Music, movies, a scene, a feeling, or even one small idea can start something much bigger in my head. Eventually, that imaginary world became The Unowned Saga.
Megan Whiteaker – 12 November 2026
The Back Flap
Megan Black has lived at Black Lodge long enough to know how Blackridge works: old blood carries old debts, family loyalty has teeth, and “protection” can become another word for control.
Her heart is already tangled with Lucien Vale, Sebastian Cross, and Bennett Wren—three very different men, each carrying histories, loyalties, and dangers of his own. But in Blackridge, love is never entirely separate from power, and the people who care about Megan most are not always the ones willing to let her choose for herself.
Now buried family truths are surfacing, old loyalties are being tested, and everyone seems to have an idea of what Megan’s name, her blood, and her future should mean.
Megan has an idea of her own.
She is not trying to escape Blackridge. She is trying to live in it without surrendering herself.
About the book
What is the book about?
Blackridge is Book One of The Unowned Saga, an adult dark paranormal romance. Megan Black wants to live and love in her supernatural hometown without surrendering her right to choose. Her life is tangled with vampires, Lycans, Hunters, family loyalties, and men who each carry their own histories and dangers. As buried truths surface, the people around her keep trying to decide what her future should be. At the heart of it is the question of where protection ends and control begins.
Blackridge is available as an ebook on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, and Barnes & Noble, and in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing Blackridge early in 2026.
How long did it take you to write it?
From writing through revisions, Blackridge took a few months, though I didn’t track the exact timeframe.
Where did you get the idea from?
It began through roleplay and daydreaming. It was originally just something silly and fun, but the characters kept growing and the world kept expanding. Music, movies, a scene, a feeling, or even one small idea can start something much bigger in my head. Eventually, that imaginary world became The Unowned Saga.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Getting the movie in my head onto the page. I could see it, but finding the words to capture it was the hard part.
What came easily?
The characters came most naturally to me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Actors and characters from film and television gave me an early visual starting point, but my characters developed into entirely original people. Their personalities, histories, relationships and stories are their own. Those early inspirations aren’t blueprints for who they became.
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?
The Host by Stephenie Meyer is my favorite book. I loved getting completely lost in its world and characters, and that’s the kind of connection I want readers to feel with my own stories.
Do you have a target reader?
Adult readers who enjoy dark paranormal romance, morally complicated characters, and relationships tangled up with power and loyalty. Blackrdige has vampires, Lycans, Hunters, and multiple love interests, but Megan’s choices are at the center of the story. It begins an ongoing saga, so the romantic arcs continue beyond Book One.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I write wherever life allows: in bed, at the kitchen table, in the morning, or at night. I don’t have one perfect place or schedule. I think about the characters’ histories, the factions they belong to, and the supernatural laws around them. Their personalities and morals matter to how the story unfolds.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
My planning is extensive. I keep detailed notes on the characters, relationships, history, factions and supernatural rules, so it goes well beyond a few chapter headings. I still leave room for the characters to change the plan. I won’t force a character to make a choice that doesn’t feel true to them just because it was in the original outline.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Both. I revise as I go, then come back to the complete draft for another round of editing.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No, I didn’t hire a professional editor. I handled the editing myself.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes, I listen to a lot of rock and alternative music while working, including Linkin Park, Three Days Grace, My Chemical Romance and Evanescence.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I chose self-publishing from the start.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I chose self-publishing because it gave me the creative freedom to tell the story the way I wanted and make my own decisions about how to publish it.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I handled the cover myself rather than hiring a designer.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a plan. I share the characters and world through social posts and written interviews, and my website keeps the books, retailer links, and release updates in one place. Right now, that means introducing readers to Blackridge while getting ready for The Silver Verdict released.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Write the story and let it grow. Let your characters breathe like real people, with their own personalities, choices, and morals. Give them room to become who they are. Something that starts as a small, private idea can become much bigger than you expected.
End of Interview:
For more from Megan Whiteaker visit her website and follow her on Facebook.
Get your copy of Blackridge from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
