Angel Reads

28 Jan

Author Interview: Candace Harper | Romance Thursdays

Posted by angelreads Author Interviews, Romance Thursdays No Comments

This week on Romance Thursdays I’m happy to say I’m interviewing Candace Harper. If you haven’t checked out the rest of my interviews in this series be sure to and see what other romance authors have to say. Last week I interviewed D. Rose and we talked about writing romances and her favourite tropes.

Romance Thursdays is a feature that spotlights romance authors to highlight how amazing the romance writing community is. Each week I’m will be interviewing a different romance author from across subgenres as well as both traditionally and self-published. I want to share their experience writing romance and why they love it so much. While also focusing on their writing and books.

Candace Harper is the author of Mrs Mix Up, Hugs & Quiches, the Learning Curves series as Ceillie Simkiss and more. You can check out Candace’s and Cellies backlist titles now.

Hi Candace, and welcome to Angel Reads. For those that haven’t read anything by you yet. Tell us a little about yourself and your books?

Hello! Thank you for having me, Angel! I write queer romances as Candace Harper and Ceillie Simkiss. I write queer romance in as many genres I can manage! As Ceillie, my works tends to be pretty low heat, while Candace gets pretty explicit. All of them feature queer communities, no matter what the main pairing of the story is. In real life, I’m originally from the southern US, but I now live in Washington state with my husband, roommate, and way too many animals. When I’m not writing, I work in a print shop and like to cook and bake for fun!

Why did you start writing romance novels? Is there anything in particular that drew you to it over other genres?

I started writing romance novels because I kept reading them and feeling a disconnect with what I experienced as an asexual woman and what was often described as the only way to experience romance. I’ve fallen in love a few times in my life, and I wanted to read about characters that I loved finding love for themselves. Instead, what I found were books that portrayed people like me as lesser than or as unworthy of love. I soon figured out that I was reading the wrong romances, and started finding ones that brought me more joy, but the years of reading ones that I wanted to change things about made me want to write them for myself.

All your current books seem to have a theme of hate to love or a competition between the two love interests. What is your favourite thing about creating this tension between the two protagonists? Are there any other tropes that you would like to write?

In my real life, if I don’t like somebody, it tends to be permanent. For me, it’s always interesting to dig into that dynamic of competitors or enemies to lovers and figure out a way to solve the conflict that they had in the beginning of their relationship. Usually, it’s centred on some kind of miscommunication or a series of awkward events that can make for some really heated interactions. That heat can play into romance and sexuality in cool ways, and I love to explore that. The moment when they finally give in to their attraction to each other is really just beautiful.

As for tropes that I would like to write, the sky’s the limit. In February, I’ve got a second chance romance coming out in the Second Chances anthology that deals with a pair of middle-aged women who have gone from friends to enemies to lovers, and I had a great time writing it. My next project, the sequel to Hugs and Quiches, is between all three of the judges we met in the first book and revolves around an unplanned pregnancy. There’s no trope that I’ll definitely say I won’t write, and I look forward to getting to them all eventually!

What is your favourite thing about romance as a genre? Why do you like reading and writing it?

The more romance I read, the more I love it. I get to meet new people and new characters every time I open a book and they all get to find a happy ending that works for them. It’s really beautiful to see how differently the same tropes play out for different people. And when I get to write it, I get to create people that I wish I had in my real life but also get to totally control everything. It’s like a Sims game with a little more focus on the romance and the Woohoo-ing. I love it a lot.

Who are some of your favourite romance authors? And who has inspired you to write?

One of the biggest inspirations for me to start writing and keep writing romance was Corey Alexander. They were always happy to cheer me on in whatever I was writing, helping me to talk through issues I was having, and one of the biggest romance lovers I’ve ever met. They were also an amazing author that I think everyone should read. The romance community is richer for having had them as a part of it and poorer for not having more time with them.

As for my favorite authors, I’d have to say, Katrina Jackson, Talia Hibbert, Chace Verity, Kit Rocha, and Ruby Lang. I always know that if I pick up anything they’ve written, I’m basically guaranteed to love it. They’re also all wonderful people that I’m proud to know.

All your current books are queer romances. What is your favourite thing about writing them?

Queer romances are my happy place. Building a queer community inside and outside of my fiction is incredibly important, and I’m so glad I chose this path. I have made so many great friends in Romancelandia simply by working to give people a glimpse into the community I love. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

What are some of the ways that you think we can start overcoming the stigma of romance novels?

Honestly, I think the best thing we can do is keep talking about how much we love romance novels and keep working to make the genre better without forgetting the great people who helped make our genre what it is today.

Do you currently have any books in the works? Is there anything that you are looking forward to writing, but haven’t started yet? Is there something different that you want to try writing?

In the next year, I have a few things that I haven’t started but really want to work on. I’ve got plans for a paranormal Snow White retelling with a focus on the stepmother and the magic mirror, as well as a cozy mystery series. I also love to do some more short stories for anthologies and things like that

Thank you so much for coming by Angel Reads. It was lovely having you here. And I can’t wait to read more of your books!

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Candace Harper. I hope that you pick up some of her books now.

If there is an author that you would like to see featured here, please do let me know. And I will try my best. If you are a romance author and would like to be apart of Romance Thursdays, don’t hesitate to message me.

Have you read any of Candace Harpers’ books before? What did you think of them? Are you excited for more Romance Thursday posts? Let’s Chat!

About the Author

Candace Harper is a queer, neurodivergent woman living with her partner, two cats and a dog in the PNW. She’s known for being the overly enthusiastic about silly things and as the mom friend. She writes queer fiction as much and in as many genres as she can manage, both under this name and as Ceillie Simkiss.

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26 Jan

New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2020

Posted by angelreads Top Ten Tuesday 12 Comments

This week I’m sharing the new-to-me authors that I read in 2020. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

I love reading new-to-me authors and there were many that I discovered and read in 2020. So today I thought I would share some of my favourites for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday. There is a mix of young adult and romance here. And like always these are in no order.

Also, I want to make a quick note, I knew about most of these author before 2020, it’s just that I never picked a book up from them before.

Giana Darling: I didn’t know much about Giana until earlier this year when I was looking for some more MC romances to pick up. Then I started The Fallen Men Series and couldn’t stop. I haven’t picked up any of her other books yet and I don’t know when I will. But I will read anything in this series.

Naima Simone: I didn’t realise how many Naima Simone books I read this year until I started getting this post together. I ended up reading 6 of her books this year including the WAGS series and Sweetest Taboo duo.

Nalini Singh: I’ve been wanting to read Nalini Singh for a couple of years now, but just never picked it up. However, I took the plunge in 2020 and now I’m 12 books in. Seriously if you want to read some paranormal romances, pick the Psy-Changeling series up and you won’t be disappointed.

Julia Quinn: I started the Bridgertons series about mid-2020 and I ended up reading the whole series, bar the last book last year. I’m hoping to get to book 8 in the next month. I seriously fell in love with this world, her writing and the characters. I can’t wait to pick up something else from Julia as well.

Vikki Wakefield: Has been on my radar for a few years now, I just didn’t pick up any of her books and then I read This is How We Change the Ending and it ends up being one of my favourite reads. I can’t wait to read some more from Vikki. And if you want to read some fantastic #LoveOzYA then this is for you.

Sabrina Jeffries: Sabrina is another author that I have wanted to read for a while, and finally picked up something from her this year – which turned into 6 reads I think. I can’t wait to read more from her. Ely and I are planning to read the first in the School For Heiresses Series for our February Buddy Read.

Sarah MacLean: I couldn’t’ forget about Sarah MacLean. I seriously loved all the books that I read from her last year. I can’t wait to pick up something else for her. But, I just don’t know which series to start with first.

Roni Loren: I’ve been wanting to read The Ones That Got Away series for some time now and I knew that it was going to be an emotional ride so I put it off for a long time, but I started the series this year and it was fantastic and I can’t wait to read some more.

Elizabeth Acevedo: Has a name that I heard of for years. And I picked up a good amount of her books in 2020 and loved them all. I adored With Fire On High and Poet X so much. I’m excited for more from her for sure.

Beverly Jenkins: I didn’t know too much about Beverly Jenkins before I picked up Rebel but now I can’t stop reading. I have read the Le Veq Family series and I’m trying to decide which series to pick up next of hers.I’m just so excited.

And that is it. I read a lot of new-to-me authors in 2020. And I wish I were able to share them all here, but these are just a few that I love. What new-to-you authors did you read last year? Did we share any that is the same? Let’s chat!

24 Jan

Best Friend Picks My TBR 2021

Posted by angelreads Best Friend TBR 3 Comments

Last year my best friend Ely and I picked 5 books for the other to read within the year. And it was so much fun. So we thought we would do it again. You can check out all my posts from last year now to see how it went.

Ely and I both give each other a list of our tbrs and books that we own and pick 5 books. We can either pick books that we’ve each read, or we want the other to read. You can check out what I’ve picked for Ely to read this year. But first, let’s see what Ely picked for me to read.

Am I Normal Yet? (The Spinster Club #1) by Holly Bourne

Ely: You know how much this book means to me so when I saw it on your list I knew I had to pick it for you. I’ll be interested to see what you think of this because it’s been a couple of years since I read it, but I think you’ll appreciate the friendships and the mental health representation in here.

Angel: I was waiting for you to pick this one the first time around and I was surprised when you didn’t. But I couldn’t get it passed you twice. This has been on my TBR got years now. It’s one that I was super excited to read, but just never picked it up. So now I have no excuse and I need to pick it up.

The Duke (Knight Miscellany #1) by Gaelen Foley

E: I mean, you were literally sitting beside me as I was reading this and freaking out so I couldn’t not choose this one. I know that you’re working through a few romance series as the moment, but I just know that you’ll love this one as much as I did.

A: I’m pretty sure we bought this one at the same time. You, however, got around to reading it before me. My plan for the end of last year was to finish all the historical romance series I started before I picked up a new one. And I only have 2 more books to go for this. So I’m ready for it.

Lovely War by Julie Berry

E: I know we were both extremely excited about this one being releasing, so naturally neither of us has actually read it. So as per usual, I’m using you as my guinea pig to see if this is actually one I should pick up or not. It is very much in the realm of things we both enjoy so hopefully it turns out to be a good one.

A: You have pretty much summed up my thoughts about going into this book. I knew that I wanted to read this one as soon as I read the synopsis. Historical fiction with a mix of fantasy – that is me all wrapped up. I have yet yo read anything from Julie Berry but I think this is the perfect one to start with.

Pestilence (The Four Horsemen #1) by Laura Thalassa

E: These next two are ones you don’t currently own, but I absolutely had to pick them out for you. I know it doesn’t help your TBR at all, but at least this one is on Kindle Unlimited. Since you picked this one out for me as part of our romance version of this post, I thought I’d return the favour and make you read it so we can gush about the series together.

A: Somehow I knew that this was going to be on my list. I just knew it. But I’m super excited about it. It’s rare that you read paranormal romance and you loved it. So I think this is going to be a fantastic rea for me.

Heartstopper, vol. 1 by Alice Oseman

E: Another one that I absolutely had to pick as soon as I realised you hadn’t read it. I swear sometimes I get confused with what I’ve read or bought and what you have. Anyway, I’ve told you multiple times about how much I love this so now I’m finally going to force you to read it. I know that it’ll make you happy and it’s also just a super quick read so you don’t have to stress about finding the time as much.

A: I’m not sure why I haven’t picked this one up either. I have all 3 volumes, mostly because my younger sister picked them up. So I could totally read them all when I want. And I will now for sure. I’ve heard such amazing things about this series and I loved reading Alice Oseman before

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And those are the books that Ely has picked for me to read in 2021. I can’t wait to get to them all. I think I’m going to have a fantastic time. Don’t forget to see what I’ve picked for Ely as well. Have your picked books for your best friend to read?