Self-Publisher’s Showcase: Today we are joined by Alyssa Romeo, author of the romance novels: The Wish and Always. Welcome to the Showcase Lounge, Alyssa.

Alyssa Romeo: Hey, thank you, I’m very excited to be here!

SPS: For any of our readers that haven’t come across your work previously, can you take a moment to tell us all a little about yourself?

AR: Sure! Well, I spent most of my life 25 miles outside on New York City in a New Jersey suburb. So, as you can imagine, I had ample opportunities to venture into the Big Apple and allow adventures to commence. I even spent two summers interning at 95.5 WPLJ. While I absolutely loved living up north, after spending four years at High Point University in North Carolina, I decided to make a permanent move back down here shortly after graduating in 2011.

SPS:  What are your perfect writing conditions, and how often do you write?

AR: Hmmm, that varies. There are times when I find myself needing absolute quiet for me to be able to write anything, and then other times I need some soft background music and a small glass of wine. Haha, there have actually been times where I take one of my couch cushions, place it on the floor in front of the coffee table, and put my fingers to the keyboard for hours; it really depends on my mood. I try to write every minute I can spare. I don’t have a calendar that says, “Mondays – write 7pm-10pm,” but as long as my schedule will allow me, you’re likely to find me at my laptop or scribbling in one of my journals.

SPS: Can you put your finger on the moment where you decided that you wanted to publish your work?

AR: *Insert sheepish grin* – I had just finished 50 Shades Freed, and I closed the book, looked at the cover, and said, “If E.L. James can do this, so can I.” I had been wanting to use my study abroad experiences for something, and once I started writing, I couldn’t stop!

SPS: Why do you think it is that you have decided to write Romance novels, and do you see yourself ever writing in other genres?

AR: You know, it’s funny, a lot of people have been classifying my novels as Romance. Personally, I see them more as Chick Literature. I am currently working on a new novel, and although it’s still chick lit, I’m trying to bring in some fantasy and religious aspects into it. While I would love to say that no genre is out of reach, my mind tends to be drawn to the chick lit/new adult fiction genres as a whole, so I’ll probably be sticking with those for a good while.

SPS: So, tell us about The Wish?

AR: Okay, first things first, since I have had many people ask. The Wish is pure fiction. While I did use my study abroad experience as a bare-bones inspiration, I did not meet nor date a celebrity during my time abroad. Although, thinking about how things turned out for Emilie, that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing J But, I digress. The Wish revolves around a 20-year-old American girl, spending the spring semester of her junior year of college in Rome, Italy. On the first day there, her roommates and she each toss three coins into the Trevi Fountain. The notion comes from the movie, Three Coins in the Fountain, and perpetuates the belief that each coin has a specific significance. The first signifies that you promise to return to Rome one day; the second will lead you to a new romance, and the third, to marriage. So, Emilie tosses these coins in, more to say that she did it, than an actual belief in the superstition, and the very next day her life begins to change. She becomes involved with a young, London-based actor, named Jeremy Knight, whose first major motion film has already been pegged to launch him to A-List celebrity status. Throughout the novel, we follow the unfolding relationship of two 20-somethings; Emilie, learning to let go of her past, and along with Jeremy, trying to navigate life being lived under a microscope after paparazzi begin following them.

SPS: What sort of person is Emilie, when we first meet her?

AR: My main goal when creating the character of Emilie was to make her as relatable as possible, without her being a cliché. She’s your average, 20 year old, just looking to have fun during her time abroad. She does have a bit of a past, and although she’s pretty confident in most areas of her life, like with her friends, family, and education, her past experience has made her question her worth in terms of a relationship, and she has shied away from guys for the past two years as a result. You can see early on that she’s not the life of the party, but she’s not the wallflower either.

SPS: What’s her reaction when she first ‘runs into’ Jeremy?

AR: Oh my gosh, she’s completely beside herself from embarrassment. As she says, she tries to flatten herself against the wall as much as possible, but ultimately can’t break the pull she feels from his gaze. It’s one of those moments that she has difficulty putting into words because she’s so unsure of what she’s feeling at that time.

SPS: Jeremy is very much in the public eye, how much does she have to endure to be with him and how does she cope?

AR: I wanted their relationship to be very much like most of the tabloid style stories we read and see today. As much as could be publicised or speculated upon, Emilie experiences. After an ordeal in a nightclub, they’re bombarded by camera flashes as soon as they step outside, photographers lurk outside of the school Emilie and Jeremy are attending, and there are a barrage of articles written, speculating why Jeremy’s not dating a fellow celebrity, questioning Emilie’s motives and if she’s only with Jeremy to make a name for herself, and of course, there’s ample scrutiny over the fact that Emilie doesn’t fit into the mold of today’s standard of “beauty.” She has a curvy body, which further fuels the speculation of what Jeremy sees in her. Emilie only has one moment where she’s brought to tears over what’s being written, but during a romantic trip to Paris, she briefly resents that after a day of no one recognizing Jeremy, one person doing so creates a small frenzy that they have to try getting away from.

SPS: Does she truly believe in the legend of The Wish?

AR: Emilie doesn’t put much stock into it, no. She throws the coins in the fountain and makes her wish because it’s what her roommates are doing. In fact, during the entire trip, she never gives the wish a second thought.

SPS:  How long does Emilie stay mad at Jeremy when he turns up unannounced?

AR: Not very long. When Jeremy shows up on her doorstep only two weeks have passed since they left Rome. She’s been angry and confused that entire time, but after Jeremy explains why he acted the way he did, she softens. Although, she flat out tells him that their relationship can’t automatically go back to what it was, and that they need to spend some time repairing some of what they lost.

SPS: What are the circumstances behind Jeremy’s accident and how strong is Emilie in the face of it?

AR: New York traffic is horrendous, especially during the summer, and along comes a torrential downpour, and you have the perfect recipe for an accident. The circumstances surrounding Jeremy’s are heavy rain, slippery roads, and a NY taxi versus him on a motorcycle.

Emilie goes into a state of shock almost immediately when she arrives on the scene. But, because Jeremy’s life is at stake, she responds to the demands of the EMT in the ambulance all the way to the hospital. It isn’t until Jeremy’s in surgery that the gravity of the situation sinks in, and she literally lays on a couch, staring at nothing. As days pass though, and she’s surrounded not only by her family, but Jeremy’s parents, his best friend, and his manager as well that she’s able become the dutiful girlfriend, and support his family, even when she feels like breaking down.

SPS: Are there any new characters we should be on the look for?

AR: Oh, yes! There’s this whole jealous stalker business that Emilie has to deal with. Someone out there detests Emilie with a passion, and is determined to tear Emile and Jeremy apart…by any means necessary.

SPS: Events take a dangerous turn for Emilie, how did you find writing this part in comparison to the more romantic moments?

AR: Honestly, it took more than one draft to get the dangerous events to become fluid, and while it was a little stressful, it was also exciting. Romantic moments are just that, they made me smile when I was writing them, maybe even blush a little, but the dangerous moments, they drew me in, excited me, and even had me on the edge of my seat, so to speak.

SPS: Can you take a moment to tell us how you came up with the covers for the 2 novels so far?

AR: For The Wish, I knew I wanted a Claddagh ring somewhere on the cover, but that was about it. A good friend of mine is a graphic designer, so I worked with her on both covers and she picked my brain about story details, and the mood I wanted to convey. The first cover is very light and bright to match the overall tone on the story. I gave my friend creative freedom, and she sent me six sketches. I fell in love with this one immediately.

Always was a little more difficult because I really had no idea what I wanted. When talking with my friend, we focused more on symbolism, and during one of our conversations, the image of a white rose popped into my head. In The Wish, we find out they’re Emilie’s favourite flower, and since I knew the second book was going to take a darker turn, pairing a white rose with a few drops of blood and a darker background ultimately became a perfect fit.

SPS: It’s probably a good time to ask what we can expect next from the pen of Alyssa Romeo. Will it be a further instalment for Emilie and Jeremy, or something different?

 AR: Haha, you aren’t the first to ask about another instalment for Emilie and Jeremy, I’ve actually had people request a third book, but in all honesty, the material’s just not there right now. I am currently working on a new story, but I’m not ready to give out too many details about it, and I have another one that I’ve created a basic outline for, but have yet to start.

SPS: Was the Self-Published/Indie-Published route always your preferred route for your work?

AR: At first, no, but after the umpteenth rejection letter, a co-worker of mine, who actually helped edit the second book, came to me with an article he had read about self-publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing. After doing a fair amount of research, and finding that I could publish on more than one site, I decided to give it a try.

SPS: Has the experience so far been all that you thought it would be?

AR: It has been a fantastic experience so far, and I’ve recommended it to quite a few writers I know.

SPS: If you could give one piece of advice for someone looking to get into writing, what would it be?

AR: Since I can only pick one, I’ll go with the one that has meant the most to me.

– No matter what happens, never give up. Whether things are going great, or could use some serious improvement, never give up on yourself or your writing.

SPS: Before we bring this interview to a close, it’s your chance to name-drop. Anyone who you feel is deserving of more recognition at present or someone whose writing you have recently enjoyed? Now is your chance to spread the word…

AR: Oh boy, the pressure… Since taking the self-publishing route, I have connected with so many talented self-published and Indie authors. I have to name drop one person in particular though. We connected thru Twitter, and have helped each other navigate a world that is new to both of us, and I really appreciate his support and friendship. His name is Patrick Siana, and he’s the author of The Empyrean Chronicle. It is currently a two-book series, but I know Patrick’s working on a third instalment. I finished the first book, Reckoning, and I really have to commend Patrick on his craftsmanship. For his first novel, I truly believe the writing rivalled authors who’ve been producing great works in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres for years. It was definitely a 5-Star book for me.

You can connect with Patrick on Twitter – @PatrickSiana, through his website and Facebook page

SPS: Thank you for joining us today Alyssa, and all the best for the future.

AR: Thank you so much, I’ve had a great deal of fun being here, and appreciate you taking the time to speak with me.

SPS: For more information on Alyssa and her books, please do visit her Author page here.

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