From escaping into fantasy as a young girl to building entire worlds that explore redemption, survival, and love, Monica Shantel has always turned to storytelling as her lifeline. With her debut Beauty of a Crimson Soul, she invites readers into shadowy realms where broken characters discover their strength—and maybe even a happy ending. In this interview, Monica shares the inspirations behind her work, her creative rituals, and the challenges she’s overcome to carve out her space in indie publishing. Whether you’re here for the romance, the monsters, or the magic, you’ll find plenty to love in her fierce and heartfelt journey.
In Beauty of a Crimson Soul, Angel is a newly appointed guardian angel tasked with saving Ayden Dyer, a reckless and self-destructive 23-year-old whose soul teeters on the edge of damnation. As Angel fights to guide him toward redemption, unexpected feelings complicate her mission—and when fallen angels drag them both to Hell, the stakes become eternal. With Ayden’s soul slipping away, Angel must defy fate to save him before it’s too late.
Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?
A: The authors who i really loved to read when I was just starting to were Holly Black and Dan Greenburg. I was hugely into fantasy even at 7 years old. They shaped a ton of my love for fantasy in general, and it was later on that authors like Kelley Armstrong and Lauren Kate hooked me on the romance and darker side. But Neal Shusterman got me into the creepier and more horror side.
Write on the World 