For me latest Author Spotlight, I’m joined by the fabulous Kate Hawthorne. We talked about writing emotional turmoil, living for the tension of enemies to lovers, and using character development to drive stories forward.

Over to you, Kate…

First things first, please introduce yourself!
Hi! My name is Kate Hawthorne and I’m excited to be here today! I’m a chaotically bisexual and kinky author of chaotically bisexual and kinky characters.

Tell us a little bit about your writing style.
I am definitely an angst lover when it comes to my writing, like the more emotional turmoil THE BETTER. But it always has to be sexy and it’s almost always kinky. At the end of the day, I like to write character driven stories that make you sad and also horny 🙂 

Describe your books in only three words.
Angsty. Kinky. Queer

What’s your next book about and when is it coming out?
My next release is called Shared. It’s the 5th and final book in my current series, Trophy Doms Social Club. I’ve wanted to write this whole series for so long, because what’s more fun than a friend group made up of kinky millionaires?? Shared brings us the romance between Barclay and Val, who’ve been “together” for the whole series. They’ve been friends with benefits for years, but it’s time for that arrangement to change. Their story gives them an open relationship and a lot of opportunity to explore what dynamic is going to work the best for them at the end of the day.

Out of all your books, which one are you most proud of?
Unfettered is always going to be one of my favorite (if not most underrated) stories. It’s an age gap romance between a younger dominant (Beau) and an older submissive (Heath), who just happens to be his professor. There’s a lot for them to navigate as they try to overcome some past trauma for Heath and some second guessing for Beau, and they really get through it all with their support found in their dynamic. 

What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
I think I’m always inspired by good storytelling and authors who are good at telling stories. I’ve always been a huge fan of Sierra Simone. I think she builds some of the richest and magical worlds for her queer stories, and they’re always delivering that heat and heart at the same time. She’s perfected the broody dominant hero, even though every book brings a different version of that archetype. 

What inspired you to start writing?
I had too much spare time and not enough common sense. Haha. But in all seriousness, EM Denning has been with me the whole time and short of my husband, she is my biggest cheerleader. When I wrote a little kink scene for fun one day, she was one of the first people pushing me to turn it into a whole book and I’ve never looked back since then. 

What’s your writing process like? Do you have a typical “writing day”?
I get most of my writing done before lunch… honestly, before ten am most of the time. I get my family out the door, get ready for work with a fresh cup of coffee and then sprint for an hour. I target a chapter a day, but anything beyond that is a win.

What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
Definitely the characters. Plot is important, to be sure, but my inspiration is always going to come from how the character development can drive the plot forward, not the other way around. So I’m looking at things like here is this man and how can I break him into the man this other guy needs him to be? And then I go from there.

What’s a book that you wish you’d written?
Basically Con Riley’s entire backlist, to be honest. Or AFTG, because what a masterpiece. 

If you could only write one trope for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
My favorite trope will always be enemies to lovers. I LIVE for the tension and that pining that you HATE and the begrudging concession when you realize you might not all the way hate the person you hate. There are so many opportunities for creative plots and character development within the trope, I don’t think I would ever get tired of it. 

What would be your three desert island books?
AFTG, but if I couldn’t take the whole trilogy as one, then just The King’s Men. Circe by Madeline Miller. Meet me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey. 

If one of your books could be made into a movie/TV series, which would you choose and who would you cast?
I’m always SO BAD with this question. I would love for The Trophy Doms series to be made into a movie, but I don’t even know where to start with casting covers face

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?
Back before I moved to Kentucky, Mr. H and I used to rock climb, which was so much fun. It’s been years, and I think about getting back into it sometimes, but I also feel a little too old for it. That said, I do a lot of woo woo things in my spare time… I play crystal bowls and host sound baths, I read tarot cards, all kinds of fun stuff 😉 

Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
I’ve always been a big triceratops girlie.

Kate Hawthorne is a writer with over three dozen published romance novels spread across two pen names. Known for stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch, Kate has built a recognizable brand that consistently delivers emotionally charged and character driven happy endings for everyone.

For more information on Kate and her work you can visit her website, where you can also sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.