Indie Support Sunday: Shana Collins
- Jul 13
- 6 min read
While I’m not a reader of mafia romances, I’m very intrigued by Shana Collins’ Savin Brothers Bratva series. Especially with the way she talks about them—the women being just as powerful as the men they fall in love with? I can totally get on board with that. The added bonus is that while Shana talks about the books being violent—as mafia romances tend to be—the deep theme of the stories is family, including dinner scenes to really emphasize the relationship between these brothers.
But that’s not all Shana wants to write. When her mafia series is over, she wants to dive into some standalones and explore different tropes. And this August, she’s starting a new series of novellas—the first one is an office romance! Even if she’s not a sports romance fan, she’s got a lot of ideas up her sleeve and I, for one, can’t wait to see what she’s got in store for us.
Three books are currently available in her Savin Brothers Bratva series and they’re all in Kindle Unlimited.
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
During the pandemic I fell in love with reading again and found myself reading over 100 books in a year. I’d always enjoyed fantasy books related to vampires and werewolves, but I was introduced to mafia romance which I absolutely fell in love with. The only thing was I couldn’t really identify with the FMC. I’m more likely to be the mafia boss. So, I decided to write the book I wanted to read where the women are as powerful as the men they fall in love with.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best thing is I can do whatever I want, I only answer to me. But, that’s also the worst part—there’s too much to do.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I was new to writing and didn’t really believe in myself so I decided to self-publish. Now that I’ve been in the game for almost two years, I love being an indie author because I get 100% control of everything I do.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I’m a complete coffee addict, I sometimes buy a cup of coffee and walk around the book store and it's like ideas just flow into my head even if I don't pick up a book. Okay, I lied, I always end up buying a book.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
I love mafia romance books. Catherine Wiltcher’s Santiago Trilogy was my first mafia romance and is still my favorite.
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Just write. I look at my first draft and get so embarrassed. The more you write, the better you become.
Start your social media presence now. Unless you have unlimited cash to advertise, social media can really help.
Don’t spend a lot of money! I spent money on a book cover I never used, then did one with a friend for free. Learn the ropes a little and you will save a bunch of money up front.
Use the ‘Read Aloud’ feature in Word. This will help you with editing so much!
Have Fun! Whether you want this to be your career or you write as a hobby, have fun with it and remember you started this journey because you love to read.
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 mafia romance and a sexy bad boy. Romance stories allow you to do several things—you can be curious with sexual desires you don’t dare to do in real life, you remember the younger times when falling in love was fun before the days of work and kids. And love is a feeling we all experienced so you can actually feel the characters fall in love on paper.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My favorite is mafia romance and age gap. My least favorite is sports romance. I also don’t care for 100% smut. I like a balance of plot and love scenes.
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
I’m writing a mafia romance series right now and when that’s complete I want to do some standalones and play with different tropes such as age gap, poly, and maybe even darker tropes.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
Stronger women. We always expect women to be the vulnerable ones, but can’t we be the heartbreakers too?
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
Mafia romance and age gap books are mainly open door and I prefer to read them that way, so I write what I love to read.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
Because of my love for mafia romance, my books are about mafia men. But, I also love a bad bitch, so the women are equally as bad as the men. My series is about five brothers who grew up in the Russian mafia. It’s about the women they fall in love with and their family. I put a lot of violence and family time in my books.
For example, in all my books there’s a family dinner scene to bring in the family bond between the brothers. Also, the books take place in New York City, but I live in Seattle, so every book has a Seattle tie in it.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
Deadly Decisions, my debut, is an enemies to lovers book. Elise Walsh is the 3rd highest ranking cartel boss and only female. She falls in love with the enemy Dmitri Savin, a bratva boss. They begin an illicit affair that turns deadly. At the end they’re ordered to kill each other and they have to decide love or family.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
Elise Walsh has so many characteristics of me in her, so she’s my fave.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
A lot—for instance my FMC drinks a lot of coffee and has a specific order. I went on a first date with a guy that read my book and he ordered my coffee. He said he guessed that was really my order. He was right.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
That women are bosses too and this notion that strong women don’t need a man is incorrect.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
Powerful women, love, and loyalty.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
I now have 3 books written for the Savin Brothers Bratva series. I've got 2 more books left for the series then spinoffs. So many spinoff ideas!
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
How important family is and no matter how powerful/successful you are, your priority should always be family.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV- Depends on the book. I prefer dual, but Gothikana did a great job of mostly single POV and I loved that book.
Standalones, series and standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances- The only closed door book I love is Pride & Prejudice.
Music or silence when writing—I need silence but in between writing, i pop on my music and headphones with a baddie rap song and let the energy flow through me
Plotter, pantser or plantser—I never stick to an outline
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?—All of it! LOL!
Cold or warm weather—I live in the PNW- cool weather.
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?—I write late at night. You’ll often find me writing at midnight.
Illustrated or photo cover?
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