Interview with N.D. Roldan, Author of Sweet Sinners

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Sweet Sinners?

I’ve always been OBSESSED with forbidden love stories, the kind where you’re literally yelling at the characters like, “No! Bad idea!” but deep down, you’re secretly hoping they’ll ignore you. I live for that tension! Honestly, the heart wants what it wants, and who are we to judge, right? Sweet Sinners came to life because I wanted to play right on that line between acceptable and taboo, like a sneaky little dance that keeps you questioning your morals but unable to look away. Cali and Connor’s romance is exactly that: deliciously forbidden, shamelessly passionate, and scandalously sweet. Once their story started brewing in my mind, there was no going back. I had to give them the wild ride they deserved!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Sweet Sinners, what would they be?

For Cali, I’d go with “Nightmare” by Halsey. Cali is fiery, unapologetic, and bold, and this song captures her fierce energy perfectly.

For Connor, it has to be “Take Me to Church” by Hozier. He’s intense, complicated, and struggles between what he wants and what he knows he shouldn’t have.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I LIVE for romance, obviously. Give me all the swoons, drama, and heart-fluttering feels, but I’m also a sucker for a good thriller, especially the ones that leave me reeling with jaw-dropping twists. You know, those “throw the book across the room and scream WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” moments. My favorite genre to write, hands down, is romance (duh!). It’s my comfort zone, my obsession, my happy place. But who knows? Maybe someday I’ll feel bold enough to write a thriller that’ll have readers screaming and questioning their sanity.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Please don’t shame me, the list is SO long it’s borderline embarrassing. But sitting pretty at the very top right now are Belladonna, Phantasma, and Tethered.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Sweet Sinners is SUCH a slow burn, we’re talking page 200+ before we get the spice spicin’ (I’m sorry besties, it was torture for me too!). So my absolute favorite scene to write was definitely that “**** it” moment when Cali and Connor finally give in. The tension, the drama, the payoff…whew! I promise, it’s worth every deliciously frustrating second of the wait!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Hmm, I wouldn’t say quirky exactly, but I do have a habit of handwriting a lot of my scenes. We’re talking NOTEBOOKS filled with scribbles, messy ideas, and dramatic dialogue. Nothing hits quite as hard as putting my chaotic thoughts down with good old-fashioned pen and paper.

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

My motto is “Happiness is a choice.” I’ve honestly repeated that to myself every day for years. I even got the word tattooed when I was 17 to remind myself that no matter what’s going on around me, choosing happiness is something I can always control. Life might be messy, but finding joy, even in small moments, is always up to us.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

As an avid reader of dark romance myself, I wanted to write a story where, yes, the themes delve into the dark side, but the main characters (especially the main male character) don’t necessarily have to be toxic to be compelling. Connor is morally gray because of circumstances he never asked for; he’s a product of his past, struggling between darkness and light. My goal was to create a love story that rides that fine line, something both dark romance and contemporary readers could sink their teeth into. If readers remember just one thing, I hope it’s this: stepping out of your comfort zone can be incredibly rewarding, and love does conquer all. (at least in my world, ha!)

N.D. Roldan is the author of the new book Sweet Sinners

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