Photo: S. H. Pratt – Award-Winning Author And Creator Of Engaging Romance Stories That Inspire, Heal, And Explore The Depths Of Human Emotions
Award-Winning Author Talks Writing, Inspiration, And Emotional Depth
S. H. Pratt shares her creative process, inspiration, and research detailing how she crafts unforgettable characters, emotionally immersive romance, and strong protagonists while balancing lighthearted themes with dark psychological subject matter.
S . H. Pratt is a name that has become synonymous with emotional depth, compelling narratives, and unforgettable characters within the world of contemporary romance. With her award-winning ability to weave tales that are as powerful as they are poignant, Pratt has captivated readers worldwide. Recognised for her RONE award-winning novel Get Away Closer and the RONE finalist Beyond the Dark, she has made an indelible mark on the literary landscape with stories that balance the raw beauty of human frailty with the redemptive power of love.
An eclectic storyteller with a flair for crafting emotionally charged journeys, Pratt delves into the darker, psychological corners of life, bringing forth narratives that are achingly real yet beautifully uplifting. Her works are not confined to one category, seamlessly transitioning between romance subgenres including romantic comedy, suspense, and stories with darker undertones. At the heart of her novels are strong, resilient characters, particularly women, who inspire us with their strength and humanity while navigating the complexities of life.
Beyond her literary prowess, S. H. Pratt is a multi-talented creative who juggles her roles as a mother of three, a passionate quilter, baker, and movie enthusiast. Her sharp insights into human nature, coupled with her bright, sarcastic wit, imbue her writing with an authenticity and spirit that resonate deeply with her readers. Pratt’s ability to transform personal experience, observation, and even casual conversations into vibrant storytelling is nothing short of remarkable. It is no wonder that her books are an emotional adventure, captivating the hearts and minds of readers across the globe.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into the creative mind of S. H. Pratt, exploring everything from her inspirations and writing processes to what it means to craft novels grounded in reality while providing a deeply engaging escape. Prepare to be inspired and enchanted by the wisdom, wit, and talent of an author whose words are as impactful as her characters.
What inspires your writing and how do you come up with ideas for your novels?
I’m a perpetual people watcher so every time I’m in public I find myself thinking ‘there’s a cool trait for a character’ or ‘this person could be a character’ and things sort of grow from that. I’m also one to let my mind cogitate and ruminate on these random thoughts until a fully fledged character or storyline has been formulated. Music, lyrics, and conversations with my children also spark ideas for my writing. As I’ve shared on my social media – life inspires me.
How do you balance writing dark romance with more lighthearted themes in your stories?
I don’t really write dark romance all the time – I write with dark psychological subject matter but tend to write whatever type romance the story dictates. I’ve got romcom, suspense, and other tropes aside from dark. I do tend to allow my odd, sarcastic humor to bleed through to lighten the darker tones of the psychological drama of my stories.
Can you tell us about your writing process and how you develop your characters?
Each story I write starts with the seed of inspiration – whether that’s through people watching, music, or some other source. I allow my mind to process and ruminate on the idea until I have a tangible character or storyline that I can expand into a full story, novella, or series. I have a specific set of characteristics that I make sure I’ve fleshed out for each main character and to a lesser degree the secondary characters such as defining marks or tattoos, hair color, eye color, backstory that is important to the story, and so on that I write down so it can be referred to and changed as needed. I also keep a set of blank calendar pages so that I can ensure there are no timeline errors. Other than these specific tools, I simply become the mediator who writes down the story as the characters dictate it to me.
Your books often feature strong female protagonists, what draws you to writing about these types of characters?
There are several factors that draw me to write strong female protagonists. First, would be my own lineage – my mother and grandmothers were extraordinarily strong women, as were many of my aunts, who were very much a product of the era they lived in. Next, because I weave so much dark psychological subject matter into my stories, I lean into characters – especially the female characters – who have had to be strong due to circumstances beyond their control as so many human beings have to be in reality. I also prefer to write stories that are reality-based and strong women like to read about characters they can relate to, thus strong female characters. And, finally, the most basic reason I write strong female characters is because I write stories I, personally, like to read and I am drawn to that sort of character.
How do you research and ensure the accuracy of the settings and locations in your novels?
I spend so much time researching! I only write stories set in locations I’ve personally been to – characters may visit other places where I haven’t been, but I do everything in my power to ensure everything is as accurate as possible at the time of publication. I am almost obsessive when it comes to research – whether location, subject matter, or anything else – to the point where I have several professionals in their fields who help me on a regular basis. Psychologists, lawyers, medical personnel, and others with life experiences that I don’t have all helped me with my books and research. I value their assistance and input more than there are actual words to express how much.
What do you think is the most important element in writing a successful romance novel?
I think that having relatable characters is key to any successful story whether it’s romance or not. It the reader can’t connect with and relate to the characters, they’ll never become invested in the story enough to finish it.
How do you handle criticism or negative reviews of your work, and do you use them to improve your writing?
I value every review – positive or negative – because they represent someone who took a chance on my book. Many authors refuse to even look at reviews because it may be negative and hurtful, but I find that every review offers some insight for a future story. If the review has some constructive criticism, then I will take it into consideration but the bottom line is I know my books will not please everyone and I’m okay with everyone having their own point of view about it.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting out on their writing journey and hoping to achieve similar success to yours?
The most important piece of advice I can give is just write the book. It could be absolute garbage – it usually isn’t but an author is usually their own worst critic – but you can’t fix or improve on nothing so just write the book. If you ‘always wanted to’ write the book, you should just write it. Whether you publish it or not is entirely a different matter, but you’ll never have anything to even worry about publishing if you don’t just write the book.
