Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full time author?
I’m
a Texas-based author who’s attempting to make writing my full-time
career. I’ve loved writing since I was little, and it only got worse —
in a good way — when my seventh grade Language Arts teacher made us
write short stories every day in a composition notebook. I guess you
could say she fueled the creativity.
In
my corporate life, I’ve worked in inbound marketing. You’d assume that
means I know exactly how to market my own book, but that assumption
would be wrong. Very wrong. Moving from B2B to B2C feels like going from
riding a bike to riding a unicycle while juggling. I’m learning, but
it’s a process.
Can you tell us about The Arrangement?
The
Arrangement is a blend of dark romance, suspense, and new adult vibes
all wrapped into one story. It’s also book one of a duet, so this is
just the beginning of the craziness. Think Gossip Girl levels of elite
drama combined with the underworld tension of The Sopranos — but if the
mobsters were Russian and really, really hot.
Emilia,
my main female character, has spent her entire life performing:
cameras, politics, expectations… you name it. She’s the VP’s daughter,
Chi Omega chapter president, and the girl everyone thinks they want to
be. Meanwhile, she’s quietly falling apart. She’s finally about to
escape all of it (hello senior year)… but then Nikolai Volkov walks back
into her life. He’s supposed to be a ghost from her past, not her
suddenly arranged fiancé. But apparently, deals were made without her
input. Shocking, right?
Throw
in political secrets, family drama that could give the Lodges from
Riverdale a run for their money, and the early sparks of a love
triangle, and that’s The Arrangement.
Can you tell us a little about the characters?
The
story centers on Emilia Langford and Nikolai Volkov. Most of the book
is told through Emilia’s POV, but Nikolai gets a few POVs because
there’s a lot happening beneath the surface with him.
Emilia
grew up in the political spotlight and hates it. She’s sharp, composed,
and very selective about who she trusts. Thalia — her best friend since
she was twelve — is basically the only person who gets the unfiltered
version of her. Nikolai, on the other hand, is difficult to read. Years
of abuse and being raised as the Bratva heir taught him to shut down
emotionally. His path was chosen for him long before he had a chance to
decide anything for himself.
Even
after years of silence, there’s still something between them —
especially on Nikolai’s side. He wants Emilia in whatever form she
comes, whether that’s hate or affection. Readers don’t yet know why he
feels that strongly, but those answers come later in the duet.
Where is this book set and why did you choose that location?
I’ve
always loved espionage shows and movies — Jack Ryan, Mission
Impossible, Jack Reacher. That whole world of secrets, agencies, and
hidden agendas fascinates me. So when I started outlining this story, I
wanted a setting that highlighted how opposite Emilia and Nikolai’s
lives were. And really, what better place than the capital of American
politics? D.C. practically hands you drama on a silver platter.
How can people benefit from reading The Arrangement?
I think the big themes in The Arrangement are “love conquers all” and “good vs. evil.”
We
see Emilia wrestling with her feelings for Nikolai — there’s history
there, and a kind of connection she’s never had with anyone else. He was
the first person she ever opened up to, even if it was only through
letters. And that mattered, especially because Emilia has never gotten
real affection from her parents. Everything in her world has always felt
transactional.
There’s
also this bigger moral thread running through the book. I’m not trying
to say politics are inherently bad, but in this story, Emilia sees the
corruption up close and wants to tear it down from the inside. That
fight between right and wrong is woven through her whole journey.
At
its core, the story is about breaking cycles — emotional, political,
familial, all of it. Emilia’s life is basically one giant checklist of
what she “should” do, and readers get to watch her slowly burn that
list. There’s something really satisfying about that.
Is The Arrangement your only book?
It’s
the only book I have published right now, but it’s definitely not the
only one I’ll write. Book two of the Bancroft University Chronicles
comes out in Spring 2026 and will wrap up Emilia and Nikolai’s story.
And who knows… some of the side characters might get their own books
down the line.
Thank you so much for this interview, S.D.. What’s next for you?
Book
two — The Unraveling — comes out in Spring 2026. After that, I’m
already working on another story, so there’s definitely more to come.
Where to purchase the book:
The Arrangement is available at the following retailers:
Ebook / KU:
Amazon:https://a.co/d/6sN5s9X
Paperback:
Amazon:https://a.co/d/ecGeVSC
Barnes & Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-arrangement-s-d-lettie/1148355895?ean=9798993185606
Books-A-Million:https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Arrangement/S-D-Lettie/9798993185606
Where to find S.D.:
Follow or connect with me here:
Website:https://www.sdlettieauthor.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sdlettieauthor/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/sdlettieauthor
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/59067073.S_D_Lettie
Romance
Betrayal
Political
High Stakes
Emotional
Page Turner
Q&A with Barbara Jean Weber Author of The Welcome Sign | Blogging Authors #Q&A #authorinterview #puyb 
