Behind the Pen: Author Interview – Caitlyn P. Tajon

Hi everyone, welcome back to another Behind the Pen author interview! This time, we’ve got the lovely Caitlyn P. Tajon joining me to share a bit about her recent releases, upcoming books, and her author journey! Reading Caitlyn’s answers truly made me feel so heard as an aspiring author, and I had the best time getting to know her, so I hope you do too!

Your Journey to Becoming an Author

1. Can you introduce yourself to our readers? 

Hi, love! I’m Cait (Caitlyn P. Tajon if you want to full name-drop me, LOL). I’m an indie romance author, romance bookstore owner, professional chaos juggler, and unapologetic hopeless romantic. My books range from fast to slow burn, tension that collides with unhinged spice, sass, and a little danger.

Basically, if you want smut, banter, strong and badass FMCs, and the kind of feral MCs that make you kick your feet, I’m your girl.

I believe in empowering women to embrace all things romance. I’m a girl mom to my tiny tornado of a daughter, Audrey, and a wife to my real-life book husband, Tyler, who has encouraged and supported me to chase my dreams.

Introductions are hard for me because I wear so many hats throughout the day, but I can say with absolute certainty that there is never a dull day around here!

2. What first drew you to writing as a craft?

Honestly? I was always a words girl. I grew up devouring books like they were oxygen, and at some point I realized… I wanted to create that same magic. That moment where a reader forgets real life exists for a while? That’s addictive to me, and it came so naturally because writing is just as much of an escape as reading.

I’ve always lived with one foot in reality and the other in daydreams. It helped when life got hard, and it was a way to give shape to the stories constantly unfolding in my head. It’s always been more than a hobby, I think. It’s how I process, breathe, and bring a little bit of love to the chaos.

3. How did your author journey begin? 

The short version: I sat down and wrote the story I couldn’t stop thinking about, then refused to let fear talk me out of sharing it. They say you should write the story you want to read, and that’s what I do every time I sit down to write a book.

The long version involves a lot of late nights, caffeine, and questioning my life choices. There were tears and confusion, doubt and near crippling imposter syndrome, but hard work prevails and my determination pulled me through it.

Being a little neurotic and very much needing to be in control, the natural path was for me to pursue independent (self) publishing.

4. Are there any authors or books that inspired you or significantly influenced the way you write? 

Absolutely. I’m a total cocktail of influences, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. In more recent years, authors like S. T. Abby showed me how to layer complex storylines with dark humor, while Meghan Quinn nailed the art of laugh-out-loud romcoms. And then there’s Lucia Franco, who writes messy, complicated main-character relationships that force you to confront all the gray areas.

Growing up, and during my formative years, I was obsessed with long, immersive stories—Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Stephanie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Rachel Vincent, Lemony Snickett, Sarah J. Maas—the kind of books where you just live with the characters for years and never want to let them go. They taught me that the deeper and longer the world, the harder I fall for it.

And yes… I will forever defend E. L. James and the Fifty Shades trilogy. People can say what they want, but that series introduced so many readers to spice, BDSM exploration, and a push/pull that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Underneath it is a storyline about love, healing, danger, and obsession that deserves more credit. It also proved how much I love being utterly attached to characters—I want to ache when they ache, laugh when they laugh, and blush when they do things that should probably stay behind closed doors.

Now, I love blending all of that together: feral, unhinged main characters, complex plots, the smuttiest spice, and a little humor to keep it real. Basically… chaos with a whole lot of heart.

5. What was the most surprising part of your publishing experience? 

How much of publishing has absolutely nothing to do with writing. People think it’s “sit down, write a book, upload it, done.” HA! That’s cute. The reality? “Congrats, you wrote a book, now also become a CEO, a social media strategist, a brand designer, a proofing machine, and a cover-font-second-guesser at 3 a.m.”

Because I chose the indie/self-publishing route, that workload is multiplied by ten. The sheer amount of work that happens after the words are written blew my mind. Endless rounds of edits, proofing until I swear I’m going cross-eyed, branding decisions that feel life-or-death, neurotic cover tweaks because suddenly I hate the shade of red I picked, late nights formatting, and endless strategizing with my team on how to reach readers.

But the flip side is the relationships and ownership. My PA (whose really so much more than that to me and also my editor), proofers, and beta readers aren’t just part of the process, they’re my hype crew and ride-or-dies. I get to build my brand exactly how I want it, connect directly with my readers, and take full pride in the fact that every detail has my fingerprints on it… but also be able to celebrate my team’s accomplishments for all their hard work.

It isn’t just about me, it’s also about all the people behind the scenes that deserve more credit than a paragraph in an acknowledgments section. It’s the people who remind me of my worth, who help shadow me from the people who try to tear down my work while simultaneously helping me improve, who validate me, who make me laugh even on my worst days. The team I’ve gained from this community and this process was just as much a shock as the workload itself.

So yes—self-publishing is chaos. Exhausting, overwhelming, caffeinated chaos that consumes me 24/7 because this is more than a full-time job. But it’s also empowering as hell, and I wouldn’t trade that freedom for anything.

6. Where do you find is the best place for you to brainstorm your writing? Do you have a specific area in your house or a favorite cafe where you always end up writing the best? 

I’ve never been able to sit in a café and write. There are too many distractions, too much people-watching to be done. My brain is like, “Sure, I could work… OR I could eavesdrop on that couple arguing at the table behind me.” Even in a library, I get distracted. So, public writing? Not happening.

For me, it’s the quiet moments. Long drives with my playlist screaming girl anthems. Showers where I convince myself I’ll definitely remember that brilliant plot twist (spoiler: I usually don’t). Middle-of-the-night epiphanies where I grab my phone, half-asleep, to type gibberish notes that make sense only in the morning if I’m lucky.

But really, my best thinking happens at home, in my little sanctuary. There’s something about being in my own space, with the candles lit, a blanket wrapped around me, maybe a glass of wine within reach, that lets my brain go full dramatic soap opera mode. That’s when the best ideas hit.

Let’s Talk Recent Releases

1. Tell me about your most recent release. What drew you into the story? 

Yes! I’m deep into the Speed Demons series—five books total. It follows one couple, Callum and Aurélie, and I wrote the entire series in one document. I didn’t stop until I was done with their story. Think politics, sex, scandal, sabotage, and even higher stakes.

But honestly, this series is so much more than just fast cars and smut and drama for me. Speed Demons saved me. I started building this universe at one of the darkest points in my life, and it became my safe space. In many ways, it’s a love letter to my husband. At a time when everything felt like it was falling apart, he was my rock, my anchor, my tether. We came out of those struggles stronger than ever, and when I sat down to write, what I needed most was love, hope, and devotion.

That’s exactly what this series is at its core. It isn’t about endless reasons why the couple can’t be together—it’s about navigating the chaos together. Fighting side by side. Choosing each other through every obstacle. Loving each other relentlessly, hoping for a future even when the world is stacked against them, and devoting themselves no matter the cost.

So yes, expect sabotage and politics and juicy rivalries. But under all that, expect a story about what it means to fight for love when everything else is trying to pull you apart.

2. Who is your favorite character in this story, why? 

It’s impossible to pick (like choosing your favorite child, but spicier), but I’ll say Aurélie. She’s a rookie driver in a male-dominated sport, and she fights tooth and nail to be respected. She’s strong, complicated, and a little bit messy—basically, everything I love in a heroine.

She also resembles a lot of me. Struggling with complicated family dynamics, never feeling good enough, just wanting to be seen and loved. A woman in a space that isn’t designed for women (been there, done that), fighting for the right thing but always trying to do it alone because it’s easier to do it alone than to admit you need help.

Aurélie is… everything. Human at her core, full woman, utterly relatable.

What’s Next for You?

1. Do you have any upcoming books or novellas in the works? 

My latest book is Close Contact, the second in my F1 romance series. It’s all fast cars, hotter tension, sabotage, and that delicious rivals-to-lovers energy. I’m obsessed with pushing my characters to the edge emotionally and physically, and this book is packed with that.

Next up is Flat Out, the third in the series. We’re rapid releasing every 4 weeks, so we have a release on 10/1, 10/29, and the final installment on 11/26.

After that… let’s just say I’m returning to my dark roots for a minute.

2. Where did you gain the inspiration for these next projects?

Oof, that’s a tough one. I don’t always know where inspiration comes from, sometimes things just pop in my head. For Speed Demons, I wanted to write something that blended the intensity of F1 with the vulnerability of falling in love in the public eye. I’m fascinated by the glamorous, grueling world of the pinnacle league of motorsport, the ambition and rivalry, and the way love can sneak in and completely upend someone’s carefully controlled world.

For my darker romances, I heavily draw inspiration from true crime (because hi, hello, I studied criminal justice in college and love it). Music is a huge source of inspiration, but also sometimes I see a single scene in a show or movie and my brain goes “I CAN WRITE A WHOLE BOOK AROUND THIS!”. It’s bizarre.

More About You 

1. If you could describe your writing in three words, what would they be? 

Messy, spicy, and unhinged.

2. Where can readers find more information about you? Leave your links below! 

Website: www.caitlynptajon.com

Instagram: @caitlynptajon.author 

Threads: @caitlynptajon.author

TikTok: @caitlynptajon.author or @caits_book_corner (both link to the same account)

And if you’re ever in Florida, you can find me at my boutique, The Crimson Kiss Boutique, where we pair romance novels with lingerie, self-care toys, candles, and all things bookish and girly.

Final Remarks

I want to give a huge thank you to you for joining me for this interview. It’s always so much fun getting to know new authors and spreading the word about their works of art!