In this interview, Carissa discusses upping the stakes in her series with her new romantasy novel, Children of Fallen Gods, her hope for readers, and more.

Name: Carissa Broadbent
Literary agent: Bibi Lewis 
Book title: Children of Fallen Gods
Publisher: Bramble
Release date: December 9, 2025
Genre/category: Romantasy 
Previous titles: War of Lost Hearts series and Crowns of Nyaxia series
Elevator pitch: Tisaanah bargained away her own freedom to save those she left behind in slavery. Now, bound by her blood pact, she must fight the Orders’ war—and Max is determined to protect her at all costs.But when a betrayal tears apart Ara, Max and Tisaanah are pushed into an even bloodier conflict. All the while, darker forces loom. As Tisaanah and Max are ensnared in a web of ancient magic and twisted secrets, one question remains: what are they willing to sacrifice for victory? For power? For love?

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What prompted you to write this book?

This is the second book in the War of Lost Hearts trilogy, and I jumped into it right after I finished book one, Daughter of No Worlds, which followed a young magic wielding woman as she escapes enslavement and joins a powerful organization of magic wielders with the help of a reclusive former soldier. This is an epic fantasy trilogy, and it’s really in this book that the scale of the story increases dramatically and the stakes get much higher. So, while Daughter of No Worlds was a very easy book to write comparatively, and very low pressure because I was writing it solely for myself, this one was a lot more complicated because there was a lot that I was trying to execute with this story.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

This book was originally independently published in March of 2021, and it was one of the most challenging writing processes I’ve ever gone through—even now, eight books later! Daughter of No Worlds, the first book in the series, came out in January 2020, which meant that I was working on this sequel through the beginning of the pandemic, when I was also going through some stressful changes in my day job at the time. I began working on the book in early 2020 and was working on it right up until its release day (a luxury available to indie published authors!), so the whole process took a bit over a year. It was by far the most epic and complicated book I’d ever written, with three intersecting POVs, and I didn’t do enough pre-writing, which meant that there was a big hole in the first half of the book that I ended up completely rewriting multiple times.

It was painful! But it was also the most effective learning experience out of any of the books I’ve written. I learned so much about my craft and how I work!

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

Of all my independently published titles, this one was the greatest learning experience. In self-publishing, authors have simultaneously more and less flexibility than in traditional publishing—more in the sense that there are fewer people and scheduling considerations to take into account, and less in the sense that indie authors are limited by Amazon, etc. in rescheduling their books. Children of Fallen Gods was a perfect storm of internal and external factors that required me to shift the publishing schedule multiple times, in small increments because of the requirements for indie authors at the time to move a release without losing all preorders. It was a huge amount of pressure! Looking back, I wish I had given myself much more time to begin with to avoid getting into this situation from the start, but I feel almost every author has some sort of story like this—seems like a learning experience most of us need to go through!

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

As I referenced above, this was an extremely challenging book to write. It’s the second book in an epic fantasy trilogy, and it’s a bit of a cliche among authors at this point that book twos are uniquely painful! Of all the book I’ve written, this one went through the most extensive rewrites and had the most non-linear drafting process, because I ended up totally reworking the first half of the book. However, I have no regrets about this, as painful as it was at the time, because it taught me so much about how I work now. I now know that I need to take the time to work through gaps in the story in the pre-writing/outlining phase, and if I don’t, I can definitely get myself into some deep trouble later. This book ultimately pushed me into a radically different pre-writing process that I adopted from the third book onwards, and though of course this process evolves a bit with every book, I have largely stuck with it since. I’m grateful to this book for that reason! I learned so much about how I work.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

It meant so much to me to write this trilogy partly because writing it was my way of working out my own frustration and confusion with the world—grappling with a lot of open questions I still don’t know how to answer through these characters. Children of Fallen Gods expands the world dramatically and also gets much darker than the first book. But the relationships at its heart—the romances and beyond—are also much deeper. Even though this is a fantastical world and story, I hope that readers see themselves in the characters and that it helps them make sense of the darkness in the world as it did for me.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to learn as you execute instead of waiting to reach some intangible level of “ready” before you start. This is by far the biggest challenge I see new writers face—they never finish because they won’t let themselves really start because they feel they “aren’t ready.” Every book I’ve ever written—especially this one—has taught me that there is no level at which you “feel ready!” Every author out there, even the most successful and prolific, are constantly learning and redefining their own processes, and by far the most valuable teacher is actually being hands-on with your book.

The post Carissa Broadbent: On the Second-Book Challenges appeared first on Writer's Digest.

As a shy, nerdy kid growing up on the north shores of Lake Superior, I spent a good deal of my childhood tucked away in the pages of a book. Often it would be a classic like Scaramouche, The Three Musketeers, or Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Other times, it would be a story about animals, and I literally emptied our local library of the dog, horse, and wolf books on their shelves.

(The Nature and Value of Loneliness for Writers.)

It was no surprise, then, that I wrote my first story at the age of six (a sci-fi epic called Hammy the Hamster Goes to Space), had a full-length Call of the Wild knock-off by the age of 13, and was working on my own graphic novels while penciling for DC Comics during my university days. Whether it was high school essays or comic books, I was always writing. That said, I knew nothing of the book world and had no idea what to do with any of it once it was done.

In 2011, I’d finished a science fantasy duology (very niche—dystopian, genetically engineered cat people with samurai swords) and I decided to put them up on this new platform called Amazon. Fortunately, I was a skilled artist and had worked in photoshop for almost a decade when I designed the covers. I learned formatting, uploaded the books and bumbled about on fledgling social media like Facebook and Twitter. I wasn’t expecting much, but when I began to get fan mail, I wondered if this hobby could, in fact, become something more. As Vonnegut said, I could develop wings.

I began to investigate the book world—agents and editors, publishers and marketing. The early internet was brimming with information, but I waded through the onslaught to find many great resources, one of the best being Writer’s Digest. I even attended a New York WD conference in 2013, which included a boot camp with Donald Maass.

By this point, I had signed with a junior agent for a gothic steampunk thriller and was eagerly looking forward to living the ‘author life,’ whatever that entailed. I made a website and continued to work on the niche samurai cat books while I waited for my agent to do the deed and make a deal. She never did. It never sold. To be honest, I’m not convinced she even shopped it, and after three years, we parted ways. It was one of the most heartbreaking times of my life and I vowed to stay independent for the rest of my writing life.

I continued to write and publish, but I set myself to learning the business of writing. With each book I grew better, more confident, my wings strong, my voice sure. My covers were incredible. I could format and market with relative ease. When I wrote Dragon of Ash & Stars: The Autobiography of a Night Dragon in 2017, I was able to secure a BookBub promotion, which set Dragon on a remarkable path. By the time I had eight indie books under my belt, I was content with the state of my side-hustle, so when I finished the ninth, a nautical fantasy called Ship of Spells, I had no intention of returning to the query trenches.

I was Indie and Proud, fully capable of guarding myself against any future agent-induced heartbreak. But my good friend, Jean E. Pendziwol, had been working with Jenny Bent (of the Bent Agency) on her novel, The Lightkeeper’s Daughters (HarperCollins, 2017) and she insisted I try one last time. There was a new agent in the firm with a history in comic books and graphic novels. Heart in my throat, I took a chance, jumped off that emotional cliff, and in July 2020, I sent out a query. In August, I signed with D. Ellis Wilson (now with Looking Glass Literary and Media) and haven’t looked back.

Fast forward to 2024. Ellis and I had spent the Covid years working on the book, ironing out the magic system, fleshing out story arcs, and filling in plot holes. This collaborative process was entirely new for me, and I’ll admit, at first, I was intimidated. But once we got into it, I utterly adored it. Each email was like a fan-girl session as we tore into relationships with equal parts ruthlessness and glee. At times, I’m sure there was popcorn. I still had fears of the work not selling, but I enjoyed working with Ellis so much that it almost didn’t matter. This particular agent-client relationship was healing all the parts that had been broken years earlier. So, when Ellis messaged, saying ‘Liz Pelletier of Red Tower wants to talk,’ I didn’t quite know what to think. It was like yet another cliff and I didn’t know if my wings would hold.

I’ve often joked to my writing group that, if I was ever to be lured back onto the path of traditional publishing, it would have to be sweet. The phrase ‘Go Big or Go Home’ was literally my indie mantra, but this? This was big. Signing with Red Tower would be a big deal for a little writer from a small town. But, as with Ellis, the folks at Red Tower were so passionate about books that I felt part of the team from the onset. They certainly had their work cut out for them, as in its original form, Ship of Spells was not a romantasy. There was a romance, sure, but like all my other works, it was minor. I was a fantasy writer, first and foremost, and romance has very different story-telling beats. Still, just like every other step in my publishing journey, I embraced the need to learn a new skill and leaned in hard. With the help of Liz, Hannah, Rae and Mary, we reworked that romance into something that literally shines, and I can’t believe the results.

I know that for some authors, the publishing process is not always collaborative, but for me, it has been. Working with an editing agent, then substantive, line and copy editors was eye-opening, and I have so much respect for those who see everything on the page when my own eyes blur right over them. Working with the Art Department was an absolute delight, when before, I WAS the Art Department! As an indie, marketing and promotion was all on my shoulders, so now, working with an eager, talented and creative team is amazing. The process has given me a new appreciation for this industry, and for the mad, passionate love of books that we all share.

So, what’s next for this Indie turned Trad? Well, I have another dragon book to write. And remember those dystopian genetically engineered samurai cats? I have to finish that series for the lovely fans who’ve been waiting so patiently. But now, I have options. I have wings, as Kurt Vonnegut said, and I have to say, it’s a very cool way to fly.

Check out H. Leighton Dickson’s Ship of Spells here:

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In this interview, Charlie discusses how she took her own advice when writing her new romantasy, The Shattered King, the importance of making writing a daily habit, and more.

Name: Charlie N. Holmberg
Book title: The Shattered King
Publisher: 47North
Release date: September 2, 2025
Genre/category: Romantasy
Previous titles: 25 titles, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, The Hanging City, and the Whimbrel House series.
Elevator pitch: A captive healer and a mysterious prince are drawn to each other in the midst of war and magic in a beguiling dark fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

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What prompted you to write this book?

One of my other books + playing Final Fantasy.

OK, but really. My husband and I were playing Final Fantasy 16 together at the time. I was also working on my first craft book, Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic, which is essentially a how-to on writing magic systems.

In this book, I included several appendices to get authors’ juices flowing. One of these appendices included a list of commonly used magic in fantasy stories. The purpose of the list? A) Authors could avoid these types of magic and aim for originality, B) Authors could embrace these types of magic and aim for a shallow learning curve, or C) Authors could take these types of magic and put their own spin on them.

I was contemplating this while battling Ultima with a giant fire Eikon (though let’s be honest, my husband did all the battling in that game) and thought, Why not take my own advice? How would I personally utilize this index?

So, I thought, OK, let’s do C: Take a common magic and put my own spin on it. I chose healing magic. Healing magic is everywhere. Done, done, and done again. What would I do differently? And as I thought about it, I really liked what I came up with. Add an illness subplot from Final Fantasy 16, and I was hooked.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

The Shattered King is an anomaly. I had the first inklings of it in May and did a lot of brainstorming for it. Wrote down some ideas for an outline. And then at the end of June I felt this insane PUSH to start it. I didn’t have a solid outline in the slightest. The entire novel was an exercise in pantsing. But it took me only 15 days to complete the first draft.

That was a writing record for me, but I was obsessed with this story. I couldn’t think of anything else. It just poured out of me.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

Uh, yeah. Apparently, I can discovery-write a novel?

I’m a big-time outliner. I like planning all the stages of my books. I have notebooks full of information, which I then storyboard on a wall with sticky notes. From there I compile and flush out an outline.

There were no sticky notes for this book.

I have never understood people who could just sit down with an idea and write. I need structure. I need planning. But apparently, it’s possible, even for my Type-A brain.

The Shattered King was also an exercise in tropes and getting over myself. Tropes are not bad. Tropes are tropes because people like them. In my discovery-writing stupor, I embraced any and every trope that made me happy. In production, I began to genuinely fear this book was going to be boring, or overlooked, or simply not special enough. I’d always prided myself on being different. On finding something unique or quirky to incorporate into my tales. Ultimately, I did think I achieved that with this book, but I did have to get over the anxiety of writing—oh no!—things people had definitely seen before.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Yep. For instance, I had never intended to write about war.

I love cozy fantasies. Stories where the country/continent/world isn’t at stake. My novels tend to lean that way as well. I’m not particularly interested in political intrigue or war. This is literally the first book I’ve written that has a royal as a main character. But apparently that’s the direction this book wanted to go. You just can’t write about kingdoms without getting into that less-cozy grit.

This is also why I hate pantsing, ha ha.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book? 

First and foremost, I want them to get a good story! I absolutely love the feeling of reading a book that has me enthralled. Something about the written word is so much more engrossing than more visual entertainment. I yearn for that feeling. So, if I can give that to another person, I consider it a wild success.

I also wanted to take an adult (as in grown-up, not graphic), realistic take on some of the hardships people in this book’s world—and our world—face. I hope I accomplished some sort of understanding and empathy for them through this story.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

I always have two answers to this question.

Answer #1: Allow yourself to suck.

We all suck at this. This is my 26^th published book and I STILL had to make an edit so the climax would be ACTIVE. Yep. Writing 101, right there.

Nitpicking a first draft will always do more harm than good. Editing (and over-editing) the same words again and again instead of moving forward stunts progress. It’s OK if the first words are bad. They’re supposed to be bad. The fixing comes later.

Which ties into,

Answer #2: Give yourself a daily word count.

You can’t publish a book you haven’t finished. A completed book that sucks will always win against a book that’s unfinished. So, once you’ve determined it’s OK to suck, you need to get into the habit of consistently writing. 500 words a day is one-half to one whole page on Microsoft Word. 500 words a day is a professional pace. Make the habit, make the book.

The post Charlie N. Holmberg: The Entire Novel Was an Exercise in Pantsing appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(What Is Romantasy, Anyway?)

I carried this philosophy with me as I came up with the prompts for my new book Write a Romantasy: 99 Prompts to Craft a Tale of Heart and Heroism. Whether you’re new to the genre or a Booktok obsessive, Write a Romantasy will help you discover the endless story possibilities of this bewitching genre.

Maybe you’re writing a story about a noble beast who’s secretly pining for a charismatic orc, but you’ve reached an impasse in your story. Or maybe you have an idea for an “enemies to lovers” story about a centaur and a changeling who hate each other but must unite to save the world, and you don’t know where to begin. Or maybe you have so many great ideas that you have trouble staying focused enough on one to craft a story from beginning to end.

Write a Romantasy! is the ultimate resource to inspire romantasy writers at any level of experience. You can use these prompts when you’re blocked, or they’re a great way to begin a writing session. Each prompt is divided into several sections: There’s a Scenario, Brainstorm questions, the Prompt itself, Optional Elements to Include, and suggestions for Fantasy Twists. I think of these prompts as a collection of mystery ingredients in a creative toolbox—you get to choose which parts to focus on, and everyone who uses a prompt will come up with wildly different stories.

I’ve crafted three original romantasy writing prompts for Writer’s Digest to give you a taste of what you’ll find in the book.

Prompt #1: FORCED PROXIMITY: “I Guess This Is Goodbye”

Scenario: Your protagonist is hiding in an underground bunker while a war (between nations or galaxies) rages aboveground. She has compassionately chosen to share this hiding space with a nemesis; even though she hates him, she doesn’t think he deserves to die.

Brainstorm: Come up with ten specific reasons these characters despise each other.

Write: Write a scene where your protagonist says goodbye to her nemesis, but after spending so much time together maybe she doesn’t hate him as much as she used to. Think about how she might show she cares for him.

Optional Elements to Include: A token of gratitude, a moment of emotional release, a confession.

Fantasy Twist: How might your scene change if one of these characters has the ability to read minds?

Prompt #2: STAR-CROSSED LOVERS: “You’re the Only Person I Trust”

Scenario: A seer has told your protagonist that her relationship is doomed. Their relationship has angered a powerful, malevolent being (anything from a God to a demon). If she doesn’t leave her lover immediately, there could be disastrous consequences for her entire community.

Brainstorm: Quickly map out the arc of their relationship up to this point. How strong is their love?

Write: Write a scene where your protagonist and her lover conspire to run away together.

Optional Elements to Include: An enchanted jewel, a tearful plea, a moment of yearning.

Fantasy Twist: What if your protagonist’s lover has been having visions of his own? How would the scene change if he secretly believes it’s safer for them to separate?

Prompt #3: SECRET ROYALTY: “It’s Better If You Don’t Know My Name”

Scenario: Your protagonist grew up in a faraway kingdom, but she’s left all that behind. Even though her family is searching for her, she will do anything to have a normal life.

Brainstorm: Why doesn’t your protagonist want to accept her destiny?

Write: Write a meet cute scene where a handsome stranger saves your protagonist’s life, and she playfully refuses to tell him who she is.

Optional Elements to Include: Tending to a wound, a wild fantastical animal, a hidden insignia.

Fantasy Twist: How hard is it for your protagonist to hide her identity? What if she has powers that she’s forced to suppress to hide who she really is?

*****

This is just a taste of the inspiration you’ll find in Write a Romantasy! 99 Prompts to Craft a Tale of Heart and Heroism. I’m a professional author, screenwriter, playwright, and teacher, and I inspire other writers with the prompts I post on TikTok at @YourDailyWritingPrompt. I’m thrilled to help launch you on your journey into romantasy. So, start writing!

Check out Erik Patterson’s Write a Romantasy here:

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The post 3 Heart-Pumping Romantasy Writing Prompts for Writers appeared first on Writer's Digest.

In this interview, Brigid discusses the freedom—and nervousness—she felt when writing her new romantasy, Warrior Princess Assassin, her hope for readers, and more.

Name: Brigid Kemmerer
Literary agent: Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary Agency
Book title: Warrior Princess Assassin
Publisher: Avon/Harper Collins
Release date: August 12, 2025
Genre/category: Romantasy
Previous titles: Defy the Night, Forging Silver into Stars, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, et al.

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What prompted you to write this book?

Over the course of my career, I’ve written 18 YA novels, tackling a lot of serious topics. As my readers have grown, I’ve been eager for the chance to let my characters grow too. I was excited to tackle a bigger project, with the opportunity to give my characters darker, more complex challenges and the chance to “open the door” to the romance.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

I first had the inspiration for this story in early summer 2022, but I was in the middle of other contracted projects. I was finally able to write a proposal in the summer of 2023, and to sell it that fall. I finished the first draft in the summer of 2024.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

Warrior Princess Assassin was my first book with a new editor and a new publisher in almost 10 years, so there was definitely a lot to learn right up front! But I’ve had the most wonderful time working with the team at Avon and Harper Collins, and Julia Elliott has been such a champion for this book and for me. I’m very lucky.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

When writing in the YA space, I’m always very cognizant of the fact that I can have readers as young as 10 or 11 years old, so I’m very aware of the language I use to craft any given scene, especially in regards to violence or intimacy. I’m very careful to write things in such a way that if you know, you know. With Warrior Princess Assassin, I had a lot more freedom, but it took me a long time to get out of that headspace! Even when I first sent the manuscript off to my editor, I was so nervous! I remember joking to my husband that I felt like I had just “drunk texted my boss.”

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I hope that readers are able to see themselves in one of my characters, and to feel hopeful about their journey.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Never stop reading, and read widely!

The post Brigid Kemmerer: Never Stop Reading appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(The 5 Core Ingredients of an Unputdownable Novel.)

These are primarily books written with the female gaze in mind, featuring female-driven stories with romance as either the primary plot line or a significant secondary one. In these books, female characters pick up swords, go questing, and kiss their enemies. They’re as likely to be the ones doing the saving as their love interests, these authors spend as much time describing a ball gown as body armor, and readers can’t get enough of it.

Fantasy books with female characters aren’t exactly new, but there are some clear delineators from their predecessors. Romantasy usually features first-person POVs or present tense to immerse the reader instantly in the world, the characters skew younger (think coming of age), and there’s often a certain modern feel to the world (characters curse, flip each other off, and keep a running commentary in their head).

But with the explosive sales, there are already grumblings about oversaturation. In reality, I expect we’ll see romantasy start spinning off in new and exciting ways. Here’s where I predict we’re heading.

1. More LGBTQIA+ content. If we look back a little over a decade ago to when the billionaire romance trend, spawned by books like Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, mainstreamed high-heat novels from spinning racks at the grocery store to front tables at the bookstore, one of the first offshoots was a rise in gay romance. Publishers and authors soon realized there was a huge readership in both the queer and cis communities. Indie authors like Ruby Roe are already doing the same in romantasy, and there have been several notable publishing deals announced for upcoming books featuring queer leading characters. It makes sense. Romance readers like love stories in every form.
2. More niche genres. We’ve already seen the popularity of cozy fantasy where magic is real but the stakes are less life-and-death. Expect to see cozy romantic fantasy increasing in visibility and sales. Readers are people, and people are more stressed out than ever. Sometimes you want to read about a magical enclave where a nosy old crone is brewing up love potions for unsuspecting villagers while tending her dragon eggs. I predict we’ll also see a rise in full-blown fantasy rom-coms, super-dark romantasy, dystopian romance, and, dare I say, authors will figure out how to blend the immensely popular sports romance genre with fantasy.
3. Older heroines and main characters. Much of the most popular romantasy on the market also falls into the new-adult category. That means the characters are usually in their late teens or early twenties (although there’s frequently a centuries-old love interest), and their stories tend to center around finding their way in the world as…new adults. As more romantasy books hit the market, expect to start seeing older characters take the page with a clear idea of who they are in the world, facing the challenges of adulthood: cynicism, healing from trauma, paying the bills…even magic has its limits, right?
4. New creatures and races—other than fae. To be clear, fae aren’t going anywhere. They are a romantasy staple, largely due to the overwhelming impact of Sarah J. Maas’s books on the market. But both readers and editors have expressed wanting to see something new or new takes on traditional fantasy races. Dragons, another fantasy staple, are quickly approaching the same market saturation following the success of Rebecca Yarros’s books. I suspect a new fantasy creature or race will soar to the top of the bestseller list sooner rather than later.
5. More starter romantasy, particularly urban romantasy. As the popularity of the genre increases, new readers wanting to dip their toes into romantasy can feel a little overwhelmed when confronted with starting 600+-page books set in series and multiverses. Enter urban romantasy, which blends the world we know with magic and often features epic, world-shattering plots. My current series, Filthy Rich Fae, has all the hallmarks of romantasy: fae, magic, bargains, and prophecies, but the fae court is located in modern New Orleans and its gun-toting prince feels more like John Wick than a fairy-tale creature. Urban romantasy eases readers into world building and larger-than-life fantasy arcs.

These are just predictions…for now. But wherever romantasy heads next, it’s certain to keep growing.

Check out Geneva Lee’s Filthy Rich Fae: Fallen Court here:

Bookshop | Amazon

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In this interview, Karina discusses the challenges and rewards and building a fantasy world with her new romantasy, Realm of Thieves, her advice for other writers, and more.

Name: Karina Halle
Literary agent: Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary
Book title: Realm of Thieves
Publisher: Ace
Release date: June 10, 2025
Genre/category: Romantasy
Elevator pitch: The lord of a cartel that deals in black market dragon eggs kidnaps a thief (and her magical dog) and blackmails her into working for his criminal empire.

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What prompted you to write this book?

I wanted to read something that mashed together a few of my favorite fantasy tropes (heists, dragons, political intrigue) but with the dark and sensual vibes of a mafia romance. Every book I write comes from a place of wanting to read something and it not existing yet.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

The idea hit me in summer of 2023. I’d just published a pirate romantasy called A Ship of Bones and Teeth and wanted to write something more in that vein because I had so much fun with that book. Not so much pirates, but the crew and camaraderie—those kinds of vibes. I was also reading Fourth Wing and rereading Dune, and everything sort of started mashing together in my brain. A week later I was emailing my agent with the outline and then a few weeks after that, with some back and forth and narrowing down on the plot and the world-building, I had the first five chapters written and we put together the proposal. I believe it was end of September when it was ready to go on sub, but we had to offer to my current pubs, Berkley Romance, first. It took maybe two days for my editor to say she was waiting for me to come forward with a romantasy and that they loved it. They (through Ace) offered quickly and that was that.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

Yes. One was that the first cover I’d been shown didn’t at all suit the book, so I had a real moment of panic (from my self-pub background, I know covers are everything and I am super particular about them). But they listened to my feedback and now I absolutely adore the cover. I was also concerned that in this day and age of every romantasy getting hardcovers and sprayed edges, that I would be left behind because I was just getting a paperback. But again, they heard my concerns and did what they could to jazz the paperback up, which resulted in this really pretty, iridescent shimmer finish that I’m really happy with and hopefully stands out in the bookstores!

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

This was my first real fantasy (my previous fantasies all had basis in the real world, such as my Finnish Mythology portal romantasy or my dark Little Mermaid retelling) so I didn’t expect the world-building to be so time consuming and overwhelming. I’m a really fast writer and this elaborate world-building really cut into that, so it was a major adjustment to need the extra time to work it all in.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

Honestly, I hope they have fun. That’s my goal. Just to enjoy the ride and escape to a whole other world for a few hours where the biggest problem is trying not to get eaten by a dragon. I also hope that with my FMC having chronic pain (something like endometriosis) and my hero being neurodivergent (ADHD, like me), the characters are something that readers can relate to.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

It’s funny, I have been reading Writer’s Digest far before I published my first book (in 2011) and I always loved reading the answers to this question. Now that you’re asking me this question, I can’t help but think my answer is totally cliché. But here it goes: Stay true to yourself. Throughout your career you’re going to be tempted to write the trendiest, most commercial thing—and while writing to market can be a good thing (authors have bills too), don’t sacrifice your personal happiness to do it. In the end, the only thing that you can control (to a degree), the only thing that really matters in this topsy-turvy, ever-changing industry is how you feel when you’re writing a book that calls to you. No matter how weird, no matter how niche or hard to pin down the genre, stay true to what sets your creative spirit on fire. That’s where you feel your purpose. And eventually it will pay off.

The post Karina Halle: Stay True to Yourself appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing conference without ever having to leave your home!

Writer’s Digest University is pleased to present a one-of-a-kind online event for romantasy writers! On July 19, 2025, our WDU Romantasy Writing Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from romantasy authors. Spend the day learning techniques for honing your craft from four different published romantasy authors

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Your Story #136: Now Open For Entries!

Write the opening line to a story based on this photo prompt. You can be poignant, funny, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.

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Join Us In England!

Writer’s Digest is heading across the pond to England with literary agent, Amy Collins this September! This unique trip is part literary tour and part retreat with an experienced literary agent and Writer’s Digest editor. Get inspired in the land of literary giants like Shakespeare and Dickens, Austen and the Brontës, Smith and Ishiguro. Pack your bags and favorite writing notebook for a trip of a lifetime. Space is limited.

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Catch Up On the “Writer’s Digest Presents” Podcast!

The post Expert Advice on Writing Romantasy appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(What Is Romantasy, Anyway?)

Stakes, conflicts, magic systems, and tension are foundational to building a high stakes, epically romantic world in fantasy romance. So how can it be done? When a world and storyline is both rich with romance and immersive with magic and lore?

Building out From Motivation:

The way I like to create the tension and stakes in a story comes by the characters and chipping away at their motivations. Be it the dastardly plans of the antagonist or the hopes and desires of our (preferably) shady-on-the-morals MMC, or the struggles and trials of our FMC.

When the motivation of the characters is clear, from there the building blocks of their internal and external struggles can take shape.

The struggles might stem from other characters and their choices, or perhaps there are conflicts in the world itself. Are they a captive trying to find a way out of an enemy prison? Are they locked in forced proximity with a rival assassin and forced to journey around the land to find a certain mystical gemstone to stop the spreading dark magic? But at the heart of it, their motivations are clear and the driving force in their moves throughout the story.

How to Keep Conflict Rising:

A good thing to keep in mind while building a world, character motivations/desires, and rising stakes, is the placement of conflict and inciting incidents. A lot of us realize there is usually something that occurs at the beginning of a book that “incites” the story, it forces the characters and plot forward into the tale we’re about to read. Perhaps it’s an attack, a death, a plot for revenge.

In my latest release, Broken Souls and Bones, my FMC Lyra has been living as a servant in Jarl’s household, and she prefers it that way. Because she’s hiding a coveted, dangerous magic that kings desire to own for themselves.

Her story begins when the silent Sentry of the king arrives in her village with soldiers, under the guise of gathering boons for the upcoming wedding of the prince.

But, of course, our broody, dangerous MMC has other plans. He knows exactly who Lyra is and forces her magic to reveal itself in the worst way she can imagine. After, Lyra is not only forced on a new journey from her inciting incident, but she’s not in the hands of a man she considers a dangerous, ruthless enemy. Cue the enemies to lovers tension.

But stakes don’t die at the beginning or the middle can feel . . . long. Gradually increase the troubles the characters faced in the beginning by foreshadowing, adding fears and unknowns, creating a new dilemma they didn’t see coming.

In my fae enemies-to-lovers, The Ever King, the inciting incident is an enemy pirate king returning after ten years and kidnapping his enemy’s daughter. But to keep the tension and trouble building (while also drawing our two enemies closer) after she’s been kidnapped and brought to his kingdom, she’s unexpectedly faced with a siren-like character who entrances her and forces her captor/enemy’s hand to break her spell in brutal ways. It brings the characters an inch closer to lovers, build the darker parts of their world, and adds a new conflict to keep readers enjoying the ride.

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Navigating the Middle:

I don’t think the middle of books needs to be the long haul to get through. I love the mid-point of books because it’s where the nitty-gritty world building and character development really starts to take shape. The mid-point is a great place to add a new stake. Be it a new problem, or an addition to the one they faced toward the beginning. Here, it’s fun to ramp up tension between lovers, maybe the first kiss or intimate moment occurs. Maybe a secret is discovered about the motivations of another character. It’s an excellent place to introduce new information that is going to ramp up the thrill of the story, leading to the climax.

Make the conflict deeply emotional and personal to the characters. Doing so can add that extra layer that draws readers in, so they can feel what the characters are feeling.

Capturing the Wild Ending:

Here is where we can really reveal the motivations of our antagonist. To add more layers, more stakes, more beautiful tension that keeps the heart rate up, craft a villain who makes sense. A villain who truly believes their motivations are superior, their plans are the only way to go, even if they are simply a cruel person who wants to burn it all. Make it believable.

Keep the stakes visible and teetering on the edge for the protagonists and they face the climactic experiences in the end of the book. This can be final battles where they face off against their foe, perhaps it’s a vicious betrayal and they’re forced into exile to save their lives and the lives of those they love. Perhaps the lives of those they love literally hang in the balance and they are forced to test their own morality with their actions.

Whatever it is, keep it believable, fierce, and full of those gut-punches we can’t stop devouring.

Stakes are in every story. They might be more life or death in some books, but if they’re believable, emotional, and fierce, readers will find the wonderful escapism and storytelling they want.

Check out LJ Andrews’ Broken Souls and Bones here:

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The post Building High Stakes in a Romantasy Plot appeared first on Writer's Digest.

In this interview, Maxym discusses how her lifetime of vivid nightmares helped inspire her new gothic romantasy, House of Blight, her advice for other writers, and more.

Name: Maxym M. Martineau
Literary agent: Kimberly Whalen of The Whalen Agency
Book title: House of Blight
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release date: April 8, 2025
Genre/category: Romantasy
Previous titles: Kingdom of Exiles, The Frozen Prince, The Shattered Crown, Shadows of the Lost
Elevator pitch: House of Blight is a dark gothic romantasy where a woman with the ability to restitch life’s threads—at the cost of severing her own—faces a creeping blight that infects more than the land, an immortal family with sharp tongues and even sharper magic, and a vow destined to drag them all to their graves.

Bookshop | Amazon
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What prompted you to write this book?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been prone to vivid nightmares. I found early on that writing helped me process what I was experiencing, and after a time, it became an activity that I really enjoyed. They were always fantastical in nature, with dark, twisting things and ominous tones, and so it felt natural to carry that over into my books.

House of Blight is the romantasy of my nightmares, with a horrific plague and immortals who are all too eager to hide their horrific intentions beneath a perfect façade, reinforced by their magical glamour. No one knows what lies beneath, what their intentions are. And for me, that’s so much like my dreams. They’re dark and twisted, and you’d never guess they’re part of my thoughts from the way I walk through the world.

Additionally, I was inspired by The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe, Death’s Messengers by the Brothers Grimm, and Dorian Gray. Gothic horror is so darkly beautiful, and weaving a romance into that type of setting? Count me in.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

My publication journey was actually a bit wild. I drafted and edited the initial concept during the end of 2022 and through to the summer of 2023. I then queried it in August 2023 and was picked up by Kimberly Whalen of The Whalen Agency. We had very minor tweaks and went out on submission with it shortly thereafter, and House of Blight sold at auction to Harper Voyager in September of 2023.

And then more editing! Ha. I connected so well with my editor, Ariana, and we spent lots of time really unpacking the characters and their motivation and amping the gothic elements throughout. There wasn’t too much that changed plot wise or anything like that throughout the process. If anything, it was just about adding more words and details, which is fine, because who doesn’t love a thick book?

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

The biggest and most unexpected surprise of this entire experience was just the absolute speed with which House of Blight was picked up. This wasn’t my first traditionally published book, so I was prepared for a longer submission run and all the emotional ups and downs that came with that rollercoaster experience. But sold at auction within a month or two? I didn’t have that on my bingo card!

I’ve been completely blown away by the attentiveness and excitement the Voyager team has brought to the table. It’s clear they adore my book as much as I do, and being involved in decisions from the cover to the voice actors has been incredible.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

This is the first book I’ve tackled where I specifically tried to write to a genre/aesthetic (gothic). My earlier works are fantasy romances, but the world and characters from those stories were straight from my imagination and involve a quest, mythical creatures, and the like.

While House of Blight does take place in a fictional world, I knew I wanted it to have a very specific vibe. I devoured all things gothic and really welcomed the nightmares for a bit as I tried to understand how I’d bring those into the storyline itself. I wanted dark. I wanted creepy. I wanted to give myself chills while writing it. I found myself asking, “Can I make this grotesquely beautiful?” Haha. I paid a lot of attention to the environment itself and the mysterious Evers with more secrets than anyone could count.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

Edira, the main female character, is hugely important to me. She has first eldest daughter syndrome and takes on the role of both caretaker and provider, and the weight she carries is heavier than she ever lets on. She stepped into this role after her parents passed, and even though she did so willingly, that doesn’t mean it was without hardship. There are moments throughout the book where you see glimpses of her longing, of wishing for a different path, but she always reverts back to taking care of others first.

Which led me to write the dedication:

For those who constantly sacrifice in the name of others, it’s okay to save yourself first.

I think so many of us struggle with honoring our wants and placing value on our needs, especially when it’s perceived as “selfish.” But I’d encourage everyone to ask, “Who gets to determine what is selfish and what isn’t?” It’s the concept of putting your air mask on first in a crashing airplane, because if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t help anyone else.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

It’s better to write the story of your heart than to try and write to the market. House of Blight was something that sat with me for months, and I just simply had to get it out on paper. And I love love. So, I knew I was going to put a romance in there, too. These are all concepts and themes and genres that just flow for me. If you’re writing a book, find the thing that you enjoy writing about, because inherently when you love what you’re creating, others will feel that passion and enjoy it, too.

The post Maxym M. Martineau: Who Doesn’t Love a Thick Book? appeared first on Writer's Digest.