Author Q & A with Margot Arden

Margot Arden is a new indie author with a new release, refreshing the market with a new spin on Vampire Romance. Her book Vampire so Virtuous is a dual pov, paranormal romance with a strong heroine and slow-burn romance, and a morally grey hero. She brings education to her literature writing for a different genre of reader with stories that promote entertainment but also thought and maturity.

Social Media Links

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/margotarden87/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/margotarden.author/

Instagram Threads – https://www.threads.com/@margotarden87

Website – https://margotarden.com

Question 1: Where did you find the inspiration for your main character?

‘Vampire So Virtuous‘ is dual POV, and therefore I have two MCs. I wanted Cally to be a take-charge heroine, not a wallflower with no agency or substance. Back in my misspent youth, I did a bit of martial arts myself, so it seemed fun to give her that skill. Not because kicking people in the head is a life goal, but because of the confidence and composure that such a skill can bring. I suppose all my characters have a little bit of self-insertion… mostly in their flaws. Antoine, on the other hand, is the title character. I wanted to reflect a bit of the loneliness and weight of immortal life, and contrast it to the flamboyance so often associated with vamp tropes. I guess he’s a mix. Soul-weary and lonely, but still struggling to hold onto the pieces of who he used to be, and that comes through in his dry humor and willingness to see the potential in Cally before she sees it in him. He falls first!

Question 2: Can you share a snippet that isn’t in the blurb or excerpt?

It’s 140k words, so I have a few options… how long have you got?

1) “Because for all his arrogance, all his self-serving excuses, he wasn’t what she wanted him to be. He wasn’t some remorseless predator, feeding and discarding without a second thought. He wasn’t a soulless thing, incapable of anything but hunger. He cared, in his own way. And that complicated everything”.

Question 3: What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

At its heart, I think it’s about control and equality. It begins with a vampire who sees nothing but prey. He’s stronger, faster, superior in almost every way… except she’s not just the missing piece of his soul, she’s also capable in her own right. As they learn that Cally’s blood carries its own magic, the dynamic shifts. Their relationship becomes one of mutual survival, and they’re forced to rely on each other. That cuts straight to the heart of balance and control in a relationship, and I wanted to reflect some of that. Also, spoiler for book 2: it gets more complicated still.

Question 4: Are you working on anything at present that you would like to share with your readers?

The sequel to ‘Vampire So Virtuous’. It’s coming out later this year, and I’d be farther along if it weren’t for all that pesky marketing an indie author has to juggle. I also have another finished project currently with an agent. If they pick it up, it’ll release sometime next year. If they don’t, it’ll come out sooner. It’s a romantasy wolf-shifter story with an enemies-to-lovers arc, set in a war-torn world where the heroine joins the elite Wolf Scouts to prove herself—only to be soul-bonded to a wolf-shifter with a secret, a traumatic past, and no intention of letting her in.

Question 5: What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Oh my gosh. The list is… long. I remember reading Feist and Eddings before I was ten—fantasy has always been my go-to. Then, when my mom caught me at fourteen with some books that, in fairness, I probably shouldn’t have had, she asked, “You don’t think your dad and I do these sorts of things, do you?” I looked her square in the eye and said, “No.” I started writing at sixteen and never looked back. Since that’s where ‘fantasy’ meets… er… ‘romance’, it explains my love for romantasy in all its guises. K.F. Breene, Ilona Andrews, Ali Hazelwood, Danielle L. Jensen, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jennifer L. Armentrout … is there a character limit on this box?

Question 6: Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.

I don’t like sleeping, so I tend not to. I’m often writing past 2 a.m. Still, that’s useful—it’s the only way to balance that along with life, a job, and a family.

Question 7: What is your kryptonite as a writer?

Marketing. FML, seriously. I’m terrible at social media, I hate Amazon keywords, and it all gets in the way of writing, which is all I really want to do. Do me a favor and leave a review for every author you read? It cuts down the time we have to spend on marketing and lets us get more books out. We all benefit.

Question 8: Do you write while listening to music? If so, what music inspired or accompanied this current book?

Sometimes. It’s mood-dependent—and occasionally a matter of how noisy the kids are being. I usually choose something that reflects the tone I’m trying to capture in the scene. There’s a freebie enemies-to-lovers kinky rockstar romance when you sign up to my newsletter (shameless plug), and in that story, you’ll find Chopin’s Prelude in E minor. I barely knew it beforehand, but I did some research and it fit what I needed. I’ve probably listened to it a thousand times since. Yes, I’m weird.

Question 9: When you’re writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?

I don’t usually have trouble getting in the mood. Those are my favorite scenes to write, and they tend to flow pretty well. What gets me is the recovery. Emotionally draining scenes can burn out my creativity for a while afterward—it needs time to recharge. I once wrote a 1,000-word short based on P!nk’s Who Knew, and it was devastating. I didn’t write anything for two weeks after that. For me, that’s ages.

Question 10: What advice do you have for writers/authors?

Read twice as much as you write. Hone your craft—get a copy of ‘Save the Cat! Write a Novel for story structure, and start paying attention to how the authors you admire actually do it. How many senses are used in that chapter? How does that scene paint a picture in just three lines? What does good dialogue look like? How do you make a villain a villain? Why is that good character chemistry? Read more slowly, looking for answers to specific questions. Then use what resonates to shape your own style.

Question 11: If you could only have one season, what would it be?

Autumn. Beautiful colors on the trees, leaves on the ground to kick up as you walk through. Not too hot, not too cold. Excuses for thick sweaters, open fires, and hot tubs. Crisp air, quieter, and… damn, I’ve just realized a disproportionately large number of my stories happen in autumn. I can’t believe I never noticed that before.

Question 12: What is the best part of your day

Late evening onward. The house is quiet, no one but me is still awake, and I can finally get on with some writing.

Book Summary from part of My Review

Craving a vampire romance that’s as sharp as its fangs?
If you’re tired of the same old bloodsucker tropes and want something more mature, layered, and emotionally charged—Vampire So Virtuous might just be your next obsession. With a morally gray vampire toeing the line between hero and monster, a fiercely independent human heroine with a biting wit, and a storyline laced with political intrigue, ancient bonds, and bloodline secrets—this book goes beyond your average paranormal romance. Add in steamy tension, time jumps, action-packed fights, and an ending that hurts in the best way, and you’ve got a 5-star urban fantasy you won’t forget.

👉 Ready to sink your teeth in? Get Vampire so Virtuous

Read the Full Review – Vampire So Virtuous Book Review

I don’t know about you, but I loved getting to know Margot Arden and reading her debut novel, Vampire So Virtuous. I’m very thankful she gave us her amazing interview and sneak peeks into her upcoming releases. I’m so excited for the next book in the Boston Vampire Series. You don’t want to miss this must-read book series, so make sure you grab yours now. Don’t forget to Read-Love-Review; it helps amazing authors like Margot. Let’s show this new indie author some love and support.