“Every Woman Deserves To Feel Acknowledged, Heard, And Free To Love” Says Helly Meyers

Photo: Helly Mayers, acclaimed author of sizzling, heartfelt love stories, champions relatable heroines, self-love, and the transformative power of relationships.

A Tale Of Self-Love, Acceptance, And Romance In Vienna

Helly Mayers blends sizzling romance with humor and emotional depth in her novels while championing body positivity, self-love, and supportive relationships. Her relatable characters empower readers to embrace their authentic selves.

H  elly Mayers is a refreshing voice in contemporary romance, breaking boundaries and redefining the genre with her heartfelt and sassy storytelling. With wit, passion, and a deep commitment to representation, Helly crafts love stories that resonate with readers on a profound and personal level. Her relatable characters, especially her confident and curvy female leads, challenge societal norms and celebrate body positivity in a way that feels both empowering and authentic. Helly’s delicate balance of humor, emotional depth, and sizzling romance captures the complexities of love and self-discovery, offering readers not just an escape but also a mirror for their own journeys.

Her debut novel, Find Me, is a striking example of her mastery—effortlessly blending raw, personal experiences with a deeply romantic narrative. Through Mela’s journey and her return to self-worth, Helly explores themes of self-love, overcoming toxic relationships, and rediscovering emotional and physical intimacy. Combined with the vivid and romantic backdrop of Vienna, her writing invites readers to lose themselves in a setting as rich and storied as her characters. In our interview, Helly opens up about her creative process, her unwavering belief in the importance of authentic representation, and the drive that continues to inspire her—making this issue an insightful ode to a truly inspiring storyteller.

Helly Mayers is a bold and talented storyteller who celebrates love, self-acceptance, body confidence, and emotional authenticity.

Interview Highlights:

• Helly Mayers writes love stories emphasizing sassy humor, emotional depth, and powerful female confidence.
• Promotes body positivity and self-love through relatable and inspiring characters.
• Draws inspiration from her personal experiences, including overcoming challenges in her life and relationships.
• Explores sensitive topics like body image and family secrets with care and respect.
• Highlights the importance of creating supportive and respectful male protagonists.
• Believes romance is a platform to explore physical and emotional growth.
• Credits Vienna as the romantic setting that inspires her storytelling.
• Advocates for empowering women to see their worth through her books.

What inspired you to write sizzling love stories with emotional depth and sassy humour?
I’ve always enjoyed stories that depict tough life circumstances with a touch of humour. Life can be challenging, but maintaining a positive attitude and remembering to smile and laugh can make a difference. Writing with a sassy sense of humour feels natural to me.

I particularly love reading love stories because it’s fascinating to see how two strangers, friends, or even enemies realise there’s more to their relationship and discover their feelings. Obstacles often arise, but watching how characters overcome these challenges is what makes a story engaging. A bit of longing and the classic ‘will-they-won’t-they’ tension add extra excitement to a love story, and that’s what I enjoy writing most.

How do you develop such relatable and confident female characters in your novels?
To keep readers engaged, I believe characters should be realistic, allowing women from diverse backgrounds to see themselves in my stories. While some characters may be exaggerated, readers generally prefer characters they can relate to.

It’s an excellent time to create strong female leads and male protagonists who support them respectfully, without condescension. Confidence can manifest in many forms; it’s not always the loudest person in the room who is the most self-assured. I enjoy portraying people who may feel insecure but present a calm demeanour and show confidence through kindness.

What motivates you to promote body confidence through your writing?
I firmly believe in ‘write what you know,’ especially as a contemporary romance novelist. I am a curvy woman, always have been, and my life has included both traumatic and wonderful experiences. I want to inspire others to see themselves as they deserve to be seen. If that helps them build confidence, even better. Women should uplift and support each other instead of tearing each other down. It should be a safe space to be your authentic self.

Many women experience negative feelings about their bodies – not only curvy women, but also those affected by skin colour, disability, body shape, or post-pregnancy changes. These feelings often start very early; I still remember difficult PE classes in primary school. Such experiences can leave lasting scars and affect relationships. Feeling ‘not good enough’ can lead to staying in unhealthy situations. I want to portray female characters who are not ‘perfect,’ yet are still deserving of love.

The most meaningful compliment for me is when a reader says they could relate to a character and felt truly seen for the first time. That trust is a precious gift.

How much of your own experiences influenced the creation of Find Me?
My debut novel, Find Me, draws heavily from my personal experiences. There was a time when I felt invisible as a woman, lonely, and trapped in a toxic marriage. Realising you’re better off alone than with someone who is meant to be your lifelong partner is incredibly difficult. Eventually, even the joke ‘I’m a single married woman’ lost its humour, and I knew I had to leave.

Mela follows a similar journey, returning home, reconnecting with loved ones, and hiding her unhappiness out of shame and misplaced loyalty. Despite encouragement from others, she stays with a husband whose narcissism makes her believe she’s unworthy of love. It takes another man to help her see herself through a more positive lens.

Often, many people tell you how worthy and lovable you are, yet the one negative voice is the one that sticks. Freeing myself was a struggle, and perhaps writing Find Me helped, but ultimately, I found myself just as Mela does.

What challenges did you face when writing about sensitive topics like panic attacks and family secrets?
The biggest challenge was doing these topics justice and portraying them in a respectful, relatable way. I would never want to diminish anyone’s struggles. Much of Find Me comes from personal experience, and I stayed true to what I have lived.

How do you balance the spicy and emotional aspects in your storytelling?
Creating an open-door romance was important to me. The main character feels invisible and undesirable due to a lack of intimacy in her marriage. It was crucial to show that, with the right partner, she can experience emotional and physical connection in a loving and passionate context.

I believe women benefit from exploring physical experiences through books, building confidence in what they enjoy or wish to explore. The challenge is ensuring the spicy scenes serve a purpose. In Find Me, every intimate moment contributes to character growth and the story’s progression.

• Why did you choose Vienna as the setting for Find Me, and how does the city influence the story?
I was born in Vienna, and while I’m biased, I believe it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has a deeply romantic atmosphere, and I spent many summers along the Danube River.

Since many holiday rom-coms feature similar destinations, choosing Vienna offered something refreshingly different.

What do you think makes your male leads stand out from traditional romantic heroes?
Traditional romantic heroes often lean into a ‘tough guy’ stereotype. With King, I wanted to play with that image. The first chapter is titled ‘Bad Man,’ reflecting his deliberately tough persona, while the final chapter title shows how much he’s grown.

He’s a supportive, confidence-boosting partner who wants Mela to see herself as he does – strong, independent, kind, and beautiful exactly as she is.

How has your background in media, publishing, and the legal industry shaped your journey as an author?
I dreamed of being an author from childhood, but began my career in media at major news outlets, where the pace is intense. I later moved into the legal industry, which is highly structured and fast-paced. Both taught me discipline, efficiency, and the ability to understand processes quickly. Priceless skills for an author and helpful in keeping procrastination at bay.

What’s your writing process like, and how do you stay motivated?
Writing requires discipline and commitment, even when inspiration is lacking. Waiting for inspiration alone often leads to little progress. Music is my main source of inspiration, sparking ideas for scenes and dialogue.

I’m a planner and map out the entire book and chapters, often starting with the ending so I’m on the journey alongside my characters.

How do readers respond to the themes of self-love and acceptance?
I love hearing readers say they feel seen. Sharing this journey with women (and men) is incredibly rewarding. My goal is for every woman to feel acknowledged, heard, and free to pursue what she truly desires.

What advice would you give aspiring authors who want to entertain and inspire?
It may sound like a cliché, but write from the heart and write about what you know. This doesn’t mean everything must be autobiographical – research and curiosity matter too. Make the topic your own and turn what’s meaningful to you into a unique story.