Part #2 of our chat with author @allietherin LUV: Can you tell us about the “Magic in Manhattan” series, LGBT urban fantasy romances set in the 1920s. Allie: The “Magic in Manhattan” series, and the spin-off series “Roaring Twenties Magic,” combine romance with hidden magic, Prohibition, and mystery/adventure. The MiM series focuses on Arthur, an overprotective former WWI soldier and a congressman’s son, and Rory, a grouchy psychometric antiques dealer who can see the past of whatever he touches. Trope-wise, it’s a cross-class romance between wealthy Arthur and immigrant’s son Rory, and there’s a bit of an age gap—7ish years—which was actually unplanned and due entirely to the role WWI played in their lives. Then, two of the villains from MiM, Lord Fine, a jaded viscount and former British army captain, and Sebastian, a paranormal with a troubled past, were so popular with readers that they now have their own spin-off series. The R20M series has big grumpy/sunshine vibes and two scoundrels who end up being perfect together. Their second book will be here in August. There’s a bit of a “pulp magazine” feel to both series as they search for supernatural relics, along with a lot of banter, a diverse cast, and strong friendships. The characters are flawed but trying, and there’s a lot of rescuing each other—rescuing each other from the baddies trying to take over the world, from their own volatile magic, or from the demons of the past that still haunt them. I began writing the series when I was going through a very stressful time in my own life and needed something fun and sweet to distract me. Readers have told me these are their “go-to comfort reads,” and it is just amazing to hear that the story and characters you wrote to cope with a tough time were there for someone else who needed them.

Posted by LUV Team at 2023-04-25 19:00:31 UTC