Popternative is thrilled to welcome our first published author, Haley-Grace McCormick, on our digital cover. Known for her social media content relating to pop culture and entertainment, Haley-Grace just released her debut novel, The Enemy of Time, on February 17. The book centers on first love and the lasting impact of the past, following Alex and Jamie across different points in time as their relationship and histories unfold.
In our exclusive conversation, Haley-Grace discusses the process of developing the novel from an initial idea into a finished book, as well as her writing approach, while reflecting on the transition from writing privately to sharing her work with readers. As a writer with dyslexia, she also shares advice for other aspiring writers with dyslexia, emphasizing that storytelling relies more on creativity and persistence than technical perfection.
Exclusive photos for Popternative Magazine by Kathlyn Almeida.
The Enemy of Time just dropped on February 17th. What’s it been like watching your debut book go from an idea in your head to something people are actually holding and reading?
Haley-Grace: It’s surreal in the quietest, most emotional way. For so long, this story existed only in my head and on messy drafts scattered across my laptop. It was something deeply personal, something I wrestled with privately while trying to figure out how to shape it into a story that felt honest.
Seeing people hold the book now, seeing readers connect with Alex and Jamie and the questions the story asks about time, memory, and healing, feels a little like watching a secret step out into the world. It’s both terrifying and incredibly beautiful. Stories spend so much time living inside us that when they finally belong to other people too, it feels like letting go of something fragile and realizing it can stand on its own.
When did you first think, “Wait, I could actually write a novel,” and what finally pushed you to go for it instead of keeping it as a “someday” dream?
Haley-Grace: The first moment I realized I could write a story was actually in a high school Shakespeare class. Instead of just reading the play, our teacher had us perform scenes and then break down the structure of the story. When I saw the three-act structure written on the whiteboard, something clicked in my brain. Stories suddenly felt less like magic and more like architecture.
I wrote my first novel in college. It was messy, overambitious, and absolutely not ready for the world, but writing it taught me something important: stories only become real when you actually sit down and write them. Eventually, I realized that “someday” dreams tend to stay someday dreams unless you start before you feel ready.
What did your writing routine look like while you were working on The Enemy of Time? Were you super structured, or more of a write-when-inspiration-hits kind of author?
Haley-Grace: I wish I could say I’m a perfectly structured writer with a color-coded schedule, but the truth is I’m a little chaotic. Inspiration usually shows up at inconvenient times, late at night, in the middle of a walk, or when I’m supposed to be doing something else entirely. When I’m deep in a story, I tend to write in bursts. There were days I wrote thousands of words in a single sitting and other days where the work was slower, more reflective, revising a single paragraph over and over until it felt right. For me, writing isn’t always about a strict routine; it’s about learning how to listen when a story is ready to be told.
For anyone who hasn’t picked it up yet, how would you describe The Enemy of Time in a few words? What kind of feelings or vibes should readers expect?
Haley-Grace: At its heart, The Enemy of Time is a story about memory, first love, and the complicated ways our past follows us into the present. It’s nostalgic, emotional, and a little bittersweet. Readers can expect a story that moves between past and present, slowly revealing what really happened between two people who once meant everything to each other. It’s about the kind of love that shapes you, the secrets we keep even from ourselves, and the question of whether time heals wounds, or simply teaches us how to live with them.
What advice do you have for other people with dyslexia who want to write and build their own worlds through storytelling?
Haley-Grace: The most important thing I’ve learned is that dyslexia doesn’t mean you can’t chase your dreams, it just means your path might look a little different. I still rely on spellcheck. I still reread my sentences more times than most people probably do. But storytelling isn’t about perfect spelling; it’s about imagination, empathy, and persistence. The tools we use to write don’t matter nearly as much as the stories we choose to tell. If you love stories, you’re allowed to create them. You don’t have to wait for permission.
Your book dives into memories, first love, and second chances. Is there a scene or moment in the story that feels the most personal to you, even if readers wouldn’t know it?
Haley-Grace: There are a few moments in the story that feel deeply personal, but the ones that resonate most for me are the quiet scenes where Alex is reflecting on the past, trying to reconcile the person she used to be with the person she’s become. Those moments weren’t pulled from a specific memory in my life, but they were inspired by a very real feeling: that strange experience of returning to a place that once meant everything to you and realizing how much time has passed while you were busy growing up.
If The Enemy of Time had a “mood playlist,” what songs, sounds, or artists would you put on it to match the atmosphere of the story?
Haley-Grace: Music played a huge role in shaping the emotional atmosphere of The Enemy of Time. I actually kept a playlist while writing that helped me stay connected to the tone of the story and the emotional world of the characters.
Haley-Grace: Some of the songs that really capture the feeling of the book include “Back to Friends” and “That Part” by Lauren Spencer Smith, “If You Want Me Tonight” by Landon Smith, “Hopeless Romantics” by James TW, “drunk text me” by Lexi Jayde, and “I Love You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams. There’s also “Like It Ain’t – Stripped” by Ian Munsick, “Strangers” by Kameron Marlowe and Ella Langley, “Till Forever Falls Apart” by Ashe and FINNEAS, and “How Do I Say Goodbye” by Dean Lewis.
Haley-Grace: Most of the songs lean into that nostalgic, emotional space where love, memory, and heartbreak all exist at the same time. They capture the feeling of looking back on something that once meant everything to you and realizing how much it shaped who you became.
Were there any books, films, or shows that really inspired you while you were building this world or these characters?
Haley-Grace: A few stories definitely lived in the back of my mind while I was writing The Enemy of Time. One of the biggest inspirations was Love, Rosie, which was also originally a beautiful book. I’ve always loved that friends-to-lovers dynamic where we see two people grow up alongside each other. The story follows them through their teenage years into adulthood, showing how life, timing, and personal growth shape who they become. That idea of watching two people evolve over time while still being connected to each other was something that really resonated with me while writing Alex and Jamie.
Haley-Grace: One Day also influenced me in a similar way. I love stories that explore how two people can grow apart, grow back together, and continue changing as individuals while their lives remain intertwined. It captures the ups and downs of life and love in a very honest way. When it came to the friendship dynamic in the story, The Perks of Being a Wallflower was another big inspiration. I loved the way the story portrays a group of friends who might not seem to belong together at first. They’re all very different people with different interests and backgrounds, but they find connection and understanding in each other.
Haley-Grace: That idea also reminded me of The Breakfast Club, this kind of ragtag group of people who wouldn’t normally be friends but end up forming meaningful bonds because of what they each need from one another. I really wanted to capture that same feeling of unexpected connection within the friend group in The Enemy of Time.
As a debut author, what was the most surprising or challenging part of the journey: drafting, editing, or actually putting your work out there for others to read?
Haley-Grace: Putting the story out into the world was definitely the hardest part. Writing is such an intimate process. You spend months or years alone with these characters and the emotions they carry. Once the book is published, it stops belonging only to you. Readers bring their own experiences, interpretations, and feelings into the story. That shift, from private creation to shared experience, is both beautiful and incredibly vulnerable.
Now that your first book is out in the world, what are you most excited about next? Are you already working on another story, or letting this one breathe for a bit before diving back in?
Haley-Grace: Right now, I’m trying to enjoy the moment and let this story exist in the world for a little while. A debut only happens once, and it’s been really meaningful to see readers discovering the book and connecting with it. That said, writers rarely sit still for long. I currently have a couple of novels in progress and a few ideas I’m exploring. One thing that will always stay consistent in my work is love. No matter what genre I’m writing in, there will always be a central love story at the heart of it. I love love, whether it’s a lighthearted romantic comedy with a happy ending or a more tragic, complicated love story.
Haley-Grace: The next projects I’m playing with explore that idea in different ways. I’d love to write a rom-com, a psychological thriller that still centers around a love story, and even a romance fantasy. I’m excited to experiment with different genres while still telling the kinds of emotional, character-driven stories that I’m most passionate about.
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The Enemy of Time can be purchased here.
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