Interview with Teri Wilson, Author of Once Upon a Royal Summer

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Once Upon a Royal Summer?

A couple of years ago I attended a Cinderella character dinner at Disney World in Orlando when I was there for a writing conference. I went with a group of romance authors, and we had the best time! I remember thinking how much fun it would be to write a book about someone who had the job of a theme park character. Then last year, after seeing a super glamorous photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sharing an umbrella and surrounded by raindrops that looked like falling stars, I really wanted to write a royal romance. I spent a weekend trying to figure out who my fictional prince should fall in love with, and when I remembered that Cinderella character dinner, I knew I had my perfect couple.  

If you woke up in the world of Once Upon a Royal Summer, what is the first thing you would do?

The book is sort of split into two halves—the first half takes place at Lacey’s theme park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the second half is set in Prince Henry’s kingdom, Bella-Moritz, near the French Riviera. If I woke up in the first half of the book, I would definitely head straight to Lacey’s tea party at the Ever After Castle. If I woke up in the second half of the book, I think I’d nibble on macarons and sip champagne at one of the sidewalk cafés in Grand Flower Park.  

If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say?

Cinderella is a contestant on The Bachelor, and the suitor just might be her Prince Charming. This is for If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, and it’s a delightful read!

Where did you write Once Upon a Royal Summer?

I wrote most of Once Upon a Royal Summer during Covid lockdown in 2020, so the bulk of it was written in my home office while I was hanging out with my dogs. It’s such a whimsical, joyful story and was the perfect escape during a difficult time. I hope people feel the same way about it when they read it.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

What a fun question!

Lacey’s theme song would definitely be something from a Disney movie, probably A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella. Lacey’s job is being a theme park princess, but a lot of her actual personality goes into her character of Princess Sweet Pea.

Prince Henry’s song would have to be Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Bublé, because he and Lacey have a special connection on the dance floor, no matter whose castle they’re dancing in! 

Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in?

I would compete in one of the equestrian events because I’m a big animal lover and I love all the posh ceremony surrounding those events.  

Teri Wilson is the author of the new book Once Upon a Royal Summer

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