Interview with Authors Anna Applegate & Helen Domico

Our first Indie Author Spotlight is actually a writing duo: Anna Applegate and Helen Domico! These two best friends & longtime readers turned writing duo are the authors of the Broken Prophecy series, a slow burn, NA / adult romantasy featuring enemies-to-lovers, a seductive Shadow Daddy, and more. They took the time to talk with us about their stories, being an indie author, and what's next!

Anna Applegate and Helen Domico met at James Madison University and lived in the same dorm sophomore year. Twelve years later they reconnected over their love for reading fantasy romance books.

What started as random conversations, turned into daily conversations about books and life. One day Anna had an idea for a book, asked Helen if she would want to join and they never looked back.

There are not many people who are given the opportunity to write a book (or three... or heck.. infinite!) with one of their best friends. Together they have been able to push each other professionally and personally, constantly pouring their souls and heartbreak into their writing.

When Anna and Helen are not writing, they are avid readers — Helen with her red wine and Anna with her sweet champagne.

What inspired you to write The Broken Prophecy series?

It started as a random idea and we started talking about what a cool story it might be. After bouncing some ideas around, Anna asked Helen if she'd consider writing it with her. From there, it just exploded. The plot and characters unfolded and we dove into the world headfirst, leaning into the tropes we love most.

What do you hope that readers take away from the series?

Who you surround yourself with is more important than anything else. It's having that support and love around you that can get you through anything. And those people may show up in the most unexpected places. One of Lana's main lines is "I am stronger than the darkness within me." The idea that you are strong, even when your mind is telling you otherwise, even when it feels like you can't be anymore, that's something we hope everyone remembers. You can do anything. You can do hard things. And you are so much stronger than you know.

What is it about a Shadow Daddy that you think drives the readers wild?

Our version of a shadow daddy is shadows with a mind of their own. Kade's shadows are sentient and end up being as obsessed with the FMC as he is. This extra layer of burn the world for her - not just the MMC, but his magic too - is something we go feral for! We think overall, it's the powerful, destroy anything that harms your mate MMC who also lets you stand on your own even with his immense power, that makes us go wild. At least for us :)

What is some advice that you’d give to aspiring authors who are thinking about indie publishing?

Buckle up for quite a ride! One of the first things we did is start researching successful authors in the field. There are so many books out there that teach you how to hone your craft, and those are all necessary and good! But there are two things that have helped us most. The first was getting Helen Scheuerer's book: How To Launch A Successful Series: Your Book Launch Survival Guide (Books For Career Authors). There is so much information in there and we honestly followed her advice in the book to the letter. The second thing is, join some sort of author community. We joined FaRo Society and the community, the knowledge, and the support have been incredible! It's a place where you can learn from the best and share your own journey.

What is the best way to support you as indie authors?

We love what we do and LOVE getting to hear from people who have read, or are reading, our books. Following us on Instagram or joining our Facebook group allows for those interactions and helps spread the word about our books. We also have an Etsy store where we have signed copies, character art, and stickers available! Other than that, honestly, leaving reviews and sharing if you've enjoyed the book with another book lover is always appreciated!!

We are also love to connect with our readers and are most active on Instagram. We can be found at @authorannaapplegate and @authorhelendomico. We also have TikTok accounts under the same usernames, a Facebook Reader Group, and a newsletter that you can sign up for!

What’s next for you both?

We're working on our next series and can't wait to share more about it!! The Crowns of Fate audiobook will be coming out sometime in the Spring. AND ... we'll be traveling in 2026 and are looking forward to being at a few Bookish Conventions! Come say hello at:

Romantasy Book Con 2026 Los Angeles, CA | February 26 - 28
Imaginarium, Washington DC | June 4-5, 2026
Romantasy in the Valley, Hunt Valley, MD | July 25, 2026 2026
FanGrrrl Romance Recs Premier Book Signing Event, Orlando, FL | Sept. 11 - 12, 2026