Dear reader,
It’s cute to meet you! Welcome to Love, Underlined, your new online community for romance readers. Each month we invite one of our romance authors to answer a romance-themed Q&A. This month, Stefany Valentine, author of Love Makes Mochi, shares her favorite romance tropes, her book crushes, and more! Read on for the full Stefany Valentine Q&A.
Love,
Underlined
What was the first romance novel you read?
Probably Twilight or The Infernal Devices. But in terms of contemporary romance—I honestly don’t remember!
What romance are you currently reading?
I’m actually on a memoir/nonfiction binge right now. But some of my favorite YA romances of the year have been Rules for Rule Breaking by Talia Tucker and Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar by Anahita Karthik.
What are your favorite tropes?
I’m a sucker for grumpy/sunshine or anything in the vein of opposites attract—the band geek and the jock, the type A scholar and the class clown, etc. Maybe that’s why I love Lilyn and Yua so much. One is all goth and the other is all rainbows!
Who’s your book crush?
Considering that Shiv is a literal prince in Love Craves Cardamom, I’m gonna have to go with him! Though, while writing Mochi, I really grew to love Aiko and would love for her to have her own little happily-ever-after!
What inspires your writing?
[Insert Donald Glover’s my emotions meme] hahaha. Writing helps me process my big feelings. I have a lot to say about the experiences I’ve had. Sometimes I want to talk about happy things. Sometimes I want to talk about the not so happy. Either way, I love pulling from my lived experience and sharing it with others. Sometimes we need to hear someone else say our words for us in order to make sense of what we’re really experiencing.
What’s your favorite part of writing romance?
Watching my characters grow into love! It’s always so rewarding to follow them on the journey to that first kiss and see where they go after!
Share with us an out of context quote from Love Makes Mochi!
“The universe would bend its will for you. There isn’t anything you can’t do.” I say.
Yua’s gaze goes to my hand on her knee. Slowly, she nods, like she’s letting my words seep in. “Well, technically, I can’t do a cartwheel.”
I roll my eyes and shove her knee away.
“And I can’t parallel park,” Yua continues, the corners of her lips rising. “I can’t even drive, for that matter.”
“I hope you crash and burn,” I grumble.
