Author Interview: M.F. Moody
Tell us a little about yourself.
Well, I’m an Aussie born and bred, but I moved to the UK in late 2015 with my hubby and our boy-child. I’m the youngest of three girls, and talk to my family back home quite regularly. I’m fairly open and honest, blunt to a fault, and it was my older sister who came up with the line that I have no shame.
I’ve been writing since childhood, and had work published as a teen and then again in my early 20’s, but I published my first book in late 2021. It took me almost 14 years to complete.
Tell us about your upcoming/recently released books.
Okay, I’m going to talk about two – Family Justice and Mythic.
Family Justice is a contemporary M/F Mafia romance with dark elements to it. I’ve been told it’s a bit of a saga, and it takes a while before the steam really hits. But once it does, I think it’s a solid 4. It follows the story of Bethany, who was adopted into the NY mafia as a child, her rise to power within the family, and her relationship with the heirs of other mafia families. I think it’s my best book yet, and I adore the cover. It was inspired by a dream I once had, part of which is shown in the prologue.
Mythic released February 21st, and is the next in my Altered Shifters Universe series. It’s a paranormal MMF menáge, and follows Sarai, Aodhán, and Cyril as they not only negotiate their triad relationship, but also outside forces that will impact greatly on their lives and the lives of those they love. It’s pretty spicy, I think it’s a 4-4.5. I’m excited to see how fans react to it, especially with cameos of fan-favourites from previous books. Mythic was inspired by several of the main characters demanding their own stories be told when I was writing my Altered duet, the books previous to Mythic.
Who is your favorite character in your book/series? Why?
That would be Nox. He’s my saber-tooth shifter from my Altered Shifters Universe, and is one of the main characters in Altered. I love him because he’s not only one of the most damaged characters with an amazing personal growth arc, but because he is also based on a real-life friend of mine.
What is your writing process? Show us a day (or week) in the life.
Coffee. It always starts with coffee. I am more of a ‘pantster’ than a ‘planner’, but I’ll generally have a vague outline of the overall plot of the story, main characters, and setting. I’ll then either put on my headphones and listen to a Spotify playlist I’ve curated for the specific book I’m writing, or I’ll hop on a Zoom/vid call with one or more of my author friends (usually it’s Micca Michaels, but often also includes Thora Woods and Shannon French) and we’ll just sit there together and write.
If I’m struggling or trying to focus just on my writing, I’ll head over to my Discord server and do sprints. A lot of the time I’m joined there by Aeryn Havens, Dakota Brown, R Knight, or Rochelle Hobbs.
What keeps you motivated to write?
My sanity. If I don’t write, the stories will pile up in my head and not let me sleep without constantly dreaming – on repeat – about their plots/storylines.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I read, bake, will play computer games, or if I’m feeling particularly crafty, I’ll paint 28mm Warhammer miniatures or do cross-stitch.
What subgenres or tropes are your favorites to read?
Oh, that very much depends on my mood. There are times I’ll binge on dark romance, others when I’ve got a taste for sport, sometimes I’m in the mood for M/M, and other times I don’t want to have to choose. The only things I can’t personally read are student/teacher romances (because I was a teacher), and I need to know going into a book whether there are scenes of non-con, somnophilia, or animal abuse/death.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Both. We have 3 cats, and when we moved over to the UK we had to leave our dog behind with my parents. Legislation over here meant that if we tried to bring him with us, they would have destroyed him, and he’s such a beautiful, loving dog that I refused to do that to him. He’s very well cared for, and I hope to see him once more before he passes (he’s 12 years old, and getting on in dog-years).
What’s your reading drink and snack of choice?
Coffee. Always coffee. Snacks depend on my mood and what’s available – Tim Tams (or Penguins in a pinch), Ritz crackers and parmesan twists, or peanut-butter pretzels and pork/chicken scratchings.
Where is your perfect reading spot?
Real or imaginary? Real I have two – on my couch, and on my bed. Imaginary? Well, that would be in a home library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with an enormous armchair in front of an open fire.
What’s your favorite book / comfort re-read / #1 book you recommend?
Again, that depends on my mood and the genre. I love Terry Pratchett’s The Truth, Stephen King & Peter Straub’s The Talisman, Michael Marshall Smith’s Spares, T.S. Joyce’s Boarlander Bash Bear and Boarlander Cursed Bear, R.J. Blain’s Vigilante Magical Librarians and The Fox Witch series, Tijan’s Enemies and Teardrop Shot, Kristy Cunnings’ All the Pretty Monsters, Mariana Zapata’s Locke and Key and The Wall of Winnipeg, J Bree’s Hannaford Prep series, K.A. Knight’s Den of Vipers, the list goes on.
Who or what has had the most influence on you as a writer?
Um, I guess that would be my own life experiences, and the people around me? My friends tend to find their way into my books, and because a lot of my stories are based on dreams I’ve had, that is also a major contributor to my writing. For example, my first book, Disconnect, is based off a really bad period of time in my life, and several characters are friends or family of mine I’ve just renamed. The cat is a blend of 3 real-life cats.
I also have a number of authors and other people in the book community I’ve become quite close with, and their advice and experiences also influence me and my writing.
Where can readers find you online?
I’m all over the place. I have my own website (which I desperately need to update), I’m on Discord, TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, Facebook…the best way to find me is via my Linktree – https://linktr.ee/mfmoody
