Let’s get one thing straight: Tomasz Wozniack was never supposed to be that hot.

When writing Distorted Beat, I knew the story needed a grounding force—a counterweight to Amy’s beautiful chaos. Enter Tomasz Wozniack: Olympic medalist, master of silence, grumpy neighbour with a heart that thaws slowly … But somewhere between typing “former Olympic decathlete” and “piercing blue eyes”, I blacked out and created a tragic Adonis with a Polish passport, the emotional baggage of a brooding Shakespearean prince and a body sculpted by the gods. Or at least by 10 events in track and field.

Tomasz is 38, widowed, and two years into building a quiet life in London. He lives with his younger sister and her Bichon Frisé, Bolek – who becomes a fluffy, yappy bridge between him and Amy. (Yes, both our leads are Bichon owners. Coincidence? I think not.) He avoids parties but not early morning runs. He doesn’t say much, but when he does, it counts. Amy, of course, barges right through that silence—dog, sarcasm, and all.

But let’s rewind.

London, where Distorted Beat is set, isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character. A glorious mess of cultures, corners, and accents. It is a city of intersections. The Polish community is one of the many rich threads in its social fabric. Tomasz had to belong there. Writing Distorted Beat was, in many ways, a love letter to London and the complexity of the people who call it home.

Tomasz is fictional, yes, but like most rom-com heroes worth their salt, he’s also a cocktail of inspiration. Part of Tomasz was inspired by Roman Šebrle, a former Czech athlete I’ve admired for years. Another part is a nod to a dear friend and former colleague – who is Polish, delightfully deadpan, and unknowingly lent some of his DNA to this fictional heartthrob. And the rest? The result of long walks, overcaffeinated brainstorming, and asking myself: What if Adonis had an Eastern European passport, a tragic backstory, and a soft spot for dogs? If Adonis had an Eastern European passport, a tragic backstory, and a soft spot for dogs?

Tomasz started as a trope—the brooding neighbour—but grew into a man shaped by grief, discipline, and the quiet courage to try again. He's a widower who runs at dawn, avoids confrontation, folds towels with mathematical precision, and gets low-key annoyed when his sister plays Taylor Swift on repeat and tells him he’s an idiot.

So, yes—Tomasz is my tribute to Polish excellence, Olympic stamina, and the healing power of hot neighbours with emotional depth. Also, he's why I now instinctively type “track pants slung low on his hips” whenever I open a new manuscript.

You're welcome.

Love a hero with a hard shell and a molten middle? Meet Tomasz in Distorted Beat. Available wherever slow-burns smoulder.

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