Rosalie Thorne | Author
I write romance. Anything from realistic to high fantasy, from young adults to immortal beings. I usually write first-person perspective, switching between the two love interests.
In my writing career, I have published 24 novels. Currently, 18 of them are available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook. Through chain stores like Barnes And Noble, indie bookstores, my website, and Amazon…
Read more about her here!
1. What inspired you to start writing/creating art, and how has that inspiration evolved over time?
I was raised with storytelling. Spoken word of travels and adventures by my globe-trotting grandparents. Tales read aloud by my parents before sleep. Getting over my frustration of reading for the first time and delving into magical worlds. And further still in plays, movies, television, and video games.
I started writing short stories when I was in elementary school because of assignments, and when I reached middle school I decided to write a novel. When a particular story about vampires took the world by storm, and I read it - and saw just how terrible the writing was - I thought "well, if this can be published, so can I".
Storytelling and writing is a fundamental part of who I am. There were several years were I was unable to and I always felt like something was wrong, something was missing. Since I started writing again, taking it seriously in 2019, I don't think I will ever stop. I will always write because I will always be inspired. I write about love - I love love, I live and breathe love - and love is something that can always be found. So, if there is love, there will always be love stories to be told.
2. Can you share the story behind your latest work? What was your creative process like?
My latest publication is Lyrics Of Love. Inspired by my experience at the Sleep Token: Teeth Of God concert on May 25th, 2024, I started writing the romantic comedy the next day. 31 days after the concert, through 77 hours of writing, with 70,750 words across 530 pages, I finished the story of how Millie and Jack find paradise within each other.
My experience that weekend was extreme, to say the least, and impacted me in a way that I will never forget. I had tickets for standing room, planning on being barrier, and this turned out to be so important to me that I actually became 10th in line when I joined it just after midnight (morning of the 25th). Hours later, just after eight am, the line outside of the building was moved from one set of doors to another - which led to an argument between me and a man about line cutting. This argument, which was then translated to be between Millie and Jack, is what instigated the #enemiestolovers part of the novel.
What was particularly surreal about this writing experience, and is nothing like I have ever done before, is that so much of the story happened to me in real life. So much of the first part of the book at the concert venue actually happened to me, and I even made a point to visit the Syracuse Zoo (where Millie works) to see the twin baby elephants for the second half of the book. It was difficult for me to go back and read it objectively or analytically because it felt more like reading a diary. I think that, coupled with the fact that I strengthen my skill every say, is why Lyrics Of Love is some of my best writing to date.
3. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your work, and why are they important to you?
I write love. I write all kinds of love, not just romantic partners. I write love of family, of friends, of partners, but also love of ones self. Love can be expressed in so many ways, can be felt in so many ways, and really is in the world all around us. I write pure romance for all ages, with healthy and positive relationships and goals. Though the adult books may contain adult expressions of affection, it is wholesome and full of love. I think it is important as a writer to provide stories that are not only entertaining, inspiring, and romantic, but to also express good values and self-worth for all readers, old and new.
I also try to write about realistic mental and interpersonal issues. Issues with family, friends, partners, and also within ourselves. Because I am neurodivergent, and a lot of the population are in so many different ways, I try to incorporate that into my characters. I have written about dealing with the loss of loved ones, depression, anxiety, bipolar, autism, and ptsd from abuse. Not only do I want readers to know they are not alone, I also want them to know that even with all their struggles and hardships and difficulties, that they are loved and it is okay to be vulnerable enough to love, too.
4. What advice would you give to aspiring authors/artists who are just starting their journey?
Just write it. Don't pay attention to page number, how many chapters you have, or how long it takes you - write the story. Write the story the way it's meant to be written, nothing more, nothing less. Write for writing's sake. And never value your work or your worth based on how "well" your book does.
5. What role has self-publishing or independent production played in your career, and what have you learned from the process?
Independent production has been extremely freeing. I decided a long time ago that I was not going to value my self-worth or how "good" my work is based on if I could get a literary agent and if I could get a publishing deal from some big company. So, to be able to write for writing's sake, to be able to tell the stories the way they are meant to be told, to be able to do what I am meant to do as an author, is exactly what it means to be an artisan. Because I am not focused on writing the next great American novel or ending up as a New York Time's Best Seller, I am able to create without restrictions, biases, or pressure. This is one of the reasons why I have been able to publish 24 novels so far, have about a dozen ready to go, and a very long list of work-in-progresses.
6. How do you handle challenges like writer's block or creative burnout, and what motivates you to keep going?
I am very lucky that I rarely get writer's block. Usually, I either need to take a shower, go on a walk, or get a good night's sleep, to be able to figure out the next step in the story. My only advice with that is to remember that our brain is doing so, so much work below our consciousness - just because you can't figure out the answer right then and there, doesn't mean you don't know it.
As for creative burnout... well. I wrote, edited, formatted, processed, and published 22 books in four years. It became a fixation, borderline obsession, and by May 2023, there was no way I was going to be able to continue like that. I forced myself to take a break. I forced myself to take a year off. No publishing, no writing, not even any note-taking. It felt very uncomfortable for a while and definitely made me sad, but it was extremely needed. Because even though writing is a "creative" endeavor, it is work. It is work just as much as any other job is work. And everyone needs to take breaks, take vacations from work.
It was worth it. I actually started writing exactly one year later because of the inspiration from the Sleep Token concert. I started writing and because of all the rest and relaxation and reflection, it ended up being some of the best work I have ever done. I know it can feel counter-productive, especially because we love writing, but it is so important to pull back and let your brain rest and reboot.
7. What’s next for you? Can you share any upcoming projects or future creative goals you’re excited about?
The next thing for me is the release of my second editions! I have been working with the most wonderful artist, Amanda Allen Niday, and she has been creating beautiful covers for my romantic comedies. (Not only will they have new covers, but also bonus material - and with each release there will be a giveaway of one hardcover and one paperback.) The second edition of Beauty And The Beast: The Complete Series is being released this fall and I can't wait!
8. How has your personal life or experiences influenced your writing/art, and are there any particular moments that stand out?
Lyrics Of Love is a perfect example of this, but so is Beauty And The Beast. December of 2018, my (ex) boyfriend and I went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. I was dressed in a velvet green dress that definitely gave library Belle vibes and he was in his brown leather jacket he never went anywhere without. While waiting for ride pick-up in the parking lot, he propped himself up against a bike rack and lit a cigarette - sparking the idea of #oppositesattract high school sweethearts. This series has so much of him, so much of us, that it became a sort of time capsule. A part of me and my life that I can both never get back and never forget. And in this alternate universe with Isabelle and Adam, the grumpy one and the sunshine one lived happily ever after.
