Enjoy the entire series for $1.99 Monday through Friday – Starting July 22!
I’m trying to wrap my head around having a book published for three years! What better way to drive it home than a celebration sale?
I can’t thank my reading community, writing community, and family enough for hanging on with me through this amazing ride. The least I can do is pass on offers from Amazon. And of course, my books are always available on Kindle Unlimited.
When destiny gives you three paths, choose the fourth.
I doodle this in my art journal because it seems like the answer to my riddle. Some say having choices is a good thing. I’ve learned that three possible roads to the future mean confusion and heartache.
It all started when I shot an alien prince on a highway near Lake Tahoe… Well, to be honest, it began when I met a towering man with chestnut eyes who captured my heart despite his best efforts to leave me out of his dangerous world.
Andras is my mate, but he’s compelled by fate to join forces with a rival alpha to support my prophetic mission. Elliott and his pack are family now, and Elliott looks at me like Andras does. Both men tug on my heartstrings—and that’s not my biggest problem.
After a battle with said alien prince, we regroup at my brother’s fishing lodge in Ketchikan. I haven’t seen Dylan in years. There’s a reason for that, which makes me sadder than our separation. Then, my vampire friend enlists my help on a mission. When Andras finds out, I learn what happens when you poke an angry bear.
I’m about to make it worse when my instincts urge me to leave my bear and my dragon to follow the ancient tiger, aka the alien prince, to his lair—my third path in a destiny of choices marked by the moon goddesses of Anurash. ~ Selena Aires
And… If you want to tap into 748 other free romance books, I’m taking part in the Romance Book Lovers Book Blast on Tuesday July 23. So many romance genres! Jump in now and find your next reads!
Read Ursus Borealis for free on Kindle Unlimited to begin your Starlight Chronicles paranormal romance adventure.
Bears are supposed to live in the woods. Just not one who sends you to the moon.
Selena Aires
I promised my friend on his deathbed that I would find the place I was destined for. Neither of us had a clue what that meant, but searching for it after he’s gone helps me cope with my grief, and I pack up my art supplies and hit the highway. When I stop for gas in Quincy, Thomas is waiting for me—in spirit. So, I stay—and find my dream cottage with a studio and hiking trails out the back door, and a quaint old tavern called the Starlight with a cozy booth in the corner. I set out my sketchbook and pencils and get busy drawing faces—my way of getting to know people while I enjoy a beer.
It works. I’m making friends and filling my journal with the kind of diverse characters typical of a crossroads pub. But diversity doesn’t explain why the people coming to life on my pages are the stuff of fairytales. The most fascinating is Andras Johns, and I’m wondering more often whether the towering man who sets me on fire with one look is the prince in the story or the beast lurking in the woods.
Andras Johns
I’ve been the alpha of the North Star Pack for a long time. My policy? Never mix it up with a human. I can’t stand the idea of exposing a vulnerable species to the hazards of my job, and the hazards recently ramped up. But there’s a new face in town. A beautiful, human face. The first time Selena Aires gives me her smile, I smile back. It’s a mistake—and I know I’m done for, which is a problem because an alpha can’t break his own rules.
Meet a giant, smoking-hot cinnamon roll hero and a diminutive lovable kickass heroine in this paranormal romance with heart, spice, and a nice bit of danger. *This is not a standalone.* The hazards and thrills ramp up in Book Two, Drago Incendium.
Bears really do live in the woods near my home… and in the neighborhoods… sometimes even our backyards.
I write romance. I like to think it’s romance with heart and enough steam to compete with a hot mug of tea and keep those pages turning. So, I’m going to talk about what influenced me to march down this path. First, I was heavily influenced by all the fantastic romance authors of my day, Johanna Lindsey(greatly missed), Jude Deveraux, and Julie Garwood to name a few.
We’re talking, sexy, Fabianesque, badass, cinnamon roll heroes whether wearing tartan, business suits, or armor and engaging in all the exciting tropes of today, and maybe a few forgotten ones of yesterday–and the strong women who cleverly persuaded them to change their ways.
Remember the movie Romancing the Stone–the opening scene when Joan Wilder bawls like a baby and can’t find anything in the apartment to blow her nose after she finishes her novel? I wanted to experience that… and crying after writing an emotional scene or ending is real folks. Awesome!
In my youth, my favorite place to get lost in a good romance novel was climbing my way around to a remote ledge along the Pacific Ocean at places like Salt Point or Timber Cove. My parents were scuba divers and they’d be out all day freezing in their wetsuits while I cozied up in a rocky alcove with a bottle of pop and a bag of sunflower seeds, the ocean spread out before me and the surf crashing below my dangling feet. Often, whole families of seals would be lounging near my spot, and a grey whale would spout so close I could see the barnacles on its back. If I wanted to cry at the end, no one could hear me. It was heaven.
Salt Point State Park, California
But my stories must also be steeped in fantasy and paranormal lore. This brings me to the other side of my romance coin–the influence that came from my obsession with muscle-bound barbarians in the delightful, violent, and sexy eighties movies… thank you Schwarzy for blazing the trail.
Conan The Barbarian, Conan The Destroyer, and Red Sonja taught me that fantasy can take you anywhere you want to go in a plot. Yes, they might have come with lots of cheese, but it’s all in the perspective. Great actors like Max Von Sydow and James Earl Jones elevated the cheesy pizza grade movie to a steak dinner in my book. Enjoy all three movie trailers in this YouTube video.
Do you remember the other lesser enduring flicks like the one starring another of my favorite eighties hunks, Mark Singer, in The Beastmaster? I’m providing it below. Watch if you dare. 😉 I’d even consider my all time favorite fantasy flick, Willow, to be in the barbarian realm, and all the Highlander movies. Seems like where we had magic, we had to have barbarian hordes. This is the stuff of fantasy world building for me.
People think I’m crazy when I tell them I love being my age. But hey, it means that I got to spend decades steeped in all of the above while watching and being part of the exciting romantasy genre taking over the fiction landscape of today. Barbarians still have a role to play in romance and many of them have moved into space. I’m not surprised. It’s harder to imagine fierce horse cultures and warrior races clashing over territory across the vast steppes of the Earth we have today. So, why not fly off to unknown planets? That’s what I’m doing in a novel I have in the works, Caged Diamond.
Stay tuned for the story of MMA fighter Justina “Diamond” Jewel Blake who’s forced to fight for a planetary syndicate and the barbarian warrior she’s pitted against. You can follow me here and subscribe to my newsletter for updates.
I’ll leave you with a sci fi romance reading recommendation. A romance writer who brings to mind my old faves is Zoey Draven. Her Horde Kings of Dakkar series is a romping lot of fun and full of suspense. Here’s the first in the series.
The journeys I end up on as I conduct research are a major part of the joy I find in writing. This month, I wandered into the Golden Age of Pirates and discovered all the fun facts that aligned with my precious memories of a favorite Disneyland adventure. If you’ve visited Pirates of the Caribbean in that magical park, you’ll know what I’m referring to.
I shared this in part in my recent newsletter, in case it looks familiar, but I wanted to expand on the fun facts and resources. Towards the end, I’ll give you a glimpse of the pirate story I’ve started for an anthology.
I’ve long asked myself why these infamous men who engaged in short careers rife with heinous acts of mayhem were such romantic figures who still capture our imaginations and sense of adventure hundreds of years later. The words of the most successful pirate, Black Bart, might give you an idea.
In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labour. In this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst is only a sour look or two at choking? No, a merry life and a short one shall be my motto.
— A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (1724), p.213–214
Bartholomew Roberts, aka John Roberts, aka Black Bart
And just look at them. They were swashbuckling commanders of the fastest ships who wore tricorn hats shaped into their own rebellious fashions, kept pets like parrots, wore a brace of pistols in a sash slung over their broadcoats and a cutlass hanging from their belts, just to name a few of the iconic images. They lived by a democratic code of conduct customized for life aboard their ship, which gave them a semblance of order among chaos critical to the company’s success. [This image was acquired on Pinterest, shared by Beyond Geek]
They came to their ends in action-packed battles like Blackbeard (allegedly shot and stabbed multiple times before succumbing) or were hung, covered in tar, and put on display in a cage like Captain Kidd.
A fun fact shared in an article by Disney Adulting on the history of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean; Disney’s Imagineers used real skeletons donated by a university medical center until improved technology allowed them to be replaced and returned for proper burial. Click on the image to learn more.
Pirates flew flags of doom known as the Jolly Roger like this one still in existence and referenced in Wikipedia, and allegedly wove smoking firecrackers into their beards (Blackbeard again) to terrorize their enemies.
Some faced these relentless dangers and horrible ends simply because they wanted a life of excitement and adventure. Stede Bonnet, the gentleman pirate, gave up his family, wealth, and a leisurely life on a Barbados plantation, bought a sloop he named the Revenge, employed his pirate crew, and set sail for his first raid knowing nothing about seafaring, fighting, or commanding a ship.
No one knows what motivated the Englishman to change his life so drastically, but it begs one to attribute it to boredom and discontent with his perfect life (some say his wife). This story is the most fascinating to me because of this man’s dramatic arc, though there are so many great characters to pick from.
It is harder to fit heroic women into these tales since they were banned by the code from life at sea and relegated to the background as pirate wives or prostitutes in pirate havens.
There are astonishingly two famous women, who turned out to be fiercer pirates than their not so impressive captain, Calico Jack (John) Rackham, who were tried for piracy and pardoned as expectant mothers, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Another great story, though much of it must be drawn from sketchy historical accounts and their trial documents.
So, how do women figure into the fictional pirate legends so many people love to write about? Well, when you write fantasy, there are endless possibilities and plenty of loopholes in the pirate code at your disposal.
My story will involve a pirate captain who wants his pardon and yearns to retire to his plantation, but his crew isn’t on the same page. After a fierce storm, they come alongside a piece of wreckage and two mysterious castaways… and this is where my bent for fantasy comes into play and will loosely involve sea god mythology.
I hope you enjoy this opening scene.
It was the company’s first day of meager sunlight after the darkest storm in Bastien Marceau’s memory. The struggling brightness was welcome, which said a lot about the bizarre weather dogging the Salty Pearl since the day five months ago when his crew forced him at sword point to sign the articles of agreement and command this cursed vessel.
The reluctant captain’s skills and sheer luck had kept their losses low and this time, even as the heavily repaired and vulnerable mainsail was torn asunder by the force of nature, no hands had met their end. The quartermaster was even now rallying the men for a vote to allow their new commander to live another day.
Bastien didn’t waste this rare moment of calm worrying about his fate. Instead, he enjoyed the breeze brushing against his face as it carried the scent of sand, coconut, and spice. It comforted his troubled soul like the image he carried with him of his sugar plantation bathed in the glow of a sinking sun. His dream waited for him on Saint Dominique… if he could just break free.
D. L. Lewellyn
My latest writing journey started when I wanted to understand the anatomy of a pirate ship. I found Gold and Gunpowder on YouTube and meandered happily into a rabbit hole.
At least they are for my three-part Starlight Chronicles because I finished the third book! It’s such a dream come true that I’ve been shouting this out every chance I get.
I knew it would be a poignant phase in my new writer’s life–finishing my first novel. I’ve been living with these magical beings for three years. Or, I should say my pod people who were seeded in my brain by what had to be mysterious aliens have been in my head through my sleep, my waking hours, and any type of consciousness in between for a very long time. It goes without saying how much I will miss them.
Except… they won’t be gone forever. I’ve got loads of spinoff stories planned, and even a couple in the works, though for the next year, I will head down a different path. Two novels are calling me, and they’re in a different genre–new adult / sci-fi fantasy. I guess my aliens decided I needed to visit their world for a while.
Ah. The joys of writing fantasy fiction. So many roads to travel.
Thank you for converging with me on this path from time to time and letting me shout in joy.
Early in my epic fantasy romance journey, I discovered this paranormal romance author and her amazing storytelling that keeps the pages turning, those surprise laughs coming, and the heat pulsing. Yum!
Let’s meet the author
I’ve always been fascinated with the paranormal. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with my love of a good happily-ever-after, and becoming a paranormal author seems like the logical choice!
I love ghosts, psychics, werewolves, vampires, demons, and even the occasional guardian angel. If it’s paranormal, I’ve probably written about it…or at least considered writing about it.
In my past life, I was a high school journalism teacher. But after ten years of teaching other people how to write, I decided to stay home with my kids and write my own stories in my free time. When I’m not writing or reading books about writing, you’ll find me reading paranormal romances, thrillers, romantic suspense, YA, and middle grade fantasy (I have a teen and a tween who love to read. It’s fun to discuss books with them!).
I love red wine and chocolate, and I can make a mean mojito. I like movies, I’m passionate about traveling, and I might have a mild Dave and Buster’s addiction. I’m married to a tall sexy Dutch guy with piercing blue eyes and a swoon-worthy accent. He also shares my enthusiasm for D&B!
In addition to my two human children, I also have two fur babies who swear they’re chihuahuas (but at 12 & 18 pounds respectively, I’m not so sure).
Let’s Get Started
I am thrilled to have you join me today, Carrie! Thank you so much for taking a break from your super-packed schedule to chat with me and share your insights with our audience. First, congratulations on your new cover designs for your earlier series and your recent releases! You are on fire!
You’re also the first paranormal romance author I read before I caught the fever–the best fever anyone can catch. And I attribute it to Luke in Werewolves Only. Shifters… sigh…
You write about shifters, vampires, witches, demons, and so many more, and you like to mix them up in diverse couple dynamics. Which paranormal race is your favorite? Which combination is your favorite?
CP. That’s a tough one! I think for the women, I would have to choose witches. I really enjoy the magic aspect with the ability to control the elements and cast spells. For the men, it’s a toss-up between wolf shifters and demons. I like them being able to growl and claim you as their mate.
DLL. Nuff said! 😁 Especially about the growly part.
When did you start writing and what was your journey like in those early days while you navigated independent publishing? What would be your top tips for authors starting this journey today?
CP. I started writing fiction in 2009 (inspired by Twilight like a lot of us were at the time). I had been writing for newspapers and businesses for ages, and writing novels always seemed impossible. My friends encouraged me to try, so I did. Now I have thirty published books!
I was first published through a small press that has since gone out of business. When I got my rights back from them, I tried another small press but decided I’d rather have complete control over the process. I went indie, and I haven’t looked back!
Tips for brand new authors… Read, read, read. Learn the craft to the best of your ability and read as many books as you can in the genre you want to write. Every niche has certain expectations, and you can’t twist things and make them your own until you learn what readers want.
DLL. This is all encouraging for those of us going the indie route who think about traditional publication. I’ve watched you build your brand for a while now, and have learned a lot, especially about consistency and staying in touch. Thanks, Carrie!
Is romance your first love? How does it fit with your preferred fantasy genre?
CP. I noticed when I would read or watch movies, no matter the genre, I would always be disappointed if there wasn’t at least a little bit of romance in there. I’m a sucker for a happily ever after, even if the romance is a minor plot point, so yeah, I guess romance is my first love…as long as there are some creatures and magic thrown in the mix!
Who is your biggest influence as a writer? Can you share your top three authors?
CP. I mentioned Twilight before, so Stephenie Meyer played a big role in my becoming an author. But Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series were the first adult paranormal romances I ever read. Her books are the ones that made me go ooohhhhh…I want to do this! Another favorite of mine is Heather Graham.
DLL. Awesome. Thanks! Twilight got me going too, only I was quite a late bloomer. The others are on my TBR!
One of the many things I enjoy about your stories is that you combine the right proportion of suspense, horror, humor, and sizzling romance, which makes for a fun, fast, and thrilling read. What is your top advice for learning that formula?
CP. I am a total pantser, so giving advice on a formula is next to impossible for me. Most of the time, I don’t know what’s going to happen until the characters tell me.
DLL. Pantser here too… It’s why I started writing. For the adventure…
I know it’s tough to pick favorites because we fall in love with every one of our characters as we write their story… but out of so many books you’ve given your readers, who is your favorite character and why? And if you have more than one, feel free to give us a list.
CP. Now why would you ask me that? It’s like asking who’s my favorite child! Lol.
I supposed if I had to choose a hero, I would go with Sean from Love and Ghosts. He’s artistic, in touch with his emotions, and just overall a swoon-worthy man. Although Gaston from New Orleans Nocturnes will always have a special place in my heart.
For the heroine, maybe Ash from Fire Witches of Salem. She’s very relatable to me, and I had so much fun writing from her point of view. I also love Odette from A Deal With Death. She is such a strong woman, and the things she has to go through to get her HEA would crumble most people.
DLL. 😁 After Luke in Werewolves Only, I would have picked Sean. The only thing better than reading swoon-worthy is writing it–what a surprise that was.
I just finished the first New Orleans Nocturnes installment, Chaos and Ash. I love Ash! What a fantastic dynamic… Chaos vs an orderly librarian. Sizzling hot! Can’t wait to dive into Commanding Chaos (Love the titles!)Your covers are looking fabulous and I love the fonts.
Besides Amazon, Carrie sells her books from her website. Click Here!
I would call you a prolific writer. One of my burning questions, as a writer who is struggling to finish the third book in a debut series and finally getting there, is do you write faster these days? How many books do you plan for the year, end up writing, and end up publishing? In other words, what are your yearly publishing goals?
CP. Much like how I write, I don’t really plan my publishing. My life has been hectic (that’s putting it lightly) for the past year or so, and I try not to set expectations for myself when there is a good chance I won’t meet them. I published three books last year, but there was a time (a long time) when I didn’t think I’d publish anything.
This year, I am shooting for at least three (the second trilogy in Fire Witches of Salem), but four would be nice!
DLL. Good luck!!
While we’re on the topic of productivity, what are your tips for staying productive, keeping those creative juices flowing, and the stories coming while balancing other aspects of life?
CP. The one tool that has helped me the most is an app called Focus Keeper. It’s a timer that uses the Pomodoro method. So I set it and write for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, write for 25, etc. That goes on for two hours, and then you take a half-hour break. When I can make myself use it, then I’m pretty productive.
DLL. Wow! Great tip. I haven’t heard of that.
Another aspect I’ve enjoyed in following you is being part of your community. I love the way you engage, and your Facebook Group The Pulkinen Pack is a lot of fun. What’s your advice for getting involved with your reading community and being accessible?
CP. I share a lot of memes on my Facebook page, so I made the group so readers could share them too. I’ve realized that my sense of humor has become my brand, and the readers who follow me on Facebook share the same dark, twisted idea of funny as me!
Dark Romance Humor
I would also say you live the life you write. By that, I mean your joy in being part of a Mardi Gras krewe and the other ways you experience the paranormal vibes of your settings. I’ve started reading the Fire Witches of Salem, so I can dive into that environment after enjoying many of your settings in New Orleans. Can you talk a bit about the inspiration behind your fantasy worlds?
CP. Setting and world-building are important aspects of my books. So many are set in New Orleans because it is my favorite city to visit and I have been there dozens of times.
For Fire Witches of Salem, I took a trip to Salem to experience the city first-hand so that I could hopefully bring it to life like I do with my New Orleans books.
So I incorporate real aspects of the cities, and then embellish them, making them more magical.
DLL. What a blast. Thanks, Carrie. Exploring your settings—Another fun aspect of writing fiction.
Another burning question I have for a romance writer… Does your husband read your books?
CP. Absolutely! He is my biggest fan! He beta reads them when they are in a rough state, and then he proofreads the finished product to make sure we didn’t miss any typos in the editing process.
DLL. Fantastic!! My husband is great for bouncing ideas off of, especially for weapons and battle questions. He also reads a lot of my material… But a whole romance book? We don’t go there.😉
Thank you so much, Carrie. This has been a blast, and I wish the you the best in 2024! What parting advice do you have for those of us who want to pursue writing fantasy fiction?
CP. I heard a quote once, and I wish I could remember who said it so I could give them credit. “Writing a first draft is like shoveling sand into a sandbox to build castles with later.” Keep on writing, even if you feel like it’s garbage. You can always fix it later.
DLL. Awesome!Thank you for that. And I found that great quote. It’s from author Shannon Hale. You nailed it! Here it is so we can all tack it up on our project board.
This month I’ve got two romance writers from two continents stopping by to give us a dual chat on a day in the life of writing sizzling hot romance, marketing sizzling hot romance, and publishing sizzling hot romance. Abigail Hunter from the U.K. and Meg Stratton from the U.S. are writing buddies and have been collaborating on some exciting projects.
We will dive into their works and projects and find out how amazing they are at supporting and welcoming up-and-coming indie authors into the fold. I met these two through dark romance writer and previous guest, Gigi Meier, thanks to Gigi’s mission to shine the light on indie authors in her Let’s Go Live interviews.
I’m benefitting from this now as I get to know them while working on a new romance novel, which will be part of an anthology of novels with Abigail, Meg, and other great writers in our romance writers group.
Born and raised in Scotland, Abigail has always been surrounded by green hills, forests, and fairy stories. First a gardener, then a carpenter, now an author, she writes steamy stories about passionate and heartfelt characters who fight for what they believe in, especially love.
I absolutely loved reading Tearing You Apart. This book was so beautifully written I seriously couldn’t stop reading til the very last page. I’m still reeling over this book.
Meg is a new author looking to share her dream that spiraled out of control and has turned into a book or two. She enjoys time with her husband and four children and working on maximizing her way too large urban garden on her tiny plot of land in the Pacific Northwest, spending far too long in her commute thinking of new storylines for her heroines.
Here’s what a reviewer has to say about Oracle: Mia.
Really enjoyed this book so much that I finished this in the same day. If you enjoy: Why choose, spice, aliens, sci-fi/romance, you should read.
Let’s Get Started
Hello Abigail and Meg! Thank you so much for joining me today. I’ve been looking forward to our chat for weeks. You might guess my first question. How did you two get together?
MS: I’m not sure if I found Abigail or if she found me. But at one point about 6 months ago Abigail joined my babyromanceauthor group on IG. There she joined my first anthology book, contributing our spiciest story to the lineup of Fairy Tale stories retold. We have also joined forces to bring a world-building, fate-marked series with many other authors from the IG group and other author friends, coming out in 2024. Abigail has a wealth of book knowledge and is an excellent writer and editor. I’m so happy to have met her this year!!
AH: I feel like Meg has answered this one pretty succinctly!
DLL. I can’t wait to see what comes out of the new fate marked collaboration!
Now we’ll back up a little. How did you each get started on your writing journeys and what moved you onto the spicy path in the romance genre?
MS: I have always been a romance reader, coming and going throughout the years as I had more or less time to read, but I really got into why choose stories during Covid. I was reading so much that I had a very vivid dream that stuck with me when I woke up the next day. I started to write out my dream on my phone, in a week I was parked on the couch with my PC while my partner played games next to me. Within a year, I had written a very rough 300,000 word story. My partner turned to me one day and said why don’t you try and self publish whatever you have been writing over there. ;) He hasn’t read a word of my writing but was willing to back my ambition. The best author support partner.
AH: I was in a pretty bad space in my life last October, and, quite like Meg, I started seeing snippets of scenes and ideas swirling around my head until I decided to write them down. And, when I started writing, I couldn’t stop. Then, in February, I woke up in the morning and said “Right, I’m going to do it.” and by May, Tearing You Apart was published. I don’t feel like I actively chose spicy dark romance. I let my characters guide me, and that’s the direction they take me in. I love writing about intense, emotionally-charged love, and sex and angst are the pinnacles of that in my character’s relationships.
DLL. I love these stories! Thanks so much for sharing. So many inspiring journeys got started during the pandemic. And I can relate. I started writing after reading voraciously all things paranormal romance during the summer of 2020. I had that epiphany and started writing by the end of that year.
How would you each categorize your level of spice and the tone you like to strike with your romance?
MS: I didn’t know what my level would be when I started. I would classify myself as a solid 3 pepper spice level today. As a why choose author, it could be higher as there are multiple players in the relationship though I haven’t explored MM or FF relationships in my books yet. I like how in why choose stories, the characters need to overcome a lot of stigma and standard beliefs around how relationships should be. I love the discovery that the parties go through as they find their partners.
I write post-destruction/apocalyptic stories where the characters are trying to survive and find their way.
AH: Er…that’s kind of a hard one. When I finished Tearing You Apart, I thought it was at least a 4 out of 5 in the spice rating, but some reviewers were rating it 2. I’d say my anthology piece, Blood Princess, is at least a 4. Now that I’ve had time to think and develop my WIP list, I’ve got some very extreme books coming that I’d definitely say were 5s, so much so that I can’t publish them on Amazon! But, at the moment, I’m writing fluffy smutfics and longer books that are heavy on drama and angst.
DLL. This is the kind of insight on spice levels I was looking for. I see so many different ratings and rating systems that it’s easy to get a little lost on how to compare what I write. Thank you!
For each of you, tell me who your favorite character is to date in your respective works.
MS: J (Jaco) from Oracle: Mia, book 1 of my Oracle’s Journey series. Tough, tattooed but obsessed with the FMC and fated to meet her. His looks remind me of Wentworth Miller when he was in Prison Break.
AH: That’s so difficult! I absolutely adore all my female characters. Whether they are strong, meek, powerful, broken, I love exploring their lives and journeys. Out of my published male characters, there is a wolf shifter from my anthology piece called Lucien who I really enjoy reading and writing about. He is incredibly angry and despises his love interest, Ruby, which results in some very intense sex scenes, but, when he opens up and really falls in love with her he basically explodes with softness and will do anything for her.
DLL. Writing book boyfriends in addition to hording them from my favorite books was one of the best surprises in becoming a romance author.
Which character is your favorite in upcoming works?
MS: Wolf in Red is for Roxy. This is my anthology piece that is coming out Nov 15th. He is fun loving, but wants to be called daddy and call the shots with the FMC.
AH: I have a huge list of books I’m planning on publishing over the next few years, but one who really stands out is Sasha. She is a mafia princess, and she falls in love with three men who have been sent to take down her family. Her body is absolutely littered with scars from abuse, she is missing two fingers, and has a huge scar that slices up her face. Her personality is just fantastic. She is so tough, no matter how bad it gets she will fight, she loves her men and her friends so deeply that she will (and does) do anything for them. And her relationships with the three men are so different but so beautiful at the same time. I absolutely love writing her, and I can’t wait to publish her story next year so other people can meet her too.
DLL. Ah… to hear the passion from writers about their stories and characters. One of my favorite questions to ask. These sound fabulous. Thank you!
Can you share more about your respective works in progress?
MS: I will be finishing the second half of Red is for Roxy so that it can be fully published when the anthology is done. Then I will be either working on the fate marked world building story or move onto my gods/goddesses anthology work. So many stories in my head but I actually consider myself a slow writer, I need to maintain a consistent goal plan so that I can manage it all.
AH: Yeeeah, it’s a lot… I have a solid publishing plan until at least 2028. My anthology piece grew to become a fully formed series featuring each of the main fairy tale princesses and that is at least 14 books. I’m writing an omegaverse series which is at least 17 books. I plan on publishing one book of these two series alternating once a month starting next year. The Lovers and Liars series will be five books, (Tearing You Apart is already out, Book 2 is coming in May) but I’ve planned a few spin off series which could be another 8. Then my MM novellas, the first being published December 13th, which is looking to be at least 10 books. And my fated marks book too. So, yeah, you could say it’s a lot…
DLL. Wow! You are both on fire! I will enjoy following your progress. Abigail’s Book 2 in the Lovers to Liars series, Calling You Out, is available for preorder!
Where do you each see your writing careers in five years?
MS: This is so hard to say. I have had a lot of fun with all the projects and writing. The very best part is meeting and helping other new authors find their way. I really enjoy bringing people together to support and rally around each other. Being a baby author is so intimidating. I want to complete my Oracle series in the next 3 years but don’t have a set timeline on that. I think the hardest part is the fact that everyday I think of a new writing idea.
AH: My goal at the moment is for people to love my books. I’m very nervous about publishing so much but I want to put myself out there and tell my stories. Ideally, in 5 years time, I’ll have built up a solid following as well as having a large back list. I want to be earning a steady income, enough that I can call it a job. If I have roughly 40 books out, that feels very achievable!
I see some authors having instant success and I get jealous at times, but, at the moment, I’m approaching it like a slow burn. If I keep working hard and writing good quality books, I’ll see the returns. I mean, obviously, getting instant success would be amazing too. But I’m thinking long term (hence the publishing plan to 2028)
DLL. I love this! Slow burn is a smart approach and building that solid following. I see you both doing well with this right now and I know you’ll meet your goals and then some.
Having gotten involved with you in the Marked Mate Romance project, I’ve seen how much work is involved with shepherding something of this magnitude, but you both have been so awesome to work with and endlessly patient. You’ve got one of these projects well underway. And I must say, I am in love with the idea and the name of your Fairytale Reloaded anthology series… and its cover art. Fabulous!
Tell us about that project and how you put it together, including artwork, marketing, and publishing efforts.
MS: In January of 2023 we (babyromanceauthors) all began talking about doing an anthology together. We decided on the topic of spicy fairy tale retellings. I had already made a publishing company for myself and my books, so I took on the position of organizer and publisher. We all agreed to work together to beta read each other’s stories, design the cover art work, format our works in 3 volumes and promote it throughout. The authors all supported with the ARC reader groups and building up a following.
I started with a calendar of major steps to hit our release date of November 15th. This helped us all know when we needed to support and complete our beta read, final read, formatting, and publishing steps. I supported each other by reading all of the submitted stories and giving tips and guiding the steady increase of spice that I was going for in the volumes. Artwork was provided by Charlotte Mallory who was part of the anthology but had to step out for personal reasons. She took some time to listen to our feedback and build out the 3 covers that get steadily darker as you go.
For the marketing, I wanted to showcase the fairy tale theme throughout the promotion period. I began with fairy tale dresses, shoes, then jewelry. I also wanted each one to give a piece of the story it was supposed to represent but from the author’s new story, a quote, the tropes, etc. I have blended all three of these themed graphics with an image of the author and called out their other works and how they supported during our anthology work. I made many of these graphics available to the ARC group members and my fellow authors to use for reels and their own posts.
Finally, the publishing efforts were times 3. Due to the 3 volumes and the 14 authors, I feel that I have spent a lot of time managing this process. I have learned a lot about Amazon and how this part could go more smoothly in the future. I will say that the covers have been the most difficult to fit the book sizes.
AH: Meg is 100% the show runner for this series. She has done an incredible amount of work to get the project off the ground and keep the momentum running. It’s truly awe-inspiring!
How would you compare the Fairytale Reloaded short story anthology project to the new novel project? Is it more complex? Do you have bigger or different goals? What would you say are the benefits of this kind of collaboration? And what’s next on the author collaboration horizon?
MS: The Fairy Tale Reloaded project was more of a true anthology design whereas the Fate Marked will be a series. The Fate Marked Series will be published under each author with the author setting up the Amazon pieces and completing their own editing. The covers will be designed to be similar and interconnected. Each author will support the others’ launches by promoting on their sites and building ARC readers groups.
I think this new project will be a bit less complex. I also think the goals change as we will be slowly promoting the series over a few months. This may help relieve the pressure of a mass promotion or draw out the promotion piece for longer. Not sure which way will be better to be honest.
The benefits from collaborations on projects like this are the knowledge and support of many minds, writer support in times of frustration and lack of focus, a network of more followers to gather interest in your stories, learning many marketing tricks from each other, and many other perks.
I will be starting another anthology for a goddess/god collaboration in January 2024, to be published tentatively in June 2024. This will be a spin on an existing god story that will be a spicy read. More needs to be discussed in this project as it hasn’t really been worked on yet. I have had a lot of focus on publishing Reloaded.
AH: I agree with all of Meg’s points. The idea for the Fate Marked series is that it is also a long-term project that ideally works around the participating authors own WIPs. The books themselves will most likely be longer than a standard anthology piece (15-50K) (I’m aiming for at least 100K) and there is also a huge amount of freedom to write. The deadline stretches all the way until the end of 2026, with each book being published a month apart, meaning that we’ll organise publishing schedules based around the needs and readiness of each author, as opposed to handling 12 or so full length novels at once. And participating authors can easily work around their own WIPs at the same time.
DLL. Again. Wow! Ambitious and oh so many benefits in collaborating. Truly remarkable and impressive.
Can you each share what you have learned about growing your indie author communities? What has worked best for you? I believe you both do well with Facebook groups. How are those working out?
Meg, maybe here you can share your goals for your publishing company.
MS: For me I started with Facebook and IG. On IG I grew with select follow trains and engaging the bookstagram community. I think I work best and more consistently with IG as it is easier for me to use and connect with.
For Facebook, I and another baby author, Lark Hersey began a group that I have since taken over. I use this group for parties and sharing other authors’ work and book launches. It is mostly designed to be a Spicy readers group so most posts are romance author posts. I also run 1 sometimes 2 Facebook Parties in the group a month. I will be running my next one on Dec 10th for Rhea Ryan’s book launch.
For Stratton House Publishing, I always intended it to be the place where my books can be showcased and as I learn more about self-publishing, I have added a promotions page and a page for the anthology work. I will continue to work on anthologies and possibly open a shop to sell designed stickers and other bookish content.
AH: I stay mainly on Instagram. I gave a lot of group chats I’m part of and friends there, and I also focus on growing my ARC reader list by contacting people directly. I’d say the beat community I’ve found is through the baby romance author group Meg runs, as well as the Fairy Tale anthology group.
DLL. So many exciting ideas and ways to connect. And more follows in the next Q&A! Wow! Thanks you two. I’m sure our readers will get a lot from this section. I know I have.
I would like to dig into your respective writers’ lives. I’ve been eager to chat with two writing buddies from such different locations and backgrounds to enjoy your side-by-side accounts of your daily schedules, favorite places to write, how you stay productive, and how you balance writing with other aspects of life. This is a tall order, but take all the space you want and give us your best tips and practices.
MS: Finding time to write is the hardest part for me. I have a real job that requires me to commute up to 4 hours a day. So if I’m not at work, I’m in my car. When I wrote my first two books, I was working from home and had no commute. Times for writing are hard to find now.
Recently I have been trying dictation as I drive to see if it will help me at least get ideas out. I am a pantser so this may not work as I need to let the characters speak but I’m loving the ability to be creative in a down time. I really get my best work done when my partner plays video games and I sit and write next to them. I work best with a plan, specifically a calendar of due dates. I also have learned to not push myself too hard as it does cause me to burn out.
Tips and Tricks:
Beta readers- I found some amazing ones on the Facebook groups Beta Readers/Proofing/Editing, Beta Readers find Authors, and Indie, Alpha, and ARC readers for ALL Genres. When you find one that works for you, lots of communication and praise for their efforts is important. Hang onto a good beta reader. They are your super fan and will bring others to your stories.
Find an author who writes works similar to yours. They will help you when times are dark, when you don’t feel motivated, or want to bounce ideas off someone. That is how I started the babyromanceauthors group.
Read other writers’ blogs on their writing journey, Facebook groups for authors and see what questions are asked and the answers given, write a short story or novella as a free magnet reader story to gather subscribers to your newsletter and use Bookfunnel promotions to get that free read into people’s hands. Just like anthology, people will read a bit of your writing, like the story and go buy your other books. And while it feels counter productive to give away a book or story, it really does draw people in. Quick personal Bookfunnel fact, I gave away 800 copies of a prequel to my Oracle’s Journey Series (a total of 11k words) in a year. That is 800 people who checked out my story and could have turned around and bought one or both of my books. It’s hard to capture that much of an audience without a magnet story.
AH: I live a really free life. I persist, so I travel around the UK staying in other peoples houses, and it gives me the space to write for however long I want. Sometimes I’m working 12 hours just because I can. I know I’m very blessed to be in this situation so I hope it will continue. I am pretty much a hermit. Unless it’s walking, I don’t really do much with myself apart from write and manage my social media accounts. I live vicariously through my characters. My schedule tends to vary depending on what I need to do. If I’m writing I will take a lot more breaks. If I’m editing I may work for hours without stopping. I prefer lounging on the sofa with my laptop whatever work I’m doing. Unless I really need to smash something out, then I’ll sit at a table!
Meg mentioned dictation, and that’s one of the fastest ways I work. I will spend hours talking out play-by-plays of scenes to my phone and then past them into a google doc and write out the story. Sometimes I spend an entire day planning out a full book just by dictating. It’s an incredibly useful tool and I highly recommend it.
Tips:
Number 1 – always, /always/ get a sample from any editor you’re thinking if hiring. I essentially lost over £1,000 publishing my first novel because I didn’t properly vet my editors. And make sure you keep checking in with them too. (one actually canceled on me 5 hours before I was due to send her my manuscript)
Number 2 – if you feel like you are blocked or stuck, stop writing. Go for a walk, go do some laundry, watch TV, cook, do something to put your brain into cruise mode and wait for the idea to come to you instead of forcing it. The ideas will feel better and more naturally. You’ll soon be able to tell when you’re in the flow.
Number 3 – your first draft is going to be absolute trash, so own it. Even if you use the same word 5 times in one paragraph, you’ve already written a whole paragraph, and that’s great! Dont edit, dont delete anything more than a paragraph. If you need to change a scene, make a new file and call it “Scrap” or “Scenes for later” so you can reference it. Even if your first draft is the worst thing you have ever read, it lays the foundation for you, because you’ve already made a huge achievement
Number 4 – self edit like mad. Before you send it to betas, get your story tight. After betas, tighten it up even more before a dev edit (though I see debs as optional). Do character edits! If you have more than one POV, copy all of their individual POV chapters into one document and run through the whole thing to develop their internal voice. For a copy/line edit, go through every single line of text yourself and look at character movements and see if there are lots of repeats (eye movements is a huge one for any author). And, use Prowriting Aid!! The subscription fee is 100% worth it and you will save money when you send it off for edits. Also, by the time I get to the publishing stage, I absolutely hate my book because I have read it so many times that I don’t want to see another word of it.
Number 5 – always ask for help if you need it. YouTube is great for learning, and there are tons of authors around who are happy to share their knowledge.
DLL. I am definitely going to have to try dictation. Easier on the eyes too, and my eyes need all the help they can get. And again, thank you for sharing so many wonderful ideas here. This is an excellent example of how you both are so responsive to your community. Thank you!
Thank you both again for visiting! And all the best to you on the great things coming your way. Do you have any last words of advice for those getting started on their writing journeys?
MS: Write for you. You will get criticized, people will be mean and will give poor reviews. Know what you can handle. Have a friend or your beta read the reviews and share the most important takeaways. Don’t take random strangers’ thoughts as a personal attack. One comment sent me on a 2 day spiral of why do I do this, I’m the worst author. It took another author to remind me that I write for myself, I write for my super fan, I write for my future super fans. Hold on to what drove you to write and publish your work.
AH: Agree with Meg. And don’t try and change your story to fit other people’s likes and dislikes. It’s your story, you know what’s right and wrong. Feedback can be amazing, but don’t go overboard. Find a people you can trust to give you honest feedback and criticism to make your story better, not just turn it into what they want. And, make sure you are proud of your work. When it comes to the publishing deadline, make sure you’re sitting back and thinking that you have done your best and you are happy with the end result. Every review is someone’s personal opinion, and, even if it’s a negative review, if you are proud of the story you’ve written, then everyone else can fuck off.
DLL: Fantastic advice! Both of you. Are you sure you’re baby authors?? Thank you so much.
I enjoy the blogs from Writers Write immensely. When the one below popped up today, I totally related. Do you find yourself swooning over morally grey antagonists, those nasty villains with a vulnerable side and a broody brow? Do you secretly hope they will win in the end?
Writing the antagonist is probably more fun than writing the hero. Hmmm. I think that’s a confession that will prompt more soul-searching. Well, at least I can accept that it’s all part of the learning process as I continue this writing journey. And whew! I’m thankful for these blogs assuring me that I’m not the first writer to struggle with dreaming up steamy scenes with the antagonists more often than the heroes.
These blogs gave me more clarity. Heroes and antagonists are not all black and white. They are the perfect blend of both with one topping the other only after they take all those twists and turns in their destiny, and it’s what they do with that heady mixture of imperfection that makes the story.
This means my heroes can be a bit of both good and bad, so I don’t have to struggle with choosing which one to fall in love with. Wait… I still need a villain. Sigh… I’ll keep working on it. That’s the joy of being a writer.
After reading this blog, I searched for more. Enjoy these great insights into loving your antagonist.
Enjoy a read while I enjoy finishing writing Book Three—Tigris Vetus…
Book Two – Drago Incendium
Meet Mortas, introduced in Book Two Drago Incendium and getting much more play time in Book Three (in the works!) 🖤 The swoon worthy vampire emissary also gets his own story 🖤 and it’s in the works as well…
Who’s your favorite vampire in fiction?
~~~
His pale, chiseled face erupted into a toothy smile. “Ah. You’ve broken free of my compulsion. Interesting. I sensed there was something unique about you.”
“That was you making me want to follow? You compelled me? How?”
“I’m a vampire, little human. That’s how. Do you know of vampires?”
My chest hurt from the sudden pounding, and I gave my surroundings a frantic onceover. Shit. I was standing alone in the woods with a freakin vampire! Really smart move, Selena. Andras was going to kill me if I survived this.
Pressing harder against the tree, I said, “I’m afraid I know nothing of vampires, except that you can be dangerous. Are you dangerous? Should I be concerned?” That last question came out in a squeak with the rest of my air.
By D. L. Lewellyn 