We’re excited to chat with award-winning author Yvonne Navarro, renowned for her dark, thrilling novels and tie-in works for beloved franchises like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Hellboy. Packed with fierce heroines, suspense, and supernatural twists, she successfully captivates her readers with every story for decades. We sat down with Yvonne to discuss her inspirations, her creative process, and how she brings complex characters and dark worlds vividly to life. From original novels to franchise tie-ins, her work continues to leave a lasting mark on fantasy and fiction.
About Yvonne Navarro
Yvonne Navarro is an award-winning author of twenty-four published novels, numerous short stories, articles, and even a reference dictionary. She writes across a wide variety of genres, though she especially favors horror and dark fantasy. In addition to seven solo novels, Yvonne has written tie-in works for Predator, AVP, Aliens, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, Hellboy, V-Wars, and more. Over the course of her career, she has earned several awards, including first place in the Illinois Women’s Press Association’s 2001 Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, where she dotes on her three rescued dogs, Viggo, Kyah, and Chewbecca. With such an impressive career, we at Bookstr are so excited to interview Yvonne!
Thanks for talking with us, Yvonne! Let’s begin.
How did you come to write for so many different established intellectual properties?
My agent had sold my first novel, AfterAge, as part of a three-book contract. I was working on the second book when he called me and said my editor was looking for someone to write a movie novelization. I’d never heard of such a thing. After he explained it, I told him I could absolutely do that. That novelization was Species, and it kind of opened a door. I met the deadline, I could write well, and I was easy to work with. My agent was good at staying on top of things, so in addition to the contract books, he and the editor found other novelizations for me to work on.
You’ve written stories for many characters, both established and of your own invention. Of these characters, which had your favorite arc and why?
That would be Lily, of Final Impact and Red Shadows. She was meant to be what I call “fodder,” a character written into a story who was either destined to be killed or to disappear into the background. But Lily wasn’t having it. Not only did she step up and take control of her own destiny, but she also ended up being a major character in both books. After all these years, I still adore her.
While working with established intellectual properties, did you ever learn any fun, behind-the-scenes facts or bonus lore that you found mind-blowing?
Alas, no. Well, other than when you did a movie novelization, people who were not editors could change your book, and it could end up being published that way… with accompanying, uh… “edits.”
Which of the series you’ve written, or written for, has had the greatest impact on you as a writer, or even as a person?
I’d have to say that writing in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe had the most effect. It really got my name out there.
Is there a moment or scene from The Dark Redemption series that you were most excited to write?
Hmmm. That’s hard. I always loved a good fight scene between her and one of Satan’s Hunters or some other demon. I also really like Brynna’s dark, sarcastic humor. I think my favorite line of hers is “…I will rip off your head and throw it in Lake Michigan.” (Said to a would-be admirer on the street.) Maybe it says something about me that I find that’s absolutely hilarious.
Do you have a dedicated writing space, and if so, how do you have it set up to promote your creative process?
Yes. Where I live now, I have a combination office and art studio at the back of the house. It has all light oak furniture, a stereo system, a drawing board and easel, and lots and lots of natural light and storage space.
Do you have other authors, books, or genres that you turn to when looking for inspiration? How do they spark your imagination as a reader and writer?
I read in a lot of different genres, and my interests are all over the place. I have to be careful to rein it in if I start to get too immersed because it will pull me and my attention off track. And let’s face it, writers (and artists) are always pulling ideas from those with the same mindset. If I’m looking for an idea, I have lots of idea notebooks, folders, and binders I can poke through until something sticks in my brain like a fishhook.
What is your favorite world to write in and why? Is there a world you want to write in that you haven’t yet?
There are lots of things I want to write, including a sequel to AfterAge and more books in The Dark Redemption universe. There’s an entirely new universe that I’ve wanted to work in for literally years, but haven’t found the time. In 2014, I was a writer-in-residence at Golden Apple Art Studio in Maine, and I spent two weeks working on it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it to gel, and on the last morning (time to pack up!), I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. I’ll be back there for the third time in 2026 (2018 was as an artist), and I am going to bring this brand new series into existence.
Many thanks to Yvonne Navarro for sharing her time and creative insights, taking us behind the scenes of her fictional journey. With her legacy of Buffyverse novels and original series, she continues to inspire readers who crave strong heroines and dark, imaginative worlds. We can’t wait to see what stories she conjures up next! Don’t miss out on The Dark Redemption series! And in the meantime, keep up with her latest work on her website! You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram!
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