For my latest Author Spotlight I’m joined by the lovely RS McKenzie. We talked about her conversational writing style, her first omegaverse novel, and binge watching TV favourites.

Take it away RS…

First things first, please introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m RS McKenzie! I’m 34, live in Georgia and have wanted to be an author since I was a wee child, knee high to a grasshopper.

Tell us a little bit about your writing style.
My writing style is more casual or conversational. My editor probably hates it because I tend to write how I talk and start a lot of my sentences with “So…”

Describe your books in only three words.
Sweet, instalove, high heat (can we pretend that’s one word? Lol).

What’s your next book about and when is it coming out?
My next release is my first omegaverse book, Surprised by Fate. It will be released July 21st. It’s a instalove, fated mates novel that I expanded from the Prolific Works giveaway. 

Out of all your books, which one are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of Taming Savage, the first book in my Tales Reimagined series. It was the first book under this pen name and it’s doing really well. It also showcased my desire to write high heat books packed with emotion. 

What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
Other authors have influenced me as a writer. When I see authors showcase their work or talk about how proud they are of a book they released or will release, it makes me want to join that community and share in their joy. Also, my kid is old enough to know that I write (but not what I write) and she tells me she’s proud of me when I she sees me sitting at my computer. It’s small, but it means a lot.

What inspired you to start writing?
I started reading MM books exclusively in May 2022, after reading only one that was sandwiched between an ongoing MF, vampire romance series (Blay and Quinn from the Black Dagger Brotherhood are *chef’s kiss*). When I started reading it, a story of my own started to formulate. I tried to write MF books in the past, but I could never get to the end. With the book I thought of, I saw the whole thing, beginning to end. That’s a long way to say that MM books in general, the love, the subverting of roles, the different facets and genres all inspired me to write more seriously.

What’s your writing process like? Do you have a typical “writing day”?
I write when I have time and a basic plot. I tried to schedule writing times, but always went over it or didn’t have the creativity going when I needed to write. Since I’m a college student full time, I’m able to write at any time of the day. The process is pretty simple. I have to sit and try to see if I can envision the book in my head like a movie. I’ll jot down how it plays out, then make a basic plot from there. Of course, things change as I’m writing, but that’s the start of my writing process.

What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
The plot. I’ll figure out what I want to write, then the characters will appear and tell me what they want.

What’s a book that you wish you’d written?
None. Some books are meant to be written by others so I can read them. Lol. 

If you could only write one trope for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
That’s a tough question. I’ll have to go with enemies to lovers. The tension between the MCs and their back and forth with their feelings builds the anticipation for when they finally get together.

What would be your three desert island books?
Forever, Con Amor by AM Johnson, Love in a Truck Stop Bathroom by Sebastian O’Connor, and Display Me by Kota Quinn

If one of your books could be made into a movie/TV series, which would you choose and who would you cast?
I would choose the entire Tales Reimagined series. I have no idea who I would want the cast to be for everyone. I’d choose Chris Hemsworth for Savage, Trevante Rhodes for Quin (if he had dreadlocks), and Henry Cavill for Michael. No clue about their love interests.

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?
When I’m not writing, I’m hanging with my kid, reading or binge watching TV. Usually shows I’ve already watched because I don’t like change too much. Lol. If I’m not doing any of those things, I like to pretend I’m relaxing when I’m probably just plotting my next book.

Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
Favorite dino is a velociraptor. Blame Jurassic Park.

I’m RS McKenzie, born in North Carolina, but moved all over the east coast. I joined the military at seventeen when I was a senior in high school. I spent eleven years as a dental assistant/hygienist. After I left the military, I spent a lot of time trying to find my passion, then MM romance got me in a chokehold. I’ve been a goner ever since.

For more information on RS McKenzie and her work you can follow her on Instagram and TikTok, or join her Facebook Reader Group for the latest news and updates.