Roz MacLaren

Author, Arini Vlotman, kindly agreed to be interviewed ahead of A Wild Run‘s release date. For those who don’t know, A Wild Run is a multi-genre short story anthology due out in September. Arini’s contribution is a short story entitled Bluebells In The Forest.

Tell me a little about yourself.  

I’m a South African author, living my best life in my world of delusion – it’s fun here! I write feel-good contemporary romance, and the bookish community definitely make me feel good about writing lol.

How did you get involved with the anthology? 

When I saw the call for submissions I was so intrigued. One prompt, and all our author voices? The possibilities are endless! I couldn’t help myself, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside out amazing group.

What’s your story about and what inspired you to write it? 

[SPOILER ALERT]

I decided to challenge myself, and the prompt by writing outside of my usual comfort zone – and it was definitely tougher than I expected but definitely worth it. My story is an urban fantasy set in two universes, but in the same timeline. I write romance, so of course, my characters running through the woods have a happily-ever-after and in such an unexpected way. My usual readers may be surprised by the writing style I chose, it’s far from my usual voice, and I hope readers will enjoy it.

Does it tie into an existing story you’ve written? 

Bluebells in the Forest is completely new, and I think I may have inadvertently given myself yet another full length story idea lol

What sparked your decision to sprint out your first romance novel in just a month and how did that creative explosion shape your journey toward publication? 

All I can say is that I didn’t know it was possible until I wrote it. I learnt that the only one holding me back is myself – isn’t that so relatable? But if I could write one novel, I could write more, and so I did. I wrote with intent to publish though, and research along the way. Writing and learning helped me develop and grow while also staying motivated, but whoa – it was a big learning curve!

You’re a self-described panster who thrives on letting your characters lead the way. Can you walk us through how you write, revise, and eventually plot the narrative structure backward? 

Since writing Pretty Average, I’ve learnt to become more structured by mapping out a loose plot. The setting, tropes, and plotline makes for easier writing, and prevents me from creating distractions for myself while writing. Once I’m ready, I write the first line, and my characters take over until I write ‘The End’. Then I stew lol I don’t edit (or try not to) as I write, because that’s when the doubts start and I find myself over complicating my WIP.

What was your experience navigating the publishing process, especially when you encountered pressure to tone down BIPOC representation? How did that shape your commitment to keeping your cultural authenticity intact? 

There was one thing I knew for certain – I was going to write the type of characters I’d like to read about it so the fact that some people think there’s no space for representation was almost a challenge. I thought to myself “we’ll see about that” and I proved them wrong. It didn’t occur to me change anything, I just  decided to find the write spaces for me and my stories and I’m happy to report I was successful!

Transitioning from Pretty Average to Pretty Bossy – and even the festive novella Pretty Unexpected – what led you to explore themes like sports romance, corporate chaos, or holiday magic? 

One of the best parts of writing romance is that we can explore worlds we’ve never seen before but can realistically imagine. I like writing fast-paced action, and somehow these themes seemed perfect. A little bit of everything, what’s not to love?

Romance can be delightfully nuanced. Your works are known for being clean and sweet, sometimes fading to black. What draws you to that tone, and how do you balance emotional intimacy with restraint? 

I’ve been asked this before, and I don’t have a definitive answer. Perhaps it’s the characters that lead me, or the fact that I’m still always learning how to improve my craft or both. Either way, emotions will always come first, I think that’s the case for most romance writers, but I’m looking forward to exploring physical intimacy in my future works. 

Hearing from your readers is a highlight for you – especially when they message you about plot twists or how they relate to your characters. What’s a moment from fan feedback that truly touched you?

Every time a reader tells me they related to a character I do a happy dance and want to shriek at the top of my lungs. I work hard to create layered characters, FMC’s who are real, but also inspirational, fun and dynamic. When readers see a little of themselves in my FMC’s I celebrate, because it means I’ve done something right – we all long to feel seen. Mission accomplished.

What’s next for you? You mentioned you’re working on a three-book standalone series about women in their 30s discovering themselves through love. What excites you most about exploring these new voices and stories? 

I’ve just submitted my third full length novel in the Femme Facades series so I’m excited to start sharing more about it in the upcoming months. The release is set for March 2026 and these MMC’s showed me flames lol I tried to flip a few of our beloved romance tropes, and it was challenging, frustrating and incredibly satisfying. ‘Seeing’ the characters evolve and take me to unexpected places is exhilarating.

Pre-order A Wild Run now and don’t miss Arini’s story.