Interview With Author keniel Russell
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Caribbean-born dark fantasy writer, building a cinematic universe called the DarkVerse—where shadows breathe, and blood always tells a story. I write with intensity, purpose, and raw emotion. As of now, I’ve written and released three books, with more on the way. Each one explores deeper themes of survival, betrayal, legacy, and power. My goal is to build a world readers can lose themselves in… and never return the same.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “Belladonna: Blood, Balls & Belladonna” — a fierce, unfiltered dark fantasy tale with unapologetic attitude and power. It’s about a deadly queen who doesn’t bend to anyone and dominates her world with strength and grit. What inspired it? Real-life rage. I poured every ounce of frustration, ambition, and desire to prove myself into her. Belladonna isn’t just a character—she’s a warning.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yeah, I write like I’m filming a movie in my head. Full sound design, voice acting, camera angles—all of it. I pace the room and act out intense scenes like I’m on a stage. If it doesn’t feel real, it doesn’t make the cut. I also blast cinematic music or dark trap beats depending on the vibe of the chapter. It’s chaos, but it works.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I wasn’t shaped by one author—I was shaped by the absence of voices like mine. I created the DarkVerse to fill that void. That said, I respect creators like George R.R. Martin for brutal realism, J.K. Rowling for world structure (not politics), and manga authors like Kentaro Miura (Berserk) for emotional grit. But most of all, I’m inspired by pain, ambition, and real-life survival stories.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m expanding the DarkVerse—a connected universe of gritty, cinematic stories including The Twin Shadow Vampire series and my newest project Belladonna: Blood, Balls & Betrayal. Belladonna is raw, unfiltered, and written to slap you in the face. I’m also building out an exclusive digital empire through Payhip where readers can dive into bonus content, merch, and hidden lore.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hands down, Payhip is my home base. It gives me control over my brand, my visuals, and how I reach my readers. But I push visibility through powerful image-driven campaigns across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. I treat every post like a movie trailer—if it doesn’t grab your soul, I scrap it. Consistency, community, and creativity are my weapons.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write like no one’s watching, because most times… no one is. Until they are. Then they’ll swear they always knew you’d blow up. Don’t write to impress. Write to express, obsess, and progress. And never wait for permission to start—publish raw, refine later.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You don’t need millions to make an impact. You just need one person to believe, then another, then another.” That stuck with me. Every book, every post, every project—I aim to move one person at a time. That ripple becomes a wave.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m deep into my own world. Reading every line of Belladonna and The Twin Shadow Vampire again—editing, breathing life into every scene. I study my universe like it’s sacred scripture. But I also jump into books with unpredictable worlds, sharp dialogue, and characters that bleed on the page. Anything that slaps me creatively—I read it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
’m building the DarkVerse—a full-scale fantasy empire with vampires, demons, rebellion, and emotion-fueled survival. Next up? More books. More worlds. More cinematic chaos. Belladonna just dropped, and I’m already lining up the next hit. I’m not chasing trends—I’m setting the stage for a cult following. This isn’t a phase. This is a takeover.
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?
The Twin Shadow Vampire — gotta reread my own prophecy while planning the sequel.
The Art of War — survival ain’t just physical.
The Book Thief — because beauty and tragedy should coexist.
And one blank notebook — because even stranded, I’d still be writing the next dark saga.
Author Websites and Profiles
keniel Russell’s Social Media Links
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