Monsters, Myth, and Marketability with Valerie Willis

Valerie Willis is an award-winning dark fantasy and paranormal romance author who's designed hundreds of book covers and interiors, co-founded 4 Horsemen Publications, and built a career living at the intersection of mythology, monsters, and modern book marketing.In this episode, Valerie shares how she uses myth and folklore in her storytelling without letting it feel recycled or academic, what actually makes a strange or unusual book idea marketable instead of just weird, and why monster romance continues to resonate so powerfully with readers. She also breaks down what she's learned from direct sales and reader-facing events about what audiences truly want.What We Talked About:Turning mythology and folklore into unforgettable fictionWhat makes a weird book idea marketableWhy monster romance works as a genreBranding books that stand out to readersLessons from direct sales and reader eventsConnect with Valerie Willis:Website: willisauthor.comFacebook, Twitter/X, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok & Threads: linked on her profile