“It can be complicated, painful, possessive, dark, confusing, and beautiful all at once.”

Emile Sodyte belyser de mørke sider af kærligheden med sin fængslende varulveromance. Læs hende fortælle om hvordan hun fandt vej til fortællingen i Moonlit Awakening, og hvorfor de monstrøse skikkelser var hendes perfekte udgangspunkt.

Af Charlotte Siegfredsen / 15-10-2025

What made you choose to start writing romance, and why this specific type?

The thought of writing “Moonlit Awakening” was always there, but I never dared. I kept thinking, ‘Who would want to read such a story that covers the darker aspects of human nature, relationships, and the fantasy world itself?’ So I kept putting it off. But then I became a mom, and for some reason, that triggered my brain and pushed me to finally sit down and do it.

A huge inspiration was the fanfiction “Manacled” by SenLinYu, now published as “Alchemised”, it really encouraged me not to shy away from heavy subjects like over-possessiveness, attempted assault, and other dark themes.

I think writing this genre made me realize it’s exactly what I want to do, telling stories with dark themes, strong male characters, and female characters who grow from vulnerable to powerful. It just feels right for me.

Of all the fantasy and dark creatures you could have chosen, why did werewolves become the heart of Moonlit Awakening?

I think what really drew me to werewolves is their nature - part human, part beast. They are strong, possessive, and have this raw, primal energy that is really intense. For “Moonlit Awakening”, I wanted a creature that could show both danger and deep emotion, and werewolves felt perfect for that. They let me explore passionate, intense relationships and the instincts that drive them, which felt really exciting for the story.

Have your own background or life experiences shaped the way you write love stories?

Yes, I wouldn’t describe “Moonlit Awakening” as being a traditional fairytale where the princess meets her prince charming and lives happily ever after. Instead, some of my past experiences - especially relationships that ended badly or people who hurt me - have influenced the emotions and themes in my writing. Those experiences have helped me explore love in a more realistic, nuanced way, showing both its beauty and its challenges, shaping into a world of magic, and darkness, and simply new rules of life.

What fascinates you most about romance and love as a literary theme?

What fascinates me most about love in stories is how real and messy it can be. Love doesn’t always need to have happy endings. It can be complicated, painful, possessive, dark, confusing, and beautiful all at once. I like exploring how it changes people, teaches them about themselves, and sometimes even breaks them before it builds them back together. That mix of emotions is what makes writing about love so compelling to me.

Give us a look inside your writing process - how do your stories come to life? 

I’ve found that my writing process is pretty spontaneous. I write whenever I find the time, whether it is on the train, while walking the dog, during breakfast, or late at night after the kids have gone to bed.

I don’t plan everything in advance. I usually know how a story begins and have a sense of how books one, two, and three should end. I know the key events that must happen, the plot twists and which characters will die. But the details of the story? Those I figure out as I go. I just let the story unfold naturally. 

If I reach a point where I’m stuck, I step back, let the idea simmer and often the solution or the next twist appears when I least expect it. The writing journey is full of surprises, and that is what makes it exciting.

What about character development, how do you approach that?

Character creation is one of my favorite parts of writing. I usually start by figuring out their goals, fears, and defining different traits, then let their personalities evolve as the story goes. I try to understand how each character sees the world, how they react under pressure, and what makes them vulnerable, so they feel real rather than just plot devices.

The female main character of “Moonlit Awakening”, Freya, is fierce and badass, yet she is emotionally vulnerable. Some say authors create main characters as extensions of themselves, but I have to disagree. Freya is completely the opposite of me. I hope readers look up to her, that even in the hardest situations you can be brave and most importantly kind.

What kind of scenes do you find the most challenging to write?

I found writing the fighting scenes the most challenging. Even after watching countless movies and videos about different combat techniques, something always felt missing. I realized I needed firsthand experience, so I joined a Krav Maga class to actually learn how to fight. Experiencing it myself, getting punched in the nose, stomach, and legs, and walking away with bruises and blue marks, gave me the insight I needed. I finally understood how to describe muscle twitches, the heaviness of the whole body, and the real sensations of actual pain.

I think when you struggle to write a scene, sometimes the best way forward is to step outside the usual perspective and experience it in a new way. That is when the answers become clear.

Was there anything in the writing and publishing journey that surprised you?

I think what surprised me the most was how much effort it is still required even after finishing the first draft. I found myself rereading and rewriting many scenes, and even adding new characters who ended up playing important roles in the story, long after I thought I was “done.” Believe me, even after reading the 800 pages of “Moonlit Awakening” eleven times, I still found errors.

When the book finally rested in my hands, there was this incredible moment where you are overwhelmed with lots of different emotions. “Wow. I published a book. My dream came true. I am a published author.”

But what really surprised me wasn’t the publishing process itself, it was how eager people were to read it. I started writing this book for myself, and now it has reached hundreds of readers. More and more reviews keep coming in, and people are sharing my book, showing how beautifully it looks on their shelves. The cover, which I illustrated myself, somehow manages to grab attention every time. I feel genuinely honored.

So, what are you working on now?

Right now, I’m writing the second book in the “Moonlit Chronicles” series, and I’m enjoying every bit of it. In book two, you can expect more of our villain, more tension, more adventure, and a whole lot more excitement. The world of “Moonlit Awakening” is expanding, new places to explore, new faces to meet, and secrets that were only hinted at in the first book will finally have their answers.

I left “Moonlit Awakening” on such a cliffhanger that I knew I had to start the sequel with a bang. It’s darker, more emotional, and filled with moments that will challenge everything you thought you knew about the story.

Do you have any future dreams for your author journey? Anything you would like to write that has yet to become reality?

I’ve created an entire world, a map with new lands, cultures, and secrets waiting to be discovered. The ideas keep coming faster than I can write them down.

The “Moonlit Chronicles” is only the beginning. There are other stories set in the same universe that are already taking shape in my mind. I can’t reveal too much yet, but let’s just say “Moonlit Awakening” opened a door, and I plan to explore every corner beyond it.

As a reader, do you also read romance yourself? 

If there’s passion, tension, and complex characters, I’m in! Unfortunately, being a mom of two small toddlers, a wife to a kind and supportive husband, and an author myself, my reading pace has slowed down quite a bit, but I’ve made peace with that.

Do you have a favourite romance novel that stands out above the rest for you?

I would absolutely choose “Manacled” by SenLinYu, now published as “Alchemised”, as my top read. It completely shattered me in the best possible way, and I still haven’t recovered from it. I haven’t read anything else that has made me feel emotions as deeply and as intensely as “Alchemised”. I’m still thinking about it, and probably will be for a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet, but make sure to check the trigger warnings first, there are quite a few.