BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we interviewed Nikki A Lamers about her writing and her recently released novel, Breaking Cycles, a moving and adorable happily ever after tale of love between two flawed people. (Read the review here.)

­The bad boy and the good girl is a tale as old as time! What was your favorite part of writing this dynamic in Breaking Cycles?

I agree that the bad boy and the good girl is a tale as old as time. I also believe the different ways of telling that story are endless. I love being able to break down the characters to see why and how they have become the person they are. My favorite part about writing this dynamic in Breaking Cycles was to show the vulnerability of the bad boy, and the strength of the good girl; showing things are not always what they seem.

Do you have a favorite character in the book? If so, who is it (or who are they)?

I have a thing about picking favorites when it comes to my characters, especially any who have been MCs, meaning I don’t like to play favorites. Ha-ha. My characters get under my skin for so many different reasons. In Breaking Cycles, Grant holds a special place in my heart for all he’s been through and yet still being fiercely protective, while Ella does as well for her courage and determination.

You are quite an accomplished author, having penned multiple novels and won several awards for your work. When did you know you wanted to be a writer, and what was that journey like?

Thank you! My writing means a lot to me. Writing and creating stories in all different ways is something I’ve always had a passion for. I believe I got my love of books from my parents and my love of romance books is from my dad. I loved to grab his books and read them and as I got older, we would read many of the same books. Growing up, I was always writing, mostly books and scripts. And although my parents were supportive of whatever I wanted to do, I didn’t know if the creative side of writing would be something I could do for a living. I found myself with degrees in public health and managing and communicating. That brought me to work in positions where I did a lot of technical writing such as articles, grant writing, education materials, programs and much more. And although I did write a few stories in those fields, I truly missed creating stories.

When my daughter was born, I didn’t want to delay my dreams any longer. I wrote a short story and submitted it with an application to a writing school and I was accepted. It took a few years to get through the coursework, but I wanted to do it to help refresh my creative writing side. Then, I finally wrote my first book. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop.

What’s the hardest part about writing for you? Were there any challenges in writing Breaking Cycles that you weren’t expecting?

Normally, the hardest part about writing for me is time without interruptions. With Breaking Cycles, I knew I had some challenges in front of me with some of the topics I would be tackling. Ironically, my biggest challenge came when I was finished with my first couple drafts. I still felt that there was something missing. It took me time, thought, and a deep dive into all parts of the story to figure out how to tackle that, when I didn’t even know what I was looking for at the time. I was thrilled when I was finally able to bring the story together how I imagined.

What’s something you learned from the process of publishing your previous novels that you carried into the writing of Breaking Cycles?

I’ve learned several things from the process of publishing my previous novels that I carried with me. One of the biggest is to keep an open mind and to listen to my editor! A good editor will help you strengthen your story, and every writer needs a good editor. There are things a different set of eyes may notice that you don’t as the writer and that’s okay as long as you remain open.

What are your favorite tropes to read in romance novels?

Admittedly, my favorite tropes to read in romance novels tends to vary. There’s definitely so many good ones out there. A few of my favorites include fake dating, enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, tragic past, second chances romance, opposites attract, and soul mates if it’s done well.

Besides romance, is there a genre or authors you particularly enjoy reading?

I do love to read a good mystery, such as Karen White’s Tradd Street Series (which does also have some paranormal as well). I enjoy some thrillers, classics, historical fiction, fantasy, or dystopian. I do think romance is incorporated in so much more than romance books because it’s part of life and I tend to like the stories that do have a component of romance no matter how small. I feel like it makes the story more real. Honestly, I read almost anything with a good story, but most of my favorite books and authors are romance.

What’s next for you? Any novels on the horizon we should be on the lookout for?

I’m always writing, so there’s definitely more to come. I’m part of a Christmas anthology with four other authors. Jingle Balls is a collection of five novellas and will only be available November 1-December 31. All proceeds from this title will be donated to The National Safe Haven Alliance. My contribution is titled 25 Men of Christmas, An Unforgettable December.

I have a few things I’m currently working on. I have started Book 2 in Mending Shattered Hearts, which will be Declan’s story. Declan is Ella’s older brother in Breaking Cycles and a character I’ve already had many asking about. I also have a new rock star romance series I’ve been working on, which will again be stand-alone novels but better read in order. I love focusing on different main characters in each story. I’ve also been playing with a few different adaptations of some of my novels as either TV shows or movies. It’s always fun to dream big. There are a few other books I have started as well—my brain rarely allows me to rest—but I don’t mind at all.

Can you provide links to any of these:

Twitter: https://x.com/nikki_lamers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiALamersAuthor/

Website: https://www.nikkialamersauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkialamersauthor/

TikTok: @nikkialamersauthor

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