We chat with author Siera London about A Hard Habit to Break, which sees a small town wedding brings firefighter Noah and architect Rachel together for the first time since their tragic break up, forcing them to learn to work together to save their town—perfect for fans of Farah Heron and Sajni Patel.
Hi, Siera! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I fell in love with reading and my local Jacksonville, Florida public library. I read Black Expressions romance all through nursing school. My craving for great books continued when I was commissioned in the US Navy. I’m one of you. I love stories. I still make time to read — more audiobooks now that I’m losing my vision. I love book clubs, book chats, all of it. I do my best to be a positive representation for women in literature and in the publishing industry. My hubby and kids support my passion for writing. So, that’s me.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Maybe in the fourth grade. I started with poetry. Considering my daily life was limited to school, walking home after school, and the community park, my life lacked artistic inspiration. The neighborhood kids didn’t consider my haikus to be lyrical genius. So, I returned to my first love, fiction.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Your latest novel, A Hard Habit to Break, is out August 11th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Passionate. Heartfelt. Kinship. Restorative. Optimistic.
What can readers expect?
I want women to see themselves, their sisters, their friends in Rachel, Bethany, and the other women in A Hard Habit to Break. The type of men I write appreciate a woman’s worth, and they are smart enough to profess their true feelings before she exits stage right. The Calvary Brothers are good men from Chapter One. But they grow to be the best men for the women they love. As for the romance, you can feel the connection. It’s all about SEEING Noah and Rachel opening themselves to deep intimacy, which starts with trust. I show their journey to love so it feels authentic for them. I want the same for my own love affair—to be seen, heard, valued, desired, and cherished.
Where did the inspiration for A Hard Habit to Break come from?
A long drive from Virginia through West Virginia in 2021. Harper’s Ferry was so picturesque and soothing to me at the time; I had to capture the feeling in a book.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Knowing when to stop is always the hardest. The book has a beginning, middle, and end for the reader. Not for me. I’ve spent months, sometimes years, with these characters. I know what they eat for breakfast. The hard part is choosing which tender morsels from the buffet of situations will actually provide a satisfying story for my readers. I reread my characters’ goal and motivations statements daily. This practice reminds me that the story belongs to them. That I have to resist the urge to insert elements that confuse or minimize the conflict these characters are allowing the readers to explore for themselves.
What’s next for you?
More Cavalry Brothers, yes! Eli got book one, Noah’s has book two, and next up is Tobias, our cautious EMT and middle brother. I’m thrilled for Tobias’ story, because he has surprises for the reader and himself. Also, it’s fun to write about a bookish man. Oops, did I say that? You caught me, Tobias Calvary is a writer. And I have a holiday story coming in October 2027 that I’m not supposed to mention too much. So, don’t tell anybody else.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
Oh, this has to be a trick question. There are so many by authors I adore: Lucy Wilson-Tagoe, Evelyn Sola, Tati Richardson, Avey Flynn, KC Mills, Ines Johnson, Mel Walker, Darie McCoy, Rose Marie, Imani Jay, Amarie Avant, TB Bond, Kassanna, Lucy Score, Nicoyan Zheng, Lee Child.
This question! Okay, I’ve read Kennedy Ryan, Lucy Wilson-Tagoe, Abby Jimenez, Evelyn Sola, Naima Simone, LaQuette, Nina Crespo, TB Bond, Tiya Rayne, Tim Tigner, Brenda Jackson, Tatianna Richardson, Tananarive Due, Talia Hibbert, and Mia Sosa this year. There have been a few craft and business books in the mix, too.
