Why Do I Write Closed Door Fantasy?

This has been on my mind for...well, months. You see, I started out writing because it was a way for me to be creative! Did I know I could write? No, not really—it was actually a bit of a fluke that I figured out I could write.

The Journey That Led Me Here

Here's the thing: we've got to go back a few years when depression and anxiety took over my entire life. There were many reasons why I ended up where I was, but suffice it to say those years in my life and my family's life were so difficult. I often want to cry with joy that we survived, that God helped me get past the darkest of days. Am I saying I’m all hunky-dory right now? Pah, not sure that will ever be the case because life continues to throw challenges, but I know I have found a great deal of strength in the Lord, and I believe He showed me I have a knack for writing fun little stories.

Well, a couple of years ago I stumbled onto the romance genre and dove headfirst reading everything! Because who doesn't love love? A crazy person, and I stand by that statement. For two years, my ADHD hyperfocused and I consumed a ridiculous amount of romance novels. Fantasy, contemporary—the works. One of my must-haves: a happily ever after. If those characters aren't happy, I ain't reading it.

So I read, and I started daydreaming about my own stories, and I thought, like a completely delusional individual, "I wanna try writing!" Because that's what you do, right? Wake up and think you can do anything! Well, I certainly did.

So I literally googled this term I learned called "ghostwriting." What is that you might ask? Well, it’s when you write a story for someone else and they put their name on it. I figured this is low risk. Write a story and see if anyone finds my writing engaging, and I did! Someone hired me to write two books. I was shocked! Like really? Me? Do they know I have no experience? Well, yes, they did because I told them, and I have no chill.

Listen, guys, I have a complex! I'm just hoping I can pull stuff off. I'm not an optimist, but I am a "well, might as well give this a try" type of girl. And it turns out I could write!

The Dilemma I Kept Running Into

But then I kept running into this problem...I don't wanna write spice, and most ghostwriting contracts require it. In fact, reading spice was something I wanted to avoid. As a believer, I wanted to keep spice from my mind, though admittedly I didn't do that well. I wanted to skip the spicy scenes, but sometimes I would still read them. So I wanted to read books with no spice so I could avoid the temptation. BUT I wanted to read about people in their late twenties or thirties because I am, in fact, getting older lol (yes, I did just use "lol," and I will hold onto my millennial LOL until I die).

My Solution: Closed-Door Fantasy for Everyone

After I wrote for the publisher (who graciously accepted my story without spice—THANK YOU!), I realized I wanted to write my own stories. Over-the-top MMCs who love their women and a side order of funny! Yup, that's what I wanna do.

But here's the real why behind what I do: I write because I want my daughter (not my son yet because he says love is "bleh") and my nieces and nephews to be able to read without stumbling onto content that is too mature for them. But I'm a lady who wants to read about real-life adult problems—hence why I don't write YA—and I know there are others out there who feel the same way. Bring on the mature FMC who can kick some butt while dealing with a realistic anxiety disorder.

I write closed-door because I want the steamy stuff to happen in private. That's not your jam? No problem! BUT I have convinced some spicy romance readers that my brand of cozy fantasy is actually—and to quote them—"really good even though it doesn't have spice." I have converted many to the spice-free side! Don't knock it till you try it.

I also wanted to give an alternative in the fantasy genre because maybe there are people out there like me who want to read all things love and fantasy without spice, so here I am putting in a bid to be one of your go-to authors for closed-door fantasy.

What You Can Expect From My Stories

So to answer the original question (my stars, this has turned into the longest answer to a simple question 🫣), I write so that others who want a fun, easy read with no spice can relax and enjoy a new world with new characters and new adventures.

As I continue to write, my style will develop and change. I want to be more intentional about how I write love—and not just the love between my main characters, but the other aspects of love we have in our lives. The love between family or friends. The love that is sacrificial and the love that obviously makes us all swoon.

My future stories will hopefully capture this, but don't worry—I'll still add all the funny characters many of you have grown to love. Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Anyway, that's my first ever blog post and, well, a glimpse into this crazy mind of mine. Hope this doesn't scare you off and you will stick around for more writings from me.

TM