Project Backlist- Delta James

Project Backlist: Start Your Journey with Delta James

Welcome to Project Backlist, Buzzing about Romance’s guide to must-read backlist books! This week, we’re spotlighting Delta James.

Meet Delta James

If you’re looking for paranormal, dark, and contemporary Western erotic romance, you’ve found your new favorite author!

Alpha heroes find real love with feisty heroines in Delta James’ sinfully sultry romances. Welcome to a world where true love conquers all and good triumphs over evil! Delta’s stories are filled with erotic encounters of romance and discipline.

Get to know Delta

Becky: What initially drew you to the romance genre as a writer?

Delta: I have been reading romance since I was probably 10 or 12. When contemporaries were reading Nancy Drew and Donna Parker, I was reading Mary Stewart—Airs Above the Ground, The Moon-Spinners, then I graduated to Beatrice Small and Kathleen Woodiwiss

Becky: You have been publishing for quite a few years now… is it hard to keep your ideas fresh?

Delta: Yes and no. I work really hard not to rehash the same books over and over. I think readers deserve better than that. So, I do read other books, although usually not romance, and I read through plots being offered for sale and have even bought some. However, often the book that results bears little resemblance from the plot that spawned it. Usually, it gives me a place that starts and then my characters take over. And sometimes I’ll get an idea for a new book from a reader who says, “what about a story about [fill in the blank].”

Becky: Can you share any writing rituals or habits that help you stay focused and productive during the writing process?

Delta: No matter how much I don’t want to, or don’t feel like it, or whatever, I sit down and write every single day—365 days a year. It’s a kind of muscle memory and I think when you take long breaks, I think it’s harder to get back. I also have a publishing deadline—having that date out there by which I need to get something to an editor is really helpful in keeping me on task.

Becky: What challenges do you face when writing romance, and how do you overcome them?

Delta: One is writing sex scenes. After the first couple of hundred… I really have to check myself to make sure I’m not over-using phrases or specifics in a scenes. I try to keep each unique to the characters and to the story.

I also strive to make my characters relatable. I want readers to see some part of themselves—or some part of themselves they want to be—in my heroines and I want my heroes to be at their core the kind of man they want for themselves.

Overcoming these and any other challenges is a matter of looking at my work with a critical eye and having a team—my alpha and beta readers, my editor, etc.—doing the same and feeling as though I do listen to what they have to say. I have a chat group with my beta readers, and we have some lively discussions if they think I’m wrong. I don’t always agree, but I do listen and often tweak, if not outright change things they see as flaws.

Becky: How do you handle romantic tropes and clichés to keep your stories fresh and engaging for readers?

Delta: My PA stays on top of market trends for me, and I do write to market. Unlike some authors, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. For me, the real fun is in taking well-liked tropes and bending or applying them to my genre in an unexpected way, giving them a unique spin.

As you know I have an active reader group and I ask them what they like, what they don’t like and do polls to try and keep on top of what people are reading and enjoying.

Becky: Romance readers often have strong preferences when it comes to tropes (such as enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, etc.). Do you have a trope you love to write, and if so, what about it appeals to you?

Delta: Enemies-to-lovers is probably my favorite trope as I find it easy to write. There’s a natural push/pull that’s inherent which makes it fun and also gives each character a natural arc.

I also like “second chance” because I believe there are so many ways to have a second chance. I do try to make the reason they fell apart the first time something that wouldn’t have been easily resolved with a simple conversation.

Becky: What is one thing you want your readers to take away from your books when they are finished?

I want readers to be entertained. I want them to see my books as an escape. But when they find inspiration in them to make their lives better, it inspires me to continue to write. I get emails from readers all the time that tell me a certain book inspired them to start a new career, face a fear, leave a toxic relationship, etc. No matter how many I receive, each and every one makes me tear up. To know that I can have a positive impact on someone’s life is absolutely the best feeling in the world.

About Mercenary Masters

Becky: What inspired you to write your earliest novels? Were there any particular themes or tropes you were drawn to?

Delta: I started out not so much on a lark, but not knowing anything about being a writer. I did it because I was 60 years old and was wondering what happened to the girl whose motto was “fortune favors the bold.” I wanted her back and decided to pursue a long-held dream of becoming a novelist. I was very lucky, the stars all aligned and I made it happen. Don’t get me wrong. I worked very hard and had a lot of help along the way.

Becky: How do you feel your writing has evolved from your first release to your most recent books?

Delta: For one thing, I’ve honed my craft. I work a lot on that. My editor has been incredibly helpful in that regard. I tell a better story. I think my characters are more developed and my writing is tighter and yet more vivid. I started writing mainly niche books and that has expanded to more mainstream.

What about this series/story that holds a special place in your heart? Why do they resonate with you?

Delta: The actual book that was written first is not the first in the timeline of the series. In that book—Devil Dog—I created in passing Robert Fitzwallace, who sort of took up residence in my brain, which led to his book Alpha Dog, which spawned the whole series—Mercenary Masters. I wanted to write a romantic suspense series which featured some D/s elements. I had such a good time with the characters and their stories. The original series has spawned off one successful series—Club Southside—and a series of “short reads” novellas—Club Tales.

Becky: Which of your characters in this book or series are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out to you?

Delta: The thing I like about the series is there isn’t one character I don’t like. I am especially fond of Fitz and JJ as their dynamic is so, well, dynamic. They are madly in love, and each gives the other what he/she needs. The veritable irresistible force and immovable object.

Becky: Have there been any books from your backlist that you feel didn’t get as much attention as they deserved?

Delta: My Mystery She Wrote series did not find the audience I hoped it would find. I loved that series, and I think it was really good, but it just didn’t resonate with readers the way I thought it should. So much so that I cancelled the fourth book. The books weren’t as interwoven as most of my series—and therein I think was the problem—but I only have finite resources and need to put them where I get the best return on investment. I know some writers hate when I say things like that, but if you are a full-time author, you need to look at things like that.

Becky: How do you approach balancing standalone novels with series? Do you find it easier to revisit characters in a series, or do you prefer writing new stories?

Delta: I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. I write not only new stories and in older series, but whole new series with all new stories. I do enjoy writing series as you can play with characters—new and old—that both the readers and I enjoy.  Besides which, readers seem to enjoy series that have a lot of integrated characters that they can see again and again, while still being standalone novels. I love having an arc that flows through a series, while still having books that can be read alone or read in almost any order.

Becky: Are there any particular lessons or themes in this series that you feel still resonate strongly with readers?

Delta: I think most of my readers prefer strong, solid heroes who may not be perfect, but love their women and will do the right thing. I also think the women in the series are wonderful and not just secondary characters. In fact, one of the things I think my readers enjoy is that I write well-rounded, fully developed characters.

Becky: What was the most challenging book in this series to write, and what did you learn from the experience?

Delta: Probably, Top Dog, as Sawyer and Rhiannon had been integral throughout the series. Rhiannon had been through something horrific and didn’t trust Sawyer or anyone enough to help her come back. She was damaged and walking through that with her was difficult but ultimately rewarding.

Becky: Do you ever see yourself revisiting (second gen or expanding) on this series/story’s characters in future projects?

Delta: I have expanded it into two other series mentioned above and I do think that the “world” I built will continue to expand.

Becky: How do you stay motivated to create new stories after having such an extensive backlist?

Delta: Not to be crass, but money. Being a novelist is how I make a living. It helps that it is the best job I’ve ever had and one which I enjoy immensely. Besides, I love the idea that what I do, in some small way, helps others. I get to entertain, and sometimes inspire, people.

Thank you so much to Delta James for taking the time to answer our questions. Happy Reading!