Have You Met Rilzy?

Get to know this popular contemporary romance author

Sitting in the outside seating area of a popular cafe, two women were in conversation. From the outside, one would suspect they were talking about the latest fete out that weekend or a must see show or movie on streaming but one would be wrong.

These two women were talking about romance, more like writing romance and one of these women is the popular contemporary romance author, Rilzy Adams. That sunny Saturday, we talked about her work which includes Go Deep and ATE, and now, with her latest is How About Forever, they number twenty five romances and eroticas all now available through Kindle Unlimited.

I got to know this attorney by profession but author at heart who has been recognized for her work having earned the 'Ripped Bodice Award' for Go Deep. And through a mutual romance author friend, we took part in a Caribbean Christmas Romance launch with Rilzy’s contribution being Home for Christmas.

Since that day, with airplanes landing mere yards away, our conversation continues and I get share some of it with you.

How did you get started with writing and publishing romance?

I have been writing since I was a child because I always had little stories I wanted to tell. I used to want to do picture books but drawing was never my forte and so I wrote instead. As a teen all I wanted to read was romance even though at that time I was writing epic fantasy. Then, eventually I followed the advice people usually give which is to ‘write what you love to read’ and I started writing romance exclusively. Publishing came because I wanted people to read the little stories and self-publishing meant everything go be on my own timeline.

How do you come up with ideas for your stories?

I usually think of a scenario and wonder what falling in love would look like under these very specific circumstances.

What are your ambitions for your writing journey?

I just want to write as many books as possible and for them to find their homes with readers who really enjoy them. I want to continue to grow. But in the immediate future, I am just wanting to be able to write consistently and have a good writing schedule because currently I do not have one and it shows.

What is the hardest part in your writing journey?

The hardest part of my writing journey is definitely my consistency. It’s hard for me to find a groove and maintain it because of my day job and my chronic illnesses. Oh! Also, marketing.

Is it hard being a romance writer based in the Caribbean? How is it hard or easy?

I don’t think it is hard on the writing. The difficulties I have writing are problems created all on my own. However, the business end can be a bit rough because you very quickly learn that although e-commerce is considered to be global it doesn’t work that way in reality. Also, I would love to have a paperback store where people could order signed books if they wished but the shipping costs make that a complete non-starter for anyone who does live in Antigua.

Who are your favorite characters?

This is like trying to pick my favorite child but I think my favorite character is Cole from ‘Before We Fall’ as a MMC and Sadie from ‘Treble’ as my FMC.

If you were to meet a fan of your work, what would you like to tell them?

“Thank you” in as many ways and languages as possible. Life gets so busy and there are so many books and so many authors out there. For someone to not only read my books but also to consider themselves a “fan” of my work is the most humbling thing and leaves me with so much gratitude.

What keeps you going?

I think I keep going for the same reason I started writing. I have so many stories bouncing around my head that need to get out. And then, of course, the sheer love of it. I would be writing even if I wasn’t publishing. It is still the thing that makes me the happiest and is a safe space when the world seems to be turning upside down.

What is next for you?

Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t published much in the last two or three years and it has really affected my readership. I think a lot of readers kind of gave up on me / forgot about me. I know I definitely need to work towards rebuilding my audience but I think most immediately it’s going to be taking some time to find a writing routine that sparks joy again. From a writing perspective, I would like to publish two more books this year.

To learn more about Rilzy Adams, check out her website, Rilzy Writes, her Amazon Author Page or keep up to date with her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, and Tiktok.