Carolyn Ross

Hey there! I'm Carolyn Ross, and I've been quietly writing dark romance since the mid-80s when nobody quite knew what to do with stories that mixed love with shadows. (Seriously, you should've seen the looks I got from traditional publishers back then!)

I stumbled into writing almost by accident while working as a late-night radio DJ in Chicago. There's something about those quiet hours between midnight and dawn that gets your imagination running wild. I'd spend my breaks between songs scribbling story ideas on the backs of playlist sheets, mostly about the mysterious characters I imagined were awake and listening during those bewitching hours.

My first and most notorious book, "Dancing in the Dark" (1985), was born from those late-night musings. It follows a ballet dancer who becomes entangled with a mysterious patron of the arts who only appears after sunset. (And yes, the title was partially inspired by my radio days playing that Bruce Springsteen hit on repeat!) The book caused quite a stir when it came out - some readers and critics weren't ready for a romance that explored the murkier aspects of obsession and desire. But those who got it REALLY got it, and I still get letters about it decades later.

I write what I like to call "twilight romances" - stories that live in that gray space between light and dark, where the lines between right and wrong get deliciously blurry. My characters aren't your typical romance novel leads. They're complex, often morally ambiguous people who are drawn to each other for reasons they don't always understand or want to admit. (Kind of like real life, right?)

When I'm not writing, you'll usually find me wandering around old bookstores, collecting vintage vinyl records, or teaching creative writing workshops where I encourage aspiring authors to push boundaries and write the stories that scare them a little. I still live in Chicago, in an old Victorian house that's probably haunted (though my ghost, if there is one, has excellent taste in jazz).

My writing process is... let's say unconventional. I still write my first drafts by hand, usually between midnight and 4 AM, fueled by strong coffee and whatever chocolate I can find. There's something about those quiet hours that helps me tap into the darker elements of my stories. My cat, Shadow (yes, I'm that obvious), keeps me company and occasionally judges my plot choices.

To my readers: expect stories that will make you question your own moral compass, romances that might make you slightly uncomfortable but keep you turning pages anyway, and endings that aren't always neat and tidy but feel truthful to the characters. I don't write cookie-cutter happily-ever-afters - I write real, messy, complicated love stories for readers who aren't afraid of a little darkness with their romance.

After a long hiatus (life has a way of throwing curveballs, doesn't it?), I'm finally working on new material. Because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that some stories demand to be told, no matter how long they've been waiting in the shadows.

For those who've been with me since "Dancing in the Dark," thank you for sticking around. For new readers just discovering my work - welcome to the dark side. We have cookies. (Dark chocolate, naturally.)

Want to connect? I'm slowly learning this whole social media thing (yes, I was resistant - shocking for someone who still uses a typewriter, right?), but you can find me lurking on Twitter and Instagram. Fair warning: I post a lot of pictures of Shadow, late-night writing sessions, and my ever-growing collection of vintage romance novels.

Remember, the best stories are often found in the shadows. Come dance in the dark with me.