Mia Sheridan Interview
Q. You’ve written over two dozen novels, but many readers first discovered you through Archer’s Voice. How do you usually introduce yourself to new readers who might be picking up your work for the first time?
I always tell readers that there are two sides of me. I write sweet, emotional romance and dark romantic thrillers (and a few that are a little in-between). Some readers prefer to stick to one genre while others appreciate both my dark and light sides, but hopefully there is a little something for every reader who enjoys romance.
I love delving into the psychology of my characters and telling stories full of depth, emotion, and plenty of heart-stopping moments.
Q. Your books often explore love born from pain, trauma, or silence. Why do you think readers are so drawn to romances rooted in vulnerability rather than perfection?
That's a beautiful way to put it! Thank you. I think we're all craving the confirmation that we don't have to be 'perfect,' or unscarred to deserve our own love story. Some of the most beautiful souls on earth are the ones who have suffered, and faced doubt and hardship, and it's healing to see ourselves in those types of characters and watch them get their happily ever after.
Q. In today’s crowded romance market, tropes often dominate discussions. Do you think tropes help or limit storytelling, and how do you decide when to lean into one versus breaking away?
I never think of tropes when I'm plotting as I think that can be limiting. My stories always naturally contain tropes once all is said and done, but I've found that if you try to "write to market" to too much of a degree, or attempt to organize your story around a trope, some creativity is lost.
I prefer to tell my story and let readers decide what tropes stand out. In this way, new (micro) tropes often emerge as in Archer's Voice where I often see readers listing it under, "she gives him a haircut"! And I love that.
Q. Many of your characters feel so authentic that readers often say they “stay” with them long after finishing the book. How do you build that emotional depth—does it start with plot, character, or something else?
I've started stories with a plot and added characters, and I've begun with a character and spun a plot around that person. Both ways work, but I think that the way to build in emotional depth right off the bat is to understand what each characters' core wound is, and what they are willing to do to heal that inner hurt.
I try to write characters that aren't one-dimensional, characters that feel real and relatable are ones that struggle with contradictions just like all humans do. And then showing their emotions, rather than just telling the reader what they're feeling helps the reader feel like they're intimately connected to that character. But it really all begins with understanding the character before I even sit down to write.
Q. With Archer’s Voice adapted into audiobooks, special editions, and fan art, how do you personally feel about seeing your stories live beyond the page? Exciting, nerve-wracking, or both?
It's really exciting and mind-blowing. To think about the fact that I dreamed up that little story and wrote it from a desk in my basement and now it's translated into too many languages for me to count and has touched readers all over the world, is beyond my wildest hopes. I love hearing about how it's moved hearts and I love the beautiful art readers create to bring the story to life in a visual way. It's all surreal, still, and I can't see that ever fading.
Q. Romance is sometimes dismissed as 'light reading,' yet your novels tackle grief, trauma, and resilience. What do you wish critics understood about the genre?
That there is so much diversity in romance! Not just in the type of characters portrayed, but in the depth of emotion and even the issues that are highlighted. One of the most important things about romance, however, to me, is that it can be very healing.
I've turned to romance so often in my life during hard times and I've always come away reinvigorated with a feeling of much-needed hope. And to minimize that is such a disservice to an art form that helps so many who are in the midst of difficulties.
Q. You’ve shared that your personal journey and losses shape your writing. How do you balance pouring so much of yourself into your stories while protecting your own emotional space?
I don't try to protect my emotional space while creating stories and characters. The aftermath is a different story, ha. But I truly believe that if you're going to create characters that make readers feel seen, you have to be willing to pour yourself into a story in a really vulnerable way.
In some ways being able to do that is like a muscle, it gets stronger the more you exercise it. But in others, it's just about acknowledging where your own insecurities and wounds are, and leaning into them rather than trying to cover them up. It can feel really unsafe and even ugly, but I find that those are the things that readers mention the most because they've experienced similar thoughts/emotions and feel understood on a deep level.
Storytelling can be a really healing experience for both the reader, and the author as well. That's certainly been true for me.
Q. And for a fun one, if one of your heroes or heroines could step into your real life for a day, who would you choose, and what would you do together?
I'd pick Posey Kiss from my most recent novel, "The Fix!" She's one of the most interesting characters I've ever written, and I'd just love to chat with her all day and hear all her interesting takes on every topic under the sun. I think we'd probably just stroll and have coffee and find cool shops to browse in and then have dinner. I can't wait to hear what you think of her if you meet her. ;)
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