Pretend you’re something you’re not and hope for the best. After all, the lie only has to last a few days. Making Up for Lost Time started with this basic premise of a screwball comedy, with inspiration from the hilarious Christmas in Connecticut, starring Barbara Stanwyck.

Making Up for Lost Time was named more for a life situation (Karin’s) than as a metaphor. It remains the novel written in the shortest time span. And the metaphor worked out anyway.