Navigating the Depths: Lashun Williams on Writing, Resilience, and the Sea-Themed Romance 'Starlight'

Lashun Williams, an inspiring author with a deep passion for storytelling, has returned to the literary world with a new and exciting sea-themed romance series. After a decade-long hiatus, she has reignited her creative spark, embracing the power of her unique writing voice. Her journey back to writing is marked by resilience, self-discovery, and a renewed dedication to her craft. In this interview, Lashun shares the inspiration behind her current project, "Starlight," her love for whimsical characters and supernatural elements, and the challenges she has faced along the way. Her story is a testament to the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and the profound impact of following one's creative passions.

Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind your current project, "Starlight"?

Starlight is the unofficial title of book one of my adult sea-themed romance series that follows a 26-year-old heroine as she leaps into the seas of deception and woe by joining a mysterious captain and his crew as they defeat The Black Trinity, three notorious ghostly pirates that terrorize land dwellers. The idea came to me while I rewatched Pirates of the Caribbean 1, and I simply refused not to write the story.

How did "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Crimson Peak" influence your storytelling approach?

As much as I love the PotC movies, I felt like something was missing. I wanted to read an adult story with more action and whimsical characters, a tale that provided comedy with a serious undertone. So, the adventure, comedy, and beauty of the sea life is there along with the magical, supernatural elements of the series, however Crimson Peak’s influence is highlighted through The Black Trinity. I love odd stories that twist your mind, and these three vicious captains are just that.

What drew you to the sea-themed love story genre, and how did you make it your own?

Wonderful question! Similar to Eirwen, the female protagonist, I always loved and feared the sea. Stories of Poseidon and his power always struck my fancy, but my research regarding other deities, mainly Mami Wata and orishas Oshun and Yemaya, revealed the ocean and its creatures are far more powerful and mystifying than I believed. Truthfully, I wanted to incorporate that in this story. As much as this is a romance, there are more points here than just romance.

After a decade-long literary absence, what motivated you to start writing again?

Honestly, I never stopped writing. It always lived and breathed somewhere in my life, though the influx of life requirements and ailments in personal relationships and my own confidence made storytelling more complicated.

What truly sparked my literary drive was finding my writer’s DNA. February 2023, I took a course by writer Rachel Giesel called The Writer’s DNA. This course single-handedly changed my entire perspective of writing, genres and tropes, and it helped me identify the type of writer I am. Not “the writer I want to be” but the “writer I am.”

I can’t stress enough how important it is for a writer to know themselves. Yes, writers find themselves along the way, but what ignited my flame and set this productive course was accepting the full nature of my writing and asking myself these questions: Who am I writing for? Do I have an audience, and if so, what do they like to read? How invested into this am I? What type of stories do I want to write?

I asked myself more questions than that, but after identifying this, I said “Yes” to myself all year. Because of this, 2023 turned out to be my most successful literary year to date.

What challenges did you face when returning to writing after such a long break?

Social media! Platforms were easy to use, mostly, but my eyes couldn’t handle the constant scrolling – I have the soul of a 60-year-old. Also, my biggest challenge was realizing how independent writing was for me. I used to envision myself in writing groups, joining writer’s circles, connecting and networking like writers and authors recommend. Although I also recommend joining groups and communities, that’s not the type of writer I am. I’m rather a solitary woman now, and my craft is profoundly important to me. It’s challenging not sharing my work as much as I used to, but I’m growing accustomed to the silence.

How has your personal journey shaped your writing and the themes you explore?

I can tell I’ve greatly matured as a woman, haha. My first published series, Element Princess, should have been considered YA due to the ages of the main characters (16-19), but I hardly knew about the publishing world at the time and my mother, my manager at the time, had no idea what she was doing. It ended up in the wrong genre, the publishing house I chose barely helped with marketing and distribution, and truthfully, I was too stressed and in my own world to realize I just published two books (both the same year in 2013).

Because of these many trials, and the years’ worth of experiences within the last decade, I decided to dive deeper into myself and enrich my storytelling. Starlight has mature themes like trauma, betrayal, and the inner machinations of the human soul, which are topics you read about but, I believe, are not fully dove into.

I’ve become a stronger woman than I ever thought I’d be, and the trials of myself, and humanity really, are definitely shown through my stories.

What role does mental health play in your creative process?

I need silence when I write. Granted, I have music playing, but it’s movies and show soundtracks, or a writing session is playing on YouTube so I can focus, but my environment needs to be relatively calm for me to be in the zone. I’m quite an aesthetic woman, so I also need candles, my water bottle, my drink of the day, home décor, cups of pens, journals, Funkos, and anything else that inspires me.

From 2021 – 2023, I noticed a decline of my friend groups. This space allowed me to focus on my goals and aspirations without giving all of my energy and attention to these connections. Honestly, the reprieve helped my mental health and my literary life.

Have you incorporated any personal struggles into the characters or plotlines of "Starlight"?

So far, not really. I don’t intentionally insert myself or my experiences into my characters. They have stories to tell so I will write them. While editing, I’ll notice subtle nuances then laugh, but I’m not the self-inserting type of writer.

How do you balance the demands of writing with maintaining your mental health?

I’m a sucker for metaphors. My stories are on The Stove. So far, I’ve got all eight burners going, but one or two of them are on higher settings. I pay attention to the one with the hottest flame while the others either simmer out (the stove gauges control themselves) or it burns enough for me to notice. Starlight was one of those stories with a medium/high heat until I finished book one. I’m currently working through book 2.

Writing is my life. I made several posts about this on my personal blog, Heart of Writing (https://substack.com/@heartofwriting?utm_source=user-menu). I need to write more than anything, so it’s not hard for me to find time and get it done. It’s all about desire and inspiration. Sometimes, life requires my attention and energy more. That doesn’t mean the stories aren’t rolling through my head.

What advice would you give to other women who are struggling to return to their creative passions?

Remember your why. It might have changed since you first started, and it might be the same but different. Throughout my life, I told people exactly who I am and what I’m about: Writing is my life. So, in 2023, I asked myself, “If it’s [writing] my life, why am I not acting like it?” Writing is also a powerful honor to me, and it deserves to be respected as such. Writing is a skill and form of communication, but storytelling is an artform that requires patience, skill, and humility.

Consider how important writing and your stories are to you then determine how far you’re willing to go for this art. Are you going to publish? Do you write for you? Need your ideas posted in a blog? Decide what you want to do and where you want to go. No stress. There will always be blogs, magazines, and publishing houses. Just make sure you love what you manifested.

Can you share a moment where you felt particularly empowered during your writing journey?

There’s something incredibly satisfying for me when I see my manuscript’s wordcount rise. Not every single word will make the final cut, but I know I’ve got a solid idea when my manuscript jumps from 5,000 words to 15k in a single month. As the number grows and the story brings itself together, the high of my achievement fuels me to the finish line.

The first manuscript I completed in a decade was an autumn, age-gap romance unrelated to Starlight. I finished it in 4 months and won NaNoWriMo because of it. I’m still enormously proud of myself for finishing. I showed myself “I still got it.” Ultimately, I just had to silence the world.

What do you hope readers take away from your work, especially "Starlight"?

I’d love for my readers to finish my books and hold them to their chests with a smile. If I can see my fans hugging their copies, especially the signed ones, I just might cry (I probably will). In the plethora of amazing authors and stories, I want to be a renowned author that’s known for her immaculate storytelling and impactful themes. And I want readers to experience this, too.

How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially on difficult days?

I leave my stories alone on difficult days. I remember that at the end of the day, I’m still a woman. The stories will finish one day. The audience will get responses one day. If that day isn’t “today” then it simply isn’t today. Visits to Starbucks or my bestie’s house enrich me as well, especially since she avidly makes homemade meals – I’m spoiled, I tell you.

Are there any female authors or creators who have inspired you?

I will throw my money at Bea Northwick for being such an amazing person and storyteller. In 2023, I found her on Instagram and immediately added her book, The Cruel Dark, to my TBR list. She is one of my fantasy romance literary queens.

My other queen is Logan Karlie, whom I’ve met at a book signing – I’m still geeking. Everyone who knows me knows I love darker themes, encrypting artwork of shadows, skeletons, and ghostly, haunted people, and Logan’s debut novel, Dream by the Shadows, has exactly what I need and more.

I’m also thoroughly inspired by animes like InuYasha, Fushigi Yuugi, Kamisama Kiss, and so many others.

What would you say to women who doubt their ability to pursue their creative dreams?

I always think it’s best to consult your older self. Sometimes, I ask, “What would 60-year-old Lashun do?” or “How would she feel if I did/didn’t do ____?” Usually, I get an answer rather quickly. For sure, 60-year-old Lashun would be pissed if I stopped writing, so I keep going and adapt with the times.

When you’re down and out, I also recommend connecting with authors who’ve either done what you’ve done or are as serious as you. Most of the writer friends I had in the past weren’t serious about their ambitions, and this caused a lot of unnecessary strife. Find out who’s as motivated as you, as ambitious as you, or someone who’s willing to support you through your literary journey. Not everyone will respect that fire in you, so make sure you leave room for air, and allow yourself to burn.

IG and Threads: @officialljwilliams