Shari Nichols Brings Paranormal Romance to Life with Heart-Pounding Suspense and Irresistible Passion
PHOTO: Author Shari Nichols, weaving magic and romance one page at a time.
Witches, Vampires, And Love That Defies Darkness
Shari Nichols shares the inspiration behind her paranormal romance novels, blending witchcraft, suspense, and emotional depth while offering insights on character chemistry, world building, and advice for aspiring authors.
Shari Nichols is a force of nature in the world of paranormal romance. With a signature blend of sultry passion, suspenseful twists, and rich supernatural lore, she crafts stories that don’t just entertain—they enchant. From haunted towns to seductive vampires and morally complex witches, Nichols’s books are immersive escapes that keep readers turning pages well into the night. Her spellbinding series—including Haunted, Midnight Desire, Midnight Temptation, Midnight Craving, and After Midnight—has earned accolades across the board, resonating with romance and mystery lovers alike.
What sets Nichols apart is her unmatched ability to ground the fantastical in emotional truth. Her characters battle inner demons as fiercely as they do outer ones, and it’s this depth that makes her work unforgettable. Drawing from a rich tapestry of personal experience, historical legends, and psychological insight, Nichols creates worlds that feel both wildly magical and deeply human. In this exclusive interview, she opens up about her creative process, her inspirations, and the real-life chills behind her fictional thrills. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, one thing is certain: Shari Nichols writes the kind of stories that leave a mark.
Shari Nichols masterfully blends romance and the paranormal, creating emotionally rich, thrilling stories that captivate readers and spark the imagination.
What initially drew you to combine witchcraft, vampires, and suspense in your stories?
I loved The HBO series True Blood. The idea of a magical world where humans coexist with vampires and witches drew me in right away. I also read a lot of HP fanfiction. I’ve always been fascinated by mystery and lore, the stranger the better. As a reader, I’m drawn to stories that give me that breathless, edge of my seat kind of rush. The suspense element evolves by creating characters that the reader cares about. Weaving in a sense of anticipation and uncertainty with paranormal elements is like a heavily choreographed dance.
At different points in the series, each character struggles with guilt, shame, and a sense of failure, which are relatable emotions, despite their magical abilities. I spent a lot of time researching true crime stories, and then set them in a paranormal world. All of the books have some element of truth in them.
How has growing up around haunted houses and Ouija boards influenced your writing style?
I grew up in Milford, Connecticut. Old houses are everywhere and so are the ghost stories. We had these neighbors who used to invite a group of us over to play with their Ouija board. They spun tales of ghosts, murder and large sums of money stolen from a Brinks truck that was buried under our property. Of course our parents didn’t know about any of this. These stories sparked my imagination and led me to jot ideas down in a notebook that I’d often refer back to.
There’s an urban legend within my own family history that was the impetus for my hero’s backstory in Midnight Temptation. My paternal grandfather woke up from his funeral and rang a bell. From there, he was forced to take on his mother’s maiden name in order to flee his village in Poland and come here to the states. Stories of vampirism were rampant back then.
I gravitate to developing plots that have some nugget of truth to them, and spin them out from there. The characters and the emotional arcs are what make the books memorable.
“All of the books have some element of truth in them.” — Shari Nichols
Can you tell us more about your process for developing the romantic chemistry between your characters?
I refer to astrological charts and create personality traits for my characters that are in opposition, regardless of the tropes. I like to develop a rich character history, and give my hero and heroine deep wounds that may stem from childhood. I reread GMC by Deb Dixon before I start to write.
Every scene must incorporate goal, motivation, and conflict. I try to keep that in mind as I draft. I’ve learned that writing the charts by hand uses a different part of your brain.
Once I get a sense of the conflict, the stakes and what these characters want more than anything in the world, I draft an outline based on the Gwen Hayes method. Having one character always thinking about the other or texting is a great way to build the tension. All roads in the plot must lead back to the central romance, and eventually, the HEA.
How do you approach building a paranormal world that feels both believable and exciting for readers?
I do a lot of research and visit the places I’m writing about for authenticity. By describing the town, and creating a spooky history, this allows the reader to become more immersed in the story. Raven’s Hollow is the fictionalized setting for the series, which is actually Hoboken. I spent the day there, and took lots of pictures. I even stumbled upon a creepy cave that was perfect for my vampire enclave.
In terms of believability, I’ve taken ghost tours and visited haunted inns in Savannah, New Hope, Cape May, Princeton, and Salem. I’ve interviewed people who’ve had real life experiences with ghosts and hauntings. I’ve read tons of non-fiction books on the subject as well. Using deep point-of-view allows the character to experience the chills, the creak of the door, or waking up to the scent the ghost leaves behind in a room, all lead to a more evocative world.
Which of your characters has been the most challenging for you to write, and why?
The character of Van Pariah, the villain in Midnight Desire, book one in the series was tough. Creating a three–dimensional character from a heinous one can be tricky. I wanted to give him some level of humanity, but at the same time make him utterly terrifying. Going back to the idea that every character must have a goal, a motivation, and a conflict, helped keep me on track. But it was hard to get inside his head. I did research on the real person this character was based on, and read tons of articles about him.
“Going back to the idea that every character must have a goal, a motivation, and a conflict, helped keep me on track.” — Shari Nichols
What has been your most memorable moment as an author so far?
There’s been a few. Finding out that my critique partner won the Golden Leaf Award in her category, which was presented by our local romance chapter. Then a few years later, getting the call that Haunted had become a finalist in two categories in the GL contest was thrilling. I had entered that contest a million times, and never thought my book would end up as a finalist. I was truly grateful.
Also, doing my first ever Barnes & Noble book signing, and having family and friends come out to support me. I try not to read the reviews, because you can’t believe them, one will say this is the best book I’ve ever read, and the next, will try and tear your work apart. All you can hope for is that the story resonates with someone, and gives them hope to find love. I love when someone messages me to say they loved the book. That never gets old.
The first time I got the call felt pretty great, too. Another great moment came when I was asked if I practice witchcraft. I was happy my research paid off.
“All you can hope for is that the story resonates with someone, and gives them hope to find love.” — Shari Nichols
How do you balance romance, mystery, and paranormal elements within a single novel?
Good question. I did a lot of outlining and weaving together the arcs for each element, while still abiding by the expectations of the genre. Instead of using a glossary, I introduced the rules of the world through setting, dialogue, and characterization. Balancing the suspense element works well if the characters have trauma in their pasts, and is especially true for romance. I think it’s important to route for these characters while they’re uncovering the mystery. Keeping the emotional thread going throughout the story is crucial. That’s where research comes in. I visited a police barracks and spoke with a forensics expert. I was shown pictures of some pretty horrible things that gave me nightmares for a month.
How have your experiences with the Romance Writers of America and other organizations shaped your writing career?’
Going to conferences, taking workshops and online courses has given me the foundation to learn craft. Talking to other writers is such a must for allowing your dreams to percolate, and become a reality. Nobody gets it better than other creatives. To this day, I’m still blown away by the warmth and generosity of writers. Everyone is always willing to share information. I formed a critique group that was together for years simply from going to a chapter meeting. I met my publisher at a conference, and have met some wonderful people over the years.
“Learn the craft of writing first before you dive into your genre.” — Shari Nichols
If you could co-write a book with any paranormal romance author, who would it be and why?
I would say hands down Kresley Cole. I met her at an RWA conference. She was lovely and so gracious. She’s truly the master at weaving paranormal worlds. A lot of her lore is based on mythology. I love the quirkiness of her characters. She makes them come alive on the page with humor and compelling motivations. Every character has a thread that adds an extra layer of conflict to the story.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write paranormal romance?
Read everything you can in the genre you want to write in. But also read craft books and study them. Research the market and talk to people who have experienced real paranormal phenomena. Watch as many TV shows, movies and documentaries as you can, which will resonate ideas that may turn into books. This will also lend authenticity to your voice. Take writing classes, online and in person. Join a writers group. Get your work out there. Use critique groups, beta readers, enter contests. Hire a book coach if you can afford one. Make sure you have accountability to keep going. In other words, learn the craft of writing first before you dive into your genre.
