An Interview with Gen Velzian
Hailing from Somerset in the UK, Gen is a writer of short stories, poetry, and fiction novels. Her romantasy novel Fayte & Blood has been called “immersive, gripping and romantic” (Bigreads). Both Gen and her husband can “work from anywhere,” and she can often be found writing in underground bunkers in Seoul, bridge-side coffee shops in Vietnam, and beach bars in Thailand. Fayte & Blood is the start of a series; the second novel, Fayte & Bone released in late May 2025. She can be found on TikTok and Instagram @worldofvieve.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
As far back as I can remember, I loved writing. It came as easily and naturally as learning to walk, and I remember basking in the creativity and joy that came from spinning up new worlds, without a focus on form or quality. As soon as I could write, I was making up poems about cats, and writing short stories about guardian angels, and getting true joy from putting one word in front of the other.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I’ve mainly followed the marketing and data privacy route! I’ve worked for a top-tier consultancy (a proper London city job), one of the world’s largest FMCG brands, and for other marketing agencies, in varying roles. I’m a qualified project manager, which definitely helps when it comes to novel writing; I can be fairly obsessive in my planning! I’ve hopped between shiny corporate jobs, enabling me to pay rent and bills while writing at 5 a.m. and after work. My readers probably don’t know that it was actually a Rachael Hollis book that made me start writing before work (rather than mostly here and there in the evenings)—she made a point about most people being able to get up an hour earlier to follow their passion. As it turns out, she was right.
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
Ah, Fayte & Blood! I owe this to my father and sister, actually. We were all sat in his lovely cosy countryside living room over Christmas, the fire crackling, fizz bubbling from our champagne flutes. Most likely, some jolly carol was on in the background. I was toying with “Divinities of Fayte & Blood” for the first book, and then “Bone,” etc (no spoilers for the upcoming title release of Book 3!). My dad and sister decided Fayte & Blood was snappier, and to put “Divinities” in the series name instead, and it was all decided in about five minutes! They are both creative (Dad is a glass artist who paints and writes; my sister is doing a PhD) and excellent at helping with these things!
What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?
Definitely seeing the cover. I have an amazing cover artist, and it feels like she can read my mind. We went through a few colour schemes, but being a “trendy Millennial” (not really), I wanted a few emojis to be able to represent the colour schemes of the book, so that they could form part of my brand. E.g., I now post a purple heart and a blue butterfly, and readers know that they are the “Fayte” emojis. It was also really important to me that the title “popped”—I wanted to be able to read it from across the room.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
I actually often listen to the Rebecca Yarros Fourth Wing soundtrack when I’m writing, so I would have to say those songs! Because it’s also a romantasy novel, the lyrics and accompanying beat of the playlist, as it very loosely follows the three-act structure, ends up hypnotising me in the most perfect way. Sometimes, I listen to film scores. Often, I listen to Nils Frahm (he’s actually my most played artist). But in terms of representing Fayte, I would have to bow to the greatness that is Rebecca Yarros’s pre-existing answer to this question.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
My protagonist can struggle to let other people in; she has put up walls to protect herself, but she hasn’t realised that those walls also serve to keep others out. She struggles to articulate her emotions, to let herself be vulnerable, and she holds her best friend and sister incredibly tightly, as the only two people to really know her. I hope to show the romantic element of my book, yes, but I also hope that readers see the undercurrents of friendships and sisterhood as absolutely vital to my protagonist’s journey. I hope that readers can recognise that trying to constantly pursue perfection, as Elira does, can actually be the greatest mistake of all.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
I love seeing the most highlighted lines on Kindle! It’s absolutely fascinating to me. The lines that I would have guessed would be most highlighted (mostly those said by endlessly annoying but deviously charming Tryx) are not “it”; the people like the gasped proclamations of love, and the odd sexy sentence, ha! It’s really interesting for me, seeing what my wonderful readers are highlighting, so that I can provide them with more in the next book.
What creative projects are you currently working on?
I’m working on Book 3 (with Book 2 coming out in the next few weeks), but I’m also taking a romance writing course with CityLit, and working on a romance novel set in Cornwall. This is a bit of light-hearted fun, to be honest; the world of blood-wielding and gritty inter-kingdom war can bog my soul down occasionally—taking a break to write romance is a nice breather in the middle!
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