Q&A With Moni Boyce 

USA Today Bestselling Author Moni Boyce is the author of contemporary & paranormal romance novels! Moni’s series are Blue Collar Romance, Curse Of The Wolf, The Oracle Chronicles, A Very Alpha Christmas, Ticket To True Love, Holiday Springs Resort, & Bound To The Fixer. Moni’s anthology books are Big City Heat, Christmas Nibbles & her solo novel is Redemption Of The Heart. On top of being an author Moni is a filmmaker and a poet! 

Q: Moni, would you please give a brief description of each of your series and where your ideas for all of them came from?

A: Blue Collar Romance, A Very Alpha Christmas, Holiday Springs Resort, and Ticket to True Love were all contemporary romance series I wrote in with other authors. Curse of the Wolf is a paranormal series about fated mates. I haven’t completed that series yet. Bound to the Fixer is a mafia romance series that’s still ongoing as well. The Oracle Chronicles is a four book, paranormal romance series. It is complete, but I do have plans for a spin-off series for secondary characters from the books.

With any of my ideas, usually the characters come first, and I build the plot around them. Sometimes the idea might come from something I saw on TV or in a movie, from hearing a song, or a conversation. I just never know what will inspire an idea or story.

Q: I enjoy reading contemporary and paranormal romance! What fascinates you about writing contemporary & paranormal romance?

A: I love writing romance. It doesn’t matter the sub-genre. It’s enjoyable to write something where you know the outcome is a happy ending. Love is universal. It’s something everyone wants, which makes it relatable to anyone. I enjoy writing paranormal romance because of world building. Not that you don’t have world building with contemporary romance, but when you dive into the paranormal it gives you a chance to go back to your childhood and make believe. You can make it completely your own. The world you create doesn’t have to conform to any rules.

Q: What lessons & emotions do you hope readers learn and feel after reading your books & poems? 

A: Not too much of my poetry is public. I’ve won some contests and been published in some anthologies which feels like a lifetime ago. I haven’t written an original poem in a while. It just hasn’t been my medium of choice to write in lately. However, when it comes to my books, I hope readers feel lots of emotions. Falling in love can be heady and intoxicating, and make you feel anxious, scared, or nervous. At times, sad or angry. I want the reader to experience the full ride when they are reading one of my stories. I want them to take the journey with the characters. Root for them. Be in the moments with them. I think it makes that happily ever after that much more satisfying in the end, when the ride has been authentic and not just rainbows and sunshine the whole way through.

Q: Do you have any upcoming releases and are you currently writing more stories? If so, are any of them standalone novels, anthologies, solo works, part of an existing series or the beginning of a new series?

A: Yes, I’m trying to be very ambitious this year. I’m planning to put out a contemporary romance duet this spring. Wish I Didn’t Want You is the first book in the duet. The books are about the tumultuous relationship between a secret billionaire and an up-and-coming singer. I also have a holiday release planned called It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Romance. I want to put out the next books in both the Bound to the Fixer series and the Curse of the Wolf series. Recently, I was invited to take part in an anthology. I can’t share details about that just yet. The special project I’ve been working on was my first mystery/thriller. I’ve been developing the series since the end of 2023 and just started working on the first book late last year.

Q: I think it’s so amazing that you’re a filmmaker! Which films did you work on? What is it like juggling being an author and filmmaker?

A: I went to USC for film school and graduated in 2002. I worked in the industry for fourteen years. I started out as an assistant to other producers, and then eventually started producing my own films. I produced several short films, two independent feature length films and a documentary. My credits are on IMDB under my maiden name, Moni Green, and under Moni Boyce. In 2016, I stepped away to travel full-time for a year. Next to storytelling, traveling is my second love. Even though I haven’t made a film in a while, it doesn’t mean I stopped being a filmmaker. I’ve always had a love for that medium, and one day I’ll return to it. It’s just these days, storytelling for me, happens in the form of books. One day, my hope is that one of my books will be turned into a TV show or film.

Q: Since you are a filmmaker on top of being an author, have any of your books been optioned by Hollywood yet and if so, are you going to have a say on how the film versions of your books will be made? The entertainment industry needs original content again and I’m happy that authors are beginning to gain more control when it comes to the film adaptations of their work, and they are smartening up. Hollywood does writers dirty. 

A: None of my books have been optioned yet. That’s the hope and the dream. Having worked in film, I do know how things work. Part of getting a good deal is having good representation, i.e. agent and/or attorney. I would love to see more original content being made and not just reimagining’s of previous films or shows. I think A24 is one of the top companies putting out great, original stories.

Q: What’s it like knowing that all your books are on the USA Today Bestsellers List? It sounds like such a dream come true! 

A: All my books have not been on the USA Today Bestsellers list. Once you get the designation, you’re allowed to use it in front of your name indefinitely. It was very exciting when it happened. 

Q: In your opinion, what makes the perfect paranormal & contemporary romance story that might help other future authors when writing in either genre?

A: I can’t say what makes the perfect paranormal or contemporary romance story. Taste is something that’s subjective, so what might appeal to one reader, another reader may not like. Some of the advice out there will tell you to write what’s trending. You can look at what’s being released via shows, films, and books to see what’s trending and write that trope or genre, or similar story. Or you can write the stories, ideas, characters, and worlds that interest you, that may not be mainstream, and find a way to make it commercial, or keep it weird, if that’s what it is, and hope you find your audience or niche. As an author, you must ask yourself, is writing a hobby or do I want to do this full-time? Make a career out of it, make a living. If it’s just a hobby, then write what you want. If you want to make money, then most will tell you to write to market. Just know that if you’re not passionate about what you’re writing, it’s going to show. Be true to your voice as an author. At the end of the day, if the writing is good, strong, compelling, and the characters are fully developed and not one-note, then people will read the story. 

Q: Since you have written contemporary & paranormal romance, which genres would you experiment in writing next & why?

A: I used to be a ghostwriter before I started writing under my own name, so I’ve written historical, reverse harem, and small-town romance. Under a pen name with another author, I’ve also written alien romance. Earlier, I mentioned I’m working on my first mystery/thriller. I’m excited about stepping into a different genre. I’ve been taking craft classes and courses to prepare. I love reading mystery/thrillers, so that was also a reason for wanting to write one. I love the intricate plots, red herrings and trying to figure out whodunit. When not only is the protagonist well-crafted, but the secondary characters, it’s the chef’s kiss. I love a good mystery series, so I hope I can create a great one.

Q: If you’ve dealt with self-doubt, unsupportive family and friends when it comes to your writing, how did you deal with it that might help other aspiring authors out there, deal with it? How do you deal with negative reviews and online trolls? 

A: Dealing with negative reviews can be tough. It’s hard having people criticize or demean something you put your heart into. I also understand people are entitled to their opinion. It’s like I said, tastes are subjective. You could create the best, award-winning piece of art and there will always still be someone that does not find it appealing. Nothing I can do about that. I try to celebrate the people that do enjoy my work, and not focus on the bad, unless it’s something specific to a story point or character development that is justified and could be better. Then I try to take that and make sure I do better in the next story. 

Also, there are people that are just haters. As we know, social media has emboldened a lot of people to be mean-spirited and say things they wouldn’t say to your face. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. I do my best to ignore it, because it isn’t anything that’s edifying or encouraging. If it doesn’t serve me in any way, then I do my best to let it go. Dwelling on it doesn’t help at all.

Self-doubt and impostor syndrome are very real. I’ve been susceptible to both and still deal with them. I always try to remind myself that there is only one me, and no one can write the way I write.

Thankfully, I haven’t had to deal with unsupportive family members. They are some of my best hype men. As a writer, if you are dealing with unsupportive family or friends, or even self-doubt, try and find a writing community to be a part of, whether it’s virtual through FB or Discord groups, online writing groups and organizations, or in your neighborhood. I have a combination, and it can be helpful to share and talk with other authors who understand the life of a writer.