You’ve most likely seen the gorgeous cover for Natalia Williams’ debut, Taking The Cake; and like me, that might have encouraged you to pick it up or add it to your TBR. It’s about a wedding cake baker and a guy from her past, fighting against all odds to fall in love; which is already enough reason to dive into this one. The reason Natalia decided to write about a baker? She wanted to be a food writer—while also writing poetry—when she was younger, so food is something that you’ll find in her stories.
That’s just one of the many things we have in common. Like most of us indies, Natalia also has ups and downs with marketing on social media. And she’s a big believer in rest—something I try my level best not to scream and shout about all the time, but do it anyway. Natalia is also currently outlining a series that will include some of her favorite tropes that include enemies to lovers, second chance and childhood friends to lovers.
Her debut is currently available in Kindle Unlimited and if you like cake and food as much as I do, you should add it to your TBR too!
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing for what feels like forever. I started writing in a diary when I was 9, and I’ve kept some form of a journal ever since. Writing has always been a form of expression for me, a way to make sense of my feelings, and I’ve always been drawn to it. It might sound silly, but it’s like words are always itching to get out and onto a page. I mostly wrote poetry when I was younger, but the idea of writing a book was always in the back of my mind.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
I am very, very new to the indie world, so I don’t have much experience to talk in depth about it, but so far the best has been the fun and freedom I’ve had with it. And the reception from other readers that have been reading and enjoying my book.
The biggest struggle for me right now has been social media. The constant need to constantly market your book, to try and stay on top of trends. It’s easy to feel like an outcast with all of it. It’s easy to look at other successes and fall into the feelings of imposter syndrome. Social media is meant to make us feel worse, and sometimes I need to remind myself to take a step back from it.
Indie authors have to do everything. There is a certain freedom and excitement that comes with being in control of your work, but it is also very exhausting and overwhelming. At the end of the day, this is hard work!
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I’m very impatient lol. I wanted to write a book on my terms and tell the story I wanted to. I didn’t want to wait for somebody else to validate my work. It was important for me to just do it. That’s not to say that traditional publishing is a wrong route to take. I think it takes strength and determination to go either way.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I’ve learned that rest is the most important thing for creativity. And it sounds counterproductive, but it’s so important to rest your mind, to let the silence in for a little while, to step away from your work and focus on something else instead. Anything that doesn’t involve writing or reading.
When it comes to brainstorming, I like to take long walks and listen to music.
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
The most common advice I hear is the one I also took—and that is to just start writing. I spent so much time worried about making a perfect first draft, terrified of the looming round of edits, that I never would start. Until I finally did.
You just have to start, one word at a time. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to exist. (Somebody said this and I can’t remember who!) Then, once it exists, the magic can begin when you edit. (I’ve learned that’s really the fun part.) Though, to be fair, it’s all magic.
Other pieces of advice that have helped me are don’t write every day. I did this at the beginning, and it was very hard to keep up. I eventually took a rest day and it did wonders for my writing and my mind.
I believe Amanda Gambill once said to just have fun with it, because if you’re not having fun writing, then what’s the point?
And this is more about craft, but Kate Clayborn once said in an interview (and I am paraphrasing) that every sentence in her work is intentional. I always think about that when I write, because I do think that words on the page should always be intentional, hold meaning, and move the story along.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
I love romance as a genre so much. I didn’t start solely reading contemporary romance until 2019, but I was always drawn to books with romantic subplots, whether it was YA or Women’s Fiction. I love the emotional depth that these books can have. I love the focus on pleasure. I love the joy, the fact that there is a guaranteed happily ever after. I love how the genre has grown with beautifully diverse stories. Everybody deserves—and gets—a happily ever after in romance. The romance genre is swoony and feel-good and makes people smile. I wanted to write feel-good love stories that felt like a warm hug in a book.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
I don’t know if I would write in another genre, but I love a cozy mystery.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
If I had to pick favorite tropes, I would say enemies-to-lovers or rivals-to-lovers, second chance, and childhood friends to lovers. As for least favorite, I don’t love accidental pregnancy or the nanny/single dad trope. Sorry! lol
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
I am in the process of outlining a series that will feature enemies-to-lovers and second chance/childhood friends to lovers.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
The one interesting thing I have noticed among romance readers is how much the genre has helped with relationships, with sex positivity, with processing emotions. Those that grew up in strict or religious households have probably learned more about emotion and consent and communication from a romance novel than any sex ed class. Open-door, sex positive romance is important for so many reasons. I chose to write open door because I wanted to tell stories that featured sex positivity and enthusiastic consent. I wanted to share steamy scenes that prioritize communication, and fun, and pleasure. With open door scenes, I think it’s a great way to build intimacy within the couple. But it’s also important to note that the tension building leading up to open door scenes can really add to the experience of it.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
The idea for this story came to me very late one night. I had an idea for a story about a cake baker who runs a bakery with her lovably chaotic best friends. She’s lonely, she’s working too hard, and she’s still struggling with heartache from her past. I spent over a decade in the culinary field, so I think I just naturally gravitated toward the food aspect. I wanted to be a food writer when I was younger so I think I’ll always love writing about food in some way. The rest of the story came slowly in stages. Some things changed, but the heart of the story always remained the same.
Can you briefly tell me about your debut?
My debut Taking the Cake tells the story of Sabrina, a successful wedding cake baker who falls for Gray, the groomsman of her ex. As Sabrina and Gray form an unlikely friendship, they both have to grapple with the meddling past to get to a happily ever after. It focuses on self worth, the difficult aftermath of a long relationship, and who we create our successes for. It also has a lot of cake.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
I think all the characters in my book have little bits and pieces of me.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
Right now I am drafting book 1 for a three book series that I’m working on. It will be a series of interconnected standalones following a trio of cousins.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
Happy! Like they just got one big warm hug. Like they are bundled up in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa. I hope they can relate to the characters, the emotions. I hope they feel a connection to the story. And I hope they walk away from it thinking, “that was nice.” 🙂
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV - Though single POV can be wonderful when done right.
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? It varies, but I tend to write mostly at night. And scribble illegible notes during the day.
Illustrated or photo cover?
Make sure to check out Natalia on Instagram to stay updated on all book news!