This month, we have a Q&A with contemporary romance author Lexi J. Kingston. She is the author of two popular book series. The Nightfall series, a paranormal vampire romance series, centers around a dysfunctional family of vampires and an ancient curse. The 13 Days of December series is a contemporary romance series following three siblings and a world-famous boy band as they navigate the changing world of romance and the hardships of being in the spotlight.
When I met Lexi I was amazed, but not surprised, that she’s written eight books. Her first book was published when she was a nineteen-year-old college student. Here’s the especially amazing part, she’s a fairly recent college graduate with eight books under her belt. She publishes independently and markets her books and merchandise. This is a woman who knows how to get things done.
I asked Lexi questions about her life and her work. Here are her responses. Thanks Lexi!
1. According to your bio, you started writing when you were 15 years old. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
a. Until I was a teenager, being a writer hadn’t crossed my mind. I was always a creative kid, and where most would simply play with their toys, I would create elaborate worlds around them that no one understood but me. Fiction—specifically character development—drew me in like nothing else, and while growing up, I had wild dreams of becoming an actress. I wanted to be the person to bring characters to life and inspire young girls like me, but when the opportunity to join a creative writing class presented itself, I realized that acting wasn’t the only way to do that; I could write the stories and characters myself. Once I crafted my first short story at 15, I knew that this was what I needed to do.
2. Who were your favorite authors growing up? Whose work inspires you now?
a. I loved Kasie West, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Jennifer Shaw Wolf, and Rick Riordan, all of whom still inspire me now. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson was the first book series I ever read, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Kasie West’s On the Fence was the first romance book I picked up, and even now, her books never fail to make me smile. Though, I wouldn’t say books inspire me, per se, but the emotion they evoke within me when I’m reading. When I was younger, all I wanted was to recreate that emotional response in a work of my own.
3. You are an avid reader, did your family make reading a priority?
a. My parents never forced me to read—that was something I started on my own. I picked up Miles to Go by Hilary Liftin and Miley Cyrus when I was around nine, and that sparked my interest in reading. I think if my parents had forced me to read, I wouldn’t have loved it as much.
4. Are you a plotter or a panster?
a. I am a pantser through and through. I wish I could plot, and I’ve tried many times, but once I finish an outline, I lose passion for my ideas. I love being surprised by the turns each book takes, and for me, knowing what happens in the story takes the fun out of writing. Although, not knowing where the story is going can cause a bit of a headache as well.
5. Music is a big part of the writing experience for you. What made you decide to make playlists for your books?
a. I grew up in the era of Disney Channel shows that prioritized singing and chasing your dreams, and through that, music quickly became a huge part of my life. It has inspired me more than anything else, and I wanted that love to shine through in my writing. Creating playlists for my books is my way of sharing that love of music, and hopefully, through them, readers can discover new songs that inspire them.
6. Which is easier to write, contemporary romance or paranormal romance in terms of setting and/or character development?
a. In terms of setting, contemporary romance is easier because I reference places that exist, whereas, in paranormal romance, many locations are entirely fabricated and take longer to create—especially because I have to keep the descriptions straight. As for character development, it is easier to develop characters in the paranormal romance universe because a lot is happening in the plotline to assist their growth. Plus, the characters are developed over four books, which allows readers the chance to get to know them. My contemporary romance series focuses on a different couple in each book, and because no one is actively seeking their demise, it’s their development that oftentimes drives the plotline more than anything else.
7. Vampire romance is a specific niche. What type of research do you have to do to make sure your characters are believable in this genre, but also unique enough to stand out?
a. From a young age, I was enamored by the prospect of eternal life, enhanced abilities, and love that would never die, so I’d essentially been researching vampire fiction my entire life. When I set out to write a vampire series, I was determined to make things as different as possible from any other vampire books, TV shows, or movies I’d seen, while still maintaining the essence that readers love. My goal was to build a world with a lot of twists and create a family of vampires with members who clashed in every sense. The bulk of the research I did was to ensure that the ideas I had hadn’t been done before.
8. Tell us a little about your main character Aspen Troy in the Nightfall series.
a. Aspen is the unfortunate case of fate vs. free will, in that she has little control over the path her life has taken. She’s strong-willed despite her fear of the mysterious town her family moved to, and she has much compassion for her twin brother. Without warning, she is thrown into the dark world of vampires and unknowingly holds the key to their freedom, meanwhile, she’s still dealing with trauma from her past. My favorite thing about her is no matter what she goes through, she’s determined to come out stronger.
9. How did you come up with the name of your 13 Days of December series?
a. My ideas for the first book in this series were born in my high school creative writing class, and at the time, I didn’t know where they would take me; I was simply trying to come up with a name good enough for a famous band. I tried dozens of combinations, but none felt right. Then I had the idea to follow the lead of actual boy bands, such as 5 Seconds of Summer and One Direction. Since the first book took place in December, and I’d already decided to title it Remember December, it was just a matter of playing with different numbers and combinations of words. Once I settled on the band name, I knew that it had to be the series title.
10. Do/will all the books in the 13 Days of December series feature musicians and singers?
a. They do! The first three books specifically focus on members of the band, however, the fourth follows two of the characters’ younger siblings. They aren’t musicians, however, they’re still part of that world, and the main female character is a renowned event coordinator in Los Angeles.
11. What type of research did you do about the music industry?
a. Much like with my vampire series, I grew up engrossed in a love for celebrities and music. I’d seen what the industry was like and did much research on it as a kid, so incorporating my knowledge into the 13 Days of December series wasn’t difficult. I learned a lot about record labels and the contracts that musicians sign, which was just as much fun as writing the books. I wanted to focus on the pitfalls of fame and lack of privacy that many celebrities face in today’s world of social media. I’d seen how vocal fans were on social platforms regarding their opinion of artists, and I tried to incorporate as much of that as I could.
12. Is it challenging to write about artists from different musical genres?
a. Honestly, not really. I found it more interesting than anything. There are definitely differences between genres, but the brunt of my writing focused on the characters’ personal lives and how mass exposure affects even the most insignificant private matters.
13. What made you decide to publish your work independently?
a. After a lot of research into both traditional and independent publishing, I decided I wanted the most creative control over my work. It’s so important to me that my vision is seen and that my work represents who I am as a person—no matter the genre. I wanted to ensure that no one could diminish the heart of my work or turn it into something unrecognizable.
14. Writers love the creativity of writing, but publishing, marketing your work, and creating a fanbase is a business. How do you balance the two?
a. It’s often challenging to balance both. I believe I speak for most writers when I say we just want to write. However, many times we find ourselves doing everything but. I’ve started to devise a system to help me manage my time better, dedicating certain days to the business side of things to free up more time for my writing. Right now, my business-to-writing ratio is 50-50, but I’m working toward 70% of my time being occupied by writing.
15. What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your readers?
a. When I first decided to be genre-ambiguous, for lack of better words, every source I could find said readers would only read one or the other, and writing both would hurt my career. I was content with that because I knew if I wanted readers to love my books, I had to love what I was writing, and switching genres made it more exciting for me. As it turns out, many of my readers are willing to read multiple genres, and several of them have read both series. This was a big surprise to me, and it encouraged me to keep pursuing what I love.
16. What would our readers be surprised to learn about you?
a. The first thing that comes to mind is that I’ve never read the same book twice, no matter how much I enjoyed it. I found myself in a conversation a few months back, and the person was surprised by that. I’d never given it much thought, but I suppose this coincides with why I don’t enjoy plotting books—if I already know what happens, I struggle to get through it.
17. What are you currently working on?
a. Currently, I’m developing characters for my next vampire series. I’ve been looking forward to writing new characters since the last four years of my life have been comprised of the same two fictional worlds. I also have a few new contemporary romance books lined up, which I’m incredibly excited about.
18. Do you have any book signings or book talks coming up? [You can direct them to your website if you’d prefer]
a. So far, I have three book signings scheduled this year in Nashville, TN, Monroeville, PA, and Covington, GA. You can find more details, ticket links, and pre-order forms under the “News & Events” tab on my website.
19. Is there anything we haven’t covered that our readers should know about you and your work?
a. Books were an escape for me when I was young, and my ultimate goal, no matter how far this journey takes me, is for my books to inspire and be an escape for others. Thank you so much for your time and this opportunity.
Books by Lexi J. Kingston:
Nightfall Series: 13 Days of December Series:
Come Nightfall (Book One) Remember December (Book One)
In The Moonlight (Book Two) Endure May (Book Two)
Until Daybreak (Book Three) Trusting November (Book Three)
After Sunrise (Book Four) Forever June (Book Four)
To find out more about Lexi J. Kingston and her work, visit her website, www.lkingstonbooks.com where you can also purchase books, including signed copies, and merchandise.
Lexi’s books are also available on amazon.com, and she is now on our Author Page complete with links to purchase her books from Amazon.
Follow Lexi on:
Instagram: @L.Kingston.books
Twitter/X: @LKingston_books
Facebook: fb.me/l.kingston.books