1 Author, 7 Questions: Caty Rogan
For the girlies in the know, Caty Rogan and her novel Kissed by the Gods is already in your Kindle library! And for the girlies not yet in the know, trust me you are going to want to put Kissed by the Gods on your TBR right now! It’s book one of The Eternal Wars series and its everything you could possibly want in a romantasy read. We got to sit down with Caty to ask her all about Kissed by the Gods… and maybe we get a teeny, tiny peek at what awaits us in book two!
What was your initial inspiration for Kissed by the Gods?
I first started imagining this world back in college, but The Eternal Wars truly solidified after my years as a journalist, witnessing human resilience amidst oppression . I also began writing the series seriously after a miscarriage, and the story became a way to process that grief.
Can you describe your writing process? Are you more of a pre-plotter or do you let the plot develop as you write?
I do outline, but once I’m drafting, my characters tend to hijack the story in ways I don’t see coming. I start as a plotter and finish as someone just trying to keep up with her own cast. Then after I write, I have to go back and get the world organized again for the next book.
Winged. Horses. We loooove them! What inspired the faravars?
I’ve been a horse girlie since I was little, and that obsession never left. Bonded and mystical creatures are always fun, but I especially love giving the faravars distinct personalities and instincts. Just like real horses, only airborne and maybe more unhinged.
What sets your FMC and MMC apart? What has most surprised you about the fans’ response to your characters?
I love that Leina’s character arc centers on embracing her feminine rage as a source of strength rather than something she needs to tone down. Ryot, on the other hand, is a completely “down bad for her” MMC, and writing a hero who is deeply loyal and devoted is really important to me. I want to show readers that masculinity can be soft, vulnerable, and attractive because of that. What’s surprised me most is how strongly readers have responded to both sides of that dynamic: Leina’s fire and Ryot’s willingness to love her with his whole chest.
The first Eternal Wars novel has not one romance, but TWO. Tease that second romance for our NOVLers who haven’t read Kissed by the Gods yet. And for all your fans—current and future—what can we expect after book one?
Thalric and Nyrica offer a steady, deeply earned M/M love story shaped by loss, addiction, grief, healing, and decades of choosing each other again and again. Their relationship is loosely inspired by my in-laws, who recently celebrated 45 years of marriage. I’m always in awe of this kind of love, and it is something I aspire to with my own relationship. As for what comes after Kissed by the Gods … no spoilers, but prepare yourselves. The fallout hits everyone.
What are some books you’ve been reading recently or would recommend?
My comfort series is Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon. It’s what I reach for when I need some joy.
I also recently alpha read Between Tides & Thunder by Leena Kazak, and it’s going to break the internet when it releases. Whit Stanfield’s The Naiads of Juile series has been another favorite of mine. It is sirens done perfectly, with incredible feminine bonds and feminine rage.
I cannot wait to dive into Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson next.
What are you working on now? Any exciting ideas you can share?
I’m deep into book two of The Eternal Wars, and let’s just say I’ve already made myself cry. So … buckle up?
Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.
Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king, standing by while his men crush her loved ones. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre.
She expects to be executed for her crimes—her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior born to privilege, delivers her to a military fortress renowned for its brutality.
There, a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war, where her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse.
As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart. Each lesson, every touch, binds them tighter—but love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.
Soon, Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found…and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.
With immersive lush writing, an unflinching heroine, and an inventive fantasy world, Kissed by the Gods is the gripping fantasy debut you won’t want to miss.
Featuring iconic romance tropes:
- He falls first
- Forbidden romance
- Found family
- Trial by combat
- She saves him
- Spicy slow burn
- Feminine rage