Author Interview with Alyssa Milani

Author Alyssa Milani

Hello! We have our first author interview to be shared, and it is with award-winning author Alyssa Milani. I met Alyssa through an author group and am happy to call her a friend. I am excited to be able to share her interview with you all. So, without further ado, let's get to it!

What genre(s) do you typically write in?

Romance and thrillers

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I’m an award-winning Canadian mom of two who studied at Concordia University, obtaining a Major in Creative Writing and a Minor in English Literature, as well as a college degree in Law. I independently published my first novel in 2014 of all the works I wrote during my years at university. I now have twenty-six independently published novels under my belt, many of which are award-winners, and a best-selling anthology.

How did you get into writing? Who or what inspired you to start?

Reading Judy Bloom as a child got me to want the stories in my head to be put to paper.

What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter? Pantsers? Plantser? Do you have a specific place you need to write or a particular routine?

Panster! I let the characters speak for themselves and write whenever I can. Typically, the first draft is done on my notes app on my phone. And then I tear it apart and get into the flow of things. I wish I had a specific place to write! I just write when I can.

What are your favorite and least favorite things about being an author?

The accomplishments I achieved that I never thought I could. And what I hate is marketing like a madwoman without results. But it’s all part of the game!

Briefly tell us about your books.

I write thrillers and romance stories with twist endings and storylines that put my characters through hell. I love pushing myself to write something completely opposite of what could/would happen to me. 

What inspires your stories?

Most of the time I think they come from dreams; some of the time I’ll see a line or an image that a whole story unfolds from.

What can readers expect to find in your stories? Are there common themes or elements? 

Twist endings are my common themes, and I always try to make a meet cute related to a romantic moment in my life with my husband.

If you had to choose, who is your favorite character(s) you've written? Why do they stand out to you?

Oh, God! Where do I begin?! There are so many characters I love and so many characters that have parts of me in them that it’s too hard to choose.

How do you see parts of yourself reflected in your stories?

Yes! I always put a piece of me in them. It could be something so simple as making them lactose intolerant or horror movie buffs. ALmost every main character (male or female)  is left-handed like me. Little quirks that reflect me as a person, I'd say, are the parts that I make sure at least one of the characters has. 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of writing?

Getting the story on the page. Sometimes, the stories happen so quickly in my head that I have trouble getting them out. I’ll have a scene in my head that happens four chapters into the story, but filling in the parts between is what I find my least favorite.  Then, having to edit and re-edit and reread and edit again to the point of hating the story at some point. My favorite is that little flutter of excitement I get in my belly right as I start writing something new. How the words flow, and ideas come together. Then, holding the finished product has got to be hands down the best!

Have you written any particularly challenging scenes or plotlines? What was challenging about it, and how did you work through it?

I’ve written a few, especially the darker romance novels I’ve written. They entail triggers that I’ve never experienced before, and having to write something horrific was definitely a challenge. For example, my next release, that’s coming in May, there’s a “grape” scene in the book. And writing about such a tough subject has its challenges. And diving into the mind of the character that this happened to, when I have nothing to compare, is a whole other challenge on it’s own. However, doing research helps in understanding those that this has happened to, which helped me work through the after-effects of how the character felt. 

What can you tell us about any upcoming projects? Give us the juicy deets!

I have a dark romance coming on March 25, and it has a two-page list of triggers, but it’s the most intense and edge-of-your-seat story I’ve written in a while.

What advice would you give to new writers or people wanting to start writing?

Join a group of writers! The support is something everyone should have

Lastly, what are 5 books you will always recommend (other than your own)?

For The Fans, Verity, It Happened One Summer, The Mist, FanGirl Down

Thank you so much, Alyssa, for taking the time to share! I can't wait to dive into more of your catalogue.

Alyssa's next book - The Chosen Secret - comes out on March 25th and will be available on KU.

Until next time,

Isla.