We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Meuwissen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I finally quit my day job and became a full-time author in 2021. No, I didn’t wait until I was already making a living wage from my writing. I set into motion a 5-year plan ahead of that and stuck to it.

Part of that plan gives me a leg up because it involved a very understanding partner, who already wanted to change their career as well, and thankfully, that career is a lucrative one. We worked together, however, to ensure we were comfortable enough that we could survive on one income if necessary, allowing me to focus on my writing until I was making enough to contribute to the household again.

It was tough. We constantly had to make sacrifices along the way to make it work, and I had to truly dedicate myself once I was full-time. Having the whole work day does not mean a full day of writing either, but finally having the time for everything else. If you are committed, taking that plunge can mean all the difference.

My first year full-time (which was only 8 months in 2021), I increased my gross revenue from any previous year by 80%. The second year by 130%. The third year still by another 35%. And this year back up to 70%. If I can maintain at least a 10% increase year over year going forward, I’ll be ecstatic. But if I hadn’t said enough is enough and taken that risk, I might not be where I am now.

Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a queer author with a primary focus in M/M or gay romance of varying subgenres, primarily PNR (fantasy, paranormal, horror, etc.). Now full-time, I always knew this was the career I wanted. I started in Marketing, however, and worked toward being able to go full-time for many years.

I was first published in 2012 with Big World Network, a small indie publisher. I actually ended up working as the Managing Editor for that company, and while I eventually left and pulled my books from them to re-publish on my own, I am now a board member of the publisher turned non-profit, working toward education and growth opportunities for aspiring authors in underrepresented, economically disadvantaged, and rural communities.

I love the backend side of publishing, but being a full-time author was always the dream. As the creator of LGBTQ+ Fantasy #1 Best Seller, Coming Up for Air, LGBTQ+ Horror #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release, A Delicious Descent, and #1 New Release in Fantasy Erotica and Gay Erotica, Last Courtesan of Olympus, my extensive library of titles continues to grow, and I never plan to stop.

In 2025, my organization of the massive 22-author series collaboration, Tales from the Tarot, raised two thousand in donations for SAGE, a charity dedicated to advocacy and services for LGBTQ+ Elders, and my contributing title to the series, Cleric of Desire, continues to be an inspiration to readers as it delves into demi-gender identity.

I am proud of all my books, but I hope my titles are an ever-improving source of joy and self-discovery for readers. My favorite part of being an author (besides the writing) is visiting with fans at conventions, and while I wish I could meet you all in person to provide signed copies, I am honored to have quadrupled my Etsy shop signed book sales this year as well. Without the fans, there would be no success.

One such reader left me quite touched this year:

“When I was writing [my most recent] review, it hit me that a lot of your books touch the topics of finding yourself, balancing the darkness with light, and just in general, learning and growing as humans and romantic partners.”

I strive to continue to do that and to never let the readers down!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Having an impact on readers. I chose this career because of a little bit of writing of mine when I was a teenager that affected a reader enough to get them out of a dark place. Since being a published author, the amount of reviews and conversations that prove I’ve touched a life are worth more than all the revenue or awards in the world.

A few highlights would be an older reader praising my one young adult title, Life as a Teenage Vampire, for being the type of book he wished he’d had growing up to feel more welcome and hopeful as a queer youth. Helping multiple readers discover a new gender identity that resonated with them in a way they didn’t expect through one of my newest novels, Cleric of Desire. And inspiring other authors to finally publish their manuscripts, like I was told by debut author Briar Belmont with the book, Demon of the Deep.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

As a fully self-published author now, my biggest assets are Canva and Atticus. It’s really about quality of life programs like those that make creative careers more efficient and fulfilling.

Without those programs to help me create the assets of my work on my own, I either would have had to stay with publishers and give up both creative control and profits, or I would need to surrender profits to others to have them format my books and do all my imagery for me. Having these types of assets and learning with them as they’ve grown over the years has changed the game and makes self-publishing – really, any publishing – accessible for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandameuwissen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandameuwissenbooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmandaMeuwissenBooks/
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amanda-Meuwissen/author/B00IASVAJO/allbooks