10 Questions with Author Ruby Dare
1. Can you share a little about your most recent book?
My most recent book is called Caught Between Cozy and Kink. Itโs the first book in my new series They Are Eternal and it's about a black lesbian named Blythe trying to get back to herself after a battle with cancer that she won, but it left her a little shell shocked. It caused her to make this coy little existence for herself, but it didn't leave much room to let people in. And after many years she decides she wants to change that to essentially find the joy in life again. Luckily for her, a new neighbor named Nyx, who is a trans masc non-binary lesbian very moves in next door. And they are more than happy to help her step outside of her box and really enjoy life again. And they both find their way to love
2. How would you describe your writing style?
My writing style is definitely that of a panster. An idea will come to me usually when I am driving or in the shower and I go from there. Every time I try to write an outline of any kind inevitably it gets trashed within two chapters. And often I do not write the chapters in order. I know where I want the story to go and how I want it to flow. But I can literally be writing one chapter and a chapter that is three chapters ahead, demands to be written. So I'll jot down some quick notes about it, finish the chapter Iโm working on and then go write that chapter poking at my brain. So my style is chaotic for sure, but it works for me.
3. When starting a new book, do you begin with a character or an idea?
I flip flop between the two. For my latest book I started with an idea. But as I was writing it the characters took me in a different direction then where I had originally planned. And I think the book is better for it. My next book, I definitely had the character before I had the story.ย Iโm currently writing a series and in the next several books the characters all came before the idea. I do try and stay away from the third act break up when I can. Iโd rather them have some kind of other struggle that they have to overcome together, not just a miscommunication that leads to a break up.ย
4. Who is your ideal reader, and what do you hope they take away from your books?
My ideal reader is someone who is open to exploring their sexuality. Or at the very least is comfortable in their sexuality. My books are very spicy and contain kink. So the more open you are about life in general the more you will enjoy my books. And you gotta love love because my books are all about it. Self love, love of others, just love. I want my readers to be able to see themselves in my characters. Representation and being seen is so f*ing important.
5. What drew you to writing romance?
I was drawn to writing romance because Iโm a big mushpot, Iโm a hopeless romantic and I love love. I love the way being in love makes you feel - from that first little butterfly in your stomach at the crush stage all the way to the complete joy and peace of this is my person moment. Iโm here for it all.ย
6. How has your personal identity influenced your approach to writing romance
I think being a hopeless romantic makes my writing have more insta love rather than a slow burn. And my characters tend to have characteristics that I love seeing in people in general. It also allows me to write about some fabulous extroverts because thatโs the opposite of me. And itโs fun to write that, so maybe I'm a closeted extrovert. Who knows?
7. Would you be friends with any of your characters? Why or why not?
Oh absolutely I would be friends with the majority of my characters. In every book there are usually only one or two a-holes who I would want to run off the road. For the most part I wholeheartedly write people I would want to be friends with. They are funny, sarcastic, loyal, sneaky but honest, loving, and trustworthy. The world had enough douchey people. I don't need them in my stories. One of the main characterโs in my current book is called Nyx. They are fashioned after a real person that I met on TikTok. I was scrolling one night and came across King Captain, they are an amazing drag king who is a trans masc non-binary lesbian and their energy was palpable through the screen. They were full of joy, self awareness, self respect, self love, positive energy and just life energy in general. I knew I wanted a character like that in this book. So I reached out and asked if they would mind if I modeled a character after them. They were very gracious and said yes. And now we have a wonderful collaboration going. I am grateful that King Captain is a part of this experience. They are even doing the voice of Nyx on the audiobook that is coming out this June, and I canโt wait for everyone to hear it because they are phenomenal.
8. What is the most meaningful feedback youโve received from a reader?
Hands down the most meaningful feedback I've gotten was when a reader told me that reading my book helped put into words feelings they had been having but didnโt know how to verbalize. I could not have asked for higher praise. And I am forever grateful that I was able to do that for them and I hope my books do that for many more people.ย
9. If you could offer one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?
One piece of advice I would give is keep writing! Don't let a bunch of people read it while you are in the process of writing it and give you unsolicited opinions. Don't obsess over the first draft, just keep writing it. First drafts are never the final so itโs okay if you think you are writing shit, just keep writing it.
10. Whatโs next for you? Can you share any details about your upcoming novel?
Whatโs next for me is the audiobook for Caught Between Cozy and Kink which comes out in June. I wanted to release it during Pride. So Iโm super excited for that. But as far as a new book that would be the second book in this series. Itโs called Bound to the Boss. It has tropes of forced marriage/ touch her and die/forced proximity/kidnapping. Itโs definitely darker than this last one but it definitely has a HEA
About the author:
Ruby Dare is a queer,ย sassy, fat, black New England woman. A writer of sapphic contemporary romance, with a touch of paranormal that are allย hella SPICY. After studying English and creative writing at college in New York, she has lived up and down the East coast and even tried out the west coast for a couple of years. Lovingย the hot weather, but too far from family, she has now planted her roots in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina. That is until the romance winds whisk her somewhere new.
You can find/follow Ruby at the following:
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