Ciana Smoak and I met while participating in a giveaway together last year, just in time for the release of her debut, Shoot for the Stars. The sports romance has a bunch of my favourite tropes as well, which has me really excited to dive into it soon. That’s not all! For Valentine’s Day, Ciana released a holiday novella with a second chance romance between high school friends! And coming later this year is the first in a new series of adult romances, you can preorder Single & Crochet right now.
But these books aren’t the first Ciana’s written—she wrote a children’s book at seven and kept it going all the way into middle school! And while she might be venturing into adult romances this year, she wrote her debut as a closed door romance. Because she was nervous and uncomfortable with her family reading her books, which is a totally normal reaction (we’ve all been there).
Ciana’s books are available in Kindle Unlimited, so make sure you get your copies today!
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I believe that I was just born to write. Sounds crazy I know, but nothing really inspired me. I just started to do it; like it was a super power. I always loved writing stories as a kid and did it for fun. I wrote my first children’s book at 7 and continued making the series throughout elementary and then moved to novels in middle school.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
I think the best part of being an indie author is the fact that I have control over my work and can connect with so many of my readers. It honestly makes my day when someone says they love my writing or added it to their TBR.
I think the worst part could be the lack of support somewhat. I think people take advantage of indie authors because of how badly we want to get our stories out in the world.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I tried the traditional publishing route and I found it insane that I had to wait for someone to tell me my writing was good enough to even get published in the first place. I felt like I would have to conform what I want to write in order to fit their market and I wanted to have a say in my work
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I'm reading or crocheting. I do a lot of self-reflecting. I’m always in my head so I think about experiences or stories other people have told me and it becomes the inspiration for my next book.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
I would recommend Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adyemi. Promposal bu Raechell Garret, What a Match by Mimi Grace, Love Radio by Ebony Ladelle and any book by Mimi Grace and Anise Starr.
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Find what works for you
Just write the book
Find your own process
Don’t listen to other people about your story!
And don’t let imposter syndrome stop you from getting your book out there
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
I’m a hopeless romantic, I fantasize about the perfect relationship like 800 times a day and I like checking out novels from the library that had romance in them. My favorite thing about romance as a genre is that it shows you can find love everywhere through a unique love story every time.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
If I was to write any genre I would consider just regular literary fiction. I studied creative writing and most of the work I wrote for my major was literary. The fun stuff I set aside for personal writing. I think I shared my personal fiction one time and it was a hit in my class so I would consider it one of these days.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
I don’t think I have a least favorite but I like a second chance romance, a childhood friends to lovers and a forced proximity
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
I would like to write a second chance romance, rivals to lovers, one bed.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
I think some sensitive topics would be literally what they are talking about in the world. Abortion, Abuse of any kind. I think our main characters are all so perfect that they only worry about the mundane parts of life because we love a fluffy cute romance. But romance isn’t all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to real life events.
If you write closed door romance, why did you choose that and what are your favorite ways to build tension between the characters?
I think the fact that my family would read my work eventually scared me from even attempting to write open door romance. I’m a full fledge adult but thinking about my family reading that from me makes me cringe.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
Honestly, my everyday dramatic but very boring life inspired me. I take people I meet and turn them into characters, and take the things I know and went through and turn them fictional. I’m inspired by the most random things but my story Shoot For The Stars was something I wrote my junior year of college. It was my therapy in a place where I was at my lowest
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
My book Shoot for the Stars is a story about a track star Journey and football star Roman who grew up together but were apart when they moved. They rekindle their friendship as well as both strive to win gold in their respective sports. Roses Are Red, my Valentine's novella is about a girl named Kayani who gets the man of her dreams in her best friend Rosen. Rosen makes it his personal mission to make sure Kayani has the best Valentines and to win over the girl.
My new book coming out late this spring is inspired by Crochet. Anylee gets to have her crochet on the biggest stage on the world but one of her models cancels and coincidentally her ex is also there on Vacation. So he fills in for her. My first Second Chance romance
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
My favorite characters from Shoot for The Stars are Roman’s friends Nigel and Miles. I think they were so funny and reminded me of my very favorite people who made me laugh during my hard times.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I would definitely cast Skai Jackson or Marsai Martin for Journey. I don’t know, as for right now, who Roman would be but I might pick someone up and coming.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
I put so much of myself into these characters. Especially because its like an escape from my current reality
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
I have so many love stories in my head and I have a track romance and a crochet romance in the works
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
Someone is going to be a little introverted. That is one thing I like about my characters because someone needs to be the peace
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
Up next is a crochet romance story that I am SUPER excited about. It’s an adult romance!
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
I hope my readers can relate to the characters and I hope they feel like they are immersed in the story. I want my books to feel like an escape.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV
Standalones, series or standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances
Music or silence when writing
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?
Cold or warm weather
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?
Ciana can be found on Instagram and TikTok. You can buy paperbacks from her website and don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter!
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