From Virtual Connection to Real-Life Romance
When 2023 arrived, author Susan Hayes was yearning for change after spending the Covid-19 pandemic years in lockdown in Victoria, Canada. Having left her conventional job at the close of 2019 to pursue writing and travel full-time, she found her plans abruptly halted by global restrictions.
During those isolated years, Hayes turned to a simple mobile game about surviving a zombie apocalypse for distraction and connection. "It provided a bit of fun and a way to interact with people from across the globe," she recalls. Among those virtual acquaintances was a man named Craig, whose clever way with words first captured her attention.
The Digital Spark That Ignited Something More
Their daily chats quickly became the highlight of Hayes's routine, though both maintained a light, friendly tone. As internet strangers separated by multiple time zones, a real-world meeting seemed improbable. That perspective shifted when Hayes discovered Craig lived in Australia, coinciding with her scheduled attendance at a romance book signing in Melbourne that April.
After gathering courage to inquire about his specific location, Hayes received the life-altering response: Craig resided in Melbourne. What began as a tentative suggestion for coffee evolved into plans for a full day exploring the city together.
A First Meeting Straight From Fiction
Still battling jet lag during their initial encounter, the pair explored Melbourne's centre with a shared focus on coffee, chocolate, and bookshops. Their day concluded with a train journey to a specialty store selling replica swords, armour, and other geeky collectibles.
"After more than ten years of single life and two years of pandemic isolation, my romantic instincts had grown profoundly rusty," Hayes admits. Despite an exceptional day together, she remained uncertain whether their outing constituted a genuine date.
To Hayes, Craig embodied the qualities of a romance novel protagonist: tall, handsome, charming, with a sharp sense of humour and geeky interests that mirrored her own. The question lingered whether he shared her deepening feelings.
The Decisive Moment That Changed Everything
Returning to Hayes's hotel after dinner, neither wished to part ways. Craig, a photographer, offered to capture images of the Melbourne Gasworks' flame towers from her window—a sight she had admired but failed to photograph adequately the previous night.
After taking the photographs, Craig set down his camera and did something that transformed their relationship. He asked permission to kiss her. "It felt like a scene lifted directly from a romance novel, only this time I was living it," Hayes remembers. Her affirmative response marked the moment she knew Craig was someone she wanted permanently in her life.
Building a Future Across Continents
Following that pivotal kiss, the couple maximised their time together, with Craig even assisting Hayes during her book signing event. "He remained sweet and supportive despite the chaos as nearly a thousand readers descended upon the convention centre," she notes.
The day before Hayes's departure, they discussed their future in a remarkably brief conversation—both already certain of their desires. Deeply in love, they resolved not to let this opportunity for happiness escape them.
Months later, Craig visited Hayes in Canada, their bond strengthened by daily video calls and virtual "date nights" spent gaming together. She introduced him to whale watching, nature walks, her parents, and friends. By his return to Australia, their commitment had deepened further.
From Proposal to Permanent Commitment
During her 2024 visit to Australia, Hayes proposed to Craig, who joyfully accepted. Their journey toward "happily ever after" demanded thousands of hours of online communication, personal challenges, and enduring the loneliness inherent in long-distance relationships.
In March 2025, Hayes exchanged vows with the love of her life. She has since relocated to Melbourne, joining Australia's community of new immigrants. Together, they are constructing their shared life day by day—filled with laughter, occasional geeky moments, and the heartfelt conviction that their love story is merely beginning.
Susan Hayes, author of over seventy books, continues to write while embracing her new life in Melbourne with Craig, proving that sometimes the most extraordinary connections emerge from the most unexpected digital encounters.
