Pulling Back the Curtain: My Journey from First Draft to Final Donna

Hello, dear readers,

It feels incredibly vulnerable, but also wonderfully exciting, to share a piece of my creative process with you today. You’ve come to know Donna Liliana Accardi as a sharp, calculating, and formidable woman. But before she was the Donna you read on the page, she was an idea, a collection of scenes in a messy first draft.

Someone recently gave me the chance to look at my first draft of The Upcoming Donna: Liliana side-by-side with the final, published version, and it was a fascinating trip down memory lane. I wanted to share some of that journey with you and talk about why certain changes were made to bring Liliana and Nicolo’s story to life.

Finding the Hook: The First Five Pages

When I first wrote the opening, it was… a bit of a mess. I knew I wanted to start with action, but the draft jumps from Liliana at the warehouse to Nicolo’s family drama with his brother, Amadeo. It felt disjointed. The story didn't have a clear starting point.

In revision, I realized I needed to ground you, the reader, in Liliana’s world immediately. That’s why I created a dedicated Prologue. By focusing solely on Liliana’s mission on May 1, 2020, I could establish her skills, her code (the Omertà), and the mysterious "Coverers" she works for. It sets the tone and introduces our heroine as the lethal force she is. Then, Chapter 1 could begin fresh on June 3rd, kicking off the main plot without any confusion.

The "Aha!" Moment: The Hidden Donna

This was probably the biggest change between the draft and the final book. As I was writing the first draft, it felt like something was missing. Liliana was on a mission, yes, but I wanted the stakes to be higher, more personal.

That’s when I had my "aha!" moment: what if the mission was a setup?

This led to the creation of the "Lorenzo Accardi—The Plan" chapter. Suddenly, the story wasn't just about a leak in the Romano family. It was an elaborate test orchestrated by Liliana's grandfather and a secret mastermind, "Ms. A." And making Ms. A her mother, Alessandra—the hidden Donna—added a layer of betrayal and intrigue that I knew would be explosive when Liliana finally discovered the truth. This single change transformed the entire narrative from a straightforward mafia thriller into a story about fate, family secrets, and manipulated love.

From a Sketch to a Soul: Deepening the Characters

With a stronger plot, the characters began to feel more real to me.

In the draft, Liliana is a skilled operative, but in the final version, she is the Accardi Heiress. That title carries weight. It gives her a legacy to protect and a burden to carry, making her choices more meaningful. She isn't just fighting for a code; she's fighting for her family's entire existence.

Similarly, I wanted Nicolo’s introduction to be about him and his immediate fascination with the mysterious new maid. The draft introduces him in the middle of his brother’s crisis, but the final version lets us see him as the confident, flirtatious Don who is completely undone by this woman who won't bow to him. It makes their chemistry ignite from their very first meeting.

Building a World That Breathes

A story's world needs rules to feel real. The first draft was more of a stream-of-consciousness narrative. For the final version, I knew I had to build a more solid foundation.

Structure is Everything: Adding dates and clear chapter titles helped create a timeline that you could follow. It makes the world feel more organized and intentional.

Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of just saying Liliana was a top agent, I added the "Field Report" of the international kidnapping case. This flashback allows me to show you her brilliance in action without bogging down the main story. It builds her legend.

Writing a book is a journey of discovery, not just for the reader, but for the author, too. The first draft is where I meet my characters; the final draft is where I truly understand them. Thank you for coming on this journey with me and for loving Liliana and Nicolo as much as I do. Their story is far from over.

With love,

Kelly Brackett