Inspiration for Angel Cursed, a Free Spicy Paranormal Romance Novella

Find out the romance inspiration behind this free spicy paranormal romance novella.

Angel Cursed is available for anyone to read. You can grab it directly from my website, no strings attached.

So what’s it about? Here’s the short version:

Angel Cursed is on Audio

Angel Cursed Description

Elias Kokabel has been cursed to walk the Earth for centuries after committing the ultimate sin—fathering a Nephilim son. Sent to Earth with his angelic brethren to serve as Watchers, they were tasked with observing humankind, ordered not to interfere. But one by one, each angel fell, including Elias. Now cursed by the gods and tethered to the earthly realm, Elias serves his penance roaming Earth with no purpose. In 1781, he finds himself wishing for the one thing he cannot have—death. Until one night, Gladys Whitlock, a mage on the run, appears on his doorstep, bleeding and bare. And for the first time in centuries, she gives Elias something new to wish for—the death of another

The original inspiration for the entire Watchers and Warriors series comes from the Book of Enoch, which tells the story of two hundred angels descending to Earth to observe and report on humankind. Of course, they broke the rules. They interfered. They fell in love. And they fathered children.

While those children were said to be giants, in my fictional world, I took creative initiative and translated that into something more manageable. The Watchers in my stories are very tall, very dangerous, and very immortal.

While most of the series is set in the modern day, Angel Cursed is a little different. It’s set in the late 1700s and leans more heavily into witches and shifters, giving it a slightly darker, more folklore-driven feel.

What else was an inspiration for Angel Cursed?

Honestly, I’m a bit of a “pantser” when it comes to writing. I might plot loosely in my head, but I’ve never mapped out an entire story beat by beat. I like to let things unfold as I go. As I was writing Angel Cursed, I realized it needed a little extra something. Gladys was already a witch on the run from an unwanted prophecy, but I wanted her to have a secret. One she wouldn’t even reveal to Elias unless forced to do so. Something that complicated their connection.

That’s when the 1985 movie Ladyhawke popped into my head.

If you’ve never seen it, Ladyhawke is an epic fantasy romance set in a medieval world, starring Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Matthew Broderick. The story follows a thief named Gaston who escapes a dungeon in the city of Aquila and nearly gets himself killed before being saved by Captain Navarre, a brooding warrior traveling with a hawk. Navarre plans to kill the corrupt Bishop of Aquila, and Gaston, grateful for his life, decides to help.

What Gaston doesn’t know at first is the reason behind Navarre’s quest. Navarre and the woman he loves, Isabeau, have been cursed for loving each other. If the bishop dies, the curse can be broken.

The cruelty of the curse is what makes the story unforgettable. Navarre is cursed to become a wolf by night. Isabeau becomes a hawk by day. They are never human at the same time, never able to truly be together. Critics have pointed out pacing issues in the movie, but the romantic sweep of Ladyhawke is undeniable.

Once I gave Gladys a complication inspired by that same kind of impossible love, everything clicked. The story finally had the added layer of tension I wanted, and Elias and Gladys came alive on the page.

If you love epic fantasy romance with a brooding immortal, a sharp-witted witch, and a curse that refuses to make their relationship easy, Angel Cursed might be for you. Forewarning, my stories are also spicy.

Angel Cursed is available in both digital and audio formats and serves as the gateway into the Watchers and Warriors series, a paranormal romance world built on ancient sins and fated mates.

If that sounds like your kind of story, head over to my website and check it out. And as always, happy reading.

Comparable Reads:

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout: a demon-touched romance with strong supernatural elements.

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco: a demon prince helps track down a killer through a dark paranormal underworld.