Laurence Howard

Hey there! I'm Laurence Howard, and I write about the kind of love that consumes you, destroys you, and rebuilds you into something entirely new. (Whether that's a good thing... well, that's part of the journey, isn't it?)

I never set out to write dark romance. Actually, I spent years working in political journalism, covering everything from local elections to international relations. But there was always this nagging voice in the back of my mind, whispering stories about the darker side of human nature and the way love can twist itself into something both beautiful and terrifying.

My debut novel, "The Madness of Obsessive Love," grew from a late-night conversation with a colleague who confessed to still dreaming about someone they'd dated briefly in college, fifteen years later. That story wouldn't leave me alone. I kept thinking about how thin the line is between romance and obsession, between love and madness. Julian Gray's character was born from that space between rationality and complete emotional chaos.

I'm fascinated by characters who seem perfectly put-together on the outside – successful professionals, respected community members – but harbor these intense, all-consuming passions they can't control. (Maybe it comes from all those years watching politicians maintain their public faces while their private lives crumbled. You wouldn't believe the stories I couldn't print...)

When I write, I dig into the psychological aspects of obsession. What makes someone hold onto a memory until it becomes their whole world? How does a brief encounter transform into a life-altering fixation? These are the questions that keep me up at night, and they're the ones I explore in my work.

My background in journalism definitely influences my writing style. I love weaving real-world elements into my fiction – political intrigue, scientific discoveries, social dynamics. But don't worry, I promise it's not like reading a newspaper article! Think of it more like getting the inside scoop on what happens behind closed doors, where powerful people let their masks slip and their darkest desires take over.

I'm what you might call a "slow-burn" writer. (My editor sometimes threatens to set ME on fire to speed things up!) I believe in building the tension until it's almost unbearable, letting the obsession grow naturally until it explodes in ways that surprise even me. My characters don't just fall in love – they spiral into it, fighting against their own nature until resistance becomes impossible.

What can you expect from my books? Complex characters who blur the lines between protagonist and antagonist. Relationships that challenge conventional ideas of healthy romance. Stories that make you question whether true love can exist in the shadows of obsession. And yes, plenty of steam – but always in service of the psychological journey.

When I'm not writing, I'm usually buried in research (old habits die hard) or exploring old bookstores in search of obscure political memoirs and psychology texts. I live in a converted Victorian house with too many books and not enough shelves, and I'm convinced my cat is plotting to take over the world. (She's definitely smart enough – I've seen her watching me type my passwords.)

I'm currently working on my next novel, which explores the intersection of political power and personal obsession. (Because apparently, I can't quite leave my journalism days behind!) I can't wait to share it with you all.

To my readers: thank you for joining me in these dark corners of the human heart. Your messages about how Julian's story affected you, how you understood his obsession even when you wanted to look away – those mean everything to me. This journey into the madness of love is one we're taking together.

Fair warning: my books aren't for everyone. If you're looking for light, fluffy romance, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're interested in exploring the darker side of love, the way passion can consume reason, and how obsession can reshape a person's entire world... well, pull up a chair. We have a lot to talk about.

You can find me on Instagram and Twitter, where I share writing updates, behind-the-scenes research, and pictures of my world-domination-plotting cat. And yes, I do respond to DMs – just don't be surprised if my replies come at 3 AM. That's when the best dark romance ideas tend to strike!