Romantasy star Stacey McEwan: ‘You’re not going to recommend Fifty Shades of Grey to your Catholic grandma’
Stacey McEwan has carved out a distinct path in the world of romantasy, turning her platform on social media into a direct line to her readers. As an author who bridges the gap between digital content creation and traditional publishing, she brings a practical, grounded perspective to a genre often defined by intense fan passion.
In a recent conversation, McEwan touched on her approach to authorship and the reality of navigating online criticism. She notes that those who leave aggressive comments from behind a screen rarely maintain that energy when faced with a real-life interaction. Her own strategy for conversion involves guiding new readers through specific titles, starting with her debut and branching out to other works that blend fantasy elements with a central romance.
She maintains a disciplined relationship with her technology use, citing a strict daily limit of four hours of screen time to manage her output. This focus allows her to prioritize writing over the endless scroll, a luxury often sacrificed in the modern author's workflow. Her advice on recommendations remains simple: read the room and know your audience. Whether it is a peer or a relative, tailoring the suggestion to their personal preferences is standard professional practice.
McEwan also discussed her creative process, highlighting her preference for specific story structures, such as the nightmare trope, where characters find comfort in high-stakes proximity. Her shift from teaching to writing has provided a clear framework for how she speaks about her work, focusing on the craft rather than the marketing fluff that often saturates the space. Her latest release, A Forsaken Prophecy, continues her streak in the genre.
Ultimately, McEwan frames her life and career with a dose of realism. She rejects the pressure to appeal to every critic, choosing instead to focus on the readers who connect with her stories. This mindset remains a key component of how she sustains her output, keeping her work anchored in the specific elements that define her style.