For my latest Author Spotlight I’m joined by the amazing Elouise East. We talked about her upcoming release, the next book in her Club Royal series, always penning stories, and being a plantser.

Take it away Elouise…

First things first, please introduce yourself!
Hey! I’m Elouise. I am a single parent to two children living in the UK. An avid reader who still tries to devour every book I can get my hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes my fancy. An author of books I would read myself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy. 

Tell us a little bit about your writing style.
I have the tagline sweet and steamy connections in gay romance, which I suppose can be a contradiction. For me, the sweet part comes from how they treat their partner, how they treat their friends and family. The steamy part speaks for itself. I love writing about the emotional aspects of a romantic journey, so having the characters go through an emotional roller coaster is not uncommon. As for genre, contemporary romance, be it BDSM, Daddy kink, matchmakers, taboo, etc. I write it all.

Describe your books in only three words.
Emotional. Relatable. Steamy.

What’s your next book about and when’s it coming out?
My next release is called Commanding Royal, coming June 1, and is book 7 of the Club Royal series. This is a series that needs to be read in order. Although there is a different couple in each book (who each get their HEA in their book), there is an underlying storyline that runs through the entire series. 

Imagine, a fictional British royal family who secretly own a BDSM club. Each member of the family is given membership and access to BDSM training of all kinds. They choose a specialty and find love along the way. But they’re not without their issues.

Welcome to Club Royal, where your darkest desires are no longer a secret…

Out of all your books, which one are you most proud of?
I would have to say Rogue Royal, which is book 1 in the Club Royal series. Even though my writing has changed with each additional book in the series, it took me out of my comfort zone and stretched me as a writer. Before I started, I wavered about whether I could do it justice, but as the series has continued, my confidence has grown and I love it all.

What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
I read a lot of JR Ward and Christine Feehan, and although they are not in the same genre, they are amazing writers. But it’s not just them. Every time I read a book, I can see the images the authors have described, and it helps to mould my craft, choose better words, remind myself to use all the senses. It’s a continual learning experience.

What inspired you to start writing?
I had always penned stories, ever since I was younger, but I never believed it could turn into anything. I was beta reading for an author and mentioned I had a scene that wouldn’t leave me alone, and they told me I should try to write it. So I did. That ended up being the scene about one-third of the way through my debut book. I had to write the rest of it around that. If they hadn’t pushed me to try, then pushed me to publish, I don’t think I would be where I am today.

What’s your writing process like? Do you have a typical “writing day”?
Writing is my full-time job, I’m happy to say. As for a typical day, I get my kids off to school and get some breakfast and a cup of tea before heading to my desk. Usually, I won’t check my emails because that’s a rabbit hole I will never dig myself out of if I start. So I open my manuscript, set a timer and get to work. I don’t plot much, I am a plantser, as I call it. I plot a little, usually the chapter I’m working on, but the rest happens as my fingers work the keyboard. I’ll often work through lunch – I know, I know – then I’ll stop to pick the kids up from school. Usual chores from them until Songbird’s bedtime (child #2), then I’ll pick up where I left off, or I’ll do admin if I need to. Ninja (child #1) is always in bed later than I am, lol. As for the process itself, I just write and write and write until I see the end. Then I start all over again.

What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
It depends on the story. Sometimes, I already have characters from previous books that demand their story. In that case, the characters come first. Other times, I have a plot in mind and have to work out who the characters are. 

What’s a book that you wish you’d written?
If We Could Go Back by Cara Dee. I love that book and have reread it so many times.

If you could only write one trope for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Friends to lovers. I love the intricacies in an already established relationship and turning it on its head to make them realise exactly what they’re feeling. I’d have to throw other things at them, too, but I love the dynamic.

What would be your three desert island books?
If We Could Go Back by Cara Dee
Lover At Last by JR Ward
Coming Out by Lila Rose

If one of your books could be made into a movie/TV series, which would you choose and who would you cast?
I’d love to see the entire Club Royal series made into a TV series. That would be awesome. So, choosing Rogue Royal, as it’s the first book, I would cast maybe Liam Hemsworth as Douglas (or maybe Chris Hemsworth) and maybe Ryan Reynolds as Maverick.

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 enjoy reading, obviously, but I also do crafts with my daughter. I love organising and planning, too. So even when I’m not ‘working’, I am working really.

Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
Velociraptor – sneaky devils that they are.

Elouise East writes sweet and steamy connections in gay romance. She also touches on taboo stories under the name Elouise R East.

Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point – be it blood family or chosen – are very important to her. She wants her characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell her they have. And trust her, most of the time, she does not have any say in the matter!

Her characters come to life on the page for her as well as her readers. Their stories unfold in front of her as she writes, and she has very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of her characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

For more information on Elouise and her work you can visit her website, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, TikTok, and Amazon. You can also join her Facebook reader group, Elouise East’s Book Cafe, for more news and updates.