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Meet Author Vera T. Brown
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a Southern, Navy veteran, and lifelong reader who has always been drawn to the darker edges of storytelling, such as mysteries, thrillers, and the paranormal. Through the encouragement of some of my favorite authors, I decided to step into the author space myself. I’ve always loved storytelling, whether that was through reading, writing fan fiction, or creating short stories here and there.
I’ve always been drawn to the way imagination can take you to different places, worlds, and even into the minds of others. I’m especially drawn to stories that explore power, survival, and the unseen forces that shape us. Now, I’m excited to share the stories that have been living in my head for years and I hope readers enjoy what my imagination cooks up.
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always had a strong imagination and loved bringing it to life whether that was through fabrication, music, or now, storytelling. Creating has always been a part of who I am, even when I didn’t have a name for it yet. For a long time, my stories lived only in my head—playing out like scenes, conversations, and what-ifs that I never really intended to share.
That changed when Melody Lynch and Tessa Stone encouraged their reader group to start responding to monthly writing prompts. What started as something small, just answering a prompt here and there, quickly became something more. Those prompts gave me a reason (and a little push) to take the stories out of my head and actually put them on the page.
The short stories I created from those prompts unlocked something in me. It was like a switch flipped and I realized I didn’t just enjoy storytelling, I needed it. And naturally, my imagination didn’t take the easy route. It leaned into the darker edges of power, survival, the supernatural, and the question of what exists just beneath the surface of what we think we understand.
What started as a creative outlet turned into a full-blown writing monster… and now I can’t stop. At this point, I’m just trying to keep up with it.
Did you choose traditional, indie, or hybrid publishing? Why?
I chose the indie route, and honestly, there are a few reasons for that.
First, I’m a little impatient. I didn’t want to wait on someone else’s timeline or approval to tell my stories. Second, my grandmother likes to say I’m “controlling”… in a very subtle way. Once I really thought about it, I realized she might be right. I like having creative control, and I don’t love the idea of being told what I can write, how I can write it, or when it gets released.
Now, is that exactly how traditional publishing works? I don’t know, but in my mind, it feels like a level of restriction I'm not yet ready for. Which leads me to reason three: I didn’t want to pitch myself in that way. I know, it sounds a little contradictory because I’m still putting myself out there to readers, but in my head, it’s different. One feels like asking for permission, and the other feels like sharing what I’ve already created.
That said, I’m not opposed to traditional publishing in the future. Indie publishing just fits where I am right now. It gives me the freedom to move how I want, create what I want, and build my stories on my own terms... even if that means being a one-woman show most of the time.
At the end of the day, my stories center power, survival, and identity, and it felt important to build them in a space where I have full ownership of how those stories are told.
Where do your story ideas usually come from?
My ideas come from all kinds of places. Sometimes it starts with a single image. For example, I created B.O.S.S. from the vibe of a premade cover by a cover artist who goes by Pentress Imani on Facebook… she is GOODT. I’ve bought several of her premades, and that one immediately sparked a story in my head.
Other times, it comes from structured creativity. A few of my short stories in Bindings of the Fated started from single-sentence writing prompts from Melody Lynch, while others came from a simple three-word exercise (shoutout to Author Angel Gonzalez for that one). If I can clearly picture a scene in my head, there’s a good chance it’s going to turn into a story.
I’ve also pulled inspiration from music. I’ve collaborated with authors like Shani Denise, Katrina Williams, C. Wynter, and A. Denise on a project titled An Album of Love, where we wrote pieces inspired by love songs. I highly recommend checking it out. That’s something I come back to often. There’s even a chapter in B.O.S.S. based on Shorty Swing My Way by K.P. & Envy (one of my favorites), and I have an upcoming collaboration led by Monique Love inspired by Biggie’s Life After Death.
At this point, inspiration can come from just about anywhere, an image, a prompt, a lyric, a moment. Anything is fair game.
Which of your characters do you relate to the most?
I would say it’s a character no one has met yet. Her name is M.E. James, short for Mary Elizabeth. If you’re an OG Lifetime channel fan, you might recognize that name from Any Day Now. I actually planned to name my first daughter that, but we ended up naming her after my great-grandmother and grandmothers instead. So of course, I had to give the name to one of my characters.
M.E. is the main character in The Pull of the Storm, and I poured a lot of myself into her. I did a lot of research for that story, but I also wanted to ground her in something familiar. So she carries pieces of me from different parts of my life, my earlier career working with electronics, her weapons training, her aesthetic, and even the way she thinks and processes the world.
A close second would be Lorraine from B.O.S.S. The other two women in the story, Traniece and Chanti, possess pieces of the person I wish I was, but Lorraine is the closest to the person I am today.
And if we’re talking about characters written by other authors, it’s a toss-up between Damali from L.A. Banks’ Neteru Vampire Huntress series and Tammy from Tessa Stone’s Wintermoon Fated Mates series.
Which of your books is your favorite and why?
I currently have two collections of short stories, one collaborative anthology and one that serves as a brief introduction to my writing, along with a novella. Those are Bindings of the Fated, An Album of Love, and B.O.S.S.
Out of those, I consider B.O.S.S. my first “real” book, so I’d have to say that’s my favorite. I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone with that one. I wrote in multiple points of view. I explored spicier scenes, which required a little consultation because I’m about as vanilla as they come. I also leaned into something grittier and more mafia-inspired than anything I’d done before.
That said, my favorite individual story so far is Undone from An Album of Love. That one was fun because I got to play with perception and flip things for the reader in a way I really enjoyed.
And if we’re including unreleased work, The Pull of the Storm is my baby and currently holds the top spot. That story feels different in the best way, and it’s the one closest to my heart right now.
Why did you choose to write in your current genre?
Reading has always been an escape for me, so when I started writing, it only made sense to add a little magic and the unknown. My stories lean into the unexplained because I don’t like limiting my imagination to real-world rules. If I’m going to create something, I want to explore what exists beyond what we can see or fully understand.
That said, I sometimes wonder if I chose this genre or if it chose me. Melody Lynch once posed a question to a writing group she started with Tessa Stone and Elle Madearis, asking what we dream of writing. For me, it’s high fantasy, but with a sci-fi and paranormal edge. I’d love to build worlds that feel as rich and expansive as the ones created by Gene Roddenberry. I’ve even played around with creating my own languages, but that’s a little harder when you don’t naturally have an ear for languages.
So for now, I’m writing where my imagination flows most naturally, but I definitely see that kind of high fantasy in my future, something that blends the supernatural with a more sci-fi lens, assuming I have the patience for it. And yes, I’m a huge Trekkie. Qapla!
What book changed your life?
Oh goodness… I don’t think a single book ever changed my life, but there are definitely stories that changed the direction of my literary interests. For me, those were the Neteru Vampire Huntress series by L.A. Banks, The Blood Colony series by Tananarive Due, and the God Don’t Like Ugly series by Mary Monroe.
It all started when I found the African American fiction section in Borders and realized there were stories written by us, for us. Prior to the late 90s, the only Black fiction I had really read was Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, which I had no business reading lol. There were other books that included us, but they didn’t always feel like they were written from a place that truly reflected our perspective.
I don’t necessarily need to see myself in every story I read, but there’s something different when the writer shares a similar cultural background. It shows up on the page in a way that just feels more authentic and connected.
So while no single book changed my life, those authors absolutely expanded what I believed was possible. They showed me that we belong in every space, including the literary and paranormal spaces I love to write in.
What do you do when you're not writing?
I’m a mother with a 9–5, so if I’m not writing or marketing my books, I’m either working or spending time with my family.
Recently, that’s looked like helping my oldest create a cosplay for a con, and having a simple day with my youngest to celebrate her birthday. My husband, my youngest, and I played board games, got Slurpees, and ended the day with a Happy Meal. It sounds simple, but my baby loved it. And to top it off, her big sister surprised her with some K-pop Demon Hunter merch from the con.
Funny enough, my oldest also brought me back a pair of Daria earrings, which instantly reminded me of all the Daria fanfiction I used to write. I might have to go find those and dust them off.
I’m also planning to work with my grandmother, who has published books about our town’s history, to write a story about my great-grandparents’ move from Alabama to Florida, titled Black Dirt. I honestly see that as more time spent with her than work, and I’m really looking forward to it.
How do you connect with your readers?
The phrase “your readers” still feels a little wild to me. I’m still getting used to calling myself a writer. I really just feel like I’m sharing my imagination and hoping people enjoy the movies that play out in my head.
Right now, most of the people who have read my work are people I know in some way or another, so I don’t feel like I’ve reached that point of connecting with “my readers” just yet, but I’m building that connection in my own way. I’m active in several Facebook groups, and I spend time in TikTok lives interacting with both readers and other authors.
I also try to stay accessible. People can follow me on my socials or visit my site and email me directly. I’m naturally a little socially awkward, but I do my best to respond to comments, DMs, and emails when I can.
For me, connection looks like showing up as myself, even if I’m still figuring things out along the way.
What would you like to say to your readers?
There’s that phrase again, “your readers.” Still feels a little wild to me.
Since starting this writing journey, I’ve discovered so many new-to-me Black authors across every genre imaginable. Just know, we’re out here doing the thang! Some of us are traditionally published, but a majority of us are indie authors, and there are so many incredible voices in that space just waiting for a chance.
So I’d say this, give indie authors a shot. You might just find your next favorite. And if you’ve already taken a chance on me, I appreciate you more than you know.
Hopefully, I’ll be one of the authors you continue to grow with.
Follow Vera T. Brown on the following platforms:
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Where Vera T. Brown 's books can be purchased:
Upcoming Events:
Black Romance Book Festival (Attending as a reader) - May 29-31 2026
Books in the Boot - March 19-21 2027
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