Meet Alexia Onyx | Paranormal Dark Romance Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexia Onyx and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexia, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At the heart of my work is advocacy for disrupting mental health stigma, championing body acceptance, and making space for LGBTQ+ people in romance–all of which are very much interlinked. By centering people like myself who fit into these intersectionalities, other readers who might not usually see themselves as the main character are represented in the stories they love. It’s especially important in a genre like romance, where, in real life, many people who are queer, live in a larger body, or struggle with mental health conditions can face a lot more barriers–both internally and externally–to their own happily ever afters. Feeling seen on such an intimate level can be life-changing for some people; I know it has been for me over the years.

It also exposes people to characters they might not see as often–or at all–in mainstream media. This is especially powerful when it comes to reading fiction because you’re experiencing the story through that person’s eyes, and if it’s a set of circumstances that you haven’t lived, it can create room for empathy and understanding that can then transfer into real-life relationships.

While we often consider reading as entertainment, it can also be impactful on so many levels. For that reason, it’s important to me not to shy away from the messages I want people to take away after reading one of my books.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a paranormal dark romance author, my books straddle the genre line with a blend of paranormal phenomena, dark subject matter, horror elements, and romance that defies the odds. Above and beyond the genre-bending that I like to play with, what I truly think makes my books stand out is the focus on mental health and centering plus-size people as main characters–something that is still unfortunately quite rare in most media. I’ve long been dedicated to advocating for acceptance and I love that I can have a positive impact on my readers and stay true to my passions. As someone who always struggled to fit in, I want to make people feel less alone after they pick up one of my books. This is truly what drives me and shapes the stories that I want to tell.

It’s been a long road to get to where I am. Since I was eight years old I wanted to be an author, but despite a lifetime of writing, I struggled to find “the story” that would stick. Writing a book is time-consuming and takes a lot of discipline, something I lacked when I was younger due to heavy work and school loads, and a focus on my primary career. But in 2020, everything aligned–I found myself with a lot more free time, I had become very active in online bookspaces, and I found an online writing group. Joining a writing group was a game-changer for me by helping me get into a routine, set goals, and have accountability (with a lot of amazing support) to finish what I started. I highly recommend them to anyone who needs that extra push.
Every day in the publishing world can be a challenge, but having a supportive community and hearing from readers who love my art makes every up-and-down worthwhile. I really am living my dream; that eight-year-old girl would be so proud.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Diego is such an amazing city and there’s so much to see, but I definitely have my favorites. At the top of my list would have to be spending a day at Balboa Park–with the beautiful architecture, plentiful museums, and sprawling grounds that make the perfect place to throw down a blanket and have some lunch, nothing beats it.

Another day would be spent exploring one of my favorite neighborhoods, North Park. First stop? Verbatim Books. They have an amazing selection of collectible and older books, so browsing for hidden treasures and childhood favorites is a great way to spend an hour or two. Afterward, we’d stop in at Pretzels & Pints, where they have the best soft pretzels and beer cheese, not to mention a great selection of local favorites on tap and a friendly atmosphere. No walk around North Park is complete without popping into The Gold Dust Collective, the local oddities and vintage shop. You can easily lose time there looking at all their unique pieces. For dessert, we’d swing by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, which I would say is the best ice cream I’ve had. One of the nights, we’d also have to catch a concert at the Observatory North Park. The standing room and uniquely intimate space make it an amazing venue. Before showtime, we’d grab pizza at Buona Forchetta and drinks at Kindred in South Park. 

And you can’t visit San Diego without seeing the ocean, so I’d plan a day at Mission Beach or a visit to La Jolla Cove–watching the sea lions from above is always great entertainment. On the way back down south, I’d plan to stop at Raised by Wolves, one of my favorite speakeasies. The wall rotates, revealing the bar as you move with it–it’s really a must-see, especially for cocktail enthusiasts. For an amazing dish of pasta, dinner at Cesarina is an absolute must to round out the night.

Barrio Logan is another one of my favorite neighborhoods that has so much to offer for creatives like myself who have a passion for art and is a focal point of local Mexican-American culture. I love taking my friends down there for the art crawls and pop-ups, and of course, I always make time for some authentic tacos and beer. Last but not least, I’d plan a night in Downtown, catching a movie at Rooftop Cinema, followed by drinks at a tiki-inspired speakeasy, False Idol.

There is so much to do, I could truly go on forever.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe so much of my success to the online book communities, Bookstagram and BookTok. The readers and other authors in this community are so dedicated to championing each other and helping to uplift one another’s work that it really is a group success when one of us does well. As a long-time member of these communities, I’ve been so fortunate to find like-minded people who share my values and understand the importance of spreading the word about stories featuring marginalized characters. I truly couldn’t do it without the amazing people I’ve met along the way who have believed in me.

Website: https://beacons.ai/alexiaonyx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexiaonyxauthor/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexiaonyxauthor

Image Credits
Heartless Clicks (main photo)
Jasmine Oesterheld (dark stylized photos)
Jennifer Kay (photo in restaurant)