Welcome to OPEN BOOK, where we open the book on our authors and discover their literary stories!
In this edition, we'd like to introduce Terica Dillas, author of the contemporary political drama exploring identity, power, and resilience within social and political contexts.
What was your planning process for writing this novel like?
My planning process for writing this novel was not traditional. I did not begin with a rigid outline or a perfectly mapped-out structure. I began with moments — conversations, emotions, conflicts, and situations that felt real to me. Some of those moments were inspired by my own life, and some conversations and experiences in the book actually happened, though many have been dramatized to serve the story.
For me, writing this novel was about taking fragments of truth and allowing them to grow into something larger. I wanted the characters to feel human, flawed, strong, and recognizable. I wanted readers to feel as though they were standing inside the room, hearing the conversations, feeling the tension, and understanding the choices being made.
The process was both challenging and exciting. At times, it forced me to revisit emotions and situations that were not easy, but it also gave me the freedom to reshape them through fiction. That balance — between real life and imagination — made the writing experience deeply personal, but also fun. It allowed me to create a world that is dramatic, emotional, and layered, while still carrying pieces of truth at its core.
Ultimately, my planning came from listening to the story as it revealed itself. I knew the emotional direction I wanted to take, but I allowed the characters and situations to evolve naturally. That made the process feel alive.
What is the story behind the title?
The title The Overtaking came from the difference between simply “taking over” and truly “overtaking.” To me, those two ideas carry very different energy. Taking over can feel forceful, selfish, or even temporary — as though someone is seizing control for the sake of power. But overtaking suggests movement, momentum, and destiny. It is not just about control; it is about rising, advancing, and becoming strong enough to move beyond what once stood in the way.
I wanted the title to reflect the emotional and political energy of the story. The characters are not simply trying to claim power. They are being pushed, challenged, and transformed by the world around them. They are forced to decide who they are, what they stand for, and what they are willing to fight for.
For me, The Overtaking represents a shift — when people who have been underestimated, silenced, or overlooked begin to rise with purpose. It is about the moment when survival becomes leadership, pain becomes power, and change becomes impossible to ignore. That is the spirit I wanted to bring to life through the title.
Who or what inspired your characters?
My characters were inspired by everyday people around me — people I have known, observed, loved, disagreed with, learned from, and sometimes simply watched from a distance. I am fascinated by real people because real people are layered. They are not all good or all bad. They are complicated, emotional, funny, flawed, brave, and sometimes unpredictable. That is what makes them interesting.
Some of the personalities, conversations, and situations in the book were shaped by real-life experiences, while others were expanded through imagination and drama. I wanted the characters to feel familiar, as though readers might recognize someone they know — or even recognize a part of themselves.
I do hope that when certain people read the book, they may see traces of themselves in the characters. More than anything, I humbly hope I have done them justice. But as for who inspired whom — I will never tell. Smile.
Where do find your writing inspiration?
I find my writing inspiration in real life — especially in the spaces most people never get to see. I have found myself in rooms I had never imagined being in, witnessing conversations, decisions, and power dynamics that I honestly would not have believed if someone had simply told me they happened.
I was given the opportunity to peek behind the curtains of rooms where decisions are made — rooms that have the power to change lives, shape communities, and influence the future. That exposure changed me. It shifted the way I see leadership, power, and the political process.
I have seen flawed human beings in positions of influence. I have watched people I once held in high regard behave in ways that made me see them differently. People I might once have followed without question, I now understand through a much more complex lens. That experience has been exciting, deeply disappointing, eye-opening, and very real.
As a writer, I draw from those contradictions. I am inspired by the tension between what people say publicly and what happens privately; between image and truth; between leadership and ego; between power and responsibility. Those experiences gave me a deeper understanding of human nature, and they helped shape the emotional and political layers of my writing.
Even when what I witnessed was difficult or disappointing, I remain grateful for the exposure. It gave me insight, perspective, and a richer understanding of the world I wanted to write about.
Where do you find it easiest to write?
I find it easiest to write alone in my room. It is my peaceful space — the place where I can shut out the noise of the world and truly hear my thoughts. Writing requires honesty, focus, and emotional room to breathe, and I find that best when I am by myself.
In that quiet space, I can sit with the characters, the conversations, and the emotions without interruption. It allows me to reflect, imagine, and let the story unfold naturally. My room gives me the comfort and stillness I need to create.
Where and when do you get most of your writing done?
I get most of my writing done whenever I can create the space for it. As a graphic designer, a mother of four, and a grandmother of two, I have had to master the art of time management. My life is full, but I have learned how to make the most of the time available to me.
Writing does not always happen on a perfect schedule. Sometimes it happens in quiet pockets of the day, and other times I find myself completely lost in the work, writing long into the night or early into the morning. When the story is flowing, time almost disappears.
I think being busy has actually helped me as a writer. It has taught me discipline, focus, and how to use my time with intention. I may not always have endless hours, but when I sit down to write, I give myself fully to the story.
What piece of writing advice have you found the most helpful during your writing career?
I am still new to writing, so I cannot say I have built a long career of advice just yet. However, the most helpful advice I have followed so far is simple: trust the process.
Writing a book has taught me that the story does not always reveal itself all at once. There are moments when the words flow easily, and there are moments when you have to sit with the characters, the emotions, and the direction of the story until it becomes clear. I have learned not to rush that.
For me, trusting the process means allowing the story to grow, change, and surprise me. It means not forcing every detail before its time, but giving the work space to become what it is meant to be. I have found writing surprisingly enjoyable, and the more I trust the process, the more honest and alive the work becomes.
Did you encounter Writers Block? If so, how did you overcome it?
Yes, I did encounter writer’s block, but for me it did not always feel like a lack of ideas. Sometimes it was more about having too many thoughts, too many emotions, or too many directions the story could take. Because parts of the book were inspired by real conversations and real experiences, there were moments when I had to pause and decide how much truth to carry into the fiction.
I overcame it by stepping away when I needed to and trusting that the story would find its way back to me. Sometimes I would sit quietly with the characters. Sometimes I would think about the emotion behind the scene instead of trying to force the words. Once I understood what the moment was supposed to feel like, the writing usually began to flow again.
I also learned not to be afraid of writing imperfectly. Sometimes you simply have to get the words down and shape them later. That helped me move past the pressure of getting everything right the first time. For me, overcoming writer’s block came back to the same lesson: trust the process.
Are there any books which have inspired your writing?
I would not say that books, specifically, have been the main inspiration for my writing. For me, much of my inspiration has come from film and television. I am drawn to stories that feel cinematic — stories with atmosphere, strong characters, emotional tension, and worlds that feel alive.
When I write, I do not only see words on a page. I see scenes. I see rooms, expressions, silence, conflict, movement, and emotion. My goal is to create a world in print that readers can fully step into — a world that feels vivid enough to one day transition to the big screen.
Yes, I know that is ambitious, but I believe ambition is necessary when you are building something meaningful. I truly believe there is very little in this world that cannot be accomplished through hard work, dedication, faith, and a willingness to keep going. For me, writing is not just about finishing a book. It is about building a world with the potential to live beyond the page.
And finally… Why should people read your book next?
People should read my book next because The Overtaking is more than just a story — it is an experience, and it is also the gateway into a much larger world. It pulls readers into a world of power, politics, loyalty, betrayal, love, survival, and the difficult choices people make when life forces them to rise.
The book is emotional, dramatic, and layered, but it is also grounded in truth. Some moments were inspired by real conversations and real situations, which gives the story an honesty that I believe readers will feel. These characters are not perfect. They are human. They make mistakes, they wrestle with ambition, they carry pain, and they are forced to decide who they truly are when the pressure is on.
I believe readers should pick up The Overtaking if they enjoy stories that make them think, feel, and question what happens behind closed doors. It is for readers who are drawn to strong characters, complicated relationships, and the tension between image and reality.
Most importantly, The Overtaking is only the beginning. It opens the door to another world that continues through The Reckoning and Revelations. Each book expands the story, the stakes, and the emotional journey of the characters. So readers are not just entering one novel — they are stepping into a larger world of consequence, transformation, and truth.
At its heart, The Overtaking is about transformation — the moment when people who have been underestimated, overlooked, or pushed aside begin to rise.
