For me latest Author Spotlight, I’m joined by the wonderful Meghan Maslow. We talked about having a chaotic writing process, including comedy and mystery in her work, and being able to talk about structure for days!

Over to you, Meghan…

First things first, please introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Meghan, an extrovert who somehow manages to spend large blocks of time alone. I guess it’s because I have a whole cast of characters in my head who are really quite talkative. I published my first novel at the end of 2017 and have never looked back.

Tell us a little bit about your writing style.
I write MM romances that include comedy, mystery, and fantasy/paranormal elements. While I’m extremely character driven and love snarky banter, I also adore a well crafted plot and take great pains to give readers an enjoyable ride. I’m a big believer in creating worlds that readers want to return to again and again.

Describe your books in only three words.
Mischief, Magic, and Murder.

What are you working on right now?
I’m finishing Fae for Pay, a book in the Fortune Favors the Fae multi-author series. It’s a paranormal romance that takes place on a movie set and involves a magic coin, a smokin’ hot wolf shifter, and an elf (think Lord of the Rings, not Keebler) who doesn’t actually know he’s an elf. It includes bi-awakening, hidden royalty, found family, and a smidge of hurt/comfort.

Out of all your books, which one are you most proud of?
That’s a mean question. Just sayin’. I tend to be most proud of my first in series books because they launched the other books in the series and created the worlds I now get to play in. By Fairy Means or Foul was my first book, and I know a lot of authors look back at their first and cringe, but I’m still very, very fond of this one. When I set out to write it, I didn’t know how much these characters would become a part of my life. I’m also proud of The Demon’s in the Details–another first in series–because it pushed me to try new things and expand my brand. Plus, these characters are so much fun to write and have allowed me to play in Baltimore, a city I love and that works great as part of a paranormal world. 

What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
That’s a tough question. I’ve always been interested in stories and the idea of telling stories. For most of my life, my family has attended the Shakespeare festival in Stratford, Canada, and I’ve kept that tradition going with my own family. It’s given me a real appreciation for story and the power of words. But it was Johanna Lindsey who first introduced me to romance and the idea of the happily-ever-after. She made me want to write my own romances, while Joey W. Hill opened my eyes to MM romance with her book, Rough Canvas. It’s still my very favorite MM romance.

What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but it was when I hit a crossroads in my life that I began to write in earnest. At the time, I had young children, so I started with mystery short stories (under another pen name). Then as my kids became a little older, I moved to writing MM romance novels.

What’s your writing process like? Do you have a typical “writing day”?
My writing process? Chaotic. Lol. I wish I were joking. I’m a pantser/plantser who loves to add comedy, fantasy/paranormal, and mystery elements to my MM romances, which means I’m always weaving several big threads through my stories. I also can’t seem to write a standalone to save my life. I keep trying. 

I don’t write every day because I have a lot of other obligations and I’m just not built that way. I need time to think about a book before I actually start it. I’m also what you would call a “phoenix.” I need pressure to finish a book–a deadline, or something that pushes me to write–and then I write a lot all at once. When I finish, I’m exhausted and then the process starts all over again. 

When I write, I don’t always know where the story will end up. I don’t always know how it will start, or what all the major plot points are. I do have to know certain things about my characters, but even those characteristics change depending on the book. I’ve learned to trust my process since it hasn’t led me wrong yet.

What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
Characters. But I also really love plot and structure. I could talk about structure and theme for days . . . yeah, I’m loads of fun at a party.

What’s a book that you wish you’d written?
Well, as far as comedic paranormal books go, I would have loved to have written either Louisa Master’s Demon’s Do It Better, or Vawn Cassidy’s Dead Serious. Both are really fun books. If I could pick a paranormal book that isn’t comedic, it would probably be Lily Mayne’s Soul Eater. It’s a fantastic read.

If you could only write one trope for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I LOVE enemies to lovers. Love, love, love. It’s a really fun trope to write and it creates lots of delicious friction. There’s something so rewarding about watching characters start out hating each other and over time learning to appreciate the other.

What would be your three desert island books?
I’m going to stick to MM romance for this question, because otherwise, I’ll spend days mulling over all the possibilities. Rough Canvas by Joey W. Hill, With Caution by JL Langley, and Strength of the Pack by Kendall Mckenna. Those are yearly re-reads for me.

If one of your books could be made into a movie/TV series, which would you choose and who would you cast?
The Demon’s in the Details. I don’t keep up with celebs so I haven’t a clue who would be right for the roles – though I’m open to suggestions. It has a blond murder twink named Tommy, and a dark-haired rough-around-the-edges raven shifter named Poe.

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 love to socialize, listen to audiobooks, go to plays/musicals, run, dance, travel, bake, and sew. I’m also a sucker for cuddles from my kids, cats, and Mister Maslow.

Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
I like herbivores, so maybe a stegosaurus or a duck-billed dinosaur. Don’t get me wrong, the T-rex is pretty amazing, but I prefer something that wouldn’t want to eat me as a snack.

MEGHAN MASLOW: If you’re looking for comedy, fantasy, and dead bodies in your MM romances, then I may just be your new best friend. I want to make you laugh, gasp, and root for my characters’ happily-ever-after! 

As a certified cat servant, coffee addict, and extrovert, I’m here to have fun, write all the books, and read as much MM romance as I can in this lifetime. I likewise enjoy running, socializing, and travel.

A native Michigander, I currently call Maryland home, but have also lived in Tanzania and Kenya.

For more information on Meghan and her work you can visit her website and sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on Instagram. You can also join her Facebook Reader Group for the latest news and updates.