The billionaire trope is a staple in romance, but what happens when the hero decides he doesn't actually want the money? Today, I’m talking with Marina Hill about her journey from writing fanfiction to crafting intricate stories that challenge genre standards. We discuss the anti-billionaire lead in Royal Pain, the vital importance of representing undiagnosed chronic pain, and why the enemies-with-benefits trope remains undefeated. Marina Hill is a multifaceted author romance to historical fiction with an eventual path into fantasy. With over a dozen publications of short stories, her work has been hailed as fun comfort reads while managing to discuss important topics. A New Jersey native, Marina spends her days working around books and her nights writing them. In this episode, we're discussing:A look at the inspiration behind the characters in Royal Pain, a heroine who inherits a fortune and chooses the radical act of giving it all away.A discussion on chronic pain representation, specifically the struggle of living with pain that lacks a formal diagnosis and the importance of partners who validate a heroine's lived experience.How representing curly hair and shared cultural backgrounds serves as a form of intimacy on the page, moving beyond surface-level descriptions.Marina shares her process for writing deep, believable sisterhood bonds despite being an only child.Why the physical tension between characters who hate each other creates a superior foundation for character growth and chemistry.CONNECT WITH MARINA HILL:WebsiteInstagramBOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:Roaming Holiday by Marina Hill (Amazon)Royal Pain by Marina Hill (Amazon)Running list of books mentioned (Doc)Support the showJoin the After Dark Substack CommunityConnect with Alesia:StorygraphInstagramThis podcast was produced by Galati Media.Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.