Indie Author Spotlight, Episode 15

Hello! It's me (again). S.E. Reed, your favorite multi-genre Indie Author and volunteer at The Writer's Workout. Okay, so maybe I'm not your favorite, but I am an Indie Author who has made it her mission to help you find out more about others like me. Each of these episodes features a Q&A-style interview with an Indie Author so you can get to know more about them and their writing. In addition, some of the authors have chosen to participate in a 2nd interview on my website, Writing With Reed, which I'll link at the end.

On today's episode, we are speaking with the writing duo Naomi Rivers. I was so excited to meet with this pair because I have a lot in common with them. I am also married to a military veteran who did multiple deployments. I attribute much of my writing ability to the years of sending love letters. Besides having a military connection, I have a little furry friend that I love and brag on too. So, without further ado, I hope you enjoy learning more about this incredible writing pair.

Thank you so much for taking time to be interviewed. I’m so excited to learn more about the dynamic duo behind “Naomi Rivers”. Can you tell me about yourselves?

Together, we’re a wife writing team and retired military veterans who used writing as a way to stay connected during deployments and realized we had enough material for a book. We also had several author friends who encouraged us to “finish the book.” We’re also lifelong readers and parents of completely opposite personality rescue dogs—the Shih Tzu is a little curmudgeon and the Maltese/Havanese mix is a social butterfly. We love watching sports, gardening, and outdoor activities. Naomi enjoys crocheting, sewing, and making yard art. Rivers enjoys drawing and painting. We recently celebrated 13 years married and 23 years as a couple.

Tell us about your writing style!

We write romance and women’s fiction. Our main characters are lesbians of color (mid-30s to early 40s) and their supporting cast is also somewhere on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. We tell stories that we’d like to read. Our characters have diverse backgrounds, some have messy family dynamics, and others are searching for their happily ever after. Our story lines are universal.

What’s a project you’re proud of and link it if you can.

We’re really proud of our debut novel, THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story, published in 2023. We wrote this story over 20 years and multiple deployments. We’d each write a chapter and send it back and forth until we had a draft manuscript. So the story unfolds from the parallel perspective of the main characters, T and Jasmine. THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store!

Spill the tea, what are you currently working on?

Our second book, Why Not Us? is the continuation of T and Jasmine’s story. It can be read in conjunction with THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story or as a standalone. T and Jasmine are three years in as an established couple. When one of Jasmine’s besties gets a life altering diagnosis, she throws herself into caregiving, determined to be Leslie’s anchor through every appointment, treatment, and moment of uncertainty. But as Jasmine dives deeper into the chaos, her longtime girlfriend T begins to drift, unsure how to stay connected when everything feels like it’s unraveling. Set against the backdrop of illness and emotional upheaval, this story explores the fragile bonds of friendship and love, the resilience found in crisis, and the quiet strength it takes to hold on when everything else is falling apart. It’s a story to take you through the holiday season. Why Not Us? will be released November 11, 2025.

What is your biggest/best piece of advice for other Indie Authors?

It’s the same advice we received….finish the book. Do whatever it takes, set time aside (Naomi’s favorite…dictate scenes while waiting for a light to turn, holding on line, or in between commercials), find a community to share and grow, and or get a writing buddy - really anyone who will hold you accountable. 

Who is your favorite Indie Author?

Hah! There are way too many to name! We love reading and so, well known authors, new novelists and anyone in between can become a favorite if we enjoy the book.

Where can someone find your work, social presence, etc. drop some links.

Our first book is available at major retailers (https://books2read.com/thisasimplecomplexlovestory) and, we’re proud to say, Baltimore County Public Library. Our second book is available for pre-order at a discounted rate Why Not Us? | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store! until 11/10/2025. We have multiple ways to connect and find out what we’re up to: our website, www.naomiriversbooks.com, where you may also join our newsletter mailing list and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @naomiriversbooks. We would love to hear from readers and actively engage with those who reach out.

Want to learn more about Naomi Rivers? Check out the follow-up interview over on my website - https://www.writingwithreed.com/post/bonus-episode-with-naomi-rivers