Interview with Author Rhea Morrigan

Describe yourself in three words.

Crazy-ass old bitch - but if you can't print that... hmmm... that will take some thought. Let's go with passionate, authentic and resilient.

What are three facts about you?

I picked up a southern accent when I moved to the south (been here for decades). Southern people think I have a northern accent (especially for certain words), while my relatives in the north say I have a strong southern accent. (Make up y'uns minds, will ya?)

The German Shepherd is my favorite genre, uh... breed of dog.

I love to cook, but I'm usually too lazy to make big, elaborate meals.

What is your favorite book from childhood?

Geronimo. I have no idea who the author is. It was a hardcover, and the school nurse gave it to me. I read it until the cover fell apart. Wish I still had it.

When you read, which authors are your go-to authors?

Raeann Blake, Estelle Ryan, and I found another one I really like so far - Ashley Quinn

What book has made the biggest impact on your life?

None, really. I read because I enjoy reading and don't think about how it impacts my life (probably why I don't have triggers).

Do you have any book related tattoos?

Nope.

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

I don't watch much TV, but I did like The Green Mile (movie) and The Hunt for Red October (book and movie) a lot. Though they could have put more of the book into the movie for Red October.

What subject could you talk about all day?

Drag racing. :)

What is your dream vacation destination?

I live in my dream vacation destination - in the mountains (though my little slice of the country is getting a little too crowded for my tastes).

What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?

Pyrography, crochet, trying new crafts that I fail miserably at (like working with clay), but oh, well... I have fun doing it.

Are there any causes you support or which are important to you?

Veterans with Agent Orange-related illnesses (Viet Nam era).

How did you discover writing as a possible career?

Now, that's a funny one. I hated writing when I was younger. Absolutely hated it. A friend who wrote for a publication asked me if I wanted to write some articles. I have no idea what possessed me to say, "Yes," but I did. I went from doing that part-time to doing it full-time in 2007 and recently got my content strategist certificate (2023).

That turned into writing fiction, but let me tell you -- that was a certified pain-in-the-arse learning curve. I had to learn to go from getting to the point Right Now to learning how to add sensory detail and, horror of horrors, to show, not tell.

I'm currently editing my first series because I didn't have enough of either of those things in it, except for the last book (Jade). I wrote my first book in 2020, and didn't finish the second one until the end of 2023 -- and only then, because Raeann Blake told me to "Just do it."

She created a monster. I have a six-book series under my belt (that's the one being edited), a standalone Christmas novel, a short story, and the first book of a 12-book series soon to be published. All are romantic suspense, except the short story - The Last Drink - it's a noir/psychological thriller.

How did you choose your pen name?

The name Rhea is from the Greek Titaness Rhea, the mother of the Olympian gods. It symbolizes the continuous flow of time and generations, and speaks to nurturing, wisdom, serenity and creative strength.

Morrigan is a powerful Celtic goddess associated with war, fate and transformation. You will often see her symbolized by a crow, and she is known as a shape-shifter who influences the outcome of battles and the flow of destiny. The name speaks to sovereignty, mystery, strength and change.

While embracing a serene, creative force grounded in tradition, Rhea welcomes change, mystery and resilience. She intertwines the calm, nurturing Rhea with the dynamic catalyst known as Morrigan to weave stories that honor legacy, empower new beginnings and inspire enduring strength.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

The Buck Hole Hollow series is inspired by a logging friend. He'd have a coronary if he read them, though - he's quite straight-laced, especially for a logger. So, the characters are figments of my imagination - he only inspired the logging part. As for the rest of my books, anywhere I can find inspiration, I'll grab it.

What is the weirdest fact you've found when researching for a book?

Something that is soooo not appropriate for an interview for all ages. Suffice it to say, I'm no prude, but this one surprised even me.

What trope is your favorite to write?

Romantic suspense

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I get to write about all kinds of stuff that may or may not be legal in the real world.

What is your writing process?

I'm a pantser, so I don't really have one. I might take notes on characters, though that's usually as I make them up in my head (so I don't forget what they look like later in the book). I tried an outline once, and the characters said, "Nope. Not happening. We have control over this book, not you." And that's how the kink got in Book 6 of the Buck Hole Hollow Series (Jade). Griff was being mighty stubborn about that. I should have killed him off. He made my Google go crazy with that nonsense.

What time of day are you most creative?

EEEARRRLLLY in the morning.

What is your ideal writing environment?

Classic country blaring in the background. If it's nice, I do like to sit outside, but now I have so much crap attached to my laptop, that I probably won't do that. Though, to be honest, there are only a few weeks in the spring when it's nice enough to sit outside. It gets mighty hot here mighty fast.

As an author, what challenges do you face?

Marketing. Work takes up my fiction writing time. Marketing. Social media (distraction). Marketing.

What is your least favorite part of being an author?

Writing book blurbs.

If there was one thing you could change about the writing/publishing industry, what would it be?

There are actually two that bug me. Amazon's unfair algorithm and people writing AI books left and right and publishing so many of them, they saturate the market.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Join author groups and learn as much as possible. You'll never get bored because there's always something new to learn.

What is something you’d like to write, but haven’t yet?

I've written everything I want to write - so far. That might change.

Which parts of yourself are reflected in your characters?

Probably my lack of a filter between my brain and mouth. And being independent.

Which of your characters have special meaning to you?

Adley ("Adley" The Buck Hole Hollow Series, Book 1, mostly, because she is the first one I came up with. Then, I think Selene (A Twisted Infinity Christmas). Both are independent and don't take any flack - but Selene is more sarcastic.

How do you come up with character names?

They come to me.

What kind of readers enjoy your books?

My readers love a plot-driven novel more than a character-driven one, as my romantic suspense novels have plots where things happen that drive the characters' actions. They like lots of detail, some world-building (not the fantasy type - more like setting up the story, usually in the first book of the series), and character detail. They like various story elements and the surprise of a good plot twist. They also love that a book doesn't necessarily follow the standard genre and tropes.

What is something you love to hear from your readers?

I love it when they can relate to a character or they want to visit the areas my stories take place in.

Where can readers find you online?

https://rheamorrigan.com/

https://discord.gg/3b8erazd (Lust, Lore & Legends)

https://www.facebook.com/RheaMorrigan1

https://www.instagram.com/rheamorrigan/

https://www.youtube.com/@RheaMorriganAuthor

Do you have any current ARCs or free downloads readers might be interested in?

Reserved Indefinitely is technically closed for ARC reading, but since it won't publish until Feb. 27, 2026, if I get an email from them, I'll send them an ARC.

What is your latest/upcoming release?

Reserved Indefinitely - https://amzn.to/4kzzR96

Closing Thoughts...

I love reviews... of course!! What author doesn't? If it includes constructive criticism, I try to apply it to the next book - or to the current one I'm writing.

Steam Level

It depends on how you count chili peppers. On-page, open door, throw the blinds away and shout it to the world sex anywhere in the house and even outside. Don't forget christening the characters' pickup trucks, too.