Meet author Sofia Simpson

I’ve known Sofia Simpson for a couple of years now. We met through our Word Weavers critique group, which is online, but we also got to meet in person at the Florida Christian Writers Conference two years ago!

She’s so fun and full of life. I know y’all will enjoy getting to know her!

Jen – Welcome to the blog, Sofia! Tell us a little about yourself.

Sofia – I didn’t grow up anywhere; I grew up everywhere. My parents divorced when I was two, and my mom married a Navy guy, so we went all over the country. When their marriage fell apart six years later, my mom married two more times, but even after that, I stayed on the Eastern seaboard.

I have to say, my favorite place in the many, many places I’ve lived was Bellingham, Washington. It was not only a huge, gorgeous home with lots of places to play outside (including a creek), but it was also where I met Jesus.

In my Sunday school class, my teacher told us all about this incredible man named Jesus. After much instruction on all He did, she asked the class: Who would like their best friend to be Jesus? I raised my hand as high as it would go. Who wouldn’t want their best friend to be Jesus? I never looked back. From that point on, my heart was His. I can remember one particular time when Jesus got hold of me. I’d just stolen Lemon Heads, a sour lemon-flavored candy. I thought I had gotten away with it, but Jesus didn’t let me forget that I had just sinned against him by stealing. I felt so convicted; I went to my mom and confessed to what I did. She took me back to the store to pay for the stolen candy and apologize. I was truly sorry, to the store for stealing, to my mom for hiding my theft, and to Jesus for sinning against Him.

But, Jesus also comforted me many, many times after that when my childhood took very dark roads.

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Sofia Simpson bio:

Sofia Simpson has a B.A. in Journalism that she uses to write Young Adult books. She drinks in books like she would strawberry milkshakes.

When she’s not writing, she’s imagining, and when her brain gets tired of that, she’s reading.

She lives in the middle of Florida with her handsome husband and two college sons. She also has two fur babies, a fluffy, not fat, cat and a 100-pound Doberman who likes to chase said cat.

Sofia’s books

Jen – Those are beautiful stories! I didn’t know that! Tell us about what you’ve written.

Sophia – I write Young Adult Christian Fantasy. I write what you call, romantasies, romantic fantasies. I have five books out and one novella. Four of the books are in a series, called An Elemental Series, and the novella is a spinoff in that world that I plan to make its own series. I named each of the books after an element. Terra, Torch, Tempest, and Tidal. The novella is called Operation Kane.

Here’s the series in one sentence: As one of Earth’s Guardians, one girl finds herself in a bond that might be the death of her.

I also have a standalone, my first book, called Dream Weaver. Yep, you can guess, it’s set in a world of dreams. It’s where a girl must choose who to love, her best friend and someone she’s always loved, or a man her mother has chosen for her to help her run a nightmare world.

They are all available on Amazon.

I’m currently putting finishing touches on a novel that’s much grittier than anything else I’ve worked on. I thought nightmares were hard to write about, but demons are much worse. And fighting demons in your own backyard is a reality that I don’t always like to think about. It’s also a romantasy, but features more suspense than romance. Its tagline is: A heaven-sent Guardian is sent to fight a demon-infested town. She just never expected to fight love as much as she does demons.

Writing habits

Jen – I love to ask authors about their writing habits. What are yours?

Sofia – I like to say that I have to have a seasoned and salty brain when I start writing. I cannot start writing first thing in the morning. I have to be a little tired, a lot of caffeinated and always with a warm cup of something in my hand. So, that’s usually around one in the afternoon. If I can, I’ll write straight through until five when my hubby comes home. Then, it’s time for him.

I am absolutely a plantser. Yep, that’s both. I have a skeleton outline. In my head, not written down, a basic A to Z of where I’m going, and then I’m pantsing it to my heart’s content. I’m pretty good about staying on the basic outline when it’s vague and lets me go anywhere I want. But, I will say when I hit a snag or just blank out, I have to put the story down, take a walk, go to the store, and get away from it for a while to get back on track.

But, oh, how I LOVE to be a pantser. I feel like this is the magic of writing. I’ll write something, sit back and shake my head, asking God, “How did You get me here?” And always in a delighted fashion, because, yeah, God is just so creative. I never would have figured out that storyline without His guiding hand. I feel that if I tried planning everything out, then God can’t get creative with me. I’d feel obligated to stick to MY story and not HIS.

Book 1: Terra

Elementals don’t mix. They fight over territories constantly, and news of their battles is everywhere.

Vela, an Earth Elemental, wants two things: to one day run her very own flower shop and forget about a traumatizing fire from her youth set by Fire Elementals.

When Linc, a Fire Elemental, strolls into her life, she is immediately thrown into chaos when a bond flares up, connecting them forever. Linc pursues her relentlessly, for connections like this are rare, but Vela wants nothing to do with it or him.

With this news, Vela discovers she and Linc may be a part of an age-old prophecy that could change their world forever by uniting the warring clans. However, a powerful group does not want their pairing to exist, for if it does, the prophecy may come true.

Vela and Linc must keep their bond a secret, for their lives are at risk if it is made public.

Can Vela deny a bond that could unite the battling clans, finally providing peace after centuries of conflict? Will she allow herself to love an enemy?

A heart-stopping romance and adventure, Terra is sure to delight any fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Become immersed in this sweet, clean fantasy romance with faith elements!

Research for Sofia Simpson’s books

Jen – I totally relate to that. Sometimes I look back and think – where did that come from? Because I sure didn’t plan it! Okay, I have another question – what about research?

Sophia – Ha ha!! Research? Okay, if the CIA or the FBI ever took a look at my search history, I feel like I’d be in trouble. I’ve researched everything from how to make poison to how to make plumbing work in an off-the-grid community. Research is important. Especially when you’re trying to write a setting of someplace you’ve never been. So, Google Earth is my friend, too.

Jen – Yep, please don’t look at my search bar! I kill people in most of my books so … 😉 I’d love to know your goals for what you write.

Sophia – My goal for writing is simple. Provide clean romantic stories for teens and anyone young at heart. It’s why I started writing. I was a librarian in a public library, and I was horrified at the books coming into the teen section. They were full of graphic sex, language, and gory violence that was celebrated. I wanted to provide stories that anyone would get lost in and maybe even curl their toes to…with just a kiss scene, nothing else. I love a good kiss in a book, but that’s all I care to read.

What Sofia reads

Jen – I think people expect clean fiction to be boring. But it’s not! What do you like to read?

Sophia – My favorite authors right now are Morgan Busse and Juliann Whicker. Busse writes Christian Fantasy, and nothing else I’ve read compares to her genuine faith that communicates so strongly in her writing. Her stories are just beautiful. I aspire to write like her every day.

Whicker is probably the most wildly creative clean romantasy writer I’ve read. Her stories take me away and keep me there, where I’ll re-read them over and over, in audio and book form.

The only non-fiction I read is my Charles Stanley devotional and Bible that I read every morning. It’s the best part of my day, to start in His Word, which sets me up for writing the rest of the day.

Find Sofia Simpson online

Jen – How can we find you online?

Sophia – I have a newsletter, where as a thank you for signing up, I give away a copy of my novella, Operation Kane. Or, you can go to www.sofiasimpson.com and wait for the pop-up to come up on the home page, and you can sign up for my newsletter there.

I’m also on Instagram and Tiktok with the handle, @sofiasimpsonauthor. You can find me on Facebook, under Sofia Simpson, Author.

Fun Facts

Jen – I love to ask authors to give us “fun facts” about themselves! What are yours?

Sophia – Fun fact? I’m planning a teen book and ball event in Central Florida. It’s called the Teen Masquerade Fantasy Ball, where every teen leaves with a “Clean” book of their choice. Four signing authors and three booksellers will be there, so there are plenty of books to choose from! It’s a dance and a book event. You read that right. Why am I doing this? Because I’m passionate about teens knowing there are plenty of “Clean” books out there, books without the graphic sex, language, and gory violence. And, I want them to discover them during a fun, safe night. My next ball is a Teen Masquerade Fantasy Ball that will be October 24th in Lakeland, FL. Mask and costume is required. Fun, right?

Jen – Super fun! Other fun facts?

Sophia – Am I a dog or cat person? Can I be both? I was always a cat lover until I met my Dobe and then I became both. I snuggle with both of them, but my Dobe puts up with it much better, so maybe I’m partial now. No, I love them both. I love squeezing my cat’s fat tummy, who my dog loves chasing around the house, too. It’s hilarious to watch them both. I never know who to root for. No, it’s always the cat. Kobe is just too much of a Goliath in that scenario.

My favorite hot drink is TeBella Apple Cinnamon tea. It’s a loose-leaf tea that is to die for. It’s so gentle, but it has a delicious flavor. No sugar required.

Sofia’s advice for new authors

Jen – What advice would you give new writers?

Sophia – My advice for new authors is based on a quote I love. When I teach writing (to fourth graders, but it applies to anyone), I love this one:

“If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”- Toni Morrison, winner of the Pulitzer Award and the Nobel Prize in Literature.

And the other quote I share is this: “Don’t forget- no one else sees the world like you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.” Charles de Lint.

I’m a strong believer in that. I’ve been down so many dark roads. Both my parents were murdered, at different times, and the one Person who has gotten me through every single trauma is Jesus Christ. Allow Him to diffuse you with His strength, His creativity, His glow. Because through you, Jesus will shine. Embrace Him in every area of your life and you won’t be sorry. I’m living the life designed just for me. And I couldn’t be happier for it.

Jen – I remember you telling me about your parents. I’m with you – Jesus has gotten me through all of my trauma, difficult times, and hard questions. Where would we be without him?

Thanks so much, Sofia Simpson, for being on my blog!

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024, and the 2nd in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? released Feb. 25, 2025! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)