For my latest Author Spotlight I’m joined by the fabulous Emmy Sanders. We talked about being an avid reader, her forthcoming release, letting characters tell their own stories, and her love of chocolate.

Over to you Emmy…

First things first, please introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Emmy. I’m fairly new to the author scene, having published my first book, Fool Hearts, last March. Since then, I’ve published 5 (soon to be 6) MM novels.

Tell us a little bit about your writing style.
I consider my books to be character-driven. They’re romance first and foremost, with 1st person POV, an emphasis on the relationship, and a whole lot of feels.

Describe your books in only three words.
Sweet. Steam. Swoon.

What’s your next book about and when is it coming out?
My next release is Malibu, coming out February 9th. It’s the second in my Elite 8 Studios series, which is focused on a lovable cast of porn stars. Malibu has an age gap, hurt/comfort vibes, as well as mental health and disability rep.

Out of all your books, which one are you most proud of?
I’d have to say Fool Hearts. It’s my debut book, and to this day, still my most popular. It’ll always hold a special place in my heart because it’s the book I put out there first, not knowing what to expect.

What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
Reading. I’m an avid reader (in particular of MM romance), and my love of reading has definitely fueled my love of writing.

What inspired you to start writing?
I always liked telling stories, and when I first started writing, it was for myself as an outlet. But I wasn’t able to type “the end” on a book until I wrote my first MM romance. The genre was a game-changer for me.

What’s your writing process like? Do you have a typical “writing day”?
I’m a stay-at-home parent, so right now, I only get a few days a week I can dedicate to writing. During those days, I get as much typing done as possible and often forget to do other things (like eat).

What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
The characters, 100%. I let them tell their own story, and sometimes they go places I never anticipated.

What’s a book that you wish you’d written?
The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune. So funny yet emotional. One of my favorite reads.

If you could only write one trope for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Probably friends to lovers. I’m weirdly picky when it comes to reading this trope because I want the emotional investment to be heavy. But writing it is really satisfying.

What would be your three desert island books?
This is hard because I don’t often re-read books. There are SO many books out there and my TBR list is never-ending. If I had to pick 3 books to come back to again and again, I think I’d go with The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune, Wilde Love by Lucy Lennox, and Lovers by Fiona Cole.

If one of your books could be made into a movie/TV series, which would you choose and who would you cast?
Probably Fool Hearts. I think it would make for an epic movie. Casting-wise, I honestly have no clue.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Do you have a secret passion or hobby that we don’t know about?
I like reading, baking, and eating chocolate. (Chocolate is a definite passion of mine.) I’m also an animal-lover and worked with animals before becoming a stay-at-home parent and author.

Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
I’d have to pick T-rex because it’s currently my kid’s favorite, and watching them stomp around, proclaim to be a T-rex, and then roar is absolutely adorable.

Emmy Sanders, author of sweet, steamy, swoony MM romance, would describe herself as a lover of love. She’s obsessed with both reading and writing romance and believes everyone deserves their happy ending. Queer herself, Emmy has a soft spot for LGBTQ+ fiction, but MM is where her heart lies. Her debut novel, Fool Hearts, released in 2022.

For more information on Emmy and her work you can visit her website, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. You can also join her Facebook Reader Group, Emmy’s Enclave, for more news and updates.