Indie or Traditionally published? - Tell us how this works for you…
I have published five books with indie press Shadow Spark. I queried traditional agents for a long time, but I have found my home with this dynamic new press. I love the combination of artistic freedom and support I get from my publisher.
Plot or Pants? Do you pre-plot your books, use an outline, fly by the seat of your pants or some combination of things? How do you keep track of characters in a series? Do you keep a journal of your characters’ statistics, such as hair and eye color, relatives, hometown, etc.
I am a pantser. I only use rough outlines when I get stuck, and the story quickly deviates from the outline, which then becomes garbage. I do keep a running notes doc on my phone, where I tap out ideas as they come to me, and I refer to it on occasion. For whatever reason, knowing exactly where the story is going makes it harder for me to write, so I have a mood or maybe a scene in mind for the climax, and the rest is just following vibes and plotlines along the way.
Tell us about your first… published M/M fiction/romance
The 2nd book in my Maer Cycle fantasy trilogy, The Archive, has a major romantic subplot between two men, a human and a Maer, who are just like humans except their bodies are covered in hair (closer to dog hair than to Chewbacca). Fabaris, the Maer character, saw the human, Finn, doing his magical training poses in the courtyard, and had a moment:
“He watched as Finn held the position for an incredibly long time, his lean muscles taut and steady. He had vaguely admired Finn’s body before, from a purely scholarly perspective, but something stirred in him as he stood watching…”
Much to Fabaris’ surprise, Finn took interest in him too, and romance quickly bloomed between them. I wrote my first M/M sex scene (and second, and third) between these two characters, and though it’s not very explicit by romance standards, it’s more than what you’d expect to find in a more traditional fantasy book. I was nervous about it, but that is what the story wanted, so that’s where I went. I got a lot of help, and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. In the end, it’s just a love story between two people.
This book has a wide variety of relationships, including one that develops surrounding a mystical surrogacy, as well as a few others. I find a lot of joy as a writer in exploring various characters’ interactions and experiences, whether in friendship, enmity, or romance.
and your next one…
I’m drafting a book called The Delve (coming in 2023), whose genre I am referring to as romantic dungeon fantasy. It’s the story of a group who investigate an important mine that has mysteriously stopped operations and shut itself off from the outside world. The main pairing in the book is M/M, and I am having a lot of fun playing with the complicated power dynamics between the characters, who come from different social castes and backgrounds.
I have grown much more comfortable with my smutty side since writing The Archive and The Isle of a Thousand Worlds (a spicy alchemical fantasy novel), and have been reading a variety of fantasy romance and romantic fantasy. I’ve seen what other writers have done with intimate scenes, whatever the pairing. I have made it a point to read broadly in the genres, and it’s been a delight to see the ways different writers explore various dynamics and to learn from them. When I grow as a reader, I grow as a writer, and I have fully embraced my romantic side, as well as my penchant for a bit of spice.
Do you write full time or part-time?
I write part-time, though sometimes it feels like a second full-time job. I write about an hour a day, and spend another hour or so on average, more on the weekend, on networking and various promotional tasks. A lot more near launch time, obviously. I learn a lot from the writers and bloggers I interact with, and all of this has made me a better writer, and more comfortable writing what I love, which is romantic in nature more often than not.
Something people would be surprised to know about you
I once took a trip on a log raft on the Mississippi River when I was twelve, as part of an outdoor school of sorts. I learned more in those two weeks than in any other period of my life, and this story informed my novel The Living Waters, which is set on a river raft trip.
Which character still pops into your mind to visit from time to time?
Of my own characters, I miss writing Tcheen the most. They are the leader of the Dragon Maer in The Archive and The Place Below, and I adore their crusty exterior protecting a heart like sweet custard, not to mention their prowess in battle. They kill more baddies than any other character, but they also have a sweet love story spanning two books, which I am very fond of. They also have this spear that can fly, though it’s hard to handle, and that was a blast to write about.
Where do you write? Do you have a routine?
I write at night standing in the kitchen, or on my iPad on the couch if the cat has trapped me there. I do almost daily writing sprints with some of my fellow writers, which really helps keep me locked in.
What are your writing goals for the next year? The future?
I need to finish drafting at least 2.5, but hopefully all 3, of the books in my upcoming Time Before trilogy, or trio of standalones, however you want to look at it. It’ll all be romantic fantasy, though each book will be totally different: one dungeon crawl with boning, one sweet love story between a mage and an artificer, and one glorious mess of a mindfuck I can’t even begin to describe, but it’ll be spicy and weird and I…I really need to write it this year. Like, a lot.
What’s the hardest part about writing M/M romance or erotica?
Getting over the idea that audiences will be inherently more scandalized by M/M scenes than they would the equivalent content in a M/F context. They might be, but that shouldn’t stop me from writing scenes and relationships the way they need to be written. I try to give equal weight and Scoville units to any and all intimate scenes, so long as this intensity will show me things about the characters and their relationships I couldn’t go as deep with any other way. I should add that with aspec characters, the forms that intimacy takes can be varied, depending on the individual characters and relationships.
Who’s your biggest supporter/cheerleader?
I hang out with some writers more experienced in the genre than I who have helped me gain confidence writing intimate scenes, and they give me concrete suggestions to help me write them better. Unfortunately, they’re a bunch of smut enablers, and I keep telling myself I can always dial it back in editing, but that doesn’t always happen.
What do you do if you hit a wall while writing? How do you combat writer’s block?
I honestly never get writer’s block because I write on a very regular, limited schedule, 30 minutes to an hour a day, which helps me stay on track while keeping the creative pump primed. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s been great for me. I might spend a session here or there rereading or going over notes when I’ve lost my way a little, but that’s all part of the process.
What do your friends and family think of what you write; do they know?
Heh. They’re finding out now because my latest book is pretty spicy and I don’t want anyone to be blindsided by that so I’m letting it be known. That can be awkward, especially with family. 😬
But overall, I am blessed by supportive family and friends. My books aren’t for everyone, but some read them and occasionally even say nice things about them.
How can we connect with you?
I’m danfitzwrites wherever you go. Find all my details via my linktree.
An enjoyable quick interview with an author who I've only just learned of and am excited to start reading. Some very insightful questions, and some very endearing answers. Thank you both for your participation.
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