Indie Support Sunday: Lillian Lyle
- Jul 12
- 6 min read
Fanfiction and romantasy novels kept Lillian Lyle busy through the pandemic, but they weren’t providing her the satisfaction she was looking for. Instead of sending herself on a wild goose chase, Lillian wrote the story she wanted to read and her debut, The False Start was born!
As a fan of sports, watching it gets Lillian’s brain churning with story ideas. In fact, this World Cup has already inspired her to do something in a future story that sounds really fun! My favourite fun fact about Lillian is that whatever hobby she’s interested in, the character she’s writing adopts the same thing. As authors, our characters are sometimes minor reflections of our own lives and this is such a great way to weave personal interests into our books!
The second book in her Off The Bench series is slated for a 2027 release and she revealed the title in this interview!
The False Start is out now and available in Kindle Unlimited.
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I started writing during COVID when I was consuming fanfiction and romantasy books like they were air. I was enjoying everything but wasn’t finding the story that really spoke to me. At some point I realized it was in my head and I decided to try my hand at writing.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
Having full control over the process, but having to do it yourself. There is an outstanding community will to support you if you look for it, but your success relies almost entirely on how much time/money/effort you’re able to dedicate to your craft.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I’m terrified of rejection. I also had one of my best friends self-publish her book (shout out Hannah Danielle!) and she was a tremendous help through the journey so knowing I had someone I could ask all my questions to, or to help me through the process made it an easy decision.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I watch a lot of sports, and since I write sports romance that does help start the story ideas churning. For example, watching the World Cup as I write this, and seeing a group of fans in Ninja Turtle costumes doing the Macarena. There might be something I can do with that inspo.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
In no particular order:
A Deadly Education (Fantasy)
The Ritual (Dark Romance)
Check & Mate (YA Romance)
Eragon (Fantasy)
Throne of Glass (Fantasy)
A Touch of Darkness (Fantasy)
Blood Over Brighthaven (Fantasy)
The Silent Patient (Thriller)
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
You can’t edit words that aren’t there.
Your first draft won’t be good.
Write the book before you do anything else.
Find your board of directors (the people you can ask advice to or go to who will be honest and helpful)
It’s your book, do/write what you’ll be proud of. And don’t let a single person make you feel ashamed.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
I don’t know if I really made a choice, it was just the story that lived in my head. I think we all romanticize love which is one of the reasons it’s so popular as a genre. My favorite thing about romance is the variation. Romance is personal, love is personal, and there are SO MANY subgenres and stories that reflect that. There’s a romance book for everyone and being a part of that community is amazing.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
I love fantasy as a reader. I’m not sure I have it in me to build a world, but I do have an idea floating around in my head that may come to light at some point.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
Only one bed is definitely my favorite. You’ll see that in The False Start, and probably in every single book I ever write. My least favorite is miscommunication.
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
Fake dating will have a place in the near future… Brother’s best friend/teammate will also be coming, and possibly single parent.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
I think the idea of growth is important. It is amazing that we have books with representation of clear communication around mental health, trauma, consent, but I’d love to see a bit more of a realistic growth cycle around those conversations, knowing it’s something a lot of people are learning to deal with for the first time in the last few years.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
I think in an adult relationship sex is a very important part of that relationship, and in an adult romance book I believe it’s appropriate to include that in the story.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
I watched A LOT of football during COVID, and one thing led to another.
Can you briefly tell me about your book?
The False Start is an NFL Romance set in Chicago, featuring realistically flawed adult characters in their mid-thirties. Between an NFL tight end and corporate consultant who meet through mutual friends. It’s a friends to lovers romance with a found family dynamic. It includes a fun only one bed in an inn scene with an elderly meddling couple who forces them to confront their feelings for each other.
Both characters are dealing with some familial trauma but work through it together without a third act breakup. It’s the first in an interconnected standalone series which will be set in Chicago and feature multiple sports.
Book two will be hockey and hopefully out next April!
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
Theo! He’s Cal’s best friend and teammate and is a chaotic mess in the best way. His book will be coming soon!
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I actually don’t see people in my head, so this is tough. I will say Katherine Heigel is sort of who I picture for Lila but I don’t have a real idea for anyone else.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
A fair amount of the characteristics of my characters are pulled from people in my life. Each main character ends up doing the hobby I’m currently invested in in my own life though. So as you read through my future books, you’ll be able to see the character who runs I was writing while training for my marathon, etc.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
I have one that is really important to me that I am working to outline. It features a pharmacist in the wake of the opioid epidemic.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
It’s extremely important to me that my books feel like real life. We can’t all fall in love with an NFL player, but we can all have important conversations about consent and respect, and we can all have difficulty in familial relationships, so having realistic lives of my characters that readers can relate to is what I hope people take away from my books.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
Book Two of Off the Bench! (I’ll let you in on a secret but the title will be The Power Play)
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
I hope they feel joy first and foremost because that’s what love should bring. But I hope they’re able to connect to the story in some way, even if it’s one of the fun side characters.
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?
Lillian can be found on Instagram, TikTok and Threads. You can also order signed copies of her books and sign up for her Substack.
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