Category: Queer Romance

My guest this month is Halli Starling, an author who participated with me and a couple hundred others in the Indie Author Spring Spectacular hosted by writer Hayley Anderton. It was a super fun event where I was surprised more by how many indie writers I enjoyed meeting than even the results of the group promo.

Halli’s book, ASK ME FOR FIRE (a fantastic title for a romance story and one reason I was captured right off), got added to my cart and proceeded to sweep me away. We’ll talk more about the book but I’ll just start with… Wow! It was a super compelling and satisfying romance.

I bought the second book in the series, A BRIGHTER, DARKER ART (another lovely title), which is getting checked off my Goodreads list this month. And this folks is all before I focused on the author’s first book about a vampire and other supernaturals! (I can never pass up a vampire story). I can’t wait to check WILDERWOOD off my list as well. This means we will be chatting about writing contemporary romance and fantasy romance, two separate animals, at least to me, in this month’s spotlight. Wait. Who am I kidding? Romance is romance, and love is love, and this author brings out the best of it all in her stories.

Let’s Meet the Author

Let’s Get Started

I love it! Feline supervisors. So, how many cat bosses do you have, Halli? And do they allow you any autonomy at all? Or, are they the secret to your prolific writing?

HS. I have four cat bosses! They all have different opinions about how much autonomy I should have, especially since 3 of them are quite elderly (19 years old, 16 years old, and 15 years old!) and sometimes their opinions supersede all else. And they’re all so so opinionated!

But seriously, I adore my cats, and maybe one of these days my dream of running a big farm where elderly and injured animals can live their days in peace and safety could be a reality.

DLL. Awe. What ages they’ve reached! So precious, and yes, the older the bossier. I can see that. I wish you the best on your dream farm. How lovely!

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So, now that we have your household organization sorted out, Let’s dive into your books. You write all levels of spice, dip into different genres, and explore mental health and healing issues… And I love the diverse, layered variations in the settings, characters, and relationships.

As an example, you rate the spice in ASK ME FOR FIRE (AMFF) as a four and then Raf’s story in A BRIGHTER DARKER ART (ABDA) as a three. Raf, a main character in ABDA, is Ambrose’s best friend in AMFF. This means it’s a two-book series and the stories connect. While book two might have less on-the-page sex, that doesn’t mean the delicious page-turning sexual tension or any of the hot, sweet engagement is any less. The romance and spice levels were spot on and perfect for each story. I found that interesting and refreshing because so many romance authors write to a specific spice level.

Does the spice decide itself as the stories and characters develop? How do you build your diverse worlds, i.e. a lakeside community and wilderness in AMFF and a coastal art gallery business scene in California in ABDA? Where do you get your character inspiration? And my big question is, where does your insight and inspiration on the human condition come from? I’ve found the phenomenal struggles, growth, and ultimate revelations of your characters to be fleshed out so well and so powerful.

HS. Well, first of all, that’s a huge compliment and I’m totally floored by it! 

The spice definitely decides itself (mostly) as I write. As the dynamic between love interests develops, it becomes quite natural for me to figure out the spiciness as I go. It’s hard to describe but I think a lot of authors will understand! 

As far as how I build my towns and settings, it’s all about the vibe. I am, to both my benefit and detriment, an intuitive person and certain places I’ve visited over my life have installed themselves in my mind as potential settings for books. I grew up in the Midwest in the United States, but have always been in love with the cooler, darker, more forested places. The inherent mystery and allure of pine trees and mountains, crystalline lakes, and rocky coastlines, is pretty romantic! 

Character inspiration is probably the hardest part for me as I write. Sometimes it flows really easily, and other times I have to metaphorically wrestle it to the ground and figure out what to do with a certain character, from how they talk to how they move their body, how expressive their face is, etc. I’ve certainly had characters fight me and over the years I’ve learned to put aside those projects until the character(s) come to life. The books I’ve published are the success stories for me!

The insight and inspiration question is also kind of tough to pin down, so I’ll do my best! A very long story short, I grew up in a household with very mentally ill parents who expected me, as the oldest child, to manage their emotions for them. When you do that starting at a young age, you become pretty hypersensitive to people’s emotions, the tone of their voice, little movements in their faces. Now, this is something that anyone who grew up in an abusive household will recognize as a trauma response. It’s one that I’ve taken to therapy and have been working on, but I also somehow learned to utilize it in my writing. I don’t want to use terminology like I’ve turned my trauma into some kind of “superpower”; that denigrates my experience and trivializes what trauma does, but I would never say that it’s not been a useful tool, even subconsciously, in my writing. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you saying that the realness of the characters is so powerful, that means a lot!!

DLL. Thank you so much for sharing this, Halli. There are so many insights here, and it’s utterly inspiring how you’ve tapped into the experiences of such a challenging childhood to bring amazing depth to your writing. This helps me listen to my own voice when I’m struggling not to cater to tropes and trends and stick with what my characters are telling me.

I should also note that this depth doesn’t only apply to the main characters, but the richness comes out in your secondary characters. You bring to life the layered and varied backstories of the people most important to the MCs. They are entirely believable as individuals and add color and all the right touches to bring out the flaws and strengths of the MCs while not taking over the spotlight.

Here’s what one reviewer had to say about ASK ME FOR FIRE.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Mature communication is everything! While the two love interests spend a good amount of time in their own heads thinking about how the other feels, once they actually start vocalizing their interest in each other, their communication is fantastic. They’re transparent and honest about their needs, open to compromise and willing to lay out their expectations. We love to see it!!

This book doesn’t follow the typical romance pattern of them getting together super quick, having some misunderstanding and breaking up, and then getting back together by the end. Because of that, this may feel like a slow burn to some. And it kind of is with the way they agree to take their time with each other, but to me it fees like a realistic simmer of getting to know someone rather than the more common insta-lust/love. I love the way you can see what they see in each other by their first kiss. That kiss happens just over 40% of the way in, by the way.

An entertaining mystery plot line occurs while our MCs fall for each other. It’s important and is ultimately what sets the romance into motion, but it isn’t the main draw of the book so manage your expectations on that front.

Overall, Ask Me for Fire is a soft and sexy romance read featuring mature, communicative men in their mid-30s. Their romance feels good, makes them feel good, and is just plain satisfying. Nice job, Starling.

I’m looking forward to Raf’s romance in the follow-up A Brighter, Darker Art! ~ Phobos

Note to our readers, I adore Halli’s Book Guide on her website. It’s a handy and attractive way to showcase not only the books but also the themes and spice levels before her fans pick their next read.

Now, let’s break it down a little further and talk about contemporary romance vs. paranormal or fantasy romance. First, are all your stories in the romance category, and are romantic relationships (HEAs) your focus? Second, what might drive your story into a fantasy setting as opposed to what drives it into a contemporary backdrop? What is your overall process for developing a story?

HS. Ooof, you’re asking the hard ones, I love it!

Most of my stories are in the romance category. As far as if romance is the focus of the books, it very much depends! When I started writing, yes, romance was the big focus. As I’ve gone on to different projects, different genres, romance sometimes takes a backseat to something else. My upcoming release, VENOR, is first a paranormal thriller featuring queer characters. Romance is only hinted at in the mutual attraction between the main characters, but only a bit of flirting and a few kisses happen toward the end of that, and the reader is left wondering if Renzo and Cedrick will or won’t get together. 

As far as driving motivations in fantasy vs contemporary settings…there’s this idea I see pop up every now and then that books without a giant plot and ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING aren’t worth it. That the quieter, cozier stories aren’t actually books, and because “nothing happens”, they suck. I think a lot of us, as readers and consumers of media, are starting to realize that those quieter, softer stories are sometimes what we really need in a world that is constantly on fire. Contemporary settings allow me, as a writer, to weave those quieter stories. That’s not to say that cozy fantasy/cottagecore fantasy isn’t possible; it’s a great subgenre with some wonderful titles! I aspire to write something like that in future and admire the authors who have created those cozy little worlds. But in a contemporary story, I can really focus on the characters.

With fantasy…I grew up reading so much fantasy and loving all the sword and shield books, all the ones with magic and mystery and tales to unravel. I’m also a huge D&D/TTRPG player, so fantasy is kind of my jam. So in my fantasy books, my brain immediately wants to create these big worlds, but with a twist. We don’t always need to explain the “magic systems” (I low-key hate that phrase, why is it a “system” all the time?? Why does it have to have laws? What happens if magic simply is?), we don’t always need the big hero stories. Fantasy settings give me so much room to run around as a writer, so I try to take advantage of that.

My overall process for developing a story is different book to book! A lot of it has to do with where I am mentally and emotionally in the moment. My novellas were written at a time when I was wrestling with some personal demons, and I just needed some soft, sometimes sexy, stories. I mostly wrote the novellas to entertain myself, and they’ve all thankfully found an audience who appreciate them for what they are: low or no-stakes books about people falling in love. 

With novels, I’ve slowly become a fan of scattershot plotting. My latest book, COUP DE COEUR, is an example of that. I wrote an outline! I kept it nearby as I started to write the first draft! And then…everything went sideways and the book veered in a direction I was not expecting but was so excited about. Basically, my imagination doesn’t shut up and I’ve learned to let it take the wheel now and again.

DLL. I’m trying to figure out where to start. There are so many great points resonating with me right now. I guess I’ll just say that you’ve put into words the things that are important to me and it’s wonderful to know other writers feel the same. I totally dig what you’re saying about a place for slice-of-life, calm stories without the need for intricate worlds or magic systems because character-driven stories and complex relationships in everyday settings can have the power to engage and entertain in a way so different from full-on action pact adventures.

I’ve used my short stories to hone that idea since there isn’t time to build rules and societies. The backdrop has to be woven in with choice words, letting the reader’s mind conjure the details while they enjoy the characters’ journey, which they do! Readers are great conjurers.

HS. Yes, exactly! Short stories are so much fun, but it is a whole other art form than long prose. I love dumping readers into a world all set up and ready for them in short stories.

Can you talk about your latest release, COUP DE COEUR, your presale VENOR (ooh yeah… a werewolf story!) coming in September, and your works in progress? What can we expect next and when?

HS. Oooo yes! COUP DE COEUR started as a novella titled THE PERMISSIVE LIBERTINE, which is a phrase I read in one of my favorite books (THE CITY OF STAIRS by Robert Jackson Bennett), and it stuck in my brain. I really wanted to write a book about the toxic friendship between two people. I had no idea who they were or how they presented, but the idea was like a hook in my brain. I sat on it for a bit, worked on other books, and after about a year, I went back to the idea. At the same time, I had just learned about Dr. John Dee, who was (and this is true) Queen Elizabeth I’s court mage/advisor. He would do all the predictions for her of the future, and advise her on all matters of the court, but he was both deeply religious and fascinated by the occult. A lot of people were at that time, in the 16th and 17th centuries, which is very different from what we see today. People like Dee saw magic as religious, as a gift from God, and once I learned about him, I was fascinated. Suffice it to say that he and his partner, Edward Kell(e)y/Talbot, and their work with attempting to talk to angels, plays a huge role in COUP and the rest of the trilogy. So if you like super weird occult stuff, magical books that talk, and a bit of multiverse shenanigans, COUP might be for you! It’s also a “why choose” romance between three men who are thrown together by accident and quickly fall for each other, but then have to reexamine their relationship as the story goes on.

VENOR is a werewolf story! And a thriller! And a story about a city on the brink, and addiction, and enmeshment. It’s part 1 of 2, with Book 2 (VERTO), coming out in mid/late 2025. Honestly, this book really wasn’t planned at all, and I started it as an experiment on writing werewolves and writing about addiction. I have personal experience with addiction and serious mental health issues via family and here I am again, writing to help exorcize my personal demons. But I quickly realized that Renzo and Cedrick’s story has a third character, the city of Bennek. It’s the story we keep seeing played out – a city where the gap between the wealthy and the poor grows each day and systematic oppression – a main tenet of capitalism – forces poverty to not simply happen, but become lodged into the workings of daily life, including the systems supposedly meant to help those who need it. 

And as far as what’s upcoming…

DEMIMONDE, the sequel to COUP DE COEUR, should be out in early 2025. The cover artist is starting work this autumn, and the editing begins soon as well! I’ll want a few months to promote the book before it goes on sale. With any luck, I’ll have the first draft of Book 3 written by the time DEMIMONDE is out in the world. I’ll also be working on VERTO this autumn.

And I’m currently poking at a fantasy story about an 800-year-old sorcerer who gets pulled back into adventure by a mysterious visitor who seems to know quite a bit about her past. I love “one last job” fantasy books, and while that plotline is a lot of fun, I think it also works really well with themes about grief and loss and regret. I also have about four other ideas I want to work on, but I need to be patient with myself!

DLL. Wow! These all sound absolutely fantastic and are going into my Kindle as soon as they come out. Not to mention how inspiring your volume of ideas is to a writer who dreams about getting out more stories! Your imagination is boundless!

You started writing in 2020, which is the same time I got started. My ambition came after reading tons of fantasy romances my niece introduced me to during the first summer of the pandemic. Can you talk about what inspired you to start your writing journey?

HS. Oh, this is an easy one! I ran a D&D campaign for friends I met online (hey friends!) for almost 3 years. Before that, I had tried to write a book but nothing stuck. Running the campaign was like writing four or five novels…just PAGES of notes, whole notebooks of plotlines and locations, and NPCs and schemes, and it gave my creativity a serious jump-start.

DLL. I’ve had other guests with D&D backgrounds and am so impressed, as well as envious, of the skills role-playing fantasy games instill in writers, those layers upon layers of detail.

HS. I truly recommend folks give role-playing a shot! It seems super intimidating, and admittedly it’s not everyone’s jam, but the doors it can open in your mind! When you start to strip away preconceived notions we all carry with us and truly embody another character, the experience can actually be life-changing. I’m lucky to have people I’ve role-played with for years who also like to lean in and really dig into characters and stories.

DLL. Totally making me want to delve in! I’ve often felt that I missed out by not getting into gaming with real players, especially a group of friends.

What else has helped you hone your skills? How did you explore and make decisions about publishing your books? What are your favorite tools and resources you’ve assembled along the way? Are there any favorite discoveries or things to avoid you’d like to share? (Sorry for the multi-questions 🙂 but I could squeeze in even more!)

HS. I’m a reader first. So my writing has been heavily influenced by the books and authors who have stuck with me. From the way Robert Jackson Bennett structures his stories and overall narratives, to the romances from authors like K.J. Charles and Cat Sebastian, to the nonfiction writers who dive deep into the weird occult stuff that I love, everything always ties back to the books cemented in my brain. 

As far as publishing goes, I am lucky in that regard. I’m a librarian and worked in public libraries for over a decade, so I understand a lot of the technical side of things (how to get ISBNs, which platforms to use to sell my books, etc). The other part of it – formatting, cover art, writing blurbs – is because, even after leaving public libraries, I  still work with books. So a lot of it is job experience, but also because I am such a big reader. I know what books I love, so I try to write what I’d want to read. I know that’s cheesy, overused “advice”, but in my case, it’s pretty true. It also means that my books aren’t written to market, which means that my reader pool is probably pretty small.

The biggest piece of advice I’d give any author is to make sure you own all the stuff and develop skills where you can. That will save you some serious cash and make you more self-sufficient. This means that, if possible, you have your own ISBNs (how to get them varies from country to country, and in the US, they’re ridiculously expensive). If you commission cover art, you own the commercial license for it. And if you can, learn some editing/text placement in Canva or another program so that you develop your own method for formatting your books (whether it’s in Docs, Word, Atticus, Vellum, etc.). You might even be able to help out other authors in the long run or market your skills into a nice little side hustle.

And if you don’t know how to get started or how to do something, ask another indie author! Heck, come ask me! I would be more than happy to help someone avoid the mistakes I made and save them some time, frustration, and money.

And whatever you do, remember that reviews are for readers. I only read reviews I’ve solicited through ARCs and beta reads. Once my book is out there in the big world, how it is interpreted is out of my hands. I know I did my best to represent the story and characters fully, and how the book is read is none of my business. 

DLL. Fantastic! So much great advice from your extensive background. We’ll dive more into being a librarian later. Thanks for the author shoutouts. I’m checking them out and added links.

I’m pretty much bound to Amazon and their free ISBNs. I’ve done separate ISBNs through Draft2Digital for sales in other stores, but have decided for now to be exclusive to Amazon’s KDP Select and delisted in those stores. Your advice helps me in this whole decision process going forward. Thanks!

HS. It’s so hard to get started publishing your own stuff! There’s a number of factors most people wouldn’t be aware of, and why would they? ISBNs aren’t things people think about a lot, if ever. It looks like a barcode like any other product, what does it really do?

And that’s the thing about Amazon vs. Ingram vs. D2D, etc…they all have advantages and disadvantages. You can absolutely publish your stuff on your own website but when you use another service’s platform, you’re tapping into their market. I started with Amazon-exclusive and gradually expanded my platform reach as I published more books. There’s no one way to do any of this, and thankfully it’s a ton easier to self-publish now.

DLL. Thank you for that encouragement and the reminder to get informed on all the options. There is a lot of free information out there on how to self-publish, and authors like you sharing experiences is what this Spotlight is all about. So all you struggling indie authors, reach out to other authors. Don’t be shy.

So, as we just emphasized, selling our books is a business, and time management factors in. How do you stay organized? What are your preferred methods or techniques to create and maintain a productive environment?

HS. “Organized” might be a bit too strong of a word! I’m a mood writer first and foremost, so unless I’m seriously dug into a story, sometimes my brain just needs to hop around. I usually have at least one project on the side that gives me a break from my main focus if I’m stuck or need a breather. It’s hard to describe, but my brain is pretty good at filling in holes and figuring out plot points randomly; like “shower thoughts”, where things suddenly clarify while you’re washing your hair. That’s my mind 90% of the time!

Productivity is easy-come, easy-go for me. I try not to stress if I’m not in the mood to write, which is admittedly very hard some days. I’m always reminding myself that no one is dictating my release schedule…it’s all me! So if I need to slow down or take a break, then I need to listen to that. Otherwise, I prefer to write in bed on my iPad while listening to rain sounds or some kind of lo-fi jazz. I’m easily distracted on the best days, so that particular set-up is how I’ve learned to focus on my writing. I also suffer from a chronic pain condition, so my bed is the most comfortable spot in the house.

DLL. Shower thinking! Perfect. A new term for organization and an awesome reminder to give our brains space to do their own thing… and to ease off that self-enforced schedule and enjoy the writing! Our deadlines are our own! (I need to chant that to myself a lot).

Who or what has been your biggest influence in fiction?

HS. Simply put, it has to do with how a book makes me feel. I’m an extremely picky reader, so when a book clicks with me, I immediately start tearing it apart to figure out why it resonates. It’s the same for me with most media, especially television shows.

DLL. I can see you deconstructing your reads. I need to get more analytical about why I love a story.

HS. I have a very particular vibe I latch onto, so several years ago I got curious as to why certain media hit me so hard. For example, I have watched all three seasons of Hannibal maybe 5 times. Certain episodes, more than that. Now, I am not a fan of horror when it comes to visual media (love it in books); I’m a big wimp. But that show has some of the most beautiful cinematic shots I’ve ever seen, and the themes are (and I say this lovingly) perfectly demented. I got curious as to why I love that show, books like THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST by Rick Yancey, the first season of Penny Dreadful, both seasons of Interview with the Vampire. The darkness, the monsters, the costumes, all amazing, but the deeper themes about the monsters in people and how extremes (despair, pain, lust, envy) make monsters of us all. I eat them up.

DLL. Sorry to say, I haven’t watched Hannibal, but I can add to your comments about the monsters in people, which I agree is such a compelling theme, by pointing to the books by Thomas Harris. The author created an extraordinary amalgamation of the deviant, resourceful mind. RED DRAGON was my first introduction to profiling, and it floored me like it did so many back in the eighties, especially the idea that to catch a killer, you have to think like a killer… And where do you stop that transition? Monstrumologist! What a great title!

I would like to talk about your cover art for two reasons. AMFF and ABDA had such captivating artsy covers. Can you tell us about the designer and your collaboration? And… You also design covers! Tell us about your graphic design background/passion and how to commission your work.

HS. Oh my gosh yes! So Daze is the artist for both covers. She’s INCREDIBLE. We met via the Witcher fandom a few years ago and she did some fandom art for me on commission, then I got the idea to ask her about doing a cover. Daze is so easy to work with and obviously wickedly talented; she deserves all the praise and flowers for these covers. Once she finished the art, I did the text formatting and layouts, and I realized I wanted to learn to do cover art. So I read some tutorials and taught myself how to put covers together in Canva!

I started doing some graphic design for a library I worked at many years ago. We had a really small staff and very little budget, so we were forced to do pretty much everything by the seat of our pants. I had a colleague at the time who was also passionate about graphic design, so we sort of taught each other different skills. I’m no professional but it’s the same with my writing – I know what resonates with me, and I try to recreate that.

If you want to commission me for a cover, you can DM me on Instagram or email me at hallistarlingbooks.com. I also have examples of covers in my Etsy shop (booksbyhalli.etsy.com) and I post examples of covers I’ve done in the past on my Instagram. I’ve been working really closely with the team at the Twisted Retreat Book Box and making covers for them has really helped me hone my skills.

DLL. This is exciting stuff. Collaborating with artists is a dream for me and a perk of being a writer. Hopefully, I can tap into that resource one day soon. Here is a beautiful piece Daze did for Halli’s awesome characters.

Along with the amazing covers.

What are your tips for engaging in outreach and marketing? You have a lively Instagram and a vibrant website. And you get out to meet your readers in public at signing events. How important is it to carve out that time and engage with readers? Where else can readers find you?

HS. I think a lot of indie authors will tell you that marketing is a slog because we’re usually doing it all ourselves! I was just saying this to the lovely and talented Laura R. Samotin (author of THE SINS ON OUR BONES, a heart-wrenching, atmospheric, freaking gorgeous queer romance inspired by Jewish fantasy and history) about this very topic. Her book is traditionally published and she was doing a lot of the marketing herself! In our increasingly hectic world, trying to gain anyone’s attention for 3 seconds feels impossible. So I’ve stopped thinking about it as “selling” my books and more putting them out into the world to find the right readers. Writing will never supplant my day job. I write for myself and for the readers who are looking for something different, something heartfelt and quietly introspective. Maybe occasionally sexy.

I LOVE meeting readers! I’m a very extroverted introvert, which comes from years of public service (including a five-year stint as a children’s librarian). And with my books featuring queer characters front and center, going to Pride just made the most sense. That’s my audience!

Readers can find me on Instagram and my website. My website links out to aggregate pages where all my books are listed at online retailers, in physical and ebook form (and two have audiobooks as well!). I have a Threads account that I use sometimes, but Instagram is my go-to.

DLL. I’ve heard this so many times about the work involved with marketing even if traditionally published. I enjoy the control I have over my content and stories so will likely continue along the indie path. Still, pitching to an agent has its romantic appeal. I am definitely noting your method of getting books out into the world as the focus rather than slogging through the selling. It really should be about the joy and connection to our readers.

Yay on the audiobooks! How awesome is that?… And way to go, getting out there to meet your readers despite the challenges, and congratulations on the results.

HS. Thank you so much! I’m the same way, having control over my content is key. That’s not to say if someone offered me a publishing deal that I would automatically reject it. I’d have to think very seriously about it. I’ve queried ASK ME FOR FIRE and COUP DE COEUR, both with some success as far as agent interest goes. But I work in the book industry, and I’ve seen the good and bad aspects. Your agent should be your biggest champion, and the agents I interacted with for both of those books wanted to make changes out of the gate I wasn’t comfortable with. I’m a recovering people pleaser, so there was power in me telling those folks, “No, I won’t do that to my story” when they wanted to make changes. And no one’s feelings were hurt. It was just the reality of the situation.

DLL. Ooh! Thank you so much for sharing your journey! I dream about an agent who’s totally in my corner. For now, we can be that person to ourselves, eh? Way to go on sticking to your guns. I can’t imagine ASK ME FOR FIRE being changed in any way. Yikes!

Aside from writing, being a librarian, and your cats bossing a good portion of your life, you run an Etsy shop. Selling signed books, premade covers, book swag, etc. Awesome! I’m curious about that marketing avenue, particularly for your signed books. Can you give us some insights, pros and cons, and your best practice tips? How is it working out for you?

HS. Well, with the recent news that Etsy is going to allow AI-generated content to be sold on their site, I’m trying to figure out if I’m sticking with them or going back to listing my signed books and other stuff on my website. I started with a small shop on my own site, but I was struggling with the shipping aspect of it, so switching to Etsy, at the time, made sense. I’ll probably stay on Etsy for now; it is cheaper and easier for me, as a single owner small business, and if people are grossed out by the AI aspect, I would just encourage folks to take a few extra minutes to make sure that the person they’re buying from actually owns the product/art/etc. That’s the struggle when you’re doing this all on your own! It takes so much to make even a single dollar of profit, and the platform or tool you were using can suddenly throw a giant monkey wrench in the works.

I would recommend finding a rhythm that works for you. I know we all want to make things easy and appear accessible to everyone all the time, but even little things can help. For example, my Etsy store lists my shipping period as Monday-Friday. It gives me a bit of breathing room as a human being with needs outside of all the book stuff. It also keeps me from panicking and trying to fulfill orders on a weekend, especially given how busy this summer has been with Pride and book events.

DLL. Great advice. Thank you! And again, I enjoy hearing how busy you are getting out there, which equals steady growth!

So wait! There’s more. You also host a podcast. Can you tell us about the Human Exception and where we can listen?

HS. I freaking love the people I do this podcast with. I met Nathan first, he was the DM for our online D&D group, and he was so laid back and loved every chaotic thing we did, and we quickly became friends. I met his partner, Cayla, via that game as well (we played in-game girlfriends, total chaos between a 7ft tall gnoll and a 2 ft tall gnome). And through them, I met Courtney. We’ve been recording for nearly 4 years (on Halloween!), which is hard to believe.

It all started when we were talking about our varied interests and the weird things that fascinate us, and I think it was Nathan who suggested doing a podcast. Mostly to entertain ourselves, but it’s slowly grown a wonderful audience of listeners who like the same weird stuff we do. And that’s what HEX really is, four friends telling each other stories about weird things we’ve researched, or in the case of a long-running series, them listening to me read aloud the infamous fanfiction, “My Immortal”. 

HEX is available on our website, where we also list all our resources/references and you can read the scripts for each podcast. It’s also available on Spotify, Google, Redcircle, pretty much any podcatcher out there.

DLL. That sounds like an absolute blast not to mention fascinating. And Wow! I just took a look at the website–totally cool. HEX Files. I love it! And what a great thing to provide the audio content with all the backup resource material. Love the t-shirt, too. I can’t wait to dig in to those topics.

Let’s wrap it up with a peek into your other career–a librarian! One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t go into library sciences. Can you tell us how you followed that path and the highlights of a library work life?

HS. Library work was the love of my life for so long! And it still is, just in a different regard. Libraries pretty much raised me; I found solace in them at a very young age, and the librarians I met were very encouraging to a young girl who just loved books so much. I got a part-time job at a small public library when I was 19, and this was the kind of place so small that we did everything. Circulation, reference work, computer help, programming. I got a very intensive, very educational experience working there, and when I left that library to go to a larger branch in the same system after graduating with my Bachelor’s in English, my supervisor encouraged me to go after my MLIS (Master’s in Library Science). She was instrumental in helping me understand what I wanted and I’ll always be grateful to her for so much.

After that, I spent some years as a children’s librarian, and as someone who grew up the way I did, that job was the thing I needed. I fell in love with children’s books and working with kids, especially ones who didn’t have access to a lot of books at home and came to the library with their school or daycare groups. I made it my job to make them laugh and find a new book to take with them. This was a long time ago, but those experiences stuck with me. I stayed in libraries for several years after that, and I kind of bounced around between management and programming. My heart was always with the small community libraries, so I mostly stayed in those places and worked hard to advocate for literacy and book access. Libraries are SO important to their communities; they’re one of the few places that don’t ask for a monetary transaction for you to come in, stay, and use their resources. For an international audience, I know your libraries can be quite different but they’re no less important. When people want to take away your access to information, it’s for a reason and we should all be ready to fight back against that.

I left library land about 8 years ago but I still work with books. I was really burning out doing so much public-facing work and was struggling with my health, so the change came when I needed it the most. I started working from home way before COVID hit and was fortunate enough to stay in that kind of role up to now.

DLL. Fantastic! Libraries are the best fantasy worlds in my book. (Eeek. Sorry for the pun.) I was reminiscing the other day with my husband about our respective library experiences from our childhoods. Before computer games stuck us in our rooms, there were libraries encouraging you to venture outside your home and traverse multi-storied, awesome-smelling, real bound paper heavens. And to have worked in them… Sigh…

Thank you so much for visiting with me on my Spotlight, Halli. Any parting words of advice for those who want to explore writing fiction, and queer romance in particular?

HS. The indie scene is where it’s at! We’re the ones writing queer books that don’t just focus on tragedy. There are definitely beautiful traditionally published books with great queer stories, but if you want authenticity unfiltered, indie authors know what’s up. And as far as writing goes, give yourself time. I know it looks like we’re all competing against each other, but it’s true that a rising tide lifts all boats. We should celebrate each other! Don’t let anyone else try to tell you how to write or publish. It’s your story, and it will find readers.

DLL. What a fantastic thought to leave us with and I’m thrilled to be part of the rising tide with you. Thanks again, Halli!