My target reader is someone who loves emotional, character-driven romance—readers who enjoy slow burn connection, cultural contrast, and the feeling of discovering a new world through someone’s eyes.

Irina Angelova – 27 November 2025

The Back Flap

In the sun-drenched hills of Macedonia, Ilaria lives a life that isn’t her own. Widowed too soon, and bound by her late husband’s family, Ilaria moves through each day under the weight of duty and tradition, holding on only for her young son. When Jesse—a magnetic local returning after years abroad—steps back into her quiet world, he sees the woman behind the restraint. His presence awakens something Ilaria has long buried: desire, courage, and the dangerous hope of freedom. But in a place where every choice is judged, will love be her salvation or her undoing? Set against the backdrop of a culture where family, loyalty, and appearance rule, There Are Worse People is a story of belonging, identity, and the courage to reclaim your own life.

About the book

What is the book about?

There Are Worse People is a romance about Ilaria, a young widow trapped in the expectations of her late husband’s traditional Macedonian family. Bound by duty and appearances, she moves through life only for the sake of her son—until Jesse, a grounded and quietly magnetic man returning from abroad, sees the woman she used to be. His presence awakens her desire to reclaim her identity and choose her own future, but in a culture where every step is judged, following her heart could cost her the only stability she has left. It’s a story about belonging, identity, and the courage to pursue freedom when tradition insists you stay.

When did you start writing the book?

Spring 2024

How long did it take you to write it?

4-5 months

Where did you get the idea from?

The book is based on my experience as a foreigner building a family in Macedonia and navigating a deeply family-oriented culture with strong traditions. At the same time, I’m a romance lover at heart, so I used this unique cultural setting as the backdrop for a fictional love story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

It took me a while to figure out how explicit I wanted this book to be. I enjoy reading steamy love stories from time to time, but I don’t really enjoy writing explicit scenes. So the story is definitely spicy and emotionally charged, just not graphic.

What came easily?

I spent a few years caught in extended-family conflict here in Macedonia, and at one point I took a couple of months away just to breathe. That’s when this book started pouring out of me—it became a kind of emotional release. Writing Ilaria’s struggles with her in-laws was the easiest part, because those emotions were already there.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are fictional—composite impressions of people I’ve met and stories I’ve heard. They reflect some cultural traits I’ve observed, but no one is based on a real individual. The male main character, however, is entirely fictional. I wanted him to be a grounding presence—calm and steady—to balance Ilaria’s emotional turbulence.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I love Ali Hazelwood—I’ll read anything she writes. Her humor, her voice, the intelligence behind her stories—I admire it all. Helen Hoang inspired me deeply. She once said she stopped trying to write like others and simply embraced her own voice—and that’s when everything clicked. I love that idea of making space for your own style instead of trying to imitate anyone else. Recently I’ve also been vibing with Emily Henry, Julie Soto, and Alice Hoffman.

Do you have a target reader?

My target reader is someone who loves emotional, character-driven romance—readers who enjoy slow burn connection, cultural contrast, and the feeling of discovering a new world through someone’s eyes. If they enjoy authors like Emily Henry or Ali Hazelwood, or stories where setting feels like a character, they’ll feel at home with this book.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I don’t really have a system. Most of the time, my stories begin as situations or images in my head. I start unraveling them, letting them grow into something bigger.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

As I write, I plan a little ahead—I know what I want my characters to go through, and I think about how to integrate those situations naturally into the plot. But if I outline the entire book in advance, it feels like the story is already told, and I lose inspiration.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I prefer editing as I go. If I get stuck, I go back and reread what I’ve already written—fixing, rewriting, or adding a few details. That usually gets me back into the flow.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No, but I get inspired by music. I can sit in a coffee shop and hear a song that sparks something, and I start shaping that feeling into storylines or scenes in my head. Many of them end up on the page.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did. I still hope to find an agent — God knows how hard it is for aspiring authors.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It felt like a practical and realistic choice for a debut novel.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The cover was made by Cupid’s Arrow designer.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Definitely winging it. I recently became a mom for the second time, which complicates things, but I’m eager to try every possible route. Surprisingly, I’m enjoying the process.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Be very clear about what makes your book unique — you’ll need that clarity whether you’re pitching to a publisher or trying to reach your readers.

About You

Where did you grow up?

On an island in Russia.

Where do you live now?

North Macedonia (it’s warmer here).

What would you like readers to know about you?

They say I write cozy.
I like to think my characters will keep you warm on cold evenings —
(and possibly ruin your sleep schedule in the process).

I’ve moved between countries most of my life, to the point where I’m not entirely sure where home is anymore.
Pieces of my heart live in Japan, Malta, China, India and Macedonia.
Currently I live in Macedonia, raising two kids and two dogs, loving my husband, and working as a pedagogical designer and content creator. My work gives me the freedom to write whenever and wherever inspiration strikes — often in a coffee shop, laptop open, pretending I don’t hear my characters arguing in my head.

What are you working on now?

I’m looking for the right publisher for my paranormal romance about an empath woman and a driver who’s hired to take her on a long journey — only to find himself drawn into a hidden world of empaths, healers, and hypnotists.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of There are Worse People from Amazon US or Amazon UK.