Nov. 20, 2025
Enchanted Darkness: Bria Rose's Journey Through Dark Romance and Fairy Tales
Send us a text In this enchanting episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome the talented author Bria Rose, known for her captivating dark romance fairytale retellings. Bria shares her journey from a high school writer to a self-published author, detailing her debut novel, "Her Dark Promise," a unique twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story where Belle takes on the role of the beast. She discusses her creative process, the challenges of indie publishing, and how her experi...
In this enchanting episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome the talented author Bria Rose, known for her captivating dark romance fairytale retellings. Bria shares her journey from a high school writer to a self-published author, detailing her debut novel, "Her Dark Promise," a unique twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story where Belle takes on the role of the beast. She discusses her creative process, the challenges of indie publishing, and how her experiences working at Disney have influenced her storytelling. Bria also opens up about her love for dark romance, the depth it brings to characters, and her upcoming projects, including a spicy Pinocchio retelling and an exciting collaboration with a publishing company. Tune in for a delightful conversation filled with inspiration, creativity, and insights into the world of writing. Discover more about Bria and her work at www.authorbriarose.com.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Welcome to the Living the Dream podcast with Curveball. If you believe you can achieve. Welcome to, the Living the Dream with Curveball podcast, a show where I interview guests that teach, motivate, and inspire. Today, I am joined by author Brea Rose, who writes dark romance fairytale retellings. So we're going to be talking to her about her stories and everything that she's up to and going to be up to. So, Brea, thank you so much for joining me.
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> Brea Rose>Hi. So happy to be here. Thanks for having me.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Why don't you start off by telling everybody a little bit about yourself?
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> Brea Rose>Well, I am, as you, not as you put it, but I am a dark romance author. I am trying to get into the niche, of writing, specifically fairy tale retelling. So, that's kind of like the bulk of what I am currently doing. But when I'm not writing, you can definitely find me reading, big surprise, watching anime or hanging out with friends.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>All, Right. Well, let. Let the listeners know how you got into writing.
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> Brea Rose>Oh, wow. That is. I don't want to age myself. I feel like I'm getting to an age where it's like, whoa. But I started, writing back in high school with a dear friend, and I kind of left it alone.
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> Brea Rose>We both decided, like, hey, we have other things, you know, going on. And then about 10 years later, I decided to pick it back up, and I'm like, hey, I think now's the time. And I ended up writing the first rough, like, super rough draft, gave it to her, and she's like, you know what? I don't have the time to do this right now. And by that point, I had officially been bitten by the writing bug.
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> Brea Rose>That's definitely the best way I can explain it.
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> Brea Rose>and so even though she wasn't ready, I was. So I decided to go off on my own until she was ready.
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> Brea Rose>and that's how my debut book came to be.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>All right, well, tell the listeners about your book. You know, tell us about what, where we can get it and what we can expect when we read it.
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> Brea Rose>Awesome. Well, I, I. Okay, listen, I'm a little biased. I am the one who wrote it, but I do love my book. It. It is called Her Dark Promise by Bria Rhodes, and it is a dark romance. Why choose Beauty and the Beast Returns Twist, Where Belle's the beast, Beast and Gaston, our brothers get trapped in her castle. So that's kind of like my quick little pitch that I give to people. like, when I'M in book signings and things like that kind of draw everybody in. but once I have them, I kind of further explain that I have taken out the magical objects like the teacup, things like that, and added two new characters. this definitely is a different. Like this is definitely a reimagine.
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> Brea Rose>You know, you're gonna see familiar, maybe names and locations, but the entire story is very new.
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> Brea Rose>Definitely reimagined. you can definitely. I am new to this whole publishing world and so I am a, you know, indie self published author and so a lot of my knowledge comes from YouTube videos and kind of like looking up what everyone else is doing and not copying them. But you know, just kind of been the same realm of like, what do covers look like, things like that. So, I, I'm, I love this story.
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> Brea Rose>It is definitely reimagined. oh, that's right. You can find it on Barnes Noble. Ah, Amazon for sure.
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> Brea Rose>And just recently I found out that it is on a walmart dot com. So that was really exciting.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Okay, well, you also work at Disney, so. So tell us about, or as much as you can tell us about working at Disney and how did it, how that affects your writing.
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> Brea Rose>Oh, my, what a crazy time that was. I feel like I blinked one day and I had worked there and then, you know, left the company. I was there for about 7ish years. I started back when I was 19. Oh man, that's crazy. To mid 20s. it was amazing. I mean, Disney, you know, a lot of people can say whatever they want about the company, but what I will say is it is unlike any other job I've ever had. It's very hard to leave because you just become so attached. I mean, I feel like there's no other job that you can walk in at 4am to the light all still on, the music still on. So you still have that magic. But nobody's in the park ever. You know, all the streets are being hosed down, everything's being cleaned. And it really was magical for me. I loved it. I really feel like it affected my writing in the sense that when you are working, no matter what department you're in, you're always reading in stories. You know, if you have face to face interaction with guests, AKA customers, there might be a question like, hey, where's Mickey? I'm like, oh, Mickey's probably in Toontown hanging out with Minnie Mouse. You know, you're always, you know, creating this, this magic and these stories for not just Children, but adults, I mean, everyone who goes there wants to be immersed in the culture and brilliance that is Disney. I worked in food and beverage for the majority of my time there, and then the last of years I was in PhotoPass. And being able to be in photo. I mean, food was great, believe me, but PhotoPass is really. I feel like I got to shine, as a storyteller, I love talking to people and I have my master's in communication studies. Ah. So, you know, I'm definitely, as one might say, a professional yapper. but I would say PhotoPass gave me the ability to be able to work with the characters and, you know, interact with the, the public, the guests, just like one on one in a. In a more creative space. I just feel like I'm a. I am a very creative person, from, you know, doing.
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> Brea Rose>Finding my love of also photography through working at Disney. it just, I love it. I miss it.
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> Brea Rose>I wish I could go there as much as I did, you know, when I worked there. But, you know, hopefully one day I'll go back as a guest again. I think I went a couple years ago, but it was, it was beautiful. I miss it. And, the Disney family is real. But. Yeah.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Well, talk about why you enjoy writing dark romance.
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> Brea Rose>Oh, okay. So I think it's so funny. My mom, sometimes she's asked me like, hey, why do you want to write naughty books? And I just always kind of shrug and say, I don't know, I think I'm kind of good at it, you know, and that I just. I love. I mean, growing up on Disney, being a Disney, a certified Disney adult, I, of course, you know, the princesses were definitely my genre, my chosen. I mean, I love like Lilo and Stitch and the classics Tarzan, but Gimme, you know, beating the beast is kind of, not kind of. It is. I kind of made it into my personality, which is hence I wrote this book. but I just feel like there's so much depth. Two characters in dark romance book.
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> Brea Rose>Dark romance to me just means we're kind of giving all these characters real life, like trauma and experiences, whereas I feel like other genres, you know, where the female falls in love with the hero or the guy, whoever the person, the, the main character falls in love with the hero. I feel like those can be rather predictable, those. Unless there's a twist to it where the heroes actually, you know, and then we're back into dark romance and morally gray type of behavior or type of territory. there's just so much depth and there's so much. I feel like everybody that has a trauma, but everybody has gone through something in their life. Whether it's a heartbreak, whether it, you know, types of different types of abuse or no matter what you go through, you have a friend that decided to bully our people. Decided. Bul, you know, there's. No matter how big or how small it may seem to somebody else, everyone has gone through something. And so I just feel like dark romance is something that a lot of people can relate to and they can really. I hate to use the word vibe with, but, But yeah, I know relate to probably would be the best word for it, but. So that's why I write dark romance. I write dark romance because it's an outlet. It's a way for me to kind of get my creativity out. But it's also a way for me to feel like I'm connecting with readers. And it's. I guess you could say that my truth. You know, it. I enjoy, you know, writing these very complex characters who, you know, for example, Calathea in my book, she sassy and sexy and intelligent and vengeful. There's so many different emotions going through her all at one time. That's why the book is so long, because I really didn't. I wanted her to feel what she was feeling in the moment. So a little bit about her.
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> Brea Rose>she was cursed at 18 years old and she's been cursed for about 370 years. She was isolated from everybody, maybe people here and there, but overall she's been by herself. So she's a little crazy because someone does talk through talk in her head. so she was betrayed by somebody very close to her. So she's going through feelings that she has not dealt with of rage, remorse, guilt, literally everything, denial. She's going through it all. And I really feel like I gave Calathea the best opportunity to really be in the moment and allow others to help her through her journey back to self love. So I believe that's kind of like why I write dark romance. I just feel like everyone can connect to it.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Would you ever consider writing anything other than fairy tale retellings?
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> Brea Rose>Yes. I used to say, oh, I'm a Disney retellings author. I don't say that anymore. I'm definitely learning where my spot is in the author dash writer realm. there. I. That's why I say now fairy tales or retellings in general? I know I can actually more say fanfic dash retellings author because There is a book that I want to write that is based off of two characters from a very popular television series and book series called Vampire, Diaries. So I would like to write those two characters, Klaus and Caroline. I believe that they were endgame and they weren't in the original TV adaptation. And so I want to write that. Do I think that is an adaptation that's retelling? Yes.
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> Brea Rose>Reimagining? Yes. So I am in the process of that currently. I have this Beauty and the Beast retelling that is for course is already, in print.
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> Brea Rose>it's actually everywhere today. Just went live for pre order, for my audiobook. So it's available in hardback, paperback, ebook and audiobook. Well, that was a lot of, craziness recently, but I'm really happy. And then I'm currently working on like a spicy Pinocchio retelling. and there's going to be more fairy tales, specifically, you know, Brothers Grim Disney. But I was approached by a company to write a different type of fairy tale retelling. they came to me with, I can't really talk about it yet, but they did come to me with an idea and it has been a lot of fun to play with. So I do plan on writing kind of what is the right word to use. I really want to kind of toe the line of what constitute maybe as a fairy tale retelling or retellings author in general. But to answer your question, yes, I do plan on doing other things besides fairy tales.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Well, tell us about the authors that inspire you to do what you do. And since you like reading, also tell us about your favorite book.
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> Brea Rose>Okay, so my great question, because I love talking about her and I hope one day her and I can be best friends. Friends because I, I truly love the universe that she has created. Her name is Reena Kent. she has out so, so, so many books. But my two favorite series of hers is the Royal Elite series, which is my second favorite. And then the Legacy of God, series. Ah, that is the first book that I read of hers and I was hooked from like page one. she writes not fairy tales. not very.
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> Brea Rose>Not just fairy tales, like fantasy. There we go.
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> Brea Rose>That's the word I was looking for. She doesn't really write fantasy books as what I have seen. I don't know. Things can be changed. I'm only on those two series. I have not read the rest yet because writing does take a lot out of you. But she definitely. I'm inspired because she Writes a lot of psychopaths or people with antisocial personality disorder. And I am currently writing a character who has a anti social. Yeah, aspd and so I'm getting a lot of inspiration for how she writes. Or I'll read Marina Kent. I've read some other. More like, like Haunting Adeline where books will help me to push past my own limitations. I feel like her Dark promise is very, it's very much a starter dark romance book.
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> Brea Rose>Whereas, you know, Rena Camp has written things where there's like DEF CON or you know, cnc.
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> Brea Rose>There's a lot of maybe more taboo types of tropes and things in there. And I really, as a writer, I want to push myself. So with this new book I am really, getting inspiration from authors here. Let me look at my bookshelf because I can't think right off the bat. Oh yeah, authors like Brea Rivers, K A Knight who wrote in the vipers. H.D.
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> Brea Rose>carlton. You know, there's just so many authors who are amazing dark romance authors in general.
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> Brea Rose>Whether it's fiction, contemporary, you know, whatever that may be to help me push past my own boundaries and limitations of what may or may not be considered not appropriate. But too much, I guess.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Well, tell us about any. I know you talked about something you're working with with a company, but tell us about any other upcoming projects that you're working on that listeners need to be aware of.
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> Brea Rose>Definitely the audiobook currently is my baby right now. That is the thing. But I spent, I was up to like 10pm Just making sure that everything was good to go for people to start pre ordering my
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00am so the audiobook I. For those who listen to audiobooks, if you know the name Jacob Morgan, then you will definitely like my book because my, my book, my audiobook is a duet with Jacob Morgan and Grace Noble as my narrators. So if you love Jacob Morgan, then definitely this is the book for you.
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I mean, I have people who say, you know, they would listen to Jacob Morgan read the the phone book. So, you know, I definitely want to put it out there that if you love that name, you're definitely going to love this book and you're going to want to add it to your TBR for sure. the spicy Pinocchio one is so fun. That one I'm hoping to have out, this Halloween. I actually published for Dark Mom's last Halloween. So I'm not saying that's going to Be a new tradition, but maybe, it just ended up working out that way. So fingers crossed. But the just give you a little idea. The spicy Pinocchio retelling. I don't know what I can say. Not say. So I'll say he's a bleak doll who gets sold to a high profile couple. and so it's some of the tropes and kinks in there would be like healthy ruffles, secret society, a big secret in general. There's a lot of really awesome things with this Pinocchio retelling where I can't get too into it. just because we are solidifying some like ideas. So that's kind of like the overall pitch of the Pinocchio story. I feel like there's not a lot of Pinocchio retellings out there. I know there's. Gosh, I can't think of the names off the top of my head but like, like robot type of movies. But this will definitely be fantasy or dark romancy, spicy. I don't know. The Pinocchio one actually started as novella and has turned into like this full length book that I'm so excited to share with readers. then the one with the company I can share that I have signed with one more chapter who is part of Harper Pollen. I'm so excited that they chose me, that they came to me for this really crazy, silly, but not silly idea. And I'm very excited to hopefully in the next month or two be able to share what this idea is because it is so fun, playing with these characters in a different way. I know I can't say too much, but it's just very exciting. And of course the classic Caroline book, that is currently all the projects I have out or going on.
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definitely, you know, her dark promise, like I said before, can be found on all the platforms.
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the audiobook will officially be out October 3rd and those will be on all the apps you see on my website. but yeah, that kind of taking a one step at a time. I, you know, there's so many things of like trying to be on podcast help, you know, of course with exposure. I definitely am no Sarah J.
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Maas yet. but yeah, so just kind of trying to get my face in front of everybody. Book signings and book conventions and I'm just really excited for some of the opportunities that have been, you know, come my way and I just am really honored to be able to come on to, you know, these types of platforms to be able to talk about my book.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Well, throw out your website so listeners can keep up with everything that, you're up to.
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> Brea Rose>Yes, my website is authorbriarose, so A U T H O R B R I A R O N C dot com. And luckily, I branded myself really well. And author Bria Rose is everything from Gmail website, to all of these socials from, you know, TikTok, Instagram, everything in between.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Close us out with some final thoughts. Maybe if that was something I forgot to talk about that you would like to touch on or any final thoughts you have for the listeners.
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> Brea Rose>Yeah, if you. Sometimes I just like, you know, talking to the writers. So if you are a writer, an up and coming writer, I do get this question a lot. Like, what advice do you. You have? my biggest advice is to write, write, write. Because you cannot edit a blank page no matter what you do. I mean, you might have the idea in your head, but I'm telling you right now, sometimes whatever comes out through my hands is not what I thought.
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> Brea Rose>So, you know, just write. Even though it's going to be really bad, most likely, it's probably going to be he said, she said, and that is okay. Let that be okay. Don't let it deter you. Write, because your ideas and art deserve to be in the world.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>All right, ladies and gentlemen, be sure to keep up with everything that Bria is up to. Pick out the new books, check out the new books when they become available. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and to leave any suggestions or feedback or. For more information on the Living the Dream curveball podcast, visit www.craveball337.com. Thank you for listening and supporting the show. And Brea, thank you for all that you do in the dark romance space. And thank you for joining me.
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> Brea Rose>Thank you so much for having me.
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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>For more information on the Living the Dream with Curveball Podcast, visit www.craveballah337.com until next time, keep Living the dream.
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