I’m so excited to chat with debut author Izzy Barry about her werewolf romantasy novel Red.
Aloka is a human but she comes from a family of werewolves, so when Aloka’s brother Pratt is killed by the humans rebels, leaving her all alone in werewolf territory, Pratt’s will forces her to live with a nearby werewolf pack under the protection of Alpha Stark Lamont. Aloka feels an unexpected connection to Stark but she is hiding a big secret and a dangerous war between the humans and werewolves is looming. We chat with Izzy about inspiration, writing, and all things Red!
Hi Izzy, thank you so much for chatting with us and congratulations on the upcoming release of your debut novel Red! Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m answering this with a bundled-up newborn on my lap, so I guess I can start with that! I’m a new mom, wife to my high school sweetheart, and a lover of adrenaline rushes and collecting far too many hobbies. I spend the majority of my time outdoors, often with a laptop or book nearby. My life is also busy in a different way, as I manage multiple chronic illnesses that you can’t see. Writing has become this incredible space where I can take pieces of all those different parts of my life and turn them into something else entirely.
How did your love of writing and books come about?
I’ve always loved books, and when I was young, writing was often how I communicated best. I wrote a letter to my parents explaining all the reasons I should be allowed to have a horse, and when my now-husband and I were teenagers, I wrote him letters to open when I was away. Stories were a different matter. I started plenty of them but never seemed to get very far. There was also a big gap where books disappeared from my life almost entirely when illness took over. When I was finally able to enjoy reading again, it didn’t take long before I wanted to try writing a story of my own. Then somehow, after years of never getting past the beginning, I wrote an entire book.
If you could describe Red in five words, what would they be?
Secrets. Yearning. Revenge. Magic. Trust.
What was your inspiration for Aloka and Stark’s story?
I’m not much of a plotter when it comes to writing. I remember knowing how the story started: a girl is thrown into a man’s home while hiding a secret that could give him reason to kill her. That was really all it took for me to begin. The werewolves came naturally. I live in Northern Ontario, surrounded by dense forests, so that isolated, wintry setting quickly became part of the story. I also loved tying the consequences of Aloka’s magic to an experience of my own. I’ve lived with chronic pain and, for years, would describe the burning sensation simply as, “My head is on fire.” There was also the experience of being able to smile through pain and then deal with the worst moments alone. Pieces of that found their way into Aloka. With Stark, I wanted his care for her to be obvious to the reader even when it isn’t obvious to Aloka. She’s been isolated for so much of her life and never had the chance to date or experience a normal relationship, so his affection comes through in small gestures: making sure she’s eaten, protecting her, noticing what she needs, and quietly making space for her in his home. That’s how love has always felt to me. It’s often in the small moments rather than the huge declarations. Though, of course, Stark gets in a few of those too.
What sets Red apart from other fantasy and paranormal romances?
I think Red sits in an interesting space between paranormal romance and fantasy while still feeling very grounded in the characters themselves. There are werewolves, pack politics, magic, violence, and a much larger mythology unfolding, but at its core, the story is about two very guarded people slowly learning to trust each other. I also wanted power to come with a cost. Aloka isn’t simply given something extraordinary without consequence, and hiding what she is has shaped almost every part of her life. The romance grows alongside that rather than separately from it. There’s a lot of yearning and tension, but some of my favourite romantic moments are incredibly small.
Did you have a favourite scene or chapter in Red that you really enjoyed writing? Tell us about it.
It’s so hard to choose because I love different characters for different reasons. I love Stark for all the tiny gestures he makes that show how much he cares, Aloka for her determination, and Jocko for the friendship and lightness he brings to the story. Scene-wise, one I especially love happens during one of the full moon nights, when Stark finds Aloka overwhelmed and sits with her on the floor of her room. There’s something very human about ending up on the floor when everything feels out of control, and I love how Stark notices things about her that so many others miss. It isn’t a huge, dramatic romantic moment. He doesn’t fix everything or say exactly the right thing. He’s simply there. I think a lot of people can relate to those moments when life has become a little too much and you don’t necessarily need words, just the silent comfort of having someone nearby.
What is the main message that you want readers to takeaway from Aloka and Stark’s story?
It’s tough to pick one because I think readers can take something completely different from a story depending on which character or part of it they connect with most. One thing that matters to me, though, is the idea of allowing other people to see what you’re going through. Aloka has survived by hiding so much of herself, and letting someone else in can feel more dangerous to her than facing things alone. Trust can be terrifying, especially when you’ve learned to rely only on yourself, but sometimes it’s worth taking that risk.
Did you encounter any challenges while writing Red and, if so, how did you overcome them?
Honestly, writing the first draft was the easiest part. The rest is the challenge, making sure timelines workout, avoiding plot holes, and keeping characters consistent. Red, isn’t the first novel I’ve completed but with each one I’ve learned more and hope to continue to do so.
Can you tease any information about The Myth That Burns book 2 and/ or future novels that you have in the works?
Of course! Book two is in the editing stages at the moment and will be released in 2027. It continues Aloka and Stark’s story, but readers will get a much deeper look into Stark’s background, the life he had before Aloka, and parts of the world that we only begin to uncover in Red. Beyond The Myth That Burns, I have several other stories fighting for my attention, all involving romance at the forefront, dangerous commanding men, and often women who are a bit more powerful than they let on.
What are some summer/ fall 2026 book releases that are on your TBR list?
Grim Tidings by BK Borison and Cursed City by Kate Golden are both on my preorder list!
