The year is already almost over, but we wanted to share one last author interview before 2025! Today, we’re interviewing Kristy Boyce, the author of Dungeons and Drama and more recently, Dating and Dragons! Be sure to check out our in-depth reviews of both books.
Her latest YA romance, Dating and Dragons, follows Quinn Norton, who’s starting at a new school and soon joins a D&D group. But the group doesn’t allow dating other members. Quinn struggles with her growing feelings for Logan Weber and her desire for a group of true friends.
Curious to know the writing process behind Dating and Dragons? Look no further! Here is our exclusive Kristy Boyce interview!
Welcome to The Honey POP! To start things off, what are three things you’d like readers to know about you?
I have been writing since I was a child, I played my first game of D&D in high school and later married the DM from that game, and I also have a PhD in social psychology and teach full time.
Dating And Dragons
2024 has been such an exciting year for you, from the January release of Dungeons and Drama to the upcoming December release of Dating and Dragons! Can you describe some of your thoughts right now as the year comes to a close?
I’m honestly overwhelmed by the amazing reader response to Dungeons and Drama. When I first started writing that book, I thought it was niche and would only resonate with a small subset of readers, but I loved it nonetheless. Instead, readers across America and the world have connected with Riley and Nathan, and it has been a dream come true.
Dating and Dragons follows a new set of characters, though it’s still centered around a D&D group and a lovely romance. How would you describe your writing journey for this new book compared to your previous ones?
The process for this book was different because I had a shorter timeline to write the book, and I worked on it with my editor from the first hint of the idea until the last edits were done (rather than finishing a draft and then trying to sell it to a publisher). Looking back, the journey was pretty smooth, although there’s always a moment during revisions where I wonder whether the book will ever come together!
Role-Playing Games
How much of your experiences playing role-playing games in high school and now do you draw inspiration from and use in your books?
I absolutely pull from my experiences. It was those gaming experiences that inspired both of these books, as well as a lot of the more general conversations or relationships in the books. Of course, I have to think about the story I’m trying to tell and tweak or change things so they make sense for these characters. I wouldn’t say any of my books are autobiographical, but they all have pieces of me and my life in them.
We love the creative storylines that Quinn and her group go through in their campaign. What does your writing process look like when working on the gameplay and dialogue?
I’ll be honest, this part can be tricky! Usually I start by brainstorming the overall story arc for the novel. Then, once I know what the characters are going through in their regular lives, I look at each game session and decide how I can use that scene to amplify the story. So, for instance, if Quinn and Logan are angry at each other, what could happen during the gameplay that will show that for readers? I usually go through quite a few rounds of revision to make sure the gaming scenes work well in conjunction with the other parts of the story.
Her Characters And Writing
Quinn’s meddling and stubborn grandmother is an icon and absolutely one of our favorite characters. Can you talk about the origin story for Barbara’s character?
Ahh, I love Barbara as well! When I started brainstorming, I wanted there to be a reason why Quinn’s family would need to move so that she could start at a new school. I have older parents now and I grew up close to both my grandmothers, and I started thinking about that difficult transition time as grandparents age and they need more support. Then I decided that if I was going to include a grandmother in the book, she needed to be an icon! Writing her scenes, especially the pickleball scene, were some of my favorite times with this book.
In Dating and Dragons, the D&D group goes to a comic book event and even enters the costume contest. Do you have any fond memories of similar conventions, contests, or events?
This scene was more wish fulfillment than reality for me! I’ve never gotten to do Comic-Con or even a smaller event like the one described in the book, so I wanted to give my characters the experience. Plus, it gives such fun opportunities for romance!
What are your favorite tropes to read and write?
I really love forbidden romance. It can be a tough one to pull off in contemporary fiction, but I had to give it a try in this book because it’s so much fun to write all that yearning. Of course, fake dating is a perennial favorite. I was nervous to write that in Dungeons and Drama because there are so many amazing fake dating books already in the world. I’ve been grateful (and relieved) that readers have responded so positively to my take on fake dating.
What’s Next
Are you working on any new projects? If so, can you give us a hint about them?
I am! Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m allowed to give a lot of details yet, but I can say that I’m writing another YA romance that is set in Ohio, has a new set of characters, and involves nerds playing D&D!
Finally, now that the release date for Dating and Dragons is almost here, what are your plans going into 2025?
I’m going to be doing quite a few events in January, including events in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, Chicago, IL, and Ft. Myers, FL. After that, I’ll be back to revising my new book and then I’m hoping to do a few more events around the country later in 2025.
I absolutely pull from my experiences. It was those gaming experiences that inspired both of these books […] I wouldn’t say any of my books are autobiographical, but they all have pieces of me and my life in them.
Kristy Boyce on Dating and Dragons and Dungeons and Drama
You can preorder a copy of Dating and Dragons here!
We loved getting to chat with Kristy Boyce on all things Dating and Dragons! Have you preordered it yet? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Interested in reading more bookish interviews? You’re in luck!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KRISTY BOYCE:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE
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