We chat with author Cortney L. Winn about Vesselless, which is an addictive enemies-to-lovers romance following the heir to a fantasy kingdom, and the seductive spirit sent to claim her soul—perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Carissa Broadbent.
Hi, Cortney! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello Nerd Daily readers! I’m Cortney! I grew up (and still live in) Utah. Puns are my favorite type of word play, Mad Libs were my guilty pleasure when I was little, and I sincerely believe libraries actually have magic, because time does not exist inside them. I have a degree in business marketing, a back ground in wedding cake design (self-taught), and I love to draw. Am I good at drawing? No, but hopefully, by the time I’m old and retired, I can draw a face that looks somewhat decent. I am a Gemini through and through. Easy to smile, easy to laugh, terrified of everything.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Ten years ago, I was sitting at my bank job, my feet dangling from my high spinny chair at the teller line (because I am so short). I was barely twenty, at the transitional point in life when you spin on your bank chair sending wire transfers and talking interest rates, wondering if this is your career for the next thirty years. It was a good job, but it definitely wasn’t my passion. That’s when the awful thought dawned on me: what is my passion? I didn’t know. I didn’t have one, and for some reason, that realization unnerved me. What is a life without a true passionate hobby, something that you do on sleepy Sundays that brings you deep joy? How does a person find their passion? I needed to know what mine was. So, in the lull of a Tuesday afternoon, I used my bank computer to make a bucket list of things to do and try, things that might lead to finding my calling whether it be a career I was passionate about or a hobby that felt fulfilling to me. On my list were things like earning my college degree, learning another language, painting a canvas, make a wedding cake, try photography, etc. On that list was ‘write a book’. I earned my college degree, ran a wedding cake business, dipped my toes in photography, Y apprendo poquito Espanol, but when I wrote my first manuscript, I knew it was my passion because it hurt. It hurt because I was terrible at writing. I wanted to be better. And on the few instances I got discouraged and stopped writing, it hurt even more not to write. The need to grow and learn consumed me. I found myself waking up at 4:00AM to fit writing into my schedule. That’s when I knew writing was my passion.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Goosebumps
- The one that made you want to become an author: Eragon
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Bond of Hercules (My last read!)
Your debut novel, Vesselless, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Flirty, dark, snarky, ghostly, betrayal.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect dark themes, a dark setting, flirtatious couple, and a big world.
Where did the inspiration for Vesselless come from?
It sparked from a book I read. (Serpent & Dove) It was snarky, witchy, and full of magic. I binged that book in a day and my first chapter of Vesselless (which isn’t even in the book at all) laid the pathway for me to eventually discover my own story.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Dagen’s sister, Lo is my favorite character to write. As I’m writing the second installment of the series, Merciless, I am giggling through her chapters as I write.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I’m laughing because it might be easier for me to list all of the things that came easily whilst writing. I was a full-time student, mom, and balancing many other obligations at the time I was writing Vesselless. Writing was a side hobby that while I was deeply committed to, it wasn’t a job that brought income. It wasn’t school that would lead to a degree. It was a dream, and so writing didn’t get an allotted spot in my schedule. I had to carve time out my schedule to fit my dream in around all the other “real-life” obligations. I had to wake up at 4:00AM every day that ended in Y to make my dream into a “real-life” career. The query trenches, the self-doubt (that never leaves), the marketing, the submissions, the mental fortitude it takes to be available to the public . . . there are so many challenges.
As far as overcoming them, I don’t mean to sound cheeky, but I just do it. I make adjustments, change plans, go through plan A, B, C, I take time if I need it, cry if nothing else works. But I keep moving forward. Because as much as it hurts to keep going through the challenges, it would hurt me more to quit.
99% of the time, my challenges are mental, and as someone with a lot of anxiety, I know the only way to lessen my fears is to go through the things that scare me, just to prove that I will survive. And yes, automatic car washes fall into this category.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Um, crazy. It involved a viral post on TikTok, an agent who I thought was a scammer, an impromptu indie release, a six-figure book deal, a revamp of book one, exactly ten gray hairs, and the LONGEST book launch ever.
What’s next for you?
Right now, I’m writing Merciless, book 2 in the Merciless Realms Series.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
Some of my favorite reads this year: Lights Out, Blood Over Brighthaven, Can’t Hurt Me, Blood of Hercules, Bonds of Hercules, Enigma, Ninth House.
Honestly, I’m pretty excited about any book I get my greedy little hands on. I am an easy-to-please-reader and definitely a vibes reader. I’m really looking forward to Warrior Princess Assassin, One Dark Window, Metal Slinger, and Shield of Sparrows.
