We’ve recently had the pleasure to interview Sakura Black, who told us a little more about her (steamy) paranormal romance novels. With three series already under her belt, Sakura offered us some witty, funny and honest insight into her journey as an author so far and her plans for the future.
Many thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Sakura! We know you are busy with your next book… but before delving into that, would you like to introduce your latest series, ‘Playing with Demons’?
The ‘Playing with Demons’ series is all about possessive demons and the feisty women they’re lucky enough to obsess over. Each book follows a different couple battling through Hell and Earth for their happily ever after.
What do you think sets your books apart from the competition?
If you like sassy, strong women and unhinged, morally grey, monster men who would do anything for them, then these books are for you! My books are spicy, fun and thrilling, yet full of heart.
Tell our readers a little about yourself...
I am a British-Filipino author who writes under the pen-name of Sakura Black and who’s also a reader first. I grew up devouring anything paranormal fantasy romance and was a smidge too obsessed with Dean from Supernatural. I live in a small town in England and spend my free time crafting spicy stories about monstrous men and the women they fall horns over tail for. Let me tell you a funny story: I once stayed up so late reading that I heard my university roommates getting up in the middle of the night to secretly blow up balloons and decorate outside my bedroom door for my birthday. I had to pretend to be so surprised when I actually got up that morning all bleary-eyed from too many just-one-more-chapter’s. I didn’t want all their stealthy late night giggles to go to waste!
‘Playing with Demons’ is not your first series, it’s actually the third one: when and why did you start writing?
I started writing for revenge. Since I always stay up too late reading and have to face my sensible adult days super tired, I wanted to bring others down with me because I’m evil like that. I officially started about 5 years ago on a train. I had no clue what I was doing and literally just opened up a word doc on my phone and started texting out a book. I was so scared to tell anyone what madness I was attempting that I even hid it from my partner for months and eventually took him to a cafe to confess something… he’d thought I was about to break up with him, poor guy!
How did you discover you wanted to focus on writing paranormal romance and what is your target market?
I chose my genre because, at the time, the kind of monster romances I was looking for didn’t really exist. Or not enough of them to keep me occupied anyway! I wanted them to be spicy and with enough gritty yet fun story action to keep me hooked. For me, it’s about that sweet spot for monsters, somewhere between cosy and horror, because I’m brave, but not that brave. My target market would be anyone who looks for escapism and entertainment from their romance reads.
With book three in the ‘Playing with Demons’ series being released in March 2025, what are your writing plans for the future?
The third instalment of the ‘Playing with Demons’ series is the last for now, but I’ve already semi-plotted book 4, so it might not be the end of the series!
I don’t think I’ll be able to stray from my paranormal romance genre because I love it too much. My next plans are to continue the ‘Monster Mate Hunt’ Series, with the third book set for mid/late 2025.
I may also dabble in the sci-fi romance sphere eventually, but I’m a super indecisive person so haven’t got concrete plans just yet.
Do you have any formal qualification in creative writing or did you polish your skills mostly through practice and peer review?
I have zero qualifications in the creative industry. If anything, I have minus qualifications in creativity because I’m somehow a corporate tax accountant (i.e. THE most interesting person at a dinner party). My love of reading drove me to writing though, and I’ve been learning through craft books, podcasts, editors red-penning all over my manuscripts and a healthy amount of trial and error. I’m always fighting to get better, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
How does your “typical” writing day look like (if you have one)?
I usually wake up at 5am (because I’m one of those weird morning people not to be trusted) and get a few hours of writing done while chugging coffee before I go to work. I’ll write while I commute on the train too, and hope not to scandalise the poor person sitting next to me with just where that tail ends up…
What are your thoughts on today’s writing industry? With the self-publishing revolution a lot of people started to publish their own books, but along with some hidden gems there seems to be also poor quality work out there. What is your opinion and why did you choose self-publishing?
I’m all for the self-publishing revolution! As a self-published indie author, I think it’s empowering to get my books straight to the market and let people decide if I’ve written a load of crap or not. I like the control of rising or falling on my own merits, even if it means more work to try and learn how to be a publisher and marketer as well as a writer. The community is great and most people are more than happy to support each other. I still feel like a really new author though and I’d love to make some author friends.
Being a writer also means being a reader. What are you reading currently? And what book you couldn’t finish no matter what?
I’m currently reading ‘Bride’ by Ali Hazelwood – it’s amazingly captivating and I highly recommend it!
I’ve had to stop and start ‘Her Vicious Beasts’ by E. P. Bali a few times because even though it’s a brilliant read, it mentions cute details about Australia and I’ve just come back to the cold, rainy UK after a year there and it makes me miss the place too much. My tiny heart just can’t take it yet.
Do you have a favourite author?
This one is hard to decide on, but I’m going to have to say Ilona Andrews – they’re a couple writing team powerhouse and everything they write just sucks me in and won’t let go.
If you could choose only 3 books to carry with you on a desert island what would they be and why?
You ask all the tough questions!! I’d have to pick some of my early favourite classic paranormal romance reads, the ones that really got me hooked on the genre – ‘Magic Bites’ by Ilona Andrews, ‘Halfway to the Grave’ by Jeaniene Frost and ‘City of Light’ by Keri Arthur. Though maybe only bringing first-in-series reads would drive me to madness…
Any final words of wisdom?
Thank you for featuring me as an author! I really appreciate you taking the time to ask me these questions and I hope readers can get to know me and my brand of crazy a little better. I love chatting about all things books, so please reach out to me on social media or on my newsletter to be book friends!
Find out more about Sakura Black on her website, where you can find all her books and subscribe to her newsletter.
You can also follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
