top of page
Search
  • Katherine Garbera
  • Sep 9
  • 2 min read


ree

The very first thing I make when I’m starting a new book is the playlist. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite parts of the process. Music helps me set the tone for the characters, plot, and setting. Some songs are there because they capture a specific mood—longing, moody, flirty, cozy, or just a little off-center and spooky. And some become forever tied to certain characters or scenes in my head. (Batshit by Sofi Tukker is one of those forever songs!)


For Ghost of a Chance, I wanted tracks that reflected the opposites-attract energy between Kirsty and Jasper, the spooky-but-fun vibe of a meddling ghost, and the cozy fall atmosphere that feels like wrapping yourself in a blanket with a PSL in hand.


I’m always on the hunt for the right songs to keep me company while writing. Back when I worked full-time, I’d squeeze in writing during downtime, so I learned to thrive with a lot of background noise. Now, I know I’m really immersed in a story when the playlist starts playing on repeat in my head. (Does that sound a little out there? Maybe. But it’s true!) I’ll never forget the moment I was walking into town, heard Ghost in the Machine by SZA, and knew this story had fully clicked for me.


Here are a few highlights from the playlist (you can listen to the full version here on Spotify):

  • “I Put a Spell on You” (Annie Lennox)→ Nothing says spooky-romantic like this classic, and with Annie Lennox’s haunting vocals, it’s pure perfection. It became Jasper’s anthem—haunted, conflicted, and unable to ignore the pull he feels toward Kirsty.

  • “Cosmic Love” (Florence + The Machine)→ Ethereal and emotional, this one mirrors Kirsty’s guarded heart and the way she slowly lets Jasper in.

  • “Bury a Friend” (Billie Eilish)→ Dark and eerie, it fit perfectly with the ghostly moments, adding an edge of mischief and mystery.

  • “Sweater Weather” (The Neighbourhood)→ This is pure cozy-fall energy—crisp nights, golden leaves, and a romance you can’t resist.

  • “Somebody’s Watching Me” (Rockwell)→ A playful nod to the ghost who just won’t quit. Plus, what’s a spooky story without Rockwell?


Each of these songs set the mood for different parts of the book—from the sparks flying between Kirsty and Jasper to the gothic, small-town atmosphere. They also helped me layer in emotion. In fact, Jasper’s ghost using certain songs as a way to “speak” to him came directly from me noticing how I was connecting to tracks during the writing process.

If you’d like to experience the full Ghost of a Chance vibe, grab your headphones, hit play on the playlist, and curl up with Kirsty, Jasper, and one very opinionated ghost.


👉 Don’t forget—the ebook is available now, with paperback and audio coming later this month!

 
 
 

Cover for Ghost Of A Chance
Cover for Ghost Of A Chance

🍂 Just in time for PSL season, my latest release Ghost of a Chance is out today in ebook! I’ve been impatiently waiting for you to meet Kirsty, Jasper, and their pesky, Judge Judy–loving ghost. Writing this book was such a joy—I leaned hard into the goth, dark-academia side of my writer’s soul.


All stories begin with a tiny spark of an idea, and honestly… when I say mine out loud, they usually sound a little silly (or maybe even lame). So when I pitched this premise to my editor, I was nervous. There was a long pause, I rambled to fill the silence—and then came relief. They loved it. They thought it would be so much fun. And that’s when I dove into writing my very first paranormal romance.


Now, this one is light on the paranormal—because Kirsty, much like me, is faking her ghost-hunting abilities. That theme of rising to the challenge and becoming what’s needed has always fascinated me, and it runs deep here.


There’s also a touch of mystery (since Kirsty is a mystery author herself), plenty of banter, and all my favorite fall things: small towns with leafy streets, gothic old houses with spooky charm, and friends gathered together with PSLs, daring each other to get scared.


👻Ghost of a Chance is cozy, a little spooky, a little spicy, and full of heart. If you’re ready for a fall romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe believe in ghosts just a little… grab your copy today!


 
 
 

From Tracy & Dexter to Kirsty & Jasper: How opposites collide and hearts connect



ree

There’s something irresistible about a romance where two people who shouldn’t work together… somehow do. I freely admit that I’m a sucker for the “opposites attract” trope, and I’m thrilled that it has been a reader favorite for centuries. When sparks fly between characters who are worlds apart in personality, background, or beliefs, the tension crackles off the page—I’m hooked.


I can’t put the book down or stop the movie until I’ve reached that satisfying conclusion when both characters realize that, at their core, they really aren’t opposites at all. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve watched It Happened One Night(1934) and The Philadelphia Story (1940) more times than is probably healthy. There’s something about the snappy banter, the underlying sexual tension, and the plot lines that are still relevant today.



ree

In The Philadelphia Story, Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) is an ice-cool socialite who demands perfection, while her ex-husband, Dexter (C.K. Dexter Haven, Cary Grant), is playful, mischievous, and determined to win her back. Their battle of pride and vulnerability is classic opposites attract with real emotion. I relate so much to Tracy, who can’t admit to herself—or anyone else—that she might have made a mistake letting Dexter slip away. I love that Dexter is entirely focused on winning her back, going about it in ways he knows will reach her. Their competitive energy keeps the back-and-forth alive, and in the end, they both come out winning. This movie is in black and white if you decide to watch it but still worth the time!



ree

It’s not just classic movies that keep me hooked. One of my favorite modern examples is 10 Things I Hate About You—Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), the fiercely independent, sharp-tongued outsider, and Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), the charming rebel with a bad-boy reputation. On the surface, they’re total opposites, but that tension is exactly what makes their romance so electric and unforgettable. That moment at prom when Kat realizes that Patrick took money to go out with her--heart-breaking! And then the poem Kat reads at the end makes me tear up every time. As a bookish, feminist woman, I relate deeply to Kat—and of course, Patrick’s bad-boy vibes make the story irresistible.



ree

And happily, fall always calls for a rewatch of You’ve Got Mail. Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is a whimsical, romantic indie bookstore owner, while Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is a pragmatic corporate giant. Business rivals in real life, anonymous online confidants—they clash and connect in all the right ways. The hidden-identity twist adds extra charm: Kathleen doesn’t realize that her online pen pal NY152 is actually Joe, the very man she despises. When they finally meet, Joe’s mix of irritation, care, and subtle charm gets Kathleen—and the audience—hooked. It doesn't hurt that Kathleen owns a lovely bookstore or that New York shines in all of it's seasons. That’s opposites attract at its finest: they aren’t really as different as they seem.



ree

Have you seen Anyone But You? I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I watched it on a recent flight and loved it. Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) collide after a dreamy first date—he saves her at a coffee shop and makes her grilled cheese sandwiches that look amazing. They spend the night together, but miscommunication the next morning leaves them both frustrated. She’s sharp and guarded; he’s cocky and laid-back—one of my favorite combinations. They’re forced back together when her sister and his close friend get engaged. Their forced proximity proves that sometimes sparks hide in all that bickering. And yes, there’s fake dating involved, which is another personal favorite trope.


From the glamorous sparring of Tracy and Dexter to Kat and Patrick’s teenage rebellion, the opposites attract trope has never gone out of style. I still fall for it in modern films like Anyone But You, with Bea and Ben’s witty banter, or the timeless charm of You’ve Got Mail, where Kathleen’s romantic idealism collides with Joe’s corporate pragmatism. What makes these couples so memorable is what keeps the trope alive: two people who seem mismatched on the surface slowly reveal that they’re exactly what the other needs. It’s that same spark I wanted to capture with Kirsty and Jasper in Ghost of a Chance.



Ghost Of A Chance cover
Ghost Of A Chance cover

In Ghost of a Chance, Kirsty Henson is a skeptical mystery writer who only pretends to talk to ghosts, while Jasper Cotton is literally haunted. She guards her heart with logic and secrets; he’s open and desperate for answers—making their clash (and chemistry) inevitable. Kirsty is fiercely independent, having essentially raised herself while her single mom worked hard. Jasper, in contrast, is surrounded by a large network of friends and family. She’s goth; he’s a jock. I made sure everything about them was different—but then I added shared loves: Star Wars, the fictional band Deadboys, tequila, and late nights.


What about you—do you have a favorite “opposites attract” couple from books or movies? I’d love to hear which ones have stuck with you. And if you’re looking for a new romance that mixes cozy fall vibes, a little spice, and even a meddling ghost or two, Ghost of a Chance brings that opposites-attract spark to life in a whole new way. Kirsty and Jasper may come from different worlds—one faking ghosts, the other literally haunted—but sometimes the best love stories are the ones that surprise us most.

 

 
 
 
sidebar for blog page Jan 2025.png
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Amazon Page

© 2025 Katherine Garbera Photo: Robert Elser

Commissions may be earned for purchases made through affiliate links on this site.

bottom of page