The Inspiration Behind Madison is Possibly, Probably, Positively Guilty

Readers often ask me where my story ideas come from. Did I know the characters in real life? Was the plot inspired by personal experiences? Or did it stem from a random observation that refused to be ignored?

The answer? Yes.

Stories, at least for me, are never born from a single spark. They’re a tapestry, each thread woven from memories, emotions, snippets of conversation, and those “What if?” moments that won’t let go.

The inspiration for Madison is Possibly, Probably, Positively Guilty started with one of those everyday moments—the kind you don’t realize is story-worthy until it lingers.

When my kids were young, I stood outside the school doors every afternoon, chatting with other moms as we waited for the final bell. One day, a mom mentioned that someone had been sneaking food from her child’s lunch bag. A brownie here, a cookie there—small treats vanishing without a trace. No one knew who was responsible.

For most, it was just playground gossip. For me, a writer-in-the-making, it was the seed of a story.

That idea grew into Madison is Possibly, Probably, Positively Guilty, where my protagonist, Emily, becomes the victim of a lunchtime thief, and her classmate Madison is the prime suspect. But instead of stolen brownies, I wanted something quirkier, something that made people pause and wonder. Meatballs. Because really—who steals meatballs?

Stories are everywhere, waiting to be noticed. Inspiration doesn’t always arrive with fanfare; sometimes, it sneaks up on you in the middle of an ordinary afternoon. The trick is to keep your eyes open.

Because if you blink, you just might miss it.