AfterDark Team: First, can you introduce yourself for our followers who haven't heard of you yet? And maybe tell us something about you that your readers don't know?

Orchid_27: I'm E.M. and I go by Em or Orchid. I live on the West Coast with my husband and sentient furballs, I'm a full-time architect, and now I write for Wattpad! Erotic romance and steamy medical dramas are my brand. My works include The Widower, The Professional Lover, and Saving Grace.

While I don't go in trying to be a cliché killer, I love sinking my teeth into new ideas and hitting my readers with that sweet, sweet twist. My characters are often quick to bed, slow to love. One thing some of my readers may not know about me is that I am demisexual/demiromantic, which I believe is the source of the off-kilter approaches to love in my stories.

AfterDark Team: An architect who lives on the West Coast and writes erotica romances? You seem so cool!

What kind of buildings do you design?

Also, we love representation here, and I think it's so important to see different kinds of people and thus loves in stories.

Orchid_27: Hahaha thank you! I mainly do multifamily, so mid- and high-rise apartments with a few rowhouses thrown in. It's a flashy job title, especially since I'm one of a very small number of Black women in my field, but it's actually very chill. My job was the inspiration for the workplace struggle theme of Saving Grace, but architecture is one of the least dramatic professions you can be in. Forgetting to save a Revit file isn't nearly as heart pounding as trying to save a life, you know? Lmao

AfterDark Team: Haha! Yes, indeed, though books can be life-saving in some way, and you're a writer too, so you're a true heroine in some way!

Speaking of your characters and the inspiration behind it, what is your biggest inspiration for your stories?

Orchid_27: That's a big question! I would say the one unifying inspiration for all my stories is to open minds. My subject matter can be controversial and uncomfortable for some. Humans kind of suck sometimes. We have a habit of not caring about something unless it affects us, so if I can get a reader to fall in love with a character and show them an experience or perspective they wouldn't have seen otherwise, I've given them a reason to have compassion for the real humans who resemble them.

I feel like I need to crack a joke. I'm rarely serious for this long, haha

AfterDark Team: Haha! We love this, the lightness but also the seriousness!

Personally, most of our favorite books are the ones challenging our view and beliefs, and well, making us rethink everything.

What about you writing them? What did you learn about yourself or the world through your books? (Sorry, I guess we're staying in the seriousness lol)

Orchid_27: I learned that I needed therapy, lololol. Seriously though, I did need therapy—just not the kind Karens in my comments say I need.

Writing is a great way to process and put difficult thoughts into words. It took me a while to realize the "bad" parts of my personality I was using to humanize my characters were healed by the end of the story. It was a big flashing sign saying "OMG STOP BEING LIKE THIS! WORK ON YOURSELF!"

Five years ago, I didn't realize it wasn't healthy to see every relationship as a life or death situation, or to not be able to get out of bed for days each month. There was a lot of pain and grief that I hadn't processed yet, and realizing that was one of the biggest contributions to my growth.

That annoying "it gets better" shit is 100% true. I still live with the same mental health issues, and I probably always will, but I have learned to love and accept the person that pain and trauma has made me. I'm a much healthier and happier person today than I was before I started sharing my stories with the world. I hope my writing helps someone else do the same.

Okay, I gotta make a joke or I'll explode.

Therapist: Anyways...

Writer: 'Anyways' isn't a word. It's 'anyway.'

Therapist: Anyway... We were discussing why it's hard for you to make friends.

AfterDark Team: That's so inspiring! Thank you for sharing this and your stories, I'm sure it will help a lot of people ❤

Also, thank you for lightening the mood! You're so funny!

Do you use that humor in your stories too?

Orchid_27: That one was awful, don't lie. Jokes are not my forte but I love making people laugh is my favorite thing to do (even more than making them cry)! Readers usually get a sense of my extremely inappropriate sense of humor in the first few paragraphs of my stories. I'm crass, foul-mouthed, and painfully blunt, so my MCs are too. If people think I'm not giggling to myself when I place my characters into the most embarrassing, cringe-worth situations, they're wrong. 

AfterDark Team: lol the evil laugh of a writer behind their screens!

Speaking of this, the next question, brought to you by @CJ_Brown_Pen, who recommended you for this interview, is :

What is the best and worst part of being an author?

Orchid_27: That sneaky little sneak! CJ is such an amazing human. I even put her in one of my stories!

I have to say the best part is the release that comes with it. You had a thought and a desire to put it into words, you fleshed it out, let it breathe and come to life, and now suddenly you have a book? Whether anyone sees it or not, I wrote the story I wanted to read, and that brings me joy.

The worst part is letting go, I think. When it ends, when it's "complete," it can be painful. You put a piece of you onto paper and now you're setting down the pen, possibly forever. It's very bittersweet. If you are brave enough and lucky enough to share it with others, it becomes theirs in a way. It may breathe differently for them than it does for you, and that's okay. Letting go is hard, but it can be good.

You're gonna make me get sniffly! But I think most writers can admit to shedding a tear or a thousand when they type The End.

AfterDark Team: Aww, we know that feeling whether it's typing or reading 'The end' *sharing tissues*

But the good thing is when, like in life, it also means starting a new story. Speaking of... do you already have plans for new stories in the future? Can you give us a little teaser? Or maybe just of the ones you're currently writing?

Orchid_27: I'm torturing my readers with too many WIPs at the moment, hahaha. My main focus is my newest story Situationship. I've teased it for a disgustingly long time, but it's a frenemies to lovers steamy romcom. It's my first story with a switching POV and I'm having a lot of fun with the characters! I totally, absolutely, definitely won't torture them.

I'm also slowly updating the third installment of my Professional Lover series! This one has some new friends and some old friends, including ones we have been curious about for a while. Oh, and maybe a little MMF action, too.

I always have something in the wings, so I'll just say stay tuned! ❤️

AfterDark Team: Oooh... You definitely know how to tease! lol

Before we wrap it up, do you have a little message for your readers? Or maybe a question for them? Why not switch the roles a little!

Orchid_27: The question I want to ask is the one I get the most. I am always happy to answer with my special insider info, but I would love readers' input as well. Beyond the usual advice of a great cover, good grammar/syntax, hook and plot, what is it that makes you click on a story? What keeps you coming back for more?

Other than that, I just want to give a humongous thank you to anyone who has supported and encouraged me in any capacity. I never take for granted the luck and opportunity I have been given to reach so many people. Anyone who takes something positive away from my little stories makes it all worth it. My readers are f*cking awesome humans and I am thankful to be able to meet and talk to every one of them.

My kids, you mean the world to me, I adore you! ❤️

AfterDark Team: Aww, you're a ******* awesome human, and we loved to get to know more about you!

If you want more, go check out Orchid_27 unique stories.

Also, don't forget to answer her question in the comments 😉

Personally, we think there is some nice advice on writing dark romance, in our How to Mature guide!