Delphine Roy
@delphineroy.bsky.social
Author, reader and clinch cover devotee💗
Current WiP: a #fantasyromance with dark gothic vibes.
One half of @acsheppard.bsky.social for your #hockeyromance needs.
linktr.ee/delphineroy
Current WiP: a #fantasyromance with dark gothic vibes.
One half of @acsheppard.bsky.social for your #hockeyromance needs.
linktr.ee/delphineroy
Pinned
What are five things in your upcoming release?
👑 Renaissance-type setting
👹 Monster hunters
💍 Forced political marriage
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🏰 Culture shock and language barriers
👑 Renaissance-type setting
👹 Monster hunters
💍 Forced political marriage
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🏰 Culture shock and language barriers
Best writing advice I ever got was from my friend Anne (who got it from a workshop iirc) was that the world of your story is like an elaborate stained glass window. Take it, smash it on the ground in a million shards, and scatter those shards throughout the story.
my kingdom for some motherfucking lacunae in the narrative, like can authors please stop writing novels like they're intended to be second-screen viewing as that is Not a Thing
January 21, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Best writing advice I ever got was from my friend Anne (who got it from a workshop iirc) was that the world of your story is like an elaborate stained glass window. Take it, smash it on the ground in a million shards, and scatter those shards throughout the story.
I love writing dark romantasy and all, but damn if I don't want to write a lovely summery low drama low stakes historical romance set at a house party in the countryside every time I see a Fragonard painting.
January 21, 2026 at 1:04 PM
I love writing dark romantasy and all, but damn if I don't want to write a lovely summery low drama low stakes historical romance set at a house party in the countryside every time I see a Fragonard painting.
#AwesomeCharacters
I absolutely LOVE naming characters. It's always the first step of my story because I can't envision and thus write MCs if I don't name them (I can use placeholders for minor characters). I spend a lot of time on onomastikons and it brings me joy when I find the perfect name.
I absolutely LOVE naming characters. It's always the first step of my story because I can't envision and thus write MCs if I don't name them (I can use placeholders for minor characters). I spend a lot of time on onomastikons and it brings me joy when I find the perfect name.
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters
Writing technical question!
Do you name your characters right away or do you use placeholder names?
Are the placeholders descriptive or just filler names you'll change?
Has a placeholder ever grown on you?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Writing technical question!
Do you name your characters right away or do you use placeholder names?
Are the placeholders descriptive or just filler names you'll change?
Has a placeholder ever grown on you?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 20, 2026 at 12:40 PM
#AwesomeCharacters
I absolutely LOVE naming characters. It's always the first step of my story because I can't envision and thus write MCs if I don't name them (I can use placeholders for minor characters). I spend a lot of time on onomastikons and it brings me joy when I find the perfect name.
I absolutely LOVE naming characters. It's always the first step of my story because I can't envision and thus write MCs if I don't name them (I can use placeholders for minor characters). I spend a lot of time on onomastikons and it brings me joy when I find the perfect name.
I read an interesting post (can't remember by who) discussing a new tendency in romance to write flawless cinnamon roll MMCs who are never in conflict with the FMC so the reader feels safe. I get it, but then I don't see how you can build a proper romance dynamic and story beats. It's a thin line.
#WritersCoffeeClub 18/1: Are you comfortable making a reader uncomfortable? How far will you go?
Sometimes a reader needs to get uncomfortable for the story to progress. There are limits, of course, but no pain no gain.
#Writingcommunity #Writesky
Sometimes a reader needs to get uncomfortable for the story to progress. There are limits, of course, but no pain no gain.
#Writingcommunity #Writesky
January 18, 2026 at 3:38 PM
I read an interesting post (can't remember by who) discussing a new tendency in romance to write flawless cinnamon roll MMCs who are never in conflict with the FMC so the reader feels safe. I get it, but then I don't see how you can build a proper romance dynamic and story beats. It's a thin line.
What are five things in your upcoming release?
👑 Renaissance-type setting
👹 Monster hunters
💍 Forced political marriage
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🏰 Culture shock and language barriers
👑 Renaissance-type setting
👹 Monster hunters
💍 Forced political marriage
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🏰 Culture shock and language barriers
January 18, 2026 at 3:25 PM
What are five things in your upcoming release?
👑 Renaissance-type setting
👹 Monster hunters
💍 Forced political marriage
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🏰 Culture shock and language barriers
👑 Renaissance-type setting
👹 Monster hunters
💍 Forced political marriage
❤️🔥 Slow burn
🏰 Culture shock and language barriers
2026 may not be the year I go analog, but it will be the year where I definitively limit social media to niche interests and a chronological feed of people I follow.
Here I chitchat about romance, give updates on my WIP and post pretty things that bring me joy. Happy to have you follow along.
Here I chitchat about romance, give updates on my WIP and post pretty things that bring me joy. Happy to have you follow along.
January 14, 2026 at 9:03 AM
2026 may not be the year I go analog, but it will be the year where I definitively limit social media to niche interests and a chronological feed of people I follow.
Here I chitchat about romance, give updates on my WIP and post pretty things that bring me joy. Happy to have you follow along.
Here I chitchat about romance, give updates on my WIP and post pretty things that bring me joy. Happy to have you follow along.
Nothing says "prestige edition and homage to historical romance" like cartoon illustrations and a romantasy-type cover. It's kind of ironic to defend historical romance by using the aesthetics of other genres to sell them and brush clinch covers under the rug.
Julia Quinn (Bridgerton) is launching a historical romance subscription box w/deluxe hardcovers. Starts July 2026, 1 book every other month. www.theromancestudio.com/jq-editions-... #RomanceBooks #HistoricalRomance #Bookish
January 13, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Nothing says "prestige edition and homage to historical romance" like cartoon illustrations and a romantasy-type cover. It's kind of ironic to defend historical romance by using the aesthetics of other genres to sell them and brush clinch covers under the rug.
Ooooh this is a good one. From my current #romantasy WIP, set in a Renaissance-type world with court intrigue, monster hunters and magic.
#WIPSnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
#WIPSnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
June 22, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Ooooh this is a good one. From my current #romantasy WIP, set in a Renaissance-type world with court intrigue, monster hunters and magic.
#WIPSnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
#WIPSnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
Interesting conversation. This articulates well why my activity on social media is around 20% of what it once was. Even if your core values stay the same, some opinions inevitably fluctuate with life experience, age, etc. Social media creates a world in which this is unnatural and reprehensible.
But being fallible is untenable since literally thousands of people are surveilling us at all times, both through what we put online (like this thread) and via an algorithm that can, at any random moment, throw a massive spotlight on us without any context provided for the audience.
June 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Interesting conversation. This articulates well why my activity on social media is around 20% of what it once was. Even if your core values stay the same, some opinions inevitably fluctuate with life experience, age, etc. Social media creates a world in which this is unnatural and reprehensible.
Anne and I just finished book 6 in our hockey romance series. 75K words of discussing, writing, editing, rewriting.
I'm also working on my romantasy WiP, one chapter at a time. I don't care if it takes me a year to finish. Without the creative process, there would no point in any of this for me.
I'm also working on my romantasy WiP, one chapter at a time. I don't care if it takes me a year to finish. Without the creative process, there would no point in any of this for me.
This is what proponents of "AI creation" really do not get.
It's not just about the result. I don't start a story with the vision of holding the finished book in my hands - the finished product is immaterial. The *act* of writing, and the grinding process of learning to write, has significance.
It's not just about the result. I don't start a story with the vision of holding the finished book in my hands - the finished product is immaterial. The *act* of writing, and the grinding process of learning to write, has significance.
June 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Anne and I just finished book 6 in our hockey romance series. 75K words of discussing, writing, editing, rewriting.
I'm also working on my romantasy WiP, one chapter at a time. I don't care if it takes me a year to finish. Without the creative process, there would no point in any of this for me.
I'm also working on my romantasy WiP, one chapter at a time. I don't care if it takes me a year to finish. Without the creative process, there would no point in any of this for me.
We are ONE chapter away from finishing book 6 (!) in our Hamilton Steelhawks #hockeyromance series. I had a hard time choosing a snippet but here's a steamy one for you all.
@acsheppard.bsky.social
#WIPsnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
@acsheppard.bsky.social
#WIPsnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
May 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
We are ONE chapter away from finishing book 6 (!) in our Hamilton Steelhawks #hockeyromance series. I had a hard time choosing a snippet but here's a steamy one for you all.
@acsheppard.bsky.social
#WIPsnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
@acsheppard.bsky.social
#WIPsnips #writersky #writingcommunity #romancelandia
This got me thinking about my current WiP. I sometimes don't feel legitimate writing romantasy because I've read so few, but otoh the world I built is basically a Renaissance setting with supernatural elements and the tone is very similar to historicals. The two genres are close IMO.
There are so many historical romances with light touches of fantasy or magical elements and I truly think they are the perfect gateway drug for that crowd.
May 23, 2025 at 10:40 AM
This got me thinking about my current WiP. I sometimes don't feel legitimate writing romantasy because I've read so few, but otoh the world I built is basically a Renaissance setting with supernatural elements and the tone is very similar to historicals. The two genres are close IMO.
Since #hockeyromance is having a moment, Simon & Schuster decided to one up HarperCollins and publish this trash. Why settle for a mediocre romance written by a hockey WAG influencer when you can get a violent sexist bully to co-author? #romancelandia
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
Summer Skate: A Novel
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great …
www.goodreads.com
May 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Since #hockeyromance is having a moment, Simon & Schuster decided to one up HarperCollins and publish this trash. Why settle for a mediocre romance written by a hockey WAG influencer when you can get a violent sexist bully to co-author? #romancelandia
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
Reposted by Delphine Roy
NGL this probably triggered my undying love for romance.
April 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
NGL this probably triggered my undying love for romance.
Apparently I'm not done ranting. Not naming names, IYKYK who I'm talking about.
This person had a sizeable following to begin with but gained a lot of traction with a "cool edgy girl bashing silly romance novels" act. There was also mocking of BookTok videos made by much smaller accounts. 1/?
This person had a sizeable following to begin with but gained a lot of traction with a "cool edgy girl bashing silly romance novels" act. There was also mocking of BookTok videos made by much smaller accounts. 1/?
Nothing like a TikTok influencer who called out romance for being "inaccurate" and "cliché" to her 100K followers, then wrote a romance herself with glaring inaccuracies and overused tropes.
Respect the genre, ffs. Don't claim you can fix it then come out with this crap.
#romancelandia
Respect the genre, ffs. Don't claim you can fix it then come out with this crap.
#romancelandia
April 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Apparently I'm not done ranting. Not naming names, IYKYK who I'm talking about.
This person had a sizeable following to begin with but gained a lot of traction with a "cool edgy girl bashing silly romance novels" act. There was also mocking of BookTok videos made by much smaller accounts. 1/?
This person had a sizeable following to begin with but gained a lot of traction with a "cool edgy girl bashing silly romance novels" act. There was also mocking of BookTok videos made by much smaller accounts. 1/?
Nothing like a TikTok influencer who called out romance for being "inaccurate" and "cliché" to her 100K followers, then wrote a romance herself with glaring inaccuracies and overused tropes.
Respect the genre, ffs. Don't claim you can fix it then come out with this crap.
#romancelandia
Respect the genre, ffs. Don't claim you can fix it then come out with this crap.
#romancelandia
April 1, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Nothing like a TikTok influencer who called out romance for being "inaccurate" and "cliché" to her 100K followers, then wrote a romance herself with glaring inaccuracies and overused tropes.
Respect the genre, ffs. Don't claim you can fix it then come out with this crap.
#romancelandia
Respect the genre, ffs. Don't claim you can fix it then come out with this crap.
#romancelandia
I spent all day at a book fair sandwiched between two male authors doing the hard sell. Maybe it's just show but they both seemed so confident pitching their stuff to everyone.
Meanwhile I'm struggling with impostor syndrom and silently waiting for until someone asks me about my books. 🫠
Meanwhile I'm struggling with impostor syndrom and silently waiting for until someone asks me about my books. 🫠
March 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I spent all day at a book fair sandwiched between two male authors doing the hard sell. Maybe it's just show but they both seemed so confident pitching their stuff to everyone.
Meanwhile I'm struggling with impostor syndrom and silently waiting for until someone asks me about my books. 🫠
Meanwhile I'm struggling with impostor syndrom and silently waiting for until someone asks me about my books. 🫠
Is there anything better than receiving this sort of package from a dear friend?
#romancelandia #vintageromance
#romancelandia #vintageromance
March 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Is there anything better than receiving this sort of package from a dear friend?
#romancelandia #vintageromance
#romancelandia #vintageromance
I've read that #romantasy and #fantasyromance aren't the same? Romantasy: one couple over several books and no HEA after book 1. Fantasy romance: one couple + HEA per book in a series.
In which case I'm definitely writing fantasy romance and not romantasy 🫠 Help a girl out #romancelandia
In which case I'm definitely writing fantasy romance and not romantasy 🫠 Help a girl out #romancelandia
March 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I've read that #romantasy and #fantasyromance aren't the same? Romantasy: one couple over several books and no HEA after book 1. Fantasy romance: one couple + HEA per book in a series.
In which case I'm definitely writing fantasy romance and not romantasy 🫠 Help a girl out #romancelandia
In which case I'm definitely writing fantasy romance and not romantasy 🫠 Help a girl out #romancelandia
For all my lovely #hockeyromance fans in #romancelandia, these steamy books are repping the Maple Leaf. Four books out, more to come!
After the Canadian WIN at the Four Nations Cup, are you up for more hot Canadian Hockey? Our current series is at 4 books and counting.
--Canadian setting
--Canadian hockey team
--🔥🔥🔥
--Available on all platforms
Links for more info: linktr.ee/acsheppard
--Canadian setting
--Canadian hockey team
--🔥🔥🔥
--Available on all platforms
Links for more info: linktr.ee/acsheppard
AC Sheppard | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
Linktree. Make your link do more.
linktr.ee
February 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM
For all my lovely #hockeyromance fans in #romancelandia, these steamy books are repping the Maple Leaf. Four books out, more to come!
I've had so much work lately that I literally just realized Friday is Valentine's Day AND the release of the "Duke By Any Other Name" anthology! I wrote a novella about the beta couple in one of my books, set in 19th century Paris. Short, sweet and steamy! ❤️🔥
#romancelandia #historicalromance
#romancelandia #historicalromance
February 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I've had so much work lately that I literally just realized Friday is Valentine's Day AND the release of the "Duke By Any Other Name" anthology! I wrote a novella about the beta couple in one of my books, set in 19th century Paris. Short, sweet and steamy! ❤️🔥
#romancelandia #historicalromance
#romancelandia #historicalromance
This is so exciting! 😆 If you need to escape with a spicy hockey romance, check out book 4 in the Hamilton Steelhawks series.
🏒 friends with benefits
🏒 badass artist FMC
🏒 cinnamon role in the streets freak in the sheets MMC
🏒 accurate hockey
🏒 characters who are 25+ and not in college
🏒 friends with benefits
🏒 badass artist FMC
🏒 cinnamon role in the streets freak in the sheets MMC
🏒 accurate hockey
🏒 characters who are 25+ and not in college
Our latest release, Dirty Puck Buddies, is being featured this week on Itsy Bitsy Book Bits. Check out their Facebook page for more book recommendations: www.facebook.com/ItsyBitsyBoo...
February 3, 2025 at 7:42 PM
This is so exciting! 😆 If you need to escape with a spicy hockey romance, check out book 4 in the Hamilton Steelhawks series.
🏒 friends with benefits
🏒 badass artist FMC
🏒 cinnamon role in the streets freak in the sheets MMC
🏒 accurate hockey
🏒 characters who are 25+ and not in college
🏒 friends with benefits
🏒 badass artist FMC
🏒 cinnamon role in the streets freak in the sheets MMC
🏒 accurate hockey
🏒 characters who are 25+ and not in college
LOL for some weird reason the photo of said fave clinch cover wasn't posted, so here it is. 😍
#romancelandia #historicalromance #clinchcoverlover #savetheclinchcover
#romancelandia #historicalromance #clinchcoverlover #savetheclinchcover
January 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
LOL for some weird reason the photo of said fave clinch cover wasn't posted, so here it is. 😍
#romancelandia #historicalromance #clinchcoverlover #savetheclinchcover
#romancelandia #historicalromance #clinchcoverlover #savetheclinchcover