Page 72 - Novelist Post – J.D. Barker and more

Shari Nichols Brings Paranormal
Romance to Life with Heart-Pounding
Suspense and Irresistible Passion
Shari Nichols shares the inspiration behind her paranormal romance novels, blending witchcraft, suspense, and emotional depth while offering insights on character chemistry, world building, and advice for aspiring authors.
By Carly Preston
London
cters and stories that stay with readers long after the final page.
In this issue, we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Shari to delve into her creative process, her inspirations, and her journey as an author. With tales that blend heart, history, and the paranormal, Shari’s work continues to remind us why we love diving into richly imagined worlds where danger, love, and magic intertwine.
What initially drew you to combine witchcraft, vampires, and suspense in your stories?
I loved The HBO series True Blood. The idea of a magical world where humans coexist with vam- pires and witches drew me in right away. I also read a lot of HP fanfi- ction. I’ve always been fascinated by mystery and lore, the stranger the better. As a reader, I’m drawn to stories that give me that breath- less, edge of my seat kind of rush. The suspense element evolves by creating characters that the reader cares about. Weaving in a sense
of anticipation and uncertainty with paranormal elements is like a heavily choreographed dance.
At different points in the series, each character struggles with guilt, shame, and a sense of failure, which are relatable emotions, despite their magical abilities. I spent a lot of time researching true crime stories, and then set them
in a paranormal world. All of the books have some element of truth in them.
How has growing up around haunted houses and Ouija boards influenced your writing style?
parents didn’t know about any
of this. These stories sparked my imagination and led me to jot ideas down in a notebook that I’d often refer back to.
There’s an urban legend within my own family history that was the impetus for my hero’s backstory in Midnight Temptation. My paternal grandfather woke up from his fune- ral and rang a bell. From there, he was forced to take on his mother’s maiden name in order to flee his village in Poland and come here
to the states. Stories of vampirism were rampant back then.
I gravitate to developing plots that have some nugget of truth
to them, and spin them out from there. The characters and the emotional arcs are what make the books memorable.
Can you tell us more about your process for developing the romantic chemistry between your characters?
I refer to astrological charts and create personality traits for my characters that are in opposition, regardless of the tropes. I like to develop a rich character history, and give my hero and heroine deep wounds that may stem from childhood. I reread GMC by Deb Dixon before I start to write.
Every scene must incorporate goal, motivation, and conflict. I try to keep that in mind as I draft. I’ve learned that writing the charts by hand uses a different part of your brain.
Once I get a sense of the conflict, the stakes and what these charac- ters want more than anything in the world, I draft an outline based on the Gwen Hayes method. Having one character always thinking about the other or texting is a great way to build the tension. All roads in the plot must lead back to the central romance, and eventually, the HEA.
How do you approach building a paranormal world that feels
both believable and exciting for readers?
I do a lot of research and visit the places I’m writing about for aut- henticity. By describing the town, and creating a spooky history, this allows the reader to become more immersed in the story. Raven’s Hollow is the fictionalized setting for the series, which is actually Hoboken. I spent the day there, and took lots of pictures. I even stumb- led upon a creepy cave that was perfect for my vampire enclave.
In terms of believability, I’ve ta- ken ghost tours and visited haunted inns in Savannah, New Hope, Cape May, Princeton, and Salem. I’ve interviewed people who’ve had real life experiences with ghosts, and hauntings. I’ve read tons of non-fiction books on the subject
as well. Using deep point-of-view, making the character experience the chills, the creak of the door, or waking up to the scent the ghost leaves behind in a room, all lead to a more conceptualized world.
Which of your characters has been the most challenging for you to write, and why?
The character of Van Pariah, the villain in Midnight Desire, book one, in the series was tough. Crea- ting a three–dimensional character from a heinous one can be tricky.
I wanted to give him some level
of humanity, but at the same time make him utterly terrifying. Going back to the idea that every charac- ter must have a goal, a motivation, and a conflict, helped keep me on track. But it was hard to get inside his head. I did research on the real person this character was based on, and read tons of articles about him.
What has been your most memorable moment as an author so far?
There’s been a few. Finding
out that my critique partner won the Golden Leaf Award in her category, which was presented by our local romance chapter. Then a
Witches,
Vampires, And
Love That
Defies
S Darkness hari Nichols is an
undeniable force in the world of paranor- mal romance, a genre where imagination
knows no bounds and the super- natural comes to life. With her vivid storytelling and ability to weave suspense, romance, and magic into breathtaking tales, Shari has captivated readers
and critics alike. Her acclaimed "Raven’s Hollow" series—span- ning titles like Midnight Desire, Midnight Temptation, and After Midnight—has redefined what
it means to craft a paranor-
mal universe that feels both thrilling and utterly authentic. Each of her books brims with heart-pounding romance, intri- cate worldbuilding, and unfor- gettable characters, making it no surprise that she holds numerous prestigious awards, including accolades like the Beverley Award and HOLT Medallion Finalist.
I grew up in Milford, Connec- ticut. Old houses are everywhere and so are the ghost stories. We had these neighbors who used
Not only is Shari a master of her craft, but she's also an inspiring mentor, teaching creative writing to adults and teens looking to shape their own stories. Her passion for empowering others
to invite a group of us over to play with their Ouija board. They spun tales of ghosts, murder and large sums of money stolen from a Brinks truck that was buried under our property. Of course our
is as evident as her dedication to creating deeply layered chara-
72 II NOVELIST POST