Q&A: Mallory Marlowe, Author of ‘Love At First Sighting’

We chat with author Mallory Marlowe about Love At First Sighting, which is an astronomically charming romantic comedy where a chance at love might not be out of this world.

Hi, Mallory! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I am Mallory Marlowe, and I’m a Los Angeles based romance author and video game writer. I am a deep lover of all things spooky and nerdy, and it shows in my books. I adore writing about oddballs finding love with a hint of the paranormal woven in. My debut LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES came out last year and my next book LOVE AT FIRST SIGHTING hits shelves on August 12^th. 

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve been a writer ever since I can remember. Even playing with my Barbie dolls, it was never simply going to a party or getting dressed up. The plots were deeply elaborate, and probably a little concerning to my parents. I began writing books when I was in middle school, and wrote countless stories as a teen, always knowing I wanted to one day publish a book. So many of the books I grew up reading had speculative elements as well as romance, so I think it’s always been in the cards to write books that fall into the same.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: I loved the Eloise books growing up, and seriously wanted to live at the Plaza Hotel too.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins!
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. I’m not afraid to admit I cried at my desk listening to the audiobook of this one.

Your latest novel, Love At First Sighting, is out August 12^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Steamy. Adventurous. Eccentric. Stealthy. Suspenders.

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a steamy and heartwarming romance with a hefty side of action-packed mystery and adventure. It’s a bit of a departure from Love and Other Conspiracies, but certainly keeps in the vein of quirky millennial romances with a dash of the paranormal.

Where did the inspiration for Love At First Sighting come from?

I got the inspiration as I was researching Love and Other Conspiracies. I was listening to a paranormal podcast and they did an episode on the Men in Black and the silly idea of “what if a girl who saw a UFO ended up falling in love with the hot Man in Black working her case”, and it was one of those ideas that kept exciting me and I owed it to myself to give it a try!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I absolutely love writing Carter, the hero of Love at First Sighting. He’s really the beating heart of this book, and he did really come out fully formed, which is rare for me. He’s funny, sweet, and can really pull of a suit, suspenders, and Trilby hat.

Did you face any challenges whilst? How did you overcome them?

It was the first time I’d ever written something with a mystery in it before, so that was a new hurdle for me. I had to be very meticulous in planning where certain clues would be dropped, which often meant working backwards to plot. Weaving a romance between those big plot beats was also a new challenge for me to try, but I’m so deeply pleased with how it turned out.

What’s next for you?

I have another book coming out next year called Entities to Lovers that’s about two rival ghost tour guides who wind up cursed to never leave each other’s sides, or a storm of bad luck befalls them both. It’s been a unique challenge of a book, but leaning even further into the paranormal element has been super fun.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

Some of my favorites from this year have been Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods, The September House by Carissa Orlando, Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver (coming this November!). I am currently reading Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson, and loving it so far!

I cannot wait for The Underachiever’s Guide to Love and Saving the World by Sloane Brooks, The Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion, Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore, and The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas!

Will you be picking up Love At First Sighting? Tell us in the comments below!