From Publishing to Bestseller: Ellis Hunter on Blood Bound & Writing Together
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The dream team behind the breakout fantasy romance *Bloodbound*—Katie Ellis Brown and Becky Hunter, collectively known as Ellis Hunter—reveal how their shared passion for fantasy, forged during years in publishing, led to a novel that’s already causing a cultural stir. Despite no prior experience as co-authors, they began writing in 2023 as a creative escape during motherhood and full-time jobs, crafting a story centered on two female protagonists from warring kingdoms: a witch princess facing a deadly duel and a dragon rider on a desperate quest to save her best friend. What started as a hobby has exploded into a global phenomenon, with pre-publication queues snaking around book events, translation deals in nine languages, and a tour planned for France—all before the book’s official release. Their secret? Writing with authenticity, emotional honesty, and a deliberate focus on female friendship over romance, creating a story that’s accessible even to readers who’ve never touched fantasy before. Now, they’re deep into writing book two, navigating the pressure of a trilogy with rising expectations, while staying grounded in the joy of storytelling. The duo’s writing process is a masterclass in collaboration: they brainstorm together, split point-of-view roles (Katie writes Astrid, Becky writes Skylar), and use shared Google Docs to edit and sync their narratives.
Co-authoring a fantasy trilogy started as a creative escape during motherhood and full-time jobs, not a career plan.
The book’s success stems from prioritizing female friendship and emotional authenticity over traditional romance tropes.
Splitting POV roles (Katie writes the witch princess, Becky writes the dragon rider) allowed for deep character authenticity.
Pre-publication buzz is unprecedented: queues at events, global translation deals, and a France tour—all before release.
Use shared Google Docs and structured writing sprints to maintain sync and accountability when co-writing.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to the Dream Team
Philippa Hall introduces the podcast and welcomes the writing duo Ellis Hunter—Katie Ellis Brown and Becky Hunter—setting the stage for a deep dive into their journey from publishing professionals to breakout authors.
Dream vs. Nightmare Writing Locations
The duo shares their ideal writing environments—Becky dreams of Italian cafes with ambient noise and wine, while Katie prefers mountain settings with people and ASMR—but also reveals their nightmares: pure silence, sealed vaults, cold freezer boxes, and stuck elevators.
The Rise of Bloodbound
“We set out to write a book that we would love. And we took all the sort of things we love in all the fantasy we've read and the romance we've read and put it into a novel.”
From Publishing to Authorship
Katie and Becky reflect on their 15+ years in publishing—Katie as a senior publicity manager, Becky as an editor—and how their friendship, forged in London’s publishing circles, led to a shared passion for fantasy and eventually co-writing.
The Birth of a Collaboration
“It was like, let's plan this amazing story because we love it so much. But I think that's why, I think that's partly why it's resonated—because we went into it quite authentic.”
“I'm not a massive biscuit eater, I'll be honest. Rich tea though. Also, have you ever had a Ravita fruit crunch? Come on, no, that's... No!”
“We set out to write a book that we would love. And we took all the sort of things we love in all the fantasy we've read and the romance we've read and put it into a novel.”
“The book’s not even out yet, so let's see though. All sorts of play for come publication, I think.”
Host
Guests
Katie Ellis Brown
person
Becky Hunter
person
Ellis Hunter
person
Bloodbound
book
Harper Voyager
other
Simon & Schuster
other
Pen Cole
person
Red Rising
book
The Will of the Many
book
Fiction Fest
other
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