Page 75 - Novelist Post – J.D. Barker and more

Second, being able to write a light-hearted story about faeries and unicorns gave me a break from my usual gritty suspense. And third (this is the best part), we got to have illustrations made that brought our book to life. Seeing Anna-Grace’s delighted face when our
same as any of my other stories. That’s why I always make a character log before I start the book on who my characters are and what their flaws are. That way, I can figure out what it’s going to take for their walls to break.
of danger. It’s a book that’ll definitely keep
you on your toes and guessing what’s going to happen next. Not to mention, it’s packed full of steaminess. Then, for the fantasy lovers, I highly recommend Forever Fae, which is the first
illustrator would send us a new sketch will forever stay ingrained in my mind.
book in my Forever Fae series. You’ll get royalty, magic, danger, suspense, and dragon shifters
all in one story. And lastly, for the readers who like their stories clean and heartwarming, I’d have to say they’d need to read Hide Away by the Sea. It’s a clean beach romance with secrets, intrigue, and a touch of suspense.
What draws you to fantasy elements like the fae and shapeshifters in your series?
Before I started writing, all I would read were fantasy/paranormal books. Reading about magic and otherworldly things gave me an escape from reality. So, when
I contemplated the idea of publishing a novel, I knew I had to write about fae and shifters.
How do you balance writing across different genres like romantic suspense, fantasy, and MMA-themed romance?
This is easy. I only work on one book at a time. When my mind is focused on one storyline, I have to write that until I’m done.
What challenges have you faced in maintaining long- running series such as "Royal Shifters" or "Second Chances"?
Timelines and details!
Writing the first couple
of books wasn’t so bad,
but the further I got
into the series, the more
mind-blowing it was
how much I couldn’t
remember. In the end, I
went back through all the
previous books and made
a character bible where I describe each character and what happens in each chapter to keep my timelines straight.
How do you approach developing the intense emotional connections between your characters?
With each book I write, I try to make each couple’s connection different. I like for them to be drawn to each other in ways that are not the
What is one book of yours that you feel newcomers should start with to really get to know your style?
This is a super hard question. I’m going to have to answer this with THREE different books. For the readers who love all things steamy and suspenseful, I’d have to say Roped In would be a good choice. It involves a sexy undercover FBI cowboy, the mafia, and lots
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write across multiple genres?
Do it! Go with the flow and write what you want. It’s exciting to write about different things without being stuck on one genre. Being able to write about faeries and shifters one day and switch to sexy undercover FBI agents the next is fun.
PHOTO: L.P. Dover—bestselling author of romantic suspense, fantasy, and heartwarming romance—crafts stories as rich and captivating as a Southern sunset.
If it weren’t for the encouragement
of those [indie] authors, I wouldn’t
have been able to accomplish what I have."
– L.P. Dover
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