December 2023

Welcome back to my Author Spotlight series, where I shine a bright light on the talented authors within the indie romance community. This series aims to celebrate authors who bring their unique voices to the romance genre, connecting them with readers who crave diverse and enthralling love stories. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an author whose storytelling is as enchanting as it is diverse. Naomi Rachel Kelly is an Irish indie author passionate about crafting tales of magic, merfolk, and mythology. Her pen has conjured both the fantastical realms of The Syren Stories, a captivating YA Fantasy duology comprising Meraki: A Syren Story and its sequel, Kairos: A Syren Story, as well as the exquisite regency romance novellas under her pen name, Naomi Rachel Kelly, such as A Portrait of Pride. Meraki: A Syren Story, published in 2020, unfolds a narrative that thrums with the essence of gods and the heart of the sea. It tells the story of Wren, a young syren, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she’s captured by a tempestuous young King. Wren’s powerful song becomes both her strength and her vulnerability, her journey a tapestry woven with truth and deception. Readers have hailed it as “a truly gripping read” with an original plot that ignites an emotional connection with the protagonist. As we dive into the waves of Wren’s tale, we find ourselves cheering her on, experiencing her highs and lows, and embracing her journey towards survival and love. Kelly’s talents extend beyond the shores of fantasy. Kairos takes us deeper into the Syren realm, and the newly released Kalon: A Centaur Tail offers an enchanting companion novel that interweaves beloved characters from her previous works. Can you tell us about your journey as an indie author and how you decided to delve into the genres of YA Fantasy and Regency Romance? Since my teenage years, I’ve always been writing something. Whether it was some poetry, scripts for me and my friends to act out or fan-fics of my favourite characters at the time, I have been writing for years. However, my journey to becoming an indie author started about four or five years ago when I decided that my idea for a short story competition would be better as a novel – and I haven’t stopped writing books since! Writers are always told to write what they know so I stuck to my favourite genres as I knew their tropes and themes best. The Syren Stories series combines elements of mythology and fantasy. What inspired you to write about merfolk and incorporate their powerful songs into the narrative? I really enjoy reading about legends and mythology, particularly Greek mythology so when I had an opportunity to weave it into my fantasy world it was the obvious choice! Syrens and sea creatures such as Hydra and Charybdis are heavily rooted in Greek mythology with ties to various gods and I wanted to show off their powerful (and sometimes terrifying) attributes. Wren, the protagonist of your Syren Stories series, is described as a strong female character who challenges the status quo. What motivated you to create such a compelling and empowering character. I had the idea for my main characters Wren and Kellan before I ever even thought of the plot. I knew I wanted to twist the normal narrative of a mermaid giving up her voice for a prince, and instead wrote about a King who desired a powerful syren because of her voice. Incorporating an enemies-to-lover trope also allowed me to show off Wren’s feisty, sarcastic and stubborn side as she fights Kellan every step of the way. This helped de Meraki: A Syren Story received rave reviews from readers, praising the gripping plot and emotional investment in the main character. What was your process like while writing this book, and how did you ensure that readers would connect with Wren on such a deep level? A reader connecting with the main character is always important, but when your main character isn’t human it’s super important that your protagonist remains relatable. Wren might be crafted by the gods and have gills but she still struggles with regular ol’ human emotions such as family issues, falling in love and worrying if she is enough. The Syren Stories series consists of Meraki and Kairos. Could you share with us a glimpse into the journey of Wren’s character development throughout these two books? Over the course of the books, Wren is always torn between land and sea, humans and creatures, her destiny and her dreams. Meraki opens with a scene where Wren has swum away from home and this urge to run/swim/fly away is something Wren really struggles with throughout the books. As the story develops Wren is surrounded by a makeshift found family who might just be her future – that is, if she can deal with her own dark family which she thought she left in her past. As an indie author, how do you balance your writing process with the various aspects of self-publishing and book promotion? Do you have any tips for aspiring indie authors looking to navigate the industry? Like a lot of indie authors, I work full time, so learning to juggle writing, editing, marketing, and general author admin such as emails, podcasts and interviews is definitely a steep learning curve. The most important thing is your story – it may sound obvious, but there is no point in stressing about marketing and promoting a book that you’re not proud of. Being an indie author means you are the biggest champion for your own work, so make sure you’re 100% happy with it as you will be sharing it with the world for years and years to come. I used to find social media intimidating, but once you find your niche it is an amazing way to make connections – and friends! All of my ARC readers, editors, and even bookshop owners who now stock my novel

Welcome to another exciting installment of Author Spotlight, where I dive deep into the world of indie romance authors. This series aims to illuminate the incredible talent within the indie romance community, giving these authors a platform to connect with readers, share their writing journeys, and shine brightly in the literary universe. In today’s spotlight, we have the talented wordsmith Jennifer J. Coldwater, whose passion for storytelling has led her from the halls of teaching to the realms of indie authorship. Her journey, marked by curiosity and creativity, has resulted in a body of work that celebrates love in all its forms, believing that love is indeed love. Jennifer has chosen to feature her book “When Ivy Met Adam”, a contemporary romance that promises to sweep you off your feet. It’s a tale of second chances, forced proximity, and a sexy queer love triangle that will leave your heart racing. But that’s not all; Jennifer’s book is available for free on Kindle Unlimited, making it even more accessible to romance enthusiasts everywhere. If you’re a fan of diverse characters and captivating storytelling, “When Ivy Met Adam” might just be your next literary crush. Let’s dive into this enchanting world created by Jennifer J. Coldwater, where love knows no boundaries, and second chances might just lead to happily ever after. Can you tell us a little about your journey as a writer? How did you transition from teaching to becoming a full-time indie author? I will let you know when I am able to make that happen! I am still a full-time teacher and a part-time indie author. I wrote Holland, My Heart during COVID-19 lockdown when I had a lot more time on my hands (amazing what just a lack of commute does to your day!). When Ivy Met Adam was more challenging, time-wise. That said, I thrive in chaos! So, even though I have sworn off school-year writing, I think it will probably happen again. The concept of a love triangle is often explored in romance novels, but “When Ivy Met Adam” adds a unique twist with a queer love triangle. What inspired you to explore this particular dynamic in your story? Spoiler alert! I was researching tropes while writing Holland, My Heart and saw “two-person love triangle” on a list somewhere. I think it refers mostly to secret identities (like Peter Parker’s biggest competition with MJ is Spider-man!). Once I had it in my head, I couldn’t stop thinking about the concept of falling for someone you’d loved before they transitioned. I follow several transmasc Instagrammers and I would have no trouble believing you could fall for this grown-ass man with a beard and have no idea he’d once been that cute girl in your English class. There’s another whole layer in the story of Adam and Eve about gender, but that’s a lot to squeeze into one question’s answer! In “When Ivy Met Adam,” Ivy learns of Adam’s past deception, leading to a broken heart. Can you share with us the significance of forgiveness in the story and how it influences the characters’ journeys? Ivy’s struggle is really about finding room in her heart not only to forgive Adam but also to risk letting herself get hurt again. She is using “I can’t forgive him” as a smokescreen to hide her fear of losing him again. I am confident I’ve done that in my life! The book is described as a contemporary romance based on the biblical story of Eve. What made you choose this biblical inspiration, and how does it tie into the themes of your book? Holland, My Heart is based on my favorite story in the Hebrew Bible: the book of Ruth. She inspired me to choose other badass women in the Bible. Eve seemed a risky choice and logical next step. Eve is often so misunderstood. I didn’t write When Ivy Met Adam to change the way the world sees Eve. But I changed the way I see her through writing the book. One of the books I read when researching my book is Bruce Feiler’s The First Love Story: Adam, Eve, and Us. I highly recommend it for anyone who is curious about how Eve’s story has been told over time. The book features a forced proximity trope, where Ivy and Adam are brought together despite their complicated history. How did you approach creating tension and chemistry between these characters while navigating their shared past? Including forced proximity in this novel seemed a necessary hat-tip to the Garden of Eden. Ivy and Adam are trapped by a storm on O’ahu, which is not-so-subtly meant to make you think of paradise. Once I’d dropped them there, I found myself struggling with exactly what you asked. Tension, chemistry, character development. I tried to use their time together to illustrate Adam’s confidence and Ivy’s lack thereof. While they’re both far from home, they are very much on Adam’s turf. He gets to save the day and Ivy gets a little swoony about it. There’s nothing more effective for speeding up a love story than forced proximity! As an author who creates diverse characters, what do you believe is the importance of representation in romance novels, particularly within the LGBT+ community? I was a queer kid who read everything I could get my hands on. And in not one of the many, many (many!) books I read did I see someone like me. My goal is to write characters in whom we can see ourselves. I want someone to read When Ivy Met Adam and think, “Oh. Being into men AND women AND men who used to be women isn’t weird.” Could you share some of the influences or authors who have inspired your writing style and storytelling? Yes, please! Talking about my work is awkward. Talking about what I read is easy! For this book, I read a lot of LBGT+ young adult and new adult romances. Some of my favorites were Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee, narrated by Logan Rozos; May the Best Man Win by Z. R. Ellor, narrated by Avi Roque (who I’m hoping to have narrate Adam

Dive into the dark and tempting world of Vivian Murdoch, a sassy romance writer who’s not afraid to explore the taboos that make us squirm and the complexities that make her characters unforgettable. Vivian’s latest release, “The Wolf,” is a spicy novella that’s part of The Annual Game Night series. It’s a story that challenges norms and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions while keeping you on the edge of your seat. “The Wolf” is an omegaverse dark romance that delves into forbidden relationships and controversial themes. It’s a story of Adam and Jocelyn, stëpsiblings entangled in a complex relationship that defies societal norms. The book is a labyrinth of dark themes, including dubc0n/nonc0n and forced Os, among others. Vivian Murdoch crafts a world as intriguing as it is unsettling, making it a must-read for those who dare to venture into the darker corners of romance. But who is Vivian Murdoch? She’s a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants author, whose creative juices flow strongest in the dead of night. Vivian has a penchant for writing alpha holes, anti-heroes, and heroes you love to hate. When she’s not penning down her dark fantasies, you’ll find her playing Animal Crossing or spending quality time with her pets. Now, let’s get into my exclusive interview with Vivian Murdoch, where she spills the tea on her inspiration for “The Wolf,” her approach to writing sensitive topics, and much more. Vivian, what was the initial inspiration behind “The Wolf”? Was there a specific moment when you knew you had to write this story? So, I’m a decent fan of horror movies. I saw all the Purge movies (except the most recent one… but we won’t talk about that one) in theatres. I’ve loved the concept of having one night where you can do anything you want. Even my friends and I talked about what would you do on purge night. Well… For me, I was like, I’d hack into the system and wipe out all student loans. Like, it kinda bothered me that we saw only really violent crime. I’m not a violent person, but I def have some things I’d like to accomplish. That of course, got me thinking even further. Why were there no sexual crimes? I mean, yes, we did get that scene where the women offered themselves to be living art and got touched, but really? That’s it? And that is what started the wheels turning. Once I started watching Black Mirror, the idea really solidified. I think it was after the last Purge movie that I really got excited about the idea of doing a purge night, but make it sex. At that point, I was really leaning into the omegaverse world and felt this was the PERFECT backdrop to start my story. At first, I wanted to just do several short stories and publish them together, but with my other projects, that wasn’t feasible. That’s why I opened it up as a shared world and anthology. Your book delves into some very taboo and dark themes, such as stépsibling relationships and dubc0n/nonc0n. How do you approach writing about such sensitive topics while keeping your audience engaged? I’ve always been a darker writer, and I feel my readers know to expect that at this point. I don’t really like to describe my stuff as just DARK, because, let’s face it, there’s way more darker stuff out there. However, I do say I’m dubcon minimum. Even my “light” stuff has things like arranged marriages where they really can’t say no. I do my absolute best to put up trigger warnings to help those not familiar with my work to know whether or not they can handle my brand of love. Adam and Jocelyn are complex characters with a lot of layers. Can you share some insights into how you developed them? What was the most challenging aspect? Literally, the hardest was the sibling aspect. I’m an only child, and it was so hard to think about the family dynamics in this situation. If I’m being honest, I’m worried I didn’t punch that part up enough because I just don’t have the life experience. I did my best to add in the angst, but I’m worried it still didn’t ring true. The saving grace, in my opinion, is that they didn’t grow up together. They don’t have that typical sister/brother dynamic. As far as developing them, they did things just like all my other characters. They told me what their issues were, how they would behave. They become real people in my mind, and all I can do is write down what they tell me. For example, in the scene where he pees on the suppressants, I was not expecting that. I’m writing, minding my own business, and Adam’s like… you know what? Imma piss all over them. Like… what???? “The Wolf” is set in an omegaverse. For those unfamiliar with this term, could you explain what it is and why you chose this setting for your story? So, it seems like there’s a lot of leeway when it comes to omegaverse. People do things differently. I’m going to tell you how I define my omegaverse, but please know other authors might do it differently. I write mostly human omegaverse, meaning they don’t shift. I have one shifter story right now that I consider kinda omegaverse, but for the most part, I deal with humans. There are three dynamics in my world—Alpha, beta, and omega. The Alphas are dominant, aggressive, bigger, and far more powerful. They have the ability to incapacitate betas and omegas with their Alpha bark or growl. They exude power over the other dynamics and bend them to their will. Betas are more like average Joe’s. They have nothing special about them. The omegas tend to be far more subservient, smaller, more delicate. The other aspect is Alphas can go into a rut (very animalistic. Same as heat in felines and canines) and omegas go into heat or estrus. Though they