Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Alan Florine is a Dutch writer based in Amsterdam. She likes to read and write dark (and I mean DARK) M/M/F (bisexual) romances with tormented male protagonists and is a hopeless romantic, although her “love” stories might scare some people. She is obsessed with her lovely partner, her tiny garden that apparently supports half the population of cunning European woodmice, and the big red Acer tree she can see from her window. She has just self-published her first book in an ancient Rome erotic romantic fantasy series called the Empress and the Vagabond. The first book, Vagabond: A tale of a slave’s survival in ancient Rome, is freely available on Kindle Unlimited, and available for purchase in ebook and paperback format on Amazon.
The second book in the series is called Dominus: A tale of a slave’s revenge in ancient Rome. It was published by 30 August on Amazon.
Currently, she is working on the 3rd book in the series, which is scheduled for release in November
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Vagabond is inspired by all the strange and wonderful erotic “slave fiction” that I have read in my life. I love the tales of intrigue and madness of the old Roman emperors, and I love tormented protagonists who are clever, who perhaps lack physical strength but use their wits and determination to get what they want. Pliny, the protagonist in Vagabond, is exactly like that. He has been dealt a rough hand by the Gods for just a minor offense. He lost his entire family. He was sold to a brothel and was forced to serve as a pleasure slave. He had to endure the most horrific tortures and humiliations, and yet he doesn’t give up. He never stops fighting back in his own way. He grows in the dirt they left him in, and eventually may even succeed to find the things he longs for the most, love and revenge.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Shall I say utterly chaotic? Yes, that’s the best description. Utterly, utterly chaotic.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Misery by Stephen King, loved that paperback book to bits and I still have it from when I was a teenager. It’s falling apart but I will never part with it. They have to stick it in my grave.
1984 by George Orwell, was forced to read it for my English exams, ended up loving it. That scene with the rat was…very memorable.
Lucifer series by Mike Carey, not a book but a comic, also not the watered-down cookie-cutter version that was on Fox, but the real deal, amazing frighteningly good stories.
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) by Georgy…Loved all of his grey characters, and absolutely adored Littlefinger aka Petyr Bealish. Would prefer George NOT to slaughter him like some helpless stupid lovestruck idiot as the showrunners did in the HBO series. If he has to go, and I am sure he does, do it with style please without completely murdering his character arc.
What are you working on now?
I am writing the 3rd installment of The Empress and the Vagabond.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new in this. So no bloody idea. I just stumbled on this site. So go figure.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you enjoy it. Write because you want to know how your story will end. Write because you love your characters and want them to complete their journeys. If you write because you want to become rich quick, you either have to abandon that joy of writing to please the market OR you have to do something else, like, I don’t know, sell a kidney or something, or invest in bitcoin and hope that the US president tweets something interesting.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. Keep publishing. Don’t eat the yellow snow.
What are you reading now?
Loooooaaads of fanfiction. There are very talented writers out there putting in the hours to entertain legions of dedicated fans. They deserve our love and kudos.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Kick the third book out. Entertain a few people who love Pliny as much as I do, and start with the fourth book to make sure Pliny gets what he deserves.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1: A survival book, something like: “How to survive and not starve on a desert island” will do…
2: Another survival book, in case the first one gets wet or is eaten by sharks. The preferred book will have a similar title as the first, with 5K (paid) reviews on Amazon to ensure that I am not buying a book ghostwritten by a sockpuppet for cash.
3-4: Some very very long books, like the mammoth omnibus version of Georgy’s A song of Ice and Fire, which I am sure will come out one day when he finishes it….ahem…
As I am assuming that it is a desert island and therefore an empty rock splattered with bird shit and nothing else, I will need it to start a fire to keep me warm and cook my food. I won’t mourn their passing in case of Georgy’s work. I have read all them anyway. Also, my biceps aren’t what they used to be.
5: A cookbook, preferred title: So you can’t make a fire? 1000 recipes for sushi.
Author Websites and Profiles
Alan Florine Website
Alan Florine Amazon Profile
Alan Florine’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile