Indie romance authors being interviewed about their books? Yes, please!

Cross-posted on Substack.

You all should know by now that I am a sucker for all things coffee and romance. So when Megan Becker released her debut novel, Coffee Dates, last summer, I was definitely intrigued! AND it’s a slow burn? About an aspiring writer? Sign me up. I’m very excited to have her here today to tell us a little more about her books and her writing process. So, without further ado, here’s Megan!

When did you start writing? What inspired you to start?

I fell in love with writing in second grade. We wrote and illustrated stories, and then parents came in and helped us turn them into books with covers made of cereal boxes and contact paper. There was something about that activity that created in me this need to write, and I’ve been writing ever since!

Describe yourself in three words!

Passionate. Quirky. Creative.

Describe your book(s) in 3 words!

Sweet. Bantery. Touchable.

What is your subgenre of romance? Is (are) your book(s) spicy? If so, how spicy?

My books are contemporary romance with comedy sprinkled throughout. Each book is a different level of spice, because I want to be authentic to the characters and their stories. Coffee Dates, for example, is a slow burn, and I call it a “door-ajar” romance, because the door is open but it’s not super detailed. I definitely dialed up the intensity for Ship Mates, but it’s still pretty mild. Like a honey BBQ, not a Tabasco.

What comes first for you, the plot or the characters? Is this different for each book you write? Why do you think that is?

I have about a dozen titles I want to write, so as soon as a plot idea pops into my brain for one of them, I run with it. I might have some characters partially constructed in my mind, but they really develop organically as I write. Initially, Ship Mates was supposed to be a Grumpy/Sunshine story, but it didn’t feel right to have either character be either extreme. For a while, I was playing Ed Sheeran’s “How Would You Feel” on repeat. I kept imagining a scene where someone sang that song in a crowd with their best friend in the audience, subtle glances between them throughout the song, and I really crafted the whole idea of Coffee Dates around that scene.

Why do you write?

I need to. It’s like a compulsion, and I just need to get stories onto paper.

Describe your writing space.

My husband is awesome and made me a little writing desk for our bedroom. That way I can write late at night without being “alone” (our house makes noises and it freaks me out), or I can hide away during the day if there’s too much action at our house. I’ve got candles and snacks and at least two drinks at all times, and I just got a little neon light that says “create” that sits off to the side as inspiration. I am a mood writer, though, so I always have a journal on me and often write by hand wherever I am.

What is your least favorite part of the writing process and why?

Trying to figure out when a book is “ready” is my least favorite part. It’s so stressful because I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, so I feel like it’s never good enough and I need to keep working on it.

Tell us a little about your book(s)! What are they about? What inspired them? When were they published?

Coffee Dates came out August 2023, and Ship Mates came out April 9! Coffee Dates is a slow-burn romance about an aspiring writer who’s running away from a messy life back home, staying with her friend in NYC. On Day 1 she collides with her favorite Broadway actor, and they spend hours talking. There are some other chance encounters that lead to a friendship between them. The whole book was inspired by an Ed Sheeran song and my love of Broadway. I have described it as a love letter to New York City, and I stand by that.

Ship Mates picks up the pace and is packed with banter and humor. Gwen and her grandma are super close, so it’s not completely unexpected that Gram would invite her along on a cruise. What IS unexpected is that Gram’s pen pal “randomly” happens to be seated at their table at dinner. And, oh yeah, her very handsome and single grandson is also there. I love cruising, and beyond that, I have no idea where the idea for Ship Mates came from.

Which of your main characters would you most like to be friends with in real life and why?

This is such a hard question! I love them all. Probably Hillary, because we would just go drink coffee and write together all day at Nom Nom de Plume, and then she’d get us free tickets to Broadway shows through her “connections.” (wink wink)

Do you eat or drink while you are writing, editing, or doing other writerly things? If so, what’s your go-to snack and drink?

I should have water, but I rarely do. It’s either a latte of some sort (I’m a total Daniel Frilly Evans) or maaaaaaaybe a cocktail. Mostly coffee for Coffee Dates, and a few island-inspired drinks while writing Ship Mates (because obviously). For some reason Peanut M&M’s are my go-to snack, but normally I don’t snack while writing.

Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself? If so, how?

Yes! I’m really proud of myself, because being an indie author means I’m also a marketing genius, tech wizard, salesperson, and more. I really had to come out of my comfort zone to put myself out there to bookstores and social media. As a millennial woman, I was taught to be humble and not to inconvenience others. That makes it really hard to hype up my books and ask others to be beta readers, ARC readers, or to carry my book in their stores. But I had this realization that it’s okay to be confident, so very recently I have started to feel more comfortable saying, “Hey, I wrote these books, and they’re GOOD.”

What does success as an author look like for you? 

I don’t have a final idea of success. For Coffee Dates, I wanted to sell 100 copies … and I did. Then I wanted to get my books into bookstores … and I did. My next little goal is to have produced something people love so much that it’s just randomly out there on social media … like complete and total strangers who just feel the need to post a favorite quote or put it on their stories because they loved it. That would make me feel like a success, because I really want people to love the books, not just buy them.

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Have confidence, but be as objective as possible about your own work. It’s so vital to the editing process. Above all, be true to yourself and your voice.

What was your last 5-star read and why did you love it?

I LOVED Lynn Painter’s Mr. Wrong Number. I love a messy/complicated FMC, and this book had just the right combination of humor and spice.

Thank you, Megan, for joining us today! All of you should absolutely follow her on Instagram for more!

If you are an indie romance author who would like to be featured, or if you know someone who fits the bill and would be interested, you (or they) can fill out the interview form here! Filling out the form is not a guarantee you will be featured. Please read all disclaimers on the form carefully before submitting. Thank you!