Victoria Danann

#WOTR26 Author Interviews

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Victoria Danann. I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. I’ve been #1 on Amazon eighteen times. Have sold 3 1/2 million books. My first series was voted best paranormal romance series five years in a row. Three times Goodreads book of the month. Sixteen times Night Owl Reviews TOP PICK.

Seventh generation Texan. Born in Austin. Grew up in Fort Worth. Live in Houston now.

I have an MA in psychology but walked away after two sessions with clients. Hated it. I also studied comparative religion, myths, and medieval history at the graduate level.

My goal is to outsell Rebecca Yarros. LOL

How did you hear about this event?  How many years have you attended?

Teresa Gabelman and I are good friends/collaborators who’ve been comrades in paranormal romance since 2013.

What genres do you write?

romantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, midlife paranormal, new adult

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

The Witching Hours. It’s a big, juicy collection of short stories that are semi-autobiographical and would be closest aligned with women’s paranormal fantasy. It was a big risk to write and narrate this book because a collection of shorts is outside the ordinary. But people who take the plunge and read it, love it! KINDLE UNLIMITED https://www.amazon.com/Witching-Hours-Victoria-Danann-ebook/dp/B0D9C258KQ

What is one fun fact about you?  It can be anything like food allergy, fear of something, weird way you broke a bone…….

I was an evening wear designer in the eighties and had a showroom in New York. You could find my dresses in Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, all over Europe and South America, and on the red carpet. I was flat out copied by very famous designers whose names you’d recognize.

What are your social links?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictoriaDanannFansAndReaders,
https://www.pinterest.com/vdanann/

What are your buy links?

Lara London

#WOTR26 Author Interviews

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Lara London – I write short and steamy romances, usually meant to be read in about two hours or less about men who fall first and fall hard, frequently instantly. From small-town mountain men, to OTT possessive billionaires, I try to bring the heat and humor in equal measure.

How did you hear about this event?  How many years have you attended?

Megan Kelly has talked about it for years, and then a bunch of people on social media were talking about what a great cause it is for, so I looked into it this year.

What genres do you write?

short read romances, steamy, billionaire, mountain man, christmas

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

https://a.co/d/drE9QsI (Wham, Bam, Marry Me, Ma’am – Book 1 of the Billings Brothers Trilogy)

What is one fun fact about you?  It can be anything like food allergy, fear of something, weird way you broke a bone…….

I have three kids and am married to my real-life book boyfriend husband who can’t understand why I love Supernatural and Vampire Diaries, but won’t watch a horror film. <shrug>

What are your social links?

https://www.facebook.com/LaraLondonWrites,

https://www.instagram.com/lara_london_writes/,

https://www.tiktok.com/@lara_london_writes,

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lara-london

What are your buy links?

https://amazon.com/author/laralondon

Nicole Craig

#WOTR26 Author Interviews

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Nicole Craig. I’m a retired teacher after 25 years teaching English and theatre in high school. I’m married and have three furry children: Toulouse, Spirit (aka The Flerken), and Missandei. We adopt geriatric and special needs cats. I’m also a competitive bowler, and I volunteer at a local community theatre doing onstage and backstage work.

How did you hear about this event?  How many years have you attended?

I first heard about WOTR in 2023 from Anna Blakely and her husband, Christian, on their weekly Talk Tuesday video chats. I couldn’t go that year, but I went as a reader in 2024 and had the best time. It became a goal to be invited in the future, but I never expected it to be the first year I applied.

What genres do you write?

Romantic Suspense, particularly Protector Romance, but I just started branching out into police procedurals with my books in Susan Stoker’s Police & Fire world. In 2025, I plan to have at least one science fiction (alien LGBTQ+ series) romance and at least one sports romance (baseball series) out.

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Never Enough is all about conflict precious gem mining in Africa. There was a lot of research that went into that book, so I would love more people to be aware that we’re still in an era of conflict product.

What is one fun fact about you?  It can be anything like food allergy, fear of something, weird way you broke a bone…….

Last year I shared my rhinoceros story, so this time I’ll share that I was bitten by a monkey in Roatan. About 50% of my first novel takes place there, so I had one of my side characters get bitten by a snake there as a sort of Easter egg. I hide a lot of personal things in my novels.

What are your social links?

Facebook profile – https://www.facebook.com/nicole.craig.352527
Facebook author page – https://www.facebook.com/nicolecraigauthor/
Facebook reader group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/3624387751170522
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nicolecraigauthor/
Amazon author page – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nicole-Craig/author/B0CJLL23M5
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/46899544.Nicole_Craig
Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nicole-craig

What are your buy links?

Amazon author page – 

 https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nicole-Craig/author/B0CJLL23M5

Red Phoenix

#WOTR26 Author Interviews

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Red Phoenix – I’m a submissive in real life who is best known for my romantic BDSM series, Brie’s Submission. I started as an Indie Author in Dec of 2011 and several months after publishing my first book, I wrote a novelette called Brie’s First Day of Submissive Training. That little story went on to become 26 full-length novels, with 9 additional books in the Brie world. I adore my fans – they are the best part of being an author!

How did you hear about this event?  How many years have you attended?

Angie! Although this is my first time attending, I have sent auctions items for years because I am passionate about supporting the charity Thistle Farms. Fighting against human trafficking is also an important theme in the Brie Series.

What genres do you write?

BDSM Romance, RomCon, Spiritual Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Safe Haven – the unlikely couple and the powerful message behind their love story is beautiful and inspiring. I get happy tears just thinking about it.

What is one fun fact about you?  It can be anything like food allergy, fear of something, weird way you broke a bone…….

I’m seriously afraid of spiders, but I save them anyway – even black widows!

What are your social links?

Website: https://redphoenixauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRedPhoenix/
Newsletter: https://redphoenixauthor.com/newsletter-signup/
Friends of Red Phoenix: https://www.facebook.com/groups/539875076052037
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redphoenixauthor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTXLzl-OjFBXHLvkLwL_vug
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorredphoenix?lang=en
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/red-phoenix

What are your buy links?

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Red-Phoenix/author/B006UHCM1C

https://www.audible.com/author/Red-Phoenix/B006UHCM1C

https://redphoenixshop.com/

#WOTR26 Author Interviews

Julie Navickas

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Julie Navickas, a contemporary romance author represented by Chip Rice of WordLink, Inc. I write what I like to think of as heart wrenching, second chance love stories—full of humility, humor, and heroism. My Trading Heartbeats and Clumsy Little Hearts trilogies have earned a Literary Global Book Award, five first place BookFest honors, as well as finalist nods from the American Writing Awards and the Clarion Award.

When I’m not immersed in fictional worlds, I teach writing courses in the School of Communication at Illinois State University and work in corporate communications at COUNTRY Financial. I hold master’s degrees in organizational communication and English studies, plus a bachelor’s in public relations.

How did you hear about this event?  How many years have you attended?

2026 will be my third year at Writers on the River!

What genres do you write?

Contemporary Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

I’d have to say Finding Love. It’s relatable, relevant, and raw in a way that feels very true to life. The story doesn’t shy away from vulnerability—it digs into the complexities of love, trust, and second chances in a way that I think so many readers could see themselves reflected in. It may not be my flashiest title, but it’s one that carries an emotional honesty I’m really proud of, and I’d love for more people to experience that connection.

What is one fun fact about you?  It can be anything like food allergy, fear of something, weird way you broke a bone…….

I’m ambidextrous! I’m predominantly right-handed, but I shoot pool, play shuffleboard, and mini-golf left-handed. I can even bat left-handed. It’s a quirky little trait that tends to surprise people—and occasionally gives me an advantage in a friendly game.

What are your social links?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieNavickas
X: https://twitter.com/JulieNavickas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julienavickas/
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/julienavickas.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@julienavickas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienavickas/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julienavickas

What are your buy links?