This week LUV is spotlighting contemporary romance author of sparkly sapphic stories @danahawkinsauthor LUV: We love your description of yourself as a contemporary romance author of sparkly sapphic stories. Can you tell us more. Did you always know the kind of editorial you wanted to write or did you try other genres? What is your next book about? Dana: Thank you! Sparkly, sapphic stories are feel-good stories, using humor and heart while celebrating queer joy. What this means to me is that I do not depict homophobia, bigotry, or hatred based on identity within my stories. Trauma based on identity does not exist. I know this is a fantasy world, of course, but I wanted to create a breathing space for folks to read stories of messy and complicated characters who endure lots of challenges, but being queer is not one of them. I am extremely passionate about elevating queer voices and will fall on my sword that positive queer representation in media is critical. Years ago, I started writing a story about a young person being forced through conversion therapy, and I would write a little bit, then cry, then write, then cry. I finally realized it put me in a very dark place and I didn’t want to do that. So, I switched and thus became the start of my sparkly stories! In terms of genre, I’ve always gravitated toward writing romance, although, funny enough, I prefer reading thrillers. My next book is untitled thus far and will be coming out in January. It will be the third book in the “Single in Seattle: series, and follow the story of Sophie, the best friend of Maya from IN WALKED TROUBLE, in an enemies-to-lover book. Quick blurb: Forgoing college, Sophie is thrilled after clawing her way up the corporate ladder, she finally has her first trainee. Flying high, she crashes when she discovers the new trainee is the CEO’s snooty, over privileged daughter, who has never worked a day in her life. Also, I have a secret passion project, a queer YA book I am working on with award-winning author S.E. Reed. More to come on that soon!

Posted by LUV Team at 2024-06-10 19:00:10 UTC