Between them, they've sold millions of copies and inspired readers around the globe. Hybrid authors Geneva Lee, Devney Perry, and Monica Murphy also have something else in common: they're among a host of bestselling indie romance authors who have published some of their fan-favorite titles (for the first time in print!) with Entangled's Amara imprint.
We sat down with them to discuss what drew them to their new literary home, the differences between indie and traditional publishing, and how, after years of connecting directly with readers, they're excited to make deeper inroads with retailers.
What have been the greatest challenges and joys for you as an indie author?
Geneva Lee (GL): Like most indie/hybrid authors—or who am I kidding? All authors in general—the greatest challenge we face is discoverability in a crowded market. As a consumer, I feel the email and advertising fatigue, so I know my readers do as well. It’s a constant quest to get books in front of both new and existing readers.
The best thing about indie publishing in my experience is how adaptable you can be with each release, as well as with front and backlist. There’s always something that can be done to move the needle when necessary. The flexibility is very exciting, because if something isn’t working, you can adjust course.
But, in a way, being indie is both the greatest joy and the biggest challenge. With indie, I can invest as much as I’m willing and can afford to in a book’s success. But I’m also limited by my own reach and my own capacity. I definitely don’t have the resources of a major publisher.
Devney Perry (DP): I’ve been incredibly lucky to find my dream job thanks to indie publishing. It’s given me the chance to learn a craft and run a business. I truly love every part of this career, from writing to marketing and publishing and all the tasks in between. The romance market seems to be ever-changing, and with those changes come challenges. But I find so much joy in the constant learning that I get to do every day as an indie author.
Monica Murphy (MM): I’ve been a published author for many years—beginning with my other pen name, it’s been a total of 18 years—and one of the biggest challenges is releasing a book that will appeal to readers. Just when you believe you’re on a roll, you have a book do only so-so when it comes out. But I’ve learned that’s okay! The best thing you could ever do in this business is never give up.
The joys are meeting readers. When you indie publish, you cut out the middle man (publishers, retailers, etc.) and make direct contact with the readers. I love them. They’re the only reason I’m able to do this job and be successful at it, and when you self-publish, you have a line straight to them.
How do you feel publishing with Amara will help to expand your existing fan base?
GL: I’m lucky enough to know Amara has expanded my readership by getting my paperbacks into the mass market in ways I could only have dreamed of doing. Having my books in Target and Walmart is incredible. More independent bookstores are picking them up. On my end, I’m hearing from brand-new readers daily who have discovered my world.
DP: Amara has been such a great partner for my books. While I love indie publishing, there are limits to where I can reach on my own, such as getting my books stocked with certain retailers. Like I always tell my kids, “Team work makes the dream work.” And teaming up with Amara gives my books opportunities to find homes on new bookshelves.
MM: When I self-published A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime, I got it into a lot of bookstores, but Amara helped me get into all of the bookstores for the most part, as well as into Target and Walmart, which as an indie author we really can’t do. The distribution is key in order to grow our readership, and Amara has been a tremendous help with that.
What new opportunities do you see moving forward with Amara and Entangled Publishing?
GL: What I appreciate most about working with Entangled is that its sensibilities align so well with what I love about indie publishing. It's ambitious, but it also understands how important adaptability is in this constantly shifting market. It takes on projects it believes in and is fully invested in each one. The first time I heard Liz Pelletier speak, I knew this was someone I wanted to work with someday. She’s a visionary. With her at the helm, the opportunities feel limitless. The company is growing in such exciting ways, and it's keeping authors at the heart of it all.
DP: I have loved seeing social media comments and posts from new readers saying they found a book at the store and it’s their first Devney Perry book. I hope to see that continue through this year and beyond.
MM: I love the new sprayed edges we can get for our paperbacks! They make the books stand out and they become a collector’s item for the readers—and me, ha. Plus, the distribution of course. I cannot stress enough how beneficial that is.
Geneva, as a writer of paranormal/fantasy and contemporary romance, is there a space where you feel particularly at home?
GL: The genre matters so much less than the characters for me. Characters are where I feel comfortable. When they’re fully formed in my mind, the rest falls into place, whether it’s a fantasy setting or a contemporary one.
Devney, you often set your novels in Montana. What inspires you about the setting and how does it enhance your storytelling?
DP: I was born and raised in Montana. When I started writing, I couldn’t think of a better place to set my stories than at home. There’s so much to love about Montana, from the rugged landscapes to the small towns and the tight-knit communities. It will always be an inspiration for me, and I hope that my stories inspire readers to visit the state that will always hold my heart.
Monica, how do you go about capturing the mindsets and perspectives of teenage characters in the Lancaster Prep books?
MM: Well, I’ve been surrounded by teenagers for years via my children and their friends, but unfortunately for my inspiration, they’ve all gotten older! My youngest turns 20 in September and that’s it. No more teens in my life.
In regard to capturing the perspectives of teenagers, I try to remember what it was like when I was a teen. While the landscape has certainly changed—no internet or social media when I was in high school—the problems, the angst, the highs and the lows haven’t really changed at all. I also have a great relationship with my kids, and they share a lot of their experiences from their own lives or their friends' lives. I get a lot of inspiration from those stories, though some I’ve been forbidden to ever use, ha ha.
Geneva, what’s your favorite romance trope to play with and/or overturn in your writing?
GL: I will forever be a found family girl. As a reader, my earliest favorites all featured found family, and it’s a trope that comes up in every one of my books. Growing up with undiagnosed neurodivergence, I never felt like I quite fit, so there’s something about the idea of finding a group of people that see you fully and love you flaws and all that always gets me. My main characters are never getting just a love interest; they’re getting that family and sense of belonging that so many of us crave. My readers often comment that they want to be part of the group they’re reading about or they feel as if they are when they’re reading. There’s nothing better than that.
Devney, I’m struck by the variety of characters and circumstances spanning your Edens series. As you set out to write a new installment, what drives your creative process?
DP: The characters in each book are always the driving force behind the story. But I love to make each book in a series unique, whether that’s by adding an element of mystery or various tropes. I love writing a series of interconnected standalone books so I can revisit past characters while at the same time keeping the storylines fresh and different.
Monica, is Lancaster Prep based on your own high school experience?
MM: Absolutely not! I wish I went to an elite private boarding school full of rich, confident teenage boys on the East Coast, but alas, I went to public school in a somewhat small town in Northern California.
Geneva, your world-building is so divine in the Filthy Rich Vampire series. Can you talk about developing the universe of the books?
GL: I’d pitched my agent on the idea of an adult vampire romance series while I was writing The Royals Saga. At the time, vampires were dead, if you’ll pardon the pun, so I wasn’t in a rush to start it. That turned out to be such a blessing because I developed the world for years. I think every book has a marination period—you can tell I’m a foodie—and FRV is so juicy because of how long I got to linger in the little details before sharing it with the world. By the time I finally had the aha moment of how the main characters, Julian and Thea, met, it was all there, and it was like getting to build in the coolest sandbox ever when I sat down to write.
Devney, can you talk about writing a romantic suspense like Indigo Ridge? How did the experience differ from writing your other books?
DP: Romantic suspense is a personal favorite of mine. About half of my books include some sort of mystery element because I love a “who done it” moment in stories. Indigo Ridge was such a fun book to write, not only by introducing the Edens and the fictional town of Quincy, Montana, but also for the suspense subplot woven into the romance.
Monica, can you talk about the art of writing morally gray characters?
MM: It’s a tricky line to walk, creating that morally gray character who you want to trust and care about but who acts like a complete jerk and makes it difficult. I’m always looking for a character’s motivation, which gives me the why. As in, why does he say those things? Why does he act like that? There’s always a why and I love exploring that.
Geneva, how do you determine the level of "spice" in each book and/or series?
GL: That always comes very naturally based on the story and the characters. I never try to force a particular spice level or add more or less to change the heat level. I find that as the romance develops, the spice level sets itself and the heat often builds in the series just like it would with spicy food. That’s primarily because the intimacy and trust between the characters deepens as the story continues. It’s one of the reasons I love writing series-based romance.
Monica, what can you share about your decision to make Lancaster Prep a multigenerational series?
MM: This is where I’m honest—I thought I had exhausted the stories I could tell in the Lancaster Prep series and was going to end it after book five, but my UK publisher wanted more. I came up with the idea of a next generation to create something exciting for me to dive into, and giving readers glimpses of favorite characters as Mom and Dad has been fun for both them and me. The new characters are a blend of their parents, meaning I can take the best traits from previous characters and instill them in their children. I adore that. I think it brings a feeling of nostalgia. I try my best to create a world that readers like to spend time in because I want to enjoy spending time in it too!
Geneva, what can you share about the Filthy Rich Fae series?
GL: Filthy Rich Fae expands the universe I introduced with Filthy Rich Vampires while still being its own story entirely. One of the great joys about writing in this world is thinking about what modern tropes pair with these supernatural species with centuries of folklore surrounding them. Fae with their bargains and courts naturally lent themselves to being a modern supernatural mafia. When the heroine, Cate, finds herself at the mercy of the head of New Orleans’s criminal underground, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. The next thing she knows, she's made a deal not with a mob boss but a fae prince—and the bargain is magically binding. It’s a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers story that’s equal parts fantasy romance and John Wick. I’ve had so much fun writing it.
