Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Zilla: A star-crossed love—or in this case, a Star-Crossed Alliance—always gets our attention, and Monica Goertzen Hertlein has just the thing for us! She’s here to talk about her romantic science fiction novel—so Monica, take it away!

Monica: Princess Shawnia, heir and military leader of her prairie kingdom, intends to marry for love, but when her people are carelessly killed by invaders with unimaginably fast transport and deadly weapons never before seen, she must forge an alliance with the northern kingdom sealed by marriage to their prince. The northern prince is handsome and charming, but believes women and royals should remain protected far from the battlefield. Despite what the marriage will cost her in personal freedom and heartbreak, she resolves to see it through to save her people.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

Monica: The romance portion of this story has been in my head for decades (which may reveal too much about my age). The character and her push back against gender constructions, hierarchy, patriarchy, and devotion to her people through leadership based in service rather than command, developed as I was writing. Some of those themes came from my recent degree in sociology, some came from my professional life in a corporate world with far too much bullying.

Zilla: What drives you to write?

Monica: I always wanted to write. As far back as I remember. It’s not for the money!

Zilla: What’s the secret to editing?

Monica: I love editing. It’s fun to make a change and go, “That’s way better, thank goodness no one saw it before!”. If you don’t already enjoy editing, set your most recent draft aside for months (not days, not weeks). After that cooling-off time, remind yourself of your original inspiration. Write a love letter to your draft. Then just read your manuscript (or listen to it). Tackle one issue on each edit pass. Start with the big stuff. As you see the story flesh out, you’ll probably be inspired to keep colouring in your original sketch.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

Monica: I hope to release Hideaway this summer, another romantic science fiction story. 

Mary’s worst decision yet, stealing from corrupt law enforcement, could land her in jail long enough to grow old. She flees the spaceport streets for a remote rural outpost hoping for refuge with Finn, the only person she trusts in the world. Despite the strangeness of agricultural life and her prejudice against the family that abandoned her surrogate brother, she finds a chance for love as well as safe haven while hiding the truth behind her visit to the farm. Now she must decide whether to be honest with her found family and risk losing her last chance for a real home, or be exposed as a thief when the law catches up to her.

Zilla: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?
Monica: Visit me at monicagh.com. You can also find me on Substack or Facebook. Find this book through links on my website.