Interview with Author Allie Shante
Our next Indie Author Spotlight for March is the lovely Allie Shante! She is the author of the Living Legend and Mystic Riegan series, and we had a wonderful time creating scents for her four main leads of the latter series. Mystic Riegan starts with A Lesson in Deceit, wherein a paranormal mystery why-choose that follows a human living amongst magic wielders and enrolling in a university that caters to both humans and magic users alike to solve a mystery. There are twists and turns (and of course, lots of spice)! Allie spoke with us about her stories, advice for indie authors, some indie book recs, and more!
Allie Shante was born and raised in Georgia, has a supportive husband and two fur babies, Barry Allen & Loki. Allie has always had a love for books and that love has never faltered especially if it’s a romance where one love interest falls harder for the other. She is the author of the Living Legend trilogy. Allie thoroughly hopes to continue writing more BIPOC characters for you to swoon over.
What was the inspiration for the Mystic Riegan Duet?
I just started to read why choose stories around 2020/2021 and small pieces of it came into my head, but I was writing Living Legend at the time, so I didn't want to leave that story behind so I focused on what was in front of me. I have love for forbidden storylines and an even bigger love for multiple love interests so I decided to dabble in it for this series.
When writing a story based around a mystery to be solved, how do you go about plotting that and what challenges do you find when drafting?
I don't really plot like ever, but actually with this story I knew more going into this book than I ever have with anything else I've written. I knew the beginning, a large chunk of the middle and the ending cliffhanger. Sometimes the middle changes here and there depending on if I want to add more side characters or create more development within certain relationships. Especially with something that isn't a standalone--at least for me--consistency is key and that is really hard for me because I have an issue with not remembering a lot of what I write. Tragic I know.
What made you move from M/F fantasy romance to MMFM PNR why choose?
Well, I actually had mystic Riegan in mind since around 2021. I just never wrote it because I was in the middle of living legend. Once I’d hit the end with the trilogy, I was wondering what was next. I racked my brain and remembered I’d had a story sitting in there for a while so I dusted it off, turned it into a MMFM, and by that time I’d learned so much in the writing community that I was able to give this book so much more than I gave the trilogy.
Where should readers who are new to your work start: with Living Legend or the Mystic Riegan series?
That is totally up to them! If they like M/F fantasy romance then Living Legend is a great start. Easy wordbuilding, fun banter, spice and character arcs that are nicely done. Whereas if they want something a tiny bit darker, but it's not dark romance and they don't mind that the boyfriends are boyfriends then Mystic Riegan is where they should start. I'm not really biased to either!
What do you hope readers will take away from your stories?
That you have agency. Whether you are a demon from purgatory or a girl with three boyfriends solving a mystery…you are still your own person.
What is your favorite thing about indie publishing?
I love doing things on my own timeline, curating how I want to market and talking to readers! I actually love when readers yap about how much they loved a book in my DM’s.
What is some advice that you’d give to aspiring authors who are thinking about indie publishing?
Stay true to yourself and what you love to write. A good friend told me to drown out the noise and just write. Other authors are your peers and not your competition, just because someone LOOKS like they are doing better doesn’t mean you aren’t doing just as well! Stay focused on you!
What’s the best advice you have for writing a romance?
Make them swoon and make men beg. Simple as that.
What do you have coming next that we need to keep on our radars?
I have a dark romantasy series planned, that has been sitting in my brain for a while. AND I have something planned for the end of the year that I’m working hard on, that is also going to be a series!
What is the best way to support you as an indie author?
Talk about my books and review my books! Word of mouth is always the best way to help get traction on a book! Reading in KU helps as well and buying direct when you can!
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