Author Interview – M.A. Lakewood

1. For readers discovering you for the first time, can you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey into becoming an author?

Hi, everyone! I’m M.A. Lakewood, aka Mary Ann. I’m an author living in central NY with my husband, two kids, and two cats. I’ve loved writing since I was a little kid and conveniently developed my first bout of nostalgia around age 12, so I still have most of my childhood “books” dating back to kindergarten or earlier. From approximately 2009 to 2023, I didn’t do much beyond plotting and jotting down concepts. Then, on maternity leave in summer 2023, the bug came back, every hobby I have ever had amalgamated into “book,” and three years later, here we are with five published romances, and many more to come.

2. You write both fantasy romance and shifter romcoms. What drew you to those genres? 

Genre Romance has always been my true love, so we have to start there. I was sneaking mass market paperbacks with Fabio on the cover out of my great aunt’s special bookcase when I was probably too young. Every book I’ve ever written, except maybe my Frog & Toad reimagining from the early 90s, has had a romantic component to it. Honestly, Frog & Toad Go to the Zoo has undercurrents, too.

I think my love of fantasy (and sci-fi) started with A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (Mitochondria, FTW) and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. As I got older, I moved to authors like Robin Hobb, Anne Bishop, GRRM, and so many others who only took my love of fantasy to new heights. Separately, I’ve always read a lot of historical fiction and historical romance (shout outs to Jane Austen, Ken Follett, Georgette Heyer, Mary Balogh, Alice Coldbreath, and so on and so forth). I also read a lot of indie romance… a lot. I’ve had a Kindle Unlimited subscription for nearly 12 years, and I’ve used the shit out of it.

Somewhere along the way, every one of my hobbies merged, and my brain went, “You need to start writing this stuff again. Have fun with it. Stop trying to be serious.” 

I started with my fantasy world of Duhra, where I was drawn to the concept of the Regency era, plus magic, minus the guns, gloves, and misogyny. Worldbuilding and writing combines what I love to do for fun (build giant timelines, make way too many maps, and imagine made up people having sex) with what I love to read (smut). It’s the perfect hobby! Then, in January 2025, I caught up on Lola Glass books, and that’s literally the reason I started writing my own shifter romances. I had a very specific hankering, so I wrote it.

And that is how we got to where we are.

3. Your Beckett Falls books are described as steamy small-town shifter romcoms. What can readers expect when they visit Beckett Falls?

In short: It’s Schitt’s Creek with shifters! Beckett Falls is a tiny town with a tight-knit existing friend group and a bunch of wacky locals. The banter is flying in these books, the pack members are nosy, the stories always have a layer of sugary sweetness, but the MCs love to fuck*.

* IMPORTANT NOTE: Some readers consider these books to be slow burns because the MCs don’t usually “go all the way” until close to the end. Hear me out: when potential mates have sex with the intent to bond with the other person for life (for the straight couples, this has to be full on intercourse), the bond snaps into place. This can cause issues… so they’re usually careful about it. Don’t worry though, the couples do everything but until they reach the finish line. 

4. Your alpha MMC in Beck and Call has been described as a bit of a “dweeb.” What makes him such a fun character to write?

I love writing MMCs who are a little self-conscious for some reason or another. I don’t know why… I can’t stop. Ben “Beck” Beckett is an alpha in many regards (and literally in charge of his pack), but he’s “young” for the role at 28 and he was elected by the town who watched him grow up, so he’s feeling pressure to be a good leader while trying to build his own confidence around his ability to lead. Some of the pressure is real but most of it comes from his internalized doubts. It was so much fun to write his take-charge desires set against the way he actually acts in most situations (until he really comes into his own by the end of the book). For example, the book opens with the mayor telling Ben that they’re bringing in a human teacher, and he goes all alpha on them and refuses, but he’s immediately reminded that his wishes don’t matter, because the mayor oversees education.

Basically… he’s an HR supervisor for a bunch of crazy shifters and he’s constantly reminding himself that they put him in charge for a reason even if he doesn’t have complete confidence in himself.

5. What do you love most about writing shifter romance?

It’s all about the animals for me. I love the concept of giving characters secondary identities in one form or another (this pops up in a lot of my books, shifter or not). But when you make that “other side” of their personality a literal animal, it’s a ton of fun. In Beckett Falls, I made it where the shifters have an animal within them that’s an entirely different creature. They have different thoughts and desires, and they can’t talk (for the most part). I feel like shifting is a fun form of magic with almost endless permutations for how it can play out in different worlds—both the animals themselves and mate bonds. Plus… chases and biting. Need I say more? 

6. You also write epic fantasy romance in the world of Duhra, where everyone has magic. What inspired that world?

This world is inspired by a little bit of everything. My initial inspo was regency romance, one of my favorite sub-genres. But I also pulled from my background in anthropology and my love of history and archaeology when worldbuilding. As a very quick and not entirely comprehensive rundown that might get boring… The world of Duhra has four kingdoms: (1) Selwas is the most like regency-era England but the naming language is based on Kurdish Sorani with phonetic shifts. (2) Domos is heavily inspired by Greece, and the Roman and Byzantine empires. The naming language up there is based on proto-Italic. There are additional Yiddish and Scots Gaelic influences too, that I swear make sense if you read The Future Queen’s Captive. (3) The Gramenian principalities in the west are inspired by the German Confederation when regional princes held power over what is now Germany. The naming languages in Gramenia are different in each principality and inspired by Old High German, Frisian, Norwegian, Swedish, and other languages. Then we head over to the “mysterious” kingdom of (4) Karova which I can’t tell you much about since we won’t go there for a while, but the culture has a wide mix of inspirations and the naming language is based on Old Irish/Old Gaelic.

7. How does writing a high fantasy romance duology differ from writing a lighter romcom-style shifter story?

The main differences for me are in the back-end worldbuilding and “pop-culture” references. The high fantasy world takes a lot longer to flesh out, and I’m constantly checking against my 30,000 word notes file and my multiple spreadsheets to make sure I’m not botching the history I invented. I also try to avoid anachronistic terms and phrases, with some flexibility, since the world of Duhra is roughly equivalent to the early 1800s on earth.

On the flip side, in Beckett Falls, the alternative earth history doesn’t come up much. It’s also roughly contemporary, so I never have to worry about which phrases I use in text. That saves so much time.

Regarding pop-culture references, in Beckett Falls, I can just make them. But in the world of Duhra I have to make the pop-culture exist, so I can then make references to it. I don’t do this a ton, but I do have a bit of it over the course of the books. There’s a particular book that a lot of characters have read that comes up again and again until, eventually, it’s relevant to a plot, ;) 

8. You mentioned that you start every book by making a map. What does your worldbuilding process look like?

I love maps. I usually get a feeling for a setting then sketch it out by hand before heading over to Inkarnate and designing a detailed map (this also applies to floor plans for settings). It’s during this process that my brain usually goes haywire. My thinking is not really linear at all, I’ve described my thought process as a giant web where there’s a bubble of an idea, with a zillion connections firing off at once within it, I have to follow each trail to figure out if it’s one that actually makes sense, and I’m often zipping down multiple paths at once. When I come out of a fog like 40 hours later, I’m usually really hungry, about to pee my pants, and I have 50 handwritten pages with world history, magic system, book titles, character names, relationships, and general plot ideas.

After that, I move into a more fleshed out plotting phase where I jot down the main points for each book. Inevitably, I end up having moments where I write out entire conversations that sometimes make it to publication and sometimes get cut. But during this plotting process, I really get to know my characters, so I can loop back to the beginning, and actually draft their story.

9. What’s the most exciting part of building a new fantasy world?

That web of thoughts I mentioned above? I fucking love it. I love feeling like a pirate on an ocean of weird ideas, and I get to choose what qualifies as treasure. Every phase of the process gives me a big dopamine burst, and one of my favorite things to do is basically be a cultural anthropologist in these worlds I’m making up. I love asking myself what the locals believe in each area, why they believe it, how it shapes their practices, and what “outsiders” think about them. Then I hop over to the outsiders, who are now the locals, and I do it all over again.

10. Your books often take place in near-utopian societies. Why is that important to you as a storyteller?

I’m a firm believer that all books are political. While I love reading a wide variety of stories, including those that are darker than what I write, I find the most joy in creating worlds I would love to live in. Obviously, there still has to be a little drama for the plot, hence why I call them near-utopian worlds. I enjoy writing about “golden eras”: times without war in inclusive, queer-normative worlds. (One note: The Future Queen’s Captive is the farthest-from-Utopian book I have out with darker elements that I don’t have any plans to write about again in the future.)

11. Your stories also emphasize inclusive characters and personal growth arcs. How do you approach building meaningful character journeys?

This is an area I put a lot of focus into and, like all facets of writing, know I have room for improvement. It’s important to me to build worlds with diverse representation, but I also like to keep the focus small in terms of character arcs and what my MCs want (and need) out of life. I typically “assign” them a problem to overcome and additional issues show themselves as I start writing. I’ve written (not published!) 11 books in the past three years and found I can plan out arcs and journeys to align with plot beats until I’m blue in the face, but the characters will always do what they want. Then I do several rounds of edits to make sure their journey makes sense, and I hope for the best.

12. You’ve mentioned waking up at 4:30 AM to write—what does your typical writing routine look like?

I do typically wake up around 4:30 a.m.—and this is not intentional. It’s just my new normal (Maybe perimenopause? Maybe the state of the world?). I grab a coffee, feed the cats (I’ve uno reversed them and wake up before they can meow at me), and fire up my laptop. Sometimes I’m drafting, moretimes I’m editing, right now (4:59 a.m.) I’m writing this. I usually get 2-3 hours of uninterrupted writing/editing time before the household wakes up and I lose approximately 9 hours to my day job. Then, I get home, my husband makes dinner 98% of the time (TYSM Mr. Lakewood), and I squeeze in more writing and as much author admin work as I can before we get the toddler to bed and I inevitably fall asleep, too.

On the weekends, the schedule’s almost the same, but I can usually scrape together 4-6 hours of writing time per day depending on what’s on the calendar. I’m definitely exhausted, but I’m also happy AF, so it’s working for now.

13. You give yourself about a two-year timeline from drafting to publishing. How does that process usually unfold for you?

I draft “fast” and edit slowly. It takes me anywhere from eighteen days to two months to knock out a first draft, and I’ve found there’s no rhyme or reason to which books take longer to write. I like to ignore my first drafts for a few months before looping back for the second draft. I usually take a book to the third iteration (sometimes up to fifth) before passing it along to an alpha reader who gives me loads of amazing developmental feedback. When I’m approximately six months out from release, I edit again and pass the book off to my beta readers. After betas, final tweaks are made, then I format it as an epub and read it as an ebook before passing it off to my editor Kayleigh (Enchanted Edits) for proofreading. When the book’s back, I review and accept edits, format the paperback, and get myself an official proof copy. Then, I read it again in paperback form and I usually make about 100 edits (sorry to my editor), and push ARCs out about six weeks before release. So, yes, on the low-end, I’ve read my own novel approximately twelve times before release.

14. What part of writing do you enjoy the most?

My absolute favorite feeling is being swept away by a scene. When I’m plotting, this usually manifests as a hand cramp and several pages of scribbled banter with zero punctuation. If I’m drafting, I’ll close my eyes or unfocus them (shout out: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing) and go with the flow until someone interrupts me. Also, honorable mention to getting the physical proof copy in the mail—that’s another amazing feeling.

15. What part of the process tends to challenge you the most?

Editing, but specifically developmental edits & killing your darlings. This is part of why I like to step away from my drafts and original plot points for a while. Distance allows me to forget why I made certain choices and it makes the hard part easier.

It’s easy to jump into edits and start doing line level work without considering the story itself. It’s easy to convince yourself that a scene is immobile purely because it’s been there since draft one. It’s easy to fill in the gaps off-page when you have the worldbuilding and character motivations ingrained in your mind. But unfortunately, when editing, you can’t take the easy route.

16. You’ve shared that writing can be a form of escape and control, especially during difficult life experiences. How has writing helped you navigate those moments?

I don’t talk about this a ton, mainly out of respect for my son’s privacy, but our toddler has a rare genetic condition which means he gets a lot of early intervention and will likely need support for life. He’s nearly three now and he’s hitting milestones slowly but surely, even if he’s a couple years delayed. It was tough to get that sort of news a few months into our baby’s life, especially on the heels of a scary high-risk NIPT result months before, followed by a “normal” amniocentesis that led us to believe we were in the clear.

I think it was around the time the pediatrician suggested genetic testing that I started worldbuilding. Our life is genuinely great and we have a wonderful support system in our family and friends, early intervention team, doctors, school district, and state. But I’d be lying if I said life didn’t feel wildly out of control a lot of the time. Reading, watching TV, and playing the sims just wasn’t cutting it on the distraction front anymore, so I started creating my own worlds from scratch. Writing, map making, cover design, formatting, marketing, web design, and all the other tasks have been a wonderful escape for me, providing time I need to recharge and be present for my family and whatever life throws our way.

17. What authors, books, music, or historical influences inspire your stories?

So many that I don’t even know where to begin. Any author, piece of media, or period in history that I’ve mentioned above (or below) is definitely an inspiration. Two musicians/bands I have to shout out are Irish singer/songwriter, David Keenan, and Philly-based Dr. Dog, whose lyrics have inspired a lot of miscellaneous scenes in my books. I’m constantly inspired by life, nature, the books I’m reading, and any other media I’m consuming (with music at the forefront).

18. What can readers look forward to with The Future Queen’s Captive?

The Future Queen’s Captive kicks off the Hope & Home duology in my fantasy world of Duhra. It’s a great entry point to the world or it can be read after the Fear & Focus duology. Readers can look forward to a little bit of insta-lust featuring an impulsive princess who kidnaps a foreign earl and convinces him to help her usurp her dad. The found family is ridiculous and have more drama than the MCs. The romance isn’t dark but the subplot in this book is heavier than anything I’ve published before. This kingdom was a blast to write. The predominant magic is sensory-based, so most characters have either taste, touch, sight, scent, or sound magic and can manipulate what others experience. I also introduce new fantasy “races” in The Future Queen’s Captive, which I’m very excited about and have some fun stuff planned for in the future.

19. Your 2026 release schedule looks busy! What are you most excited about with your upcoming books?

This year is a busy one. I love my fantasy world, but I am exceptionally excited for the June 2026 release of Fitz and Starts, book two in the world of Beckett Falls. The story was a blast to write, it’s been a blast to edit (rare), and beta reader feedback was unbelievably positive. While my fantasy books are a bit heavier this year, Fitz and Starts is a hilarious, hot, and heartwarming romp. It’s a small-town, shifter rom-com about Elliott, a grumpy bear shifter who just wants to be getting baked, baking bread, and working in his ceramics studio. Then, Fern, a chatty, outgoing (human) stylist accidentally takes a wrong turn down Elliott’s driveway and both of their lives go a little bit sideways when his grizzly sets his sights on her. It’s a ridiculous story, and I think it's the perfect escape from the state of the world.

20. What has been the most rewarding moment of your author journey so far?

The community has surprised me in the best way possible. The actual act of writing has always been very solitary for me—and I really love that about it. But deciding to publish opened up a whole new world, and I’ve been so honored to connect with so many amazing new friends and colleagues: writers, readers, artists, editors, every type of service provider and vendor. I’ve made so many genuine friendships since I got online to talk about my books in 2024 and so many more since I started doing in-person events sometime last year. One of my favorite stories to tell is about Liz from Edgy Pages (an amazing bookish vendor). She ARC read my debut novel after finding me on Instagram. We ended up DM’ing, and then we realized we live 4 minutes apart. Now we get our kids together to swim in the summer and I send her twelve minute voice notes. The internet may have been a mistake overall, but I’m wildly grateful for the community it’s introduced me to. I love you all so much. 

21. What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to build rich fantasy worlds?

Have fun with it but don’t let it hold you back from writing the book. You’ll never do “all” of your worldbuilding before you begin, and the readers never really need to know more than 10% of it.  I find having a solid base of a map, magic system, character concepts, and loose world history is all I really need to get started. The details fill in themselves.

I’m also a big fan of spreadsheets, which I’m pretty sure I’ve already mentioned. That’s how much I love them. Track what you invent and what you describe. If you’re writing anything more than a standalone, track details of the people, places, and things you put down on page. If you don’t want to break the flow, leave a comment in your draft like, “MMC Description,” and move it over later. I cannot tell you how much time this has saved me when characters return to a setting from a prior book and I can’t remember if the floor was wood or tile. My most referenced column in my character spreadsheets is whether or not they can raise one eyebrow. 🤷🏼♀️

22. What do you hope readers feel after finishing one of your books?

I hope people feel warm, fuzzy, and happy, and—let’s be real—I hope they feel a burning desire to go read another one of my books immediately. 

23. What do you love most about the romance and fantasy reader community?

I love the diversity of identities, experiences, interests, and opinions. I don’t like ableists, racists and -phobes who infiltrate positive communities (or the world, at all), but if you can scroll past the rage bait and land in rich, supportive spaces, the book recommendations, the commentary, the sexual liberation, and the joy are absolutely unmatched. 

24. What are your biggest goals for the future of your writing career?

It’s my dream to make this a full time job at some point in the future. I daydream of having extra time to put into both writing and all of the admin tasks that go along with self publishing. But I’m scaling at a rate that works for my life. That being said, I think my boss knows my pen name, so if you’re seeing this, don’t worry—I’m not leaving anytime soon. ;) 

25. Where can readers connect with you and keep up with your upcoming releases?

The absolute best way to keep in touch is by joining my newsletter at MALakewood.com. If you join through this other page, you’ll get a completely free copy of Moore or Less, a shifter romcom novella set in the world of Beckett Falls. It’s in a different town, so there are no spoilers to the main series.

I’m active on IG and Tiktok @m.a.lakewood, though my DMs are not always monitored.

Finally, it helps a ton if you give me a follow over on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

Thank you so much!

 

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Rapid Fire Fun 🔥

26. Coffee or tea while writing? Coffee 98% of the time, tea 2%.
27. Morning writer or night writer? Morning (used to be night, though)
28. Favorite romance trope? One bed/horse/tent/carriage/cabin/spaceship/etc.
29. Favorite fantasy creature? Shifters (broad AF, I know.)
30. Paperback, ebook, or audiobook? ebook
31. One word to describe your books? Silly
32. Favorite writing snack? 3 drinks (water, caffeine, and a sweet treat) & whatever my husband puts in front of me to eat
33. Music while writing or silence? It’s 50/50
34. Shifter romance or epic fantasy romance? I’m a mood reader (and mood writer)
35. One thing readers might be surprised to learn about you? I play the drums. 🥁