One of the best things about self-publishing is how many incredible new voices are appearing every single day. Katie started out as a bookstagrammer (like so many of us) and, and as I understand it, after a conversation with a friend was inspired to write their debut. From all the promotions Katie has done so far, From the Start is looking to be a banger of a rom-com and I am so freaking excited to meet Nic, Josh and the gang in Katie’s book.
Knowing just how much more Katie has in store for us has me champing at the bit for all of their stories. She gives us a little insight into the tropes we can expect in future books and let me just say…I’m here for all of it. Plus, all this queer fat joy just has me even more giddy about what Katie is going to bless us with through their author journey.
From the Start is Katie’s debut and is available right now!
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve wanted to write since I was a kid! I used to write stories (scribbles) on paper and read them out loud to everyone. Storytelling has always been deeply enmeshed in who I am, and writing was always my favorite way to express that.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
I’m still a baby author, but my favorite part is that this is 100% my story. I decide what goes in. I decide the spice level and how “unlikable” my unlikable heroine gets to be. My least favorite part is the marketing. I’m terrible at selling myself, and I always want to be authentic to myself. I’m not a very aesthetic person so trying to get followers so that word about my book spreads is ROUGH.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
So once I finished my first draft, I knew I wanted From the Start to get to the people who needed it as soon as possible, and self-pubbing just seemed the way to do it. I’m really lucky in that I had so much support in the process, and felt like I had a team that had my back. I also have ADHD and BPD, so rejection isn’t my strong suit, and querying sounded like my personal hell.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
Make playlists, think about my characters, go on Pinterest.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene is one of those books I read as an English major that still sticks with me. Also anything by Chloe Liese, Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison, Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, and Beach Read by Emily Henry.
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Write the book you wish you could read. It’s so cliche, but it’s true.
Think about your target audience and your ‘why’ when things get hard.
Find the people who will cheer you on and love your book and characters. Friends, writing partners… they are invaluable.
Take time to celebrate and be proud of your wins.
Self care while writing is so important!
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
I chose romance because it’s what I like to read. I like the hope that is implicit in the genre, and the natural character growth!
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
As a kid I always wanted to write historical fiction or mystery, so maybe one of those!
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My all time favorite is friends to lovers. I absolutely am feral for history and the platonic intimacy that comes along with it. My least favorite is mistaken identity, though I have seen it done very well!
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
I’m super jazzed, because I have most of the tropes planned out for my current series. The ones I’m most excited for are second chance, marriage of convenience, and unplanned pregnancy.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
I want more intersecting identities! Give me fat queer people, neurodivergent people of color, etc.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
So one of the main tropes in From the Start is sex lessons, and a lot of the character growth happens during the intimacy scenes. Honestly, my favorite authors inspired them, how they write about intimacy. Including Chloe Liese, Tessa Dare, Ashley Herring Blake, Talia Hibbert, and Alexandria Bellefleur. I think they are extraordinary at using sex scenes to show the growth of the relationship and characters, and that’s what I wanted to do.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
So I was writing a book and was about 50k words in. One of my main character’s sisters was autistic, and I knew this, and I had a really hard time representing her in the way I wanted. She kind of was just there and wearing headphones, and I wasn’t happy with it. Soooo I sat down and brainstormed her to give her more depth. I knew I was going to write a book about her as well so I tried to figure out what her role was in the first book of the series.
Turns out her role was the main character and that’s how Nic Quinn was born.
I really liked the idea of talking about how neurodivergence can affect sex, so I knew the trope was going to be sex lessons, but I wanted it to be different from other books that have tackled neurodivergence and sex lessons. So I made it about her wanting to learn to be more in tune with her body.
I knew her love interest was a professor, and I played around with the idea of him being her former professor, but honestly I read some INCREDIBLE books with childhood enemies to lovers rep this year, and I fell in love with the idea of Nic feeling so desperate that she goes to her childhood enemy for help.
Can you briefly tell me about your debut?
Nic and Josh hated each other as kids and successfully avoided one another for a long time until they bump into each other. After a weird series of events, Nic overhears that Josh is verrrrryyyy good in bed, and is curious. She asks him for sex lessons. He agrees. Smut and laughs and healing ensue.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
Nic’s dad cracks me up. I’m also really excited to further explore his relationship with his kids and wife, and how their parenting has evolved.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Zach Miko as Josh 1000%. He was a big inspiration for the physical aspects of Josh. For Nic…. Ooh this is hard. I feel like a young Sandra Bullock would have nailed it.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
Quite a bit. My vulnerabilities are definitely spread between Nic and Josh. Neither of them is a self insert, but a lot of their hurts were inspired by things I’ve gone through and hurts I’ve felt.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
I plan to tell stories that discuss medical fatphobia and misogyny and I’m SO excited. They’ll be rom-coms, but they’ll go into the hard and very real things many people experience, and that I don’t really see very often in romance.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
There will always be fat, queer, and neurodivergent rep in at least one main character.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
Next up is the next Quibling! I’m so excited to explore religious trauma, growing up queer while religious, first loves, and healing after emotional abuse. And while that sounds so heavy, there’s so much joy and laughs in it as well. And there’ll be only one bed at one point 🫣
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
I want my readers to feel a little less alone, and a little more worthy than they felt before picking up my books. To feel significant, and lovable.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks
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
Music or silence when writing
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?
Cold or warm weather
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?