Mariella Hunt's Blog, page 5

The Sea King Arrives

December 8 was my planned release day for The Sea King as an eBook. It was a happy coincidence that my proof copy of the paperback arrived that very same day.

While it’s still not yet available to purchase as a paperback, I’ve been having fun carrying the book with me, reading the chapters with interest, as if I was not the very person who wrote them. It was the same when The Sea Rose was published earlier this year: I was fascinated by the sight of my own work on paper.

I struggled to read The Sea Rose when, a couple of weeks ago, I was checking for discrepancies. It isn’t a new situation, because–ideally–artists improve at their craft. It can be a struggle to enjoy their past works with the constant chiming of the Inner Editor.

If The Sea Rose had not already been published, I would be tempted to rewrite it, when every artist must accept that at some point we must move on and start a new thing.

That makes two books that I’ve published this year. I’ve also published about one hundred Vella episodes, for which I am grateful. I think that Vella, despite being a different platform with different kinds of readers, has been helping me improve generally at this good craft.

It’s taught me that stories can be incredibly flexible. When they need to be short, they can be short; when they must be longer, skilled artistic sight will show us where more detail can be added.

Next year, I want to publish a short story collection. I’ve written four of them already, and the only reason I’ve put it off is because I’m considering adding a fifth. I want to write some novellas that are not related to this series, because it is good for the writing muscle to move past a comfort zone.

I also want to write book 3. This is a big deal for me, because I’ve never made it to book 3 in any of my past series! I’m excited to see how my craft will have improved by the time it is finished.

I also plan to keep this blog more active. I’ll be talking about my writing plans, the books I read, and sharing bits of writing advice. I would love to meet more people here. Are you a writer or a reader? Comment and introduce yourself!

Announcement: Sequel to The Sea Rose

I’m convinced that self-doubt and impostor syndrome are to blame for many, many good books never getting published. Indeed, a nervous writer might never even allow her friends to look at her work if it is less than perfect in her eyes.

The truth is that nothing we write will ever be perfect; even our favorite traditionally-published authors might often struggle with “cringe syndrome” while reading their own work. It’s the nature of the craft.

This year, I published The Sea Rose in January. I have had such kind and helpful readers! Yet, in spite of their encouragement, I reached a crash recently where I could not bear to read my own work from just ten months prior.

It must be a sign of improvement as a writer, and some research shows me that all writers feel like this at some point. Ten months from now, what I’m proud of today will likely grate on my nerves. That’s what happens when practice improves our craft.

Over the course of the summer and autumn, I wrote book two of the Ladies of the Sea series. It is called The Sea King. In it, you meet two different viewpoints who join Rose, Peter and Meredith in order to help tell the story from many different angles. I’m proud of The Sea King because I achieved a new complexity with my character development. I already know that it will be even better in book three.

While The Sea Rose was primarily a love story, The Sea King focuses more on world-building and establishing how my fantasy universe works. I am grateful that I opted for indie publishing, because this story by nature cannot seem to stick to one genre. While I believe that I managed the change well, that is up to my readers to decide.

When you read The Sea King, I’m eager to read your reviews and learn how you believe I can improve for the next adventure.

Click here to pre-order. It will be available for Kindle on December 8, and hopefully the paperback will be ready less than a week after!

If you decide to visit my world again and follow on this adventure, I am most grateful for your time. It makes a greater difference than you realize for an indie author to have friends!

-Mariella

P.S. I have a short story collection planned for release early next year. The short stories are set in this same world. I can’t wait to share those. Also, if you have been on the fence about checking out my work on Kindle Vella, The Sea Rose Saga has exceeded 200 episodes and still continues. I’ve also started a Vella called The Prince of Sumner Lighthouse. Find my Vellas here.

Lord Peter West and Lady Rose Finch have returned from the district of the Merpeople. They knew their welcome would be rocky, but had not prepared for the challenges that awaited them at home.

When Peter learns that Lady Meredith, the woman he spurned, could be in danger, his conscience moves him to find her. But these plans are interrupted by the death of the Ocean Queen and the chaos that ensues.

The heir to the Ocean Throne, Prince Sorley, has been locked in prison for years. Enraged by the separation, the ocean begins calling to him. As furious raindrops threaten crops and sink ships, Rose and Peter must find a way to rescue Sorley from prison.

Can he be freed before the chaos is irreversible?

Guest Post: The Journey to Finding My Voice by Author Kate Seger

Visit her website!

Ah, the captivating world of writing—a dimension where I’ve always felt both entranced and, for a long time, somewhat astray. As a young, aspiring author, I admired a pantheon of literary greats, trying to find my footing by echoing their voices. Each narrative I spun felt like an act of mimicry, a parrot’s squawk rather than a nightingale’s song. I remember poring over other authors’ works, dissecting their sentences, and adopting their styles. My drafts, while technically sound, lacked the genuine essence—the soul—I sought to capture. Everything was an emulation, a reflection seen through the mist of someone else’s lens.

Imagine a tempest: a churning whirlwind of ideas and stories, all demanding to be told. That’s how my writing journey began, like a chaotic maelstrom where concepts collided and clashed. I unleashed that storm by writing tales of many genres, searching for where my magic felt most potent. 

And then, as if stumbling upon a hidden path in a forest, I discovered the dark corners of fantasy. It was like a homecoming, a realization that I didn’t need to force a voice that wasn’t mine. In this newfound realm, amidst the creeping vines and lurking shadows, my own voice emerged—more authentic, resonant, and compelling than any I had tried to imitate.

No longer did I need to consciously craft each phrase. Words flowed more naturally, and my stories began to weave themselves. The once-daunting task of filling blank pages became a journey of exploration into my own psyche and creativity. I learned to trust in the whispers of my imagination, allowing them to guide my narratives through a dance of light and shadow.

In dark fantasy, I found a genre that embraced not only the monsters lurking under the bed but also the darkness within the human heart. In this genre, my writing could explore themes of power, transformation, betrayal, and tenacity—every shadow held a story and every flickering candle flame revealed hidden truths. It was a genre that accepted the complexities and paradoxes of life and humanity. I found myself not just a storyteller but a sojourner traversing landscapes painted in shades of dusk and midnight. This genre, with its enigmatic sorcerers, hidden realms, and tales that tread the fine line between the seen and the unseen, wasn’t just a choice; it was a calling. It wasn’t solely about crafting tales but unearthing my deepest fascinations and fears. 

There’s an undeniable allure in worlds where shadows are always hungry, the apocalypse is perpetually looming, andmonsters roam alongside men. Darkness in these narratives isn’t merely an absence of light or a symbol of terror; within it, I could explore the primal depths of human nature, the struggle between survival and morality, and the endless complexities of power and loss. Leaning into my darkness, writing always flowed more smoothly; it was like dipping my pen into a well of raw, unfiltered truth, tapping into a vein of creativity that understood the seductive call of the night.

In this realm, the shadows themselves became characters—alive, whispering, ever-present. They spoke a language of mystery, inviting me to look closer, to understand that darkness isn’t always about fear. Sometimes, it’s about the magic hidden in the unseen corners of the world and the heart. Reality blurs in these dark corners, and the fantastical becomes tangible. It’s a world where the monsters and the heroes who fight them reveal the depth of our own souls.

Writing in this landscape of eternal twilight, I found a resonance with the duality of my own being. Here, I could weave narratives that mirrored my fascination with the ethereal and the eerie. In these stories, every haunted castle, forbidden forest, and character with a heart shrouded in darkness wasn’t just an escape; they were expressions of my inner world. A world where the allure of the dark was not just about embracing fear, but about acknowledging the power and beauty that lies within it.

The literary realm is vast, filled with voices echoing advice, doctrines, and tales of every conceivable nature. But I found that my voice was not in the din but in the hush that follows sunset. The allure of dark fantasy wasn’t just a genre for me; it was an echo from the abyss beckoning me.

Thus, my dance with nightfall, my journey into dark fantasy, became more than just a writing style. It became a way to explore the uncharted territories of my imagination, where every starless sky held a story. It’s in this embrace of darkness, this understanding that it isn’t always something to be frightened of but often a path to profound introspection and beauty, where my truest and most compelling narratives were born.

My journey to finding my voice in writing wasn’t just about honing a skill; it was about self-discovery, about realizing that the most powerful stories come from a place of authenticity. The real magic of writing began when I stopped trying to recreate the voices of others and instead listened to the unique cadence of my own narrative song. Here, in the realm of dark fantasy, my voice found its home—a place where each word I write isimbued with the essence of my truest self.

Review: The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts

Purchase here!

Perhaps Halloween season is to blame. I’ve been enjoying books about witches or set in relevant situations. The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy set it off. It hooked me into wanting to read more about these oft-misunderstood characters.

I like that witches in literature can be good or bad. Some do follow the black magic tradition of curses and steaming cauldrons. Other witches, like the protagonist in the book I’m about to review, are healers whose reputations suffer from superstition.

Are all healers witches? Can the two be separate professions? That’s a question to ponder in another post.

We live in a world that can be unforgiving towards anything that is unfamiliar or misunderstood. While society in general has become better at learning the facts before passing on condemning titles, things were not always so rational.

I enjoy books that capture simpler time periods where panic was quick and easy to find. They showcase a darker side of the human mind. This is one of them.

The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts chronicles how one accusation can unleash a chain of falsehoods. It is a reminder that even the young and innocent are not free from danger when fear motivates a mob.

It is set in Bicknacre, a small village in seventeenth-century England. It’s one of those places where one would think that it’s impossible not to know all of one’s neighbors. With thin walls and big mouths, how many secrets can there be?

The arrival of a witchfinder marks the beginning of a feverish search for sorcery. The accused are tortured until they confess to demonic practices that would condemn them to hang. Death is better than the punishment dealt by a witchfinder and his guards. More frightening, perhaps, than the torture, is the ease with which a friend would betray a friend to it.

The protagonist is Mary, a young widow who cares for her six-year-old brother, Tom. She is apprentice to the village healer, Agnes, and together they create remedies for all sorts of illnesses that the villagers suffer, from childbirth to headaches. These cures are all forgotten, however, when Agnes is accused of witchcraft and arrested.

The village is roused into a frenzy; they spew lies about Agnes with the intention of making her appear guilty. It does not matter how she might have cured their maladies in the past. The mob is hungry to see a hanging and will speak mistruths for the thrill of it. In the midst of this chaos, Mary and even little Tom become suspects.

What will it require to clear their names and escape the death penalty?

This enchanting story touches on the mysteries of alchemy, and the human desire for eternal life (or, at least, the reversal of death). It also has romance, but these scenes are closed-door. Though we all have different boundaries, I did not consider them to be graphic.

It is a romance between two souls with intelligent minds who wish to begin their lives again, and I think it is beautiful.

I would read this book again. It has motivated me to seek more witchy books and explore this corner of fantasy literature. If you like stories about magic, familial love, second chances, and historical fiction, I suggest that you give it a try.

Do you have some favorite witchy books of your own? Please suggest them in the comments!

3 Things I Love in a Protagonist

We all look for different things when reading a book.

Some people appreciate an elaborate world, like that in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings; others find such details distracting. Some enjoy it when an author ‘breaks the rules’ with their plotline.

Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a book people either love or do not. It breaks so many storytelling rules that I found it confusing. I much preferred his books Stardust and Neverwhere (check out my review of Neverwhere here!)

I pay most attention to two things in books: writing style and characters. In general, I can forgive a bland plot if it’s well-written and the protagonist is sympathetic. That’s not to imply that other elements (setting, description, believability) are unimportant.

In the end, storytelling is the ability to bend these things into something different that works. That said, here are traits I most appreciate in characters.

Flaws that Make them Human

I want to read about relatable protagonists. Humans make poor decisions. We can, and do, blurt out things we regret. We arrive late to meetings and have a tendency for laziness.

Note: You can have a main character who is a diligent worker and never shows up late. Compensate for that with something else, like self-esteem issues or the human defect of pride.

Mary-Sue characters do not stay long in my memory. I have nothing to learn from them or their journeys. I have no way of applying their perfection to my life.

If a character does not shape me in some way with their choices, I do not love or hate them; quite simply, I will forget.

Love to Guide their Choices

This does not necessarily mean romantic love.

A good character will care for someone other than themselves, be it a sibling, pet dog, or dragon (genre depending). Is there another breathing creature that they would do anything for? Is there a person whose loss would destroy them? If the answer is no, then I do not see myself liking them.

Even my favorite villains have somebody they care for. It often explains their actions—stealing to provide for a family, killing to avenge a loved one.

Characters must care for somebody; otherwise, how will I care for them?

Goals to Make them Stronger

A good story follows the protagonist as they move towards their objective. Frodo must destroy the ring; Harry must defeat Voldemort. However, a character does not always need such a dramatic goal in order to be motivated.

They can want something so common as romance—a wedding, a future with someone special—or a promotion at work. Rest can also be a goal, if years have passed since their last holiday.

I try to write characters with goals, and not all of them are dramatic as defeat the villain. So long as it motivates the character to take risks and leave their comfort zone, it is sufficient.

A character that needs nothing does not have much of a story.

These are, of course, my personal preferences. We all read differently and appreciate various qualities in our protagonists.

Feel free to comment and tell me what you look for in a character. Do you agree or disagree with any of these points? I’m eager to hear it!

Books of Octobers Past

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”

― George R.R. Martin

Books don’t become any less exciting with time—good ones, anyway. They change the colors of an otherwise dull day, or year, or life.

Classics are evidence that a story can be visited several times and always manage to surprise. While I still have not achieved my goal of reading all the classic books, the ones I’ve crossed off the list have mostly been worth it.

(This year, I read Pride and Prejudice for a fifth time and realized that I cannot stand Elizabeth Bennett. That is a matter for another post.)

I’m nearly finished with my 2023 Goodreads reading goal, and believe that I will exceed the number. Since I’ve been trying to make a habit of writing, I can’t spend as much time hiding in other stories. Still, in my opinion, a good book is worth procrastinating with.

Though I can’t recap all of this year’s reads in one blog post, I will update you on what I have read in the past month, and what I am reading now.

Here are the three books I most recently finished:All Hallows Eve by Michael Penning–I’ve been seeing advertisements for this spooky story on Facebook and decided to find out if it lived up to all of that. I don’t normally read spooky stories, and I have a hunch that All Hallows Eve is mild as far as horror novels go (I’ve never touched a Stephen King, so I wouldn’t know); however, I enjoyed the book more than I expected to, and hope to read the next installment. It’s a must if you enjoy witchy tales!The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble–this was the first eBook I purchased when I got my first Kindle, and I remembered the title in September. I couldn’t recall much about the book, except that I had liked it, so I decided to order a used copy for my bookshelf. I enjoyed it, though not as much as the first time. I believe the reason why is that, as I grow writing-wise, I also grow as a reader–and on the second read, I found some things to be a bit frivolous (and disliked the mermaid character immensely.) While I did enjoy the second read of The Mermaid’s Sister, I know I’ve read better books since then.Sealskin–honestly, this is one of the books I mean when I say I’ve read better books. It’s got to be one of my favorite reads of the year. Check out my review here.As for what I am reading:The Village Healer’s Book of Cures is another book about witches, though it has a different tone. The witch, at least thus far, is not a villain. I am enjoying the crisp, snappy writing style and the pacing of the story. Perhaps I am going through a witchy-book phase?A Wicked Conceit–last year I found the first three Lady Darby books at a thrift store, and what a treat! I haven’t been hooked on a series for a long time, perhaps not since Harry Potter (yes, it’s been that long.) I confess, a good reason why I follow it is the romance subplot. Most mysteries on their own read blandly to me; there must be an interesting protagonist or a compelling setting. In this case, there are both, plus a swoon-worthy romance!Tea is another thrift store find. The title intrigued me, for obvious reasons, though I’m not sure what to expect from it. I’ll try to blog about it when I finish!

These three books, obviously, have not been finished yet; the reviews are incomplete, so take all of these comments with a grain of salt.

How are you doing with your reading challenges? Have you read any of these books?

Sealskin by Su Bristow

Purchase here!

I write about Merpeople, so I enjoy finding books that take place near the sea. Of these, my favorites are those so well-written, I can feel the chill of the sea air and smell the salt in each breath. I can only hope to one day be able to describe things in such a way.

Sealskin by Su Bristow is not a tale of merpeople, but selkies. Though they are different creatures, they share a certain wildness. I suppose that all sea creatures possess the inability to conform to human standards, and that’s what makes them unique.

Sealskin follows the story of Donald, a young fisherman who struggles to fit in and pick a place in the world. With few friends to speak of, he lives with his mother and generally avoids the other lads in the fishing town. He is so misguided that he makes a mistake which will bring him joy as well as sorrow.

At the start of the book, Donald is not a wonderful person. It’s clear from the first chapters (which hooked me) that he hasn’t learned to control his impulses or think before he acts. While none of it justifies what he did, the beauty of this book was seeing Donald’s growth as he comes to see his mistakes and take on the world as a man.

The selkie in this novel, Mairi, will make a deep impact in his life. I fear that I cannot say much more without spoiling it; you’ll have to read the book. It is a story of regret, love-that-might-not-have-been, broken dreams and loss.

Creatures of the sea cannot be contained against their will, and I think the point of this story is that, if given the choice, they will always return to their home in the water.

It is a new favorite book of mine; I highly recommend it!

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

Having introduced characters to my stories who will spend a significant time at sea, I’ve become interested in nautical books. I’ve been on the hunt for histories of pirates, sailors, and other aspects of life near the ocean. It’s also become a goal of mine to read more nonfiction. With nonfiction, I am picky; so much of it sounds so dry to read!

It was a treat, then, to pick up Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea. I had seen the movie based on this story a few years back. It’s such an intense movie that I remember wondering if it was a true story, or perhaps some form of Moby-Dick fan fiction. There have been works written recently that are spin-offs of classic novels; why not Moby-Dick?

To learn that the sinking of the Essex and what happened after was real, caught me off-guard at first. As I read Philbrick’s engaging, well-written account of the wreck’s survivors and the 90 days they spent stranded at sea, enduring unspeakable challenges, truly pushed to the limit, I was reminded once more of how beautiful history is.

It is not beautiful that so many men endured such great trials. It is not beautiful that many died because of ill choices. I suppose what I mean is that, these days, life can be monotonous, repetitive. Social media, endless scrolling, and instant gratification can make us numb. We wouldn’t know adventure if it hit us in the face. When we read about situations such as this, whether the people went in willingly or not, it is a reminder that things in life used to be more difficult. There was more at stake. Information that we took for granted, like geography or the specific behavior of whales, were to most people in those days unknown.

History reminds us that we have much to learn from how much our ancestors did not know. From areas in which they failed due to poor judgment or misinformation, we can shape our own decisions. We can thrive from the losses of the past.

Stories such as this also teach us the endurance of the human spirit. When the only thing standing between a man and death is hope, how can a shipwrecked captain keep his crew hopeful? When it seems that the cry of land-ho will never come, how can a starving, thirsty sailor be troubled to keep looking?

What of the great relief when a rescue ship is at last sighted?

In the Heart of the Sea has made me think about these things. It’s also sparked in me a deeper interest in the subjects of exploration. I’ll be looking for more books on the topics of sailing, expeditions, and adventures such as this.

It is very well-written, moving, and a page-turner. If you were looking for a good bit of non-fiction to read this summer, In the Heart of the Sea is certainly a good choice.

Teaser: Lady Meredith’s Letter

“Perhaps there is more to your story than all that you said last night,” said Theo, opening a drawer in his writing-desk. “I have been debating whether it would be wise to give you this so soon after your return, but I trust you can grapple with it in a collected manner.”

From the drawer he took a letter. Peter eyed it warily as Theo explained.

“Lady Meredith’s maid sent this my way. Her name is Ava. She said in a note added for my eyes that she found this on Lady Meredith’s desk shortly after the latter was sent off to marry Silas Grumbacher. This was,” Theo added with distaste, “the very morning after the incident at the ball.”

“I know,” Peter said, his voice rather dry. “Rose heard it from one of the tailors. I thought the information outrageous. I didn’t know what to make of it.”

Theo nodded and, from inside of the brown envelope, drew a small bit of folded parchment. It was visibly fine stationary, with a pattern of flowers adorning one of the corners.

“The letter is addressed to you,” said Uncle Theo. “It was signed, but never sealed—written with feeling, but for some reason never sent. I expect you to approach this new information as a man your age should. Lady Meredith’s faults were many, but a person does not react in the way that she did if not driven by a deep fear.”

Peter took the letter from his uncle and drew a shallow breath. He recognized Meredith’s neat, feminine handwriting, though there was something urgent in the way she shaped her letters this time, as though she had been unable to gather her nerves while she wrote. There was a great smudge of ink that covered part of the missive, making it impossible to make out the final sentences of the letter.

Sensing Theo’s eyes on his face, Peter began to read.

I know it is futile to say I am sorry, the letter said, yet here I am groveling on paper.

I’ll tell you what will become of me if we don’t marry. You are a better person than I; hear my wretched plea for one…

A trail of ink blotted the ending of this sentence.

He’s coming in the morning, were the final legible words on the sheet of paper.

“She wrote this…to me?” Peter asked, unable to tear his eyes from those five ominous words, He’s coming in the morning.

“She wrote it,” said Theo, “but did not send it. It was Ava who found this paper, after Lady Meredith left with Grumbacher. Ava sent it my way because your mother would have been too livid to have any sympathy. I don’t know what she expects me to do about it; I’m not certain what she expects from you, either. I do believe you are old enough to behold all available pieces of the puzzle.”

What Multi-Genre Author Really Means

Guest Post by AR DeClerck

AR DeClerck is a multi-genre author with stories including sci-fi romance, fantasy romance, cozy mysteries, horror and serial fiction. You can find all AR DeClerck books and stories at linktr.ee/ardeclerck .

I started writing with the intention to publish in 2010. Back then, I was a young mother of 2 kids who was working full time. It didn’t seem like the smartest move to take on publishing novels on top of all that, but I had a dream and I wanted to make it happen.

My first book was a very raw sci-fi story called Ghosts of Phaedra that never made it to the publishing phase. I thought about what I wanted to write next, and like most authors I was writing the kinds of stories that were my favorite to read. I loved romance, and especially adventure romance, so that’s what I was focused on. I eventually did finish a novel about angels that I’d classify as paranormal romance, and it was published by a small press that is no longer in business.

Over the next six or eight years I wrote furiously, putting all the stories in the styles I loved to read on paper and publishing them. When the publishing house closed in 2018 I started self publishing and I never looked back. Of course, I knew that writing all different kinds of romance stories wasn’t recommended for a new author, because it’s much harder to find a readership when the type of story you write is always different. But, I’ve never been the kind of writer who could force myself to write one thing or another. I always wrote the stories that were on my mind and in my heart at the time.

I decided that to market my work, I’d put them all under the umbrella term of “adventure romance”, meaning that readers would know that no matter what sub-genre of romance the story might be, it would always be a story about people who come together through adventure to find love. For several years, I was content writing under the umbrella. 

Fast forward to 2019. I took the opportunity to go back to school and I started and finished a bachelor’s degree in 8 months. Yes! It was crazy. During that whole time, I put writing on hold. When I completed my degree and came back to writing, I knew that writing romance wasn’t all I wanted to do anymore. I had learned how much I enjoyed reading and writing psychological horror. I wanted to try my hand at it!

I published a story called The House on Herabe Hill to test the waters, and later I also published a story called The Lights Are On Now. I didn’t want to give up on writing romance all together, but I loved being able to explore these new avenues of writing and style that the horror genre opened up for me. During this period I also realized that I wasn’t able to write as fast as I used to, and I joined the Kindle Vella application via Amazon to write my work in serial format. I was able to write multiple stories at once, and publish to the audience faster than if I was trying to churn out five novels at once. 

I found that through this journey, I am, indeed, a multi-genre author. My mind just isn’t content on playing in one sandbox anymore. I’ve had folks ask me why I don’t start a pen name for each genre, but to be honest, that’s far too complicated. I prefer to simplify my life as much as possible. AR DeClerck writes anything and everything that strikes her fancy. It’s possible that readers won’t always find their favorite things in the next story that comes out, but I haven’t abandoned them! I’ll be back with a romance for the romance lovers or a horror for the horror lovers. It’s so much more satisfying to me and to my readers when I’m in love with the work I’m doing. The results are always much more well received when the stories are filled with the passions of the author. 

In the end, the moral of the story is that writing in multiple genres is not the answer for every author. It is not the easy road when it comes to marketing and promotion and building a reader base. But I’d rather be a happy, obscure multi-genre author with a few loyal readers than a miserable and discontent romance writer with a loyal following who wants stories I don’t feel like writing anymore because I wished I was doing something else.