Indie Author Advent Day 23: Lily James
Welcome to day 23 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 Lily James. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!
Lily's 2025 Release
1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?
"Hyperspeed was my debut, so I think that's probably my favourite thing about it. The story and the characters are extra special to me, because I had the courage and determination to write the book and release it to the world. I enjoy their relationship and the journey they go on, but really, I love my characters as if they were real people. They're constantly present in my head, even though their story has now been told, and it makes me happy to see other people love and enjoy them as much as I do."
2. What are your inspirations for your book?
"Hyperspeed came to me on a random Wednesday. I was on the train heading to work, and it was just prior to the new F1 season (I'm a big F1 fan). I was listening to Blinding Lights by The Weekend, which gives off those 80's synthwave vibes, and I suddenly started thinking... what would happen if F1 was in space... space race... alien racers... okay let's make it queer. And within 20 minutes, Hyperspeed and the Astro Space League universe was born."
3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?
"I think that representation, whether it be LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, disability, or BIPOC, is so important because there is already so little of it in mainstream media. When it is present, it's often glamorized or misrepresented because of the need to appeal to mass markets. Fortunately for us authors, we have the ability to represent what's "real" even in a fantasy or made up setting. We can present characters that we've created with real life problems, and show how they combat and overcome them."
4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?
"Don't stop trying. I'll be honest and say that being an author is hard. It can seem overwhelming, knowing you have to create some characters, their story, their goals, and then put it all together in the form of a book with a beginning, middle, and end. But watching the final product come together is the most satisfying part, and when you get to the end, it's a literal representation of all the hard work and determination you put in. If something feels hard, or you finish a draft and it's not quite where you want it to be yet, don't stop there. Power through and mold it into the perfect book for you. Don't worry about writing for the sake of anyone else. Write for you and your passions, and that will be the best book you could possibly create."
5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?
"I've got the second book in the Astro Space League series, Afterburn, coming in 2026. But before that, I'm actually diving into contemporary! Given that my first book was a mashup of scifi and sports romance, this will be new for me. But I'm really excited for this one! Resonance is a standalone MM rockstar romance between a lead singer and ex-ballet dancer turned MUA. It explores addiction, recovery, emotional and physical healing, and the question of whether love is enough to make it through times of struggle. It'll be very different vibes from Hyperspeed, with more angst and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but I'm really excited to release the MCs to the world."
Outro
Thank you to Lily 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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