Evelyn Winters

Hi! I'm Evelyn Winters, and I write dark romance that explores what happens when passion and danger collide in the most unexpected ways. (And yes, the irony of writing winter-themed stories with my last name isn't lost on me!)

I never set out to be an author, actually. For years, I worked as a park ranger in northern Michigan, spending my days guiding nature walks and my nights scribbling stories in notebooks by lantern light. There's something about being alone in the wilderness that makes your imagination run wild – and not always in the cozy, comfortable ways you might expect. Those long nights surrounded by darkness sparked my love for stories that blend romance with elements of survival and psychological suspense.

When I wrote "A Winter Crown," I poured all those experiences into Louise's journey. I wanted to capture that primal feeling of being alone in the forest, where every snapping twig could mean salvation or danger. (Fun fact: The scene where Louise has to create an emergency shelter was based on actual wilderness training I've done. Though I promise no mysterious strangers showed up during my exercises!)

I write for readers who crave romance that's a little different – the kind that makes you question whether you should be rooting for certain characters, but you just can't help yourself. My stories tend to feature: • Strong heroines who discover their own power in challenging situations • Complex male leads who blur the lines between protector and threat • Wilderness settings that become characters in their own right • Slow-burn tension that'll have you sleeping with the lights on • Moments of unexpected tenderness in the darkest situations

Look, I know my stories aren't for everyone. If you're looking for a cozy romance where the biggest conflict is a misunderstanding about dinner reservations, I'm probably not your girl. But if you want to explore the shadowy spaces where attraction meets fear, where survival instincts clash with desire, and where happy endings are earned through fire (sometimes literally) – then welcome to my world.

When I'm not writing, you'll usually find me hiking with my rescue husky, Shadow (yes, I'm that person who named their black and white dog Shadow – judge away!), teaching wilderness survival courses, or attempting to grow herbs that my cat hasn't yet destroyed. I live in a small cabin near the Great Lakes, which is perfect for writing atmospheric scenes but terrible for pizza delivery options.

I'm relatively new to publishing, and "A Winter Crown" is my debut novel. It's the first in what I plan to be the Frost and Fury series, where each book explores a different aspect of survival – both physical and emotional – against the backdrop of unforgiving wilderness and complex relationships. I'm currently working on the second book, which might involve an avalanche expert with secrets as deep as the snow. (That's all I can say for now, but let's just say I've been doing some very interesting research on snow science!)

To my readers: thank you for taking a chance on a new author and stepping into these dark, wild stories with me. I love connecting with you on Instagram (@EvelynWintersWrites) where I share behind-the-scenes peeks at my writing process, photos of Shadow being dramatic in the snow, and probably too many sunset pictures from my cabin deck.

What can you expect from my books going forward? More morally gray characters making questionable choices in beautiful but dangerous places. More moments where you'll want to scream "DON'T GO IN THERE" but also "PLEASE GO IN THERE." More exploration of what happens when attraction and survival instincts collide. And always, always a satisfying ending – even if the path there is darker than you expected.

So if you're ready to venture into the woods with me, grab your emergency kit (and maybe a flashlight). The path ahead is wild, but I promise it's worth the journey.

P.S. If you ever meet me at a signing, ask me about the time I had to use my wilderness training to escape a particularly persistent raccoon. It's become my favorite party story, and it definitely influenced a scene in my upcoming book!