INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY BY { John Russo
PRODUCED BY { Ken Waller Photohouse Productions
HAIR BY { Bradley Leake
MAKEUP BY { Michael Ashton
STYLING { Vanessa Powell
JR: What inspired you to start writing romance and contemporary fiction?
EK: As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer. I was always telling stories as a child, always had a book in my hands, and always knew I wanted to write my own books. When I started reading romances as a teen, I was hooked. I loved going along on the journey of two people finding each other and working toward that happy ending, and it inspired me to write my own happily-ever-afters.
JR: How do you craft your characters to make them relatable and memorable?
EK: For me, it’s a mix of imagining the right personality type for the story (like an opposites-attract trope, for example) and pulling little bits of inspiration from real life. Sometimes it’s something small—a random joke a friend makes, a favorite lipstick shade, or a tiny quirk that sparks fun banter. While my characters are completely fictional, the real world and the people around me help bring them to life. I also write how my friends and I talk, so my characters’ dialogue tends to stick close to that, with characters babbling nervously or being snarky, sarcastic, going on random, silly digressions. I have a blast with my characters’ dialogue!
JR: Can you share your writing process and how you stay motivated to finish your books?
EK: My writing process really depends on the story—some ideas are fully formed before I start, while others take shape as I go. I love writing stories set in different countries because it gives me a reason to explore new places and cultures, though honestly, I do my best work curled up somewhere quiet and comfortable. What keeps me going most, though, are the readers. Whenever I hit a tough spot or start doubting a plot point, remembering that there are people waiting for the books always helps me find the motivation to keep going.
JR: Your books feature strong, independent characters. How do you develop their personalities?
EK: Usually, their personalities reveal themselves to me as I’m outlining a story, or sometimes once I just start writing it. Other times, it’s about asking myself how someone might act or grow if they were in a specific situation. I like to throw challenges at my characters and see how they respond. And I think readers connect most when they can see both strength and vulnerability in a character—it’s that balance that makes them feel real and relatable.
JR: What are some of your favorite themes to explore in your stories?
EK: I’ve always loved writing opposites-attract and enemies-to-lovers stories. There’s just something so fun about watching two people who seem completely different or totally wrong for each other try to find common ground—or fight their way toward it. That push and pull, the “will-they-won’t-they” tension, makes the journey so satisfying, especially when you know deep down they’re perfect for each other. I also love a good redemption arc, which I explore a lot in my romantic suspense titles.
JR: How do you balance writing steamy scenes and developing a compelling plot?
EK: I like to think of the plot as the journey and the steamy moments as the rewards along the way. Sometimes it’s fun to add that spark early on, but I always want the story to have enough depth to keep readers truly invested. As a reader myself, I love when I can’t stop turning the pages because I need to know what happens next—and that’s the kind of balance I aim for in my own books.
JR: Can you tell us about your path to success?
EK: It’s been a mix of hard work and a lot of fun! Getting those first books out there was definitely the toughest part—querying agents, sending manuscripts, and waiting for that “yes” can really test your confidence as a writer. I have stacks of rejection letters from my early querying days. When I sold my first book to Harlequin, I cried. It took a lot of “no’s” to get to that “yes” and it felt like all that hard work had finally paid off. I’m forever grateful that my first editor saw potential in my writing.
Funny enough, the turning point in my career came from a passion project. I had already started finding my footing in publishing with another series (I was mainly writing romantic suspense at that point), but I wanted to try something completely different, something in a genre I was loving as a reader: new adult. That’s how The Deal came to be, and self-publishing that book showed me exactly where I wanted to go next. The Off-Campus series took off from there, and it’s been a wild ride since then!
To learn more about Elle follow her @ellekennedyauthor