From Inspiration to Creation: My Journey into Urban Fantasy Romance Writing

From Crayon Stories to Novels

I honestly can’t remember a time when I didn’t love reading or writing. I think I was about six or seven years old when I wrote my first story on construction paper, in bright crayon. My mom was my biggest fan. It was about a monster under my bed and how I overcame my fear, only to discover that the “monster” was actually my dog sneaking into my room at night. Hard-hitting material? Um, not quite. But that little story was the spark that set my imagination in motion.

In college, I followed my curiosity into the sciences, but my heart never strayed far from words. I spent my free time writing poetry, sharing it with friends at school, and reading for fun. It was during those years that I made myself a promise. One day, I’ll write a book, I told myself. That dream stayed with me, and it’s one I truly intended to pursue.

The Birth of an Idea

I started my career in the scientific industry, and more than ten years later, around 2018, the idea for Torn Between Realms popped into my head. At first, it was just one of those whimsical thoughts. Wouldn’t it be cool if I actually turned this into a book? But, like so many ideas, it just…didn’t happen.

The following year, though, I’d had enough of waiting. I decided it was time to actually do it—to get the story out of my head and onto paper (or more like my laptop). So, I spent that month writing, and by the end, I had the first four chapters. I remember feeling so proud that I’d finally started something that had been sitting with me for a year. And honestly, it had been a dream for much longer than that.

Life Happens

But then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. Priorities shifted, and writing had to take a backseat. Before I knew it, life was moving fast. I got married, moved, and started a new job. It was a whirlwind of big, beautiful changes, and I decided to give them my full attention.

It wasn’t until 2025 that I made myself a promise: this would be the year. The year I finally finished my novel. No excuses. So, I went back to the story I’d started years before and picked up right where I left off. Suddenly, I couldn’t turn it off. The ideas just poured in, like a TV I couldn’t switch off. I started seeing the world differently, constantly asking myself, would my character Cece do this? Or would Lucien do that?

Sure, it must have been super annoying to my family, but they didn’t complain (they're amazing like that). Even something as simple as watching the California sunset from my backyard became part of the story. I’d wonder, what would the sky look like in this other realm? How many suns or moons would be seen from their sky? Would it terrify me as a mortal, or would it call to me?

Crafting a Unique Blend: Romantasy

What I ended up with was this urban, epic, interdimensional romantasy—a mixture of fantasy and science, all wrapped up in a fantastic love story. Is it super common? Nope. But when the idea came to me, it just fit. It definitely didn't feel like sci-fi, and it wasn’t your usual fantasy either. It’s what I like to think of as a beautiful blend of both worlds (or shall I say realms?), a place where magic meets science.

I don’t refer to my characters as aliens. They’re beings from a magical and powerful realm. It’s a place that’s both more advanced and more ancient than our world, yet it still works in ways we’d recognize. The people there look like mortals. They live, struggle, and carry their own burdens. I wanted my characters from this other realm to feel real and face challenges similar to ours. A place where these beings carry mortal burdens in their foreign world, while still having their realm be an escape for us mere mortals.

The Journey to Completion

I actually pulled it off. Four months later, my first draft was done. Of course, any writer knows that finishing a first draft is just the beginning. There’s still so much work ahead. But I let myself celebrate that moment. I was thrilled. I cried. I probably even screamed a little. I did it; I crossed the finish line. And honestly, nothing compares to the feeling of seeing your story available for others to read.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved creating it.

With love and stardust,

Iris

P.S. I hope to connect with more fans and share my unique blend of urban fantasy romance stories. Let's build a vibrant community around these magical worlds together! Stay tuned for more posts on my blog.

Join me on this journey, and let’s make some unforgettable memories!