This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an author whose stories bring heat and heart—S.J. Brown! If you love romantasy with a hint of D&D adventure, you’re in for a treat.
S.J. Brown is known for writing flawed but relatable characters with laugh-out-loud humor. Her latest release, The Oathbound Devil is a steamy, yearning romantasy, told from the male main character’s POV, that will have you squirming from page one.
In this spotlight, S.J. Brown shares her writing journey and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at The Pactbound Angel.
Whether you write love stories, devour them, or dream of doing both, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it and give a warm welcome to S.J. Brown! 💖
Let’s jump straight into the interview. What drew you to writing romance in particular?
So, I started in epic fantasy. I did my master’s thesis by writing a 400-page epic fantasy novel (still the longest thesis in the university’s history). And it’s a great genre, but there’s something so fundamentally human about love stories. That and they’re extremely fun to write.
How do you handle writer’s block, especially during emotional or steamy scenes?
This is such a dumb, cliché answer, but the only way I’ve found to break writer’s block is to write or work adjacent to your work-in-progress. If you write, you put down everything that comes into your head. Sometimes that sparks something, and you can go back to your story. If you work adjacent, you maybe make up a playlist inspired by your story or look up fantasy art online that feels inspired by your work. If it’s during an emotional or steamy scene, I listen to music. Solves it for me every time.
What romance tropes do you love to write—and which ones do you avoid?
I love all tropes, as long as they feel earned. Even the miscommunication trope can be good, but it has to come from a place of trauma or just something substantial. Not just petulance. But as far as tropes I love? Forced proximity, one bed (not one horse, sorry, but that’s not actually good for the horse), and I will always kick my feet for a forbidden relationship.
Was there a particular scene or emotional arc that was difficult (or fun!) to write?]
Yes. There’s a scene in The Pactbound Angel that features abused animals. It’s not graphic by any stretch of the imagination, but I love animals, and I found myself getting more and more mad the longer the scene went on. Thankfully, it ends happily.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Read and write as much as possible. You can learn craft from books or school all day long, but in order to really internalize the ebb and flow of stories, you need to expose yourself to it as much as possible.
How do you deal with criticism or negative reviews?
If I get a one-star, I shrug it off. I don’t engage with the person or respond, but I do love it if those critical reviews have constructive criticism. I just want to tell the best story I can.
What do you like to read in your free time?
I read historical fiction (I’m a big history nerd) and romance. Literally any sub-genre. I adore them all.
Do you have any quirky writing habits or rituals?
When I write, I wear a dark fleece hoodie. It was my brother’s hoodie, and I like to think it brings me good luck from him.
Are there any genres you’d like to explore that you haven’t yet?
I want to write in many other romance subgenres. I have ideas for historical, paranormal, cyberpunk, more in romantasy, and contemporary. And even some cross-genre books, like parahistorical.
Let’s learn more about you.
What’s your full name, and do you like it?
Sarah Jane Brown – I do. One professor in college said it sounded like the name of an honest person.
Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I’m from a small town in rural Indiana, and I’m currently outside Chicago.
How old are you (or how old do you feel)?
I’m 43. And I feel like I’m 43. 😊
How would you describe yourself in three words?
I’m always daydreaming.
What’s your current relationship status?
Currently divorcing.
Do you have any regrets?
Many, but then again, many of them have been or will be turned into plot points in my books. So, I call that a win.
What do you want more than anything right now?
To bring a little joy to people through my writing.
What’s standing in your way?
I absolutely suck at marketing.
What does “home” mean to you?
Where you’re safe and feel at peace.
What’s something you’re really good at?
I’m super good at procrastination, but I also really like deadlines. I’m a study in contradictions.
Morning person or night owl?
NiteOwl4Lyfe
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I never feel guilty about pleasure.
Who has challenged you the most?
Myself. I am my greatest champion, critic, hype woman, and cynic.
What’s something people would never guess about you?
I used to do weightlifting. My PR for the deadlift was 305lb.
What’s your personal motto?
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Thank you for taking the time today. I wish you the best in your publishing career.
S.J. Brown’s Bio
Sarah spent her early years hating to read and write, until she discovered the fantasy genre.
She is now a writer by night, staring blurry-eyed at her computer at 3 am quite often. She received her M.A. in Creative Writing from Eastern Illinois University. In her spare time (ha!), she gardens quite badly, plays with her dog Leia, and watches too many movies.
“He’s the rich dessert I was denied. The hidden book I wasn’t allowed to read. The words I couldn’t say. I want them because I can’t have them.”
I hope you loved getting to know S.J. Brown and hearing about her inspirations, journey, and latest release. If you haven’t added this to your TBR yet, now’s the time—trust me, you won’t want to miss it. 💖
You can connect with S.J. Brown here:
📱 Socials: https://linktr.ee/sjbrown
🛒 Grab her books: Here
Thank you for joining me in spotlighting a fellow author who’s giving us all the feels. Stay tuned for more author features, book talk, and behind-the-scenes romance goodness.
Until next time—keep reading, keep swooning! 💖