There’s something special about meeting an author right on the edge of their debut release. When I first chatted with Ellie Carmen about managing her ARC team, it was clear how much heart she had poured into her story. Now that the ARCs for The Orchid of Bliss are out in the world, I can finally share what makes this book and its creator so captivating. It’s a story that’s equal parts fantasy and fragility, full of emotion, self-discovery, and the quiet strength that comes from choosing to love again after heartbreak. Sitting down with Ellie felt less like an interview and more like catching up with a friend who’s just done something brave and beautiful.
The Orchid of Bliss
Elves have long viewed humans as dangerous, their existence seen as a threat to the delicate balance of their hidden world. In Ellie Carmen’s debut, that tension becomes something tender and deeply human. When Lady Helena of the Court of Phantasm sends three elves into the human realm to observe mankind, they slip quietly into a sleepy town and open a café under the guise of ordinary life. But for Blaise, a general in disguise, this mission quickly becomes something far more personal.
That’s where he meets Stella Riverstone, a 28-year-old baker whose anxiety and trauma have shaped her world in quiet, unseen ways. Their connection begins over coffee and flour-dusted mornings, small smiles, and hesitant trust. What neither of them expects is how deeply they’ll come to rely on each other. Beneath the cinnamon and sugar, a dangerous truth simmers: in the realm of Veayneri, love between elves and humans is forbidden, punishable by lifelong imprisonment.
The Orchid of Bliss is a story that breathes courage into vulnerability. It explores what happens when tenderness collides with duty, when two broken souls dare to believe they deserve something gentle. It’s raw, romantic, and quietly defiant—a love story that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
Getting to Know Ellie Carmen
You’ve created Veayneri, a fantasy realm with its own laws and history, and brought it into collision with the human world. How did you balance detailing the rigid laws and history of Veayneri with the intimate, secret romance between Blaise and Stella?
I think because of the quest that was involved, in some ways it became a bit easier to balance because it was natural for Blaise to become distracted and not return to Veayneri. Though, the details and worldbuilding of it all, I felt I had to find a more natural way to show that. Especially through the personality of Blaise when he discusses his “play.” Given that Blaise already had issues with not wanting to return to Veayneri and facing a particular person, this made it easier for her to become the antagonist.
Stella’s journey is deeply tied to trauma recovery and learning to trust again. How did you ensure her experiences with anxiety and intimacy were handled with care while still building a powerful romance?
I dug deep into my own feelings with this and what I would want to see for a character who has faced so much pain. While I may see myself in her, I also went to a sensitivity reader for this. While I feel I may know what/how Stella would react, I still wanted to make sure I had someone else’s eyes on this. I believe that everyone sometimes handles things differently and sometimes it’s best to have more input.
Stella’s arc involves overcoming past sexual abuse trauma, which impacts her ability to set boundaries, even with Blaise. Can you discuss the importance of showing Blaise’s reaction in that intimate moment when she couldn’t say “stop,” and how his response reinforces their bond of safety?
Stella knew deep down that she wanted to trust him enough to be able to tell him, but her scars from already telling someone “no,” and it not being enough terrified her. When I was writing that, I wanted to show Stella how important consent is, even if she had someone once take that away from her. In that scene, I tried to show that consent was in fact both ways (as it always should be) but by having Blaise be genuinely sad that she couldn’t tell him because he would never have wanted to take advantage of her in any way. By having him point out to her that he was different and hurt in that moment because his own choice had been altered, it showed her that maybe things could be different. Stella needed to see that even though she was scared, that Blaise would never want to break her the way she has been before.
Your dedication speaks to those who feel they need to “earn love.” How do both Stella and Blaise embody this struggle, and what moment signifies the turning point where they realize love shouldn’t be earned?
At the start, Blaise doesn’t understand how to begin to ask for what he needs in a relationship, let alone even in a friendship. This is why he turns to other things like what he did in a particular scene because the only way he could remember he got this love, was when he accidentally hurt himself and his mother tended to him once. I believe that Blaise starts to realize this more in the scene where Stella tells him that she feels safe with him and he replies, “And I, you.”
Stella has her own issues with this. Due to her past with her father and abandonment trauma, Stella starts to realize that she doesn’t want to go through the heartbreak of that ever again. It’s why she stayed with Cody for so long even though she knew she was hurting. She felt that if she could be the “perfect” partner, that she wouldn’t be abandoned again and blamed herself for everything. Which only caused more sacrifice for her. In all honesty, I think in some ways Stella has not fully realized this yet. Though she does start to feel safe with Blaise, she’s still too afraid to tell him she’s in love with him.
Food and baking are central to Stella’s character. Why did you choose this passion for her, and how do you see it playing into themes of comfort, healing, and love?
To begin with, I felt that baking and running a cafe would be an interesting job choice for a character and thought it might be easier for the story to function. As opposed to Blaise, Penelope and Darius working in an office setting. Can you imagine Darius fighting with keyboards every day? Yeah. Would not happen. I see it playing into these themes because it brought together her family. A single mom, her childhood best friend and also her grandma. I feel that any passion a person has, can somehow have healing and love tied to it. Stella bakes because growing up her family was poor and they did this often, but she was rich from the love of her grandma, mom and May.
Can you give us a hint about what might come next for your readers? Will we see more stories connected to Veayneri or a continuation of Blaise and Stella’s journey?
My hint is a question. Do you believe that Stella would willingly abandon someone she loves if she knew the truth?
The Orchid of Bliss is available now on Amazon and free to read in Kindle Unlimited. If you love emotional fantasy romance with deep healing arcs, strong character growth, and forbidden tension, this is one you’ll want to move to the top of your TBR.
You can grab your copy of The Orchid of Bliss on Amazon or add it to your Goodreads list. You can also connect with Ellie on Bluesky or follow her creative journey on TikTok at @elliecarmenauthor.
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