When it comes to supporting each other, there is no better community than the indie author community. We follow each other on Instagram, like our posts and share the word constantly. But we also slip into DMs and proclaim love for their books or kickstart a friendship. That’s how Mia and I connected, when she DM’d me late last year while I was prepping for the release of book two.
The thing about Mia’s books that got my attention was that they’re set in her home of Tel Aviv, Israel and features characters from the area as well! It’s not often we get to read romances set outside of North America or even England, so spending time in a different country while characters navigate their romance and life is an absolute treat. And let’s not forget that with personal experience as an investment manager, Mia pours a lot of that into her books as well!
Her debut Crunching Her Numbers is a Why Choose romance and is available right now in Kindle Unlimited. The second book Analysing Her Assets releases May 14th, make sure to preorder your copy right now!
1. BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
Is it cool to say that bad writing inspired me to write? I'm not going to share the writer’s name here. I read an extremely popular book and I said to myself, shit, if she can do it, so can I.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best is that everything I do, I do it for me. Worst—it can be very overwhelming dealing with all aspects of your book, when writing it becomes just the first step of a very long process (that keeps repeating itself). The community, though, is amazing.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I’m an impatient person. I didn’t want to query and wait for years to be admitted into Trad. Plus, looking around I realized—indies are killing it! And as I said, it’s a very supportive community (and this blog is certainly a case in point.)
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
My best ideas come in the shower, during yoga practice, and in the early mornings. Basically it is about not thinking.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
I write open door romance because I love reading spice. I think the intimate act of a sex scene is an excellent way to move the story forward, add on layers of emotion, and give the readers thrills—all at once.
2. 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 to write in the romance genre because I am fascinated by the way it can subvert traditional gender roles and challenge societal norms. I find that since readers know they’re getting a Happily Ever After, then they are tolerant of almost anything - meaning they are happy to be challenged along the way.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
Thrillers and whodunit.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My least favorite trope is the virgin trope, which is when the woman is clueless (but always so open- minded!), and the secret baby trope.
3. YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
I used to be an investment manager, so when I started thinking about becoming an author, I wanted to use my ‘day-job’ experience and write about stuff that happened to me. The finance world is exciting to me because anything that touches on money and power (money is power really) is thrilling. It is also a very male dominated environment and I wanted to touch upon that in my stories.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
The first book was published in 2022. It’s called Crunching her Numbers is a #whychoose romance. It tells about an alpha woman, Kelly. She is very successful, very beautiful, but she doesn't know how to seek or find love. She starts a no-strings-attached affair with a much younger man, but then as she gets embroiled in an investigation into her firm, she becomes involved with another man, an older Dom.
The second book is coming May 14th and is called Analysing her Assets and it’s a rivals-to-lovers romance. It tells about Tamar and Gideon who start a no-strings-attached affair while competing for the same job.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
I like Kelly, my first book’s heroine. She is tough and no-nonsense. She has a cameo appearance in the second book.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
This is such a fun question! (Just from looking at my covers, you can guess the inspiration)
For Crunching Her Numbers: Kelly (Gal Gadot), Ilan (Jason Statham) and Slava (Igor Subbotin, he’s a Russian ballet dancer). For Analysing her Assets: Tamar (Billie Eilish) and Gideon (Jeff Wilbusch).
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
In the female characters—a lot. Not only myself, but sometimes as I want to see myself.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
About my childhood in a kibbutz—but that would be a different genre, and many years from now.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
They all happen in Tel Aviv, Israel, and involve some kind of a financial, or a business scandal.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
In my next book I want my heroine to be a 45 years old divorcee, starting an affair with a younger man.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
I write steamy; so first and foremost—damp panties.
4. 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 and….wine?
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?
You can find Mia on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Her books can be found on Goodreads and in Kindle Unlimited. For more information about Mia or her books, check out her website.