Goodreads asked Francine Beaton:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Francine Beaton The first scene of this book popped up in my head while watching a Six Nations match in February 2017. I immediately typed it up, but I didn’t have much to go on apart from the scene and the names of the two characters, Jakes and Ange. The next few days it became clear that I needed to tell Jakes’ story, but I had no idea where the story was going.
A few days after I’ve written that scene, the rugby world was shocked by the passing away of the Wallaby Dan Vickerman. I’ve read many articles and watched panel discussions in which Dan’s death was discussed. One of those panel discussions happened on a New Zealand show, dealing specifically with the struggles of professional sportsmen and women. One panelist used the phrase that it was not uncommon for men in a macho environment not to talk about their emotions and fears as they don’t want to appear weak. It caught my attention and it stuck and eventually led to Eye on the Ball.

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