Interview with Evie East, author of Dirty Halo

What can you tell us about your new release, Dirty Halo?

It’s a modern royal romance about an ordinary girl named Emilia, who happens to be an illegitimate heir to the throne of Germania. When a deadly fire leaves the royal family dead and the kingdom in turmoil, Emilia is pulled from her life and forced to take on the role of a princess. The story chronicles her journey from ordinary twenty-year-old psychology student to unwilling heir apparent. With plenty of twists and turns, scheming monarchs, and forbidden love, the first installment in the Forbidden Royals Trilogy will leave you guessing who Emilia can trust… and whether she’ll survive long enough to wear the crown…

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Books. Books. Books. I’ve always been a reader, with a deep appreciation for novels as well as the writers who craft them. After years of devouring romance and fantasy stories, I put pen to paper (or… fingers to keys…) and started plotting my own.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

I’ve always thought choosing a favorite book is like choosing the best place in the world to take a vacation — there are simply too many options to pick from! Different stories suit different moods and different phases of life.

With that said… my favorite genre to get lost in is probably fantasy. I adore richly detailed tales like “The Sevenwaters Trilogy” by Juliet Marillier and “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

That would be my dream job! Let’s make it happen. Pretty please? Haha.

My first guest would absolutely be Jane Austen. I’ve read Pride and Prejudice too many times to count! I’d love to pick her brain about being a female writer in a time period when women certainly weren’t encouraged to pick up a pen. Plus… the woman created Mr. Darcy. Enough said.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

It offers solid justification for my caffeine addiction.

What is a typical day like for you?

I generally write in the morning, take a mid-afternoon break to procrastinate with social media, then dive back in for a few more hours before dinner, if I haven’t hit my word count goals. In my free time, I spend time with my family and friends.

What scene in Dirty Halo was your favorite to write?

The last scene! *gasp* There’s a massive, unpredictable cliffhanger that might give you a heart attack. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I love the Coco Chanel quote, “I don’t care what you think about me. I don’t think about you at all.” It reminds me not to allow others’ expectations and judgments to define me — which can be especially difficult in this age of social media and over-sharing. The pressure to be “perfect” all the time can be soul-crushing. Comparison really is the thief of joy!

Evie East is the author of the new book Dirty Halo. 

Connect with Evie:
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