S.2 Ep.21: When Beauty Summons Beasts: Tessonja Odette on The Lies That Summon the Night

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where fantasy romance spans every mood, tropes are meant to be devoured, and writing careers are built one brave decision at a time. 

In this episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan sit down with bestselling romantasy author Tessonja Odette to talk about her genre-spanning catalog, her indie-to-traditional publishing journey, and her upcoming dark fantasy romance, The Lies That Summon The Night. From cozy fae rom-coms to shadowy, art-forbidden worlds filled with monsters and hunters, Tessonja shares how experimentation, persistence, and reader awareness shaped her career.

We dive into Tessonja's 15-year road to publishing her first book, why “failing forward” in indie publishing helped her find her true voice, and how paying attention to reader behavior and market shifts led her to pursue a traditional deal. We also explore her creative process, how she pushes through self-doubt and writer’s block, and why finding your writing crew might be the single most important step for aspiring authors.

Then we step into the dark, dangerous world of her newest release, where art is illegal, artists are fugitives, shadow monsters are drawn to creativity, and survival may depend on an uneasy alliance with a deadly hunter.

🎨 What if creating art could get you hunted?
🩸 What if your only protection came from the one man who could turn you in?
🕯️ And what happens when dark fantasy, romance, and rebellion collide?

This episode is a must-listen for romantasy readers, trope lovers, and aspiring authors navigating their own publishing path.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ Tessonja’s creative roots in art, music, and punk bands, and why she ultimately chose writing.
✨ The 15-year journey behind her first novel and the reality of rewriting, doubt, and persistence.
✨ Imposter syndrome, research overwhelm, and pushing through creative paralysis.
✨ Why publishing her early work — even when it didn’t succeed — helped her grow faster.
✨ Experimenting across fae fantasy, fairy tale retellings, cozy rom-coms, and dark fantasy romance.
✨ The shift in indie vs. traditional fantasy romance audiences and what changed.
✨ How watching reader behavior helped guide her publishing strategy.
✨ Why genre-shifting is becoming more accepted for authors.
✨ The importance of finding your writing crew and peer support circle.
✨ Recurring themes in her books: found family and romance as emotional healing.
✨ Inside The Lies That Summon the Night: forbidden art, outlaw storytellers, shadow monsters, and a half-vampire hunter hero. 
✨ Why emotional damage is basically her brand promise to readers. 
✨ Teasing book two (already written) and what’s next in the trilogy. 

CONNECT WITH US

🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic
👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland
👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill
📚 Tessonja Odette – @tessonja

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