Can you tell us a bit about your writing journey and how you got started as a romance author?
I have always loved to tell stories, and I've always loved love. When I pick up a book to read, 95% of the time, it's going to be romance. Even when I first started writing when I was younger, there was always a thread of the romantic genre in those stories. As I grew older, I continued to love reading romance, and I finally decided that I wanted to write romance novels of my own.
Are there specific authors or books that have influenced your writing style or inspired your love for romance?
I am a big fan of Devney Perry, Eliah Greenwood, and Jessica Hawkins. Their books are always must-reads for me. Each of them is so different from one another too, which I think is interesting. I love different aspects of their story telling, and I can only hope to be as successful as them someday.
What challenges did you face in transitioning from online platforms like Wattpad and Inkitt to the traditional publishing world?
Less exposure. Surprisingly, the platforms are excellent at promoting your book more once a few people start to read it, which then leads to the snowball effect where more and more people are intrigued and open up the story. With Self-publishing, the most challenging part has been trying to get those readers to pick up the book. I know it will come with time, and I'm grateful for every single person who has read my book, whether they loved it or not.
What inspired you to choose the pen name "Victorious" during your time on writing platforms, and what led to the decision to rebrand as Aria Harding for your debut novel?
I have always gone toward using Victorious as my online presence, but I had a suspicion that it wouldn't work as a professional author name. Aria Harding is a pen name that I came up with, and the moment I jotted it down, it just seemed to fit me and my personality perfectly.
"Chasing Infinity" is your debut novel. Can you share a brief synopsis and what readers can expect from it?
Chasing Infinity is a romantic suspense novel that spans the story of Addison and Noah over a decade. Addison and Noah have had a complicated relationship from day one. First, they were mortal enemies, then they were friends, and eventually, they realized they could be so much more. But then life got in the way. Now they're finally realizing that they could have a chance to be together despite everything, just as long as they stick together. Chasing Infinity tells the whole story of Addison and Noah, and it is very detailed. It's a long book, but it is so worth it.
Your stories are known for being slow-burn and often featuring enemies-to-lovers or second-chance romances. What draws you to these particular themes?
They're my favorite to read. I love a good slow-burn romance that has be flipping page after page trying to see the couple finally get together. Same with Enemies to Lovers, the payoff at the end can be so satisfying, just as much as the build-up. And Second Chance is my favorite feel-good trope. There's something just so comforting about the idea that even when your life doesn't work out how you thought it might, somewhere, there's someone waiting for you.
How do you approach world-building in your romance novels to create an immersive experience for readers?
I try to make my stories as realistic as possible in every way. I like to be able to see the story unfold in my mind and somehow put that from thoughts to paper.
As a romance writer, do you have any favorite tropes or elements that you find yourself returning to frequently in your work?
At this point, just the ones we talked about earlier. Enemies to Lovers and Second Chance are really my jam. I love writing them, and I will continue to love writing them!
What's your writing process like? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the creative zone?
I have a Himalayan Salt Lamp on my desk and a WoodWick Trilogy Candle that I always light when I'm writing. I also always like to have something to sip on when I'm working, preferably iced coffee.
In "Chasing Infinity," are there particular characters or relationships that you found especially enjoyable or challenging to write?
I absolutely adore my MMC Noah. He was challenging because I wanted to give him the depth that made some of his decisions believable. He's a troubled character, but he wants to do right by the people he loves. He is loyal to a fault, and that was fun to write because it was the balance between him knowing he was doing the right thing and the pain that inherently came with that decision.
How do you balance the emotional intensity of romance with other elements like plot development and character arcs in your stories?
I think it ebbs and flows. Each aspect needs its own time to be fully developed, but each also happens at different points in the story. So it's important to me to have a general idea of where the story is going so I can plan or leave breadcrumbs leading up to those moments. I'm very much a loose outliner, I can't just sit and write, not knowing where it's going for exactly this reason. I won't flesh out every individual scene down to the dialogue, but when I first sit down to write a new book, I have a general idea of 3 things: Who the book is about, What the point of the story is, and Where is this story taking us?
What advice do you have for aspiring romance writers who are looking to make the leap from online platforms to traditional publishing?
If you're ready, take the plunge! It is a lot of work for sometimes little reward, but if this is what you're passionate about, do it. There really is nothing like getting your first proof of your first paperback novel and seeing it all come together.
The biggest piece of advice is to find your community. Instagram has an insane amount of indie romance authors who are absolutely excited about helping you get started on your Journey. I'm one of them. Reach out and make some friends because they're the ones who are going to help you reach your goals.
As you're now a published author, how has your writing process or perspective on storytelling evolved over the years?
My process is now more in-depth than it was before. I have always been an outliner, but now, as I'm gearing up to write, I'm paying much more attention to the smaller things that make characters dimensional right from the get-go. That way, I don't have to go back and add it in later.
How do you handle writer's block or moments when inspiration is elusive?
It depends on the severity of the writer's block. If it's just a chapter or a scene that I can't tie up, I'll move on to a different chapter and see where that takes me and then go back and work it all together. If it's generalized writer's block where I just can't think about what to write, I'll go to Pinterest, watch a show, or even just walk around and see if something can spark that inspiration. The biggest thing is that I try not to force it, if I'm feeling like i don't like what I'm writing, I take a break. Because if I don't like it, there's a good chance my readers won't like it. And I don't want that.
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations for your work? Are there any new projects or ventures that you're excited about?
My biggest goal is to see my book in an indie book store. Right now I'm working toward making that possible.
I'm hoping to have a lot of exciting releases this year. I have a duet releasing Febuary and March of this year called "The Loathing Ryan Duet" and I hope to publish the first book of a new trilogy later this year. All of this is contingent on writing and editing processes though, but those are my goals. I can't wait for everyone to read these stories.
