Welcome writing duo Dakota and Peta writing as Angelica Grymm!
First of all, congratulations on winning the RuBY award for best speculative fiction (Romance Writers of Australia) for The Finding. How did you feel winning this award?
Dakota:
Thank you! I must admit this was a really poignant one for me (the Dakota Harrison part of Angelica Grymm), as the book The Finding was the first book I fully wrote after my mum died, ten years ago. The award means so very much, as a lot of angst and frustration and sorrow went into it. I used it as a bit of a cathartic channeling of those emotions to try and deal with her death. It took me a year to finish. I sat at Fiona Marsden’s dining table and did nothing for three months, then we decided to do NaNo to get into the rhythm of writing, and what was supposed be a short story to get me back into writing again turned into a full length SFR.
How did you come to write paranormal romance and sci-fi romance? What attracted you to the genres?
Peta:
As a kid I devoured fairytales and mythology. As I grew older I discovered fantasy and sci-fi and was hooked, plus the books and series tended to be large enough for me to get my teeth into. Once I dived into a world I wanted to stay there for longer than the average book length. As for the paranormal romance side of things, a friend recommended a couple of books to me and I was hooked. And while I read a large variety of genres, paranormal romance and urban fantasy always feel like coming home.
Dakota:
Then my sister bought me the Lord of the Rings 3 book set for Christmas the year I was going into Grade 7 (11 3/4 years old). And I could. not. put. it. down! It felt—as Peta said—like coming home. Like a piece of me that I didn't know had been lost, was replaced and inserted into my soul. It took me a month to read each book the first time, then when I finished, I went right back and reread them over and over.
I had decided I wanted to be an author by the time I was about 5 years old. I always thought it would be SF, then knew after reading those that it would also be fantasy as well.
What do you love about writing series?
Peta:
Probably the same reason why I like reading them. Sometimes you want to spend more time in a world, and with the characters that live there, and one book just isn’t enough.
Dakota:
Revisiting loved characters. Sometimes they haven’t quite finished what they want to say and you have to go back and find out what their issue is.
Angelica Grymm is a partnership of two authors. How do you tackle your writing projects?
Peta:
Honestly? With a lot of laughter. We bounce ideas off each other and help solve those evil little plot issues that can drag your writing to a halt. We’re a good world building team but then are happy for each other to take the lead depending on the story. As far as the business side goes, we play to our strengths with one of us being good at the promotion side and the other being better with the administration side.
Dakota:
Peta is the spreadsheet queen. I wouldn’t know one if I fell over it. As she says above, we chat about our ideas and where they fit in the worlds we’re creating, and we each write our own books. We may at some point borrow a character or two, but so far we haven’t collaborated on a book—we’re following our hearts and writing what we love and releasing under the single name as we have been friends for a long time and love the same things. We send each other our manuscripts to get an idea of flow and structure, and (so far!) she hasn’t vetoed anything I’ve written!
Are you a plotter? Panster? Or somewhere in-between?
Peta:
I’m a bit of both. I tend to be a pantser up until the middle of a story then have to sit back and plot out the rest. It changes depending on the story. Often the first book in a series, when I am developing the world and characters, is pantsed. The rest of the series then tends to be a mixture with the overarching plot being planned but the rest not.
Dakota:
I started out a complete pantser and it got me into so much trouble because I tend to write myself into a corner. I’ve—by necessity, really—had to become a mixture of both. I still pants, but roughly know where the story is going. Even if it’s only the first and last chapter, and maybe the black moment, but the rest is your guess is as good as mine. :)
Do you have a favourite of your characters/book?
Peta:
Taj. He’s the villain in Release, the first Black River Shifters book. He gets his own story in the second book, Redeem. He’s both a victim and a villain, and just a wee bit broken.
Dakota:
There is no doubt—it’s Calin. My elven starship XO/Commander. He occupies a piece of my heart and brain that will always be his. He is hurting, more than a bit broken, but kind and honorable, only wanting that connection of another soul (only he doesn’t realize that’s what he’s looking for). He reminds me of a grumpy dog. Wary of you until he gets to know you, then sweet and loyal for life.
Do you have advice for aspiring writers?
Peta:
Don’t lose sight of the joy of writing and creating. It’s too easy to get caught up in the business of writing. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to the business side, just don’t let it take over and destroy the spark that got you writing in the first place.
Dakota:
What she said!
Seriously though, yes, we’re all trying to make careers of this, but never forget what drew you to being a writer in the first place. That spark, that connection, that need to write that particular character down, the one that wouldn’t leave you alone.
What are you currently reading/watching?
Peta:
I’m catching up with the second season of Colin from Accounts and The Witcher (yes I know I’m a bit behind). As for reading, I’m about to start Ithaca by Claire North.
Dakota:
Watching: Silo. I adored Wool, and am LOVING the adaption.
Rewatching: Grimm.
Reading: I just finished Cresent City 3 by Sarah J Maas. I absolutely LOVED it!
What can we expect from you in the future?
Peta:
In the first half of 2025, we have a book coming out in the Monster Bride series, and a paranormal romance featuring a tough heroine and not so tough hero. After that, more monster/paranormal/alien romance and maybe a romantasy.
Dakota:
Definitely the romantasy. A couple of them, actually. One I wrote in 2007 and shopped around a LOT, and nearly sold several times, but Romantasy as a genre wasn’t a thing and it was a bloody hard sell. It did well in contests but wasn’t quite there. So, that one, and another which is a plot bunny that won’t leave me alone (dark anti-hero. Real enemies to lovers).
Tell us about your latest release?
Dakota:
I just released the third Book in my Mendovan Alliance series on November 1st. It’s the culmination of some important things that happened in Book 2, and they have to face the consequences of those decisions. Plus we meet some new characters in the same universe.
Love learning more about you both and as Angelica. I've just started reading The Finding and enjoying it immensely!
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