Each month, I try and interview a new author. This month, I reached out to Nikki J Summer. Nikki is a lovely person, she is also a dark romance author, and her book, The Taskmaster, is being released this month! I will give you a little bit about The Taskmaster at the end.
Fun fact, Nikki’s book The Psycho was my first ever dark romance book, it was pretty much my first romance book too, I think. Well, I read Twilight in my teens, but other than that and fanfiction, it was my foot in the door of the romance genre, especially dark romance. Now here we are, a few years later, with 3 bookshelves full of romance books and a Kindle with plenty of unhinged spicy books on it. I have zero regrets, but just so you know, Nikki, I blame you for my obsession, since it started with you 😆
Without further ado, let’s jump into it ☺️
I’ll start off simple, but then I’ll throw random questions in there because, well, why not?
Is Nikki J Summers a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?
Yes, Nikki J Summers is a pen name, although my real name is Nikki. I chose Summers because it’s my favourite time of the year.
My favourite time of year is Autumn, I get mean when I get too hot lol.
For those who haven’t read any of your books, please can you tell them a little bit about yourself?
I’m Nikki. I live in Staffordshire in the U.K. with my husband, two children and a cute cavapoo called Poppy. I love writing about dark alphas and the strong women they fall for. When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading or walking my pup.
Your book Psycho was my first dark romance book, so you are to blame for my dark romance obsession lol. Which of your books would you choose to live in and why?
Wow, that’s a tough question. I’m not sure I’d survive in The Psycho’s world, Brinton Manor. I’d probably choose Renegade Hearts and the town of Sandland because those boys are less scary!
They may be scary, but they are scary good 😉 Sorry, that was so cheesy.
Which character of yours would you say is most similar to yourself and how?
There’s a little bit of me in all my characters. I can be quirky like Leah May (The Reaper). I like to think that I’m loyal like Emily (Renegade Hearts). I can be sassy like Liv (The Psycho). I’m also a homely girl like Effy (Fractured Minds). So, I’m all the characters rolled into one!
I love this.
Did you always want to be a writer and what’s the best thing about being an author?
I always wanted to be a writer. The best thing about being an author is meeting so many lovely readers, especially at signings and online. They make it all worthwhile.
I’d love to meet you at a signing!
Cats or dogs?
Dogs. If I had a bigger house, I’d have more than one dog.
My cat Luna gives you the side eye and says she won’t read your books because you chose dogs over cats. To be fair, she can’t read, so I don’t think she would have read it anyway 😆
Haha! I do love cats too. Can I change to both, but if my dog is listening it’s dogs?
Haha, sureeeee 😉
Do you have any specific writing rituals?
Not really. Just lots of snacks and drinks.
Snacks are super important!
What would your dream writing cave look like?
It’d be a calm space overlooking the sea or woods. Somewhere I could really switch off and get lost in the worlds I write about.
Can I join you? This sounds like heaven, you can write and I’ll sit quietly and read 😆 I’ll even bring the snacks!
What genre of book do you read?
I have been going through a phase of reading lots of thrillers. I do love romance the best though.
You can’t go wrong with a good thriller!
Where does your inspiration come from?
It comes from real life. Stories I’ve heard and things that’ve happened to me.
You have a new book, The Taskmaster releasing on the 17th October…I’m super excited for it, what is something that stands out to you while you were writing this book?
This was the hardest book I’ve ever written because it is so dark. But there are moments of tenderness. He does get his happy ever after. The Taskmaster has so many layers. He is pitch black, but good for his girl.
I hear dark and I get giddy! I’m so excited. I also love the cover! This is the cover for Nikki’s new book The Taskmaster if you haven’t seen it yet.
Some readers don’t like models on the covers of books; I personally do. It’s all preference, but which of your book covers is your favourite? The model cover for the Joker always stands out to me, so does the graffiti style, though!
My favourite covers are the Soldier of Anarchy covers, the model ones and graffiti too. I couldn’t choose one favourite. I do love the cover for Tortured Souls as well. Brandon Mathers is my favourite rebel.
Let’s be honest, they are all stunning!
When you start a book, do you have an outline, and a character profile, or do you sit and let it flow?
I always have a plan and I know how the story will end before I start writing. There might be surprises along the way, but I’m a plotter.
What scenes do you find the hardest to write?
The spicy scenes.
I think this would be something I would find hard to write if I ever tried.
If you were hosting a dinner party and you had 8 chairs to fill with authors, which 8 would you want there?
That’s tough, because I’ve met so many amazing authors who I’d love to spend an evening with. So, I’ll choose authors I haven’t met or ones that are no longer with us. Freida Mcfadden, Margaret Atwood, Roald Dahl, J R Ward, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, J R R Tolkein, and E L James.
It is a hard question; I don’t know if I could pick 8 to be fair. I’ll try, erm, obviously, Nikki, you would have to be there, Kinsley Kincaid, Harleigh Beck, H.D. Carlton, Alina May, Nova Kane, Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. That was super hard, and I have probably not got someone I really want.
What type of music do you enjoy and do you listen to music while you write?
I listen to all genres of music. I am a Swiftie though. I make playlists for my books, but I need silence when I write.
I feel like I’m the only person I know that isn’t a Taylor Swift fan 🙈
What is one word that you just hate, like you are not using that in your books because it gives you the massive ick? Fleshy always gives me the shivers, the worst sentence I can think of would be “In my moist, fleshy armpit” urgh
Moist. Always moist.
I imagine there are times when you feel like giving up, I know I do when I’m drawing. I only see the negatives in my work. How do you power through?
I read other books to keep the creative joy at the forefront. I also try to remind myself that the stories I write are for me, and not to let the noise deter me.
I know Taskmaster is just about to come out but are you working on anything else right now?
I’m still working on marketing and getting The Taskmaster ready for October 17th. I will get back to writing after this release and a few ideas for dark romances are simmering in my brain.
Do you have any stories that you have written but never published?
I have a story I’ve written and unpublished, my Joe and Ella duet. I might republish it one day, but I’d like to do a lot of rewrites.
Is writing your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?
Yes, it’s my full time job.
If you could choose any superpower what would it be?
Invisibility, so I could go out without doing my hair and makeup, lol.
I always go out without doing my makeup up, and my hair is pretty much always shoved on top of my head 🙈😂 I don’t know why, but my anxiety is worse when I wear makeup because I think I’m being judged on how bad my makeup is 😅
Mine would be to talk to animals, maybe then I could find out why my cat has such an attitude problem.
Do you incorporate your real life experiences into your books?
Always. Maybe too much.
I bet it’s good therapy, though.
Would you rather be a witch or a superhero?
Superhero.
I’d definitely be a witch. I was super obsessed with Charmed and Harry Potter growing up, I have 2 older sisters and really wanted us to be the power of three 😂 super sad I don’t have powers!
If you could go back to young Nikki, what would you tell her?
Not to worry so much about what other people think and just be yourself. Oh, and it’ll all be okay.
Do your friends and family read your books?
No. I told them not to. Only author friends read my books.
I’m such an arse, if I were your friends/family I would so totally read them just because you said not to 😂
What was your favourite book and your favourite movie as a child?
Favourite book was anything by Roald Dahl, probably James and the Giant Peach. Favourite movie, Grease.
I liked the Twits, felt like I was being naughty when I was a kid reading the word twit 😂 I loved the Famous Five by Enid Blyton. I 100% agree with your favourite movie, Grease is such a good film!! Me and my sister used to watch it on a Sunday when we were kids, back then it was on video tape so we would watch it, rewind it and watch it again 😂
Following on from question 27 what is your favourite book and movie now?
Movie is still Grease. I can’t choose a favourite book. There’s too many good books out there.
Yes Grease & Hocus Pocus are mine, I also agree there are too many books to choose.
How do you choose your characters names and your book title?
I don’t know. They just come to me. I can’t explain how or why.
What advice would you give to whomever is reading this? It can be about writing or just life in general 🙂
Be brave and go for it!
Love that!
Thank you so much Nikki for taking the time to answer my questions.
I mentioned that I would talk about The Taskmaster further down, so here it is. The Tasmaster will be available on 17th October 2025. It will be on Kindle Unlimited. You can pre-order it here and read the blurb below.
If you would like to follow Nikki on her socials, you can find them below.
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
Facebook
I will also link Nikki’s Amazon profile, where you can find all of her books here.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, let me know who I should reach out to next and thank you once again Nikki for taking the time to answer my questions.
