Arianne Nicks has crafted an incredibly cosy story with Sweets and Sycamores, and today, she's here to share her journey! From her biggest challenges to her proudest moments, we get a peek into what it takes to be an independent author. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just love a good story, this interview is for you.

Let’s dive in.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Ari, an indie author who loves to write romance woven with magic (mainly paranormal romance for now). I’m balancing my creative side with my day job as a data engineer, which I also enjoy quite a lot. I could probably live with pasta, chocolate, and coffee. Oh, and I have proudly kept two plants alive for almost one year.

2. That’s a lot to process. You aren’t a real-life witch by any chance?

I guess you’ll never know. I’m caring for a peace lily and a fittonia with pink and green leaves, which I may or may not have endangered once or twice. Hopefully, this year they will get a new sister plant.

3. Hehe… OK, pitch your book in one or two sentences.

Sweets and Sycamores is about Allie, a clumsy witch who can set things on fire by merely sneezing, meeting an undercover wizard who hires her to help at his bakery, and more than Allie’s fire sparks between them.

4. Sounds cosy. What kind of readers would love this book?

Readers who love love, who enjoy a couple hundred pages of giggles and joy, and who want to be immersed in a world that could be ours, but with magic, or a fantasy world…with coffee machines.
And a baby dragon, Ekko.

5. Oh, dragon? Is it like human babies? Clumsy and finicky?

Ekko is more like a cat: spoiled, sassy, and picking his favourite humans with no regard to their feelings.

6. Ohkay, now, let’s get a little personal. What’s the story behind your story?

I started writing this book 6 months after I had moved continents, which is around the beginning of this year. I wanted to create a peaceful and safe space for myself. And what better than a cosy romance book to offer me that?

I’ve always loved writing romance with a magical factor, and when I thought of the “cozy fantasy” elements out there, witches were something I hadn’t explored in my previous books. I was curious and eager to write about them in a way that I hadn’t read about before. Softer witches. And I hope the book will offer the same peace as I had for my readers.

7. Every book has that one scene or character that sticks with the author. What’s yours?

Keep in mind that I’m picking a scene that won’t give away too much of the story. With that, I would pick the moment Allie and Ekko met for the first time. Allie was in desperate need of a friend, and Ekko just happened upon her by mistake. After some formalities and pleading with her grumpy boss, Allie gets to keep the baby dragon.

Ekko is the first creature I ever wrote, and my heart will forever have a baby dragon-shaped stamp on it.

8. Lovely. And what part of this book gave you the hardest time?

The hardest part of this book was finding ways to keep the plot alive and interesting. I feel like this is a struggle with some romance books, where all eyes are on the main characters’ relationship. The book is about them, but I didn’t want it to be only about them, if that makes sense. I wanted to find ways to make them their own person, too, and not just a couple.

9. Totally makes sense. Secondary characters, too, should get some shine. And what’s one weird thing you Googled while writing this book?

“How many miles/km can one person walk in twelve hours?”

The answer was around 45-50 km / 28-31 miles. This is the distance Allie walks when she’s sent away from her coven before she meets a kind stranger who offers to give her a ride.

10. How has the indie publishing ride been for you?

“Sweets and Sycamores” is my fourth book, and I can tell you that each time I went through self-publishing my books, I have uncovered yet another layer I was not aware of before. It’s a process of constant learning and adapting to change, of equal amounts of joy and frustration. But when I get to hold my books… everything is worth it.

11. It is indeed complicated. What’s one piece of advice you have for indie authors that you wish someone had given you?

Don’t write and edit simultaneously. I know this works for some authors, and it was a game-changer for me the moment I implemented this mechanism. It allowed me to get through the first draft more quickly (which to me is the hardest part of writing). Then, I could focus more on developing the story and the characters.

12. And how much gap do you suggest keeping between writing and editing?

To me, if I have a couple of days between the end of the draft and the edits, it’s more than enough. I find that editing works better when the story is fresh in my mind and soul. I mainly focus on doing my own set of developmental editing and line editing.

I leave the proofreading and finer details to my team of editors/proofreaders.

13. Ohkayzz, and where can readers find you and your book?

Sweets and Sycamores will be available as an ebook on Amazon KU, and the paperback will initially be available with The Crafty Bookstore, Amazon, and B&N. (still working on this last one, though)

If the book sounds like your kind of read, be sure to check it out! Support indie authors by grabbing a copy and leaving a review!

PS… What’s your go-to writing snack or ritual?

I don’t really snack while I’m writing because I like to keep my keyboard clean, haha. But I do enjoy writing with my daily coffee.

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And that’s a wrap.

Want to see more indie author stories? Stay tuned for more interviews…