What can you tell us about your new release, Dangerous Engagement?
The book was inspired by true events even though it is completely fiction. I always found stories about forced or arranged marriage fascinating, but only this one is not one that results in love. The main character, Aurora, is forced to marry a man to save her father’s life. She is currently in love with someone else but her marriage forces them apart. The book deals with the reality of the situation and how love can triumph over anything.
What or who inspired you to become an author?
I have always wanted to be a writer because I was always a reader. I spent a big portion of my 20s writing short stories that were published in a variety of literary journals. When I discovered indie publishing and romance books, I decided to take control of my career and try my hand at not only writing but also publishing and marketing.
What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?
This is a very difficult question for me to answer because I feel like books are like seasons. Some books you want to take to the beach with you and others you want to read when it’s raining and you are under the covers. Others you read to make you laugh and still others are those that you read to cry. Different books serve different purposes in my life and inspire me in different ways.
Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?
My first guest would be Skye Warren. She is the one who is responsible for exploding my author career (in a good way) by showing me the way to advertise and market my books and find new readers for my work. She also writes epic dark romance with lots of twists and turns, the kind of books that I love.
What’s your favorite thing about writing?
I love losing myself in the story. I love getting so into the story that I simply can’t put it away and I just have to keep typing to get everything out. I love being in that state of flow where creativity is just rushing through me.
What is a typical day like for you?
I usually wake up around 8, play with my 2 year old, take him on a walk and swim. If I’m working on a book then I will write during his nap and then into the afternoon while my husband takes care of him. Then I take my son on a walk again, followed by another swim. I have been experimenting with dictation recently so I’ve been dictating on my walks and in my free time. When I’m writing, I don’t check a lot of emails or do a lot of author work and focus exclusively on writing. Then I will write again in the evening after my son goes to sleep or often before that when my husband is with him. My writing now has to fit into my son’s schedule, but luckily my husband works from home on the business with me so he does a lot of the heavy lifting.
What scene in Dangerous Engagement was your favorite to write?
I love the beginning of a love story when the two main characters just meet and have all of this unresolved sexual tension between them. This book has a lot of that and that is what I love most.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
My main philosophy is that you should always pursue your dreams no matter what. It has always been my dream to become a writer (and make a living off it) and now I’m living my dream. I didn’t realize how well my books would be received or how many fans I would get but when I started reading romance novels, I discovered a magical place where I could write about love and tell the stories that I have always wanted to tell in the way that I wanted to tell them.
Life is short. But also long and boring. Do yourself a favor and do work that’s meaningful to you and go after what you want.
Charlotte Byrd is the author of the new book Dangerous Engagement.
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