Indie Author Spotlight: Missy Castillo

Quick note before continuing onto the author spotlight: the idea of the author profile layout goes to the founder of the Dark Desires Book Club, Maddy/madc0ow22!

Author Name: Missy S Castillo
Tome Username: MissySCastillo
Website: www.missyscastillowrites.com
Upcoming Book Title: Kneel in the Ashes

1. Using only emojis summarize your book!🔥🔥🫦💃🧎🌶️💥🗡️🗡️🗡️
2. Why did you decide on Kneel in the Ashes as being your title?, Kneel in the Ashes is Book Two in the Savage Hearts Series, and it picks up right where Bound in Flames left off. After Cleo unleashes her shaman magic and rage on the battlefield, quite literally setting everything on fire! So the title reflects that moment of aftermath, standing in the ruins of what was, and deciding what to become next. But it's also a bit of a play on words. Our new FMC, Rowan, has escaped the Church of the Silver Hand and the rule of the Ostelan Crown, and she has no intention of every kneeling to royalty or anyone else again. This is a story about reclaiming power, rewriting the rules, and resisting control, whether it's from a throne or a prophecy. Let's just say... in this book, Rowan isn't the one doing the kneeling. And Kaldor doesn't mind one bit!
3. Can you tell me a secret about Kneel in the Ashes that no one else knows? Just between us girls, I have a few for you! Kneel in the Ashes is where things start getting deliciously tanged. While it might look like Rowan and Kaldor's story, this book is laying the groundwork for the chaos that's coming through the rest of the series. You'll also meet the MMC from Book 3. Book 4 is going to be MMF - and that FMC makes her first appearance in Kneel in the Ashes as well. Who are those delicious MMCs? You actually met them in Bound in Flames. They've been right under your nose, just waiting for their moment. The world is getting bigger. The politics are getting messier. And let's just say no one's walking away clean by the end of this series. So if you've paying attention... you might just spot the trouble before it explodes!
4. Do you remember the exact moment that you knew you wanted to write this story? Yes and no. I've been in love with fantasy since I was a teenager devouring Tamora Pierce novels. i always knew I wanted to write stories with strong, complicated women at the center. The kind of story I wanted to tell shifted as I got older. Eventually I found myself deep in dark fantasy and paranormal romance (Thank you Katee Robert!), but I also knew I wanted to write something more than spicy romance. I craved worldbuilding. Politics. Power struggles. Emotional fallout. I wanted to create something that felt real, where the romance was only a piece of a much bigger, messier puzzle. Honestly, I was tired of the perfect, barely-legal heroines who have all the answers and no trauma. My main characters are in their mid 20s and older. They're scarred, complicated, emotional, angry, and soft in ways they rarely admit. They come in different body shapes and sizes. They don't always do the right thing. And that is exactly the point. I wanted readers to see themselves in these women and feel seen in return. So no, I can't name the exact moment the story was born. But I remember the moment I realized I didn't just want to write a love story. i wanted to build a world full of rebellion, heartbreak, found family, and fierce, imperfect women trying to set everything on fire to building something better in the ashes.
5. How did you know that you wanted to write this genre? I struggled as I never felt that I fit nearly into a genre mold. When people ask what I write, I usually say dark fantasy paranormal romance (monster if I know they are one of us). What I did know was that I wanted to write stories that hit emotionally. I wanted rage, grief and healing. I wanted messy heroines and magic systems tied to trauma. I wanted readers to fall in love with the world and the characters, and if they also happen to fall in love with a morally gray orc along the way, that's just a bonus At the end of the day, I write for people like me who want a little darkness with their desire, a little blood with their magic.
6. Anything else we should know about you and your author journey? Once upon a time I was a ghostwriter. I wrote several books for a popular closed door paranormal romance series - one people still mention, telling me how much they think I would love it. Every time I have to smile and say "Yep, read that series" when silently I am screaming "I KNOW IT BECAUSE I WROTE IT!!!" Damn NDAs... But that experience taught me a lot. Ghostwriting gave me the blessing of learning how to go big, high stakes and emotionally loaded plotting that's been essential in building the world of Ostelan. I'm also a complete nerd about character development. I use Enneagram personality types to map out my characters so they feel like real people. Each one has distinct vocabulary patterns, icks, fears, and flaws that shape how they show up on the page. I have spreadsheets, character sheets, and mood boards that would probably terrify people! Now that I'm finally writing the stories I wanted to tell, with my name on the cover, I couldn't be more excited for the journey