Thank you Megan for the interview. I love all your stories and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Interview

What was your inspiration for the different series you’ve written? 

In short – my own naive heart. When I was young, the thing I remember people saying about me most was ‘she’s off with the fairies again’. I used to dream up scenarios and imagine that life really was a fairy tale and we were all destined to meet our prince and find out happily every after—rainbows, sunshine and all that. I was very happy in those little imaginings, and as I got older, the reality check I needed to take part in the real world really sucked! So when I hit a point in my writing journey when I’d had enough of angst and drama, I turned to writing what my younger self would have cherished (just way dirtier, coz I’m an adult now, lol!) I love silliness. I love giggling and being ridiculous. So I like to embrace that side of me and write stories that cater to my happy place, that showcase women who are just like me. And it’s been wonderful because it’s lead me to a community of readers who want the same things in their escapism. 

Did your process change writing a series of different lengths?

Not really. I follow the same pattern within all of my books, but with the longer ones we get a little more time to explore relationships than we do in my shorts. The biggest differences are more robust side characters and we’ll spend a little more time in the ‘getting-to-know-you phase’ between the main characters. They’ll also have a bit of a bigger road bump in their relationship, but as with all of my books, I try to keep the drama and angst to a minimum. I write to make readers smile and sigh. I don’t want anyone’s anxiety flaring up. 

How did you choose which character to focus the story? 

It depends on what series I’m writing. The ones in Whisper Valley, Cedarwood Valley and New York are all connected by characters, so the main focus of the next story will generally be the best friend or closest sibling of one of the main characters in the previous story. If it’s one of my other worlds that isn’t as character connected, I’ll decide who’s who during the brainstorming process, and if I can find a way to insert a previous character, we’ll get a cameo from them. But primarily, the main focus is always on the FMC. At the end of the day, it’s all about making her feel like the most glorious human on the planet. 

What is your approach to world and character building?

It generally builds from book to book. I’ll start with a town, the first couple, they’ll have their friends and family around them, and whoever is closest to the H&h ends up featured as a main character in the next book. As I add to the series, more characters get introduced, the town expands as they explore, and we keep linking everyone and everything together until it’s time to pick a new location and start the process again. I kind of hold all of this in my head, so it’d be great if I could plug into something and get it all downloaded so we could walk through it and say hi to everyone, lol! 

What do you love about writing curvy female main characters?

Everything. I am the curvy female main character of my life. I’m tall and solid and my weight has been all over the scale throughout my life. Like most women, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it. But at the end of the day, it’s the skin I’m in, and I deserve to be celebrated, I deserve to be loved, and I deserve to be the main character in my own story—we all do. And so I love writing about women with big bodies and beautiful personalities, and the men who love them fiercely. It makes me happy, and I like spreading joy, so I share these beautiful women and hope they help lift the confidence of other women too. 

Because that’s the difference between being the main character and a supporting role, right? Confidence and self love. 

Did you have a favourite moment to write?

Probably the chase scene in Deep Deep Donuts when she tosses a donut out the window and the birds eat it. That had me crying with laughter. 

What was your favourite book growing up?

A book called ‘The Devil’s Own’ by Deborah Lisson. It’s a YA book set off the coast of Western Australia in which the FMC goes back in time and meets a group of shipwrecked sailors who take care of and protect her. There was mutiny, mystery and intrigue, plus a strong thread of (very PG) romance in it. I just thought it was the most amazing story I’d ever read. It’s difficult to get a copy of it now, but I managed to find one to read to my kids growing up and they loved it as much as I did. 

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

Romance, of course. I’m a big lover of paranormal/fantasy/dystopian. And because they aren’t what I normally write, I get to enjoy them without analysing them, lol. (That’s unlikely to last long since shifters are entering my universe though 😅)

Check out Megan Wade’s books! You will love them as well.