When Your Character Ages Backwards… and Other Writer Problems

As I was editing To Love Again, the second novel in The Anderssons series, I came across a problem that made me laugh out loud — and then wince a little.

Somehow, Victor — the romantic lead in this second-chance love story — had developed the ability to time-travel… or so it seemed. In one flashback, he was 23. A few pages later, 18. Then suddenly 27. In the present day, he’s 32 — which, thankfully, I managed to get right.

How did this happen? Like many authors writing a novel that includes glimpses into the past, I had to work hard to weave in the emotional history of the characters without losing sight of when events actually occurred. To Love Again takes place over just 72 hours during the wedding weekend of Kat and Mikael — the couple readers met in To Melt A Frozen Heart, Book 1 in The Anderssons series. But Victor and Elsa’s story goes back more than a decade, and some key emotional moments from their past had to be slotted in with just the right timing. Literally.

Unfortunately, those emotional beats meant I was jumping between timelines — and that’s where the confusion crept in. As I edited, I began to realise I’d lost track of who was how old, and when. It’s one of those details that may seem small on the surface, but if a reader catches it, it can break the spell of the story. And for me, it was a gentle reminder that when you write a series, small details matter a lot.

Writing a Series: The Joy and the Challenge

I’ve now written three connected series:

• The Love on the Island series, which follows the same family over several years and books, set in the beautiful Åland Islands.
• The Nordic Heart series, inspired by my own love story with a British naval officer, which traces a relationship across countries and decades.
• And now The Anderssons series, set in Finnish Lapland and centred around stories of second chances, family dynamics, and — of course — love.

Each series has brought me so much joy to write, but I’d be lying if I said keeping track of everything was easy. Characters grow older, side characters become central, children are born (and grow up!), and details like dates, names, and timelines can easily shift if you’re not meticulous — especially when you're in the creative flow and your characters start taking on lives of their own.

In The Love on the Island series, for example, I once had a side character whose eye colour changed mid-series — and a pet that disappeared entirely for a book and a half before I realised.

In The Nordic Heart series, things got even trickier as I dipped into the world of naval life. My Englishman — who served in the British submarine service — was my first port of call when I needed to get the tone and terminology right. I wanted the military elements of the story to feel authentic, not just romanticised. One of the most helpful resources was a little book called Jackspeak, a glossary of Royal Navy slang and sayings. From knowing what it meant to “splice the mainbrace” to getting uniform details correct and understanding the rhythm of life on a frigate or submarine, Jackspeak (and my Englishman’s naval mates) saved me from making some rather embarrassing blunders.

Lessons Learned (and Still Learning)

These slip-ups can be frustrating, but I’ve come to see them as part of the process. They remind me that writing isn’t just about crafting beautiful sentences or compelling dialogue — it’s also about consistency, especially for readers who are deeply invested in a fictional world across multiple books.

Now, I keep detailed notes and timelines, character summaries, and even visual mood boards to help me stay on track. (And yes, I still get things wrong!) But ultimately, these challenges are part of what makes writing fiction — and reading it — so rewarding. You’re building a whole world, and sometimes, even the builder needs a map.

As I finish final edits on To Love Again, I’m taking extra care to make sure everything adds up — especially Victor’s age!

Thanks for following along on this journey. If you’re new to my books, To Melt A Frozen Heart — the first book in The Anderssons series — is a great place to start. (Now on offer!)

👉 To Melt A Frozen Heart is just $0.99 now – get your copy here.

If you’re a long-time reader, I hope you enjoy spotting the little connections between characters, settings, and stories across the series. And if you ever notice a missing detail, a changed eye colour, or a character who ages backwards — feel free to let me know. 😉