<h2><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">The rise of willow winters: a dark romance self-publishing success story</span></h2><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">Willow Winters is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author known for her irresistibly steamy, emotionally gripping contemporary romance novels. Over the past decade, she has built a loyal readership and become a prominent force in the world of romantic fiction. With dozens of titles to her name and a deep understanding of the indie publishing landscape, she’s not only a prolific writer but also a smart and inspiring entrepreneur.&nbsp;</p><h3 style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-he-ll-ever-be-willow-winters/13009317?ean=9781950862184&amp;next=t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;"><strong>All He'll Ever Be</strong></span></a></h3><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">by W Winters - Willow Winters</span></p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-he-ll-ever-be-willow-winters/13009317?ean=9781950862184&amp;next=t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img data-ot-ignore src="https://CWSImages.ingramcontent.com/cdsImages/imageloader?id=dma0eMDAvfZHMGDpWnHDhqaeqw8KutHOHU7bBvHUWntGqePuRSsjuSn/GewS+fLBtlOHR9x5lLrRF6wJI0XRVjQWVyEqfMqSGqpqvjckk/YoSBKZ5dq33WZHPTuUzZlCQt7K5RW4nxD1t8WIaE/eUioaMDigYAeenLB5OiBuZOo=&amp;size=640" alt="isbn: 9781950862184,template: list"></a></figure><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">A <i>USA Today</i> bestselling, gripping and heart-wrenching romantic suspense.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">I get why Beauty fell in love with the Beast, but it doesn't change who Carter is. There's no magical rose or kiss that will turn him into a prince.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">All Carter Cross will ever be is a beast. A cold-hearted and ruthless, mafia king, trapped in a castle of his own making</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">I'm the daughter of his enemy and his new possession. A mafia bargain for war.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">I thought that's all I was to him, but I was never prepared for for the next page of our story…</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">"Dark, sexy and incredibly masterful, Carter and Aria's story had me riveted from beginning to end..." - Nightbird Novels</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Poppins, sans-serif;">All He'll Ever Be is the complete collection of the <i>USA Today</i> bestselling, Merciless series. It's a dark, modern retelling of a tale as old as time.</span></p><h3 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Interview with Willow Winters:</strong></h3><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: What do you love most about writing romance, and what do you hope your readers take away from the stories you write?</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: I love that there is a guaranteed happily ever after. It is the one thing that separates romance books from other genres, and it makes all the difference. I love dark romance for this very reason. Let me explain. As a writer and as a reader, we can explore darker topics and themes in these dark romances as we move through the story with the character. There is also cognitive dissonance that allows us to feel safe as we cope with the character and the promise that everything will be alright in the end. There’s some hand-holding specifically in dark romance books that is lacking in the world outside of the pages. I love that we have that in these books, and I love that I'm able to provide that for myself as well as for so many others who read my stories.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: What made you choose the independent publishing route, and how has that decision shaped your success?&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: Impatience and a desperation for coffee money made me choose independent publishing.&nbsp; My response is a bit of a joke but not really. When I decided to write and publish the stories in my head, I was a stay-at-home mom, and money was tight. I was really looking for an outlet where I could find myself again while bringing in extra income so I could afford playdates and coffee without having to check the bank account. I have always loved challenges, and I've always been fairly independent, so with the pressure to bring in income and the desire to fall into a career that brought a piece of myself back, self-publishing was the way to go.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your self-publishing journey, what would it be?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: It's not about the launch. There used to be so much pressure on release day, and all of the weight of the world was felt for every new release. It was 'go go go' and 'it needs to perform well right now' type energy. All of that pressure is so disadvantageous. A book lives a thousand lives. A sale, rebrand or relaunch is inevitable and could be even better in terms of reader reach and sales than the initial launch. Removing that expectation made a world of difference in creating stability for my business and also allowing myself to focus on the love of the craft.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: How would you describe your writing process, and how has it evolved over the course of your career?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: My writing process is constantly changing primarily because I have three children. I started writing with one toddler and one infant, and years later we had another little one. They are 11, 9 and 4 now. I used to write during nap times, then they went away. Then I wrote from 9 at night till 2 in the morning when the world was quiet and I had no distractions. Then I would write during the day while the kids were at school, and now it's summertime with all of them off. So my availability to write in peace and quiet is constantly changing. I've written on my sofa, at a desk, on an airplane (I actually love writing squished in that little seat with the hum of the airplane). I think a fair answer is admitting that I have to be flexible with when and where I'm able to write. The stories come to me constantly though, regardless of whether or not I have the time. So by the time I sit down to get the words out, the story is roughly complete in my head. I sketch out a rough outline but allow my characters to change the plot if that's what they want to do. I would say I am half plotter, half pantser and again very flexible with the story.&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: You have written romance titles across so many subgenres and tropes - do you have a favorite to write and why?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: My favorite subgenre is second chance by far. I'm able to write two timelines, hide secrets but hint at them, start with intense emotion and background. It's almost like a cheat code for writing. My curiosity is always piqued when writing second chances. And it can be mixed with any other subgenre as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: With more suspenseful titles like All He’ll Ever Be, how do you strike a balance between darkness and light? Why do you think these stories resonate with your readers?&nbsp;</strong><i><strong>&nbsp;</strong></i><strong>&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">&nbsp;A: The balancing in dark romance really hinges on the coping stages of the characters for me. I need to reprieve and hope after each dark moment and generally provide it in the form of the sexual tension being broken, with a kiss or more. Allowing that physical bonding when negative emotions are climbing adds rawness that lends itself to the promise of a happily ever after. Even if they are enemies who hate each other for something awful that's been done in the past, they still feel the need to love one another and that alone is enough to keep the story moving with balance. As if love could be the resolution regardless of the conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: What’s one misconception about self-publishing you wish more people understood?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: There are two wildly incorrect assumptions about self-publishing. 1. It's easy. 2. It doesn't pay. Self-publishing can be treated like a hobby, and it will pay you like one (AKA put you in the red). But for writers who treat self-publishing as a career, it's quite difficult but can provide a 6, 7, or even 8 figure profit. There are so many hats to wear or positions to delegate. It's a never-ending to-do list that is also constantly changing as well. From posting trends that will convert to sales on social media to running ads and keeping up with the latest algorithm changes on retail platforms, there is always something that demands attention. It is a blessing to be able to take control and publish, but it is also a career that will take every hour of your day for business while also demanding every hour of your day for the art side of the process. The hardest aspect of this career for me has been that balance—between writer and business owner as well as between work and family.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Q: You regularly attend book events around the world and engage with your fanbase online – what do you love about connecting with your readers online and in person?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h4><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">A: There is nothing better than a book signing. I have no idea how writers kept going prior to social media and these signing events because the messages, the hugs, the smiles and conversations all about how your books changed their life is everything. It keeps me motivated and reminds me of how impactful my work really is. I truly believe what the world needs more of is love, in all ways. Writing love stories and sharing that love with other people is empowering in a way that is not replaceable. I am truly blessed to be able to attend these book signings around the world and share that love with so many readers so closely.&nbsp;</p><h2 style="margin-left:0.0px;"><strong>Follow the author</strong></h2><p style="margin-left:0.0px;">Go check out Willow Winters's <a href="https://willowwinterswrites.com/"><span style="color:#3e84e0;"><u>website</u></span></a> and follow her on her <a href="https://willowwinterswrites.com/pages/socials"><span style="color:#3e84e0;"><u>socials</u></span></a>!</p>

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