I’ve had the privilege of being a critique partner with S. K. Stapar for almost a year now, and it’s been a real joy swapping our chapters and sharing feedback with each other as fellow writers.
S. K. Stapar writes one of my favourite genres: romantasy. With her debut book, Midnight Gate, just a few weeks away from release, I thought it’d be a great time to interview S.K. Stapar about her book and the Romantasy genre in general.
About the author: S.K. Stapar
S. K. Stapar is an adult romantasy author specialising in cursed magic, gripping secrets and agonising romance. Her stories blend elements of Slavic tales and culture into original fantasy worlds, rife with tension. When not writing, you will find her endlessly reading romantasy, gardening or chauffeuring her little pup Ivy to cafe dates with her husband.
Midnight Gate
If she wants a life on the outside, she must survive a season at Midnight Gate.
Nevena Nightfall is a cursed woman, locked in a tower since childhood with only one purpose: to cremate the dead. On Ranking Eve, she finally makes an escape. And makes her first enemy—Edric Silvan, an alluring stranger who aids her until she reveals her name.
Forgotten and unnoticed, Nevena manages to compete for a Rank—and freedom. But when Edric sabotages her result, the Council appoints Nevena as Protector to the most dangerous town in Veligrad.
Midnight Gate. Along with Edric.
When Midnight Gate is repeatedly attacked by the Cursed, Nevena undergoes a spell that connects her to Edric and their superior, the seemingly-charming Hartley, in exchange for a protective shield around the town.
But as the spell unexpectedly draws Nevena to the man who hates her, she must fight desires lying beneath her hard exterior. And while the secrets of her bloodline spill out, Nevena is led to question who poses a greater threat—the Cursed, or the Council of Veligrad?
Thank you S. K. for joining us on the blog today!
What led you to write Midnight Gate?
Midnight Gate was inspired by the Slavic myths of my background, as well as some of my favourite romantasy tropes and themes. I wanted to write an original story that infuses some of the darkness and depth of Slavic folklore, along with the excitement and action that we love to see in romantasy stories.
I’m a former English teacher, and lifelong reader of anything involving magic. When romantasy books started hitting the mainstream, I realised people might actually enjoy some of the machinations I’ve always had in my head – and so I decided to go for it.
What do readers have to look forward to when they pick up a copy of Midnight Gate?
Readers can look forward to delicious romantic tension within a rich fantasy setting including an intricate magic system and political intrigue. Midnight Gate is a spicy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers story, in which Nevena Nightfall and Edric Silvan are forced to work together in order to survive a season in the most dangerous town in Veligrad: a land where the fae have been Cursed into bloodthirsty monsters, the witches have lost their magic, and once subservient mortals now rule the land.
Can you tell us how/why you decided on the self-publishing route?
My main draw towards self-publishing is that the timeline from writing to publishing is within the author’s own control. While traditional publishing is a wonderful route for many authors, the process is usually very lengthy. The higher royalty rate for self-published authors was also a big factor in my decision. In saying all that, the number of tasks and to-dos for self-published author is almost endless!
Midnight Gate is a romantasy – a new name for a particular type of book that’s been around for a while – what do you think makes a good romantasy?
Fantasy offers awesome opportunities for high stakes scenarios – often life or death – and I think a good romantasy uses this to its advantage to propel the romantic tension to the max! On top of that, a good romantasy needs to have an intriguing fantasy world that makes us want to live in – and love interests that we want to fall in love with too!
Do you have any authors that you look to for inspiration – who/why?
I love looking to Ali Hazelwood (Bride), Danielle L Jensen (The Bridge Kingdom) and Rebecca Ross (Divine Rivals) for inspiration. All three have very different writing styles, but have the amazing ability to hook you onto every single word they write. Their fantasy worlds are beautifully constructed, and the tension between characters is always perfect! (Can we tell I love tension haha?)
What does your writing rhythm look like?
Before I start writing, I’ll often do fifteen minutes of yoga or stretching. I know you’re meant to completely clear your mind while you do yoga – but it often helps fill my mind with creative ideas! After yoga, I make myself a hot chocolate, and then sit at my desk with my little dog Ivy. My desk chair is big enough for sitting cross-legged, and while that is the plan, most of the time Ivy curls up into a ball behind me while I perch on the chair’s edge! I write for a couple of hours at a time, and stop for a break when I get hungry. Of course, there are usually many breaks in between when Ivy decides it’s time to have some play time or cuddles. The cuddles are completely necessary for my writing process too!
In the self-publishing journey, what has surprised you?
Despite self-publishing offering a quicker timeline to publishing books, the fact that you are in charge of the distribution process means spending a LOT of time organising the distribution side of things! There is plenty of learning to be had, many decisions to be made, and it takes quite some time and stress to get it all right.
Any challenges, or things you wished you’d been more prepared for in your publishing journey so far?
A big challenge was factoring in the right amount of time for completing the manuscript, and how any change to the writing timeline creates a domino effect for aaaall the other tasks and services that follow: beta readers, editing services, cover design, ARC readers, and more! I think deadlines are a familiar problem for most authors, but when self-publishing, you are the one left to deal with more of the consequences!
When writing any romantic genre, including romantasy, a lot hinges on the chemistry between characters – what’s your approach when writing romantic moments?
Despite what differences characters might have, I think they need to share the same core values. This sets off the chemistry at a deep foundational level, and makes us feel that the characters are thoroughly right for each other. Additionally – and this one’s a common one many romance authors call out – I’ll pair a character’s inner transformation (or character arc) in a way that complements their love interest, and vice versa. I love it when characters help each other become better versions of themselves. I also love it when that happens inadvertently. It’s always fun seeing characters go from enemies to lovers, and reluctantly learning from each other or helping each other along the way.
Equally important to the romantasy genre is a strong love interest – what do you think is important when developing a character that is intended as a love interest?
I think the love interest needs to have their own clear internal motivations and goals that are usually separate to the main character. They need to feel like a whole person on their own. I think this deepens our interest in them, as well as any stakes that might be had between the characters.
Where can readers find out more about your books?
Midnight Gate is releasing on 13 February 2025, and the best way to stay in touch is to follow me on Instagram and TikTok at: @skstapar.author and subscribe to my newsletter by visiting www.skstapar.com
Anyone with a Kindle can pre-order the ebook on Amazon, and paperbacks will be available to order from 13 February 2025 – Galentine’s Day!
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Midnight-Gate-enemies-lovers-romantasy-ebook/dp/B0DKM8JLQM
Thank you S.K Stapar for chatting all things Romantasy!
Book Launch details
If you’re Melbourne-based and keen to come along to the launch for Midnight Gate, book a free ticket for February 13th and join in the fun!
I’ll be joining S. K. in conversation on the night! We’re prepped and ready to chat about writing, romantasy and all things Midnight Gate.
It’ll be a great night filled with lots of fun, goodie bags, and even a second-hand book swap (optional) for those keen to stock their TBR with some new-to-them reads.
Steph Huddleston 
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