Interview with Michelle Miles, Author of Dark Night of the Soul

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

Dark Night of the Soul grew out of my Dream Walker series and, more specifically, out of my fascination with Kincade. He has always been one of those characters who carries far more beneath the surface than he lets anyone see. He’s ancient, dangerous, fiercely controlled, and shaped by centuries of violence, loss, and betrayal. I wanted to explore what would happen when a man like that finally had something—and someone—he could not simply walk away from.

At its heart, this book is about devotion. Kincade has spent his life surviving by keeping people at a distance, but Anna changes that. Loving her gives him something worth protecting, and it also gives his enemies a way to hurt him. That tension became the emotional core of the story: what happens when the most dangerous man in the room discovers that love is both his greatest strength and his greatest vulnerability?

I was also drawn to the idea of taking the larger supernatural conflict of the Dream Walker universe and making it deeply personal. The Brotherhood isn’t simply an enemy organization to Kincade—they are tied to his past, his trauma, and the man he was forced to become. Dark Night of the Soul gave me the chance to dig into those wounds while pushing Kincade and Anna into a conflict where survival, trust, love, and vengeance are all tangled together.

Ultimately, I wanted to write a dark paranormal romance about two people choosing each other completely, even when that choice comes with consequences.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

For Kincade, I’d pick “Hells Bells” by AC/DC. It has that dark, dangerous, inevitable energy that fits him perfectly.

For Anna, I’d choose “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics. It has that sharp, confident, slightly dangerous edge that feels very Anna.

And for Anna and Kincade together? “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC. Because, frankly, that feels entirely appropriate for the two of them.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

My favorite is fantasy—any subgenre, adult or young adult. Everything from epic to sword and sorcery. Of course, I also love romantasy and paranormal romance. And yes, definitely the same genre I write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Too many! I have a very long list of things I want to read and not nearly enough time. Waiting patiently: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb; The Last Harbinger by Jeff Wheeler; Uprooted by Naomi Novik; One Kind Heart by Christine DePetrillo; Warrior Princess Assassin by Bridge Kemmerer, and the list goes on!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene to write was the hair-dye scene between Anna and Kincade. There’s a scene in the book where Anna has to change her hair color to blend in while they’re on the run. They’re in Munich, standing in the aisle of boxed hair color, and she starts needling Kincade about changing her hair to red. The problem? He doesn’t like redheads. That whole exchange was so much fun to write because it let their banter come through in the middle of a very dangerous situation. It’s playful, intimate, and completely them. I love giving characters those small, ordinary moments amid chaos, because sometimes those are the scenes that reveal the relationship best. I still giggle when I read it.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I like to chew gum while I write—Extra Spearmint. OR sometimes I have a glass of wine.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“Remember your why.” It’s something I come back to often, especially when things get difficult, or I start questioning what I’m doing. Writing and building a creative career can be challenging, and it’s easy to get distracted by numbers, setbacks, comparison, or all the things you think you “should” be doing. Remembering why I started—and why telling stories matters to me—helps me refocus. Your “why” is what keeps you moving forward when motivation disappears, or the road gets hard.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

The emotional rollercoaster. I want readers to remember how the book made them feel—the tension, the fear, the romance, the heartbreak, the humor, and those moments when they weren’t quite sure whether to laugh, cry, or yell at the characters. For me, the best stories are the ones that make you feel like you’ve lived through something with the characters. If readers finish Dark Night of the Soul feeling a little wrung out, a little breathless, and completely invested in Anna and Kincade, then I’ve done my job.