In honor of Read-A-Romance Month and Romance Awareness Month, this August we’ll be sharing the insights of romance authors who have been navigating the world of the genre and writing all about love in their latest novels. For this month’s issue, we took a look at the entire romance bookish community and what makes it so special in this article, and interviewed internationally best-selling romance author TL Swan to learn more about her writing approach and widespread impact in this article. Here, you can read the full interview with Lyra Parish. For her website and social media, see below!
How would you define your specific writing genre and niche?
Love on the pages. I write about strong-willed women who find their happily ever afters.
What first got you interested in this writing style and how did you decide to pursue this niche in your authorial approach?
I’m a hopeless romantic and love romcom movies from the 1990s. I write a lot of Southern characters because I’m Southern in real life.
How did you first get into writing romance novels – why romance?
Great question! I originally started writing young adult urban fantasy novels back in 2011. In 2012-2013, I kept struggling with what I was working on and one of my friends convinced me to switch genres. The rest of it is history.
What does your writing process typically look like? Where do you gain inspiration from, especially because there is a depth and complexity to these stories that set them apart from traditional conceptions of romance novels?
I’m a one book at a time writer. First I start with the tropes and setting of the book, then I loosely plot key points. After I have a roadmap, I just start and I write the book from beginning to end. I used to co-write a lot so I’m used to writing books out of order. Many times I’m asked how I deal with writer’s block because it doesn’t exist for me. If I get stuck, I skip ahead and write another chapter, then will go back.
Do you read other authors?
Absolutely!
Can you read other authors while you’re writing?
I’ll only read books that are not contemporary romance. So for example, I’ll read self-help books, thrillers, or fantasy romance (think monsters/aliens). I love Katee Robert books! Gah, they are just SO good.
Do you draw inspiration from your contemporaries or other authors in your genre?
Not really. I honestly don’t read a lot of contemporary romance. I know the gurus say to read everything you can in your genre, but I don’t. I can count all the romcoms I’ve read on one hand. I try very hard to hit genre norms but I want to put my own unique spin on popular tropes.
I’ve been writing small town cowboy romances since 2017 and am still writing in that same genre. To date I have not read ANY small town cowboy romances. Not any of the popular ones that everyone recommends because I don’t want anyone’s fictional world in my head, especially if it’s very close to what I’m writing. It’s just how I’ve always been. Same goes for billionaire books. I’ve never read one. No, I never read 50 Shades of Grey. However, I worked in a corporate setting and wrote predominantly about billionaire business men and women when I first published under this name back in 2014.
Do you listen to audiobooks?
95% of the books I consume are via audio. I’m dyslexic and a slow reader, but I blow through audiobooks and listen at 1.5x – 2.5x speed, depending on the narrator. Audio is my JAM! Goodness, especially when the narrators are great.
How much of yourself – if any – do you put into your books?
I don’t know, actually. I think a lot of me is inside of all of my books in little slivers, even if I’m not trying to but I think our life experiences help shape our characters. I write small town romance, I’m Texan in real life, so it’s just easy to write about real life situations or use dialogue how I’d say it.
A lot of readers tell me how “authentic” my Southerners are. It makes me happy to hear that because being Southern is more than just a popular trope for me. I was living it so stepping into that rural romance subgenre just felt like home.
I grew up riding horses in the country and I base a lot of my small town experiences on my childhood and teenage years of mucking stalls, falling out of the saddle and getting back on, repairing fences, and shoveling poop. I remember being told…one day you’re going to be grateful for these experiences. I am. It taught me a lot, and now I write about it.
How do you come up with the names for your characters? What about the titles of your books?
Sometimes when I’m online and see a cool name, I will put it in a notepad in my phone. Or I’ll search baby names and read them until I say ooh.
When it comes to my titles, it depends on what series. Sometimes I like my titles to be punny/Southern, like Bless Your Heart & Butter My Biscuit. Other times I like for my titles to be the same, so it’s obvious they are in the same series, for example: The Wife Situation or The Friend Situation.
How do you approach determining the nature of the plot or the trope(s) that you pursue in a given novel?
I write what excites me and I have favorites that I can write for the rest of my life. Some examples: friends to lovers, fake dating, billionaires, small town romance. There is a flip side to that and tropes that I will never write because the idea of it feels like a chore. Once the fun is ripped away then this becomes work. I’m all about keeping the spark while creating and think that’s why I can write so fast.
Do you tend to stick with what is popular among readers or what is trending at the moment?
Nope, I’ll write whatever, but I typically use evergreen tropes that have been popular since Jane Austen. You know the typical enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, second chance romance.
Are there other key decisions at any point in the writing process that you tend to struggle with?
Not really anymore. I’ve been published since 2014 and have written/published over fifty books at this point. I run like a well-oiled machine because I’ve done it nonstop for a decade. If there is ever a point in my process where I feel like I’m losing my direction, I always go back to basics. The foundation has never changed.
Would you consider branching out into a different niche? Do you fear pushback or the loss of an audience from doing so?
Eventually I want to write a few thriller books, but I will pitch them to agents and traditionally publish them. I know not everyone would follow me if I went that route. However, I love romance and thrillers so I could be wrong. I would also write under a different pen name and not publish them under Lyra Parish, probably some rendition of my current pen name.
When writing a novel, how do you decide whether or not it will become a series?
Usually, if I’m writing it, it’s going to be a series of at least three books unless it’s a special project. Stand alones just aren’t my thing. I like to stay in a location for longer than just one book, especially after spending so much time building a world that feels like home. However, I will say that the location is typically what stays the same in a series for me, the hero and heroine do change.
Is it sometimes difficult to envision a future for a narrative or characters, or do subsequent books come naturally?
I think writing subsequent books comes naturally because I’m always putting easter eggs into books that hint toward later books so by the time I get to them, they’re fleshed out. Readers are excited and so am I! I’ve never started a series not knowing what the next 3-5 books will be about.
Do you plan to write a series in advance/prior to starting the process, or is that a decision that comes later?
I always know beforehand and typically know how many books it will be. Sometimes there is a maybe behind later books, depending on how pre-orders go for the first few. If I see a drop off in reads, I know readers are ready to move on and I probably should as well. However, if they’re loving something, I always leave the option to keep going. I honestly let my reader dictate how many books a series should be based on their excitement. I joke that I’m in control, but really, they are. I do this for them.
To what extent would you say that writing in this genre is a group effort? Or how does having a greater network of writers and collaborators benefit your work and help you grow as a writer?
Romance authors are some of the smartest, business savvy business owners out there because we aren’t afraid to test and try new things when it comes to marketing. Plus, most people in the community are happy to share what they learn so we can rise together. We have the most supportive, caring, and voracious readers out of any genre.
What is your experience with newsletters and the impact of participating in newsletter swaps for increasing visibility?
I started my newsletter back in 2013 before I published my debut novel. I believe it’s one of the best ways to connect with readers and have said that for over a decade now. I remember writing to my 25 subscribers, and now I send newsletters to over 25,000 people at a time! To put that in perspective, the small town I live in has a little over 16,000 people. Knowing I send a newsletter to almost double that blows my mind!
Tell me about events and conventions in the romance writer community. How have these shaped your time as a writer? What has your personal experience/take-away been from attending as an author or even as a fan/participant?
I love book signings and writer conventions. Book signings are more to engage with readers and I do a lot of networking at writer conventions. I think a lot has changed over the years when it comes to signings, especially after the pandemic. They’re very rewarding to attend.
Social media, particularly TikTok in recent years, has played a huge role in book promotion with the advent of “booktok” and the progression of online fandom activities that have existed for decades. How has social media provided a platform for promoting/marketing your books and creating a fandom space for your novels?
I think most self-publishers can equate their success to having the internet (social media and the ability to market by using ads). We are so lucky to be alive at this time with the ability to write and publish books without a gatekeeper saying it’s good enough. Readers now get to dictate if something is worth reading. It’s a wild time to be alive.
Do you have any notable stories in mind about your works going viral or skyrocketing in other ways through TikTok, etc.?
I honestly don’t. I’ve never really had videos go mega viral except for a few, but it hasn’t made me known in the BookTok community. I’ve tried summoning them a few times though. I think for me, it comes down to being consistent and staying on brand while writing books I personally love. If I like it, someone else does, and I try my best to find them wherever they are.
Readers are more connected to authors than ever through social media and independent publishing. How do you feel about this sense of connection and attainability?
I think it’s just how things are going to be from now on. I had Facebook when only college students had it. I also had a MySpace (I miss you Tom) and had Instagram before Facebook purchased it. I’ve watched social media grow from nothing to the monster that it is today. It’s a runaway train that I’m on because I don’t want to get left behind.
How do fans and their feedback (i.e., reviews) impact your writing process, whether directly or indirectly?
I write the book I want to write and read. I don’t allow readers or anyone [with] access to impact the story I want to tell. I shut out everything when I’m writing. It’s why I will not send copies to my alpha readers until it’s finished because I don’t want their comments to affect what I’m working on. I used to let people’s comments or negative reviews affect me, but now I ignore it. My books won’t be for everyone and that’s okay as long as I stay true to myself and continue to write the book I wanted to write. If I’m happy, my ideal audience will be as well. That’s who I want to keep reading my books forever.
Describe what it’s like having an ARC team, beta team, etc. and being able to receive trusted feedback from your readers.
For those who aren’t aware, an ARC team stands for Advanced Reader Copy, so this is people who receive my books before they’re published in exchange for their honest opinion. Honestly, I think some of the most exciting times I’ve had as an author have been the moment between sending ARCS and publishing the books. At that point, it feels like a countdown to Christmas as the reviews are posted. I enjoy my ARC team and am always signing new people up to read my books for free beforehand.
As far as my beta team, this is where I want feedback, not in the ARC stage. At that point, it’s too late, because they’re getting the close to finished project. As someone who basically goes into a “writing cave” when I’m writing, meaning that’s all I do is write, it’s easy for me to have what I like to call author ambiguity. I know what’s going to happen at the end of the book while I’m writing the beginning so sometimes I might not fully explain something that needs more feedback. I also love their reactions because it’s the external feedback that I did something right with my words or that my jokes actually hit or that the spice was spicing. When I finish writing a book, I usually feel good about it. When my betas are finished reading it, I feel PROUD of it. There is a huge difference between those two things, at least for me.
What impact do book influencers have on your own marketing and writer experiences? Are there particular influencers whose presence is particularly notable? Is it inspiring to have mood boards and other content made about your books? What about being included in “to be read” lists or “currently reading” lists?
My advanced review team is made up of many incredible bookfluencers, and sometimes people find my books and make TikToks/Reels/posts about it and it blows me away every single time. I sit here ten years later so thankful that this is my life and that people are finding joy from reading romance books that came from my heart. It’s hard to describe to be honest because it doesn’t always feel real.
Do you feel a sense of pressure having a dedicated fanbase who cares about your stories?
There is pressure involved with it because I never want to disappoint my readers, but I’ve found over the years that as long as I stay true to myself, I stay true to my readers. When I begin to veer off track or write things that are out of my league to keep up with trends, it never works out. So, I stay the course and try to ignore the outside noise as much as possible.
Discuss any concerns you might have that come with this, especially since sharing your narratives with the world can be an extremely vulnerable exercise.
I’ve been doing this for so long and have religious family members read my books. I also worked in a large corporate office before quitting my job to be a full-time writer and well, let’s just say, I was approached on the elevator on more than one occasion in a professional setting about my books. Pen name or not, it didn’t matter. At this point, I’m completely desensitized to it.
Although social media has definitely helped to dismantle negative perceptions of romance novels (i.e. views that “they’re not real books”), what is your stance on these sorts of beliefs?
As humans, we have been telling stories before we could write them down. I used to be very active on YouTube and was used to that narrative. I think it’s ignorance, to be honest, and I’m not here to convince anyone. My books allow me to stay home and do this full-time, so it seems pretty real to me and my readers. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. The naysayers can kick rocks.
How do you think the genre more generally, or your particular niche of romance novels, disproves popular stigmas?
Oh, I think the stigmas are there, even in 2024. However, with communities like Booktok and having large boxed stores like Wal-mart and Target carry self-published authors speaks volumes to how our genre isn’t going anywhere. We will persevere.
In what ways do you think romance novels are significant for readers to engage with or have access to, whether this be in terms empowerment, gender dynamics, representation (i.e. for BIPOC or the LGBTQ+ community), exploration of sexuality, or otherwise? What power do you think these stories can have for readers and communities at large?
I think romance novels empowers people and I think representation is so dang important, especially for marginalized and underrepresented communities. It’s important for men and women to see themselves as the main characters in roles where they are being loved and supported. It’s why I write about plus-sized and neurodivergent characters.
How do you curate a cohesive aesthetic and visuals for your stories and series? What about the creation of merchandise that pairs with your stories? What sorts of artists and creatives do you normally have to consult for your vision to be realized?
When it comes to curating anything for my books, I’m the person who visualizes everything first. I’m very lucky to have access to photographers who take incredible photos and a cover designer who understands exactly what I want. However, it typically starts with me. As a self-published author, I don’t have the luxury of just writing and turning in my manuscript. I am running a true business from marketing all the way to writing. The concept starts here and ends here and at the end of the day, whatever has my name on it has gone through me every step of the way for my final approval.
Going off of this, explain the process of seeking out and attaining cover photos/art for your books. What is it like to choose designs and models that best fit your story? Do you find it troublesome finding real people that align with the characters in your mind? Do you pick the model(s) before or after writing the character or couple? What about illustrated/discreet covers and special edition covers?
There are some incredible photographers who take photos just for cover design. To name a few: Wander Aguiar, Furious Fotog, Lindee Robinson, CJC Photography, Michelle Lancaster, Emma Jane, and J. Ashley Converse Photography. These are all photographers that are known and recommended in the community. They use real people, zero AI, and I love to support real artists. So, when I’m searching for exclusive photos to continue my vision, these are the first places I search.
I’m one of those authors who cannot write a book until I have the cover first. It’s just how it works and why I have covers made for my next 6 releases. Once I see a cover, it’s real to me, and then it’s time to make it happen.
Describe what it’s like to be an independently published novelist. What obstacles have you encountered with this approach? Advantages? How do you handle the “business” aspect of being not only the author, but the publisher and promoter of your stories?
Freedom. Honestly, I’m so glad that I went this route. I did have a small publishing contract back in 2011 and in 2012, I was able to get out of it. After seeing behind the curtain, I realized that I wanted to have more control over my brand. Since I’ve been around for so long, I’ve grown as the industry has and I’ve pivoted with the changes. I was around before Kindle Unlimited was invented. Can you imagine Amazon without that now?
I love being self-published and one of the best advantages is being my own boss. I create my own schedule and drink coffee at midnight if I want to. I enjoy running my business. I have two degrees in finance and economics, and knew I wanted to eventually work for myself. Never would I have imagined this is what I would be doing, but here we are. It’s not for everyone, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Do you work with a PR company? If so, how have you navigated that relationship in order to get your books promoted?
I have worked with several PR companies in the past but I have not signed up with any specific one and am keeping my options open for now. I’ve recently used The Author Agency and they were very lovely to work with. They tell me what they need and I provide them with the information, then they do magic. PR companies are kind of like fairy godmothers!
What has your experience been as an indie author encountering pirating and copyright issues with companies like Amazon or Apple Books?
It hasn’t happened very often to me, however it is a nuisance. I have a company that I hire that helps remove pirated copies from the internet, but it’s a losing battle. Each time my book gets pirated, I blame those penny CDs I ordered from Columbia House in the 90’s at twelve years old. I swear it’s my karma. Haha, but seriously, I try not to let it bother me. I can only control what I can control, and I focus on that instead of all the things that I can’t.
Are you publishing your books in audiobook form? If yes, what has this process been like?
Oh yes. A few of them are currently in audio format. I’ve worked with incredible production companies like Lyric Audio and worked with an amazing producer (Brittney Cunningham) that made the process so easy. I’ve also worked directly with narrators too which has been so much fun. From my experience, it’s been a very easy and rewarding process whether you choose to use an amazing company like Lyric Audio or to fully do it yourself.
I know there is a lot of discussion about AI audiobooks right now and personally I don’t care for them and I am an audio listener. As an author, I will never have AI audio produced because I want the human aspect. As an audio listener, if I want a robot to read my book I can have my laptop read to me. I want an audiobook for the experience, and am very pro of supporting human artists.
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