M.L. Philpitt on the first book in her new paranormal romance trilogy, Cure Bound – shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize.
M.L. Philpitt is Canadian-born and raised, and enjoys representing Canada within her novels. As a Ravenclaw, she loves education, having undergraduate degrees in English Literature and Sociology, a certificate in Autism and Behavioural Sciences, and a MA in Counselling Psychology.
She writes in various romance new adult genres including paranormal, fantasy, dark romance, and contemporary. She has lots of crazy trapped in her head for readers to enjoy.
When M.L. Philpitt isn’t making up stories, she’s devouring those imagined by other authors. Her love of reading began when she was a young child and only grew with age. She enjoys many genres, as reflected in her writing preferences.
Can you tell us about your book in three sentences or less?
Cure Bound is a new adult dark paranormal romance involving an enemies-to-lovers, fated mates plot between a girl from a witch bloodline and a vampire. Throw in vampire lore, the four elements and other witchy features, and a twisted plot, and it makes up Cure Bound.
What inspired this book?
I love anything paranormal, but especially vampires, and dark romance. I always knew I wanted to publish a vampire book for my debut and this book was born from my love of all things dark. I took a lot of the typical tropes found in the genre and aimed to throw a twist on them.
Describe your writing style in five words or less.
Orderly panster.
What first drew you towards writing?
Reading. I grew up reading. My mother got me into it when I was very young, and I never stopped the habit, getting into books like Harry Potter when I was just 7-years-old. From there, I suppose my love of storytelling bloomed into me wanting to do it to, in which I wrote my “first novel” when I was about twelve, a Tinkerbell fanfiction book, in a couple notebooks.
What do you wish you had known when you first started writing?
That to be successful, self-publishing is very viable. I was so stuck on being traditionally published, I ignored all the good indie publishing advice, until I eventually gave into it. I wish I listened sooner.
Do you have any writing projects in the works right now?
Plenty. I keep a full publishing schedule. I’m on various stages of editing for about five different books, writing two more, and planning so many for 2023 onwards.
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
Tough one, since I read so many, but my most recent obsession is Venom and Vice (Of Myth & Man #2) by Jill Ramsower.
The Kobo Emerging Writer Prize was created to bring literary recognition to Canadian talent and kick-start the careers of debut authors. A $10,000 CAD cash prize will be awarded to a book in each of three categories: Nonfiction, Literary Fiction, and a rotating Genre Fiction category. In addition, each winning author receives promotional marketing and ongoing communications support throughout 2022.
M.L. Philpitt is one of six authors nominated in the Romance category for 2022. Best-selling romance author Nana Malone will select this year’s winner, to be announced on June 22, 2022.
