Interview: Paranormal Romance Author Paige Lavoie
Paige Lavoie is the author of several books, including the paranormal romance trilogy Mothman in Love. I first came across Lavoie’s work while visiting The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Brooklyn this spring. From across the store, I spotted a book cover featuring a doe-eyed young woman and her lover, the iconic West Virginia cryptid, Mothman. There’s absolutely no way, I thought, and then I bought it immediately. What followed was a playful, hilarious, and heartwarming ride that had me performing dramatic readings for all of my friends.
The series’ first book, I’m in Love with Mothman, follows burnt-out influencer Heather as she trades her online platform for a #cottagecore life in the woods, far from her overbearing mother and meddling fans. Little does she know, an enormous winged beast haunts the forest. He’s deadly, he’s misunderstood, and he’s really, really hot. In book two, I’m Engaged to Mothman, Heather and Moth are teleported to the fantastical kingdom of Eclipsica, where they must navigate their insecurities as a couple after discovering that Moth is a long-lost prince. Book three, I’m Getting Married to Mothman, releases on December 7th and finds Heather kidnapped by a vampire king on the eve of her bachelorette party. This fall, Lavoie and I discussed craft, kink, and the world of Eclipsica over email.
Ella Shively: You mentioned on your Instagram account that you got your start as a storyteller via webcomic creation. How did your artistic beginnings influence your journey as a writer? Is visual art still a part of your writing process? [The Mothman in Love books consist solely of prose.]
Paige Lavoie: I think it's really helped with pacing. When you're working on a comic, you have such limited space on the page, every frame needs to communicate something, and I try to keep that in mind when I'm working on a section that's difficult while I'm drafting. Keeping that flow going I think really helps with building tension or romantic chemistry.
ES: Fashion is an important textural component of the Mothman in Love universe. Where do you find inspiration for your characters’ outfits? How does clothing, or lack thereof (I’m looking at you, Moth), shape a character or a setting?
PL: So much online shopping and Pinterest! Heather is so fun and trendy that looking through cottagecore content or browsing poshmark is really helpful with shaping style for me. It was also fun to have the styling get more fantastical through the series. 80s fantasy movies were a huge inspiration for the clothing in Eclipsica. Give me all the big sleeves!
ES: What is your process for crafting a series? Do you have a plan for each book from the start, or is it more flexible?
PL: Originally I thought book one would be a standalone. Once I realized I wasn't done with the characters, I sat down and thought about how to keep it interesting and make each book feel like its own complete romcom. My idea board looked something like..
Book one - small town romance with a twist.
Book two - secret prince, fish out of water.
Book three - a countdown to a wedding, with someone trying to get in the middle!
ES: Chris is a fantastic villain, perhaps because most of us have met a Chris at some point in our lives. What went into the making of him? Will he be back in book three, or did Heather shake him off for good in book two? What made you decide to give him a relatively merciful ending in book one?
The author, at the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, West Virginia
PL: True to his character he's someone you just can't get rid of. And *if* he makes an appearance in book three, I hope it's a conclusion that gives a good end cap to his arc. I think in book one, I wanted to make sure that we saw that Moth was focused more on Heather's needs (and safety) than tearing his claws into Chris. As much as he deserved it. I think Magnus [the vampire king] is an interesting Villain to fill his shoes in the third book. Another man who thinks he's a hero, who thinks he knows best for Heather, but maybe, just maybe, will get a happy ending (one day).
ES: By the end of book one, the bond between Heather and Moth seems pretty unbreakable. How do you create romantic chemistry between two characters? And how do you sustain that spark over the course of multiple books once those characters have committed to each other?
PL: That was something really important to me. Creating physical and emotional distance has been helpful.
In book two, Heather is her own worst enemy, with her overthinking, ignoring the signs her body is giving her to rest, and trying to fit herself into this new world. She makes a lot of (wrong) assumptions, and I think that's pretty true to being in a new relationship and wanting everything to be just right. Moth is also acting more standoffish with his memories hazy, which puts her on guard.
After that ending, where the two feel so unbreakable, I knew I had to add in a curveball and that's where Magnus the vampire king came into play, to throw a wrench in all their sweet wedding plans.
ES: In book two, Heather works up the courage to tell Moth about her fantasy of letting him chase her through the forest and capture her. I admired the way this scene was written, allowing Heather a little bit of awkwardness while never straying from the atmosphere of security and playfulness that Heather and Moth have created together. Do you feel it is important to see women’s romantic and/or sexual fantasies represented on the page, and why?
PL: Absolutely! Coming into this series, I really wanted to make sure that their intimacy felt balanced. I wanted everything to feel safe, physically and emotionally, and for them to feel really grounded in reality in a way. That meant having a healthy communication about whatever fantasies the two had been dreaming of.
I think desire is a hard thing to talk about and incredibly vulnerable. Having really open conversation, planning, safe words, is not only important and sure can feel awkward to talk about, but also led to a scene that I think felt very sexy while maintaining boundaries—which I think is a great thing to see in fiction.
ES: What was it like to write from Moth’s POV in book 3? Why did you decide to write from his perspective?
PL: With the way the two are separated for a good chunk of the book, it felt not only necessary but also a great way for Moth to open up and spend some time with the mortals, faeries and his mother-in-law.
ES: How did you end up with your publisher, 4 Horsemen Publications?
PL: They found me through a pitch event on Twitter years ago called PitMad and goodness I'm so glad they did! It has been a joy to work with them for each book in the series. It's really special to find a team that "gets" your book and I’m so lucky to have them.
ES: Besides Mothman in Love, what books would you recommend for folks who are just starting their paranormal romance journey?
PL: My all time favorite for monster romance is Lillian Lark. Her books are spicy, filled with so much heart, and I think my favorite is Deceived by The Gargoyles—it's so good!
ES: What are you working on next?
PL: I'll be diving into the Florida swamps with another monster romance (hopefully in 2025) and there's something very special coming soon for Mothman In Love in February so be sure to stay tuned!!
