RomanceLahoma Speaker Spotlight: Amy Lillard
- oklahomaromancewri
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Amy Lillard is an award winning author with more than sixty novels and novellas.
You can meet Amy at RomanceLahoma 2025. Check the schedule to see when Amy will be speaking.
Ariel, Editor: Tell us about your background.
Amy: "I was born and raised in Mississippi and then moved to Oklahoma where I met my husband. We moved all over for a while (island hopping in the Caribbean) before settling down and having our son. Now we're content being empty-nesters raising cats."
What made you start writing, and when did you know you wanted to be an author?
Amy: "I believe I have always been a writer. Most writers are," Amy reflects. "But I got 'bored' when we were living overseas. One thing led to another, and I started seriously seeking publication for my swashbuckling, sexy, pirate romance. (Actually, I should say we, since at the time I wrote with a writing partner, but the whole thing is still hilarious considering what I write these days.)"
"I think once I started to write a book, I felt like an author. I don't ever remember a time when I didn't feel like an author, unless it was a blip of imposter syndrome that I somehow found a way to chase off."
Who were your literary influences growing up?
Amy: "I grew up reading those white-cover Harlequins and the Silhouettes that had a purple border on the cover. (That was before they merged. And yes, I just seriously dated myself.) Anyway, I loved Charlotte Lamb and Janet Dailey and all those classic romance authors. I can't say they shaped my writing—just too much time between one and the other, but they have influenced me to strive to 'be one of them.’"
Instead of writing and rewriting drafts, I do that proof work before I sit down to actually write the story.
Walk us through your writing process.
Amy: "It honestly just depends on how it comes to me. Though most of the time I start out writing longhand in one volume of my great collection of notebooks (one for each series or novel, for a single title idea). After that, I switch to my computer to start breaking the ideas down into scenes and chapters, keeping in mind what my word count may be for that particular story. Usually by the time I'm finished, I have a thirty or so pages, single spaced for a 55K word book. When I start writing from my outline, it's the 'first draft,' but it is usually ready to be proofread and turned into my editor when I'm done. Instead of writing and rewriting drafts, I do that proof work before I sit down to actually write the story."
What are you currently reading, and what's your favorite romance subgenre?
Amy: "I just finished Bring Him Home by Nicole Trope, and … I'm supposed to start The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda. I'm a rom-com girl through and through when it comes to romance. I like happy books!"
Decide why you want to write. What is your goal?
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Amy: "The best advice I ever received was to remember that I am a writer and I can write anything I choose. That needs to be followed up with its best in most cases to 'stay in your lane' which can be very hard. But I always tell writers, decide why you want to write. What is your goal? You can write from the heart, which is great. But if you have the goal of being a NYT bestselling author and making gabillions of dollars, you may have too many struggles making that dream your reality if your heart tells you to write Alien Erotica. I'm not saying that it's not possible, because we all know anything can be possible, but it just might take a great deal longer than you had originally anticipated."
How have romance novels changed since you began writing?
Amy: "I am from the era of Alpha heroes and the heroine getting saved by the hero. Which I love. But that just shows my age. Now there are heroines who are bad-a$$e$ and save the hero and the entire planet/solar system/universe all while falling in love. Don't get me wrong. I love it. But I have to be strong in real life. I want the fantasy!"
Where can we find you online?
Amy:
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