Q&A With Olivia Miles 

I’m so delighted to be doing my latest interview with Olivia Miles! Olivia is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary emotionally rich women’s fiction and heartwarming romances that take place in a small town! Some of Olivia’s many works are Lost for Love in Italy, Find Me in Paris, Home Sweet Harmony, The Path to Forever & many more! 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Olivia! Would you please give me a brief description of your books starting with Lost for Love in Italy? 

A: Thank you so much for having me!

Lost for Love in Italy follows three college friends who reunite on the Amalfi Coast for a destination wedding, expecting a week of celebration but finding themselves questioning everything they thought they wanted instead. Throughout the story, each woman must confront the choices she’s made, the dreams she’s left behind, and the possibility that love—and happiness—may look different than she ever imagined.

At its heart, it’s a novel about friendship and discovering that sometimes the journey you never planned is the one that leads you exactly where you’re meant to be.

In general, whether I’m writing women’s fiction or romance, my books are heartfelt stories about love, family, friendship, and second chances, always set in charming and idyllic locations.

Q: What drew you into writing romance and women’s fiction? Where do the ideas for the stories and characters come from?

A: I’ve always loved stories about women who overcome obstacles in life and love, and I aspire to give my readers that same sense of connection.

I wish I could pinpoint exactly where my story ideas come from because it would certainly make writing them much, much easier! Every book begins a little differently, but I usually start with the central conflict or hook. Sometimes, like with Lost for Love in Italy, the location inspires the plot. Other times, I come up with the general idea first and then decide on the perfect setting. From there, I immediately begin developing the characters, who are always the heart of the story. I think about their past, what they want from the future, and of course their personal struggles—and how this impacts their interactions. It’s important to create tension, but I ultimately want my characters to have happy endings in life, in love, and with each other, so I make sure to create them with this in mind. 

Human behavior has always fascinated me, and I guess you could say I’ve found a creative way to put my psychology degree to good use!

Q: What are lessons, reminders and emotions you hope readers feel once they turn the last page of your books? 

A: I always want my readers to close one of my books feeling hopeful. I want them to feel like they’ve truly gone on a journey with my characters and that they’ve celebrated the victories, felt the heartbreaks, and really found closure by the end.

More than anything, I hope my stories remind readers that it’s never too late for a second chance, whether that’s in love, family, friendship, or discovering the life you’re meant to live. If readers finish one of my books feeling more optimistic or lighthearted, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do. Life can be difficult, and my hope is that for the time readers spend with one of my books, it feels just a little bit brighter. 

Q: In your opinion, what makes the perfect romance and women’s fiction novel? 

A: For me, the best romance and women’s fiction novels begin with the characters. I need to care about the people on the page, and I want my readers to care, too. Whether I’m reading or writing, I want to feel completely invested in the characters and their journey so that by the time I reach the final page, I can feel truly satisfied by their (happy!) ending. 

I also love stories that strike a balance between humor and heartfelt emotion. Life isn’t all one thing or the other, and I think the most memorable novels master that balance between lighthearted moments and emotional depth. 

Q: Can you talk about upcoming projects you’re working on and new upcoming releases we should keep our eyes on? Or is it too early to discuss?

A: I’m always juggling a few story ideas, so there are some exciting things in the works.

My next release is The Noel Cottage, a heartwarming women’s fiction novel about three sisters reuniting for the holidays at the lakefront cottage that once belonged to their family. It’s filled with romance, complicated sibling dynamics, and all the cozy charm I love to include in my Christmas novels. 

Readers can also look forward to more visits to Harmony Cove, my current coastal small-town romance series, where they’ll reconnect with familiar characters and hopefully fall in love with new ones.  

Beyond that, I have a few other projects quietly taking shape, but they’re not quite ready to be shared just yet. Stay tuned!

Q: How does it feel knowing your books are on the USA Today Bestsellers List?

A: It’s an enormous feeling of achievement, of course. Early on, my biggest dream was simply to get published. Then my goal became building a career that would last. Making the USA Today Bestsellers List wasn’t something I spent any time imagining because it felt so far beyond what I thought was possible.

Seeing my name on that list was a milestone I’ll never forget. Making the list again was just as meaningful, if not more so, and even more surprising, too! 

More than anything, though, holding this title reminds me how fortunate I am to be able to do what I love because of the readers who continue to invite my stories into their lives. Awards and bestseller lists are wonderful but knowing my books have connected with so many people is what means the most to me and keeps me going. 

Q: If you were to write outside of the romance & women’s fiction genres, which genres would you experiment with & why?

A: I read a lot of thrillers and suspense in my spare time, and I love the pacing and twists. There’s something so satisfying about being completely immersed in a story that’s constantly keeping you guessing.

I find that cozy mysteries have a lot in common with the small-town romance series I love to write: a charming setting, a close-knit community of memorable characters, and often a central romance. 

I’ve dabbled in the genre a bit, and all I can say is… We’ll see!

Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to your work? Whether they do or not, who would be your dream cast for your characters?

A: I’ve been close a few times, so hope springs! For Lost For Love in Italy specifically, I can definitely see Elle Fanning as Serena, Emma Stone as Lauren, and maybe Lilly Collins as Kendall. The men are a little trickier. Let’s just say that I would never say no to Bradley Cooper, my longtime Hollywood crush. Although, if I ever had a chance to meet him, they’d need to have smelling salts on set because I’d probably take one look at him and either scream, run and hide, or pass out. Or all three, in that order. 

Q: Would you please provide links to your social media accounts so that the readers of the blog and I can follow your work?

A: Absolutely! 

Follow me on Amazon for easy new release alerts: www.amazon.com/author/oliviamiles

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorOliviaMiles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviamilesbooks/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/olivia-miles

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/olivia_miles

Website: www.oliviamilesbooks.com

And of course, my mailing list at www.oliviamilesbooks.com/newsletter or directly at https://subscribepage.io/jQkafo. New subscribers get a FREE romance novella just for signing up!