Elise Kova - Exploring Deep Emotions and Magical Fantasy Worlds

ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.  As our Author of the Day, she tells us about her book, "A Dance with the Fae Prince."

Please give us a short introduction to what "A Dance with the Fae Prince" is about.

Katria's hand in marriage is sold off to the highest bidder following her father's death. What she doesn't know is that the buyer is a fae prince in hiding. When she accidentally steals his birthright - an ancient magic of the fae - she's taken to the magical land of Midscape. As the prince tries to get his power back from her, the bloodthirsty fae king also hunts her. But what frightens Katria the most is a love she never wanted.

"A Dance with the Fae Prince" draws inspiration from Cinderella and the myth of Psyche & Eros. What aspects of these tales most influenced your story, and how did you blend them into your unique narrative?

Katria's backstory definitely has Cinderella vibes, and I think those will be apparent in the first few chapters. But I really wanted to use that backstory as a theme to explore, rather than just a superficial trope. For Psyche & Eros, I love the idea of how those two lovers met, and then how much they were willing to fight for their love.

Katria is a compelling protagonist with a complex background. What makes her tick?

Katria had a rough childhood that shapes a lot of her current thinking. She has a lot of preconceived notions about love and marriage that make being "sold off" into a marriage complicated. Even more so when she discovers her new husband is a fae prince in hiding...

The land of Midscape and the fae wilds play a significant role in the novel. Can you share your process for creating such a rich and immersive fantasy world?

The land of Midscape is filled with different regions that each Married to Magic stand alone novel explores. I wanted to make a world deep enough that each different people who occupy it could hold their own story.

The romance between Katria and Lord Fenwood evolves gradually. How did you balance the slow-burn romance with the other plot elements to keep readers engaged?

I really love to have a balance of romance and other plot elements. I try to do that by having the characters have goals and exterior forces beyond the romance, as well as side characters (found family is one of my favorite tropes) with their own stories and goals.

Fae lore and magic are integral to the plot. How did you decide on the rules and nature of magic in your world, and what research or influences shaped your depiction of fae?

I really like to take the familiar and give it original twists. So while my fae are inspired by fae lore, they're not exactly like fae in traditional folklore.

The book features several twists and turns, especially with the ritual and the magic of ancient kings. Did you plan it all out before you started writing, or did some of it just "happen" along the way?

I'm definitely an exploratory writer. So while I usually have some ideas of the main plot points and the magic system planned, I discover a lot while drafting and then clean it up later in revisions.

Although "A Dance with the Fae Prince" is part of the Married to Magic series, it stands alone. What are the challenges and benefits of writing interconnected standalone novels?

The Married to Magic novels actually aren't interconnected at all! And it's not a series. Each Married to Magic novel is its own, self-contained story. The only similarities is that they all take place in the world of Midscape - though in completely different regions with their own magics, peoples, and conflicts - and that each Married to Magic story follows a human woman falling in love with a magical man. Otherwise, there are no connections, overarching plots, overlapping characters, or storylines. The books can be read in any order or skip entirely.

Katria’s journey involves significant self-discovery and empowerment. What message or themes did you hope readers would take away from her story?

That just because one relationship has been a disappointment in your life doesn't mean there isn't hope for love and goodness in your future. And that it's never too late to find yourself and who you're meant to be.

Besides writing, what other "secret" skills do you have?

I love playing games (console, PC, tabletop...) and am really into bread baking.

How have readers' reactions to "A Dance with the Fae Prince" influenced your writing or future projects? Are there any particular pieces of feedback that stood out to you?

I do love to see what my readers think about my books to try and deliver more of what they'll enjoy. For A Dance with the Fae Prince, I really loved seeing that Katria's story of learning what healthy love looks like resonated with many readers. Every Married to Magic explores a different kind of journey to finding one's love and happiness. So it's really special to see how different readers relate to each unique female lead.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I tend to work best in the mornings and I always have music. Many of my books and series have playlists that I share on my Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/22cznob2uuwvss4qhxrliu46i

What are you working on right now?

Right now I'm working on a brand new world titled ARCANA ACADEMY. It's an adult epic fantasy that blends enemies to lovers romance, dark academia, and a tarot-inspired magic system.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I'm very active on my Instagram (@Elise.Kova) and TikTok (@EliseKova), but probably the best place to find all the ways to interact with me and learn more about my work is my website - https://www.elisekova.com/

There you can find all my books, newsletter, free gifts, my text line, writing and publishing tips, and more.