D. E. Bartley lives in Wales with her husband, three boys, four cats and budgie. Although mainly known for her dark reverse harem romance, Bartley originally wrote shifter romance with dark themes. A publisher has signed her Blood Moon series, and she can’t wait to spend more time on it in the next year.
Author Q&A
Which author did you aspire to be when you were growing up? I love Kelley Armstrong; her Otherworld series is still my go-to when I need a comfort read. I think that series is what inspired me to write in the beginning. I wanted my stories to be as popular as hers, and I loved the way her world worked and felt. Reading this series in particular showed me that the world I was creating in my notebooks was possible.
What is it that most inspires you to keep writing? My kids. They are always asking me what I’m working on and how my books are doing. They tell anyone who will listen that their mum is an author, which melts my heart every time. I want to make them as proud of me as I am of them.
What has been your greatest achievement to date? As an author, it would have to be seeing my books out there being read and loved (Or hated, apparently some of my books are like marmite. You either love them or hate them.) My greatest achievement personally is my little family. We may drive each other mad and act a little crazy, but we are all happy and know that home is our safe space.
Are you still learning as a writer? Absolutely! I don’t think we ever truly stop learning. Every time I publish a book, I find myself growing and learning a little more as an author.
What is the greatest lesson any writer can learn? Don’t expect or try to make your first draft good. First drafts are just that, drafts of the story. It’s not until you get to the second and third drafts that you get to really see the story come to life.
What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer? Writing everything I want to write. I have hundreds of ideas and not enough time to get them all down on paper. I try so hard to focus on one story at a time, but I always end up getting caught up in another story idea and then have to force myself to go back and finish the book I’ve promised my readers.
How do you put yourself in the mind of a reader? In all honesty, I don’t know; I just switch off the part of my brain that needs to think as an author. Maybe it’s because I find it easy to disassociate from the real world. I don’t have a clue.
What are you looking forward to most about Pascify? I can’t wait to see everyone, readers, authors, volunteers and organisers. I always have such a great time at signings, and with this one being themed around my favourite genre, I know my bank card is going to hate me by the end.
What is one thing people might not know about you? Before COVID, I was two weeks away from competing in the English Taekwondo championships and two belts away from black.
What trip is top of your bucket list? I want to go to Rome and Athens, I love anything to do with their myths and legends.
If you woke up today in your favourite place (fictional or real), where would that be? Cornwall, ideally Padstow, but would also settle for Porthleven. I grew up down there, and even after living in Wales for many years, there is still no better feeling than going home.
What is the best piece of advice you were ever given? I was given this advice by a stranger at my hen party, but I now use it in all aspects of my life. “If something goes wrong, don’t stress about it. No one else will notice, so dust yourself off and try again.”
Connect with the author Facebook.com/debartleywriter
Pre-order ahead of the event https://forms.gle/T4mh4e8vEG9EmX7w9
PASCIFY 