Fan favorites Untamed and N’Tyse have combined their talents for a new story readers are sure to love. I recently spoke with them about Soldiers of Love: Beautiful Scars.
Tell me about your latest book.
Our latest book is entitled, Soldiers of Love: Beautiful Scars. This profoundly moving and nostalgic story is a searing exploration of soul ties, love scars, second-chance romance, and the healing power of forgiveness, inspired by real events.
Liberty Mae Banks was her birth name, yet Zion called her Mrs. Forever . . .
It took years and fistfuls of tears for Liberty to convince herself that Zion Malik Mitchell had been a figment of her imagination. She’d suppressed every memory to lessen the burn—and because it’s the proper thing to do once you’ve become another man’s wife. Now the mother, wife, and #SoldiersofLove relationship columnist for Love & Lifestyle magazine finds herself in a heartfelt tug of war when her childhood sweetheart, Zion, resurfaces.
For Zion, Liberty had always been his peace and the one who got away. He needed her more than he was ever willing to admit, and while it’s often said that time heals all wounds, all time had done for Zion was rob him of a future with the love of his life. When tragedy strikes, Zion’s freedom is left hanging in the balance as he awaits sentencing. Plagued with guilt and fear, there’s only one person he trusts to help him through his most arduous battle ever—Liberty.
Will Liberty sacrifice her picture-perfect life and rush to Zion’s side in hopes of healing and setting them both free or will resurrecting their war-torn past open a Pandora’s box neither will be able to close?
Why did you decide to write it?
It felt like the perfect time for a book of this magnitude. It is a story that’s necessary for everyone who has journeyed through first love and toils through the understanding of self-love. It speaks to the ways in which we must, at times, redefine what love means and what it looks like for us as individuals through self-exploration, reflection, and maturity.
Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
N’Tyse: I really love all of the characters; however, Quincy is the underdog and Liberty’s knight in shining armor. Through his actions, he shows her real love and affection. That resonated with me. And he’s also consistent with his love and desire for a forever with Liberty.
Untamed: All of the characters added the perfect ingredients to the entirety of the story, but if I had to choose, my favorite character in the book is Zion. I always love and root for the underdog in a story. For me, he is the unanimous underdog. There is an underlying beauty in the fact that his heart was always in the right place, even when his actions and decisions were not. His story proves that even when we make mistakes and travel the wrong paths, we still have the power to change the narrative and outcome.
What was the hardest part about writing the story?
The hardest parts were the realness and rawness of the emotions, experiencing the loss of love, friendship, and loss of life. Sure, we felt joy, laughter, and nostalgia. Those were a given due to the nature of the story, but it’s the painful parts that are most embedded in our hearts.
If you were to write a book about your life, what would be the title and why?
We can both agree on this. It would probably be titled Black Women Are Built Different. As black women, this meaning is two-fold. Yes, it means that our accomplishments, drive, and fortitude are top-tier, dare we say, otherworldly. However, it also means that collectively, we are different individually as a people, so we want to embrace and love all the facets that make us our collective selves but also appreciate our differences.
What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
We would tell our 16-year-old selves to love ourselves, appreciate ourselves, value our worth, and follow our dreams even when we’re scared, even if we don’t have it all figured out.
What is something readers would be surprised to know about you?
Readers would be surprised to know that we are not only co-authors but also business besties, although that may not come as a huge surprise given the seamlessness of which our book reads.
Untamed: I’d like to add that I do not live in Texas. However, I love all the readers and friends I have made throughout the state, especially in the DFW area.
Tell me about a book that changed your life and why.
We can honestly say Soldiers of Love: Beautiful Scars changed our lives. It was a different genre for us, and we explored different writing techniques. Challenging ourselves in this way while pairing our writing styles and ideas stretched our creative and artistic muscles while simultaneously allowing us to embrace the trials and triumphs of our pasts and appreciate our present and future. These aspects also gave us a newfound appreciation for the craft and each other.
What’s next for you?
Individually, we’ll continue to create as authors but also continue to produce book-to-film projects, as well as continuing to build Black Odyssey Media.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
We want to thank everyone who has supported our book; no shoutout, purchase, blurb, or review goes unnoticed. Soldiers of Love: Beautiful Scars is available nationwide through major book retailers and will soon be on Walmart bookshelves. We’d also like to thank you, Black Fiction Addiction, for this interview.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Soldiers of Love: Beautiful Scars.
To learn more about the authors:
N’Tyse is on all social media as @ntysethecreator.
Untamed is on all social media as @authoruntamed.