Indie Support Sunday: AJ Alexander
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
I love when we, as authors, spend time looking for a specific kind of book to read and then end up writing it. That’s exactly how AJ Alexander got her start as an indie author. Once a PA, she decided to take a chance on the ideas in her head and with the help of the authors she worked with, she made it happen. That’s another sign of how supportive this community can be!
While AJ might have gotten a traditional publishing deal for a brand new hockey romance (releasing next year!), her roots are still very much in indie romances set in small towns with strong mental health representation. She’s currently promoting her Portland Timberwolves series all over social media and if you’re a fan of hockey, this might be right up your alley.
And don’t worry, AJ’s not done with hockey, she’s firmly planted in her hockey era and has no plans to leave anytime soon!
All of AJ’s books are available right now in Kindle Unlimited.
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
Honestly, I went looking for a very specific book to read and couldn’t find it. So then I decided to write it myself.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best part is control! I can do what I want when I want to. If I want to release a story on a random Tuesday I can. But the worst part is being responsible for everything! Sometimes I just want to write the stories and have someone else worry about everything else.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
Mostly because of my friends. I was a PA at the time when I wrote my first story. Two of the authors I worked with helped with editing and a cover designer I partnered with did the cover for a super discounted price. And so the book was published…
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
Read. I seriously feel as if I read more than I write sometimes.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
Oh man this is such a hard question! I usually tailor my book recommendations to what I know about a person specifically. But based on the vibes I get from your social media I would say The Legacy by Dylan Allen. That elevator scene lives rent free in my head!
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Keep writing. That honestly is the only advice I ever give. This business is hard. Sometimes it's easier to give up than keep pushing through, but I promise there is someone out there who is waiting to read your story.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
Because I am obsessed with love. It sounds weird but Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
Fantasy! I started reading epic fantasy before I found romance and still am obsessed with it to this day.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My favorite trope of all time is second chance. I would say I don’t have a least favorite trope, but I do have some that I prefer not to read. However, I’ve been known to be obsessed with them when written by the right authors.
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
Oh man…this is such a hard question. I’d have to say enemies to lovers. I’ve written a few books with those vibes but not what I would consider to be true enemies to lovers where they down right LOATHE each other. I tend to lean more toward writing MMC who simp for their ladies from the very beginning.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
Mental health representation, especially with the MMC in stories. This was one thing I wanted to focus on in my Timberwolves series. The MMC in my stories are having just as hard a time with their mental health as the FMCs.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
I believe that sex is an important and integral part of a relationship. It's not just a physical act, but it's a way that two people can grow their connection to each other as well as strengthen their relationships.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
My first story was a co-write with Andi Jaxon. We are close friends and I was telling her about a dream I had one day and wanted to find a book with similar vibes. She had also had a similar dream that kind of went with it. When we went searching for a book we couldn’t find one and an author I worked for suggested we write it. So we did. The rest is history.
It's kind of like a bug bit me and all the story ideas kept flooding in. I just keep adding to the list. I swear I’ll never get through all of them.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
I write small town and hockey interracial romances. They all focus on found family and mental health representation.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
Ha, everyone always asks is questions and I always give a different answer. My honest answer is it depends. I swear my favorite book or character changes with my mood. Right now my favorite character is Alise from Lighting the Lamp. I learned so much about myself while writing her story.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Oh man, I don’t know! I honestly have never thought about my books becoming television shows or movies. Now if you asked me about audiobook narrators I have a list ready and waiting lol.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
A lot. I think that every one of my characters has a piece of the person I was while writing that story in them. I grow with my characters. I learn something new and in some cases heal parts of myself while writing their stories.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
The ones I’m writing. For a while I was afraid to write stories that made people stop and think, or even examine how they interact with others in the world around them. I write real stories about things that real people struggle with everyday. I want my readers to feel seen in some way when they are reading the pages of my stories
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
Found family. I’ve always believed that family isn’t all about blood, it's the people you choose to include.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
More hockey. That's really all I can say right now. I am firmly planted in my hockey era and don’t anticipate leaving anytime soon.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
Seen.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks—All of them! I'm a mood reader so it depends on the mood I’m in and what format I read.
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV
Standalones, series or standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances—All of them! Again it depends on the mood I’m in.
Music or silence when writing
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?—All. They’re always on my desk…well except maybe wine. That's only there in the evenings and when I'm not editing.
Cold or warm weather: Cold
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?—Whenever I can get my family to leave me alone.
Illustrated or photo cover?
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