Indie Author Advent Day 10: Stefanie Castro
Welcome to day 10 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Stefanie Castro. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!
Stefanie's 2025 Releases
1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?
"Seeing the completion of my Boston Embers series was exciting for me this year. I think it’s special to see a series come to an end. .Although it’s bittersweet, for the most part, it is fun as an author to see all the books come together."
2. What are your inspirations for your books?
"I find inspiration from life, if I’m being honest. Much like my reading, I’m a mood writer. I’m an emotional writer. I lead with my heart when I write, and let the story in my head take charge. Of course, I have to edit a lot later, but the foundation of the story is based on where my heart is at the time of my writing journey. I’m not a plotter. I feel the story take shape in my head like a movie and I let it inspire the story there first."
3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?
"To be an indie author is to dedicate yourself to your craft 24/7. You’re not only trying to write, but to promote your work all the time to a platform of millions whenever possible. I feel like I’m constantly advertising myself and hoping to win over readers to pick up my books whenever possible. With that in mind, representation is especially important because it allows readers to relate to the characters and the story in a personal way."
4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?
"I think it’s important to know it’s not easy, even if it feels that way in the beginning. I remember early on, the stories flowed so quickly from me. But once that excitement from all the newness wore off, I felt a lot more pressure having to release more books. Don’t let that deter you from moving forward. Keep doing it and don’t let the outside noise stop you from pursuing your dreams of writing. It’s a long road ahead, but so fulfilling when you meet readers that love your work."
5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?
"I’ve published so many books back-to-back within a very short amount of time. My goal in 2026 is to slow down and write. That is the main purpose of this next year. I’m going to focus on getting my stories written for my audience to anticipate another series in the future. As an indie author that works full-time in addition to writing, I need to be mindful of burnout, which is very much a possibility if I keep at it the way I have been. So 2026 is about caring for myself and preparing for what’s to come. I definitely have plans for some releases in 2026, but I can’t quite talk about them just yet. But I promise I’m excited to share them for all my readers soon!"
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
"Indie authoring is something I'm passionate about. Before I became an author myself, I was a book reviewer. I leaned heavily on indie authors' books and loved everything they brought to the table. Indie authoring is something that takes the effort of so many people I have as my inner circle. I couldn't do it without the support of all those I have chosen to sit with me on this journey when I put these books together during the alpha and beta reading timeline, along with the editing and proofreading stages. It doesn’t go unnoticed when a review is written or a post is shared. Thank you from the bottom of my heart because it greatly impacts myself and my team. ❣️"
Outro
Thank you to Stefanie for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!
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