Author Interview: Sheritta Bitikofer

About the author:
An author of paranormal and urban fantasy fiction, Sheritta Bitikofer lives for the deep, engaging stories that enthrall readers from cover to cover. Readers can expect to be immersed in a complex, ever-evolving, and intricate world of supernatural creatures like werewolves, witches, and vampires. As a wife and fur-mama of eclectic tastes, she can be found roaming Civil War battlefields, perusing the romance section of the bookstore, or relaxing with a plate of chili cheese fries.

What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
A lot of my romances tend toward the sweet side, and I do that because I want readers to understand that romance and love is about true intimacy. It's not always about sex or physical attraction – though that plays a role as well. I am a believer in the concept of soul mates or twin flames. I believe that two people can come together and create magic. I've always been a romantic, so writing about those kinds of connections was natural.

Tell us about how you write.
I have a room dedicated in my house specifically for writing. I prefer to write in silence, but sometimes I need a little mood music so I'll put on some soft instrumental soundtracks.

Do you listen to or talk to to your characters?
I let them talk to me. My characters have been with me since the beginning since I tend to write interwoven series, so I know them as well as myself. So when I'm channeling them through the scene, I know the dialogue is going to be on-point and unique.

What advice would you give other romance writers?
Don't let anyone tell you that your romance is too erotic or not erotic enough. It took me a while to find out that I do tend toward the sweeter side of the romance genre, which isn't bad. But, I had a lot of people in the beginning say that it was too "vanilla". Again, this isn't bad. It's my style. And other romance writers will have their own style and heat preference. It doesn't mean they're any less of a romance writer. Every level of steaminess has their own niche. You just have to find it and market accordingly.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
It happened on a whim, really. I had several books already written and a friend told us about Kindle Direct publishing. For years, I though self-publishing was something to avoid or it wasn't profitable. But I decided to take the plunge with one of my books and put it out there with a basic cover and somewhat poor editing. I wouldn't recommend jumping into the deep end like that, but I learned and have come a long way from where I was. But if I didn't do it, I knew I might have never been ready. I was a writer and the next step was to be a published author. Simple as that.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think Indie and self-publishing is going to get bigger and bigger. I don't know if they will ever surpass traditional publishing, but I look forward to seeing more indie bookstores.

Which romance sub-genere(s) fit your stories best?
Young adult, historical, paranormal, urban fantasy

My books are available in the following formats:
eBook, Print