Beyond The Cover With…
“I prioritize writing romance stories where Black, plus-sized leads are the forefront, following their dreams and falling in love while doing it!””
Today, we’e going Beyond The Cover with contemporary romance author, Amarie Wheeler, a 29-year-old author based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Amarie writes romance stories that put Black, plus-sized leads at the forefront as they purse their dreams and find love along the way.
Her journey into. publishing began with a dream — literally. After writing her debut novel, The Way We Used to Be, and spending about a year querying, Amarie found an agent and took the book on submission to publishers. When the book ultimately died on submission, she decided to take matters into her own hands and self-publish.
Now with her second novel currently out to publishers and her third book nearly drafted, Amarie is continuing to build her journey as an indie author.
Tell me about your latest book?
“I’m currently (and very slowly) drafting a small town contemporary romance about a disgraced social media influencer who flees to a small town in Kentucky and falls for a local ranch owner’s grump of a son. I’m so excited for this one because there isn’t much diversity in cowboy romance, so you know I had to write about a Black cowboy!”
If your book were a person, how would you describe its personality?
“My debut novel, The Way We Used To Be, is like your best friend. It’s the one you grew up with. It’s who you come to for warm hugs and sound advice.”
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
“The moment in between having a fantastic idea and drafting a novel is my favorite part of the writing process. I love brainstorming the characters, crafting their backstories, and outlining their lives. I also love planning the novel’s playlist and making mood boards to capture the book’s vibes!”
Do you outline everything or discover the story as you go?
“I outline HEAVY detail — sometimes my notes are 5-10 pages long. But I will admit that most of the time, I abandon my outline once I start writing. The characters tell me how they want their story to go, who am I to ignore them?”
What is the biggest lesson that you have learned as an indie author?
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned as an indie author is that you’ll never have everything figured out. It’s a never-ending process of learning and pivoting. There will always be lessons you don’t know and changes you’ll need to apply for your next book. It’s okay to not know everything.”
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to publish their first book?
“It’s difficult to wrap your head around but comparison is the thief of joy. It’s easy to get sucked up in how other authors and their novels are doing, especially in the age of social media. There are users that are very transparent on their journeys and what’s worked for them and what hasn’t”
What are you currently reading?
“Reading is always sparse when I’m drafting, but I recently finished Fast by Millie Belizaire — one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful stories I have ever read. I definitely recommend, but please pay attention to the trigger warnings because it was a hard read!”
Where can readers find your books and follow your journey as an author?
“My novel is available on Kindle Unlimited and ebook (as well as paperback) through Amazon. I also sell paperback books directly through Payhip. I am also stocked currently in the following bookshops listed on my Substack post.”
“You can keep up with my journey on Instagram and Threads (username:@amwheeler_author) as well as my Substack!
What book do you wish you could read again for the first time?
“Some books I would read again for the first time would be: American Love Song by Britt Middleton, Downtown by J.S. Jasper, and Kindred Spirits by Nia P.
We want to thank Amarie Wheeler for taking the time to go Beyond The Cover with us and giving readers a glimpse into her writing journey, her creative process, and the stories she’s bringing to life. From a debut novel inspired by a dream to a future story featuring a Black cowboy in a small-town romance, Amarie is creating a space for characters and love stories that deserve to be seen. We can’t wait to see where her writing journey takes her next and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for that cowboy romance!
Be sure to follow Amarie and check out The Way We Used To Be to discover her work for yourself.
