FOLLOW ME DARKLY is the first in a new modern erotic series by #1 NYT bestselling Helen Hardt! This new scintillating new series is a deliciously sexy, modern erotic romance about public personas and the secrets we keep buried beneath the surface.
We chat to Helen about her new novel, why she loves romance, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Helen! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi there, and thank you for having me today! I’ve been writing seriously since 2007. Follow Me Darkly is my thirty-third full length novel.
With the current state of the world, what are you doing to cope with the changes we’ve had to make with our day-to-day?
To be honest, the pandemic hasn’t affected me much. Of course I wear a mask in public places and practice social distancing, but other than that, I’ve always worked from home, so that hasn’t changed. I’m fortunate that book sales are still good, and I’m truly grateful for that.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
In first grade! I wrote a story about a dog.
Follow Me Darkly is out on September 29th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sexy, edgy, dark, and erotic.
Where did the inspiration for Follow Me Darkly come from?
Follow Me Darkly was a collaboration with my editor, Liz Pelletier. She and I have known each other for over ten years and we wanted to work together, so we came up with the premise in tandem, and then I wrote the book without plotting anything. I’m a pantser all the way! During edits, we continued our collaboration. It worked well!
Without spoiling too much, is there a favourite moment that you really enjoyed writing in Follow Me Darkly?
Skye and Braden’s first date is my favorite because they engage in some super sexy and amusing banter.
Why romance?
Why not? It’s the bestselling genre of commercial fiction in the US. I’ve been a fan of romance since my teens. When I got serious about my writing career, I began with a YA fantasy. Then I picked up a romance (after a ten-year hiatus) to read on a plane ride. I fell in love all over again, and I knew romance was what I needed to write.
Do you have any advice for aspiring romance writers?
Write the best book you can! That sounds kind of obvious, but it’s true. Learn. Study craft. Join a writer’s group. Get your work critiqued and edited. Those are all steps for writing the best book possible.
What’s next for you?
Follow Me Under will release in January, 2021, and the next book in my Steel Brothers saga, Descent, releases on October 20.
Lastly, what are you currently reading and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I’m currently reading Crave by Tracy Wolff, and I just finished an ARC of Bane’s Choice by Alyssa Day. Both are wonderful. Also check out the Shark’s Edge series by Angel Payne and Victoria Blue. Excellent!
