Nicole Autumn

Dark Fantasy 𖤓 Romance 𖤓 Smut

Driven by passion

My love of reading started in the summer before 8th grade when I found Twilight by Stephanie Meyer sitting on a Target shelf. I spent the last of my allowance and then spent the rest of the day reading. Ever since then, reading has been a staple in my life. I even attempted to write a novel several times, but I never could get past chapter 10.

That all changed when inspiration struck at midnight on a hot July night. I couldn't get this story out of my mind and spent the next three hours writing into the early morning hours. My characters seemed to come to life as I wrote, and then I hit that dreaded chapter 10 and was stuck for months.

I had heard of something called NaNoWriMo from a fellow TikTok creator and looked into it. Next thing I knew, I was completing my first novel in December 2022 and publishing it in April 2023.

Since then, I've dived headfirst into making writing my career while juggling my three kids, my husband, and my Siamese cat, Binx, in Virginia. Although we don’t have a dog currently, I’m dying to get another loyal dog bestie after my Labrador, Lily, passed away in 2023.

When I’m not writing, I love doing all things fiber crafting. Crocheting and knitting are my favorites, but I also cross-stitch and would love to try embroidery and maybe even spinning. Plus, I’m a huge gamer! I love everything from cozy games like Stardew Valley to playing in worlds like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Fallout 76. I love exploring the stories in games and immersing myself in them. Just like reading!

No matter what I’m doing, I usually have the ADHD trio of drinks: coffee, water, and a fun drink to spice things up while trying to enjoy life to its fullest.

Join Leona and Nicole in their Writing With Witches Podcast episode where they get into the details of the Secret Society Series.

Author Q&A

I would love to write a high fantasy. I dipped my toes into world-building in the Secret Society Series, with them going to portal worlds, but I think building a world from the ground up would be a task I would love to undertake eventually.
Absolutely not! I am not the author you want to come to for smut-free romances. I believe sex is a part of life for most people, and I love exploring that aspect of the human dynamic. My books will almost always contain smut of some varying degree.
I love trigger warnings. As I said above, I love to explore the darker topics in life, and sometimes that can be triggering for people, so I always want to give my readers the courtesy of a heads-up.
They have helped me process grief. When Amy had lost her parents, I had lost both my grandparents and my dog, who was my best friend. I know I sound like a crazy pet owner, but when your husband is in the military, and you have no family or friends besides your husband and kids, my dog became a shoulder to cry on. Losing all of them in the same year really fucking hurt. So writing really helped me process my grief and put it into words, which was very cathartic.
I never expected to make so many friends in the writing community. I mean, this business is a thing because I met some amazing, supportive women. Never in a million years did I think a publishing house with two other people would be a possibility, but here we are, and I couldn't be more thrilled!
I don’t think AI belongs in creative spaces, period. AI has its uses in technology and science fields, but when it comes to the arts, I think it shouldn't exist, and to be honest, I hope the AI bubble bursts soon.
I feel like diversity is the spice of life. I grew up in Southern California and had friends from all different walks of life and backgrounds, and I think it made me a better person. I think everyone should share their voice, opinions, and inputs.
Well, I’m a lazy witchy lady, so that should give you a little insight. I think everyone should be free to love who they want, be who they want, and practice their religion in peace and without fear of prosecution. Also, don’t be a hateful twat waffle. IYKYK

I started writing in high school, but didn’t finish. I was so focused on getting into college for political science (which I’m proud to say I got into every state school I applied to in California) that it fell to the back burner. But I love reading and storytelling when playing The Sims 4, so when I found out how easy it was to publish, I wanted to let my creativity flow into books.
Key to Conflict by Talia Gryphon or Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It's a toss-up.
I was reading a lot during the pandemic, but who wasn’t? I had read my first why choose series by Tate James. It had captured my attention in a way other romances hadn’t. The idea of having multiple love interests was intriguing, and the ideas started spiraling from there.
Music is probably my number one source of inspiration, and I can thank my husband for all the new artists and songs he sends me. They have been what helps me write certain scenes. If you are wondering what kind of songs, most of them are metalcore.
Yes. During 2023, I lost both of my grandparents and my lab, Lily, who was a month away from turning 12. It just so happened that, as I was writing The Order: A Christmas Novella and the beginning of The Order: Unveiled, my character Amy was experiencing loss as well. What I was going through definitely allowed me to shape those darker moments for my character.
I would say I loved writing Leo from the Secret Society Series. He was a little wild, his phrases were funny, and overall, he was just a fun guy to write. He was definitely a tortured soul, but he didn’t let that stop him from enjoying what life has to offer, and I admire that.
I love dark urban fantasy or paranormal romances. I love exploring the darker topics in life and how people can be so resilient in times when it feels like everything is pushing them down. Not only that, but finding love in the darker places and having a partner who will sit in it with you, no matter what. That’s the kind of stories I love to write.