why I Refused to Let Lena Be a 'Damsel in Distress'

Hey Script-Breakers!

You’re already obsessed with the gunshots, the slap, and the completely magnetic chaos of The Stranger. 

But today, I’m pulling back the curtain on the writing process for this explosive story.

When I first wrote The Stranger, it was a tiny, bare-bones tale—barely over one thousand words—and the narrator, our amazing waitress Lena, was little more than a "damsel in distress" who needed the mysterious man to save her.

I hated that.

I needed Lena to be a hero in her own right—a woman with a quick wit, a determination for survival, and a reason to be more than a footnote in her own story.

The BTS Insight You’re Waiting For:

It took time, experience, and deep research to flesh out the themes and dialogues, and most importantly, to develop Lena. 

The challenge was making the chaos feel realistically chaotic—not just movie action, but terrifying action. I needed you to feel the fear when the bullets start flying!

I am so proud of how Lena evolved from a background character into a fully-fleshed woman whose courage and determination drive the story, even when she’s running for her life.

 This book is a labor of love for the heroine who fights back.

Thank you for allowing The Stranger, Lena, and even the burly mother hen, Gary, and the sassy Shariah, all into your lives for the duration of this tale.

Get the full, fleshed-out, terrifying, and explosive story today!

Until next time, keep breaking those scripts!

XOXO,

Ashlee