Book Talk with Halcyon Author, C.L. Donley

C.L. Donley is a future New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of multicultural and interracial romance, who believes romance novels that are impossible to put down are the only kind that should exist!

Armed with a B.A. in English and M.A. in Writing, she is new to the romance game, having written her first novel, Amara’s Calling, after discovering the romance genre in September 2017.

Donley writes in a style she calls “romantic realism” that is sophisticated yet simple, grounded yet apologetically escapist, and character-driven rather than plot-driven. This style creates a unique, modern reading experience ideal for book club discussions, personal epiphanies, satisfying re-reads, and the occasional spiraling reviewer! Love it or hate it, fans and critics alike can’t deny her talent, and always find themselves coming back for more!

She loves hearing from readers and discussing her favorite parts of her own books, so feel free to indulge her.

Describe your writing style.

I call my style “romantic realism.” It’s sort of a blend of the fairy tale nature of the traditional romantic scenario combined with the wrench of actual human behavior. My writing background and influence are in modern fiction and because I have an advanced degree in English, it has more of a literary bent. So, while I’m committed to the HEA ending, it doesn’t always come in a conventional way, because I’m doubly committed to realism.

Almost to a fault. Most of the feedback has been overwhelmingly good, where I have readers saying, “I will literally read anything that you choose to write.” But then the people that hate it… really hate it, lol. Which I understand. Because my characters are usually flawed and do and say questionable things. And in the midst of a romance, it can make the resolution emotionally unsatisfying for some readers, who expect to read about the coming together of two likable people that absolutely, positively deserve each other.

Meanwhile, others who find the genre to sometimes be a bit stale usually find it refreshing.

How did you come up with the title of this book?

I always knew that I wanted it to be named for the dating service where the two main characters meet. For a while, it was going to be an acronym, and I was toying with the name being something like A.P.T. But it was too clinical, and I wanted it to have this utopian type feel, like “Elysium,” or something. Something that was both an ideal and a brand, and something that would be repeated often and be kind of ubiquitous. The name Halcyon also started out as a placeholder that became permanent. But there really was no better title.

What did you edit out of this book?

This book was initially going to be two novellas that would come out within three weeks of each other. I ended up combining the two books into one, and I had to cut about four chapters from my initial draft, which hurt. Because I hate wasting words and time, and I really liked what they added to the story. But ultimately they weren’t necessary. It’s a much more cohesive and dimensional story now. I may use the chapters for some kind of bonus material in the future, but who knows.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

Not knowing how sex feels for them, haha. I do a lot of “guy research” that’s only become more intense since I started. Dating advice gurus, message boards, any honest, unfiltered accounts that will help me get into the male psyche. I’ve learned quite a lot by doing that, but there are some things you just gotta make up!

About Halcyon

Halcyon by C.L. Donley
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

The Halcyon program has only grown in respect and mystique over their now fifteen years of matchmaking. When I went through it six years ago, they were still boasting 100% success of all the participants.

Single, usually hopeless, candidates leave the program as part of a couple. The foolproof methods Halcyon uses to guarantee a soulmate comes from a blend of technology, biology, psychology, and, of course, sex.

Naturally, with its high price tag, extensive, invasive testing, and painstaking process, only serious participants make it through, and everyone found success. Until us.

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