AfterNoona Delight Podcast
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Meet your host (Megan)
🕑 Added 2021-10-30 19:13:05 +0000 UTCHello... I'm Megan! I'm the host that loves action dramas, comedy, Ji Chang Wook doing an uneven bar routine during a gang fight, and Ahn Bo Hyun when he's taking sad showers.
I'm from Pennsylvania, where I live with my husband, two kids, and 5 animals. I've always been a writer, and attended a state university for journalism because I was basically told that I would never make money writing fiction. My first job at a local newspaper paid $21,000 a year so it wasn't like I was rolling in dough as a journalist.
Anyway, I realized that while I loved writing, I did not love the conflict and confrontation of journalism, so I resigned and worked as insurance agent with my brother for a little. But the stories in my head never stopped. I would read books and think, I could totally do this, but the thing was... I wasn't doing it. When I had my first kid, I had a major bout of anxiety (seriously, I had a meltdown in a store over sippy cups), and started taking medication. I really think that freed up my mental block and my anxiety over failing. It was like... if I never tried, at least I couldn't say I failed. But that wasn't what I wanted for myself, and luckily I was in a position where my husband had a secure job so I could take the time to write.
I got a tattoo on my ribs of an ink bottle and feather quill with the words carpe diem (I know I'm so basic, haha), and that was sort of the last push I needed. I had to see that tattoo every day and it was a reminder to write write write.
Which I did! I wrote my first book which I called women's fiction and queried all the agents I could. I received all rejections. I hired an editor to look at it, and she said, "Uh, Megan? This is a romance." Without meaning to, I'd written a romance, which pretty much confirmed that was what was in my heart. I'd often turned up my nose at romance because there's a stupid stigma around it. But once I immersed myself in the romance writing community and dove head first into the books, I realized how special this genre is, and I really felt at home.
Fast forward a year later, and I made friends with Amy, Lia, and some other writers and soon had an agent and a three book deal with Avon. I have an ellipses tattoo on my wrist to commemorate that. After writing for a few publishers, I decided in 2020 to take my career into my own hands, started a pen name, and began writing in the niche of alien romance. It's been life changing for me, and I'm having more fun writing than I ever have before! And I'm making more than I did as a journalist, haha. (Don't let people squash your goals!)
Whew, this is getting long! So Amy and Lia encouraged to watch Kdramas during the pandemic. I love an epic show with a good love story, but American entertainment has let me down time and time again. (Ahem, Game of Thrones. #neveroverit) Kdramas 100% filled that space in my heart that had been broken by Hollywood. And it was truly the writing which drew me to the dramas and characters. I admire the industry so much, and this podcast was truly born out of our love and appreciate for these amazing stories. Fun fact: The book in the picture (released in 2019) has a Korean American heroine, and I was inspired to write her after watching a CL music video.
So now, by day, I'm writing alpha aliens with interesting anatomy (lol), and by night I'm soothing my soul with Kdramas. This podcast is such a source of happiness for me, and you all being here makes it even better. <3
Comments
K W
Thank you for sharing!!!
Megan Erickson
Haha, well you can always start with my first under my pen name Ella Maven. It's called The Alien's Ransom. I also recommend Zoey Draven: I would try The Alien's Prize or Captive of the Horde King. It's a niche genre for sure, but we have super loyal readers, which I'm so grateful for!
Sarah @afternoonaasks
I love this! Love reading about your journeys of where you got to, and that you can prove you've turned your dream into a reality, so inspiring! --- if I want to read my first ever alien romance, where do I start Megan? :D
Hayley Haun
I love that we can all relate to each other and that this is a safe place to share! I also had to go on medication for anxiety after having my babies. I'm so glad our kdramas can bring a bit of magic into our lives ❤
