AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Julia Strelou

Inside the Heart of Dark Romantasy: A...

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Julia Strelou

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Julia Strelou on Ocean Folklore, Emotional Depth, and Love That Destroys

With her debut novel Sea of Evil and Desire, released May 6th, 2025, Julia Strelou has made waves—both in hearts and on bookshelves. Her lyrical prose, magnetic characters, and ocean-wrapped mythology invite readers into a world as breathtaking as it is brutal. With its rich folklore, aching romance, and themes of fate, grief, and passion, this is a book that lingers long after the final page.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Julia about her creative process, the heartbreak and beauty behind her characters, and what to expect next in the Sea of Pleasure and Pain. Below, she shares a raw and thoughtful reflection on storytelling, love, and the power of the sea.

Sea of Evil and Desire is a marine Romantasy revolving around Mer, Selkie, Sirens, Undead, and many more folklore. What attracts you to such folklore?

I’ve been fascinated by ocean folklore for as long as I can remember. I often imagined the last mermaid, what she might look like, how she might have suffered at the hands of pollution and mankind. That vision became the initial idea behind Sea of Evil and Desire. I wanted to tell a romantic fantasy story and use the narrative to spread awareness about our beautiful oceans and protecting them.

Morgana is unlike other human heroines—she’s resilient, magnetic, and powerful in quiet ways. How did you want readers to feel about her evolution?

Morgana is meant to be relatable human. Whenever I wrote her dialogue or imagined her reactions to things, I asked myself how a normal girl, with no training, would react to these situations.

Even if her choices seem frustrating for some who are used to their heroines pre-existing as warriors, I hope that as she grows into her power, this humanness allows her to feel more relatable to readers.

Finn is a beautifully conflicted male lead, torn between blood, loyalty, and forbidden love. What was the most challenging part of writing his character?

Finn is morally grey because he is tormented by his past, especially how his father treated him. The real challenge was creating a character who carried that darkness yet revealed enough vulnerability to feel complex and human. Hurt people often unintentionally hurt people or make bad decisions. For Finn, it was about finding the balance between the darkness he was raised to embrace and then layering in a hope that he could change.

If you could become one mythological creature yourself for a day, which would you choose—and why?

A mermaid without question! When I was a little girl, I used to go down to the beach, lie on the rocks on my stomach, let the waves break over me, and sing, “Part Of This World.” I’ve always wanted to be Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

Finn and Morgana’s bond is achingly intense. How did you balance sensuality with emotional depth?

Finding true emotional depth for these two characters in book one was challenging because there wasn’t enough time to explore it as deeply as I would have liked. But Morgana and Finn’s aching relationship will unfold across the entire series, and I hope that I will be able to strike a balance.

I can’t give away any spoilers for how their relationship will conclude, but what mattered most in book one was laying the groundwork for a will-they, won’t-they romance between two aching souls—one that has the depth to stretch across four novels and not be neatly tied up in the first one.

If Finn and Morgana had swapped roles—if Morgana were the Mer royal and Finn the answer to the prophecy—do you think their love story would have unfolded differently? How might each have responded if the power dynamics were reversed?

Both Finn and Morgana are caught in the hands of fate. While Finn isn’t the ‘chosen one,’ he’s still entangled in the prophecy and the repeating cycle of Manannán, Siana, and Prince Kyano. As Morgana steps into her power, you may begin to see a shift in their dynamic; she’s the one who will rise to become the powerful force, and the dynamics will be somewhat reversed.

There’s a morbid, all-consuming intensity to Manannán’s love for Siana—a love laced with destruction, yet rooted in the inability to let go. It becomes the driving force behind the prophecy itself. Amor perdot nos—love destroys us all. What drew you to this theme? Was it born from personal experience, or purely a creation of imagination?

The greatest love stories often end in tragedy—Romeo and Juliet, Anna Karenina, and The Great Gatsby are just some examples. “Love is the reason for everything, but it can also be our ruin.” This notion guides all of my characters. You can listen to the song Wicked Games by Chris Isaak and apply it to the storyline of any of our main characters. I love Disney and a good happily-ever-after... but I suppose I’m subverting the romantasy genre by weaving in some of the aching tragedy that can also exist within love.
There will be happy endings in my series, don’t worry! But not for everyone… But I can promise that even those who do not have stereotypical “happy endings” will still have beauty within their conclusion.

There will be happy endings in my series, don’t worry! But not for everyone… But I can promise that even those who do not have stereotypical “happy endings” will still have beauty within their conclusion.

Sea of Evil and Desire features three love stories unfolding across different timelines—Finn and Morgana, Taranis and Abalone, and Manannán and Siana. How did you approach balancing these intertwined love stories during writing and editing? Among these three relationships, which one resonates with you most deeply personally, and what about it speaks to you?

First, thank you for recognising the complexity of these intertwined relationships. Your thoughtful questions mean the world to me.

Balancing and weaving these intertwined stories was really hard. Sometimes, I would find inconsistencies and think I couldn’t do this. I needed to give up; it was too hard. Haha, but I got there after many tears and years!
I adore Morgana and Finn. Whatever Finn’s done… I’m still rooting for them, I really am. However, I find myself most drawn to Siana and Manannán’s relationship and how this will play out between Manannán and Morgana (should they ever meet in person!). Manannán isn’t the leading male, so I don’t have to colour within archetypal lines with him. I can take his character anywhere I want, which excites me.

Prophecy and destiny play a huge role in Sea of Evil and Desire. Do you personally believe in fate, and are you more drawn to characters who challenge or defy it?

Yes, I believe in fate… but as Finn says, maybe destiny gives us choices, and what we choose defines us. Often, fate becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because characters act on it. The irony in this series is that while everyone is running around trying to find the prophecy, the subtle hands of fate are already pulling them into a reenactment of the past. The question is, can they recognise the pattern and break it before it’s too late?

When you first started the story, what came to you first: the prophecy, the world, or Finn and Morgana’s connection?

The world came first. Morgana (and her Selkie coat!) appeared to me as a teenager.

The book ends on a cliffhanger regarding Finn and Morgana’s relationship. Could you share a sneak peek of how their story will evolve in the next installment?

Ooh, that’s a tough one. I don’t want to give too much away. Morgana and Finn’s complex relationship will continue to evolve across the series. But I will say in Sea of Pleasure and Pain, you can expect to find: secrets, seductions, yearning, and some fiery confrontations.

As a reader, one quote from the book that’s stayed with me is: “You made me a better man, but destruction was how I showed my passion. Only you knew that, didn’t you? You fell in love with death.” What was going on in your psyche when you wrote this masterpiece?

I remember writing that scene; I didn’t plan it; I just stepped into Manannán’s mind and let the words flow. I’m so glad it resonated with you, because I still remember getting goosebumps as I wrote it.

Finally, is there anything you’d like to share directly with your readers? We’d love to hear from your heart to theirs.

From my heart to yours—thank you.

To everyone who has taken a chance on my debut, I’m endlessly grateful. Every review, every shared post, every Kindle highlight means more than I can express.

When I received my first five-star review, I fell to the floor in tears—I had no idea how my weird and wonderful world would be received. I was speechless.

So thank you, truly, for bringing my story to life each time you turn a page.

With Sea of Evil and Desire, Julia Strelou has crafted a hauntingly romantic debut that explores the devastating power of love and the ancient pull of the sea. Her second novel promises even more danger, desire, and heartbreak—and we can’t wait to see where Morgana and Finn’s story goes next.

Follow Julia’s journey and dive into her ocean of myth, magic, and raw emotion—you just might lose yourself in the tide.