In this interview with Kaylie Smith, author of the paranormal romance series Wicked Games, we dive into how she builds gothic stories where romance and fantasy are deeply intertwined.
She’s the author of Phantasma and Enchantra, two cult-favourite novels known for their eerie atmosphere and character-driven romance.
In this conversation, we cover:
- Character creation
- Writing from lived experience
- Building magic systems rooted in culture
- Plotting vs. pantsing
- Making romance and fantasy work together
If you’re writing fantasy, romantasy, or paranormal romance, you’ll get a lot out of this.
Interview with Kaylie Smith on writing Enchantra and Phantasma
What’s the first question she asks when creating a character?
“The biggest thing… is why is this person the right person to tell this story?”
That’s where everything starts for Kaylie.
She explained that character, world, and plot all develop at the same time in her process. The world shapes the character, and the character influences how the story unfolds.
"We are a product of the place we were raised and how we were raised," Kaylie explained.
And because of that, things can shift. A main character might become a side character, or the plot might change depending on who the character turns out to be.
Does she use character sheets?
Yes, but more as background work.
Kaylie builds out detailed character sheets, even for things that never make it onto the page.
She mentioned that even small details are shaped by environment and upbringing.
“All the way down to Blackwell’s favorite book being Frankenstein,” Kaylie explained about one of the main characters in Phantasma.
It’s a small detail, but it reflects the world the character exists in and what would realistically be part of it.
Writing OCD on the page without softening it for comfort
This part matters, especially for writers who want to write mental health themes.
Kaylie wrote Ophelia’s OCD into Phantasma because the story itself had a psychological horror aspect to it.
Rather than trying to force it in, it fit naturally with the themes, and that made Ophelia the right narrator for the story.
She also described writing it as drawing directly from experience. “I was not writing Ophelia’s story from an open wound… I was writing it from the scar,” said Kaylie.
Some details had to be cut during editing, but she made a point not to soften the experience.
“That’s the experience. That’s it. Every single day.”
Do her characters ever go off script?
When I asked Kaylie if her characters ever surprise her mid-draft and force the story to change, she said,
"I don’t think Genevieve [from Enchantra] listened to one thing on the outline the entire time I was writing that book. I ended up doing a major rewrite because Genevieve was being so stubborn about her character arc.”
Kaylie explained she doesn’t actually converse with her characters, but when something is wrong in the story, the character reactions stop making sense. They start acting out of character because the plot is forcing them.
“I feel like the deeper you get into something that maybe isn’t right in a book, the way the characters are responding becomes out of character.”
How does Kaylie build her magic systems?
She plans them early.
“I’m an outliner and I like to really plan…I like to create magic systems that have hard rules with loopholes.”
For Phantasma, a lot of that came from real cultural influences, especially the necromancy.
“I grew up around New Orleans, and the magic there is so deeply rooted in our culture.”
She pulled from things like superstition and burial practices, which gave the magic more weight and context.
Is Kaylie a plotter or pantser?
Kaylie is very much a plotter. She starts with a Save the Cat! beat sheet, then outlines HEAVILY.
“I use Save the Cat to start,” she said. “And then I like to have all of my chapters outlined… fully write it, check it off, move on.”
She also mentioned she can usually tell when a book wasn’t outlined.
“I can almost always tell… and that’s not a bad thing. Some books need to be discovery-written.”
But in other cases, structure helps ideas land more clearly.
“That’s also to me why a good writer is a good reader.”
How does Kaylie make romance and plot work together?
This was one of the most useful craft sections for romantasy writers.
Kaylie does not treat romance as a subplot that happens in between the real plot.
“For me, it’s making the romance a plot point,” she said.
In Phantasma, the relationship is shaped by rules that affect the character’s arc.
In Enchantra, the marriage is directly tied to survival.
“She had to marry him in order to survive this game,” Kaylie explained.
And because of that, the romance and plot move together instead of competing.
What does Kaylie's writing routine look like?
On normal drafting days, Kaylie tries to be consistent.
“I try to write 2,500 words a day. Non-negotiable.”
She writes in the morning, does life stuff, and sometimes writes out of the house with author friends.
But deadlines are a different beast.
“When I’m on deadline… it’s pretty much 5,000 to 10,000 words a day. It’s me and Dr. Pepper, and my husband slides food under my prison door.”
How long does it take to write a draft?
Kaylie has written books that poured out fast and books that fought her for over a year.
“Phantasma poured out of me. I think that was eight weeks maybe,” said Kaylie.
Her upcoming book, Daemonica, has taken much longer.
“A year. A year and a half… God, Daemonica has taken me so long.”
And she gave a reality check for writers who put undue pressure on themselves.
“As creatives we’re so hard on ourselves… it’s your vision, your name’s gonna be on it. Take the time you need.”
What's the best writing advice Kaylie wishes she could give her younger self?
“Other people’s opinions or how they interpret something is just not up to you. You have to let it go," explained Kaylie.
She also said she wishes she had known earlier that your first book doesn’t have to be THE one.
“I wish I could just go back and tell myself it is not the end of the world if your first book is not good. And not a hit. Most authors I know that make it big… it’s ten to twenty to thirty books in.”
And then she delivered the craft advice that every fantasy writer needs to hear:
“When you are writing a book," said Kaylie, "you need to raise your main character’s personal stakes. Period.”
Not just world stakes. Not “the kingdom will fall.” Personal stakes.
“It does not matter how life or death the plot stakes are. We need to care about the character stakes first and foremost.”
Key takeaways for fantasy and romantasy writers
- Start with this question: “Why is this person the right person to tell this story?”
- World, character, and plot should shape each other, not sit in separate boxes.
- If you are writing mental health themes, do not sand them down for comfort.
- Build magic systems with rules, loopholes (if any), and consequences you plant early.
- If the romance disappears and the plot still works, you might not be writing romantasy.
- Raise the personal stakes until they hurt. That is how you earn reader obsession.
Explore Kaylie Smith’s books and website
If you want gothic atmosphere, life-or-death stakes, and sizzling paranormal romance, start with Kaylie’s Wicked Games series:
You can find Kaylie Smith’s books, updates, and news on her website here.
FAQ about Kaylie Smith, Phantasma, and Enchantra
What genre are Kaylie Smith’s books?
Kaylie Smith writes gothic fantasy romance with strong paranormal and dark fantasy elements. Her Wicked Games series blends eerie atmosphere, psychological tension, and romance that directly drives the plot, placing her work in the romantasy and paranormal romance space rather than traditional epic fantasy.
Is Phantasma a standalone or part of a series?
Phantasma is part of Kaylie Smith’s Wicked Games series. Each book functions as an interconnected standalone, expanding the world and exploring different characters while contributing to a larger overarching storyline.
Do you need to read Phantasma before Enchantra?
While each book can be read on its own, reading Phantasma first provides important context for the world, magic system, and character dynamics that deepen the experience of Enchantra.
How spicy are Kaylie Smith’s books?
Kaylie Smith’s books contain open-door spice scenes, but they prioritize emotional tension, atmosphere, and character stakes over constant spice. The romance is integrated into the plot rather than existing as a separate thread, making the heat feel purposeful.
How many books will be in the Wicked Games series?
Kaylie Smith has confirmed that the Wicked Games series is planned as a minimum of four books, with the broader series arc already outlined. Future installments will continue expanding the world and deepening the overarching narrative.
Is Kaylie Smith traditionally published or indie?
Kaylie Smith is traditionally published.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you.
