"Eternal Reign" - Interview with Author Gigi Meier

Today's interview is with Gigi Meier, one of the authors who contributed to the As Fate Would Have It anthology, an adult reimaging of Greek myths and legends.

After retiring from a thirty-year career in corporate America, GiGi Meier is delighted to be writing romance novels about strong female characters and their complicated, swoon-worthy men. She loves telling stories and figuring out why her characters do what they do. With heartbreaking angst, panty-dropping lust, and enviable love, her stories linger long after you close the book.

When GiGi is not eating over her laptop, she likes to spend time in the pool with her children, walk her furry babies, and film videos for Instagram and YouTube. Whether attending a book club or hosting a game night, she loves connecting with new people and making friends.

Gigi's Eternal Reign delves into a dark and complex inspired by Hades and Persephone. Here she spills all the details of how this anthology shaped her story.

What inspired you to write this novel?

GM: I love Greek Mythology. The stories are beautifully tragic and timelessly compelling. The way it explores fate, love, betrayal, power, and transformation gives the myths a universal appeal that transcends time. I thought a modern retelling of this could be interesting with a twist—Russian Bratva. The commonality of the themes transfer so easily and well that I wanted to explore them in Persephone and Hades’s story.

What is your writing process like?

GM: I’m a pantser through and through, even though I have the best intentions of being a plotter. It never really happens. I try to have a very loose outline with each book, yet the characters hijack the story, taking it completely off-script and telling me where it goes.

How do you approach writing your characters and bringing their relationships to life?

GM: My characters are vastly different in personality, demeanor, ethnicity, and background, which makes bringing their relationships to life so much fun. I love diving deep into who they are, what makes them tick, and how their individual quirks play off one another. It's all about the chemistry—the sparks that fly when they clash, the tenderness that blooms in quieter moments, and the emotional rollercoaster on which they take each other (and me!). I focus on their growth, showing how they challenge and complement one another, making their bond feel organic and real.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

GM: Writing became my outlet during a really tough period in my life—a way to process the emotions I couldn’t express out loud. I infused my thoughts and feelings into characters, their lives, and stories, becoming outlets to examine the facts and seek answers. The more I poured into my stories, the more I realized how powerful language could be—how words could capture raw emotions, heal, and create connections with others who might be feeling the same. It was a way to take control of the chaos and make sense of it, even when everything else felt out of control.

What is the most challenging part of your artistic process?

GM: Easily following a consistent writing schedule and meeting self-imposed deadlines. Some books pour out of me, fast and easy. Others are a struggle, the words strained and forced. There are times when my characters are loud and demanding, practically writing the scenes themselves, and other times when they’re stubbornly silent, leaving me staring at a blank page. The pressure to keep up the momentum, especially when the words aren’t flowing, can be frustrating. I power through as there are so many stories yet to be told.

What do you hope readers take from this story?

GM: That love can grow in the most unexpected places. At its core, this story is about transformation—how two people from vastly different worlds, with seemingly opposite goals, can find common ground and challenge each other to change. As a Russian oligarch, Hades represents power and control, while Persephone, fighting to protect her ancient forest, embodies the beauty of resilience and nature. I want readers to see how their relationship evolves from one of conflict and manipulation into something gentle and enduring—truly a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

GM: My writing career didn’t start until more recent years, probably the last decade or so. However, my advice is to write without judgment to my younger self or any new or aspiring writer. Not every piece you create will be award-worthy, and that’s okay. You must permit yourself to write badly sometimes, experiment, and fail. The magic happens when you allow yourself to grow from those experiences. Writing is a journey, and each story, whether it’s polished or messy, teaches you something new. Keep going, keep learning, and most importantly, keep writing. The more you write, the more you'll find your voice and refine your craft.

What’s your favourite under-appreciated novel?

GM: Oh my, this is a hard question. There are so many excellent novels by indie authors that, as a whole, don’t receive the recognition they deserve. However, one story that has stuck with me, even after all these years, is Grey’s Tribute. I read it on Wattpad about seven years ago, and it left such an impact because of its emotional depth and the way it delved into the characters’s motivations. I’m unsure if it’s ever been officially published, but I think about it often. It’s one of those hidden gems that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

What are you writing next?

GM: I’m working on a street bike series coming in 2025 that I’m super excited about! It follows five guys in their early twenties who are all friends in college or grad school and love riding bikes together. Even though they’re incredibly different from one another—coming from all sorts of diverse backgrounds—they share a few key traits: they’re wealthy, cocky, and attend prestigious schools where they’re used to always getting their way. Of course, like my Cougars and Cubs Series, it will be a reverse age gap with all the steamy, naughty, insta-lust fun that readers love. I can’t wait to dive into these characters and explore their dynamics!

Step into a realm where the ancient tales of Sky Woman, Eros and Psyche, Athena and Odysseus, Apollo and Hyacinthus, and Poseidon and Nerites are not mere stories but living, breathing entities whose essence permeates the very fabric of existence. In this enchanting anthology, five indie authors beckon you to a world where the lines between mortal and divine blur, where the unseen hand of fate intertwines with the deepest desires of the heart.

Within these pages, you will journey through the timeless landscapes of Native American lands and the celestial realms of Olympus, where the threads of destiny weave a tapestry of love, passion, and longing. With each tale, you will become immersed in the intricate dance between gods and mortals, as Sky Woman descends from the heavens to shape the native lands. Eros and Psyche navigate the labyrinth of desire, Hades and Presephone navigate the complexities of the dark underworld, Apollo and Hyacinthus explore the delicate balance between love and sacrifice, and Poseidon and Nerites find solace and passion beneath the waves.

Feel the whisper of ancient magic, the faint echo of forgotten chants, and the tantalizing brush of divine intervention. These sensual retellings will captivate your senses, drawing you deeper into a world where passion knows no bounds and destiny prevails over all.

Author Links

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Thank you again to Gigi for a wonderful interview. Make sure to grab a copy of As Fate Would Have It now!