PHOTO: K.E. Drake, celebrated author of romantic and fantasy adventures, captured in her element as a passionate storyteller.
Stories Of Love, Adventure, And Happily Ever After
K.E. Drake shares her journey as a writer, her inspirations, and the magic of crafting stories filled with romance, humour, and fantasy worlds that promise happily-ever-afters.
K.E. Drake is a storyteller with a heart firmly rooted in wonder. Her tales, woven with threads of romance, resilience, and adventure, are the product of a lifelong love affair with the written word. From the tender age of thirteen, when she stumbled upon retellings of beloved fairy tales, Drake’s imagination has been ignited by the extraordinary. Now, her books—from Beautiful Melody to The Twelve Adventures of Christmas—embrace the magic of possibility, inviting readers to step into worlds where love always triumphs, and dreams bloom with unfaltering hope.
One cannot help but be drawn to the sincerity of her craft. In Drake’s narratives, the courageous heroines are not mere characters but echoes of timeless virtues: Belle’s self-sacrifice, Cinderella’s quiet strength, and Eowyn’s indomitable spirit. She gifts her audience not only moments of escapism but also glimpses of humanity’s enduring capacity for love and triumph. Through every twist of fate, her stories remain steadfast in their promise—happiness is not a fleeting notion but a destination reached by the brave and pure-hearted.
With each novel, Drake explores the boundless creativity of fantasy, infusing it with romance, humour, and heartfelt emotion. Her instinct for storytelling lies as much in the intricate details of her worlds as in the universal truths of her characters. Whether it’s the snowy realm of magical elves or the strength of love amidst wartime strife, her stories are a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring joy of the happily ever after.
K.E. Drake is a masterful storyteller whose heartfelt, imaginative works inspire joy, hope, and timeless wonder in readers.
What inspired you to become a writer of fantasy and fairy tale adventures?
My love of the fantasy and fairy tale books I read! I enjoyed books as a child, but reading often felt like an assignment. Then when I was thirteen, my sister took me to the library and I picked out a science fiction romance and a regency romance. Well, I quickly learned I didn’t care for sci-fi but also that I loved the soft romance of the regency world.
I borrowed my other sister’s kindle to find similar books, and the first one that caught my attention was a Beauty And The Beast retelling. I had never known there were more versions of the fairy tales I adored than the Disney princess movies. Then my obsession with retellings began, leading me to read dozens more retellings—and read many of those books over and over again.
My sister (whose kindle I borrowed) loved them too, and one day when I was fifteen, were talking about stories we wanted to read. The more we talked, the more I saw the story in my head. I went to the family computer, began to put it all down, and that’s how Beautiful Melody was written. It’s been ten and a half years now!
“My love of the fantasy and fairy tale books I read!” – K.E. Drake
Can you tell us a bit about your writing process and how you come up with your story ideas?
I think every book of mine has been formulated differently! As I mentioned, Beautiful Melody was created when talking out ideas with my sister. Ruby Treasure practically planned itself when establishing the characters of Ruby and Samuel in Beautiful Melody. The Twelve Adventures Of Christmas was a conglomeration of ideas which obviously first started when I rewatched the beloved cartoon The Twelve Days Of Christmas. I knew I wanted to write my own story based on the animation, so I began mapping out ideas, scenes, what gifts to do instead of five golden rings, seven swans a-swimming, etc.
The process typically goes like this: Idea, genre, world, characters, tropes, scenes, develop the fine details, write the scenes in order of most want to write to least want to write. Then the first draft is done and multiple rounds of edits and rewrites take place until it’s ready to publish!
“Then my obsession with retellings began, leading me to read dozens more retellings—and read many of those books over and over again.” – K.E. Drake
How do you balance the level of romance and humour in your stories to ensure they appeal to a wide range of readers?
This is such a cool question! Again, it depends on the book. Every story calls for a different blend or percentage of romance and humor—even action, adventure, etc. For example, The Twelve Adventures Of Christmas is very comical—and most of the reviewers say that it was or even that they were laughing out loud.
While most of my stories are very lighthearted and all promise happily ever after endings, some of them don’t have much humor. I’m currently branching out into other genres and writing my first World War II romance. Because of the setting and subject matter, I don’t anticipate there being any humor included—but there will be plenty of romance.
A large piece of appealing to readers is making sure to label and market the book correctly and clearly. If the cover and title, the genre, the description, and the plot are laid out properly, the readers will have a very good idea of what they’re getting.
“A large piece of appealing to readers is making sure to label and market the book correctly and clearly.” – K.E. Drake
Your stories often feature strong-willed female characters, what draws you to writing about these types of characters?
Because that archetype is exactly what I grew up seeing! In movies, games, and books, female characters with strength were the best kind. Example: Belle’s her sacrificial love and determination, Cinderella’s her quiet and patient strength, and Odette’s stubborn kindness.
But by far, Eowyn was the one I looked up to most. There was something that drew me to her as a child watching The Lord Of The Rings over and over again. Perhaps it was her overcoming the odds stacked against her. Perhaps it was her love for country and family which led her to fight in a war and do something remarkable in slaying the Witch King. Either way, Eowyn is the perfect model for a female character!
I do want to add a small clarification. Even though all of my female protagonists are strong-willed, they each have many traits and qualities about themselves that can either make them harder or softer.
As an example, in The Stepsister’s Bandit there are two romances/couples. Lianna has had a tough life with scarcity and loss, but she’s like a flower in rocky ground—soft but resilient—and her love for Reece steadies and strengthens her.
On the other side of that, Nicolette is a little bit more self-assertive and much more bold. She speaks or acts first and considers it later. However, she loves with her whole heart and sacrifices herself for Jeremiah.
What is it about the fantasy genre that you enjoy writing about the most?
The freedom and creativity! Fantasy can be anything you want it to be–from the subtle fun of a children’s princess story to the epic and moral adventure of The Lord Of The Rings. I believe that’s why fantasy is amongst the all-time favourite genres.
How do you research and develop the worlds and settings in your stories?
I read books like I write! I heard once that a good writer reads, and it’s absolutely true.
I do different research for different books. Some worlds, systems, and logic practically create themselves as I’m brainstorming the story and characters. Others require in-depth detailing and explaining. A world that came very simply to me was The Snowy Mountain Elves–with its science and city on one side and the magical snowy elven land on the other. A book that’s requiring expansive world building is one that I haven’t published but am currently writing. I won’t share too much about it, but it’s my first portal fantasy with the tropes of the chosen one and enemies-to-lovers!
Do you have a favourite character or story that you have written, and if so, why is it your favourite?
Oh, I’m not sure I could answer that; it’s like choosing a favourite child! Honestly, every new book and protagonist becomes my favourite because I’m getting to fall in love with the story, the world, and the characters. I love every book and every character for different reasons (Beautiful Melody because it started it all, The Stepsister’s Bandit for its heart and swoon, Jeremiah for his romantic soul beneath his stoicism, Ruby for her wanderlust and excitement, Samuel because he’s everything a prince should be…I could go on!).
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are looking to write their own fantasy and fairy tale adventures?
Just do it! I opened up a Word document one day and never looked back. It really is that simple if you want it to be.
I heard once that the first draft of a book is telling the story to yourself, and the edits and rewrites are telling the story to others.
