Episode #113
S.2 Ep. 113: Fake Engagement, Fae Princes, and Fairy Tale Romance: Vanessa Rasanen on Until the Stars Fall
️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fairy tales get a fresh twist, cozy romantasy meets unforgettable adventure, and even the kindest heroes can steal your heart. This week, host Sara Santillan sits down with fantasy romance author Vanessa Rasanen to discuss her enchanting Immortal Reveries series, including Until the Stars Fall and Once the Skies Fade . Vanessa shares her inspiring journey from engineer to full-time author, how Bookstagram helped launch her publishing career, and why writing became the creative outlet she'd been chasing all along. We also have an honest conversation about indie publishing, social media burnout, balancing motherhood with writing, and why building a sustainable creative career is often much messier than it looks online. Then we dive into Until the Stars Fall , a cozy romantasy inspired by the classic film Sabrina . When a human servant who's secretly loved a carefree fae prince for years gets caught in a royal political alliance, she's unexpectedly swept into a fake engagement with his responsible older brother. What begins as a convenient arrangement slowly becomes a heartfelt romance filled with banter, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of magical chaos. We also preview Once the Skies Fade , where the series takes a darker turn with a grieving Shadow Queen, deadly trials, anxiety-fueled shadow magic, and one of the greenest flag MMCs you'll ever meet. ✨ What if the prince you're meant to protect is the wrong brother? Can a queen haunted by grief learn to love again? ⚔️ And what happens when fairy tale romance collides with deadly magic and impossible choices? If you love cozy romantasy, fake dating, fae royalty, interconnected standalones, green-flag heroes, magical kingdoms, and romances that balance warmth with emotional depth, this is an episode you won't want to miss. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Vanessa's journey from engineering to becoming a full-time fantasy romance author, and how one indie author inspired her to finally publish her first novel. ✨ Why she believes aspiring authors should embrace research, learn the publishing process themselves, and avoid shortcuts that promise overnight success. ✨ The inspiration behind Until the Stars Fall , including its surprising roots in the classic film Sabrina and Vanessa's desire to create a comforting, fairy tale–inspired romantasy. ✨ Why interconnected standalones allow readers to revisit beloved characters while continually expanding the world through new kingdoms, romances, and magical conflicts. ✨ Once the Skies Fade and its emotionally richer story featuring a grieving Shadow Queen, anxiety-driven shadow magic, deadly tournaments, and a role reversal where the heroine becomes the feared protector. ✨ Creating Matthias, one of romantasy's rare green-flag heroes. ✨ What's coming next for the Immortal Reveries series, including dragon shifters, cursed princesses, Sleeping Beauty inspiration, and even more interconnected romances. ✨ Vanessa's candid advice about balancing creativity, family life, mental health, and building a writing career that can survive the inevitable highs and lows of publishing. CONNECT WITH US ️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @ MythicMic Bethany Amanda – @ BethanyinFantasyland Sara Santillan – @ the_magical_quill Vanessa Rasanen – @ VanessaRasanenAuthor ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.
