When it comes to blending humor, heart, and high-seas adventure, Elaine Canyon is making waves in the world of romantasy. Her book, Love, Ships, and Sea Serpents, is a pirate rom-com that delivers swashbuckling fun, swoony tension, and - most importantly - a romance that doesn't require explicit content to leave readers breathless.
In this conversation, Elaine shares her journey from fanfiction to original fiction, how she masterfully balances humor and heartfelt moments, and why "love is a choice" is the foundation of every story she tells. If you're a romance lover, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good will-they-wont-they moment, grab a cup of tea (or a tankard of grog) and enjoy.
You can view the full interview here ->
The Magic of Romantic Comedy in Fantasy
Merging Romance and Whimsy
So, what inspired Elaine to blend rom-com humor with fantasy adventure? According to her, it all started with fanfiction.
I wrote Harry Potter fanfiction for almost ten years before shifting to original stories. I loved taking characters and dropping them into my own fantasy worlds - ones where magic and romance thrived.
Through that process, she discovered something important: her stories always made people laugh. And that humor became her signature.
All of the feedback I got was, "Oh, this was so funny! This made me laugh!" I realized that was a strength, so I leaned in hard. Now, I don't think I could write a story without it. It's just part of who I am.
Elaine takes the whimsy of a rom-com, the high stakes of adventure, and the depth of a fantasy world, and weaves them into books that are equal parts heartwarming, thrilling, and hilarious.
The Art of Closed-Door Romance
Building Tension Without Going Explicit
Elaine is known for closed-door romance, meaning her books keep things passionate but not explicit. But how does she keep readers invested when the door stays shut?
Closed-door romance is a masterclass in tension. I want readers to have that swoony feeling, to root for the characters, to be on the edge of their seats - without needing to open the door to explicit scenes.
So, whats the secret? The almost moments.
Almost touching hands and pulling back. Almost kissing and pulling back. If I do it right, then when you finally get that kiss, it means everything.
One of her favorite examples? The 2005 Pride and Prejudice hand moment - when Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth into a carriage, and after she leaves, he clenches his hand as if physically affected by the brief touch.
That's tension. That's romance. That's what I aim for.
Romance Across a Series
Keeping the Tension Alive in a Multi-Book Arc
For those who rite romance spanning multiple books, keeping that slow burn going is a challenge. Elaine explains two wasy she's seen it done successfully:
Enemies to Lovers Progression
Book 1: Enemies tolerate each other.
Book 2: They don't hate each other anymore, but obstacles keep them apart.
Book 3: They commit, overcome their challenges, and finally get together.
The Established Couple Overcoming Obstacles Together
Book 1: The couple gets together.
Book 2: They face an external challenge (a war, a villain, a prophecy).
Book 3: They triumph over the big bad and get their happily ever after.
Personally? I don't have the patience for a long-drawn-out romance over multiple books. I want my happily ever after in one book.
Fair enough!
The Message Behind the Romance
Love is a Choice
One theme shines through in all of Elaine's books: love isn't just about feelings - it's a decision.
Attraction and chemistry are great, but at a certain point, love is a choice. Every lasting relationship - whether it's a marriage, a deep friendship, or even family - requires a conscious decision to show up, even when it's hard.
For Elaine, romance isn't about perfect, effortless love - it's about characters choosing each other despite the obstacles.
Every couple that makes it longer than ten years had a moment - probably several - where they had to choose their relationship over whatever problem they were facing. They had to decide, "I want this person more than I want to escape this situation."
This belief drives the core emotional arcs in her books. Whether it's pirates navigating unspoken love, a thief learning to let go of arrogance, or two souls truggling to find common ground, her stories always return to the idea that love isn't just something that happens - it's something that's built, nurtured, and fought for.
We live in a world where people sometimes forget that relationships take effort. My books are a reminder that love, in any form, is a conscious act of putting someone else first and trusting that they'll do the same for you.
Writing with Humor
How to Make Readers Laugh and Fall in Love
So, how does Elaine craft characters that make readers laugh while also making them fall in love?
Laughter lowers our guard. The moment a character makes you laugh, you're already rooting for them.
She uses a mix of:
Banter - Playful teasing between love interests.
Situational Humor - Characters caught in ridiculous or unexpected scnearios.
One liners - Quick, sharp, and witty dialogue
For example, in Love Ships and Sea Serpents, the Cuddlers (a mythical creature mix of a turtle and a seal) provide comedic relief by causing chaos at the worst possible moments.
The Future of Romantic Fantasy
Breaking Genre Barriers
Elain believes romantasy is becoming its own genre, much like romance and fantasy before it.
We already have cozy romantasy, dark romantasy, and even small-town romantasy. And I love that indie publishing lets us do whatever we want.
Her prediction? We'll keep seeing more subgenres emerge, more creative mashups, and more fantasy worlds filled with love storeis that go beyond tradisional tropes.
Let's be real - traditional publishing doesn't know what to do with us. But indie authors? We're creating whatever we want, and readers love it.
Finding Your Writing Process
Writing vs Content Creation
As an author active on YouTube and social media, Elaine knows the struggle of balancing writing with content creation.
In 2024, I was terrible at juggling. Everything fell apart.
So in 2025, she's focusing on writing rist - 1,000 words a day before anything else.
If there's no book, there's nothing to market. Prioritizing writing first has been a game-changer.
But she also acknowledges that not eveyr author works the same way. Some people write first thing in the morning, some like a structured routine before writing. Others need to do admin work first to get their brain warmed up. Find what works for you.
Where to Find Elaine Canyon
If you love romantic fantasy, with banter, and mythical creatures causing chaos, check out Elaine's books! Love, Ships, and Sea Serpents is available for free - yes, free - on her website.
📖 Get it here: https://elainecanyon.com/
And if you're a writer looking for an incredible community of authors, check out Author Nation, where Elaine helps lead the Western Empire rejoin.
💬 Join the discussion on Discord and connect with fellow authors! https://discord.gg/e69QWVxaqK
Closing Thoughts
Elaine Canyon isn't just writing romantasy - she's redefining it. With her unique blend of humor, heart, and adventure, she's proving that love stories don't have to be explicit to be compelling. So, if you're ready to set sail on an unforgettable pirate romance - or just need a book that'll make you laugh and swoon - Elaine's books are calling your name.
Comments