We chat with author Elayna R. Gallea about Tethered, which is a a darkly seductive romantasy for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Serpent and the Wings of Night, blending forbidden love, dangerous magic and a bond that defies fate.
Hi, Elayna! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m Canadian, born and raised. I grew up in Ontario, but I live in New Brunswick with my husband and two amazing kids. When I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably watching Food Network or cooking up a storm, because food is my love language.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve adored books ever since I first learned how to read, but it wasn’t until a couple days before my 31st birthday that I decided to try my hand at writing a book. It was addicting, this thing called writing, and once I started I never stopped.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Giver by Lois Lowry
- The one that made you want to become an author: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli. I’ve been obsessed with this book since I first read it, and the entire series is amazing.
Your latest novel, Tethered, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Gothic, vampires, morally grey, possessive
What can readers expect?
Tethered is such a fun ride! It’s a gothic love story at its heart, between a black-hearted vampire prince and a human. She thinks he will kill her on their wedding night, but instead, he falls first and so hard, and would do anything for her.
Oh, and they can’t go more than thirty feet apart!
Where did the inspiration for Tethered come from?
I first had the idea for the Tether between a vampire and a human, and the rest of the book formed from there.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Oh my goodness, writing Sebastian was such a treat. I always refer to him as a cinnamon roll. He’s hard on the outside, but soft and gooey on the inside (but literally just for his wife).
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge for me while writing is always the first draft. It’s painful and sometimes like pulling teeth. I make small goals and work towards hitting them (one paragraph, 500 more words, etc). Editing is definitely my favourite part of writing.
What’s next for you?
I’m going to be working on Tormented, the sequel to Tethered, which is coming out next September!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
Up next on my TBR is Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana.
