In this post, we're pulling back the curtain with our very first debut romance author interview with C.J. Willis and her dark mafia romance, His Revenge. We’ll talk about what makes her debut one of a kind, dive into her personal thoughts, and give you a behind-the-scenes look at her raw, dark writing process. My first peek into His Revenge was in late 2023 and watching it come to life has been amazing. I had no doubt C.J. would crush it and here we are. Stick around and be sure to share & drop a like if you enjoy this interview!
Let's get to know her debut, His Revenge, first!
His revenge is book #1 in the Smoke & Mirrors Duet, book 2 has not yet been announced so don't forget to follow along at the end of this post in her reader group for more updates. If you read this please leave a review and shout about it because your reviews are everything to authors, especially debut authors like C.J!
Blurb:
As a mafia heir, Leo has one goal and a promise to keep. His arranged marriage to the enemy's daughter is just a means to an end. Between his technically savvy best friend and loveable secret sister, Leo may not have room in his heart for anyone else. His beautiful betrothed is far more than he ever expected, with beauty and brains. She may be the daughter of his enemy, but the enemy of your enemy is your friend. Will she be a thorn in his side or his secret weapon?
As a mafia princess, Ella has spent her whole life knowing that she would have an arranged marriage, but she never expected to marry the enemy's son. When her past starts to unravel, some of her biggest secrets are brought to light. Her scars are on full display whether she wants them to be or not. She has to figure out who are her enemies and who are her friends. Will she transfer from one cage to another or is this her opportunity for freedom?
Outside forces are trying to take them out and stop the impending joining of families. Enemies wear the faces of friends and family. Will they work to get the revenge he promised to her father or will his world and future crumble because of his decisions?
What you expect: 🖤 Mafia
🦋 Arranged marriage
🖤 f0rced pr0ximity
🦋 Trauma & Healing
🖤 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ spicy
🦋 Rivals to lovers 🖤 Dark themes and topics
Be sure to keep reading and you'll find the links to purchase His Revenge, check it out on Kindle Unlimited, or add to TBR below!
Let's dive into our debut romance author interview with C.J. Willis!
Question #1
Q: What inspired you to write your debut, Their Revenge?
A: I have loved writing and reading for years but what really put me into gear to write and publish was my best friend. He lost his battle with mental health in 2023 and I never pictured a world without him, so I sprinkle him into my books. He may not physically be here to see me publish but he is the person who reminded me that life is short.
Question #2
Q: Can you share a bit about your writing process? Do you have any rituals or routines?
A: I am a very scene-driven writer, my characters will give me scenes that scream inside my brain until they are on paper, then I bridge the scenes together and adjust things to flow. I prefer writing in my bed relaxed surrounded by my squishmallows and snacks and bouncing between muses to follow the plot bunny.
Question #3
Q: What was the most challenging part of writing your book?
A: I think that the most challenging part of writing my book was learning how to bridge scenes together and making the hard calls on who would and wouldn't survive the first book.
Question #4
Q: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
A: One of the biggest things that is a common theme in my writing is the importance of consent from all parties. I hope that readers can see that and understand that all boundaries should be inherently respected.
Question #5
Q: Can you give us a sneak peek or a favorite excerpt from your novel?
A: “Mr. Angelini, it is a pleasure to meet you,” I speak with a sly smile. How he reacts to the title will tell me all that I need to know about him. He reaches out his hand opposite mine, gently turning over my hand and pressing his lips to the back of it. I can feel the blush creep from my chest to my face and ears.
He is a dazzling foe. “I will make sure the pleasure is yours, fiancée,” he speaks gently only to me. He is good at this. As he takes a seat, the waitress returns with his glass of amber liquid. That confirms that he is a regular here. As he releases my hand I have to focus to keep my hand from shaking.
Reaching down to grab a menu I realize that the only one left on the table was for drinks. “I did not receive a menu when I sat down. Is there one for me to order from?” I inquire. I wonder if this is a game for him. It could be intentional to throw me off. Invite me out but refuse to eat with me so he can still say he has never been on a proper date.
He laughs and says, “No, I ordered the classic family spread. I know you have never been here and it gives you bits to try from all the staple Italian dishes from my family's recipe book.” I have to remind myself to close my mouth. He ordered a spread to share. He has no idea what I like. At least he didn't order me a boring salad to get me to watch my weight. On all of the “dates” my father has required me to attend over the years I was never permitted to eat a full meal. It is unladylike and lacks the sexual appeal that I was intended to provide. No matter how unsavory the male companions were I was always dressed to impress and any deviation led to punishments, “What if I have allergies?” I question, wondering how well he thought this through.
His cocky smirk tells me that he has more of a claim in this game than I previously thought. I hate cocky assholes who think they are right. Is this what the whole marriage is going to be like? I am supposed to survive the overbearing Angel of Death by myself. “According to my intel, you have no allergies, but don't worry I didn't snoop in your proverbial panty drawer. Word to the wise, If you’re going to take nudes, you may want to learn to protect your files better,” he taunts me. He fucking taunts me. I can feel the heat creep up my ears until everything feels like it is on fire. He did fucking research on me. No, he is a busy man. They don’t do their own research, they pay others to do it for them.
Question #6
Q: If your characters were sitting across from you now and about to take on the world, what advice or rules would you give them?
A: I would tell them to stay together and stay vigilant because you never know who your enemies are.
Question #7
Q: If any, what aspect of your personality do you see reflected in your protagonist?
A: That healing isn't linear. My characters are all damaged in some way by the lives they live but they all work on their own personal healing. Just because you are damaged doesn't mean you are too broken to be the main character in a story.
Question #8
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring romance authors?
A: My advice would be for you to keep your head up, there are going to be days where you want to quit or moments where the negative aspects of the book world try to turn you sour, but you need to remember why you started and keep your chin up.
Question #9
Q: How do you feel about the current state of the romance genre? Any trends you love or dislike?
A: The competition in this genre Is really hard to watch. We are all royalty in our own right and should fix each other's crowns instead of bullying and tearing each other down. I wish there were better understandings about both readers and authors being human with emotions, mental health needs, and compassion.
Question #10
Q: How do you feel your background or personal experiences have influenced your writing?
A: I think that having a better understanding of things like trauma really helps me add a realistic depth to my characters. I do scatter a lot of dad-style jokes in my book which is something you also get when you talk to me.
Question #11
Q: What are some of your favorite romance novels or authors, and why?
A: Torri Heat is the first person in the community that I ARC read for, she took a chance sharing her book with me and I fell down the rabbit hole. Her books are so different that it showed me a world where I could write the things that sparked me without having to all be in the same genre, style, or range.
Question #12
Q: What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of your story?
A: I have read a lot of mafia books in the last few years and I wanted to create one from mostly the male point of view to flip the standard script. I wanted to really watch him come undone as he fell in love with her.
Question #13
Q: Do you have any favorite romance tropes, themes, or clichés?
A: I love a good rivals-to-lovers or forced proximity book any day of the week.
Question #14
Q: What do you think is the role of romance novels in today’s society?
A: I think that this world is harsh enough and romance gives us a mental way to check out of the world we are in no matter our station and fall into a story where we don't have to make decisions but enjoy the ride.
Question #15
Q: What are your long-term goals as a writer? These change all the time but we would love a peek into your beautiful mind.
A: As a writer, I have the next book in the duet, some very cool collaborations, and something a little lighter coming. While my debut is serious with some jokes, the next series I personally release will be more jokes than serious matters and mostly for a punny reprieve from the darkness.
Who the heck is C.J. Willis?
C.J. is born and bred in the desert of Nevada, where she currently resides with her husband. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, she has a soft spot for beautiful green mountainous areas and has an eternal love for the Oregon coast. When she isn't writing she can be found reading, listening to music, or working on her tattoo collection. She is an author of dark romance and loves connecting with her readers. Her love of dark humor and swoony characters heavily influences her work.
Where can I follow C.J.'s author journey?
Where can I get her debut book, His Revenge?
Note: The Amazon link above is an affiliate link, which means at no additional cost to you, a small commission will be earned to support the blog. This is an unpaid interview simply because I believe the ghosts & ghouls would love this, and because she deserves the hype!
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