Though she read all the time, “I didn’t even consider” writing as a career, Neilson said in a recent phone interview. Her life changed when she enrolled in some creative writing electives. She took one class with poet Carrie Shipers , another with novelist Emily M. Danforth .
A few years ago, Riss M. Neilson was studying ultrasound technology at Rhode Island College, and writing “Gilmore Girls” and “Dark Angel” fan-fiction online, just for the love of writing.
“They came to me and basically said, ‘You need to take this seriously. This could be a career path for you,” said Neilson, 36.
Neilson showed off her chops in her 2022 debut “Deep in Providence,” a YA fantasy that became a 2022 New England Book Awards Finalist. The 2017 RIC grad’s frank dealing and dialogue on teen relationships and sex reminded me a bit of Judy Blume.
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Neilson delivered a teen ghost story with 2023′s “I’m Not Supposed to Be in the Dark.” But it was her third book and adult fiction debut, “A Love Like the Sun,” published this year, that marked the New Englander as a rising romance talent.
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“Love,” set in Providence and focused on a mixed-race character with a chronic illness, became a USA Today bestseller, an NPR love story pick, and was featured on NBC’s “Today.” Neilson appears Saturday with local writers Vanessa Lillie and Sophie Burnham at LitArts RI in Providence for a free event in which she says she’ll discuss tips, advice, and her writing journey.
I called Neilson at her Cranston home — where she lives with “two bunnies, a dog, a cat, and two kids. It’s a full-house” — to talk her journey, her love of lil’ Rhody, and how romance novels have become something you don’t have to hide on the T anymore.
Q. You told me romance “is seen as so much more acceptable” now. What’s causing the shift?
A. I think social media plays a huge part in that, especially TikTok. We see now [more people] reading romance on #BookTok. The covers are different. It’s not the bodice-ripper covers. Everything has shifted. I think [the Internet] has played the biggest part. It’s so normalized.
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People read them on the train, in public, they feel more comfortable about it. Also, what social media has done is say, “This is a serious genre.” It’s always been a bestselling genre, but people didn’t know that because nobody was proud to say: “I’m reading romance.”
Q. You grew up in Providence. When did you begin writing?
A. I’ve been writing since fifth grade. I won a statewide poetry competition. It was cute; my poem was about springtime. My grandfather encouraged me to keep writing. Poetry was my main focus. But I wrote for [fan-fiction websites] too. That was my favorite thing. You get that instant hit of feedback — people would comment “This is amazing,” it gave me that boost to keep going.
Q. At RIC, you studied with two published writers.
A. I owe it all to them. Emily’s movie [an adaptation of her novel] “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” was more evidence for me: She’s making money off of her writing, maybe I can do it.
Then, I went through a divorce. I gave up for a little bit. Emily Danforth, bless her, sent 50 pages of “Deep in Providence” to her agent. She said, “I hope you’re not mad, but you’re not writing. You can’t give up.” Her agent, who is now my agent, called me. “If you finish this manuscript, I’ll probably offer you representation.”
I finished the manuscript and we sold it.
Q. You have a natural YA voice. What made you switch to writing for adults for this latest one?
A. I wasn’t supposed to be writing “A Love Like the Sun” — it just came out of me at a time I needed to write it. I didn’t plan on selling it.
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Q. What sparked that?
A. I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. I think I needed it as a kind of therapy. I wrote about Laniah finding this beautiful love, even though she’s sick. It poured out of me. Then I put it away. The following summer, I thought, “Let me send it to my agent.” She said, “Oh yeah, we’re gonna sell this.”
Q. I love that Providence and other Rhode Island towns come to life so vividly here. What inspires you about Rhode Island?
A. Rhode Island knows exactly what it is. Every area you go to, you know what you’re getting. Every area is distinct. We have so many cultures in such a tiny state. We care about the arts. There’s paintings and murals everywhere in Providence. I love that anywhere you are in Rhode Island, you can get to the ocean in 30 minutes.
Q. Your main character, Laniah, talks about being mixed-race.
A. I would rather write what I know. I am mixed race — Black, white, and Asian. I was raised in a Filipino family. But also I have big natural hair, so I could write about Laniah working with hair and natural products. It’s just me writing what I know.
Q. Your book was featured on “Today” in July. You didn’t know that was going to happen until it aired.
A. So much so that I wasn’t even watching. I was cleaning my house. My mom calls, my mom and my grandma are screaming. They were in shock. “Your book is on the Today show!”
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Q. You just turned in your fourth book, which will be adult romance.
A. I can’t really talk about it yet. I do have a YA idea that’s been on my brain. I want to stay in both genres.
Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.
Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.