Rory Miles is an avid reader, consumer of chocolate, and lover of cats. Her books can best be described as snarky with a healthy amount of romance.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning!

What music artist do you never get tired of?

Billie Eilish 

What are some obscure things that you are or were really into?

I love playing Need for Speed Hot Pursuit!

Who’s your favourite character from a TV show, movie, or book and why?

Hmmmmm. Arion from All the Pretty Monsters and because he’s absolutely insane but such a golden retriever!

Of all of your books, which was your favourite to write?

Dead Wolf Walking! 

If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?

I’d pick Evelyn from Blood Mafia and I do have a story planned for her! She’s insane but she’s such a good character.

Do you play music while you write and, if so, what’s your favourite?

I make playlists for each book with a vibe for what I’m writing!

What book (or books) are you currently reading? 

Find Me and Pack Darling 2

Scarlett Philips writes Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance novels. She read her first RH book 4 years ago and hasn’t been able to put them down since. It was while reading one such novel that she got the idea to write her own, and thus Returning to Everton was born. She loves the paranormal and all things magic. She enjoys writing stories that are relatable but also let you escape into a fantasy world. When she’s not writing she’s spending time with her family, driving kids to and from school, and therapies. It’s a busy life, but she wouldn’t change it for the world. Scarlett loves getting messages from her readers.

What was the last book you really got into?

Since I started writing I don’t have a lot of time to read 🙁 I can’t read while I’m writing or I’ll start to incorporate things from the book in the one I’m writing, and I don’t want my books to be too similar to others. It just feels like I’m copying and that’s never my intention. So I take reading breaks between books. I really like the Shifting Society Series by Harper Frey (Sterling Thomas) and J Kearston. You should totally check them out. 😉

If there was an Olympics for everyday activities, what activity would you have a good chance at winning a medal in?

Procrastination? Like for real, gold medalist right here. Doesn’t matter what it is, I will put it off until the last possible moment… sometimes past that moment. lol

Of all of your books, which was your favourite to write?

Besides my very first book, Returning to Everton, because the first is always special, I loved writing Not Again with Iris James. It was just so fun and easy. We were always on the same wavelength. It was probably the easiest book to write too because we could bounce ideas off each other and we just had a lot of fun.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Currently 3

How do you select the names of your characters?

Different ways. In my first book, I used my kids’ names. Mostly I use a random name generator or ask my readers. I hate naming things so if you’re in my reader’s group you will see me ask for names A LOT. I just searched my group and found at least 7 instances of me asking them to name someone/something.

How many books have you written?

5 including a co-write

If you’re planning a sequel / a new series, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?

Oh, I have so many ideas and books in the works. My series, Madelyne Danica, wasn’t the original idea. I had gotten halfway through the book and just said you know what this isn’t what this book is supposed to be. It just went in a completely different direction, so I started over like a month before it was due to release. I saved the original book and it’s going to be its own series… one of these days. 

Would you and your main character get along?

All of my FMCs have bits of me in them lol So I would say yes, we would all get along.

Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?

Mostly ebooks because I’m very visual. I love audiobooks but again being so visual, I like to read the ebook as I listen to the audio.

What do you hope readers will take away from your stories?

That you’re worth it. You deserve to do things that make you happy. Sometimes that means taking a step out of your comfort zone, and that’s ok. Your real friends will be there for you no matter what. You have people in your corner. People that want to see you happy. Don’t worry so much about people/things that don’t really matter. Do what makes you happy… with few exceptions… you know like rape and murder… those are bad. 

Marie Mistry lives in rainy Britain but spends most of her time escaping into imaginary worlds, whether that is in books or video games. She writes paranormal romance, but has written books in other genres in the past. She has a mild obsession with happily ever after and true love which she blames on a childhood full of Disney goodness.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’m writing this at 1:42 am. Does that answer the question?

What’s your favourite app on your phone?

Forest. It plants trees when I focus and I like seeing virtual representations of my working hours.

If the NSA were to look at your Google search history, what’s the weirdest thing they’d find?

Haha, I’ve ALREADY been in trouble for my search history. When I was in school, writing my first series, I decided to put demons in it and, thorough newbie writer that I was, I decided to really do my research and use the names of “real” demons. I was using school wifi on my laptop and obviously my searches flagged something with IT, because I was summoned into the office and interrogated about why I was looking up the Lesser Key of Solomon among other things. They actually thought I was such an edgy teenager that I wanted to summon real life demons! Ha! Nowadays I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how much faster a horse walks than a person.

Who’s your favourite character from a TV show, movie, or book and why?

Bit obscure, but there’s a film called the Mists of Avalon. I really liked Morgaine in that, because even though her entire life was filled with tragedy and people trying to manipulate her, she did her best to be true to herself. I can’t watch the film without crying, but that character really stuck with me.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Four published when I was 16-18 but they’re gathering dust under a failed pen name. A finished unpublished YA fantasy duology which I actually really liked but I wrote it when I was trying to get traditionally published and no agent would take it. One unfinished NA mf which I wrote as a books which wasn’t supposed to have an ending and eventually moved on from. One mostly finished mf alien book which was written for NaNoWriMo, got a bit weird and I became really dissatisfied with. Oh, and one really cool mf angel novel that got saved on a memory stick, left somewhere and lost and now I cannot rewrite it without being frustrated at myself losing the first copy! Wow the list actually is quite long! In my defence, the first three were written before I turned twenty and are questionable quality.

How do you select the names of your characters?

Main characters tend to come to me naturally, or I will scroll pinterest for inspiration. Secondary characters I find by trawling baby name websites. I swear the internet must think I’m having five billion babies with the amount of time I spend on them.

What comes first for you: the plot or the characters, and why?

Neither! What tends to happen is I get the first scene stuck in my head for weeks, then I worldbuild from that. The characters have basic bones when I put pen to paper, but the world is the most fleshed out. Then the plot comes as I write because I’m a pantser. I know the vague direction things are going in but not much more than that.

Would you and your main character get along?

I’m pretty sure my main characters would band together and overthrow me if they got the chance! They’d probably want payback for all the hell I put them through.

What is something about your hero/ine that only you know?

I give each of my heroines exactly one trait from me. Usually really little things that no one else would notice.

What is the one thing you wished you could tell your readers?

Every time someone recs my books, posts about them or even just comments saying they liked them, I glow for an hour, sometimes more. More than that, once I’ve read it, it motivates me to write and I actually enjoy it more just for someone saying “hey, this girl’s books were really cool”. You guys give me purpose and I love every one of my readers.

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance. When she’s not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, whether you’re looking for a swoonworthy romance for the bath, or an action-packed adventure for your latest journey, you’ll find the perfect match amongst her books!

What do you like to do in your free time?

My spare time is mostly spent with my partner and our dog. But I also like learning, so watch a lot of documentaries and read non-fiction (though technically, I suppose those could be called research). Egyptology is a keen interest of mine, so that’s a common subject of books and courses, but I have varied tastes still! 

If there was an Olympics for everyday activities, what activity would you have a good chance at winning a medal in?

Drinking tea, definitely! I’m rarely without a cup!

If the NSA were to look at your Google search history, what’s the weirdest thing they’d find?

Oh that’s hard, I google weird things for books all the time. I was searching for Ancient Egyptian sweet recipes earlier, but other times I’ve searched for the best ways to torture someone without killing them, and what sock daggers are called. 

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Certainly a few, but I’m not sure of the exact number. I’ve also rewritten and reworked a few so there are less than there used to be! 

How do you select the names of your characters?

Sometimes, I’ll have the name as soon as I know the character exists. Other times, I find that I have to search for the right name. When I have to do that, I’ll either look for names that mean specific things, or I’ll look for names that suit the character’s background. 

How many books have you written?

I’m not sure. It sounds like a cop out answer, but it’s the real one. I stopped counting when I realised the number didn’t really mean anything to me. I write because I love it, and that means the number of books is immaterial to me.  Plus, I almost always forget some when I try to count. 

What comes first for you: the plot or the characters, and why?

It depends on the book or series. I find it often depends on what’s inspired the series as to which of them comes first. But regardless of which comes first, I tend to have to do some work on the part that didn’t come to me straight away!

Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?

I read mostly ebooks now, though I do like to collect paperbacks, and when I worked for other people (instead of myself!) I preferred audio because I could listen at the same time as doing other things – so I guess it turns out that I’m an equal opportunity reader! 

Were you a young writer, a late bloomer, or something in between? What advice would you give to others who took up writing at a similar life phase?

I suppose it depends what you class as young, I started writing books when I was 18, and was published by 23, but I’ve been writing stories since I was a young child and remember writing on my Mum’s first computer when I was seven or eight…though they weren’t particularly good and were mostly about my toys! 

What are some trends in your genre that excite you?

toys!

Raised in Alabama, AJ lives on four acres in southern Arizona with her husband and her Maine coon mixes, Rory and River. Though she works in a busy medical office, she finds time in the predawn hours to write and craft. Rory and River help with that; if her insomnia doesn’t have her up dark and early, they will.

AJ is active in medieval reenactment and is just as comfortable with a rapier in hand as she is with a pen. She also enjoys costuming and makes all her own historical garb and cosplay costumes. AJ likes to spend quiet nights at home when she can steal them, but she can often be found camping with chosen family or going to reenactment events or pop culture conventions.

On October 7, 2020, AJ and the other authors of the Wicked Souls anthology made USA Today history as the first all-reverse-harem anthology to make the USA Today Bestseller List!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’m some weird type of morning person who wakes up around midnight to one a.m., with intermittent dozing until time to leave for work. I get most of my writing done in the wee hours, because hubs is asleep, allowing me to focus better.

If the NSA were to look at your Google search history, what’s the weirdest thing they’d find?

If I forgot to delete it? Probably a search for “hardcore bdsm spitroast gif” or something along those lines LOL

Of all of your books, which was your favourite to write?

Probably Pact with the Pack. I really enjoyed delving into shifter pack dynamics within a single family, and it was my second foray into Reverse Harem writing.

How do you select the names of your characters?

Sometimes they have meaning, but mostly the Muse just tells me what their names are.

What was the most fun scene to write?

Any of the sex! Ha! Seriously, though, I love writing scenes with good banter and character interactions.

Do you play music while you write and, if so, what’s your favourite?

I do! I love listening to playlists I make on Amazon Music. Rock, alternative, some indie, but generally if it has kickass/sexy vibes, I’m in!

Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?

Darynda Jones’s books are a huge inspiration, as are Patricia Briggs, Mercedes Lackey, and more… but my biggest inspiration for becoming a writer was probably my mom (and I have to admit I haven’t read any of her books! We both read and write in totally different genres lol)

What author in your genre do you most admire, and why?

C. Rochelle. She is a powerhouse, a BookTok QUEEN, and she works so hard to get her stuff out there and be heard/read. I hope to someday be half as successful at getting my books out in the world as she is.

What books, films, and TV shows most inform the aesthetic of your current book?

The one I’m writing now is largely influenced by hentai 😉

What are some trends in your genre that excite you?.

Monster RH. Plus-sized FMCs. Basically, stories where one or more of the main love interests doesn’t fit into some impossible-to-obtain physical ideal.

Today we meet Joshua Hansen. Joshua is one of the MMCs in Cassandra Joy’s A Touch of Sunshine, the second book in the CJ’s Neighborhood series.

This interview may include spoilers from the series, so if that’s not your thing, go read and then come back here!

What is your full name? Do you have a nickname (if so, who calls you this)?

Joshua Brian Hansen. Alex calls me moyo solnyshko.

Do you have scars, how did you get them?

Many emotional ones from my father.

Did you enjoy school? What were your favorite classes?

Any class with JoJo in it. Now? Any class with Sarai. Too bad we don’t have more together.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

If I grow up? A chef. Maybe.

Who has had the most influence on you?

My mom has always been my biggest hero, my greatest inspiration.

What is the most evil thing you have ever done so far?

Does eliminating an abuser from the face of the earth really count as evil?

Have you ever been arrested? Do you have a criminal record?

I have a parking ticket. And maybe a self-defense murder that was expunged.

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?

I wouldn’t let JoJo get in the car with her dad on prom night.

In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any being could do?

Domestic Abuse.

Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?

Yes. I killed my father when he wouldn’t let my mom go.

What is your body count (interpret this as you wish)?

One. My father.

What says the most about a person?

How they treat waiters.

Cassandra Joy is an author of adventure reverse harem romance. She’s an avid reader of most every type of romance, but loves steamy MM action and one woman being pleasured by multiple men the most.

A Touch of Sunshine, the second book in the CJ’s Neighborhood Series releases February 8th.

What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

Usually a single character, then the plot, then the rest of the characters.

What inspired the idea for your book?

My actual neighbors.

Would you and your main character get along?

Yes. But I’d be the super-protective, slightly older friend. She’d be the sweetheart encouraging me to not give up.

If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?

Sandra Bullock

What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

That they can overcome anything from their past.

What is the one thing you wished you could tell your readers?

You are seen and appreciated.

What hobbies would you like to get into if you had the time and money?

Legos. Mainly to build with my kids.

What’s your favorite app on your phone?

Kindle. Then Killer Sudoku.

What was your hardest scene to write?

The fight scene in A Touch of Sunshine.

What was the most fun scene to write?

A sex scene in a fan fic that’ll never see the light of day.

Have you read Holly Bloom’s Slasher Heart yet?

Slasher Heart is the second book in the Lapland Underground series.

I faltered as his grey piercing eyes ran over my curves. I looked at West, whose expression remained as dark and unreadable as ever. Then Rocky, who balled his hands into fists on the table.

All three of them were criminals. They’d all done twisted and terrible things. Their damaged pasts had brought them together, and they formed a bond deeper than blood. They were a family. Brothers. They were also all devastatingly panty-meltingly gorgeous.

How could anyone choose between them?  

First, there was Zander. The leader with no limits. If you went against him, you’d be dead. No questions asked. Zander had a ruthless efficiency and vicious streak that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. He had the money, power and connections to get whatever he wanted no matter the cost. While he got off on power, more depth hid beneath his angular jawline. Zander was a fierce protector and didn’t trust easily. He’d gut anyone who crossed his family and if you were in, he’d never let you go…

Then there was West. The giant who could rip your legs off with his bare hands. When West saw red, violence was the only language he could understand. He was a powerhouse of brute force and would do whatever needed to be done for those he cared about. Underneath his thick biceps, West had a softer side too. As much as he liked to make out he was a monster, the big, scary beast protected an inner teddy bear. Even if he was too scared to show it or admit how he felt…

Finally, Rocky. The only person I’d ever truly loved who betrayed me in the worst way. Gang life and Redlake had changed him. Over the years, he’d seen and done things no one should ever have to do. This is not the life he’d have chosen for himself and he hated himself for it. His anger at the world made him an unpredictable loose cannon who could explode at any moment, but I still caught glimpses of the funny laid-back guy I fell for as a teenager. Would it be possible for him to find his way back, or was he too broken to fix?

“Tell us who you want to fuck, Candy,” Zander repeated.

Why the fuck hadn’t I chosen dare?